Task 5. Talk about different European towns and cities. Use these expressions to give yourself thinking time while you arrange your ideas

Example:

A. Milan is dirtier than I expected,

B. If you ask me, it's also more expensive than Florence.

As far as I know … If you ask me

As I take it ... To tell the truth ...

I suppose ... Generally speaking ...

I think ... As far as I know ...

If you ask me ... The fact is that ...

To my mind ... In any case ...

In my opinion ... From my viewpoint ...

Task 6. Express your opinion of the facts listed bellow.

Example:

A. Town life is more active than country life, isn't it?

B. As I take it, country life is much quieter than town life.

1. The climate of Great Britain is milder than on the continent (dry).

2. The streets of New York are cleaner than the streets of Paris (dirty).

3. Paris is bigger than Madrid (small).

4. Trips in Madrid are more expensive than in Rome (cheap).

5. The buildings in New York are more modern than the buildings in Rome (old).

6. The Underground in London is better than the Metro in Paris (worse).

7. The people in Greece are more open than in Scandinavian countries (re­served).

Task 7. Read Sue's report about the school trip to France. In which country are these things more expensive, according to the re­port? Write В for Britain or F for France.

Is France more expensive than Brit­ain? It's difficult to say. Tea and coffee are definitely more expensive in Paris than in Dover, and so is Coca-Cola. (I had a Coca-Cola which cost £2!)

Travel in France is cheaper, though. We went everywhere by the "Metro", train and bus. The "Metro" is fantas­tic! French food generally isn't as ex­pensive as the food we have in Brit­ain, although ice cream is more expensive in France. French records and videos cost less than British ones but radios, stereos and TVs cost more. Clothes in France aren't as cheap as in Britain and nor are books! French books are very expensive. So is it cheaper in France than in Britain? I'm not sure.

1. tea ... ....F...... 7. coffee ..........

2. food......B... .. 8. travel.............

3. Coca-Cola .... 9. ice cream.........

4. records........... 10. videos........

5. radios ............ 11. stereos.......

6. clothes........... 12. books...........

Task 8. Work in pairs. Discuss any two countries that both of you know well. Your partner agrees, disagrees, and expresses surprise.

Talk about

-the streets: beautiful, wide, dirty;

-the buildings: tall, ugly, modern;

-the weather: sunny, lovely, miserable;

-the food: ordinary, cheap, expensive;

-the people: talkative, honest, friendly.

Task 9. Read and practice the following dialogue.

A. I think I'm getting old.

B. Why do you say that?

A. I don't drive as carefully as I need to.

B. That's not true. You drive more carefully than anybody I know.

A. You're just saying that!

B. No, I really mean it.

Role-play some more conversations using the expressions below.

go out often speak English fluently

jog fast work energetically

think clearly look at life enthusiastically

NATIONAL CHARACTER

Russian Character

Russians are impressed with size and numbers, and much that they do is on a grand scale. This is not unusual for such a vast country. Russians think and act big.

Russians think of themselves as members of the community rather than as individuals. The origin of the Russian communalism lies deep in the vastness of the Great Russian Plain.

Nature has not been kind to Russia. Much of European Russia and Siberia is very cold most of the year. In Old Russia, people could do little during winter months. But in spring there was much to be done, and in a short period of time. This explains why Russians are often inactive for long periods of time and then show bursts of energy. The harsh climate explains the Russians' strength, their abil­ity to overcome hardships, as well as their patience and submission. Climate has also made them cautious.

Their cruel climate, harsh history, and skeptical outlook on life have made Russians value stability, security, social order, and predictability, and to avoid risk.

To understand the Russians, one must know where they come from.

Task 1. How much is the Russian national character influenced by the country geography and climate?

Task 2. What do you think about the notion "national character"?

Task 3. What stereotypes about Americans, Russians and the British can you suggest?

Task 4. How different or alike do you think Americans, Russians and the British are?

Task 5. What features of the American, British and Russian people and their way of life can you name?