Topic 1
My Biography
Warm up
Do you like your family? Is it important to be a friendly family? Why?
- 1. Vocabulary focus
1. Read and learn the following words:
I.
| 1. surname 2. to be born 3. well-built 4. pleasant-looking 5. energetic 6. talkative 7. look after 8. to play hide-and-seek 9. relatives II. | |||
| admit | |||
| ambitious | |||
| apologize | |||
| appreciate | |||
| wake | |||
| beauty | |||
| calm | |||
| crazy | - | ||
| equestrian | |||
| even-tempered | |||
| faithful | |||
| fate | |||
| frank | |||
| hard-working | |||
| hot-tempered | |||
| influence | |||
| lose ones temper | |||
| modest | |||
| overcrowded | |||
| partially | |||
| persistent | |||
| reserved | |||
| retire into smbs shell | |||
| serious | |||
| sincere | |||
| slim | |||
| stand up to smth | |||
| stubborn | |||
| tolerant | |||
| wise | |||
| witty | |||
| zodiac sign | |||
| III. Star Signs | |||
| Aries | |||
| Taurus | |||
| Gemini | |||
| Cancer | |||
| Leo | |||
| Virgo | |||
| Libra | |||
| Scorpio | |||
| Sagittarius | |||
| Capricorn | |||
| Aquarius | |||
| Pisces | |||
2. Read and translate texts 1,2:
Text 1 (Elementary level)
My name is Kate. My surname is Pavlova. Im seventeen. I live in Minsk, in Pushkin Street. I was born on the 15th of September.
Ive got a family. It is small. We are a family of four. Ive got a father, a mother and a brother. I havent got a sister. My father is an engineer. He works in a plant. He is tall and well-built man with black hair and grey eyes. My mother is a pleasant-looking woman of about forty. She is a teacher. My mother is energetic and talkative. She works at school. My brother is little. He doesnt go to school. He goes to a kindergarten. He is four.
When my parents are at work my Granny looks after my brother. She cooks us tasty dinner. She is very kind. 1 love her very much.
We have got a cat. It is small and grey. It is very nice. It has big blue eyes, a funny nose, a small mouth and sharp teeth. Its ears are small. It can play hide-and-seek.
We have got a lot of relatives: cousins, aunts and uncles, because my Granny has a son and two daughters, five grandchildren, two nieces and one nephew.. They live in different towns. They come to see us and we usually have a good time together. I'm happy to have such a family.
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Text 2 (Pre-Intermediate Level)
Introducing Myself
Let me introduce myself. Im Svetlana Alexandrova. I was born on the 29th of March 1985 in Minsk under the zodiac sign of Aries. I believe that stars influence our fate and character. They say that Aries is full of energy, a leader, straight talker, ambitious and frank, likes sport, stubborn, hot- tempered, but quick to apologize. Actually, Im persistent. It is different, I think.
As for my appearance, Im rather tall and slim. I have never thought I am a beauty. I wish I were more beautiful. I think that Im even-tempered, rather reserved, calm and modest. But sometimes I can lose my temper and become either angry or sad. I like staying alone and sometimes I retire into my shell. But at the same time I like my friends, I like to laugh and to joke. I have got a sense of humour. It means I understand humour and appreciate it. But unfortunately, Im not often witty myself. I think, I am able to keep my head when all about me are losing theirs and to stand up to difficulties when things are not going my way. Besides, I am sincere and tolerant, friendly and faithful, hard-working and serious.
There are many things in our life which I like and some I dislike. I like when everything is OK. Being happy is one way of being wise. I like to study, because knowledge is useful. I am fond of reading as it gives not only knowledge but also wonderful moments of joy and pleasure. Sometimes I enjoy watching TV or listening to the radio. Especially when I can hear some wonderful pieces of music. I like music. It makes people better. It awakens the best feelings and high emotions. But there is a thing that makes me crazy. Im fond of horses and equestrian skill. I dislike overcrowded buses. And I hate getting up early. Im happy I have got more things I like than I dislike.
3. Speaking comprehension skills
3.1. Answer the following questions: (Text 1)
1.What is your name?
2. How old are you?
3. Where are you from?
4. Have you got a family?
5. Are you a family of four or three?
6. Have you got a sister or a brother?
7.What is her (his) name?
8.How old is she (he)?
9.Do you like to play with your sister {brother)?
10.What is she (he)?
11.What is your father's name?
12.What is he?
13.Where does he work?
14 What is your mother's name?
15.What is she?
16.Where does she work?
17.Have you gotother relatives?
18.What can you tell us about your relatives?
19.Do you love your family? Why?
3.2. Tell about your family:
My nm is.... I am.... I am from.... 1 have got.... So we are a family of..... I have a My... name is... She (He) is.... She (He) is a... girl (boy).
My father and mother are very busy. My father works in (at) a....He is a.... My mother is a.... She works in (at) a.... 1 want to be a.... It is interesting.
When my parents are at work, my Granny looks after my.... She cooks us tasty.... She is very....I love her very much.
We have (haven't) got a lot of relatives:.......,....They (don't) live in.... They come to see us and we usually have a good time. I am happy to have such a family.
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3.3. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate words: (Text 2)
1. I was born on the... in... under the zodiac... of.....
2. I like staying... and sometimes I... into my....
3. Music... the best feelings and high emotions.
4. I dislike... buses and I hate getting up....
3.4.Answer the following questions:
1. When and where were you born?
2. Do you know your zodiac sign?
3. What does your zodiac sign predict? Is it true?
4.Can you describe yourself?
5. What are the strong and the weak features of your character?
6. There are things that you like and dislike, arent there? What are they?
7. Are you happy?
3.5. Translate into English:
1. , .
2. . , .
3. , , , .
4. .
5. , , , , .
Tell about...
1. Your zodiac sign and its predictions.
2. Your likes and dislikes.
Grammar focus
| 1. To be I am \ he,she, it is\ you, they,we are 2. Possessive s You add s to singular nouns to show possession Annas father=her father Victors wife=his wife You add s to regular plural nouns The parentshouse = their house You add s to irregular plural nouns The childrens aunt Possessive Pronouns I my You- your He- his She- her It its We- our They- their |
4.1 Complete the sentences with is or are:
a. My name .is.. Martina.
b. Where you from?
c. Walter from Germany?
d. He 22 years old.
e. Ross and Jennifer married?
f. you on holiday?
g. Fernanda a Spanish teacher.
4.2 Make the sentences negative:
a. Edinburgh is in England.
b. Im from Ireland.
c. My mother and father are English.
d. Brazil is a small country.
e. My name is Lana.
f. My sister is married.
g. Im 15 years old.
h. Philip and Elizabeth are on holiday.
4.3 Choose a word from Column B to complete each question:
Column A Column B
1. Whats your name? student
2. How are ? brothers
3. How old are your ? Michelle
4. Are you a ? English
5. Is David ? you
6. Is your name ? holiday
7. 
Where are they ? name
8. Are they on ? from
4.4 Write the short answers for the questions:
a. Are you Portuguese?
No, Im not . Im Brazilian.
b. Is James the English?
Yes, . Hes from Manchester.
c. Is your address 16 New Street?
No, . Its 26 New Road.
d. Are you and your friend here on holiday?
No, . Were here on business.
e. Is Barbara married?
Yes, . Her husbands a doctor.
f. Are you married?
Yes, . This is my husband, James.
g. Is Thomas an actor?
No, . Hes a musician.
h. Are Anne and Michael from England?
No, . Theyre from Ireland.
i. Is Howard your surname?
Yes, . My first names Tony.
j. Is Jacqueline a teacher?
No, . Shes a student.
4.5.Write s in the correct place in the sentences, as in the example:
a. Patrick is Janes brother.
b. Is that Michael car.
c. Its Tessa birthday on Saturday.
d. Whats your mother name?
e. Wheres Philip desk?
f. My husband name is Peter.
g. Jo is my sister friend.
h. Caria house is in the centre of Rome.
4.6. omplete the sentences with my, your, his, her, our or their.
Hi! (a) My names Ed Ed
Turner! And this is (b) . wife.
(c) . names Thelma. This is
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(d) . Beautiful house!!
This is Thelma with (e) two
children (f) names are
Bob and Tracey and (g)
Brother (h) names Louis.
And this is (I) dog whats
(j) name, friend?
(k) names Bones.
4.7. Write the nationalities:
Country. Nationality.
1. Australia Australian.
2. Brazil
3. Italy
4. England
5. Spain
6. Scotland
7. France
8. USA
Text 3
5.Read and translate the text :
My Family
Im Alex Kovalev. I am fifteen. Id like to tell you about my family.
We are a family of three. I live with my parents. But Ive got an eider brother. He is married and has a family of his own.
In my opinion, family is an emotional centre of a persons life, transmitter of culture, the place where children are being raised. The process of upbringing children is difficult. It requires much effort, mutual respect, tolerance. In happy families parents are frankly honest with their children without moralizing, and the children in their turn learn how to get on with other people.
The proverb says, Men make houses, women make homes. In my view, it means that the man provides for his family, pays attentions to the problems of the members of the family. And the woman creates the homely atmosphere, encourages her husband and children to keep up family traditions and keeps the house. Together they bring up their children in the right way.
It is true to our family, I think. My parents have been married for twenty-six years. My fathers name is Vitaly. He is 45 years old. He is an engineer at a Motor Plant. He is tall and strong both in body and character, but rather stout. He has plump oval face with an aquiline nose. Hes generous and full of joy, but very careless. He can make different things with his own hands. Almost all the bookshelves in our flat were made by my father.
My mothers name is Irina. She is a medium size woman. She his got a thin oval attractive face and light grey eyes and a snub nose. When she was young she had thick curly ash-blond long hair, now she wears her hair short. My mother is a woman of character, well-bred, tactful and fair. Shes warm hearted and at the same time practical, reserved and full of common sense. She is a housewife, she does all the housework and helps my elder brother to bring his sons. She is really concerned about them. They are the apple of the eye. And the boys feel affection for their Granny. My father and I try to help her about the house.
My brother Igor is about 25. He is married, as I have already said. He has got two sons. My elder nephew is a spitting image of my brother and the junior one takes after his mother, my brothers wife. The boys are funny and curious.
We have got a lot of relatives, because my mother has got five sisters and a brother. So Ive got many aunts, uncles and cousins. We are all on friendly terms.
Vocabulary:
| Aquiline a. | ||
| Ash-blond a. | ||
| Attractive a. | ||
| Careless a. | ||
| Common sense | ||
| Create v. | ||
| Curious a. | ||
| Curly a. | ||
| Effort n. | ||
| Encourage v. | ||
| Fair a. | ||
| Frankly adv. | ||
| Generous a. | ||
| Get on with | , | |
| Honest a. | ||
| Housewife n. | ||
| Keep the house | ||
| Keep up v. | ||
| Medium size | ||
| Moralizing n. | ||
| Mutual a. | ||
| Plump a. | ||
| Practical a. | ||
| Provide v. | ||
| Raise v. | ||
| Require v. | ||
| Reserved a. | ||
| Respect n. | ||
| Snub a. | ||
| Spitting image | ||
| Stout a. | , | |
| Tactful a. | ||
| Take after v. | ||
| Thick a. | ||
| Tolerance n. | ||
| Transmitter n. | ||
| Upbringing n. | ||
| Warm-hearted a. | ||
| Well-bred a. | ||
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