American Customs

Americans are very punctual. It is important to be on time at business, social and public events. If you must miss an appointment for any reason, telephone ahead to the person you were supposed to meet, saying that you won’t be able to come.

When you are invited to a home where food will be served, it is best to let your host or hostess know in advance if you are on a diet. It is all right, however, to say, “No, thank you, ” if you would rather not eat or drink what is being served. No further explanation is needed, but if you would like to explain, people are interested.

In some homes the atmosphere is quite formal. In others, it is informal and you may sit at the kitchen table to eat dinner. Informality is a way of taking you into the warmth of the family circle.

It is not always customary to sit at dinner table as we do in Russia. When you are at a party you may be walking from one sitting room to another, talking to the guests with a glass of wine in your hand. Food is served in one of the rooms and you can help yourself to whatever you like and whenever you like.

The Americans may have a party on one occasion in several houses at a time. The party starts in one house where they have some light wine and snacks, and then move to another house and still another, travelling from house to house, taking drinks and food with them; and previous arrangements are made about what food each family cooks. Normally three or four houses are involved. Such a party is called progressive dinner.

Техt № 2

Pubs

The British pub (short for a “public house”) is unique. This is not just because it is different in character from bars and cafes in other countries. It is also because it is different from any other public place in Britain itself. The pub is the only indoor place where the average person can comfortably meet others, even strangers, and get into prolonged conversations with them. In cafes and fast food restaurants, people are classless. A pub with forty customers in it is nearly always much noisier than a cafe or restaurants with the same number of people in it.

As with so many other aspects of British life, pubs have become a bit less distinctive in the last quarter of the twentieth century. They used to serve almost nothing but beer and spirits. These days, you can get wine, coffee and some hot food at most of them as well. This has helped to widen their appeal. At one time, it was unusual for women to go to pubs. These days, only a few pubs exist where it is surprising for a woman to walk in.

Nevertheless, pubs have retained their special character. One of their notable aspects is that there is no waiter service. If you want something, you have to go and ask for it at the bar. This may seem a strange way to make people feel comfortable and relaxed. But to British people it is precisely this. To be served at a table is discomforting for many people. It makes them feel they have to be on their best behavior. But because in pubs you have to go and fetch your drinks yourself, it is more informal. You can get up and walk around whenever you want – it is like being in your own house. This “home from home” atmosphere is enhanced by the relationship between customers and those who work in pubs. Unlike in any other eating or drinking place in Britain, the staff must know the regular customers personally, know what their usual drink is and chat with them.

ВАРИАНТ 4

I. Напишите транскрипцию следующих слов:

day, family, work, daughter, son, nephew, niece, aunt, uncle, father, mother, cousin, nation, square, argue.

II. Переведитеследующиесловосочетания:

art gallery, manager’s office, computer program, business letter, business report, negative results, logical reasons, long prospects, veteran cars, design office.

III. Переведите:

мальчик – мальчики, скамейка – скамейки, стакан – стаканы, жизнь – жизни, город – города, зуб – зубы, ребенок – дети, овца – овцы, рыба – рыбы, совет – советы, место – места, куст – кусты, партия – партии, знание – знания, месяц – месяцы, герой – герои, женщина – женщины, звезда – звёзды, гора – горы, представитель – представители, выходной день – выходные дни, фирма – фирмы, заказчик – заказчики, газета – газеты, вопрос – вопросы, фабрика – фабрики, компьютер – компьютеры, файл – файлы, ответ – ответы, магазин – магазины, письмо – письма.