Ex. 1. Make sure you know the following words and word combinations. Explain their meanings in English
A. To familiarize oneself in the city; to ease the stress of work/ school/relationships/sobriety; to vanish into oblivion; maze of clubs; to bring on a migraine.
B. Traffic ticket; nightlife novices; upscale clubs; scummy clubs; college clubs; clientele; cover charge; a deal; dress code; hangout; hard-core house music; a venue; attire; “dress to impress”; cabarets; pushy; demanding; odds; male persuasion; creep out.
Ex. 2*. Match the words to their meanings.
| 1) oblivion | a) the state or condition of being entirely forgotten |
| 2) neighbourhood | b) a person with little or no experience, esp. in a work situation; beginner |
| 3) novice | c) a large and important town, usu. a locally governed commercial and population centre |
| 4) investigation | d) the area or district near some place or thing, or a local area that has distinguishing characteristics |
| 5) city | e) a thorough inquiry intended to develop facts |
| 6) entertainment | f) a centre of population that is larger than a village but smaller than a city |
| 7) leisure | g) something that provides pleasant diversion or amusement |
| 8) town | h) consisting of, or covered with scum; being despicable; behaving contemptibly |
| 9) scummy | i) freedom from work or other duties or responsibilities that require time and effort; free time |
Ex. 3*. Complete the sentences using the words from the box.
| entertainment, clubbing, venue’s, interior, leisurely meal, throw a birthday party, staggering down, drew our attention |
1. One morning last June some friends and I were ___ (1) Bolshaya Nikitskaya Ul. after a night of ___ (2) when a sign advertising the club’s open-air traditional breakfasts ___ (3). The promise of a ___ (4) eaten on a well-landscaped patio was more temptation than we could resist at 9 a.m. and we went inside, passing through the ___ (5) iron gates, into the courtyard of an 18th-century estate with a smoking grill at its centre.
2. The club had totally altered its ___ (6), its ___ (7) programme.
3. A few weeks ago, I found myself looking for a cosy facility where I could ___ (8) for a friend.
Ex. 4. Answer the following questions.
1. What venues do people usually go to ease the stress of work?
2. What would a novice do to find a good nightclub?
3. What types of clubs can you single out?
4. What sources can you find to get more information about different entertainment spots?
5. What things should you consider when making your decision about where to spend your pastime?
6. What is your idea of the rule “dress to impress” and “dress code”?
7. Would you describe the club or discothèque you like to visit?
8. What do you think you can tell about people on examining how they spend their leisure time?
Speech exercises
Ex.1. Comment on the following quotations:
1. Leisure is the basis of culture.
2. Leisure is neither idleness nor busyness; it is both productive and refreshing. (Josef Pieper. Pantheon, 1952; Random House, 1963).
3. Enjoyment is always bound up with gratitude; if this gratitude is deeply felt it includes the wish to return goodness received and is thus the basis of generosity. (Melanie Klein. Envy and gratitude and other works, 1946).
Ex. 2. Memorize the following proverbs and sayings. Make up mini-dialogues using them.