SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MODERN COMMUNICATIONS

A considerable ingredient of a healthy way of life is sport and exercising. Sports develop force, dexterity (ловкость) and accuracy. Going in for sport helps us not only to preserve good physical health but also to breed up a strong character, to be better organized and better disciplined.

All kinds of sports are useful and healthy but it is not compulsory to go in for sports professionally. Doctors say that twenty minutes’ exercise three times a week is all you need to be fit. Regularly walking the dog around the block, raking leaves, going on short distances on foot, taking the stairs instead of elevators can be considered as exercising. The advantages of being fit are evident. Fitness reduces the risk of different diseases and illnesses, makes you feel healthier, more positive and optimistic, helps you to avoid obesity and gives you strength and energy so that you don’t get tired easily.

But fitness comes not just from some exercises done now and then but from the way you live all the time. Good eating habits, regular sleeping habits, and plenty of fresh air are all important parts of the way to keep fit.

3. What questions will you ask a fitness coach?

- Have you got special programs for people who suffer from overweight?

- Do you advise to have special diets?

- How much time is it necessary so as to become fit?

4. What can you advise a person who doesn't know what kind of sport to take up?

First of all I would recommend deciding several things like whether he or she wants to take it up professionally or not, outdoors or indoors, team or individual. Then it will be very useful to visit some sports clubs, talk to people who go in for sport for some years. Then it will be time to make decisions.

5. Some doctors say that sport can help people to get rid of bad habits. Do you think it will work?

Many people’s favourite hobby is sport. These people have no time for bad habits. They spend much of their spare time playing team games like football or baseball or practicing an individual sport like running, parachuting or swimming. People practice a sport for a need to keep fit. A person who takes regular sport or exercise will stay physically fit, retain youthful vigour (сохранит молодую силу) and develop endurance (выносливость). People who go in for sport even not professionally exercise not only their body but also their spirit. That’s why sport can help people to get rid of bad habits.

№20

Let's talk about fashion.

We call fashion something that is popular at some period of time. Fashion is something we deal with everyday. For sure everyone wants to keep up to date. Even people who say they don't care what they wear choose clothes every morning that say a lot about them and how they feel that day. Especially the majority of young people like to show themselves off in public.

In all times, particularly taking roots from the past centuries, person’s welfare was valued by the way man or woman was dressed. Nowadays people’s point of view hasn’t changed a lot; merely people’s choices often lay neither in the quality of product nor in its easiness in use, but in the choice brands.

Sometimes we could claim that fashion often rules the world, turning many people’s heads. To attract attention of others they wear non-traditional clothes, made by popular brands.

One certain thing in the fashion world is change. We are constantly being bombarded with new fashion ideas from music, videos, books, and television. Movies also have a big impact on what people wear. Sometimes a trend is world-wide.

Musicians and other cultural icons have always influenced what we're wearing, but so have political figures and royalty. Newspapers and magazines report on what celebrities wear.

Fashion is revealing. Clothes reveal what groups people are in. In high school, groups have names: "goths, skaters, preps, herbs." Styles show who you are, but they also create stereotypes and distance between groups. People dress a certain way to deliver the message of rebellion and separation, but within that group, the look is uniform. Acceptance or rejection of a style is a reaction to the society we live in.

Fashion is a language which tells a story about the person who wears it. "Clothes create a wordless means of communication that we all understand," according to Katherine Hamnett, a top British fashion designer. Hamnett became popular when her t-shirts with large messages like "Choose Life" were worn by several rock bands. There are many reasons we wear what we wear. Protection from cold, rain and snow: mountain climbers wear high-tech outerwear to avoid frostbite and over-exposure. Physical attraction: many styles are worn to inspire "chemistry." Emotions: we dress "up" when we're happy and "down" when we're upset. Religious expression: Orthodox Jewish men wear long black suits and Islamic women cover every part of their body except their eyes. Identification and tradition: judges wear robes, people in the military wear uniforms, brides wear long white dresses.

Fashion is big business. More people are involved in the buying, selling and production of clothing than any other business in the world. Everyday, millions of workers design, sew, glue, dye, and transport clothing to stores. Ads on buses, billboards and magazines give us ideas about what to wear, consciously, or subconsciously. Clothing can be used as a political weapon. In nineteenth century England, laws prohibited people from wearing clothes produced in France. During twentieth century communist revolutions, uniforms were used to abolish class and race distinctions.

High fashion is the style of a small group of men and women with a certain taste and authority in the fashion world. People of wealth and position, buyers for major department stores, editors and writers for fashion magazines are all part of Haute Couture ("High Fashion" in French). Some of these expensive and often artistic fashions may triumph and become the fashion for the larger majority. Most stay on the runway. Popular fashions are close to impossible to trace.

1. What style in clothes do you prefer and why?

As for me, it is always important to remember the rules of politeness, that there are different styles of clothes for different types of events. From my point of view, things that you have in your wardrobe should be comfortable to wear. It is better to remain true to yourself. As one wise well-known proverb says, “People meet by clothes and set off by mind”.

My favourite clothes are jeans, shirts and sweaters or jackets. They are comfortable and I can wear them in any weather.

2. Do you prefer fashionable clothes to comfortable ones? Why (not)?

I tend to wear clothes that are appropriate for the environment and fashion. To my mind fashionable clothes don’t mean uncomfortable clothes. I try to combine both comfort and fashion.

The explanation is quite simple I want to keep up to date and feel comfortable. At the same time I like to experiment with my style and remain true to myself.

3. What questions can you ask a shop assistant in a big shop?

Where is a clothes department for girls/ boys?

Have you got any discounts?

What is on sale today?

Is there a café in your shop?

Where can I have a rest?

4. What would you advise your friend who wants to buy some new clothes?

Before any kind of shopping you have to plan everything carefully. It means you should decide what you need first of all then you should know how much money you can afford. The next step will be going through some shops so as to find out the types of clothes and their prices.

I wouldn’t recommend rushing at conclusions what to buy. Think everything over and then you may go exactly to the shop you are going to make your choice at.

5. A famous person once said: "Fashions come and go, style is forever." What do you think about it?

I like this saying. Some people try to be fashionable at any cost. But they may not have their style. Fashion will not help you to look attractive if it is impersonal. Also there are cases when these or those fashionable clothes don’t fit you. In this case only your personal style will help you to avoid clumsy situations.

Besides, fashion is so changeable. As for your style it is unique and reveals your personality.

№21

Let's talk about travelling and tourism.

Travelling is necessary to us all! It keeps us from growing stale and old; it stimulates our imagination; it gives us that movement and change which are necessary to our wellbeing. Some people travel in search of beauty, others to satisfy their curiosity, and many people consider traveling to be a good form of rest.

While traveling we look for different things. Some people look for natural wonders: waterfalls, mountains; others search for ancient sites and great monuments. Some of my friends want to see romantic historical cities or exciting modern cities. As for me I like beautiful beaches and a coastline.

Some people travel light, and some take a lot of luggage on their travels, journeys, voyages or trips. They may choose various means of travelling: by air, by sea, by train, by car, by coach, on a bike, on foot or even on horseback.

Every journey has to be arranged beforehand. There is a number of things one must take care of if they want to make their journey comfortable. First of all, you should choose the most convenient way of getting at your destination. Secondly, it would be very wise of you to reserve everything in advance and save your time and trouble. Then you should find out the time of departure and the time of arrival. Think about your luggage beforehand and pack it neatly. It is strongly recommended to come to the railway station, coach station or airport well in advance so as to have enough time to settle for your traveling.

There are some things that can spoil the impression of your journey: travel sickness, heavy luggage, talkative fellow passengers, missing your transport, bad food, delays and cancellations of transport and bad weather. You should take everything into account and take drastic measures. For example you may take a medicine for your sickness, pack a couple of sandwiches, take suitable clothes, be well-organized and try to be optimistic in any case. People who are optimistic have more control and a better handle on life, live longer, persevere (добиваться) more, have more friends and generally are happier.

1. Do you like travelling? Why?

I’m extremely fond of traveling. I think this is the way to learn the world and get unique experience. Travelling is an adventure. Though you usually plan and arrange all the things you never know what people you’ll meet, what decisions you’ll have to make and what you’ll learn about yourself.

While travelling you discover different lifestyles, arts and crafts, taste different food, visit museums and picture galleries, enjoy nature.

2. How do you like to travel?

As for me, I prefer travelling by car. I think it’s very convenient. You needn’t reserve tour tickets. You needn’t carry heavy suitcases. You can stop wherever you wish, and spend at any place as much time as you like.

1. I think I should like to say a word or two for trains. With a train you have speed, comfort and pleasure combined. From the comfortable corner seat of a railway carriage you have a splendid view of the whole countryside. If you are hungry, you can have meal in the dining car; and if the journey is a long one you can have a wonderful bed in a sleeper. And there is nothing more interesting than a big railway station, too! There is the movement, the excitement, the gaiety of people going away or waiting to meet friends.

2. To me there is nothing like travel by air; it is more comfortable, more convenient and of course far quicker than any other method. There is none of the dust and dirt of a railway or car journey, none of the trouble of changing train to steamer and then to another train. There is no need to trouble about your suitcase. Being on board the plane you can read newspapers to kill the time. You are also served some drinks and food. Besides, flying is a thrilling thing.

3. What questions should you ask a travel agent to learn more about a tour?

How long will it take me to get to the destination?

What excursions are included into the tour?

Will I have to pay for excursions additionally?

4. What can you advise a person who doesn't know where to spend his/her holiday?

The most interesting way of spending holidays is travelling. First of all it is necessary to choose your destination. Then you may plan your route and a type of transport. Nowadays there are a lot of travel agencies which will help you to arrange everything in no time. Package holidays are very popular among holidaymakers because it’s very convenient. You don’t have to worry about such things as where to sleep and what to eat.

5. What difficulties can you have when visiting a foreign country? Is it possible to avoid them?

A fundamental issue for those who are in the midst of another culture is a decision about how much they should change their behaviors to fitthe beliefs, values and norms of those with whom they interact.

Sometimes it is difficult for people to change their behaviours to match cultural patterns that contradict their own beliefs and values.

But it’s better to do as the old saying teaches, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. It means that visitors should show respect for the other culture and its ways. In this way it will be possible to avoid difficulties.

№22

Let's talk about environment.

The Earth is the only planet in the solar system where there is life. If you look down at the Earth from a plane you will see how wonderful our planet is. You will see blue seas and oceans, rivers and lakes, high snow-capped mountains, green forests and fields. For centuries the man had lived in harmony with nature until industrialization brought human society into conflict with the natural environment. Today, the contradictions between man and nature have acquired a dramatic character. With the development of civilization man’s interference in nature has increased. Every year the world’s industry pollutes the atmosphere with millions of tons of dust and other harmful substances. People who live in big cities are badly affected by harmful discharge from plants and city transport and by the increasing noise level which is as bad for human health as lack of fresh air and clean water.

1. People say that our planet is in danger. Do you share this opinion?

I’d say that “our planet is in danger” is not the opinion, it’s a fact. Among the most urgent problems are the ozone layer, acid rains, global warming, toxic pollution of atmosphere, disappearance of forests, contamination of underground waters by chemical elements, destruction of soil in some areas, threat to some flora and fauna representatives, etc.

One of the most important pollution problems is the oceans. Many ships sail in the ocean water- fishing ships, some ships carrying people, some carrying oil. If a ship loses some of the oil in the water, or waste the water becomes dirty. Many sea birds die because of the polluted water. Many fish are dying in the sea, others are getting contaminated. Fishermen catch contaminated fish which may be sold in markets, and people may get sick from eating them. Lakes and rivers are becoming polluted, too. Some beaches are dangerous for swimming.

Another important problem is air pollution. Cars and factories pollute the air we use. Their car exhaust fumes also destroy the ozone layer which protects the Earth from the dangerous light of the Sun. Aerosols create large “holes” in the ozone layer round the Earth.

A sore subject is that our forests are dying from acid rains. Deforestation, especially destruction of tropical forests, affects the balance of nature in many ways. It kills animals, changes the climate and ecosystem in the world. People’s activity is crowding animals out of their natural habitat.

There are a lot of places on our planet that need immediate help. Our country is not exception. The nuclear accident at Chernobyl, which took place on April 26, 1986., has seriously aggravated the ecological situation in Belarus. That catastrophe can be considered as the largest disaster of the 20th century. As the result of that accident 18% of territories of our republic were contaminated by radioactive elements. The agriculture of our country suffered great losses. More than 20% of the population has also suffered. A death rate among children has increased considerably. The wide researches are carried out, but health state of the people living in polluted areas, is worsened. The level of thyroid gland cancer has increased, the immunity of children and women is weakened, many diseases appear out only a few years later. Everyone understands that this catastrophe is a threat to health of our nation, and though years have already passed, the results will be shown on the future generations.

I’d like to say a few words about animals in danger of extinction. The blue whale is the largest animal which has ever lived. Once there were over 200000 of these creatures living in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Since the seventeenth century they have been hunted for their oil and meat. In fact, so many of them were killed that by 1963 their population had been reduced to just 1000. Today it is even less than that. The African elephant is the world’s largest land animal. Today there are fewer than one million of these animals left. Even though they are now protected, they are still being hunted because of their tusks, which are used to make ornaments and jewellery.

2. What do you think people should do to protect the environment?

I believe that environment disasters can be avoided if people broaden ecological education and every person understands that the beauty of nature is extremely fragile and people must obey the unwritten laws of nature. Governments must be prepared to take action against pollution. Air pollution could be reduced if plants and factories were made to fit effective filters on chimneys and car exhausts. Green zones around big cities must be protected and extended. Natural resources should be used economically because their stocks are not unlimited.The problem of “holes” in the ozone layer round the Earth could be solved by individual action: stop using ozone-depleting chemicals. One more problem, greenhouse warming, can also be solved by individual action - reducing energy use. We could do this by turning off lights, turning down heaters and air conditioners, building more energy efficient buildings, shutting doors. These are all simple actions which everyone must do if we are concerned about our planet, yet not many do so. New technology may help, but lifestyle change can have much more immediate affect.

-Everyone should become an ecologically conscious person.-We should broaden the system of ecological education-We should be economical with natural recourses (water, gas, oil)-We should buy and use only ecologically safe products (never use sprays)-It is advisable to take part in the activities of different ecological organization sand volunteer work: planting trees, picketing …)-New purifying systems should be fit -We should be ecologically responsible people: stop littering to prevent air, land and water from being polluted-We should never do harm to wildlife: stop hunting and killing wild animals

3. What would you like to ask your British friend about measures that are taken to protect the environment in Britain?

- Are there any environmental organizations in Britain?

- Does your school take part in any programmes to protect the environment?

- What measures are taken by your local authority to protect the environment?

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