Hobbies

A hobby is a favourite occupation of a person in his free time.

There are more than 1000 personal interests and ways to spend one's free time. The most popular hobbies are stamp-collecting, collecting view cards, match-box tops, badges, stones, flowers, shells, coins and books.

Gardening and cultivation of flowers, especially roses, is the most common hobby of all among Englishmen.

Some people are interested in photography. They like taking off old buildings: palaces, castles, churches and old houses of historical interest. And some of people like to take photos of friends when they don't know they are being photographed. Others are interested in video films and they record family events there.

Playing a musical instrument, watching TV, swimming, fishing and watching birds are also popular leisure activity in Britain.

A useful hobby is collecting tape recordings. You may have recordings of operas, light music, folk music and concerts.

It's impossible to describe all these 1000 hobbies known in the world. The main thing is that they increase your knowledge in some particular field and broaden your outlook.

VIII. Find in the text ‘Hobbies’ the English equivalents for the following Russian sentences.

1. Наиболее популярные виды любимых занятий - коллекционирование марок, открыток, этикеток со спичечных коробков, значков, камешков, цветов, ракушек, монет и книг. 2. Одним из полезных хобби является коллекционирование аудиозаписей. 3. Некоторые увлекаются фотографированием. 4. Некоторым нравятся видеофильмы, и они запечатлевают на видеокассетах интересные случаи семейной жизни. 5. Можно собирать записи опер, легкой музыки, народных песен и концертов.

IX. Answer the questions:

1. What is your hobby? Say a few words about it. 2. When did you first become interested in it? 3. Have you got any interesting collections at home? 4. What collections have you (your parents, your friends, your sisters and brothers) got? 5. What kinds of hobbies do you know? 6. What is the most popular hobby in our country? 7. What is the most popular hobby among Englishmen? 8. Do you belong to any hobby group (club)? 9. What is your favourite pastime? 10. Do you take much interest in sports? 11. Do you happen to take interest in making things? 12. Do you often take photos?

X. Many English verbs and some nouns and adjectives are used with certain prepositions. Sometimes the verbs and prepositions have special idiomatic meanings, e.g. " John tried to get out of doing his homework." (avoid); and at other times they keep their usual meanings. Remember that the gerund form of a verb must be used after a preposition. Read the story carefully and look for examples of verbs, adjectives and nouns used with prepositions.