Task 2. What is the meaning of the underlined words? Circle the letter of the correct answer

1. Strauss was a young immigrant.

a. person who moves to another country,

b. person who is good in business.

2. Canvas is a heavy fabric.

a. machine,

b. cloth.

3. The miners complained that they didn't have strong clothes.

a. told about problems,

b. told stories.

4.Strauss wanted to improve his pants.

a. make them better

b. make them cleaner

Maria

Both sides of my family – my mum’s and my dad’s – are from a very small town south of Dublin. My father is the postman and he also runs the local garage. My mum has a small shop at the garage where she sells things like newspapers, milk, bread – you know, everyday things.

My dad’s sisters – he’s got five – all live in the village. Two of them went away to the States when they were in their twenties but they came back a few years ago. They were both nurses and they worked in Boston for about fifteen years. I went to see them a couple of times when I was a student. Anyway, they’ve both been back in Ireland since 1998.

Uncle Sean – that’s my mum’s only brother – went to university in England where he studied business and economics. Now he lives and works in Dublin for an international company but he has bought a small house near my mum and dad and he takes his family there every weekend. I think his wife likes our big family – it means she’s got lots of people to help her with their children.

Task 1. Listen. Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?

1. Maria’s mother and father were born in the same place. __

2. Maria’s father has two jobs. __

3. Her mother doesn’t work. __

4. She has got five aunts. __

5. All her aunts have lived in the USA. __

6. Two of her aunts live in the USA. __

7. Her Uncle Sean is studying in England. __

8. Uncle Sean has got a home in Dublin. __

9. Uncle Sean often visits the village. __

10. Uncle Sean’s wife doesn’t enjoy visiting the family. __

A Famouse Actor

A famous actor often had to travel by train. Of course, a lot of his fellow passengers used to recognize him on his journeys, and some of them tried to get into conversation with him, but he was usually feeling tired after acting until late the night before, so he did not encourage them to talk to him.

One day he had just got into the train with all his luggage when a young man came and sat down in the seat opposite him. The young man took out a book and began to read it, while the actor tried to get some sleep in his corner of the carriage.

When he opened his eyes, he found that the young man was star‑ing at him with his mouth open, his book forgotten. The actor shut his eyes and tried to sleep again, but every time he opened them, the young man was looking at him with the same fixed look. At last he gave up the attempt to sleep, took out a newspaper, put it up in front of him and began to read.

Task 1. Answer the questions, choose the correct answer.

1. Who used to travel by train with a lot of fellow passengers?

a) A famous actor.

b) A famous dramatist.

c) A famous artist.

2. Why didn’t he like to get into conversation with fellow passengers?

a) He was a misanthrope.

b) He was usually feeling tired after acting.

c) He didn’t like stupid questions.

3. What did a young man do when he came into the carriage and sat down opposite the actor?

a) The young man took out a book and began to read it.

d) The young man took out a newspaper and began to read it.

c) The young man tried to get some sleep in his corner of the carriage.

4. What did the actor find when he opened his eyes?

a) The young man was eating his dinner.

b) The young man was sleeping with his mouth open.

c) The young man was staring at him with his mouth open.

5. What did the actor do?

a) He took out a newspaper, put it up in front of him and began to read.

b) He got into conversation with the young man.

c) He shut his eyes and tried to sleep again.

6. Why was the young man staring at the actor?

a) He didn’t expect to see the famous actor in the same carriage.

b) Sleeping in the carriage is impolite.

c) The actor was very handsome.

Task 2. Read the sentences, are they true or false?

1. A famous actor often had to travel by train.

2. He was always full of energy.

3. He was talkative.

4. The young man didn’t recognize him.

5. The actor didn’t like to sleep in the train.

6. The actor had a good rest in the carriage.

New Year Celebrations

The last day of December and of the year is called New Year's Eve, and with it comes the celebration of all kinds and all-night parties, especially in Scotland, where it is of more importance than Christmas Day. It was and it often is a night of feasting, singing, dancing until midnight when bells ring and people greet each other with the New Year. The celebration is the same in England, Ireland and Wales. Children go singing from door to door, and are given sweets and presents.

Those who see the New Year in, join hands at midnight and sing the Scottish song of "Auld Lang Syne" as soon as the clock finishes striking twelve. This song is sung in England to nowadays, but it is not one of the Old English customs. Even in Scotland, singing it is not so very old, for the words were only written in the 18th century by Robert Berns.

At home or in restaurants most people spend the final hours of the old year and the first hours of the new year dining with friends. Champagne - the drink that traditionally symbolizes a celebration - is often served for the midnight toast on New Year's Eve.

Following a long New Year's Eve, people usually spend a quiet New Year's Day. In most homes everyone sleeps late, then enjoys lunch and TV with the family and friends. New Year's Day is the time for starting new life programs and giving up bad habits, for making New Year resolutions. But this winter Festive season is expensive. To earn extra money for presents and celebrations a lot of young people do part-time work in December.

Ringing out the old year, ringing in the new; is a custom followed in most countries and one which will continue for many centuries more.

Task 1. Read the sentences, are they true or false?

1) In Scotland New Year Eve is not as important as Christmas.

2) There is dancing and singing everywhere only till midnight.

3) Children are given presents at New Year.

4) On New Year Eve a Scottish song is sung in England.

5) The words of this song were written by a modern writer.

6) There is no traditional drink on New Year Eve.

7) People usually spend a quiet Now Year Day with their family.

8) During the winter festive season young people do not have to do any extra work.

9) New Year's Day is the wrong time to give up bad habits.

10) New Year resolutions have become a tradition.

HALLOWEEN

On October 31, Americans celebrate Halloween. Halloween means "holy" (hallow) "evening" (een). This is the evening before the Christian holy day of All Saints Day. On All Saints Day, Christians remember the saints. But Halloween is even older than Christianity.

Before Christianity, people in Europe believed that on October 31 ghosts of dead people came back. To scare the ghosts, people dressed like devils and were very noisy. They also made big fires to keep the ghosts away. Later, people did not believe in ghosts, but they kept the day of Halloween for fun.

Immigrants came from Europe to America and brought with them the custom of Halloween. Halloween has some strange symbols. One symbol is the jack-o'-lanterns in the window. The jack-o'-lanterns is to scare the ghosts. People cut the pumpkin, throw away all of the inside, and cut a face in it. Then they put a candle inside of it. Jack-o'-lanterns usually look scary, too!

Today, in the United States, Halloween is very popular with children. They wear masks and special costumes. They want to look like skeletons and ghosts. Then they go from house to house and say, "Trick or treat!" People give them candies, cookies, or fruit. When people give nothing, the children sometimes play tricks on them.

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