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When I was a boy every holiday that I had seemed ideal. All day, I seem to remember, I played on the sands with my friends. We made sandcastles with yellow walls, and watched the tide destroy them; we played football, we splashed each other in the water.

In those far-off days the sun seemed to shine constantly and the water was always warm. Sometimes we left the beach and walked in the country, exploring ruined houses and dark woods and climbing trees.

Although I am now an adult, my idea of a good holiday is much the same as it was. I still like the sun and the warm sand and the sound of waves breaking on the beach. I no longer want to build sandcastles, but I love sunbathing and the sand running through my fingers, and I look forward to sitting down to a good meal in the evening. I think too, that I prefer travelling. I want to smell different smells; I want to see different kinds of trees, flowers and plants; and I also want to see people wearing different kinds of clothes. Above all, I want to listen to different musical rhythms.

But I still need my companions – not, of course, to play on the sands and eat ices with, but to talk to on warm moonlit nights.

Sometimes I wonder what my ideal holiday will be when I am old. All I shall want to do then, I expect, will be to lie in bed, reading books about children who make sandcastles with yellow walls, who watch the tide, who make themselves sick on too many ices…

Comprehension exercises

1. Multiple-choice questions. Choose the right answer:

· When I was a boy every holiday I had seemed (too short, too dull, ideal).

· I played on the sands with my friends making (sandcastles, much noise, various toys).

· In those far-off days the sun seemed to shine (too seldom, dimly, constantly).

· I still like the sound of (waves breaking on the beach, children crying, buses rushing along the streets).

· I’m now an adult, and I still need my friends to (play with, talk to, quarrel with).

· I’m hungry, I’m looking forward to (meeting my friends, going for a walk, sitting down to a good meal).

2. Answer the questions:

· When does every holiday seem ideal, when you’re a child or when you’re an adult?

· What did the author of this story like to do with his boy-friends on the sands?

· What did they make?

· How long did their sandcastles live?

· What did they sometimes explore in the country?

· Has the author’s idea of a good holiday changed?

· What does he still like?

· Why does he like travelling?

· Why does he still need his companions?

· Years change our ideals. What does the author think his ideal holiday will be like when he grows old?

3. Use the text and make up your own story about your ideal holiday.

Exercise 5.

Read the text and be ready to speak about the British holidays.

The British Holidays

Many British people think that it’s better not to spend money on a holiday in Britain because the weather is so changeable. They prefer to spend their money on package holidays in Southern Europe. A package holiday is not a very expensive form of group travel. You pay a travel agent a sum of money and he arranges flight, hotel, food and entertainment. All you need is pocket money when you get to the foreign country. It is sometimes not much expensive to go to Europe than to stay in England. That is probably why package holidays are so popular. But not everybody likes them. Some people say you do not see very much of the country you go to.

However traditional seaside holidays in Britain are still the most popular form of holiday for most of the British people. Because Britain is quite a small island no one lives farther than 75miles from the sea. As soon as the summer weather begins thousands of people in cars make their ways to the seaside. The seaside is a place for a family holiday. A lot of families look forward to going to the seaside the whole year. They can put up at a hotel and enjoy all modern conveniences there. If hotel rates are high for them they can rent a cottage or even a room. They can spend all days on the beach, lying in the sun and bathing in the sea.

A lot of people have walking holidays. They are the cheapest. One can get beds and meals at the youth hostels that are all over the country or cook meals in the kitchen. There one has to help by sweeping and cleaning the rooms or washing up after meals. But that’s not a hardship, is it? And there one can meet and make friends with lots of young people.

Some people go to holiday camps. There are wooden cabins with beds, electric light, running water. There are large buildings — a dining hall, a large hall for dancing, a cinema, a theatre, a bar, a café, rooms for games such as billiards. The camp usually has its own swimming pool and tennis courts.

So, there are different ways of spending holidays in Britain and everybody can choose something to his liking.

Assignments after the text:

I

1. English people spend their holidays in different ways. Say everything you know about

a) package holidays,

b) holidays at the seaside,

c) walking holidays,

d) holiday camps.

2. You know a lot about the ways English people spend their holidays, don’t you? Speak about them. Keep in mind that you should describe holidays in the country too. Take the Parkers as an example.

II

1. People in our country have different kinds of holidays in summer. Speak on the ways Russian people can have their holidays and say how

a) the students of your group,

b) most citizens of the Komi Republic spend their summer vacations (holidays).

Exercise 6.

Listen to the dialogue, read it and learn it by heart.

Peter: (shouting in the hall downstairs) Mum! Dad! Where is everyone? Is the house empty? Hello!

Robert: (from the bathroom) Peter! What are you making all that noise about?

Peter: (to himself) Ah! That sounds like Robert's voice. (opening the bathroom door) Hello, Robert! What are you doing in the bath-room?

Robert: I'm having a wash – what do you think?

Peter: Well, you sound as if you've got soap in your mouth! Why are you having a wash now?

Robert: You know very well I always have a wash when I get home on Saturday, after football.

Peter: Where's Mum? I want to ask her something.

Robert: Well, you'll have to wait till she comes in – she's shopping. You know very well she goes shopping every Saturday morning and doesn't come in till lunch time.

Peter: I think I smell something cooking. Is lunch ready yet?

Robert: Of course not. It's still in the oven.

Peter: It smells good. Don't I wish Mum would hurry up with her shopping and give it to me. I'm hungry!

Robert: You needn't worry – you never miss your Saturday lunch, young Peter.

Peter: Dad will miss it if he doesn't come home soon. Where is he?

Robert: Don't be silly, you know exactly where he is – having a beer in the pub. You know he always has a drink on his way home from work on Saturday morning.

Peter: (in mock admiration) I say Robert, you do look clean. You've even washed behind your ears!

Robert: Now don't you be rude, young Peter. You could do with a wash yourself… Here, Peter, what are you doing with that cake?

Peter: (imitating Robert) Don't be silly! You know exactly what I’m doing with it. You know very well I always come home on Saturday and have to wait for my lunch so I eat whatever I can find in the pantry – and that's what I'm doing now.

Enlarge the conversation by speaking about what Robert usually does, is doing at the present period of time, is planning to do in the nearest future etc.

Exercise 7.

Listen to the conversation

After Summer Vacation

Assignments after the text:

Jane, Ann and Mike have had their summer vacations and now they are having a talk about them.

1. Say how a) Ann, b) Jane, c) Mike spent their vacations.

2. Speak about the vacations these students had.

a) Begin with the description of the weather in summer.

b) Describe in detail the resort where Ann stayed (perhaps it looked like a holiday camp).

c) Say a few words about holidays at home.

3. How would Mike (Ann, Jane) speak of his (her) vacations and of his (her) friends’ vacations.

4. Say what the students will do next summer. Say in what case they will do that.

e.g. Ann will go to the South if she feels well …

5. Make up a conversation about your summer vacations. Say how you usually spend them, how you spent your vacations this summer, what your plans are for next summer.

Exercise 8.

Read the poem and say why the author travels.

THE AMBASSADOR

Wandering, wandering, all day long,

Walking, running, singing a song.

I am a traveller, and I’ll never stop,

I wander the world from bottom to top.

The earth is my ball, the sky is my dish,

I fly with the birds, I swim with the fish.

Passing through city and small village street,

I listen and learn from the people I meet.

If only all people could believe as I do,

The world would be smaller as we learned who was who.

Understanding makes friends of strangers, they say,

And my circle of friends grows every day.

Wandering, wandering, all day long,

Walking, running, singing a song.

I am a traveller, and I’ll never stop,

I wander the world from bottom to top.

Exercise 9.

Respond to the statements below to say about yourself. Choose the answer from the table; you may use the example in the box.

¨ When I was a child I travelled with my parents or my grandparents. And you?

¨ I have never travelled alone. And what about you?

¨ I love my dog that’s why I always travel with my dog. And you?

¨ Usually people travel for pleasure. Do you travel for pleasure?

¨ Sometimes they travel in search of adventures or from curiosity. And you?

¨ When people travel they like to go shopping and to go sightseeing. And you?

¨ More than that, when they travel they may make new friends and learn traditions of other countries. And what can you say about yourself?

¨ People like to travel because it is exciting, useful and good for health. Do you also think so?

¨ Some people believe that travelling is expensive, dangerous and disappointing. Do you share this opinion?

¨ Many people like to travel because it broadens our outlook and gives us life experience. Do you also think so?

¨ Some people think that travelling leaves unforgettable impressions and helps us explore the world. Are you of the same opinion?

Exercise 10.

Exercise 12.

Here are some opinions about travelling:

“I like to travel. It’s just great! Travel offers sense of freedom!”

Renee, 19

“Travelling becomes more and more dangerous….”

Elizabeth, 64

“Usually I travel to relax and to learn something new…”

Stuart, 28

“I’m sure that most people travel out of snobbery…”

Mary, 35

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