activities, for example they are taught to jump out of aeroplanes. But
despite the increase in the number of teens participating in sport, the
majority of young people still prefer to be spectators. They prefer to be
couch potatoes. Watching sports on TV is a popular leisure activity, as is
going to football matches on Saturday. Cinemas have been redesigned with
four or more screens, each showing a different film at the same time, and a
lot of teens like going to the cinemas too.
The young generation is fond of communication. There are many available
methods of communication nowadays, and the most popular one is computers. A
lot of teenagers spend plenty of time working on computers. The Internet
seems really good fun. You may send e-mails to friends from different
countries and get their answers instantly. You even may talk to them. It is
easy and quick. A lot of teenagers have mobile telephones, so they can
always be contacted, if they keep their telephone switched on, at any time
of the day or night, or tend text messages.
A lot of teenagers in both countries are crazy about animals. They race
them, train them and breed them. They like to hear stories about them on
television programmes and they like reading books about them. Many teens
have a pet animal. It could be a dog, a cat, a goldfish, a bird or a small
furry animal like a hamster. Looking after and being kind to their pets is
very important for teens. Why are teens so interested in animals? Perhaps
it’s because they are rather shy in their heart of hearts. One of my
friends says: “I can say anything I like to my dog, but she never thinks
I’m silly.”
There are plenty of other kinds of activities, such as travelling, visiting
historical places, babysitting, delivering newspapers, putting together
jigsaw puzzles, reading, going to different museums, skateboarding, going
fishing, hitchhiking, shopping, helping people in need, joining a computer
club and others. We can say “So many teens; so many kinds of activities.”
Now some words about me. I am fifteen and I am a computer addict. I am fond
of communication with other teens. That’s why I have a lot of friends in my
and other countries. We send messages from one computer to another one
using e-mail; we have on-line conversations. I am a member of the computing
club and I spend much time there. Of course, it’s rather expensive, but my
parents understand me and give me enough money to pay for my computer club.
And I think that my hobby will be useful in my future profession. Besides,
I spend my free time in the sport club. I go in for kung fu. Recently films
about kung fu have become very popular in Russia. This fighting itself is a
great art, the result of many years of hard work and self-discipline. The
man who made kung fu films famous was Bruce Lee. He used fists, elbows,
feet (never weapons) and moved as fast as lightning. I am rather good at
kung fu now, but I never use my skills to hurt anybody, unless it is
absolutely necessary. Now people know what Kung Fu is, and I think it may
become a sport of the future, because it develops up your personality, will
and nobility.
14. Young people are fond of different styles of music. What kinds are
popular now? What kind of music do you like? Why?
Can you think of a day without music? We can hear music everywhere: in the
streets and at home, over the radio and on TV, in the shops and in the
parks. People all over the world are fond of music. They listen to music,
they dance to music, they learn to play musical instruments.
But what is music? Specialists explain that music isn’t only a combination
of pleasant sounds. It is an art which reflects life. There are a lot of
different kinds of music. Some of them appeared long ago, and some are
modern. For example, folk music appeared long ago, but it is still alive.
There are many local performers, choirs and folk groups in Russia; but
perhaps the most famous singer is Nadezhda Babkina. Folk songs are very
tuneful and pleasant to listen to. Classical music is often associated with
the music of the past. However, this style also includes music being
written now, and we may speak of modern classical music. Rap is a modern
musical style where the singer speaks or shouts the words in time to music
with a steady beat. Such groups as Public Enemy or House of Pain are
leaders in this style.
Great Britain has produced more popular music stars than any other country.
Over the last 30 years rock and pop music have been very popular in
Britain. The Beatles, with their style of singing, eloquent and exciting,
is still one of the most popular groups. British groups often set new
trends in music. New styles, groups and singers continue to appear. Some of
the more recent pop groups are Dire Straits, Eurhythmics and Spice Girls.
Many of the new bands have been able to use the changes in technology to
develop their music. Computerised drum machines, synthesisers and other
electronic instruments are now just as popular as the piano and electric
guitars.
Tastes differ. So people’s musical interests range from pop and rock music,
which are extremely popular nowadays, especially among young people, to
classical music and opera.
My favourite style of music is pop music, because it is breathtaking and
full of energy. When I listen to pop music it makes me remember happy times
and forget the problems of everyday life. It helps me to relax when I’m
tired, and entertains me when I’d like to have fun. My favourite group is
Abba. It was formed in 1973 in Sweden. Abba’s cheerful tunes made them
international pop stars and one of the most successful groups of the
seventies. Their most famous songs (“Waterloo”, “Money, Money, Money”,
“Knowing Me, Knowing You”, etc.) often topped European charts. Though the
group doesn’t exist any more, it is still popular with people of all ages.
I can’t but admire their style of singing. I find it fascinating and
overwhelming. When I have free time I listen to their records. I also like
having background music while I am working.
I don’t mind listening to dance music, especially when I go to disco clubs.
This style of music is catchy and firey and I like catchy tunes. It makes
me more energetic.
It’s a pity that many young people like to listen only to modern music. As
for me, I also enjoy listening to classical music. I find it tuneful and
appealing. Classical music is always a complex of emotions. It gives me
delight, pleasure and a sense of happiness. Some pieces of classical music
are really wonderful. Not long ago I listened to the First Piano Concerto,
composed by Tchaikovsky. The power of his music captivated me. The
impression was overwhelming.
The music I hate is heavy metal. I find it noisy and dreadful. When I
listen to this style of music it presents to my mind pictures of dark days.
Though some young people are fond of this style of music, it is not to
everyone’s taste. To my mind, music too loud can destroy our ears. I am
indifferent to other styles of music. For example, I don’t mind listening
to jazz. Improvisation is an important part of this style, that’s why a
jazz song may sound a little different each time it is played. I think that
jazz is a mixture of many different kinds of music, but I consider it a bit
complicated.
My mother and father approve of my tastes in music. Though they prefer to
listen to classical and “bard music”, they think that, on the whole, modern
music is not too bad. My parents agree that each generation has its own
tastes.
It goes without saying that music plays a very important role in people’s
lives. It reflects our moods and emotions. Music appeals to our hearts and
transforms our feelings. It conquers our souls and enriches our minds.
Besides, listening to music is the perfect way to spend free time and not
to feel bored. You can hardly find a person who doesn’t like or need music,
who never sings or dances. Music is beauty in sounds, it is our magic
source of inspiration.
15. What are traditional British kinds of sports? Are they popular in
Russia? What kinds of sport, is your family interested in?
Englishmen are known to be great sports-lovers. One of the most popular
British games is cricket, which foreigners can hardly understand. There are
two teams of 11 players. Matches last from one to five days. It is played
all over the country in the summer. To many Englishmen cricket is both a
game and a standard of behavior. When they consider something unfair they
say “That isn’t cricket.” Almost all Englishmen become fans when they watch
a traditional cricket match between the teams of Great Britain and
Australia, or New Zealand. England without cricket would be like bacon
without eggs.
Another game which attracts great attention is soccer (European football).
There are plenty of amateur and professional soccer clubs in every town.
Professional soccer is big business. The Cup Final played in London is the
culminating event of the football season. Rugby football is also very
popular, but it is played mainly by amateurs. It’s a kind of English
football in which the players use their hands for carrying the ball. This
game is played by teams of 15 men with an oval ball and it’s often
considered to be a violent game.
A great number of people play and watch tennis. Among many tennis
tournaments the most famous is the one in Wimbledon. Horse racing is also
extremely popular in Great Britain. The racing season includes five races.
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