1. How do you usually spend your summer holidays?
2. Do you to the country or do you stay in town in summer?
3. Do you enjoy hiking?
4. Are you going anywhere for the summer holidays?
5. What do your parents expect you to do during your summer holidays?
6. Do you prefer to spend your holidays at a seaside
resort or in a cottage in the country? Why?
7. If you go to the seaside, do you lie on the beach for hours or do you spend only a couple of hours lying in the sun?
8. Do you spend your holidays with your parents or do you prefer to spend them with your friends?
9. Do you usually have a good time in summer?
Ex.4. Speak about your holidays.
Topic: Seasons and weather
Ex. 1. Read the following text using a dictionary.
The British Climate
The common ideas people have about the weather in Britain are: It rains very often, It is very damp, There is a terrible fog in London, The sun never shines in July or August.
Britain has a variable climate. The weather changes so quickly that it is difficult to forecast. Due to the geographic location of Great Britain the type of the climate is oceanic. The Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream influence the weather of the British Isles. That's why Britain does not experience extreme weather conditions. It is never very cold or very hot in Britain. The temperature does not rise above 32 C in summer and does not fall below 10 C in winter.
Summers are generally cool in Britain. Contrary to popular opinion, it does not rain all the time. March to June tend to be the driest months, September to January - the wettest. The mountain areas of the west and north have far more rain than the lowlands of the south and east. Thanks to the rain, Britain's countryside is famous for its deep green colour. The fogs of London have worldwide reputation.
Winters in Britain are mild. There is a good fall of snow and a hard frost, most in the Scottish Highlands. Here it is possible to go skiing. So that there are places in the south where people have never seen snow. If it snows heavily in other parts of Britain, the country often comes to a standstill. Trains, buses and planes are often late. British people enjoy discussing the snow, complaining about the cold and comparing the weather conditions with previous winters.
On beautiful spring days the soft white clouds float across the blue sky. The sun shines brightly. Dewdrops shine on every small green leaf and every blade of young grass. The farmers plough their fields and the new corn begins to appear above the ground. In a few months autumn and harvest time will come.
Ex. 2. Ask each other questions about the text British climate.
Ex. 3. Read the following text without a dictionary.
My Favourite Season
Every season is beautiful in its own way. There are 12 months or 52 weeks or 365 days in a year. Everyone knows that there are four seasons in a year: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each of them lasts 3 months.
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Spring comes in March and ends in May. It begins with the unique smell of fresh air, greenery and future rains. Spring is the season of hope, happiness and love. Nature awakes from her winter sleep: the ice is broken, the grass is beginning to shoot, the trees are bursting into leaf. Birds come back from the warm lands and twitter in the trees. It often rains in spring, especially in April.
Spring is followed by summer. It begins in June and ends in August. The weather is usually fine in summer, but it can be very hot, especially in July. Sometimes there are storms with thunder and lightening. The days are long and the nights are short and warm. It brings berries, fruits and vegetables. Summer is the most suitable season for holidays and vacations. It is pleasant to spend this season by the seaside or somewhere in the country. People can go bathing and swimming, and fishing and boating.
Autumn comes in September. The weather is changeable. It often rains which makes autumn an unpleasant season. The days grow shorter. The sun loses its force. People have to wear raincoats and umbrellas if they don't want to get wet through. The leaves cover the ground like a thick carpet, the roads are wet. There are also a lot of puddles in the streets. There is a short spell of dry sunny weather in September which is called Indian Summer.
In winter everything is white with snow. There is usually much snow in winter. It is windy and frosty. It is getting colder day by day. The sun sets early and rises late. The icicles hang from the roofs of the houses. Everything looks so pretty covered with snow. It's a funny time for both children and grown-ups. They can go skating and skiing, and having a fight with snowballs or making a snowman.
It is difficult to say what season is the best one. As for me, I always look forward to summer. I am never tired of its long sunny days. The air is fresh and it's easy to breathe. I enjoy lying on the beach in the sun and getting brown.
Sometimes I spend my holidays in the country. Most of my time I spend at the river bathing and swimming. I often gather strawberries and flowers in the wood. I always help my granny in the vegetable garden. I water tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables. When summer is over, I always feel sorry, because it was too short and too quick to pass. But we must be thankful together whatever the weather.
Ex. 4. Answer the questions to the text My favourite season.
1. How many seasons are there in a year?
2. What seasons are they?
3. Is every season beautiful in its own way?
4. What is your favourite season? Why?
5. Where do you spend summer holidays? In town or in the country? At the seaside or in the dacha?
6. How do you spend this season?
7. Does the summer finish quickly or not?
