There are many opinions on what the Significant Other should be like. Describe your (future) Significant Other

He is someone I’d talk for hours without getting bored

- to respect one’s feelings

- to be sweet, romantic, with a face, like an angel and a body borrowed from a fitness magazine

He should….

I’d like him to…

3. What do you think about the art of marriage?

A good marriage should be created

- to find time to say ‘I love you’ at least once each day

- to have a mutual sense of values and common objectives

- to stand together facing the world

- to speak words of appreciation

- to demonstrate gratitude in thoughtful ways

- to have the capacity to forgive and forget

- finding room for the things of the spirit

- a common search for the good and the beautiful

In a good marriage it’s absolutely important…

You should…

A happy marriage is…

4. Why do people marry?

- to have a deep need for the emotional security / for love and support

- to cope with the problems of daily life

- to want to have children

- in order to increase their wealth

-to marry for love / for money

I think that people marry for different reasons. Some people marry because… Others… But there are those who marry…

5. What can you say about the wedding ceremony in Belarus?

In our country marriage ceremonies can be both civil and church. Church ceremonies have become increasingly popular in recent years. Cavalcades of beautifully decorated cars normally take Belarussian brides and grooms, their families and friends to the celebration. The place is usually a restaurant or café rented for the occasion

6. How do you see your future wedding ceremony?

How? Church/ civil registry office, city hall

Who? Only family, friends and acquaintances, fellow workers

Where? Home, restaurant, canteen, rented apartment

What colors? Clothes?

7. There seems to be nothing wrong with marriage at an early age. What is your opinion?

It’s a well-known fact that in some countries girls marry at the age of 13-15. They do it because of poverty, tradition and family pressure. The United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) had demanded an end to child marriages. They cause a tremendous physical and emotional stress on young women. Young brides tend to be pulled out of school, early marriage means premature pregnancy with added health risks

Choosing a career.

Jobs and careers.

Choosing one’s career is great responsibility

Choosing the kind of career to follow is probably one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Before you make this decision you will have to do a lot of thinking about the things you like to do and about the things you do well. In my opinion the final choice should depend on what you are interested in. And then you have to work hard and decide what subjects to study in order to extend your knowledge depending on what entrance exams you are to take while entering a university or an institute

In our childhood all of us dreamed to become pilots or actors, famous investigators or sportsmen. Then in due course, when we could objectively evaluate our abilities, we, as the saying goes, came down to earth and began to dream of more real things

Choosing the right profession it is also necessary to consider many factors, such as future working conditions, situation in the market, economic bases and others.

I haven’t made my final choice yet. But I think I would like to work in the field of tourism. Tourism is a developing industry in our country and there is much to be done in this field. Modern tourism as business is important to the economy of our country and it may be profitable if it is well organized and managed. Tour companies offer employment in such positions as a tour manager, a group tour specialist, a hotel coordinator and many others.

The job of a travel agent appeals to me most of all. Being a travel agent you should be enthusiastic, persistent, intelligent sociable and easy-going. In my opinion I possess some of the qualities required for this job and I hope I will be able to develop the qualities I don’t have. I like this job because it offers you an opportunity to travel, to meet different people. You can also improve your language skills while speaking with foreigners. I think it’s prestigious and well-paid. Of course being a travel agent means working late hours, working from home and a lack of privacy. But there are no jogs without difficulties.

I’m sure I’ll have no problems finding employment in my country in future. Everybody knows that Belarus is one of the few remaining places on our planet where one can see the miracle of the untouched nature. This very fact creates favorable conditions for developing tourism and recreation services. There are also a lot of places of historical interest. Besides the Belarusians are known for their weaving, straw-inlaid boxes and other traditional handicrafts. So we can offer foreign tourists a lot of souvenirs. It’s a well-known fact that our people are famous for their hospitality, they are always glad to welcome guests.

In conclusion I’d like to say that no matter what profession you chose you should become a good specialist in it. That’s why it’s important to be hard-working, self-organized and with no doubt you should be an optimist

1 Let’s talk about your future profession. What are your professional plans? What is your career goal? What would you like to achieve?

Choosing the kind of career to follow is probably one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Before you make this decision you have to do a lot of thinking about the things you like to do and the things you do well. In my opinion the final choice should depend on what you are interested in. I made my choice many years ago. I decided to work in the field of medical care. You see, I have always been fascinated by learning new things about how human bodies work. And now I feel that being a doctor is my calling. I’m sure I will never regret choosing this job. You can’t but agree that this profession is highly respected. It is challenging and very rewarding to be able to help patients through one of the toughest times in their lives. But it’s a great responsibility too. Just imagine, very often a person’s life may depend on your decision, on your skill. Actually, doctors are real heroes when they bring a patient back from the brink of death. So this job requires skill, talent and commitment. Working in this field you should also be tolerant, generous, hard-working, self-organized. Besides you should develop your communication skills, which are important when working with patients and,with no doubt, you should be an optimist. In my opinion I posses some of the qualities required for this job and I hope I will be able to develop the qualities I don’t have. Being in this job I will never stop learning, because there are many illnesses which people still cannot cure. I would like to become a good highly experienced doctor. I think such doctors are in great demand everywhere in the world. Maybe I will go abroad in order to raise my qualifications but I will surely come back and work for the well-being of our country and our people.

2. Do you agree that the knowledge of a foreign language is necessary to be a success? Why?

I personally think that every educated person nowadays should know at least one foreign language. Take English for example. It has become the language of the planet, the first truly global language. More than half of the world’s scientific periodicals and eighty per cent of the information in the world’s computers are also in English. English is the main language of business. It’s the language of sports, the official language of the Olympics, the international language of pop culture.

3. If you interviewed a person for a job of a teacher what questions would you ask him/ her?

1What are your qualifications? 2. Are you sociable? 3.Do you posses such quality as a sense of humor?

4.Do you love interacting with students? 5.What would you do if your students didn’t like your subject?

6. What are you good at? 7. Have you got ant experience working with children? 8. Are you a creative person? 9 Do you have a passion for this job? 10. What are your weaknesses?

4. Your friend is interested in choosing the right career. Give him advice.

Firstly you should assess your abilities, your strengths and your weaknesses. Then you should assess some professions you are interested in. You can gather information such as job descriptions or work responsibilities, salary, education requirements, necessary experience, work related hazards etc. Moreover you can interview others who are already in the professions and visit the library for additional recourses. You can also search the Internet for relevant information. Besides you can visit a special career centre and ask your friends and family for advice.

5. What can work mean for different people? What is it for you?

I think that some people take a job in order to live, they go to work every day just because they have to. Such people turn themselves into slaves.

There are people who work for money. They try to choose a highly paid job and do their best whether they like it or not. I don’t think they are happy, because money cannot buy love, happiness and health.

For me personally job satisfaction is a top priority. To be successful, the first thing is to fall in love with your work. I can’t say that money doesn’t matter for me. But I know for sure that a highly-qualified specialist in any field can have a good salary nowadays.

6 What questions will you ask your future employer at a job interview?

1. What qualifications do I need for this job?

2. Are there good opportunities for promotion and specialization?

3. Will I have any opportunities to work overseas?

4. What personal qualities do I have to possess?

5. Shall I have any practical experience?

6. What are the working hours?

7. Is the salary paid regularly?

8. Do I have to wear a uniform?

7. Do you want to have a part-time job, when you are a student? Why?

I don’t think it’s a good idea to have a part-time job while studying because it may interfere with my study. On the other hand it’s good to have some practice so if a part-time job is related to my future profession I would like to try it.

8. Some people think it’s necessary to have good communication/ computer skills in order to get a good job. Do you agree with it?

I absolutely agree that it’s good to have good communication skills. First of all it will help you to create a good impression on the employer. Besides many jobs require meeting people, in any case, even if you don’t work with people you have your colleagues to communicate with.

As for computer skills they are absolutely necessary in any field. Even if you don’t work with computers you can use the Internet for getting some interesting and useful information.

9. Is there any kind of job you would never choose? Why?

I wouldn’t like to be a teacher. Of course it’s a noble profession but it requires too much responsibility. A good teacher should not only know his subject very well but he should also love children and devote all his free time to his work

A part-time job

As far as I know a lot of teenagers in Britain work in their free time. Girls often do baby-sitting. Young mothers and fathers sometimes want to go to the cinema or to the party and someone must take care of the baby. So they pay a girl to come and sit with it. It is very easy work if the baby is asleep. The girls just sits and does her homework or reads a book, or watches television. Boys often do a newspaper round. Before school they deliver newspapers to people’s houses. To do that they get up early every day of the week. I think it good for teenagers to have a part-time job.

A job teaches young people to realize the value of work, to budget their time, it teaches them self-discipline they will need for making a success in life. Besides Saturday jobs help parents financially. It’s not always possible for modern parents to buy expensive trainers and clothes. Teenagers with jobs can save money to buy expensive things and help their parents. Having a job you can get some life experience. In Great Britain teenagers after leaving school may go on a so-called “gap year” During this year they can try some job and find out whether you are suitable for it or not. I think it’s not a bad idea. In our country practically everybody tries to enter a university after leaving school. Sometimes it happens so that you choose to be a doctor for example. You pass your entrance exams, you become a student.And then you suddenly realize that you lose consciousness at the sight of blood or dead bodies. You have to leave the university and understand that your time and efforts have been wasted.

But on the other hand a job distracts young people from their studies, they can’t concentrate on their academic work and have fewer chances to go to universities and make a good career

Choosing one’s career is great responsibility

Choosing the kind of career to follow is probably one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Before you make this decision you will have to do a lot of thinking about the things you like to do and about the things you do well. In my opinion the final choice should depend on what you are interested in. And then you have to work hard and decide what subjects to study in order to extend your knowledge depending on what entrance exams you are to take while entering a university or an institute

In our childhood all of us dreamed to become pilots or actors, famous investigators or sportsmen. Then in due course, when we could objectively evaluate our abilities, we, as the saying goes, came down to earth and began to dream of more real things

Choosing the right profession it is also necessary to consider many factors, such as future working conditions, situation in the market, economic bases and others.

I haven’t made my final choice yet. But I think I would like to work in the field of tourism. Tourism is a developing industry in our country and there is much to be done in this field. Modern tourism as business is important to the economy of our country and it may be profitable if it is well organized and managed. Tour companies offer employment in such positions as a tour manager, a group tour specialist, a hotel coordinator and many others.

The job of a travel agent appeals to me most of all. Being a travel agent you should be enthusiastic, persistent, intelligent sociable and easy-going. In my opinion I possess some of the qualities required for this job and I hope I will be able to develop the qualities I don’t have. I like this job because it offers you an opportunity to travel, to meet different people. You can also improve your language skills while speaking with foreigners. I think it’s prestigious and well-paid. Of course being a travel agent means working late hours, working from home and a lack of privacy. But there are no jogs without difficulties.

I’m sure I’ll have no problems finding employment in my country in future. Everybody knows that Belarus is one of the few remaining places on our planet where one can see the miracle of the untouched nature. This very fact creates favorable conditions for developing tourism and recreation services. There are also a lot of places of historical interest. Besides the Belarusians are known for their weaving, straw-inlaid boxes and other traditional handicrafts. So we can offer foreign tourists a lot of souvenirs. It’s a well-known fact that our people are famous for their hospitality, they are always glad to welcome guests.

In conclusion I’d like to say that no matter what profession you chose you should become a good specialist in it. That’s why it’s important to be hard-working, self-organized and with no doubt you should be an optimist

Success is a ladder that cannot be climbed with your hands in your pockets.

All teenagers think about their future. They want to be successful and happy in their grown-up life. But unfortunately not all of them understand that “you cannot climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets”. If you want to achieve something in your life you are to work hard and to learn a lot.

Good education is with no doubt very important nowadays. It gives people the best chance of getting a good job and a better chance of promotion. Besides it helps to develop a personality and find a place in society.

Students are so busy nowadays. We are given many assignments at school. Not all study assignments are pleasant and it is human to want to put off dull or difficult ones. If you really want to be a good pupil the best thing to do is to do the school assignments first and devote the time left over to other enjoyable but less important activities. Of course it is difficult to start with study, but then you will have more fun after your work is done. My life motto is “ Never put off till tomorrow what can be done today.” I always budget my time. First I list all the activities in which I am engaged. Then I set priorities, that is put a number beside each one: “1”- for the most important, “2”- for the next most important and so on. Of course it’s quite easy to make a plan, but it’s much more difficult to stick to it. You should be industrious and persistent to do that. I personally always make plans so that I can accomplish them, as a result I always reach my goal. And I never feel disappointed in myself, and never look for someone to blame. I’m a good student now and I’m sure I’ll be successful in my future career.

1. What is your greatest career ambition?

I would like to work in the field of… Working in this field one should be responsible, energetic, diligent… In my opinion I possess some of the qualities required for this job. I hope I will be able to develop the qualities I don’t have

2. Would you like to be famous?

Of course being a celebrity is not my cup of tea. I wouldn’t like my private life to be the center of everybody’s attention. But the word “famous” has a different meaning. You can be a famous teacher, a famous surgeon and what not. You can be famous for your character and your deeds….I think every person should be famous in the field of his career. I mean to become a highly educated specialist useful for the progress of the society he lives in…...

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being famous?

The main advantage is that famous people are usually good specialists in the field they work in. Of course they earn a lot of money and can afford everything. The main disadvantage is that their private life is always in the center of attention.

4. How can a person achieve fame?

In my view, people can achieve much success in any sphere of life only if they work hard. To realize any talent, a person needs a strong will. People must be devoted to the activity they are keen on. They shouldn’t be afraid of difficulties, bad luck or envy

Food. Health.

What does a healthy way of life mean? How do you look after your health? (Olympiad Form9)

I believe it’s important to think about your health when you are young because this is the age when your body is being formed, so if you don’t care about your health, you are likely to have different diseases when you get older. So, the earlier you acquire good health habits, the better. For example, you should get used to cleaning your teeth and doing morning exercises from the very early age.

In my opinion, we are healthier today than people were fifty years ago because we are more health-conscious than they used to be. Everybody understands that good health is above wealth. To begin with, we have a better diet. In recent years eating habits have changed. People started to eat healthy food, which contains less fat and more fiber and is rich in vitamins. Salads, beans and fruit have taken the place of steak and ice cream. And people today eat more fruit and vegetables than people did many years ago. Of course, we also eat more fast food, but generally I think our diet is much better. Secondly, doctors have learned how to cure more illnesses, so we live longer.

To be healthy, it is very important to do sports or at least morning exercises as well as to spend a lot of time in the open air. In addition, we ought to avoid different bad habits that can affect our health. In my opinion, smoking and drinking too much alcohol are the worst ones. Smoking, for example, causes a number of heart and lung diseases such as pneumonia and cancer. As for me, I don’t smoke, because I don’t want to have unhealthy skin and teeth. If we want to stay healthy, we should also avoid less dangerous habits such as skipping meals, eating unhealthy food and overeating. If we eat too much, we’ll become obese, and obesity leads to serious diseases. A lot of people like drinking cola and coffee and enjoy pizzas and hamburgers. But what is tasty is not always healthy.

We should also visit the dentist regularly and brush our teeth twice a day.

Personally I believe that regularity in life promotes our health. Sleeping eight or nine hours, getting up early, regular meals, a healthy diet and going in for sports are a really good way to live.

What does a healthy way of life mean? How do you look after your health?

Health, physical and mental is a very important aspect of life and as much energy as we give it can never be wasted. People nowadays are more health-conscious than they used to be. They understand that good health is above wealth. There are many things than can be damaging to your health but if you are sensible you can lessen the risks.

To begin with if we want to be healthy we should avoid different bad habits that can affect our health. In my opinion, smoking and drinking too much alcohol are the worst ones. It’s common knowledge that smoking and drinking can shorten our lives dramatically. Smoking is associated with many health problems such as heart and lung diseases, pneumonia and cancer. It also makes your teeth yellow and skin unhealthy. Besides its is dangerous to both the person who is smoking and other people in the same environment who also inhale the smoke. Fortunately, in recent years smoking has received a lot of bad publicity and fewer people smoke nowadays. Some companies don’t employ people who are smokers. Smoking has been banned in most public places; strong warnings are usually printed on packets of cigarettes. I personally don’t smoke because I don’t want to have unhealthy skin and teeth and die young.

Smoking and drinking are joined by less dangerous habits, such as skipping meals, eating unhealthy food, or even overeating. Of course they are not quite as deadly as smoking or drinking alcohol, but they also affect our health. If we eat too much we become obese and obesity leads to serious health problems. A lot of people like drinking coca cola and coffee and enjoy pizzas and hamburgers. But what is tasty is not always healthy. Fast food makes you fat, that is why Americans are the fattest people in the world. In recent years eating habits have undergone a change. People are encouraged to eat less fat and more fiber. Fat is believed to be one of the major causes of obesity and heart disease. High fibre and low fat foods can be found in all shops and supermarkets. Salads, beans and fruit have taken place of steak and ice-cream. The fashion for healthy food is growing all the time. Many people feel they are too fat and try to improve their fitness. There are a lot of ways to lose weight and avoid gaining it. Perhaps the most popular of them is following a diet. If you want to lose weight, you should cut out snacks and desserts, and cut down on fat. Some people count the number of calories they eat every day. This is called a calorie-controlled diet. But excessive dieting can be dangerous too. Some people refuse to eat meat as they consider it harmful. They say a vegetarian diet reduces the risk of cancer and vegetarians live longer than others. I can’t agree with them because meat is an excellent source of good nutrition. Consumed in moderate amounts meat is perfectly good for your health.

Having too much stress at work and at home can also be damaging to a person’s health and can lead to both physical and mental problems. I think the best solution to the problem is having a hobby or spending your holidays in a proper way. I believe that any holiday must be a change. You need to get away from all usual routines, to escape from the stress and the strain of everyday life

To my mind the best way to stay healthy and to keep fit is by going in for sports. Among the benefits of regular exercise are a healthier heart, stronger bones, quicker reaction and more resistance to various illnesses. Besides you can eat as much as you want because you are burning it all off

I also believe that regularity in life promotes our health. Sleeping eight or nine hours, getting up early, regular meals, a healthy diet, going in for sports and spending a lot of time in the open air is a really good way to live.

Health.

Health and fitness have now become one of the major concerns. Earlier life was very hard and humans used to hunt for their living, and their body had a lot of physical exercise. They ate less and exercised more. Now people live well, much better and easier than it was long time ago. They don’t have to be strong to get their food and as a result they hardly do any physical exercise. People don’t choose their food carefully and easily get overweight. Good health is all that one dreams of. Becoming healthier and fitter is not very difficult but needs a lot of work. People should choose what they eat more carefully, eat a well-balanced diet and eat less fast food. It is possible to lose weight just doing regular exercises. So by doing just two simple things; eating properly and exercising regularly one can live most happily than ever.

ВELARUSIAN CUISINE

Modern Belarusian cookery is based on old national traditions which have undergone a long historical evolution. But the main methods of traditional Belarusian cuisine are carefully kept by the people.

Common in Belarusian cuisine were dishes from potato which is called among people "the second bread". There are special potato cafes in the country where you can try various potato dishes. Potato is included into many salads, it is served together with mushrooms, meat; different pirazhki (patties) and baked puddings are made from it. The most popular among the Belarusians are traditional draniki, thick pancakes, prepared from potatoes. A wide spread of potato dishes in Belarusian cuisine can be explained by natural climatic conditions of Belarus which are propitious for growing highly starched and tasty sorts of potatoes.

A lot of place in the diet of the Belarusians belongs to meat and meat products, especially to the pork and salted pork fat. The salted pork fat is used slightly smoked and seasoned with onions and garlic. Dishes prepared from meat are usually served together with potatoes or vegetables such as carrot, cabbage, peas, etc. It is characteristic that many vegetable and meat dishes are prepared in special stoneware pots.

Among dishes from fish the Belarusians prefer galki and also baked or boiled river-fish without special seasonings. In general, what concerns the most common seasonings such as onions, garlic, parsley, dill,, pepper, they are used very moderately in Belarusian cookery.

The Belarussians enjoy eating fresh, dried, salted and pickled mushrooms, and also berries such as bilberry, wild strawberries, red whortlberry, raspberries, cranberry and some others.

Of flour dishes the most popular is zacirka. Pieces of specially prepared dough are boiled in water and then poured over with milk.

Myadukha, berezavik, kvas, beer are traditional Belarusian drinks.

A goose stuffed with apples is a traditional New Year dish.

Machanka is used as a Belarussian traditional saurce for draniki or blini. It may be different in different regions. Most often it is made with pork, sausage, sliced onion, sour cream and flour.

British meals.

The first day in the morning is breakfast. A traditional English breakfast is a cooked meal which may contain sausages, bacon, black pudding, scrambled or fried eggs, mushrooms, boiled potatoes, beans and toast. A continental breakfast is a small uncooked meal: a bread roll or croissant with cheese or ham. The most common drinks at this part of the day are orange juice and a cup of tea or coffee.

If a meal is eaten in the late morning instead of both breakfast and lunch it is called brunch

Lunch is the meal eaten in the middle of the day (usually between 12.30 and 2.00. Many people eat meat, cheese or other sandwiches. Drinks at lunch are very different: fruit juices, coca-cola, Fanta, sprite, pepsi-cola and others.

Supper is the most common name for the meal eaten in the evening (usually between 7.00 and 8.30) Dinner is another name for supper. It is a cooked meal of meat or fish and two veg (vegetables), one of which is often potato. It is common to eat dessert (also known as pudding) after the main dish.

A potluck party.

Potluck parties or potluck dinners are very popular in Great Britain. It is a time for people to get together, enjoy meeting new people or seeing old friends again. Everyone is told to bring a dish. There are some rules who organize potluck parties. All dishes should be prepared in advance. The dishes should be easy to transport. A traditional English dish is shepherd’s pie. In England shepherd’s pie is traditionally made with mutton. You do it in the following way. You make several layers of cooked minced meat and vegetables, with mashed potatoes on the top, and bake it in the oven.

Can you tell me how to cook one of your favorite dishes?

Frankly speaking I’m not very good at cooking but what I can do perfectly well is to cook an apple pie. You need 5 apples, a cup of flour and a cup of sugar, 4 large eggs, a pinch of vanillin powder and a little bit butter. First you peel and slice apples then put eggs and sugar in a bowl and mix them together, add flour. vanillin powder and mix everything again. Then preheat the pan, butter it a little and pour the dough into the pan. Then you should bake your pie in the oven for 30-40 minutes.

Okroshka is a traditional Belarusian dish. To cook okroshka you need some meat, four cucumbers, two onions, two eggs, two potatoes, half a teaspoon salt, half a teaspoon sugar and one litre of kvas, you should also have some sour cream. First you meat and eggs should be boiled.. Then you cut meat, onions, eggs and cucumbers and add sour-cream, salt, sugar and kvas and mix everything carefully. Then you should put the okroshka in the fridge and keep it for some time to make it cool.

What questions can you ask your British friend about their eating habits?

How many meals a day do you usually have? Do you like fast food? Is homemade food better than fast food? Do you like fruit and vegetables? What food do you hate / like? How often do you drink juice? Do you enjoy eating outdoors? Are fast food restaurants popular in your country? Are you a sweet tooth?

What questions will you ask your friend who has invited you to a pot-luck party?

What time will the party start? How many people are going to come? What dishes are they going to bring? What dish should I bring? Shall I cook some traditional Belarussian food?

Food. Meals

Meals in Britain

The usual meals in Britain are breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper.

For breakfast English people mostly have porridge or cornflakes with milk or cream and sugar, bacon and eggs, marmalade with buttered toasts and tea or coffee. For a change they can have a boiled egg, cold ham or fish.

They usually have lunch at about one o’clock. At lunch time in a London restaurant one usually finds a mutton chop or steak and chips, or cold meat, or fish with potatoes and salad, then a pudding or fruit to follow.

Afternoon tea can hardly be called a meal. It is a substantial meal only in well-to-do families. It’s between five or six o’clock

In some houses dinner is the biggest meal of the day. Dinner time is about 7 o’clock in the evening

1. Could you describe to your foreign friend some places of eating out in your country?

There are hotel restaurants, cafes, stolovayas or dining-rooms, ice-cream parlous and snack shops in our country.

Hotel restaurants are open for residents and non residents too. There are state-run and privately-run restaurants. They serve a wide variety of dishes of Belarussian / French and Italian cuisine. They are often open till late at night but they are very expensive.

Cafes are cheaper than restaurants. They concentrate on a limited menu. They serve pizza, hot sausages, sweet dishes

A dining-room is the common person’seatery. It has a small choice of meat or fish, soup, boiled vegetables, tea and coffee

If you have a sweet tooth you can go to an ice-cream parlor.

There are also little snack shops around oars and markets, on streets, near railway or bus stations

2. Fast food restaurants are becoming very popular. Do you think they are a good idea?

There are a lot of arguments in favor and against fast food restaurants

On the one hand… On the other hand…

For Against

- the service is very quick - the food contains a lot of fat and is unhealthy

- the restaurants are usually very clean - the food is not cheap

- the atmosphere is informal - the restaurants create much litter

- they are the same everywhere so you know exactly - the material which is often used for fast food

what you can order cartons takes centuries to decay and contains

elements dangerous for your health

3. A good diet is linked to good health. Do you agree?

It’s a well-known fact that a poor diet is linked to a battery of illnesses. If you don’t want to suffer from digestive problems, obesity and heart diseases you should follow a healthy diet and take regular exercise

- the total amount of fat should be reduced

- you should eat more fresh fish, lean mean and poultry

- plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables are useful for your health

- you must cut down on eating sugary foods, and limit the quantity of salt

4. What do you think of a vegetarian diet?

I don’t think it’s possible for everyone to follow such a diet. To my mind a person should consult the doctor first. The thing is that lentils and beans which are a source of protein for vegetarians are mainly starchy and can be bad for your heath

5. Do you enjoy eating outdoors?

Of course I do. I think that food tastes better when it is eaten in the open air. In my opinion food in the open air becomes simply magical

6. What can spoil eating outdoors?

Bad weather, I mean heavy rain, strong wind can spoil a picnic. Mosquitoes and flies can also make your picnic not very pleasant

7. What places do people usually have meals at?

People choose different places according to their needs. If they want to relax, they go to a restaurant. If they are in a hurry, they visit fast food places and when they are traveling they stop off at mobile canteens or motorway stations or they pack a picnic. In restaurants you can expect varied and high quality food and drink, including alcohol, whereas in fast food places the food is often greasy and not as healthy. Also you can usually only choose soft drinks. My favorite place to eat is a fast food restaurant because the atmosphere is relaxed and informal, there is quick service and the prices are low.

Money. Shopping