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Leisure time. Couch potato
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LEISURE TIME
The problem of leisure time is important today. People may also have their special interests and hobbies to occupy themselves in their free time: writing, painting, reading, computer programming, gardening, mountaineering, walking, working with wood or paper, learning languages, collecting something. Each person chooses his or her own way of spending free time, either passive or active.
But sometimes we don’t know how to plan our time. We feel bored. You must only wish to do things. Frankly speaking I must say that I don’t have much free time. My studies take almost all time of the day. But I try to find some time to devote to my favorite past time and hobbies.
To begin with, I’d like to say a few words about music and its role in my life. Music is a part of my daily life. I prefer popular contemporary music but I never deny the beauty of classical music. I go to the concerts of my favorite singers. I also have got a DVD at home. I am fond of fantastic films.
One of the ways of spending pastime is reading. Books can’t be substituted for anything else in life. There are books of all kinds: poems, novels, biographies, books on history. I enjoy reading science fiction. These books raise serious problems of our life and our future.
Speaking about my leisure time I can’t but mention sport. Physical exercises, that’s what I need after a hard working day. I am fond of swimming and playing tennis.
During the summer or winter holidays I prefer to spend lei-sure time travelling. I prefer to do on a hike to some picturesque places with a company of my best friends. Travelling is the most popular and exciting way of spending leisure time.
I think that my leisure time should bring happiness to my life. I’d like to say that tastes differ. Pastime and hobbies are numer-ous: reading, TV, music, sport, museums, theatres, cinemas, Internet and etc. Just choose.
16. Read and translate the text
COUCH POTATO
Forty-three-year –old Brian Blakey from Birmingham is sit-ting on his sofa and telling me about his perfect day.
When I wake up I don’t get up immediately. I turn on the tele-vision and watch the children’s programs and old movies until about half-past ten. Then I get up, go downstairs and switch on the telly. For lunch, I have biscuits and a glass of milk, and I watch the news. In the afternoon, I often watch another old films – they’re showing some good ones at the moment. In the evening, I often watch soap operas or sport and the news again. I like the main news at six o’clock. At nine thirty, if there is a good play on BBC 2, I switch over and watch it. Then at night I watch more films and I usually switch off the telly at about two o’clock. I never watch the TV all night.
I watch TV for sixteen or seventeen hours a day. I also do some exercise every day. I take Tina, the dog, for a walk every after-noon. I don’t go far, of course. I walk to the wall outside my house. I always take my portable telly and I sit on the wall while the dog walks round in a circle.
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Of cause I couldn’t live this lifestyle without a good wife. She is not here now because she’s working, but she always makes my meals. We haven’t got much money you know, but we’re happy. Sit down, watch the telly - you have got the world at your feet. And in your hand. Great!
17. Work in pairs. Is your partner a «couch potato» or an active person? Use the words in the box to ask questions.
For example: What do you do at week-ends? Do you often go swimming?
read, watch TV, play football/tennis, go jogging, cycling, swimming, dancing, walking, go to the gym/for a walk/out, to a movie
18. Write an essay about your day off
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