Read the interview about a Canadian family. Use the questions to speak about a typical Russian family.

НАШ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ

OUR UNIVERSITY

Методическое пособие по развитию устной речи

2-е издание,

дополненное и переработанное

Хабаровск

Издательство ДВГУПС

УДК 811.111(075.8) ББК Ш143.21-923

Н 506

Рецензенты:

Кафедра «Иностранные языки»

Тихоокеанского государственного университета

(заведующая кафедрой кандидат социологических наук

И.Ф.Уманец)

Доцент кафедры «Иностранные языки»

Дальневосточного государственного университета путей сообщения

кандидат экономических наук

А.Н.Бессонова

Немтинова О.С.

Наш университет. Our University: уч. пособие по ин.языку /

Н 506 О.С. Немтинова. – 2-е изд., доп. и перераб.- Хабаровск: Изд-во ДВГУПС, 2013. - 51 с.

Методическое пособие соответствует рабочей программе дисциплины «Иностранный язык».

Пособие включает речевой материал, связанный с описанием жизни студента и его учебы в университете и имеют своей целью развитие навыков устной речи.

Предназначено для студентов 1-го и 2-го курсов всех форм обучения направления 38.03.01 «Экономика» и 23.05.01 «Наземные транспортно-технологические средства».

УДК 811.111(075.8)

ББК Ш143.21 -923

©ДВГУПС,2006,2014

ВВЕДЕНИЕ

Данное методическое пособие предназначено для студентов 1-2 курсов неязыковых вузов с целью развития навыков устной речи. В основе лежит тематический принцип, ориентированный на активизацию лексики. Пособие помогает развить такие навыки речевой деятельности как перевод, пересказ, ведение самостоятельной беседы на английском языке.

Учебное пособие включает в себя три урока (Units), посвященные описанию жизни студента и его учебы в университете. Каждый урок включает основной текст (Text), список лексических и фразеологических единиц, рекомендуемых для усвоения (Active Vocabulary), вопросы, проверяющие понимание текста (Comprehension questions), упражнения, направленные на активизацию словаря (Vocabulary Practice Exercises), упражнения по развитию навыков чтения и устной речи (Additional Reading and Speech Practice Exercises), темы для письменных работ (Writing)

Раздел “Supplementary Reading” содержит дополнительные тексты, взятые из оригинальных источников и Интернет-ресурсов. Тексты подобраны с учетом их познавательной ценности, информативности и актуальности. Их можно использовать как для работы в классе, так и для самостоятельной работы студентов.

Данное пособие можно использовать как на первых занятиях английского языка в университете, так и на 2 курсах для повторения соответствующих устных тем перед экзаменами. Пособие может быть также полезно аспирантам и всем, кто занимается совершенствованием английского языка, изучая его самостоятельно.

UNIT1

I. Text

About myself

Hello, friends. My name is Andrey, my surname is Ivanov. I am 17 years old. My birthday is on the 25th of October. I live in Khabarovsk. It’s my native city. I'm a first-year student of Far Eastern State Transportation University. My father wanted me to follow in his footsteps and become a businessman, but I think this profession is not good for me. I am not interested in business or economics. I want to become a programmer. I am interested in computers. My favourite subjects at school were mathematics, physics and computer science. That’s why I’ve entered the Institute of Operation, Automation and Telecommunication. I think that the profession of a programmer gives a lot of opportunities. We are living in the age of information and I think that the future is just filled with computers. I spend much time online, surfing the Net in search of interesting information in different spheres of life and technology. It's my favourite pastime.

Reading is the best way of relaxation for me. I prefer to read science fiction, fantasy, historical novels or detective stories. My favourite book is “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. These stories are brilliantly written, full of bizarre crimes and they’ve got a terrific Victorian atmosphere. When you read them you really feel like you’ve been carried back to the nineteenth-century London.

Sport is an essential part of my life. I can play basketball and football rather well. I get a real joy taking part in competitions or simply playing with my friends. I'm also fond of swimming. I'm very happy that on the campus there are excellent sports facilities: a stadium, a well-equipped gymnasium, a swimming-pool.

I think, I am open and friendly – I get on well with most people – but I’m sometimes quite shy too. For example, I don’t like going to parties; I find it difficult to meet new people. I’m hard-working and ambitious. I set high goals for myself and I work hard to achieve them. I don’t respect rude, selfish and aggressive people. I hate it when people lie and don’t keep their promises.

I have a lot of dreams and plans. I would like to improve my English and to learn one more language - either Japanese or Korean. Learning languages is important for me because I want to know what's going on around me in the world. With recent developments in technology the world is changing rapidly in many fields such as engineering, arts, medicine and it's important for me to keep up with these changes.

Another dream is travelling all over the world. I'd be glad to see as many countries and cities as possible. So far I've been to Moscow and St. Petersburg. We went there with my parents three years ago. St Petersburg impressed me greatly by its magnificent architecture. I've never been abroad.

Now, as I've become a student, my life has changed. I have much less free time now than I had at school. I can't see my friends as often as I used to do or do something just for pleasure. I have to learn not to waste my time. Student's life is hard sometimes, but it's also very interesting. I think, you agree with me, don't you?

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

1. surname (last name, family name) – фамилия

2. full name – полное имя

3. first-year student (Am.E. freshman) – первокурсник

4. follow in smb’s footsteps – идти по чьим-либо стопам

5. enter the University – поступать в университет

6. surf the Net (brows the Internet) – “бродить” по Интернету

7. pastime (hobby) – приятное времяпрепровождение, занятие

8. spare time (free time, leisure time) – свободное время

9. science fiction – научная фантастика

10. on the campus – на территории университета

11. sports facilities – спортивные сооружения

12. gymnasium (gym) – спортивный зал

13. get on well with smb. – быть в хороших отношениях с кем-либо

14. keep up with smth. – держаться наравне, не отставать

15. waste time –терять время, тратить время впустую

16. personality traits – черты характера

affectionate – нежный

ambitious – честолюбивый

athletic – спортивный

boastful - хвастливый

bossy – любящий командовать

charming – очаровательный

cheerful – веселый, жизнерадостный

competitive – любящий соревнование, конкуренцию

creative – творческий

critical – разборчивый

easy - going – добродушно-веселый, беззаботный

energetic – энергичный

friendly – дружелюбный

generous – щедрый

grouchy – ворчливый

hard - working – трудолюбивый

helpful – отзывчивый, услужливый

honest – честный

hot-tempered – вспыльчивый

(im)patient – (не)терпеливый

independent – независимый

intelligent – умный

kind – добрый

lazy – ленивый

level-headed – уравновешенный, рассудительный

light-hearted – беззаботный, веселый

loyal – верный, преданный

moody – легко поддающийся переменам в настроении

modest – скромный

organized – организованный

outgoing –общительный, дружелюбный

polite – вежливый

reliable - надежный

reserved – сдержанный

responsible – ответственный

romantic – романтичный

rude – грубый

selfish – эгоистичный

sensitive – впечатлительный, чуткий

sensible – разумный

sociable – общительный

sympathetic – благожелательный, сочувствующий

shy – застенчивый

stingy – скупой

stubborn – упрямый

studious -– трудолюбивый

talkative -– разговорчивый

(un)tidy – (не)аккуратный

vain – тщеславный

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

What have you found out about Andrey from the text? Answer the questions.

1. What is his full name?

2. When is his birthday?

3. How old is he?

4. What's his native city?

5. What University does he study at?

6. What’s his major?

7. What is his favourite pastime?

8. What kind of books does he prefer to read?

9. Who is his favourite writer?

10. What sports does he play?

11. What dreams and plans does he have?

12. Has he ever been abroad?

13. In what way has his life changed now?

14. What kind of person is Andrey?

II. VOCABULARY PRACTICE EXERCISES

1. Give English equivalents to the following word-combinations:

студент-первокурсник, Дальневосточный государственный университет путей сообщения, идти по чьим-либо стопам, интересоваться чем-то, поступить в (институт), давать много возможностей, любимое занятие, различные области техники, "бродить" по Интернету, в поисках информации, свободное время, научная фантастика, важная часть жизни, участвовать в соревнованиях, на территории университета, спортивные сооружения, хорошо оборудованный спортзал, ставить высокие цели, сдерживать обещания, совершенствовать английский язык, идти в ногу с изменениями в …

2. Give Russian equivalents to the following word-combinations:

first-year student, family name, full name, follow in smb’s footsteps, enter the university, sphere of modern technology, spare time, surf the Net, best way of relaxation, ambitious person, favourite pastime, be fond of reading, take part in competitions, on the campus, set a goal, achieve goals, keep one’s promise, keep up with changes in technology, be abroad, do something for pleasure, waste time

Substitute the underlined words with their synonyms.

1. My friend's surname is Petrov.

2. He is a freshman.

4. His hobbies are fishing and computer games.

5. He spends much time online, browsing the Net.

6. He has less free time now than he used to have at school.

7. He enjoys swimming.

8. He has taken part in a number of sporting events this year.

9. There are many buildings and places for playing sport on the campus.

10. A new library was built in the centre of a University ground.

11. She wants to remain level with the changes in fashion.

12. My brother and I have never had a friendly relationship.

Write an adjective of personality for each comment.

competitive	reliable	sensitive	affectionate	boastful
organized	bossy	patient	shy lazy	sociable

1. «I’m going to beat him if it’s the last thing I do.”

2. “Take your time – I can wait.”

3. “I don’t like working. I prefer to sit and watch TV”.

4. “No problem. You can depend on me.”

5. “I really love seeing my mum and we always give each other a big

hug.”

6. “I have a list of all the possible films, where they are on and the

time they start.”

7. “Oh, great! A party! I love being with my friends!”

8. “I don’t want to go to the party. I hate meeting new people.”

9. “I understand exactly how you feel.”

10. “Right, John, go and buy the food. Maria, tidy the room.”

11. “Of course, I could have beaten him even more easily, but I wanted

to give him a chance.”

Insert prepositions, where necessary.

1 She was born … the 16^th … August 1992.

2. My friend studies … Far Eastern State Transportation University.

3. …. school she was interested … physics and mathematics.

4. She's entered … the University this summer.

5. She spends a lot of time … front of the computer.

6. She's fond … sewing, knitting and cooking.

7. She's talented … making things … hand.

8. Her brother likes to play … football.

9. It's important for an engineer to keep … with the changes going on in

technology.

10. She'd like to travel all … the world.

11. She enjoys staying … home … her free time.

12. Do you live … campus or … town?

13. Do you get … well with your groupmates?

III. ADDITIONAL READING AND SPEECH PRACTICE EXERCISES

Answer the questions in the quiz to discover what type of person you are.

untidy	reserved	lazy	easy-going
optimistic	shy	generous	reliable
sociable	impatient	moody	cheerful
talkative	ambitious	hard-working	sensitive

1. Are you usually smiling and happy?

2. Do you enjoy the company of other people?

3. Do you find it difficult to meet new people?

4. Is it important for you to succeed in your career?

5. Does your mood change often and suddenly for no reason?

6. Do you notice other people's feelings?

7. Do you think the future will be good?

8. Can your friends depend on you?

9. Is your room always in a mess?

10. Do you get annoyed if you have to wait for anyone or anything?

11. Do you put off until tomorrow what you could do today?

12. Do you work hard?

13. Do you keep your feelings and ideas to yourself?

14. Do you often give presents?

15. Do you talk a lot?

16. Are you usually calm and not worried by things?

А) Read the introduction to the article. Do you agree with the

psychologists?

В) Read the rest of the article. Which category(ies) do you fit into best?

What’s Your Soundtrack?

Your taste in music can reveal a lot about you …

The question “What kind of music do you like?” is very revealing. It is the number one topic of conversation among young adults who are getting to know each other, according to psychologists from the universities of Cambridge and Texas. Their research has shown that knowing another person’s musical tastes can provide remarkably accurate personality predictions. For most people, music is a very important part of their lives and psychologists believe that their preferences reveal information about their character and their lifestyle. They think that personality clues are conveyed in the music’s tempo, rhythm, and lyrics.

A) Upbeat and simple music

Fans of pop, country and soundtrack music tend to be more conventional and conservative compared with fans of other genres; family and discipline are important life values. They are typically cheerful, outgoing, and sociable kinds of people who enjoy helping people. In their free time they often enjoy doing or watching sport. They also enjoy watching major Hollywood films, especially comedies. According to the psychologists,”People who like country and pop try to avoid making their lives unnecessarily complex.”

B) Energetic and rhythmic music

Hip hop, funk, rap, dance and electronic music attracts people who are talkative, extrovert and romantic and who tend to express their thoughts impulsively. They are the kind of people who love going to parties and for whom friendship and social recognition is very important. They tend to see themselves as physically attractive. When they go to the cinema, they typically enjoy watching action films, science fiction, gangster films, or comedies.

C) Complex and reflective music

Fans of classical jazz, and other “complex” music typically have above -average intelligence. They tend to be creative and open to new experiences and lovers of classic or foreign films. Regarding lifestyle, fans of this kind of music tend to be politically liberal, are usually quite sophisticated, and often don’t like sport.

D) Intense and rebellious music

Fans of alternative, heavy metal, rock music, and gangsta rap tend to be people who enjoy taking risks and having thrilling experiences. They are usually physically active. They are typically independent, curious about the world, and rebellious. They’re the kind of people who are likely to enjoy watching action films, fantasy, war, and horror movies. Parents often worry that this kind of music promotes aggressive behaviour in teenagers, but research has found no direct link. In fact, younger fans of gangsta rap or heavy metal are often quiter and shyer than other young people.

С) According to the article, what kind of music would these people like best? Choose A, B, C or D.

1. Someone who is quite vain.

2. Somebody who enjoys doing dangerous sports.

3. A person who speaks their mind without thinking.

4. Someone who watches subtitled films.

5. A person who does voluntary work in the community.

6. Somebody who enjoys the simple things in life.

7. A person who might have been quiet as a child.

8. Someone who is intellectual.

А) Read the questionnaire and mark your answers.

В) Compare your answers with a partner. Give more information if you can.

С) Now look at what your scores mean. Do you agree with the results?

How Lucky Are You?

Read the following statements and choose a number 1-3.

3 = This is usually true about me.

2 = This is sometimes true about me.

1 = This is hardly ever true

1. I enjoy talking to people I haven’t met before.

2. I don’t worry or feel anxious about life.

3. I enjoy trying new food and drink.

4. I listen to my instinct.

5. When I need to calm down I just go to a quiet place.

6. I try to learn from my mistakes.

7. I try to get what I want from life.

8. I expect people I meet to be pleasant, friendly, and helpful.

9. I’m an optimist. I look on the bright side of life.

10. When things are bad I think things will get better soon.

11. I don’t think about bad luck I have had in the past.

12. I expect good things to happen to me in the future.

Your score:

12-18 You are naturally unlucky and you don’t attract good luck. You need a more

Positive and a more adventurous attitude to life.

You are quite lucky but you could be luckier. Look back at situations where

You were lucky or unlucky and analyze why. Try to learn from the past.

You are probably someone who is lucky. But you could become even luckier.

Don’t be afraid of taking risks, as they will probably end up being positive for

You.

Agree or disagree with the following statements. Give true information about yourself.

1. My full name is John Smith.

2. I'm a first-year student of Far Eastern State Humanitarian University.

3. I was born on the 25th of December 1995.

4. My native city is St. Petersburg.

5. I finished school number one in Khabarovsk.

6. My favourite subjects at school were literature and history.

7. I have a lot of spare time now.

8. Recently I've knitted a sweater for my mother.

9. In my free time I prefer tidying up my room

10. I didn't make any efforts to enter the University.

11. I'm a lazy, moody, stingy and stubborn person.

12. I enjoy to study at the University but I'd like to spend more time with my

family and friends.

13. I wish I could speak fluent English.

14. Finishing school with a gold medal has been my greatest achievement so

far.

15. I've always wanted to jump with a parachute.

16. I've traveled a lot in our country and abroad.

17. I’m sure I’ll be a good student.

Read and reproduce the following dialogues. Make up your own ones.

1. – Martin, what sports do you play?

– I play football, volleyball and table tennis but volleyball is my favourite game as it’s a team game and you can play it with your friends and enjoy it as a team.

– It’s quite a fast game as well?

– Yeah. It is a fast game and that’s another reason why I enjoy it.

– How exciting …

– Yes.

2. – What makes you feel good, Mary?

– Writing and then sending a funny e-mail or text message to my friends. And of course, imagining their faces when they read it. And what makes you feel good?

– Waking up on a sunny morning during my holidays when I know I have a whole day ahead to do the things I really like doing.

– Yes, having time for yourself is wonderful. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen very often.

3. – Shall we invite Steve for a picnic?

– Oh, I don't think he'll go. Steve has become a real coach potato. For him every activity is too much trouble and laziness is an art form.

– Yes, it seems lying on the sofa, watching TV on Sunday afternoon and reading newspaper from cover to cover is the most exciting activity he can imagine.

4. – Do you believe in horoscopes?

– No, I never read them.

– What is your zodiac sign?

– Libra.

– Well, you always use your common sense; you’re really down to earth. That's why you don't believe in horoscopes.

5. – What do you usually do to raise your spirits?

– I go shopping. I adore it and I go shopping for clothes at least twice a month. And If I haven't got any money I go window shopping and decide what I'm going to buy when I'm rich.

6. Read the following questions. Choose some of them and ask your class-mate. Then tell us, what you've found out about your partner. You may ask your own questions as well.

1. What's your name?

2. When is your birthday?

3. Where are you from?

4. Did you do well at school?

5. Why did you go to University?

6. What's your favourite pastime?

7. What things or activities can't you stand?

8. What has been your greatest achievement up to now?

9. Do you have a favourite book, piece of music or painting? What is it?

10. What's your dream?

11. How can you characterize your own personality?

12. What things couldn't you live without?

13. Do you have a pet?

14. Are you a handy person?

15. What would you do if you won a lot of money?

16. What's the best way of relaxation for you?

17. Is there anything you wish you could do?

18. What animal do you associate yourself with?

19. Do you remember yourself as a child? What kind of child were you?

Translate the sentences from Russian into English.

1. Народы мира такие разные. Бразильцы жизнерадостные, любят веселье (fun-loving), японцы застенчивые и трудолюбивые, а англичане считаются сдержанными людьми, которые не любят выносить сор из избы (wash out one's dirty linen in public).

2. Нина и Вера – близнецы (twins) и похожи друг на друга, как две капли воды (as like as two peas). Но они совершенно не похожи по характеру. Нина спокойная, открытая, дружелюбная. А Вера - довольно замкнутая и сдержанная.

3. Работа в саду (gardening) – одно из самых популярных увлечений. Хорошо известно, что англичане очень любят работу в саду и выращивание цветов, особенно роз.

4. Что вы делаете в свободное время? - Честно говоря, у меня его не так много. Но если выпадает свободный час или два, стараюсь читать книжные новинки. Моя страсть - исторические романы.

5. В детстве я занималась фигурным катанием (go in for figure skating). К сожалению, у меня не было особых способностей, поэтому я оставила спорт, но всегда вспоминаю о катке с удовольствием.

IV. Writing

Write a composition about yourself. Tell us about your likes and dislikes, interests, your personality traits, your achievements and dreams.

UNIT 2

I. Text

My Family

Hi, again. Now I'd like to tell you about my family. On the whole, our family is large. There are three generations there. They are my grandmother, my parents, my brother and me. My father has a brother - he's my uncle, my mother has two sisters - my aunts; they have their children - my cousins. Besides, there are many in-laws in the family. I don't have any nephews or nieces.

I don't see all my relatives very often - mostly on some special occasions. The last happy event was my cousin's wedding last year, it gathered all our family.

But speaking about a family we usually mean our blood relatives, i.e. mother, father, sisters or brothers. My parents are rather young. My father is 45, my mother is 40. My mother's name is Tatiana Petrovna. She is an accountant. She's open, cheerful and energetic. I'm proud of my mother and love her very much. My father's name is Aleksey Ivanovitch. He is a businessman. He's clever, industrious, but hot-tempered sometimes. He has a perfect sense of humour. He has his own way in everything, and I respect him for that. My father is also very handy with many things. He can fix almost everything. My grandmother Lydia Stepanovna (my mother's mother) also lives with us. She's in her late sixties, she’s a pensioner, but she's a very lively and active person. She likes reading and gardening. We are grateful to our granny, because she keeps the house, and takes care of everybody. She is very kind and generous.

There's no one we call the head of the family, but my granny's advice and opinion are very important in any decision we take.

I have a younger brother called Dima. He is four years my junior. But in spite of the age gap we're very close. We have common interests - we both like sport, reading and computer. He is very energetic. It takes him half an hour to do his homework and then he rushes out to play football because he is crazy about it. There is one more member of the family, that is our dog. Rex is a sheep-dog. He does not like to stay alone when we are out, but whenever we return he meets us with such a joy and energy that make our spirits bright.

My family means a lot to me, because this is where I find love, understanding and support. We do have some rows, there are even long debates sometimes and from time to time we cannot come to agreement. But it’s only natural, isn’t it? It would be rather odd if everybody in the family always agreed with each other, shared all interests, were satisfied with everything and never quarreled. When I have my own family I’ll try to make it work on the same lines.

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

1. generation – поколение

2. relative (relation) – родственник

close (near) relative – близкий родственник distant relative – дальний родственник

blood relative – кровный родственник

3. uncle –дядя

4. aunt – тетя

5. nephew – племянник

6. niece – племянница

7. cousin – двоюродный брат / сестра

8. husband – муж

9. wife – жена

10. spouse – супруг, супруга

11. son – сын

12. daughter – дочь

13. in-law –родня со стороны жены или мужа
mother-in-law – теща, свекровь
father-in-law – тесть, свекор
daughter-in-law – невестка, сноха
son-in-law – зять

sister-in-law – невестка, золовка

brother-in-law – зять, шурин

14. be in one's early (middle, late) sixties, etc. – быть слегка за 60, (между

60 и 70, под 70)

15. wedding – свадьба

16. be 4 (5, 6 …) years smb's junior/senior – быть на 4 (5, 6 …) лет младше/

старше кого-либо

17. have a row/an argument (to quarrel, to argue) – ссориться

18. be a pensioner (be retired) – быть на пенсии

19. an only child – единственный ребенок

20. twins – близнецы

21. orphan – сирота

22. stepmother/stepfather – мачеха/отчим

23. half-sister/brother – сводная сестра/брат (когда один из родителей

общий)

24. stepsister/brother – сводная сестра /брат (когда нет общих

родителей)

25. foster parents – приемные родители

26. adopted children – приемные дети

27. be married (to smb.) – быть женатым/замужем (за кем-то)

get married – выходить замуж (жениться)

28. divorce smb. – развестись с кем-то

be divorced – быть в разводе

29. be single – быть неженатым/незамужем

30. bachelor – холостяк

31. widow – вдова

32. widower – вдовец

33. take after smb. (be like smb.) – быть похожим на кого-то

34. housewife (Am.E. homemaker) – домохозяйка

35. sibling – брат или сестра

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. How many generations are there in Andrey’s family?

2. Do the relatives often meet each other?

3. What events can bring all the relatives together?

4. What do Andrey's parents do?

5. How old are they?

6. Does his grandmother still work?

7. What does she enjoy doing?

8. Who's the head of his family?

9. Does Andrey have a younger or an elder brother?

10. How many years is he Dima's senior?

11. Do they have common interests? What are they?

12. Do they have a pet in their family?

13. The family have arguments sometimes, don't they?

14. Does Andrey love his family?

II. VOCABULARY PRACTICE EXERCISES

1. Give English equivalents to the following words and word-
combinations:

родня со стороны мужа или жены, близкие родственники, дальние родственники, кровные родственники, встречаться по особым случаям, гордиться кем-либо, вспыльчивый человек, иметь прекрасное чувство юмора, уважать за что-либо, бабушке за шестьдесят, вести дом (хозяйство), заботиться о ком-либо, глава семьи, принимать решения, быть на четыре года младше, разница в возрасте, быть преданным кому-либо, повышать настроение, ссориться

2. Give Russian equivalents to the following words and word-combinations:

close relatives, distant relatives, blood relatives, handy person, hot-tempered person, be in one's late thirties, be three years smb's senior, be four years smb's junior, be retired, have one's own way in everything, in spite of smth, the age gap, have common interests, rush out to play football, stay alone, make smb's spirits bright, have rows, share interests

Complete the sentences using the words or word-combinations from the box.

close relatives	distant relative	takes after
junior	wedding	twins
half-brother	mother-in-law	father-in-law
generations	housewife	bachelor
in his late thirties	to quarrel	gather

1. My grandmother and I are the people of different ….

2. Anton is the son of my father's uncle – he's my ….

3. We keep in touch with all our ….

4. My husband's mother is my …, his father is my ….

5. My father is 39 years old, in other words he's ….

6. My cousin got married last month, all relatives were invited to the ….

7. I'm 17 years old, my brother is 14, so he's 3 years my ….

8. Pete and Michael are as like as two peas, they are ….

9. Ivan is my mother's son to her first marriage, he's my ….

10. My uncle Nick has never been married, he's a confirmed ….

11. As my sister's children are too small now, she doesn't work, she's a ….

12. My brother is very tall and very thin, everybody says he … our great-

grandfather.

13. … is not the best way to solve a questionable problem.

14. I’ve got several aunts, two uncles and a dozen of cousins; and I like when

all relations … on some festive occasions.

Match the words to the definitions.

1. ex-wife/ex-husband	a. someone that is married to one of your parents, but isn’t your parent
2. late wife/late husband	b. someone who has the same mother, or the same father, as you, but not both parents
3. second wife/second husband	c. someone that you were married to in the past who is now dead
4. stepmother/stepfather	d. the child of someone that is married to one of your parents
5. stepsister/stepbrother   6. half-sister/half-brother	e. someone that you were married to in the past but are now divorced from f. someone that you marry when you have already been married to someone else before

Insert prepositions where necessary.

1. We are 4 … our family.

2. We meet our relatives … some special occasions.

3. My cousin got married … last year.

4. My mother is a doctor … profession.

5. My friend's father works … the railway.

6. My brother goes … school. He is … the 7th grade.

7. My parents are … their late thirties.

8. They are twins, but … spite … this they are very different.

9. My brother is crazy … football.

10. I take … my mother - I'm fair-haired and blue-eyed.

11. I always take care … my younger sister.

12. Our dog is devoted … all the members of the family.

13. My parents are easy to get … with and I would always come to them first if I

had any problem to be solved.

III. ADDITIONAL READING AND SPEECH PRACTICE EXERCISES

Explain the meaning of the following words.

aunt, uncle, sister-in-law, orphan, father-in-law, housewife, cousin, nephew, niece, grandmother, foster parents, adopted child, bachelor, widow, widower.

Read the interview about a Canadian family. Use the questions to speak about a typical Russian family.

Q: Hello.

Hello.

Q: Could you say a few words about yourself?

My name is Caitlin Murphy. I'm from Toronto, Canada. I'm twenty five years old. I live in Toronto.

Q: Caitlin, could you describe a typical Canadian family?

The typical Canadian family consists of two parents and usually two children. The children are typically about 5 years apart in age, and parents are usually about thirty years old when they have their children.

Q: What age do people usually get married at?

These days people try to get education first, that's why they usually get married several years after they graduate from university. So if people finish university at the age of twenty two, usually they get married at about the age of twenty eight.

Q: Do the young take into account their parents' opinion, when they are going to get married?

Usually people choose their own spouse. Arranged marriage is very uncommon.

Q: Is it uncommon, when married children live with their parents?

It happens often after people first get married, but they live with their parents for some time, perhaps, they are waiting for their house to be built or something like this, and then they will live with their parents, but it's not common for people to live with their parents for a very long time.

Q: Is divorce a common thing nowadays?

Approximately, fifty percent of marriages end up in divorce.

Q: What age do young people usually move out of their parents' house?

Usually people move out of their parents' house in Canada, when they're in their late teenage years, or the early adult years. Usually a lot of people move away to go to school. It is not typical that somebody would be in their twenties and still living with their parents, because it is possible to find affordable accommodation, so people generally don't wish to live at their parents' at an older age.

Q: Do grandparents normally live together with their children and grandchildren?

It is not typical for grandparents to live with their children and grandchildren, except in case of recent immigrants, who come to Canada and they all live together as it's typical in their culture.

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