Earth alert
1. Say what weather you prefer if you want to:
- spend a whole day on the beach;
- stay in and take it easy;
- go sailing;
- go on a hiking trip to the mountains;
- run a marathon;
- go sightseeing.
Explain why.
2. Say if these sentences look logical to you. Change those which don’t.
- Talking about my plans for the weekend, I think we’ll go out if the weather is awful.
- I took this photo last weekend – it was lovely weather, so we decided to go for a picnic.
- I took this photo in the airport – several flights were cancelled due to fair weather and we had to wait.
- To be honest, I’m so sick of this glorious weather – and of having to carry my umbrella around all day!
- In your email you asked me what to do in rainy weather. Well, the most important thing is to drink lots of water to prevent dehydration. Also, remember to water pot plants daily during spells of dry weather.
3. You are considering adopting a tree and now you’d like to get more information. Ask five direct questions to find out the following:
- the countries where the forests are;
- what the package includes;
- how long the membership is for;
- how much the adoption cost
- how we apply
4. You belong to an environmental protection organization. Prepare a five-minute conversation about environmental issues.
5. You are going to give an interview. Give full answers to the questions.
- What are some of the most serious environmental concern in your country now?
- What does your family do to protect the environment?
- Do many people in your country sort rubbish, and why/why not?
- Are there many endangered species in your country? What can be done to protect them?
- Do you think that more people will take care about the environment in the future? Why/why not?
- What kinds of things can be recycled? Does your family sort rubbish?
- Do people in Russia use many plastic bags? What about your family?
- What do you know about plastic pollution? Is it a problem in Russia?
- What in your opinion is the most effective way to protect the environment?
- What animals can you see in the wild in Russia?
- What species are on the brink of extinction in Russia?
- What do you think can be done to protect endangered species?
Food and Health
1. List which colour foods you ate yesterday. How do you think colour related to food? Look at the food list you made. How healthy do you think it is?
2. Prepare a two-minute talk about improving eating habits using a rainbow diet. In your speech:
- say why we should have healthy eating habits;
- mention ways a rainbow diet can help us;
- recommend the diet.
3. You are going to give an interview. Give full answers to the questions.
1) What Russian dish would you recommend to a tourist? Do you think it is important to try national cuisine?
2) What do you usually have for lunch? Do you think you eat healthy?
3) What is your advice to a person who wants to eat healthily? Have you ever followed a diet?
4) Are you any good at cooking?
5) What food do you usually cook for special occasions? What is the most popular dish in Russia?
6) Who makes dinner in your family? Do you help your parents to cook?
7) What is traditional food in Russia? What traditional dishes can you make?
8) How can people keep a healthy diet? Do you think your diet healthy?
9) Which do you personally prefer to eat at home or to eat out? Do you think takeaway is a good option for busy people?
10) What is your favourite food place to eat in your hometown? How often do you go there?
11) Is it important to eat homemade food?
12) What is your main meal of the day? Do you think it is okay to skip a meal?
13) Were eating habits in your country different 50 years ago? What did your grandparents use to eat?
14) How healthy is Russian food in general? What do foreigners think of Russian cuisine?
Schooldays and Work
1. Prepare a two-minute talk about your school. Speak about:
- the time it starts/finishes;
- how you get to school;
- if you wear a school uniform;
- what the school rules are
2. Which of the following would you prefer and why? Mention the advantages and disadvantages of both options.
1) Working on your own or for a company?
2) Working from home or in an office?
3) Working with people or with computers?
4) Having a high salary or getting a job satisfaction?
5) Working in a team or on your own?
6) Having a responsible job or a job with little or no responsibility?
7) Having fixed or flexible hours?
8) Working in your city all the time or having frequent business trips?
9) Working full-time or part-time?
10) Having a high salary but little job safety or vice versa?
Strong ties
1. Use the language in the box to make suggestions for the following:
- I think I/ you/we should …
- How/What about + …-ing …?
- Why don’t I/you/we …?
- Would you like to…?
1. spend next weekend with us
- How about spending next weekend with us?
2. go camping together
3. get a puppy for your sister
4. go to concert together
5. meet you at the train station
2. Give advice as in the example.
If I were you, You should (n’t), Have you thought of, Why don’t you …?
1. I’ve put on weight. – join a gym/you’ll lose weight.
If I were you, I’d join a gym. That way you’ll lose weight.
2. I’ve got nothing to do. – take up a new hobby/ you’ll keep busy
3. I don’t have enough money. – get a part-time job/you’ll earn money
4. I don’t have any friends. – join a youth club/sports team/you’ll meet new people
5. I’m unhappy at work. look for a new job/you’ll be happier
3. Answer the questions on the topic. Begin your answers with: As for me / In my opinion / To my mind / In my view.
1. Does family play a very important part in your life? Why / Why not?
2. Is it important for people to be legally married? Why do you think so?
3. What is the best age for getting married? Why?
4. How many children should a family ideally have? Give your reasons.
5. Why are there so many divorces in the modern world?
6. Is a marriage contract a good idea? Why? / Why not?
7. Can parents and children understand each other? What can help to bridge generation gap?
8. What in your view is the biggest problem in connection with family life?
4. Discuss the following questions:
Are there any rules in your family?
What are they? Are they important for you?
5. Think what you are allowed to do and what you have to do. Choose the ideas that are true for you. Speak about the rules in your family.
Model: in our family we all have household chores. I have to wash the dishes.
do household chores
come home late
prepare meals
watch TV
talk on the phone
be allowed to use the bath
have to do take out the garbage
wash the car
water the flowers
walk the dog
6. You found a family in the album. It was taken some years ago when the family was on holidays. Describe the photo and say who you can see on it. The words in the box can help you.
In the centre;
on one’s left/right;
grandmother; grandfather; mother; father;
uncle; aunt; cousin; niece; nephew;
on my mother’s/father’s side;
mother/father – in – law;
… years old; be in one’s mid – thirties /fourties; turn 60; elder/ younger;
resemble