Step 3 Answer the following questions and explain the reasons why you enjoy the hobbies you have.

1. Are you an indoor or outdoor person? Why?

2. Are you a competitive or a non-competitive person? Give examples.

3. Are you energetic or do you need to take some effort to entertain yourself?

4. Do you like to relax with your family and friends or alone? Why?

5. Do you prefer team games or individual sports? Why?

7. Write down:

1. Three things that people often play.

2. Three things that people often collect.

3. Five outdoor hobbies which include some physical exercise.

8. Here are some people talking about their hobbies. Can you guess what the hobby is in each case?

1. I usually use colour, but sometimes you get a better effect with black and white. It really depends on the subject.

2. I really enjoy going round the shops and markets looking for a bargain.

3. I try to practise every day, but sometimes it's difficult because I don’t like to disturb my neighbours too much. And one neighbour gets very angry if I play the same thing over and over again.

4. The great thing is you can do it when you like. I usually do it three or four times a week — either early in the morning or after school. I only go for about 25 minutes but it really keeps me fit.

5. Obviously it saves me a lot of money; and in any case, I hate buying things in boutiques because so many things are badly made.

6. I joined a club because I wanted to get better, and I now play twice a week in the evenings. It has helped me a lot and I have a much better memory for all the different moves and strategies.

7. I think this is a very common hobby for people like me, who have a house but don't have much money. That's why I started, but now I think I do a better job than many professionals.

9. Complete these sentences with a suitable verb: do, play, joined, collects, made, go , took up, gave it up.

1. How often do you ... jogging?

2. She hiking because she wanted to get more exercise. Unfortunately, she didn't like it and she …it about six months later.

3. She has always her own clothes; it's much cheaper than buying them.

4. He old coins.

5. I quite a lot of rock climbing when I am on holiday.

6. I learnt to the piano when I was at school.

7. I wanted to improve my chess, so I…. a chess club.

8. I don't really anything in my spare time.

10. Read and dramatize the following dialogues:

- What is your hobby?

- My hobby is collecting old coins.

- How interesting! Have you got many in your collec­tion?

- There are almost eight hundred of them.

- Quite a number, I should say!

* * *

- Is painting your hobby?

- Why do you think so?

- Because there are a lot of pictures in this room

- It's my elder brother's hobby.

- I see, but what about you?

- I prefer stamps.

* * *

- Hello! Where are you going?

- To the stadium.

- What for?

- You know my hobby is football. Will you join me?

- I'm sorry, but I can't. I'm busy now.

- Good-bye, then.

- So long.

* * *

- What is your favourite pastime?

- Fishing, I enjoy fishing very much.

- Do you often go fishing?

- Well, yes. I make a point of spending a few hours on the river every week-end.

* * *

- I’m going to the cinema. Let's go together.

- No, I'm not much of a cinema-goer. I prefer staying at home and watching TV instead of going out anywhere.

- Do you watch TV every day?

- Well, yes. I can always choose a programme to my liking. And if I don’t like it I can always turn it off. So why bother to go out and pay for a cinema seat?

- That's just it! You're drugged by it. That's why I have no TV. And I have time to read, to go to the cinema or the theatre and sometimes invite friends in for a chat.

* * *

- What do you do with your spare time?

- I'm a great theatre-goer. I go to the theatre as often as I can. I don't much mind what play is on provided the production is good.

- And I'm very keen on sport. I spend a couple of evenings a week at the Central Stadium. I also enjoy sitting in ca­fes talking to my friends.

- I'm usually so tired when I come home that I just watch television — any kind of programme. At week-ends I do a lot of reading.

- I collect jazz records and often invite friends to bring theirs for a jazz session.

* * *

- I don't feel like working tonight. We might just as well take the evening off.

- Fine. I'll be glad to keep you company.

- That's a go then. What do we see? What's on at the Ukraine?

- We can find it out on our way down. By the way, have you seen the documentary «Is it Easy to be Young? » What do you think of it?

- The film has impressed me greatly.

- The same with me. No wonder the film is very popular with the youngsters. It's about teen-agers, their problems and conflicts.

* * *

- Where are you going for your vacation?

- To a sanatorium. The doctors said I needed some treat­ment. What are your plans?

- I'm going to a rest-house on the Black Sea coast. There's nothing like swimming and boating for me.

- I quite agree with you. Last year I spent my holiday at a health-resort in the Caucasus. It was provided with a sports ground, a boating station, a library, a billiard room and a dance floor. Various excursions, hikes, con­certs and lectures were arranged for the holiday-makers. How much have you paid for accommodation?

- Half the price of it. My trade union paid the rest of it.

* * *

- What kind of holiday-making do you prefer?

- I prefer a quiet country place with a river and a forest to any other place.

- Isn't it dull and lonely?

- No, not for me, at least. I like fishing, though I am a poor fisher, I'm fond of wandering in the forest picking up mushrooms and berries.

- It's quite different with me. I like to meet different people and make friends with them when on leave.

- Well, tastes differ.

* * *

- They say, a caravan holiday is very popular in Great Bri­tain, isn't it?

- It is, indeed.

- What's the idea behind it?

- Well, if you have a car you can hire a caravan for a few pounds a week. There's a caravan association that will give you information about places where you can stay.

- Travelling by car is rather popular in our country too. There're special camps for car-travellers where you can stay for a night or two and get all necessary things. You meet a lot of people there.

- And what do you think of a walking holiday?

- To my mind, this way of spending a holiday is good only when you are young and healthy and want to see much and don't care much for conveniences. Do you agree with me?

- Absolutely. Personally I don't like it.