Learn the topical vocabulary.
to have got - иметь
good-looking - красивый, миловидный
slim - стройный
experienced - опытный
broad-shouldered - широкоплечий
to repair - чинить
to be handy with smth - уметь делать что-либо
and what not - и так далее и тому подобное
to be married- быть женатым
to have much in common - иметь много общего
to be fond of - увлекаться
to go in for smth - заниматься чем-либо
upbringing - воспитание
she is clever with her hands - у неё умелые руки
to take care of smb.– заботиться (о ком-либо)
to tidy up - убирать, приводить в порядок
to run smth. – управлять чем-либо
joint-venture company - совместное предприятие
twins - близнецы
nursery - детский сад
to make up one’s mind - решить
to take after - быть похожим, пойти в (кого-либо из родителей)
fair-haired - светловолосый
even-tempered - уравновешенный
to be deeply attached to smb.- быть сильно привязанным к кому-либо
to get on well - быть в хороших отношениях, ладить друг с другом
Read the text and get ready to discuss it.
MY FAMILY
I am Alexander Smirnov, Alex is my first name and Smirnov is my surname. I am seventeen years old. I want to tell you a few words about my family. My family is large. I have got mother, father, sister, brother, and grandmother. There are six of us in the family.
First of all a few words about my parents. My mother is a teacher of biology. She works at a college. She likes her profession. She is a good-looking woman with brown hair. She is forty-four but she looks much younger. She is tall and slim.
My father is a computer programmer. He is very experienced. He is a broad-shouldered, tall man with fair hair and grey eyes. He is forty-six. My father often sings and when we are at home and have some free time, I play the guitar and we sing together. My father knows all about new radio-sets and likes to repair old ones. He is also handy with many things. He can fix almost everything: a vacuum-cleaner, a washing-machine, a fridge, and what not. He has got a few shelves where he keерs everything he needs. On the table there is always a radio-set in pieces.
My parents have been married for twenty-six years. They have much in common, but they have different views on music, books, films, sports. For example, my father likes horror films and my mother likes "soap-operas." My father is fond of tennis. My mother doesn't go in for sports. But my parents have the same opinion about my education and upbringing.
My parents are hard-working people. My mother keeps the house and takes care of me and my father. She is very good at cooking and she is clever with her hands. She is very practical. My father and I try to help her with the housework. I wash the dishes, go shopping and tidy our flat up.
My grandmother is a.pensioner. She lives with us and helps run the house. She is fond of knitting.
My sister Helen is twenty-five. She is married and has a family of her own. She works as an accountant for a joint-venture company. Her husband is a scientist. They have got twins: a daughter and a son. They go to a nursery school.
My brother Victor is eleven. He is a schoolboy. He wants to become a doctor but he is not sure yet. Three months ago he dreamed of being a cosmonaut.
As for me, I’ve made up my mind to become a teacher. I suppose it is a noble profession. I'd like to learn foreign languages. I think 1 take after my father. I'm tall, fair-haired and even-tempered. I always try to be in a good mood.
We have got a lot of relatives. We are deeply attached to each other and we get on very well.
Language activity
I. Answer the following questions on the text.
1. Is Alexander’s family large or small?
2. How many people are there in Alexander’s family?
3. What is his mother?
4. Where does she work?
5. What is his father doing?
6. How does he look like?
7. Alexander’s father is handy with many things isn’t he?
8. How long have Alexander’s parents been married?
9. Have his parents the same or different opinion about his education and upbringing?
10. Have the parents much in common?
11. What kind of sport is his father fond of?
12. Who keeps the house and takes care of the family?
13. Does Alexander’s grand-mother help run the house?
14. What has Alexander made up his mind to become?
15. Can you tell anything about his relatives?
II. Quote the sentences from the text in which the following words and word-combinations are used.
To work at a college, a good – looking woman, a broad – shouldered man, to tidy up, the same opinion, a joint-venture company, upbringing, twins, nursery, even – tempered, to get on well.
III. Find in the text English equivalents for the following word-combinations and sentences.
1. Я хочу сказать вам несколько слов о моей семье.
2. Он очень опытный.
3. Он многое умеет делать.
4. Мои родители женаты 26 лет.
5. У них много общего, но разные взгляды на музыку, книги, фильмы, спорт.
6. Трудолюбивые люди.
7. Благородная профессия.