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Study each paragraph. What single word explains the central idea of each passage? Find the topic sentence, and then list the details that support it.
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IV. Speaking Practice.
Give details to expand an idea into a paragraph.
1) Novopolotsk is my native town.
2) Novopolotsk is called as a town of chemistry.
3) The Square of Builders is the most famous place in the town.
4) All modern conveniences are at the disposal of the town residents.
5) Novopolotsk has a very beautiful landscape.
What do you think?
· What do you like best about living in Novopolotsk?
· What would you miss if you had to live in another town / city?
· Living in Novopolotsk. Advantages and disadvantages.
Read, translate and role-play the dialogues.
A
Mike: So tell me about your native town, Joyce.
Joyce: Well, it’s a real small town.
Mike: Really? What’s it like there?
Joyce: Oh, I think it’s a very boring place.
Mike: Why?
Joyce: Well, there’s nothing exciting to do. No good restaurants. No nightlife of any kind. I really get bored there.
Mike: Oh, that’s too bad.
Joyce: Yeah, but lots of people love it there because it’s so pretty!
Mike: Yeah?
Joyce: Uh-huh. It has lovely scenery – lots of mountains, rivers, lakes, trees…
Mike: Well, I don’t know, Joyce, it sounds like a nice place!
Joyce: Well, yeah, if you like to go hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. But, you know, I’m not the outdoor type! I’m a real city person!
B
Linda: Do you come from a big city, Steve?
Steve: Oh, yes, I do. It’s pretty big.
Linda: What’s it like there?
Steve: Oh, it’s a really great place! It has some fantastic art museums, and wonderful theatres, and terrific restaurants of all kind… like Greek, Russian, French, Japanese…
Linda: Ah… really? And how are the prices? Is it expensive?
Steve: Yeah, yeah, I guess so. Food costs a lot… both in the supermarket and in restaurants. And apartments! They’re so hard to find… and the rents are very high!
Linda: Yeah, I guess it’s expensive everywhere these days.
C
Andy: Whereabouts in Canada are you from?
Carla: I’m from Toronto.
Andy: I’ve never been there. What’s it like?
Carla: It’s a great city! It has good museums and wonderful restaurants. And the nightlife is exciting, too.
Andy: Really? Is it expensive there?
Carla: Well, it’s not bad, but apartments are fairly expensive.
Andy: Toronto sounds like a nice place. I’ve heard it has a good subway.
Carla: Oh, yeah! It’s excellent. And the buses are good, too.
Andy: And what about shopping?
Carla: There are some great shopping centres and department stores. Do you know the Euton Centre?
Andy: The Euton Centre? No. What’s that?
Carla: Huh! It’s one of the biggest shopping centres in the world. It has everything, and the prices are pretty good, too.
Andy: Well, I hope some day I’ll get a chance to go there.
Carla: I hope so, too. If you ever go, I’ll show you around the city…
Andy: You will? Great! Thanks!
Carla: Ok.
Make your own dialogues with your partner.
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Retell the dialogues using Reported Speech.
V. Supplementary Reading.
A
1. Translate into Russian using a dictionary:
LIVING IN THE CITY
Living in a city has both advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, it is often easier to find work, and there is usually a choice of public transport, so you don't need to own a car. Also, there are a lot of interesting things to do and places to see. For example, you can eat in good restaurants, visit museums, and go to the theatre and to concerts. What is more, when you want to relax, you can feed the ducks or just sit on a park bench and read a book. All in all, city life is full of bustle and variety and you need never feel bored.
However, for every plus there is a minus. For one thing, you might have a job, but unless it is very well-paid, you will not be able to afford many of the things that there are to do, because living in a city is often very expensive. It is particularly difficult to find good, cheap accommodation. What is more, public transport is sometimes crowded and dirty, particularly in the rush hour, and even the parks can become very crowded, especially on Sundays when it seems that every city-dweller is looking for some open space and green grass. Last of all, despite all the crowds, it is still possible to feel very lonely in a city. In conclusion, I think that city life can be particularly appealing to young people, who like the excitement of the city and don't mind the noise and pollution. However, many people, when they get older, and particularly when they have young children, often prefer the peace and fresh air of the countryside.
Ask and answer 10 questions to the text.
Write down advantages and disadvantages of city life.
B
1. Translate into Russian using a dictionary:
SMALL AND BIG TOWNS
Today, people all over the world are moving out of small towns in the country to go and live in big, noisy cities. They are moving from the peaceful hills, mountains, fields, rivers and streams of the countryside to the busy world of streets, buildings, traffic and crowds. This movement from rural areas to urban areas has been going on for over two hundred years.
In many countries, the main reason people come to live in towns and cities is work. After one or two large factories or businesses have been built in or near a city, people come to find work, and soon an industrial area begins to grow. There is usually a residential area nearby, where the factory workers can live. The families of these workers need schools, hospitals and stores, so more people come to live in the area to provide these services – and so a city grows.
In every major city in the world, there is a business district where the big companies have their main offices. In the United States, this is usually in the downtown area of the city. It is here that you can see the huge skyscrapers containing many floors of offices. The people who work here often travel a long way to work each day. Many of them live in the suburbs of the city, far away from the industrial and business areas. Some suburbs are very pleasant, with nice houses and big yards. There are usually parks for children to play in and large department stores in shopping malls where you can buy all you need.
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But what is the future of the big cities? Will they continue to get bigger and bigger? Maybe not. Some major cities have actually become smaller in the last ten years, and it is quite possible that one day we will see people moving out of the major cities and back into smaller towns.
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