Lesson 5. My working day.

Pre-reading

Task 1. Think over, choose and explain your variant.

1. What do you think the daily routine gives us?

A. we can manage to do everything we plan to do

B. we try to avoid a fuss in our life

C. we aim to keep a healthy life-style

2. What does the daily routine consists of?

A. rational nutrition and hygiene

B. work and relaxation

C. both variants

3. What parts do we usually divide our days into?

A. a.m. and p.m.

B. home and work

C. morning, day and evening

Task 2. While reading decide whether it is useful when one has the daily routine to follow or not. Try to compare your own working day with the example given below.

Task 3. Read the following text:

My working day

On weekdays the alarm-clock wakes me up at 7.00 and my working day begins. I’m not an early riser, that’s why it’s very difficult for me to get out of bed. I switch on my CD record-player and do my morning Tasks. Then I go to the bathroom, take a warm shower and clean my teeth. After that I go to my bedroom to get dressed and comb my hair.

Usually my mother makes breakfast for me. But when she is away on business or just doesn’t have to get up early, I make breakfast myself. I usually don’t eat much in the morning – just a sandwich or two and drink a cup of milk or tea. While having breakfast, I watch the latest news on television. Then I take my learning tools (pencils, Task-books, text-books) and go to the University.

As a rule I leave the house at 8.00 and come to the university at half past eight, so it takes me about 30 minutes to get there by bus. Sometimes when the weather is fine and I have enough time I walk to the university. But when I am late for the first lesson my father drives me to the doors of our university building on the way to his work.

I have from 3 to 5 lectures and seminars in different subjects every time, depending on day. For example at the lessons of English we read and retell the texts, write Tasks, dictations or compositions. Usually I don't miss my classes because I want to pass my examinations successfully.

At twelve o'clock we have a big interval for lunch. That's my favourite time. That is the time to share the latest news with my friends. I prefer not to go to the canteen and often have lunch in a small cafe not too far from the university. At half past twelve we have to be back to our classes. We also have breaks of 10 minutes between the lessons. From time to time I have to stay at the university till late because I go to the library to get ready for my practical classes or to write a report.

After the lessons I come back home at about three or four o'clock where I have my dinner, wash up, rest a little and then do my homework. Sometimes I help my mother about the house if she needs my help. I sweep the floor, dust the furniture and clean the carpets with the vacuum-cleaner. Sometimes she asks me to go shopping or to help her in the kitchen. After it I have free time and start thinking about my ways of spending the rest of the day. If the weather is good I go for a walk with my friends or visit my grandparents who live nearby and if the weather is not good I stay at home and do some work and interesting things on computer.

In the evening I have supper with my family. I like such evenings very much because all of us get together after work and study and have the opportunity to talk and to discuss our family affairs. Late evening I like to play computer games or chat with my friends over the Internet. I may go to bed very late. But I always remember the proverb: "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."

That is my common working day and so by the end of the week I get very tired. All I can do on weekends is to sleep till eleven o’clock, watch television and listen to music. In the evenings I go to the cinema or to the club.

Vocabulary

Task 4. A. Find the English equivalents of the following Russian words and combinations:

- рано просыпаться/"ранняя пташка", вставать с постели, принимать душ, готовить завтрак, учебные принадлежности, занимать/отнимать (времени), опаздывать, пропускать занятия, выдержать экзамен, возвращаться, время от времени, подготовиться, свободное время, жить по соседству, собираться/встречаться, уставать.