Английский язык. Пятьдесят тем для продолжающих. Уровень В1

20. Which sea does Julia prefer?

Training 1

Britain is an island. So British people like to visit the seaside for their holidays or at weekends. You can walk along the beach, climb the rocks, find small fish or even little crabs under the rocks. The most wonderful thing is the smell of the sea air. It is fresh, salty and clean. In summer, people like to sunbathe. Sometimes people take a picnic with them, and children love swimming and making sandcastles in the sand.

Training 2

The sea around Britain is very cold, so people don’t swim in the sea in the winter, since usually it is too cold and very dangerous. The waves are very big and strong. But it is wonderful to put on warm clothes, take your dog and go for a long walk along the beach. The sea is grey and seagulls fly and scream overhead. The best thing after a long walk like this is to find a little caf'e, have a hot cup of tea and watch the sea.

9. Camping and Caravanning

Camping is great fun especially for young people. It is cheaper than staying in a hotel, and it is more exciting. But you need a lot of things. You need a good tent. The next thing is something warm and soft to lie on. And you need a warm sleeping bag. It’s not fun to sleep on hard, cold ground. You also need a camping gas stove together with pans and metal plates. And don’t forget a tin-opener. And, of course, you need a very big rucksack to carry all your things. If you have a car then of course you can put all your things in the car. A lot of young people don’t have a car. They have to carry all their things in their rucksacks. Most people camp on a campsite. These are usually large and clean. There are showers, areas for washing your pots and pans, and washing machines. There is a restaurant and usually one or two small shops. There you can buy fresh food, bread, water, wine and beer. It is great fun to get out of your tent early in the morning and to make coffee or tea and watch the sunrise. Campsites are a great way of meeting new and interesting friends. Some campsites have tennis courts and swimming pools. There is a real sense of freedom. And, of course, it is great to be in the open air all day long. I like camping by the sea because I love the beach and I love swimming. But, of course, some people like camping in the mountains or in forests or national parks. Caravanning is also an exciting way of spending a holiday. It is more comfortable than camping. Some caravans are small and simple. Other more modern caravans are very big. Inside there is usually a small kitchen with running water, a shower and a toilet. And, of course, most caravans have a small refrigerator.

1. Why is camping great fun?

2. What is the first thing you need for camping?

3. What do you need to have for comfortable sleeping?

4. What cooking equipment do you need for camping?

5. What is a must for a camping tourist?

6. What do you need big rucksacks for?

7. How can a car make camping more comfortable?

8. What do most young people have to do while camping?

9. Where do most people camp?

10. What are campsites like?

11. What facilities can you find on a campsite?

12. What can you buy in a typical shop on a campsite?

13. Why is it great fun to get up early while camping?

14. Who can you meet on a campsite?

15. What is the best thing about campsites?

16. Where does Julia like camping?

17. What are other popular destinations for camping?

18. What makes caravanning different from camping?

19. What are caravans like?

20. What do most caravans have?

Training 1

Camping is great fun, especially for young people, because it is cheaper than staying in a hotel and it is more exciting. But you need a lot of things. You need a good tent, and a warm sleeping bag. You also need a camping gas stove together with pans and metal plates and a tin-opener. Of course, you need very big rucksacks to carry all your things. But if you have a car, then of course you can put all your things in the car.

Training 2

Most people camp on a campsite. These are usually large and clean. There are showers, areas for washing your pots and pans, and washing machines for dirty clothes. Also, there is a restaurant and usually one or two small shops. Campsites are a great way of meeting new and interesting friends. Some campsites have tennis courts and swimming pools. There is a real sense of freedom, and of course, it is great to be in the open air all day long.

10. Cinemas

I recently bought myself a video recorder to watch films at home. But at home you really don’t get the same feeling as when you are in the cinema. When you go to the cinema nobody is going to call you during the film. Nobody is going to knock on the door. So, you can concentrate one hundred percent on the film. There is a large screen, and everything on it looks so big. And also, of course, the sound is loud. I don’t play music, films or television very loudly at home. But in the cinema, everything is big and loud. So, the film and the story actually surround you. Most towns and cities have Multiplex cinemas now. This is a kind of cinema where there are two, three, four, or even six different movies in the same huge cinema. And traditionally most people buy popcorn or something to drink for the film. Actually, I don’t really like Multiplex cinemas very much. I don’t know why. I think they are so big and impersonal. I like the small old-fashioned cinemas. They are less comfortable though. And sometimes the quality of the films is not so good. But there is something a little bit more personal about these cinemas. The theatre is small and quiet. I like that. I really like art movie houses. They show only independent movies. They are usually interesting. Some of them are brilliant. I don’t really like action movies at all. In fact, I absolutely hate action movies. There are no story lines. And it is all just shooting and killing. And really, they are all stupid and very noisy. I like a good comedy, but with black humour. And it has got to be a clever comedy. And I like an interesting psychological film about human relationships. And sometimes just for fun, a really good thriller or a horror movie.

1. What did Julia buy not long ago?

2. What is different about watching films at home?

3. What can never happen to you if you go to the cinema?

4. What do you concentrate on when you are in the cinema?

5. Why do all the cinemas have a large screen?

6. What is typical of the sound in the cinema?

7. What surrounds you in the cinema?

8. What kind of cinemas do most towns have now?

9. What is a Multiplex cinema like?

10. What do most people buy before the film?

11. What does Julia think of Multiplex cinemas?

12. What kind of cinema does Julia like?

13. What are the disadvantages of small cinemas?

14. Why does Julia like them?

15. Why does she prefer art movie houses?

16. What kind of films does Julia hate?

17. Why doesn’t she like action movies?

18. What kind of comedies does she prefer watching?

19. What else would she willingly watch?

20. What would Julia watch just for fun?

Training 1

You really don’t get the same feeling watching a film at home as when you are in the cinema. First of all, when you go to the cinema nobody is going to call you during the film or knock on the door. So, you can concentrate one hundred percent on the film. Also, there is a large screen, and everything on it looks so big. And of course, the sound is loud. Everything is big and loud in the cinema. So, the film and the story actually surround you.

Training 2

Nowadays most towns and cities have Multiplex cinemas. This is a kind of cinema where there are two, three, four, five or even six different movies in the same huge cinema. Traditionally most people buy popcorn or something to drink for the film. The small, old-fashioned cinemas are less comfortable, and sometimes the quality of the films is not so good. But there is something a little bit more personal about these cinemas.