Text 3. The people

Almost every nation has a reputation of some kind. The English are considered to be very conservative people, easy-going and fond of sports. They have lots of traditions that go centuries back.

The English are a nation of stay at homes. They traditionally like to live in small houses. Usually there is a small garden with lovely flower beds. The love of gardens is deep-rooted in the British people. Another tradition is sitting at a fireplace, which is found in every home. They sit round the fire and watch the dancing flame.

Pubs are also an important part of British life. Pubs sell food and beer and people relax, meet friends, talk and listen to good music there.

British people have always been known for their love of sports. The most popular games are golf, cricket and football. Everybody knows the names of the best players and teams. All kinds of racing come next: horseracing, dog racing, car and boat racings. It is legal to place bets. In English schools sport is an important part of the system of education. They strongly care about their young generation.

The words and phrases to remember:

to consider – считать

to go centuries back – уходить далеко в прошлое

to place a bet – делать ставки

a deep-rooted tradition – традиция с глубокими корнями

Answer the questions:

1. What are the characteristic traits of the English?

2. What do they love most of all?

3. Where do they like to spend their free time?

Ex. 3. Translate from Russian into English.

1. Ученики считают ее хорошим преподавателем.

2. Происхождение этого праздника уходит далеко в века.

3. Англия имеет очень древнюю историю и традиции с глубокими

корнями.

Text 4. Customs and traditions

So many countries so many customs, an English proverb says. A great number of customs and traditions date back to the early days of Great Britain. We can say that they are the reflection of the country’s history and the people’s psychology. The British can be proud of that they preserved their old customs and traditions most of them have been kept without change since the 13^th century.

Some British customs and traditions are famous all over the world. For example, the celebration of New Year and Christmas is similar to our own. People decorate New Year trees, give each other presents, some go to parties at friend’s home or at night-clubs.

St. Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14^th. On that day people send cards and presents to their sweethearts or friends. Some British newspapers have a whole page for Valentine’s Day messages on that day.

April 1^st is April Fool’s Day in Britain. It is linked with the celebration of spring, the return of sun and warmth. This tradition is very old and goes back to the Middle Ages. At that time the servants were masters for one day of the year. They gave orders and the masters had to obey. Now April Fool’s Day is different. It is a day for jokes and tricks.

May 1^st was another important day in the Middle Ages. Early in the morning, young girls went to the field and washed their faces with dew. They believed this made them beautiful for the whole year.

Midsummer’s Day, June 24^th , is the longest day of the year. Even today Druids come to Stonehenge to see the morning sun shine on the famous stones. Stonehenge is one of Europe’s biggest stone circles. The stones are ten meters high and nearly five thousand years old. They say, the Druids used it as a calendar to know the start of months and seasons.

Hallowe’en is celebrated on October 31^st. it is a religious holiday known as All Saint’s Day. The symbols of Hallowe’en are evil spirits (witches, ghosts, goblins and skeletons), black color and pumpkins with scary faces and a candle inside. Children usually go trick or treating on that day.

Guy Fawke’s Day is marked on November 5^th . All over the country people build wood fires or “bonfires”. On top of each bonfire is a guy. It is made of straw and old clothes.

Words and phrases to remember:

to date back – датироваться

to be proud of - гордиться

to preserve – сохранять

to be linked – быть связанным

to obey – подчиняться

to mark – отмечать

a sweetheart – любимый/ая

a message – послание

a scary face – страшное лицо

Answer the questions:

1. What can we say about the customs and traditions of Great Britain? How old

are they?

2. What are the most famous winter traditions?

3. What holidays do they celebrate in spring?

4. What do they mark in summer?

5. What are the most famous autumn traditions?

Ex. 4. Translate from Russian into English.

1. Строительство этой церкви датируется 18 веком.

2. Его сестра гордится своими оценками в школе.

3. Наша задача – сохранить природу для будущего поколения.

4. Этот праздник связан с религией.

5. Граждане должны подчиняться закону.

6. Учитель отметил все мои ошибки.

7. Он оставил сообщение своей любимой.

8. Фильм, который я посмотрел вчера, был не очень страшный.

Ex. 5. Be ready to speak about Great Britain, its geography, political structure, people and traditions.