Text A. The Use of leisure

By the way in which a man uses his leisure his character can be told - more surely, in all probability, than the way he does his work. For most men, work is necessity in order to gain a living. Vast numbers of men have not been able to choose what work they would do, but have been forced by economic necessity to take the first job that came their way. But in their leisure time, they do what they really want to do and their real selves are reflected in their actions.

Some people are completely passive during leisure hours. If such people go out they go to some place of entertainment where no effort is required by them, a cinema or a dance-hall, and if the latter, they do not dance but simply sit and watch other dancing.

A different type of person hurries home from work full of eagerness to begin on some scheme which he has been planning for his leisure time. Perhaps his hobby is carpentry or model engineering or gardening. This is the creative type of character. For him, his leisure hours are full of promise and he can look back on them with satisfaction when he reviews what he has achieved in them.

Millions of people all over the world like to travel during their holidays. They travel to see other countries and continents, modern cities and the ruins of ancient towns, they enjoy picturesque places, or just for a change of scene. It is always interesting to discover new things, different ways of life, to meet different people, to try different food, to listen to different musical rhythms.

Those who live in the country like to go to a big city and spend their time visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at exotic restaurants. City-dwellers usually like a quiet holiday by the sea or in the mountains, with nothing to do but walk and bathe and laze in the sun.

Most people enjoy sports - both playing sports themselves and watching their favourite sports and teams. Major professional sports events - baseball, football, basketball, and hockey, as well as golf and tennis - are witnessed by tens of thousands of fans, and by millions more on TV.

The whole virtue of leisure which brings a change of scene or occupation is that it is only temporary. Sooner or later leisure time comes to an end, and one should go back to his normal life. If he has used his leisure time well, he ought to feel a very deep regret that it is over, and it ought to have refreshed him and filled him with vigour for the true work of his life to which he is now returning.

Leisure should be refreshment; it should send a man out with fresh spirits to battle with the problems of life. Sometimes this freshness comes not from doing anything, but by filling one's mind with fresh springs of beauty. A man gets full value from his leisure by watching nature, listening to music, or reading noble books. By this sort of occupation he makes his own mind a richer and fuller treasure house. This is the true use of leisure.

Vocabulary

leisure, n досуг, свободное время

in all probability по всей вероятности

necessity, n необходимость

to gain a living зарабатывать на жизнь

vast, adj огромный

choose (chose, chosen), v выбирать

force, n сила

v заставлять, принуждать

entertainment, n развлечения, увеселения

effort, n усилие, попытка

require, v требовать

eagerness, n пыл, рвение, желание

hurry, v торопиться, спешить

carpentry, n плотничные работы

model engineering техническое моделирование

gardening, n садоводство

satisfy, v удовлетворять

creative, adj творческий, созидательный

review, v обозревать, осматривать

achieve, v достигать

travel, v путешествовать

ancient, adj древний

discover, v открывать, обнаруживать

quiet, adj тихий, спокойный

bathe, v купаться

laze, v бездельничать, лентяйничать

regret, v сожалеть, горевать

refresh, v освежать, подкреплять(ся)

vigour, n сила, энергия

promise, n обещание

temporary, adj временный

virtue, n добродетель, достоинство, цело- мудрие

spring, n источник, родник

the former …the latter первый … последний (из ряда перечисленных)

I. Read and transcribe the following words. Consult the dictionary:

leisure, scheme, ancient, picturesque, restaurant, quite, quiet, sea, bathe, rhythm, virtue, museum.

II. Guess the meaning of the following international words. Consult the dictionary.

Nouns: character, action, scheme, plan, hobby, model, type, million, continent, ruins, music, gallery, restaurant, sports, visit, baseball, football, basketball, hockey, golf, tennis, occupation, nature, sort.

Adjectives: economic, passive, modern, interesting, exotic, professional, normal.

III. Read the verbs and the nouns derived from them. Translate the nouns:

achieve - достигать achievement -...

refresh - освежать refreshment -...

подкреплять

entertain - развлекать entertainment -...

satisfy - удовлетворять satisfaction -...

occupy - занимать occupation -...

овладевать

create - создавать creativeness -....

IV. Match the English and Russian words:

V. Find the opposites to the first word in each line:

to rest / to try, to last, to get, to work;

to leave / to walk, to come, to live, to die;

passive / creative, interesting, professional, active;

rich / poor, pure, full, beautiful;

to laze / to live, to lie, to work, to look;

ancient / old, typical, different, modern.

VI. Read the text ‘The Use of Leisure’. Find the English equivalents for the following Russian phrases:

для большинства людей работа - необходимость; по всей вероятности; делать то, что действительно хочется; их подлинное "Я" отражается в поступках; полные стремления начать какое-нибудь дело; творческий тип личности; развалины древних городов; наслаждаться живописными местами; открывать новое; горожане любят тихо проводить отдых у моря; десятки тысяч болельщиков смотрят крупные спортивные состязания; испытывать глубокое чувство сожаления; источники прекрасного.

VII. Read the text ‘The Use of Leisure’ again. Answer the following questions:

1. Can the character of a man be told by the way of using his leisure? 2. What is work for most people? And what about leisure time? 3. What can you say about people who are passive during leisure time? 4. How does a creative type of person use his leisure hours? 5. Do most people like travelling? What is the purpose of travelling? 6. Where do those who live in the country like to go? What about town-dwellers? 7. Do you like sports? Do you prefer going in for sports or watching sports events? 8. What does one feel when he has used his leisure time well? 9. What should leisure be? 10. How does a man get full value from his leisure? 11. How do you prefer to use leisure time?

VIII. Express disagreement with the following utterances. Prove your statements by the facts from the text. Begin your sentences with the following:

I don't agree with you... You are mistaken... As far as I know...

1. All people are passive during their leisure time. 2. In their leisure time people can't do what they really want. 3. It’s not interesting to travel. 4. People can't enjoy sports. 5. Everyone is glad when leisure time is over. 6. The true use of leisure is sleeping or watching TV.

IX. Complete the following sentences:

1. By the way in which a man uses his leisure his character can be told more surely than.... 2. For most men, work is necessity.... 3. In leisure time people do.... 4. Those who live in the country like.... 5. City-dwellers usually like.... 6. The whole virtue of leisure time is that.... 7. Sooner or later leisure time comes to an end and.... 8. A man gets full value from his leisure by....

X. Speak about your own way of using leisure time.

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