Post-reading questions

1. Do you have a lot of free time?

2. What else do you do besides going to school?

3. Do you play any musical instruments?

4. Are you fond of listening to music?

5. What kind of music do you prefer?

6. Have you ever collected anything?

7. What is your hobby?

8. What is your best friend’s hobby?

9. Which of your friends collects stamps (records, compact discs, etc)?

10. How do you usually spend your leisure time?

11. What do you do for fun?

12. How do you spend your weekends?

Sometimes people's hobbies turn into a life passion, become an all-absorbing interest of the whole life. Do they always bring satisfaction and pleasure? Read the story that follows and note down in your notebook the main ideas of it.

RECREATION: AMERICAN STYLE

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

Americans love to get out of town 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 man 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 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.

Speaking

1. Discuss with your partner what Americans have in common with the people of your country and how they differ.

1) Have a conversation between a bored teenager and his elder brother (sister) who is trying to interest him (her) in some worthwhile hobby.

2) Exchange instructions with your friend on how to do your favourite hobby.

3) Discuss in a group what hobbies now you regret not taking up when you were younger. Speak about the hobbies that you gave up too soon.

4) It appears that boys and girls from early childhood take up different hobbies.

5) Is there any reason why both girls and boys shouldn't be actively interested in the same pastimes?

6) " It is the busiest man who has time to spare". Say how the proverb deals with the problem of private time. Discuss the proverb with your partner. Give examples of something you have read or experienced that shows the truth of this proverb.

7) Discuss in a group what activities you will encourage your children to enjoy. Are there any you will discourage them from? If yes, why?

2. Everyone has something to enjoy in his life. Many people are experts at some spare time interests. Read a conversation about life’s simple pleasures. Which ones do you find strange? Why?

LIFE’S SIMPLE PLEASURES

3. Work in groups. Try to interview as many people as possible about what they see as their pleasures in life.