I. Reading
Text 24. We are younger than we ever wereI. 1. Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.
If you belong to the older generation, Elderhostel is a good place to live. Elderhostel, founded in 1975, is the world’s largest educational and travel organisation for older adults. Its aim is to excite people’s minds and enrich people’s lives promoting and encouraging different activities among the older generation. There are no examinations or marks. All that you need, in order to enroll on a programme, is enquiring mind1 and an adventurous spirit. Also, of course, you need to believe that learning and discovery continue all your life. There are expert instructors and experienced group leaders for field trips and cultural excursions. Elderhostel offers a large number of programmes in a huge variety of areas. Amongst other things, it provides simple, online information on activities and services. First of all, there are traditional programmes. Here, people study ancient history, literature, and art, and can learn about different cultures, modern people and issues. Also, Elderhostel believes that physical activity helps people to keep a positive selfimage and contributes to the sense of wellbeing both mental and physical. Many programmes have keepfit equipment and a large number of social and cultural events take place there, as well as sporting activities. Regular physical activity can prevent many common illnesses, such as high blood pressure and asthma and it helps people who already have such illnesses. Alongside the usual sports like swimming, hockey and cricket, bowling and tennis, you will find “Dog Clubs” and “Flying Clubs”. Then there is a group of adventure programmes involving activities like hiking, kayaking2, biking and studying whales. There are also programmes which give people the chance to help communities in different ways, such as protecting endangered species, tutoring school children and building affordable housing. Finally, there are programmes which take place aboard a boat, anywhere from Antarctic to the Mississippi River. The word ‘old’ has a very different and very positive meaning in Elderhostel! ______ 1 enquiring mind [ɪnˈkwaəɪrɪŋ maɪnd] пытливый, проницательный ум 2 a kayak [ˈkaɪæk] каяк (эскимосская лодка) 2. What kind of organisation is Elderhostel? Read aloud the extract which says about it. 3. What activities does Elderhostel offer? 4. Why does the word ‘old’ have a positive meaning in Elderhostel? |
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Reading exercises |
II. Listening
II. Listen to the three people speaking about how they met their partners and answer the questions below.
1. Why was the first speaker surprised? 2. When did the second speaker ask the girl out? 3. Why did the third speaker think that the girl was awful when they first met? |
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Listening exercises |
III. Speaking
III. Let’s talk about education.
Sample answer
Card 24. Let’s talk about education. 1. What is the difference between the British and Belarusian school systems? Great Britain and Belarus differ in their languages, traditions and culture but their educational systems have much in common. To start with, there is primary and secondary school in both countries, but in Britain school is divided into 4 Key stages. We don't have Key stages in Belarus. Then, children in Belarus start school at the age of 6 while in Britain they do it at 5. So, school in Britain lasts from 5 to 16 or 18 while in Belarus it lasts from 6 to 15 or 17. Next, it is the school year. In Belarus it is from the 1st of September to the 31st of May and is 35 weeks long while in Britain it is from September to June and is 39 weeks long. In both countries the school year is divided into terms and vacations. In Belarus there are 4 terms and summer vacations are the longest. In Britain there are 3 or 6 terms and one, two or 6 weeks’ vacations after the terms. In Belarus pupils take exams after the 9th and the 11th forms while in Britain they take exams after each Key stage. All subjects in Belarusian schools are compulsory. In Britain there are compulsory and optional subjects. Finally, marks in Belarusian schools are given out of 10, while in Britain marks are given out of 9 (from 9 to 1, and they have U letter for ungraded). 2. Have you decided what you will do after leaving school? Yes, I have. I am going to take my entrance exams to the university and become an engineer/a programmer/a doctor/etc. 3. What questions will you ask a British teenager about their system of education? What is the difference between state and private schools? How much do private schools cost? What are boarding schools? What are compulsory and optional subjects? 4. Give advice to your friend on how to make school life more interesting and enjoyable. First of all, be positive about school. Ask for help if you have problems. Take part in different school activities. Enjoy meeting with friends. 5. People believe that we learn from our own mistakes. What do you think about it? I think it makes sense. Good decisions come from experience. And experience comes from mistakes. Other people's mistakes can't be your experience; you need your own. |
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