Text B. Culture, Leisure, Entertainment, Sports

Usually major cities regularly host many concerts, art exhibitions, lectures, and theatrical performances. And on a smaller scale, the same is true of smaller cities. Performances and exhibitions are usually very well attended. Tickets can be hard to get, despite their high prices! Many cities have large communities of artists, actors, dancers, and musicians.

The national and state governments, as well as private organizations, have traditionally supported the arts with money.

Though art and "high" culture are important, the most popular sources of entertainment and information are television, movies, radio and recorded music. With cable TV, a lot more programs are available, but many people still complain about the low intellectual level of TV. They also feel that the emphasis on youth, sex, and money teaches children (and adults) the wrong values and goals. These criticisms are often made about American movies too. But despite the "bad" movies, many wonderful and internationally successful movies are produced in the U.S. The rapid spread of videotaped movies, watched nightly by millions of people in their homes, has made movies an even more popular and influential form of entertainment in recent years.

People like car trips, but they don't usually just drive and sightsee. They like to have a destination. Amusement parks, beaches, and other special attractions are always crowded when the weather is good.

Airplane travel is also common in many countries. At holiday time, many people fly to other cities to visit friends and relatives. During the winter, many people take short vacations to places with warm climates, like Florida and the islands of the Caribbean.

I. Read text B without a dictionary.

II. Find in text B the English equivalents for the following Russian phrases:

художественная выставка, высокая цена, театральный спектакль, в меньшем масштабе, трудно достать, несмотря на, музыкант, частные организации, источник информации, кабельное телевидение, быть в наличии, жаловаться (на), низкий интеллектуальный уровень, взрослый, распространение видеофильмов, осматривать достопримечательности.

III. Find in text B the answers to the following questions:

1. Where are some of the world's greatest museums, orchestras, theatres, and concert halls located? 2. Are performances and exhibitions well attended? 3. Tickets can be hard to get despite their high prices, can't they? 4. Who usually supports the arts with money? 5. What are the most popular sources of entertainment and information? 6. What do many people complain about? 7. What can you say about American movies? 8. People like to travel, don't they? 9. What are the most common ways of travelling?