Reading comprehension and vocabulary exercises

Exercise 1.Answer the questions to the text:

1.How many meals a day does an Englishman usually have?

2.What does the usual English breakfast consist of?

3.Does an Englishman like to vary his breakfast?

4.Many of them never change it, do they?

5.What can one see on the table at lunch as a rule?

6.What is the menu of an ordinary dinner?

7.What is «afternoon tea»?

8.Which is the biggest meal of the day?

9.What do you think of English meals?

Exercise 2.Answer the questions to the dialogue A:

1.What is Anne’s idea of breakfast?

2.Who prefers a huge breakfast?

3.Is James’ breakfast different at the weekend?

4.It is a huge meal, isn’t it?

5.Is Mr. Jones’ breakfast as substantial as James’?

6.What does he think of his breakfast?

7.What does Miss Eccles have for breakfast as a rule?

8.Does she ever change it?

9.A lovely, fat, juicy kipper is her special treat, isn’t it?

10.Who else enjoys kippers?

11.James is a hearty eater, isn’t he?

12.What is your special treat?

Exercise 3.Answer the questions to the dialogue B:

1.Who came on a visit to Ann and Fred?

2.What did Ann treat Jane to?

3.Did Jane enjoy the salad?

4.Did Ann treat her guest to chops or a grilled chicken?

5.What did they have for the third course?

6.What dishes did Jane like most at the dinner?

7.What coffee did Jane prefer?

8.What followed coffee?

9.Was Ann a poor cook and hostess?

Exercise 4.Answer the questions to the dialogue C:

1.Was Mrs. Smith delighted to see Mrs. Brown at her place?

2.Did she offer her friend a cup of tea?

3.Why did Mrs. Brown think she’d enjoy a cup of tea?

4.Did Mrs. Smith suggest that Jane should lay the table?

5.What was Jane to bring from the pantry?

6.What could Mrs. Smith treat her guest to?

7.Why did she always have several jars of raspberry jam in the house?

8.Did Mrs. Brown find the buns tasty?

9.Who did the baking?

10.Mrs. Brown got interested in the recipe of the buns, didn’t she?

11.What foodstuffs were necessary to make the buns?

12.All Jane needed to make the buns was a few cups of flour, some shortening, a little yeast, 4 egg-yolks, a glass of milk and sugar, was that so?

13.Did she beat up everything into a mixture?

14.When the dough was kneaded stiff Jane cut it up into tiny buns, didn’t she?

15.Was it necessary to let the buns rise nicely before putting them into the oven?

16.How long did Jane bake them?

British leisure

How do British people spend their time when they are not actually working? Leisure time of British people isn’t very much organized. They might for instance watch TV. Television is the most popular entertainment in many countries. Statistics says that we spend an average of 25 hours a week watching it or at least keeping it switched on. Theatre, opera and ballet, sorry to say, are almost exclusively the pleasures of the educated middle class. The author of the book «Understanding Britain» Caren Hewitt is convinced that people who are deprived of the great works of art suffer a diminishment of spirit no matter whether they are intellectuals, blue-collar or white collar and so forth.

Private leisure is characterized by the national enthusiasm for gardening. About 44% of the population claim to spend time gardening. In fact they don’t need to grow vegetables, but home grown fruit and vegetables taste much better than those in shops, which have been grown commercially. They also grow flowers and have a passion for lawns of grass which stay green throughout the year.

The other popular home-based activity is «D-I-Y» or «Do-It-Yourself». It means improvement of one’s home by decorating, making furniture, fitting in shelves, cupboards, etc. There are excellent stores (such as hardware stores), which supply the materials and tools, and books with detailed advice are everywhere on sale. Women more concentrate on needlework – sewing curtains and cushions as well as clothes. About half the women in the country spend time on needlework or knitting.

It is extremely difficult to decide how important books are for in the lives of the British citizens. There are well-stocked shops and a good public library service. Books are available, brightly coloured, cheerfully designed – and expensive. However there is an unquestionable loss when the attractions of television and videos have reduced the enthusiasm for reading, which is for many people just glancing at a newspaper. And no wonder! TV dramas and documentaries, cultural and scientific programmes and coverage of the world’s news are excellent in general, by world standards. And of course, there is a lighter entertainment – games, family comedies, celebrity shows, soap operas and so on.

Music is another way of spending time. People listen to pop and rock music on the radio, on records and tapes, at home and in public places. Music magazines persuade teenagers to buy new and new records with the only purpose to make money. That is why cultivating an individual taste becomes very difficult, and cultivating a serious musical taste is extremely difficult. People often keep on spending money to catch up with what is popular. Some people are interested in music making and might play in amateur or professional orchestras or sing in choirs.

Some words should be said about holidays. Summer holidays is the time to spend as a couple or a family. It may just be like visiting friends, or hiring a caravan on the seashore, or camping. You can walk, explore mountains and streams, and take picnics on boating expeditions on lakes, and visit castles, caves and historic sites. This is the way the majority spends their time. Of course, there are minorities. They may join various clubs, or just relax each evening in pubs drinking, or do something else. People are free in their choice as they should be. It may be good or bad, but the reality is like this and you know, there are people and people.

Dialogue A. Going out

Mark:Hello, Julia. Would you like to go the movies tonight?

Julia:Why not. And what’s on?

Mark:A historical film «The First Night». They say the film is worth seeing. It’s praised to the sky by critics. The publicity is really good.

Julia:How wonderful! Is it a screen version of a novel? I enjoy screen versions of historical novels.

Mark:Unfortunately not. But the playwright did a very good job. The cast is brilliant: Sean O’Connery, Richard Gery and Julia Ormond are starring.

Julia:Oh, they are my favourite actors! And who is the producer?

Mark:What a shame! I’m not sure.

Julia:Never mind. Let’s go and book tickets.

Mark:Yes, we should do it in advance for the film has been on for a fortnight already, but each time the house is sold out.

Julia:Oh, Mark, I’m so anxious to see this film.

Mark:No doubt, you’ll be carried away by it, if you enjoy historical films.