Celebrations

1. Cultural Note: The British people, as a rule, give chocolate or small presents to their relatives and friends.
Read  two opinions about giving presents.
Pamela is very rich but she doesn’t buy expensive gifts to her cousin Sarah because she doesn’t want her to think that Sarah has to buy expensive gifts for her, too.
Sandy buys expensive gifts for her cousin because she wants her to have them.
Which of the girls do you agree: Pamela or Sandy?

2. What is more important for you when you choose a gift?
For me, choosing a gift depends on …
- what occasion it is
- how close we are
- how much money I have.
Cultural Note: The British people usually open the box in your presence to express their admiration.

3. Answer the questions:
1. What gifts do you like to give and get (receive)?
2. What gift would you never give to your friend? Why?
3. What would you do if you receive a gift you don’t like?

4. Sometimes we receive presents we don’t like. 
- Have you ever received a present that you didn’t like?
- What was it?
- Why didn’t you like it?
- What is your reaction?

5. What would you do if you got a present that you don’t like?
- Hide your disappointment.
- Show how disappointed you are.
- Pretend you are happy.
- Say “Thank you” and put it aside.
- Say that it is what you wanted.
- Say “Thank you” but I already have one.
- Thank your friend most heartly.

Life and living

1. Work in pairs and discuss the following questions. 
- What comes to your mind when you hear the word “family”? 
- How important is your family to you? 
- Do you prefer spending time with your family or friends? 
- Do you get on well with all of your family members? 
- How often do you have big family get-togethers? 
- When do you need your family most? 
- How far back do you know your family tree? 

2. Translate the sentences below. Choose one and agree or disagree, explain why. 
- When you look at your life, you understand that the greatest happiness is family happiness. 
- When a family is free of abuse and oppression, it can be the place where we share our deepest secrets and stand the most exposed, a place where we learn to feel distinct without being “better”, and sacrifice for others without losing ourselves. 
- All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. 
- The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. 
- The family is one of nature’s masterpieces. 

3. Complete the expressions and translate them. Make up sentences of your own with at least three expressions.

4. Translate the sentences from Russian into English. 
- Я не люблю протирать мебель от пыли, но делаю это два раза в неделю. 
- Мама научила меня заправлять кровать, когда я был ребенком. 
- Мне кажется, что взрослым проще поддерживать комнату в чистоте, чем подросткам. 
- Гладить белье и мыть тарелки – это не для меня. 
- Моя бабушка не любит пылесосить пол, ей кажется, что пол лучше подметать.

5.Сomplete with: make, do, mop, keep, wash, take, dust
- ____ my room tidy.
- ____ the washing up, the ironing, chores, the washing.
- ____ the beds, breakfast.
- ____ the rubbish out, the dog for a walk.
- ____ the floor.
- ____ the dishes, the clothes.
- ____ the furniture.

6. Interview your groupmates and find out what is the most/least frequent activity they do at home.

Technology

1. Match the words with their definitions.

2. a. Pair dictation. Work in pairs: student A says the definition, Student B writes the word. Then change over. 
b. Make up sentences with three of the words. Let your partner translate them into English. 

3. Complete the statements. 

- If you have a virus on your computer, … 
- If you cannot connect to the Internet, … 
- If you’ve spilt something on the keyboard, … 
- If the screen has frozen, … 
- If you have deleted a file by mistake, … 

4. Work in pairs and discuss the following questions. 

- What images spring to your mind when you hear the word “robot”? 
- Will robots take over the world one day? 
- The West sees robots as menacing, Japan sees them as helpful. How about you? 
- Which movie robot is your favourite? 
- What would you like your robot to do? 
- Will robots ever be like humans?

1. What role does technology play in your society? 
2. Do you think technology help us, or does it just cause problems?
3. How will the technology affect our lives in the future? 
4. do you think one day robots in our homes will become a reality? 
5. Do you think it would be great to have a robot to cater for all our needs/?

Computers

Agree or disagree

1. Computers are cleverer than humans.
2. The modern world cannot work without computers. 
3. Teenagers can’t live without computers. 
4. Using a computer is bad for your health. 
5. Computers are good for education. 
6. If you want a good job you need to know about computers. 
7. One day the world will be ruled by computers. 
8. Everyone should know how to use a computer. 
9. Do you think computers will ever replace books?
10. What do you think of computer games? Do you play any of them? How often?

Internet

1. Do many people use the Internet today? What for?
2. What does the Internet allow us to do?
3. Does the Internet save our time? 
4. What are the advantages of the Internet? 
5. How do you think the Internet will change our future? 
6. Do you use the Internet? 
7. People should be free to say whatever they want on the Internet.
8. Internet is cutting off from reality and active creative work.

Mobile phones

1. Do you have a mobile? How often do you use it? 
2. What do you use it for?
3. Which do you prefer: sending a message or making a call? Why?
4. How often do you send and receive text messages or e-mails?
5. Can you imagine your life without modern means of communication?
6. Mobile phones should be banned in public places.
7. Mobile phones are irritating and useless.
8. Do you think people should not be allowed to use mobile phones in public places? Why?
9. Nowadays mobile phones are an essential part of life, like computers.
10. What do you think you will use it for in the future?

5. Divide into two groups and discuss computers in our lives. Group A speaks about advantages and group B speaks about disadvantages. Say what you think about computers and their impact on our lives, how they have changed our way of life, communication and many other aspects.