British National Life

Задание: Прочесть текст и выполнить упражнения после текста.

Britain’s flag is called the “Union Jack”. It is really three flags on top of each other-the red cross on white of St George for England, the white “X” on blue of St Andrew for Scotland, and the red “X” on white of St Patrick for Ireland.

Like Americans, British people have fun with their flag. They put it on biscuit tins, party hats and plastic bags. But unlike Americans, most British people do not like to talk about or show patriotic feelings. They feel too embarrassed. You will see the Union Jack on top of government offices in London, but you will not often find it in shops, in offices, or in people’s homes.

Every now and then, British people forget to be embarrassed. This usually happens on a royal occasion, like a wedding, or an anniversary. Then they all bring out their Union Jacks, have picnics and fireworks, sleep out all night in the open to watch the soldiers and the royal family go past-and even talk to strangers!

On really special occasions, some people arrange “street parties”. They close the street so that cars cannot get through, and put up tables and chairs. People bring food for everyone to share. There are games and races for the children, and in the evening everyone dances, in the middle of the street where they live. It doesn’t happen very often – perhaps only once in ten or twenty years – but it’s an occasion that everyone remembers.

British National Life

Are these statements true or false?

1. You will often find the Union Jack in shops, in offices, or in people’s homes.

2. People sleep out all night in the open air to watch the royal family go past on a royal occasion.

3. British people regularly close streets so that cars cannot get though.

4. Members of the royal family sometimes talk to strangers on occasions like a wedding or an anniversary.

5. During «street parties» games and races are arranged for children.

Answer the questions:

1. What is “Union Jack”?

2. What fun do British people have with their flag?

3. Why don’t British people like to show patriotic feelings?

4. When do British people forget to be embarrassed?

5. How often are “street parties” arranged?

British homes

Задание: Прочесть текст и выполнить упражнения после текста.

British homes are usually smaller than American homes, but, like Americans, old people, young families and unmarried people do not usually live together.

Many British people love old houses, and these are often more expensive than modern ones. They also love gardening, and you will see gardens everywhere you go, in towns, villages and out in the country. Some are very small, with just one tree and a few flowers. Others are enormous, with plenty of flowers and enough vegetables and fruit trees to feed a family.

There are 19 million homes in Britain – big homes and small homes, old cottages and new high-rise buildings, houses and flats. (Americans say “apartment”, but British people say “flat”.)

Half of the families in Britain own their own homes. Millions of these “owner-occupied” houses are the same, with two or three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, a sitting room, a dining room and a kitchen downstairs, and a small garden at the back and front of the house. To pay for their house, home owners borrow money from a “building society” and pay back a little every month.

One third of British people live in rented state-owned homes, called “council houses”. Many of these are flats, but some are houses, each with a small piece of garden. Other people rent their homes from private owners.

There are a great many different kinds of homes in Britain, but they are not enough! It can be difficult for young people to find a home when they get married and start a family.

British homes

Are these statements true or false?

1. British homes are bigger than American homes.
2. Old people and young families usually live together.
3. Old houses are often more expensive than modern ones.
4. Half of the families in Britain own their own homes.
5. Half of British people live in rented state-owned homes.

Answer the questions:

1. Do many British people love old houses?
2. What gardens are there in Britain?
3. What kinds of homes are there in Britain?
4. Why do home owners borrow money from a “building society”?
5. Is it easy or difficult for young people to find a home when they start a family? Why?

Sport in Britain

Задание: Прочесть текст и выполнить упражнения после текста.

The British are a sporting nation. Like everyone else they love football – in fact, they invented it. Most British towns and cities have a football team. Every year, each team plays in the Football Association competition. The two best teams play in the Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in London. Some fans pay up to £200 for a ticket for the Cup Final. It is one of the biggest sporting events of the year.

Cricket is a typically British game. The only other countries that play are Pakistan, India, the West Indies, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Cricket is a summer game, lovely to watch from under old trees on a village “green”. It looks slow, but it can be exciting if you understand what’s going on. There are eleven men in each team. One man, (“the bowler”) throws the ball, and a “batsman” hits it with his bat.

Cricket is a very long game. The big international matches go on for five days. But in the real English way, players always stop for tea.

Tennis is another popular game in Britain. Every summer, in June, the biggest international tennis tournament takes place at Wimbledon, a suburb of London. There are strawberries and cream for sale, and everyone hopes the rain will stay away.

Many British people who live near the sea, a lake, or a river enjoy sailing. If you are really enthusiastic, and rich enough to buy your own boat, you can take part in one of the annual sailing races or “regattas” at Cowes, near Portsmouth, for example, or at Henley on the river Thames.

Sport in Britain

Are these statements true or false?

1. Few British towns and cities have a football team.
2. The Cup Final is one of the biggest sporting events of the year.
3. Cricket is a winter game.
4. Every summer, in August, the biggest international tennis tournament takes place at Wimbledon.
5. Many British people enjoy sailing.

Answer the questions:

1. Why do some fans pay up to £ 200 for a ticket for the Cup Final?

2. In which countries is cricket played?

3. How long do the big international cricket matches go on?

4. When do sports fan eat a lot of strawberries and cream?

5. Where are the annual sailing races or «regattas» held?

American homes

Задание: Прочесть текст и выполнить упражнения после текста.

Many young Americans do not live with their families, but in apartment blocks or residential areas where everyone is more or less of the same age.

Young people often move away from home where they leave school (if they can afford it) into shared apartments or small, one-room «studio» apartments. They do their own cooking and cleaning, and go to the family home perhaps for the weekend.

Young married couples may move to new suburbs where most people have young families. In the country some even build their houses themselves.

If a family’s income goes up, they often move to another suburb, where the houses are bigger, with two or even three garages, a swimming pool, a games room for the children, and everything a family could want.

Old people often do not live with their grown up children. Many live in old people’s homes. Some live in special towns, built for old people, where there are no young children and the atmosphere is quiet.

Americans are always on the move, and some families change their homes every few years. Every year, 20% of Americans move house. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz could start life in an apartments in New York, go on to a white painted, wooden home in New England, with small windows to keep out the cold in winter, and end their life in a sunny house in California, where oranges grow in the garden, and big windows give a wonderful view of the swimming pool and the sea.

American homes

Are these statements true or false?

1. All young Americans live with their families.

2. Young people share apartments or small one-room “studio” apartments.

3. Young families often move to another suburb where the houses are bigger if their income goes up.

4. Old people live with their grown up children.

5. Americans don’t like to change their homes every few years.

Answer the questions

1. Where do young Americans live with their families?

2. When can young families move to another suburb?

3. Where do old people prefer to live?

4. What rooms are there in a typical American house?

5. Are there special towns for old people?