What is better - the city or the countryside?

Living in a city and in a country.

First of all I would like to say that living in a city and in a country has both advantages and disadvantages.

To my mind, life in the city is much easier than in the country, because we have developed transport system, shopping malls and so on. You see it is easier to find work and there are a lot of interesting things to do and to see. For example you can eat in restaurants, visit theatres and spend your free time at famous nightclubs. Life is more convenient in a city: services are always better here. Besides in the city people have more chances to be successful and to be famous.

But for every plus there is a minus. For example you have a job, but if it is not well-paid you can’t enjoy this city life as it is expensive. A lot of people move to big cities to find a good job or to enter the University, but if you don’t have your own flat it is not so cheap to rent it and it looks like a problem. The next disadvantages are noise and traffic jams. I think that citizens become very nervous and stressful because of these problems. What is more, sometimes it is very difficult to find open space and green grass, especially at weekend when parks are overcrowded!

If you prefer peace and fresh air it is better to live in the country. I am of opinion that living in the village is good for retired people. They like gardening and nature.

As for me I wouldn’t like to live in the country because I feel bored there. It is enough for me to visit a country at week-ends when I go to my grandparents.

GRAMMAR PRACTISE.

Используйте слова в скобках для образования предложений в Present Simple. Обратите внимание, в какой форме должно стоять предложение (утвердительной, вопросительной или отрицательной)

1) They _____ football at the institute. (to play)

2) She _____ emails. (not / to write)

3) ____ you____ English? (to speak)

4) My mother ____ fish. (not / to like)

5) ____ Ann ____ any friends? (to have)

6) His brother _____ in an office. (to work)

7) She ___ very fast. (cannot / to read)

8) ____ they ____ the flowers every 3 days? (to water)

9) His wife _____ a motorbike. (not / to ride)

10) ____ Elizabeth_____ coffee? (to drink)

Составить противоположные предложения:

The rivers freeze in winter.
I like pizza.
She doesn’t work on Sundays.
My friends don’t visit me.
You have long hair.
My boss works overtime.
We don’t travel very often.
He sometimes eats sushi.
Our colleagues like our new office.
I go to the theatre very often.
My neighbor listens to the music late at night.
She doesn’t like modern art.
They prefer seafood.
My cat sleeps all day long.
She doesn’t spend much time in the shops.

Sport in Our Life

People all over the world are fond of sports and games. Sport makes people healthy, it keeps them fit, it makes them more organized and better disciplined. It unites people of different classes and nationalities. Many people do sports on their personal initiative. They go in for skiing, skating, table tennis, swimming, volley-ball, football, body-building, etc.

All necessary facilities are provided for them in our country: stadiums, sport grounds, swimming pools, skating rinks, skiing stations, football fields.

Sport is paid much attention to in our educational establishments. Gymnastics is a part of children's daily activities in the kindergartens. Physical culture is a compulsory subject at schools and colleges.

Professional sport is also paid much attention to in our country. In the city, where I live, there are different sporting societies, clubs and complexes.

Practically all kinds of sports are popular in our country, but football, gymnastics and tennis enjoy the greatest popularity.

As for me, I go in for table tennis (ping-pong). It needs mobility, liveliness and much energy. It keeps me in a good form. I have been playing table tennis for five years, but the more I play, the more I like it. I get a real joy taking part in competitions or simply playing with my friends. Sometimes, I go to tennis courts.

DIALOGUE

Ann: What kind of sport do you go in for?

Jim: In winter I go skating and skiing. Sometimes I play hockey. In summer I go in for swimming and rowing. Besides that I like athletics such as running and jumping.

Ann: I see. As for me. I prefer indoor games. I can play chess, draughts and table –tennis.

Jim: Oh, that’s fine.

Ann: Would you care for a game of table - tennis now ?

Jim: Frankly speaking I am not a good player.

Ann: Never mind. I’ll try to teach you and you’ll see how well I can do it.

Jim: All right. Let’s go to the gym.

Exercise 1. Дополните диалоги, сформировав вопросы в Past Simple.

Kim: What __________ (you do) last night, Lisa?

Lisa: I went to the cinema.

Kim: What film _____________ (you see) ?

Lisa: Shrek.

Kim: Who _____________ ( you go) with?

Lisa: Pete and Zoe.

Kim: _________ (you enjoy) it?

Lisa: Well, the special effects were brilliant, but the story wasn't very good.

Kim: What time ____________ (it finish)?

Lisa: At ten o'clock.

Kim: What______ (you do) after the film?

Lisa: We went for a pizza.

Exercise 2.Нейл спрашивает Карен о ее выходных. Допишите вопросы.

Neil : Did you stay at home last weekend?

Karen: No, I didn't. I went to Brighton with my family

Neil: ____________to Brighton on the train?

Karen: No, we went by coach.

Neil: ___________ swimming?

Karen: Yes, we did. The water was very cold!