Vocabulary

time to spare ['spea] свободное время

flora f'fkxra] растительный мир

fauna ['fo:na] животный мир

to be good at быть способным к

envy f'envi] зависть

to exchange [iks'tjeind3] обмениваться

schoolmates школьные друзья

compact disc ['kompaekt 'disk] player проигрыватель

компакт-дисков

booklet ['buklit] вкладыш (к компакт-дискам)

specialised ['spejalaizd] специализированный

to keep up with быть в курсе, не отставать

rave [reiv] рейв (музыкальный стиль) to brush up освежать (в памяти), восстанавливать

fan-club клуб любителей (той или иной группы) autograph ['o:tsgra:f] автограф

Questions

1. Nick doesn't have much time to spare, does he?

2. Why was he good at geography and biology at school?

3. What is his new hobby?

4. Why does Nick try not to miss MTV shows?

5. Do you think his English is good?

6. Have you ever written a fan letter to your favourite singer?

7. Are you fond of listening to music?

8. What kind of music do you prefer?

9. Do you play any musical instruments?

10. Have you ever collected anything?

11. What is your hobby?

12. What is your best friend's hobby?

13. Which of your friends collects stamps (records, compact discs, etc)?

14. Do you watch MTV?

15. How do you usually spend your leisure (['1езэ] досуг) time?

TRAVELLING

Millions of people all over the world spend their holidays travelling. They travel to see other countries and continents, modern cities and the ruins of ancient towns, they travel to enjoy picturesque places, or just for a change of scene. It's always interesting to discover new things, different ways of life, to meet different people, to try different food, to listen to different musical rhythms.

Those who live in the country like to go to a big city and spend their time visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at exotic restaurants. City-dwellers usually like a quiet holiday by the sea or in the mountains, with nothing to do but walk and bathe and laze in the sun.

Most travellers and holiday-makers take a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them — the sights of a city, old churches and castles, views of mountains, lakes, valleys, plains, waterfalls, forests; different kinds of trees, flowers and plants, animals and birds.

Later, perhaps years later, they will be reminded by the photos of the happy time they have had.

People travel by train, by plane, by boat and by car.

All means of travel have their advantages and disadvantages. And people choose one according to their plans and destinations.

If we are fond of travelling, we see and learn a lot of things that we can never see or learn at home, though we may read about them in books and newspapers, and see pictures of them on TV. The best way to study geography is to travel, and the best way to get to know and understand people is to meet them in their own homes.

Vocabulary

ruins ['ridnz] руины, развалины

ancient ['einjant] древний

to enjoy [in'd30i] наслаждаться

picturesque [piktja'resk] живописный

change of scene [si:n] перемена обстановки

to discover [dis'k/we] открывать, обнаруживать

rhythm [ridm] ритм

art gallery ['gaeleri] картинная галерея

exotic [ig'zotik] экзотический

restaurant ['restront] ресторан

city-dweller ['dwele] горожанин

to bathe [beid] купаться

to laze [leiz] in the sun валяться на солнце

holiday-maker отдыхающий, отпускник

camera ['kaemare] фотоаппарат

to take pictures of фотографировать

sight ['salt] вид

church [tjaitj] церковь

castle f'ka:sl] замок