Answer the following questions

1. What is a tradition?

2. What and when are ‘bank’ holidays?

3. What is Pancake Day?

4. What is Guy Fawkes Night?

5. What is the significance of the poppy and when is it worn?

6. What are Britain’s national flowers?

7. Where can we find out about British folk songs and folk tales?

8. What are Britain’s national costumes?

9. Who was Guy Fawkes?

10. Why does the Queen have two birthdays?

11. What is the significance of the poppy and when is it worn?

12. What are Britain’s national flowers?

13. What specific British holidays and traditions do you know?

14. Why do British people present gifts to each other? How do they choose them?

15. How do you think: do the holidays celebrated in Great Britain reveal the national character of British people?

Unit 8

You will read & translate a topic about travelling. Before you read, discuss in pairs the following. Do not worry if you can’t reach an agreement with your partner, but make sure that you demonstrate your ability to explain and discuss your opinions.

1. Do you like to travel? 2. Do you travel much? Can you imagine your life without travelling? 3. Was travelling a specific driving force of human development in the past? Was it extremely dangerous? 4. What do you know about the Age of Discovery? 5. What places (cities, towns, countries etc.) have you visited? What do you know about them? 6. What kind of travelling do your parents prefer?

Travelling

I think everybody agrees that travelling is very important as it shines out from the grey routines of our life and work as a time, when we can forget the stresses and enjoy ourselves, relax, be with our friends, see other cities and countries, discover different ways of life, try different food etc. Some people say that a change is as good as a rest.

After being in many different places, I’ve experienced travel by many different modes of transport. I like travelling by plane, as I really like the speed and the feeling of being high above everything. I’ve been from Moscow to Paris by coach, and it took 4 days, whereas by plane it takes three hours and a half – quite a difference! I quite like aircraft food (cold meat and nice salads) for example. I’ve only been on a plane one time. It was when I left Moscow for Tunisia with my brother. We went on a very cheap holiday organized by my brother’s university, and for a very reasonable price, we got a last minute place on a flight to Tunisia and returned a week later.

There are some things I dislike when I travel by plane. Firstly, when my ears pop on takeoff and I always have a slight feeling of nausea, feeling all blocked up from the air pressure changes. Secondly, airports are usually quite far away from the nearest town, so it takes another long journey after arriving to get into town. Thirdly, it's more expensive to travel by plain. And finally, some people are frightened to fly.

Usually I travel by train. I like trains very much. I’ve often travelled across Russia by train. One of the advantages of trains over airplanes is that you can get up and walk about, whereas on a plane you are stuck in your seat and you can’t move. The train can be cheaper than the plane and more convenient method of travel. When I was a child we used to go to Kargopol every summer. I stayed with my cousins. I was so young, I hardly remember it. We also went to Sochi and I went to the seaside and swum every day. It was really good.

My friends prefer to travel by coach. That is why of all the available tours they choose coach tours. Such tours are not expensive. They give a chance to do a lot of sightseeing and have a good rest at the same time. Last year they visited Germany, the Netherlands and France during the ten-day holiday. There was no trouble with the luggage. Moreover hotels were carefully selected and booked in advance. As for me I don’t really like travelling by bus for a long way as I find it quite uncomfortable and it often makes me feel sick. In my opinion coaches are subject to traffic jams and motorway pile-ups. They often have accidents, as coaches often go too fast because they have to keep up with their timetable.

My parents like going on ships. Sometimes they board a ferry. I have a friend who is called Thomas, whose main mode of transport is his bicycle.

People often travel on business. I am absolutely sure it helps them to get more information about achievements of other companies.

Topical vocabulary

Exercise1.