Recreation American style

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A “hobby” is usually something that a person does alone. But American (and British) families sometimes like to do things together, too. American families often have quite a lot of money to spend on their recreation. They can all enjoy their holiday in the town or city or their boat somewhere in the country away from home.

Americans love to get out of towns into the wild, and many go for holidays or long weekends into the thirty-five fabulous national parks. These magnificent areas of countryside include tropical forests, high mountains, dry deserts, long sandy coasts, grassy prairies and wooded mountains full of wild animals. The idea of these parks, which cover 1% of the whole area of the USA, is to make «a great breathing place for the national lungs», and to keep different parts of the land as they were before men arrived. There are camping places in the national parks as well as museums, boat trips and evening campfire meetings.

Americans really enjoy new «gadgets», especially new ways of travelling. In the winter, the woods are full of «snowmobiles» (cars with skis in the front). In the summer they ride their «dune buggies» across the sands or take to the sky in hang gliders.

But Americans do not only spend their free time having fun. They are very interested in culture too. Millions take part-time courses in writing, painting and music and at the weekends the museums, art galleries and concert halls are full.

Recreation American style

Are these statements true or false?

1. Americans don`t love to get out of towns into the wild.
2. There are camping places in the national parks.
3. Americans don`t enjoy new ways of travelling.
4. Americans are very interested in culture.
5. Americans take part-time courses in writing, painting and music.

Answer the questions:

1. Do American families often have quite a lot of money to spend on their recreation?
2. Where can American families enjoy their holidays?
3. What do fabulous national parks include?
4. What is the idea of these parks?
5. Do Americans only spend their free time having fun?

Clothes

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These days most people in Britain and the USA do not wear very formal clothes. But sometimes it is important to wear the right thing.

Many British people don’t think about clothes very much. They just like to be comfortable. When they go out to enjoy themselves, they can wear almost anything. At theatres, cinemas and concerts you can put on what you like - from elegant suits and dresses to jeans and sweaters. Anything goes, as long as you look clean and tidy.

But in Britain, as well as the USA, men in offices usually wear suits and ties, and women wear dresses or skirts (not trousers). Doctors, lawyers and businessmen wear quite formal clothes. And in some hotels and restaurants men have to wear ties and women wear smart dresses. Jeans and open shirts are sometimes not allowed.

In many ways, Americans are more relaxed than British people, but they are more careful with their clothes. At home or on holiday most Americans wear informal or sporty clothes. But when they go out in the evening, they like to look elegant. In good hotels and restaurants men have to wear jackets and ties, and women wear pretty clothes and smart hairstyles.

It is difficult to say exactly what people wear in Britain and the States, because everyone is different. If you are not sure what to wear, watch what other people do, and then do the same.

You’ll feel more relaxed if you don’t look too different from everyone else.

Clothes

Are these statements true or false?

1. These days most people in Britain and the USA often wear very formal clothes.
2. Many British people think about clothes very much.
3. Doctors, lawyers and businessmen wear quite formal clothes.
4. In some hotels and restaurants men have to wear ties and women wear smart dresses.
5. Jeans and open shirts are allowed in all restaurants.

Answer the questions:

1. What do British people wear when they go out to enjoy themselves?

2. What do they put on when they go to theatres, cinema or concerts?

3. What do men and women wear in offices?

4. Are American or British people more careful with their clothes?

5. What do men and women have to wear in good hotels and restaurants?

Birthdays
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For British and American people, birthdays are very special days, especially for children. Parents and family members send cards and give presents. Often, children have birthday parties. They invite their friends, who bring presents to the party. There are games and prizes, and a birthday “tea” with sandwiches, biscuits, ice cream and a birthday cake. There are small candles on the cake. If the child is four years old, he has four candles. If he is five, he has five candles, and so on. When the little guests leave, they each get a small present and a balloon.

Birthdays are special days for older people too. Family members and friends give presents, and send birthday cards. When people meet someone on their birthday, sometimes even at work, they say “Happy birthday!” or “Many happy returns of the day” (This means “I hope you will live to have many more birthdays.”)

The most important birthday is the eighteenth. When you are eighteen, you are grown up. You can vote, you can get married, and you can even go to prison! People often have a big party on their eighteenth birthday, and receive a lot of presents. Until a few years ago, the most important birthday was the twenty - first, and some people still wait for their big party until they are twenty-one.

Fortieth and seventieth birthdays are also rather special, and in Britain, if you live to be a hundred, the Queen sends you her congratulations.

Birthdays

Are these statements true or false?

1. For British and American people birthdays are very special days.
2. When the little guests leave, they never get any small presents.
3. The most important birthday is the sixteenth.
4. If you live to be a hundred, the Queen sends you her congratulations.
5. Thirtieth and fiftieth are also rather special.

Answer the questions

1. How do parents and family members arrange birthdays for their children?

2. How many candles can there be on a birthday cake?

3. What do the little guests get when they leave the birthday party?

4. What do the words “Happy birthday!” or “Many happy returns of the day!” mean?

5. What are the most important birthdays for American people?

PUBS

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Pubs are an important part of life in Britain. People go to the pub to relax, meet friends, and sometimes to do business.

But pubs are not open to everyone, and they are not open all the time. People under the age of 14 cannot go into pubs. And they are only open from about 11 am (“opening time”) until 2.30 pm (“closing time”).When it’s closing time, the barman calls “Time!” or “Time, gentlemen, please!”

You can buy most kinds of drinks in a pub: beer, lager, all kinds of wine, spirits, liqueurs, fruit juice and soft drinks. Beer is the most popular drink, and there are many different kinds. You ask for beer by the “pint” (a little more than half a litre) or the “half pint”. When people buy beer, they ask for “bitter” (strong beer), “mild” (less strong), or lager. Some people just say the name of the maker: “a half of Double Diamond, please”. Or “Two halves of Export, please.”

Most pubs do not sell hot drinks, like coffee or tea, but many sell hot and cold food. Pub food (called “pub grub”) is often good, is cheaper than most restaurant food, and you don’t have to leave a tip. But you do have to go to the bar to get your food and drink. There are no waiters in pubs.

Pubs

Are these statements true or false?

1. Pubs are open all the time.

2. All pubs sell hot drinks, like tea or coffee.

3. Pub food is cheaper than most restaurant food.

4. Customers have to leave a tip in pubs.

5. Customers ask for beer by the “pint” or the “half pint”.

Answer the questions:

1. Who is admitted to pubs?

2. Why do people go to pubs?

3. What kinds of beer do customers ask for in pubs?

4. Who serves drinks and food in pubs?

5. Why is it better to have meals in pubs?