Ex. 4. Choose the suitable variants and replace some sentences in the text

My name is Elena Petrova.

I was born in the … Republic (in the city of…, in the village of,… .

My father works as an engineer (a driver, a locksmith, a turner, an electrician, a builder, a doctor, a teacher, a lawyer, a manager).

Now my father is a pensioner.

My father is unemployed now.

My mother is a housewife.

My mother is a teacher (a doctor, a shop-assistant, an accountant, a lawyer, a hairdresser).

I did not go to a nursery school.

My favourite subjects were physics, biology and literature.

Now I am a student.

I study at the faculty of Russian philology.

I am a first-year student.

I do not receive a scholarship.

My hobbies are music, car driving, volleyball and reading.

Ex. 5. And now speak about yourself!

Topic: Family

Ex. 1. Read the text and translate it using a dictionary.

My relatives

A family is a basis of its members' well-being and sincere balance. In a full family both parents take care of their children. Only in such a friendly family a child can grow up and become a responsible and thankful man or woman.

There is a proverb “My home is my castle”. I agree with it. It is very important to have a good and friendly family. Every person must know and feel that there are close people whom he can share happiness or troubles.

Now I want to speak about my family.

My father is a skilled doctor. He works as a dentist. My father is tall. His hair is blond and short. He has an oval face with wrinkles. His eyes are big and grey. My father is very busy. But in his free time he likes to read scientific journals and books. My father is also fond of travelling. He has visited many places of our country.

My mother is a teacher. She is 2 years younger than my father. She graduated from the Institute and now works at school. She teaches biology. My mother is not tall, but thin. She has big blue eyes, a turned-up nose. Her hair is black and of medium-length. My mother likes various sorts of flowers and she grows them in our house. She also likes reading in the evening.

My parents have lived 19 years together. They have the same interests, but they like to read different kinds of books. They watch various films and TV-shows. For example, my father likes scientific programmes and my mother prefers to watch soap-operas. But my parents respect each other and do not hurt anyone.

Both my parents are very hard-working people. My mother keeps the house. She always cleans our house, buys food-stuffs for the family. She is a good cook. There is always prepared dinner and supper waiting for us at home. My mother takes care of my father, my brother and me. We try to help her, for example I do the washing up, sweep the floor, beat the dust out the carpets.

My brother is 15 years old. He is a pupil. He often helps our father to fix and repair some things about the house. He likes to do it. I think my brother will be a good engineer.

I also have grandparents. They are elderly people and need care and attention. In summer I usually go to the country to visit them. I don't know how to milk the cow but I help to feed the other animals: lambs, sheep and pigs.

Our family has many relatives. Our aunts, uncles and cousins live in different cities of our country. During their holidays they come to our place. I love my relatives and I am very proud of each of them.

Ex. 2. Retell the text “My relatives” according to the plan:

1. For a happy life it is necessary to have a family.

2. The members of our family.

3. Our life in the family.

Ex. 3. Read the following text and try to speak about your family.

My family

At present I am not married yet. That's why I live with my parents.

My family is not very large. It consists of five members: my father, my mother, my elder sister, my younger brother and me.

My father's name is Sergei Petrovich. He is 52. He is an engineer. My father is a tall good looking man with black hair and green eyes. He usually wears suits of dark-grey or black colour. He is always well dressed.

My mother's name is Olga Viktorovna. She is 46. My mother is 6 years younger than my father. She works as a doctor. My mother is a pleasant looking woman. Her hair is fair and short. She has brown eyes and a straight nose. She wears glasses.

My elder sister's name is Tanya. She is 25. Two years ago she graduated from the Financial Academy. Now she works as an economist. Last year she got married. Her husband is a manager. They have got a little son. He is only 5 months old.

I have also a younger brother, Oleg. He is 15. He is a pupil. He is in the 10th form. He studies well and has many friends. Oleg is fond of music. He sings well and plays the piano.

My grandparents retired. They live in the village. They like gardening and grow vegetables and fruits. We enjoy having fresh vegetables on our dinner table.

And now some words about myself. My name is Igor. I am a student. I study at the Chuvash State Teacher Training University named after I.Y. Yakovlev. I am a student of the faculty of Physical Training. I am a first-year student. I am fond of sport, exactly track and field events. I do my best to study well.

Our family is very friendly. We always help each other. Everyone in my family is my best friend. I am proud of my family.

Ex. 4. Choose suitable variants, use the text “About myself” and write a composition to the topic “My family”.

Our family is small /large.

Our family consists of three/four/five/members.

My parents are of the same age/my father is two/three years elder/younger than my mother.

My brother/sister studies at school/college/ gymnasium.

My brother/sister is under sixteen/about twenty.