Music Festivals

People have always gone to concerts to hear their favorite musicians perform. Since the 1960s, a related form of _________ has grown in __________: the music festival. A music festival is usually organized over a couple of days and is like a series of mini-concerts from a number of artists. The _________ get to see different acts and usually have to pay an _________ fee to get into the festival. At larger festivals, such as Glastonbury in the UK, they can then choose which stage to visit. It can be very _________ and the crowd shows their ___________ of the musicians by dancing and cheering. At many festivals, other are also organized, such as juggling or fire-eating displays. The first major festival took place in America at a place called Woodstock. It was free, and the __________ was very high – many thousands of people got together at this very event. Many of the musicians who performed there went on to become very ___________ .

entertain popular spectate enter excite appreciate active fame

4. Write / make up a story (cram story, a letter) on the given situations using topical vocabulary.

1. You are going to Germany on holiday. Write to an old friend who moved there many years ago to inform him of your visit and to make arrangements to meet.

2. Your daughter is not happy with her ballet dances classes. She says there are too many children in one class. Complain to the ballet school explaining the problem and offering the suggestion.

3. You recently went on a rafting weekend where you had a bad accident. Send to the organizers a thanking letter for their help and professional service.

4. You want to make a national competition for young musicians. Write a newspaper advertisement about it.

5. Write a letter to the manager of your favorite football team asking if you and your friend can visit the stadium and possibly meet some of the players.

BLOCK III

1. Fill in the text with the word that best fits each gap.

American County Fairs

Each summer, counties all … the United States hold county fairs. The fairs have been taking place for more … 150 years, and serve as a good way to bring … people of the county together for a little food and fun.

Typically, a county fair has a variety … activities and events. Central to every fair, however, … the animal shows. Participants from tots to teens have the opportunity to prepare, then present their animal for show. The shows are judged … experts, and one animal in every category wins a prize, usually a blue ribbon. The animals must … well fed, in good health and well groomed. Often the horses have bows and ribbons tied in their hair, and the rabbits wear fancy collars. The children take great pride in carrying for their animals, and … forward to the fair every year.

Besides animals, there are also displays of handmade arts and crafts. These too are judged in competition with each … . Looking at the handmade quilts and sweaters, one imagines what life was … a hundred years ago. The county fair competitions provide a good way … preserving old art forms for new generations. County fairs usually last … about a week, and are often held in July. Visitors like to make the trip to see the animals and crafts. Kids love the excitement too. All in all, a trip to the local county fair makes for a very pleasant summer’s day.

2. Read an article about trainspotting. Six sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-G the one which fits each gap (1-5). There is one extra sentence which you don’t need to use. An example at the beginning is given (0).

A It is also important to stay a safe distance from the tracks.

B Steam trains are the most beautiful.

C Unlike some hobbies, you don’t need a lot of expensive equipment.

D It can be in beautiful countryside or by an old bridge.

E I just don’t understand what so funny.

F York Station is also very popular.

G The final aim of this is to have seen every train in the country.

A hobby which is particularly strange to many people is trainspotting or trainfanning, as it is called in America. This pastime usually involves standing on the platform of a railway station in all kinds of weather and for many hours, writing down the serial numbers of all trains that pass through the station on that day. 0 – G.

1____ A pen or pencil, a notebook for the train numbers, a camera and perhaps a pair of binoculars is all that most people take with them. You also need a lot of patience.

There are two very busy places in England for trainspotters. Clapham junction Station, which is to the south of London, is one of them. It is the busiest station in the country.

2_____ It is in northern England and it has the National Railway Museum nearby.

Although people laugh at trainspotting and say that it’s boring, those who have taken up this hobby disagree. ‘It’s not just about standing on a platform and writing the numbers of trains as they pass through a station,’ says Bob Turner, who has been a trainspotter for 20 years. ‘It also involves activities like watching trains from a favorite location. 3_____ We also ride trains for fun, take photographs or even visit railway shows and museums. Being a trainspotter also increases a person’s interest in rail history.’

There are also a few rules that trainspotters follow for their own and other people’s safety. ‘Safety is very important,’ says Bob. ‘You must always cross the tracks at the proper crossing, not just at any point, and you must always expect a train on any tracks from any direction and at any time. 4_____ You must never walk along the tracks, on bridges or through tunnels. Nobody should risk having an accident while enjoying a hobby.’ Does he really enjoy it? ‘Yes I do!’ says Bob, smiling. ‘I don’t know why people think it’s something to laugh at. 5_____ Trainspotting can be a great way to spend your time. I have traveled all around the country looking at all kinds of trains and I have seen lots of great places.’

• Do you personally consider trainspotting as a hobby?

• Is trainfanning peculiar to megalopolises only?

• Is this extraordinary hobby common with your country?

• Have you ever thought of taking up trainspotting?

3. Read an article about water parks and do the activities that follow.

Let’s Get Wet

Back in the 1970s, a typical family day out was a trip to the local leisure center. Every town had one and they were basically all the same, with a large rectangular swimming pool (shallow at one end, deep at the other), a separate deep-water area with several diving boards, and a kiddie-pool for babies or those who couldn’t swim.

How things change! Now – thankfully – we have the water park, based on the notion that swimming on its own is not the most interesting activity in the world. People get bored easily, and demand a lot more entertainment for their money.

In Britain, most water parks are a combination of pools in an enclosed area and in the open area. In Mediterranean countries, because of their warmer and drier climate, they are more often than not completely outdoors. All, however, provide much more than the chance to swim a few lengths.

Unlike the leisure center, there’s little point just turning up for an hour or two. This is partly because there is so much to do, and partly because there is usually an entrance fee which, although quite reasonable if you make the most of what’s on offer, is not cheap.

So what is there to do? All water parks have a number of slides. These are not the old-fashioned straight slides on the 1970s, though. They come in all shapes and sizes – some are open, some are totally enclosed tunnels, some are steep, some are bumpy, some twist sharply, some you can go down in pairs, or on rubber rings. All of them have water flowing down them. You can often choose how you want to go down – head first, feet first, on your front or back, sitting up, lying down. Your position affects your speed – and how much water will splash into your face!

Other attractions often include the rapids – in which you make your way through a man-made river, surviving the obstacles such as backwards flowing currents, waterfalls and rapids. It’s exhilarating and – at times – a little scary, and for some reason kids are much better and getting round than adults. The baby-brother of the rapids is the lazy pool, where the current gently takes you round a circular channel of water. It’s relaxing more than exciting, and some lazy pools even have a jacuzzi half way round.

5. Choose the answer (A, B, C, D) which you think fits best according to the text.

1. The idea about water parks is that people

Awant more than just a simple swimming pool;

Bfelt leisure centers were too expensive;

Cneed to be entertained 24 hours a day;

Ddon’ t enjoy swimming.

2. How do water parks in Britain differ from those in Mediterranean countries?

Apools in British water parks are always inside;

Bpools in Mediterranean water parks are in the open air;

CMediterranean water parks are sometimes connected to a holiday resort;

DBritish water parks have indoor and outdoor facilities.

3. How do water parks slides differ from leisure center slides?

Awater park slides are much faster;

Bwater park slides are connected to a water supply;

Cwater park slides are more frightening;

Dwater park slides are much wider.

4. What do the rapids and the lazy pool have in common?

Athe water is moving;

Bthey both take you round in a circle;

Cthey are designed for children;

Dthey are both very exciting.

6. Find these words and phrases in the text and underline them. Define their meanings.

Rectangular, diving boards, combination of pools, entrance fee, reasonable, slides, enclosed tunnels, to splash into face, to survive the obstacles.

7. Find a word in the article to complete these phrases.

Kiddie-………. / water ………. / rubber ………. / a man-made ………. / flowing ………. / lazy ………. / a circular ………. .

8. Discuss the following: Which would you prefer to go: the beach, a water park or a traditional swimming pool?

4. Agree / disagree with the following statements. Prove your reason. Start your answer with I think… / I feel… / I believe… / I think it is fair to say… / In my opinion… / I think that depends on …

1. Watching TV makes people lazy and stupid.

2. Bungee jumping should be banned because it’s a dangerous and crazy activity.

3. Playing video games encourages violent behavior among teenagers.

4. Students who play computer games perform poorly at school.

5. Young people should not play chess. It is meant for old people.

6. Surfing is a hobby for men, not women.

7. Playing football is more interesting than playing tennis.

BLOCK IV

Topics for discussion and essays.

1. Do you have a hobby? Do you have enough free time?

2. How do you like to spend your free time (going shopping / going to the cinema / chatting / playing computer games / going to the disco / playing sports / reading / relaxing)?

3. Do you think sport is different from hobby?

4. Which hobbies are the most expensive / the cheapest?

5. Which hobbies cost nothing at all?

6. Are there any dangerous hobbies?

7. Which hobbies are the most popular in your country?

8. Which hobbies are the most popular with women in your country? With men?

9. Can you think of any hobbies which are popular with children and adults?

10. Are there any hobbies you would like to try?

11. Are there any hobbies you can do in other countries, but not your own?

LESSON 14

Arts (Cinema, Theatre, TV, Music, Painting, Modern Arts)

Art is not a thing; it is a way.

Art is long, life is short (Hippocrates)

Let me ask you something, what is not art?

Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.

The world today doesn’t make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do? (Pablo Picasso)

Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.