FAMOUS LANDMARKS ENGLISH STUDIES
Better to see something once than to hear about it thousand times
Asian proverb
_____________________________________________________________
Real World: talking about famous landmarks Grammar: Continuous Tenses for actions in progress Review: Simple Tenses Objective: to develop students’ speaking skills on the topic; to develop attention and linguistic guessing

Warming-up 1. What association does come across to your mind when you hear the word “landmark”? Where are the following landmarks? What do you know about them? The Taj Mahal The Grand Canyon Niagara Falls The Eiffel Tower Landmark The Egyptian Pyramids e.g. I associate Landmark with buildings.
I associate Landmark with beauty. Essential vocabulary
Nouns
Adjectives
Verbs
Phrasal Verbs
destination
well-known
to go sightseeing
to look for
excursion
contemporary
to book
to find out
sightseeing
magnificent
to purchase
to come across
monument
crowded
to collect
to check in
building
luxurious
to enjoy
to check out
brick
ancient
to decide
to figure out
steel
fascinating
to stay
to get round to Note: The term “landmark” comprises both artificial and natural landmarks. Useful Language Useful advice for writing a postcard: → We usually begin a postcard with (a) __________ or Dear and the personʼs first name. → Then, we ask about the person we are writing to using (b) ________ are you? and I (c) _________ youʼre well. → Next, we talk about where we are and what we are doing. We use the (d) __________continuous to talk about what we are doing. → When we talk about things we did before writing the postcard, we use the (e) ________ simple. → We usually end a postcard with Wish you were (f) _________, (g) __________. Bye for now or See you soon and our first name.
Unit 3. Famous Landmarks
35
Vocabulary Practice
2. Match the nouns to the phrases.
Words
Meaning
1
destination
a
a structure or building that is built to honour a special person or event;
2
excursion
b
a structure with walls and a roof, such as a house or factory;
3
sightseeing
c
a rectangular block of hard material used for building walls and houses;
4
monument
d
a short journey usually made for pleasure, often by a group of people;
5
building
e
a strong metal that is a mixture of iron and carbon, used for making things that need a strong structure, especially vehicles and buildings;
6
brick
f
the activity of visiting interesting places, especially by people on holiday;
7
steel
g
the place where someone is going or where something is being sent or taken
SOCIAL ENGLISH STUDIES
36
3. Match the qualities to the phrases. Use them to speak about famous landmarks.
Words
Meaning
1
well-known
a
very good, beautiful, or deserving to be admired
2
contemporary
b
known or recognized by many people
3
magnificent
c
very comfortable and expensive
4
crowded
d
having lasted for a very long time
5
luxurious
e
extremely interesting
6
ancient
f
existing or happening now
7
fascinating
g
is full of people
4. Match the verbs to the phrases. Use them in the sentences.
Words
Meaning
1
to go sightseeing
a
to live or be in a place for a short time as a visitor
2
to book
b
to get pleasure from something
3
to purchase
c
to go about seeing places and things of interest
4
to collect
d
to choose something, especially after thinking carefully about several possibilities
5
to enjoy
e
to get and keep things of one type such as stamps or coins as a hobby
6
to decide
f
to buy something
7
to stay
g
to arrange to have a seat, room, performer, etc. at a particular time in the future Speaking
5. Think about your answers to these questions. Use ideas from tasks 1 – 5 and your own ideas.
1) If you had the opportunity to visit a famous landmark, which would you choose? Why?
A: I like to travel and in my opinion, this enhances my experiences and broadens my horizon. So, if I had the opportunity to visit a foreign country I would visit Egypt. I think it is a great and very interesting country with a marvellous history.
B: I think traveling is a great opportunity to meet new people, gain more knowledge and experience, and learn new customs and traditions. I personally like traveling, and if I had the chance to travel overseas for two weeks, I would like to visit China, which is located in the northern part of Asia region. There are a lot of beautiful landscapes in the country, such as
Unit 3. Famous Landmarks
37
mountains, hills and valleys which are well known for their purity and originality. Furthermore, the country is also famous for its culinary. There are various types of food in China, from the spicy ones until the extreme type such cockroaches or spiders.
2) Are there any monuments in your hometown?
A: Yes, of course. There are such monuments in Ukraine: Kyiv Foundersʼ Monument (Kiev), Monument to the 12th Chair (Odessa), Peopleʼs Friendship Arch (Kiev), Sailor`s Wife Monument (Odessa), Eternal Glory Memorial (Zhytomyr).
3) Do you like to visit historical buildings?
A: Yes. I really like visiting historical buildings as it helps me to practice social studies skills, like asking questions, gathering data, and drawing conclusions.
4) Have you ever visited a famous place?
A: I have a special interest in visiting famous places and on my list historical places always get preferences. I have visited many historical places like Machu Picchu in Peru, The Pyramids at Giza, Taj Mahal, Parthenon in Greece and many more. The historical significance and the site attractions sometimes mesmerised me. The historical place that I would like to talk about today is Colosseum (also known as Coliseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre) which is situated in Rome, Italy.
5) Are there any landmarks in your hometown?
A: Yes, of course. There are such famous places in Ukraine: S. Korolyov Memorial House Museum (Zhytomyr), Sergiy Korolyov Astronautics Museum (Zhytomyr).
6. Describe a famous landmark in your hometown. You should say:
→ where it is;
→ how old it is;
→ how it looks;
SOCIAL ENGLISH STUDIES
38
→ and explain why you think it is an important landmark.
(Example: https://www.ielts-mentor.com/cue-card-sample/2375-ielts-cue-card-sample-440-famous-building-landmark-in-your-home-town).
7. Compare and contrast the photographs saying what the people are looking at and why. Use the useful language (Apendix 1).
Writing
8. Choose one famous landmark and write guidance how to visit it. How much does it cost? Tips for visiting, etc.
Unit 3. Famous Landmarks
39
Grammar
9. Unscramble the sentences in Present Continuous or Past Continuous.
Remember: Basic sentence structure in English
AFFIRMATIVE
Subject
(who / what)
Adverb of frequency
(how often)
Verb
(action)
Object
(complements)
Place
(where)
Time
(when) Present Continuous
I
The sun
We
am writing
is shining.
are speaking
a test
right now.
now. Past Continuous
She
They
was listening to
were running
the speech.
to the shop
Future Continuous
I
I
You
will be eating
will be studying
will be working
my birthday cake
in Bali
in Honda
this time next week
by Christmas
next Monday
1) football / is / her / She / . / friends / playing / with
2) The cat / and / are / the / staring / each other / at / mouse
3) piano / cat / trying / The / to play / the / is
4) waiting / werenʼt / for / us / They
5) were / We / Italian / studying
6) at / sleeping / Were / you / eleven?
7) at three / . / Tomorrow / will be / Josh / oʼclock / cooking
8) I / be / call / . / will / when / this / TV / evening / watching / you
9) I / all / will be / night / in the / working / restaurant
10) they / all / long / ? / What / doing / night / will be Reading
10. Read the article quickly and answer the question: What is the purpose of the article?
a. to educate the reader
SOCIAL ENGLISH STUDIES
40
b. to inform and entertain the reader
c. to encourage people to visit China
Itʼs a Small World
This week, in our series on the worldʼs most famous theme parks, we are visiting The Window of the World theme park in Shenzhen, China.
This certainly is a theme park with a difference. The Window of the World contains over 130 replicas of the most famous natural and man-made sites in the world, all squeezed onto about 480,000 square metres. Some of the replicas are the actual size of the sites while others are smaller. In one afternoon, you can visit the Eiffel Tower, walk around the Grand Canyon and marvel at the Egyptian Pyramids. The Acropolis is here along with Niagara Falls. One of the most interesting features of the park is International Street, which features Islamic Street, where you can see mosques, buildings and markets that look exactly like those found in the Arab world.
ʼWe want visitors to see and experience places and cultures they may not be able to actually get to in person. Not everyone can visit every famous landmark in the world in one lifetime and that is why this park is attractive to many visitors, both Chinese nationals and foreigners,ʼ commented Mr Chin, one of the managers.
Unit 3. Famous Landmarks
41
The Window of the World theme park combines both fun and education. There are regular exhibitions about famous people in history, and the park often holds festivals which focus on different countries and cultural themes. Visitors also have the opportunity to try out food from all over the world in one of the many restaurants.
ʼThis week we are holding Indian Week,ʼ explained one of the organisers. ʼVisitors can learn all about Indian culture, customs and traditions. We are offering Indian food all week and there is also a special exhibition on famous Indians in history.ʼ
Visitors to the park not only have the opportunity to see many famous sites and learn a lot about different world cultures, but they also have the chance to take part in many adventure trips in the park.
ʼWe are waiting to go down the Colorado River by boat and some friends of ours are skiing in the Alpine Ski Resort,ʼ said one visitor. ʼWe actually come from Shenzhen and we think this park is a great benefit for our region. We will probably never be able to visit all of these places ourselves, so it is really interesting for us. Some friends of ours are visiting us next week from the USA and we are going to bring them to see the park, too!ʼ
In this theme park it really is a “small world”!
11. Answer the questions after the text.
1) Where is the Window of the World theme park situated?
2) How many replicas of the most famous natural and man-made sites in the world does it contain?
3) What is the purpose of the Window of the World theme park?
4) What can visitors learn from the Window of the World theme park?
5) Why is the park called a “small world”?
12. Read the text again. Are these sentences true (T) or false (F) or is the information not mentioned (NM) in the text?
1) This article is the only one in the magazine on the topic of theme parks of the world.
SOCIAL ENGLISH STUDIES
42
2) All the exhibits on show are the same size as the originals.
3) The organisers of the park want visitors to learn something about different countries in the world.
4) You can try out food from different parts of China in the park.
5) Visitors can take part in sporting activities in the park. Home Project
13. Make landmark with your own hands.
Unit 3. Famous Landmarks
43
Useful Resources
1. https://ieltsintaiwan.wordpress.com/2015/08/11/ielts-vocabulary-architecture-and-buildings/.
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4qkrzr7xvs.
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oicI-yb6xII.
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWU_8aGWUW0.
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7QKWgACiGA. Additional Reading Section
14. Read the descriptions of famous landmarks and choose from the table its name. Then match the famous landmarks with the pictures.
Sphinx Colosseum Niagara Falls St. Peterʼs Basilica White House Great Barrier Reef Stonehenge Mount Rushmore Grand Canyon Sahara Desert Parthenon Taj Mahal Great Wall Leaning Tower of Pisa Golden Gate Bridge Big Ben Statue of Liberty Eiffel Tower
1) This ancient stadium is located in Rome. It was built from 72 to 80 A.D. It seated 45,000 spectators and was four stories high.
2) This is one of the most spectacular natural wonders in North America. It is located on the border between the United States and Canada. It is almost 58 m high. This elegant mansion has got 132 rooms and is the home to the President of the United States and his family.
3) This ancient Greek temple was built almost 2,500 years ago. It was built to honour Athena, goddess of wisdom in Greek mythology.
4) This beautiful tomb is in Agra in Northern India. It was built between 1563 and 1632 in memory of the Shahʼs wife.
5) This is the largest Christian Church in the world. It is in Rome, Italy. It is built in the shape of a cross. The magnificent dome was painted by Michelangelo.
6) This mysterious arrangement of stone is in Wiltshire, England. These giant stones were put there more than 3,500 years ago.
7) This place covers 9.1 million square kilometers. It stretches across northern Africa from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. It consists mostly of
SOCIAL ENGLISH STUDIES
44
huge plain of sand called ergs.
8) This amazing place is in Arizona, USA. Parts of it are 1.6 km deep and 29 kilometres wide. Itʼs got 640 km of hiking trails.
9) The sculptor Gutzon Borglum started carving the heads of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt in 1927. Each face is about 18 m from chin to forehead. They are carved into the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA.
10) This extraordinary statue stands near the Great Pyramid in the hot Sahara Desert of Egypt for almost 4,500 years. It is 73 m long and 20 m high.
11) This is the largest, most magnificent coral formation of the world. It is found along the northeast coast of Australia.
12) This is a white marble bell tower in Italy. Its foundations were laid in the year 1173. By the time the builders were up to the third tier, the tower began to lean and continues increasing its leaning by 2.56 cm every nine years.
13) This suspension bridge is in San Francisco, California. It was designed by Joseph B. Strauss in 1937. It is 7,721 m long.
14) This huge clock tower is in England. There is a huge bell inside it which got its name from Sir Benjamin Hall.
15) This statue stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. Its real name is “Liberty Enlightening the World”. It was a gift from France to the USA and it was designed by Frederic Auguste Bartoldi in 1885.
16) This city in Italy lies on 118 islands linked by over 400 bridges. The main water street is called the Grand Canal. The traditional means of transport are called gondolas.
17) It was designed and built in Paris in 1889 to honor the French Revolution. It is 298 m tall and was designed by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel.
18) This construction is 6,400 km long and it was built by hand. It twists and turns like a dragon over mountains and hills and around deserts. Itʼs in China.
Unit 3. Famous Landmarks
45
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
l)
m)
n)
o)
p)
q)
r)
SOCIAL ENGLISH STUDIES
46
CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS OF ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES
Customs may not be as wise as laws, but they are always more popular
Benjamin Disraeli
Real World: talking about customs and traditions of English Speaking Countries Grammar: Present Simple vs Present Continuous Review: Conditionals Objective: to develop students’ speaking skills on the topic; to develop attention and linguistic guessing
Unit 4. Customs and Traditions of English Speaking Countries
47
Warming-up 1. What association does come across to your mind when you hear the words “English Speaking Countries”? Put the words into columns according to Part of speech. The Republic of Ireland The UK Canada ESC The USA New Zealand Australia e.g. I associate ESC with the USA.
I associate ESC with UK. Essential vocabulary
Nouns
Adjectives
world
official
language
second
nationality
important
country
several
city
international
town
famous
village
appropriate Note: Custom means a way of behaving or a belief that has been established for a long time (a local / ancient custom). Tradition means a belief, principle, or way of acting that people in a particular society or group have continued to follow for a long time. Habit means something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without knowing that you are doing it. Vocabulary Practice
2. Match the nouns to the phrases.
Words
Meaning
1
world
a
a group of people of the same race, religion, traditions, etc.;
2
language
b
a large town;
3
nationality
c
the earth and all the people, places, and things on it;
4
country
d
a group of houses and other buildings that is smaller than a town, usually in the countryside;
5
city
e
a system of communication consisting of sounds, words, and grammar,;
6
town
f
a place where people live and work, and usually larger than a village but smaller than a city;
7
village
g
an area of land that has its own government, army, etc.
SOCIAL ENGLISH STUDIES
48
3. Match the qualities to the phrases. Use them to speak about English Speaking Countries.
Words
Meaning
1
official
a
is highly valued, or is necessary;
2
second
b
is used to refer to an imprecise number of people or things that is not large but is greater than two;
3
important
c
means between or involving different countries;
4
several
d
well known;
5
international
e
approved by the government or by someone in authority;
6
famous
f
suitable or acceptable for a particular situation;
7
appropriate
g
coming directly after the first in numbering or counting order
Speaking
4. Think about your answers to these questions. Use ideas from tasks 1 – 3 and your own ideas. 1) How many countries are there in the world?
A: There are ____ countries in the world. 2) In how many countries is English official language?
A: English is an official language in ____ countries. 3) What do you know about English Speaking Countries (capital city, famous sights, famous shops, famous museum)?
A: The capital city of _____ is _____. The most famous sights of _____ are _________. The most famous shops are _______. The most famous museum is _________. 4) What famous people of English Speaking Countries do you know?
A: The most famous person in _____ is __________. He / She is well known for _________. 5) What currencies do English Speaking Countries use?
A: The official currency of ________ is ____________. 5. Describe English Speaking Country (city) you have never been to and you would like to visit it. You should say: → where the country is;
Unit 4. Customs and Traditions of English Speaking Countries
49
→ when you will go there; → why you would like to go there; → and explain why this is a good country to visit. (Model answer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Nfd9Zmab_o).
6. Write a report: What are the differences between British and American English?
(Model answer: http://learnersdictionary.com/qa/what-are-the-differences-between-British-and-American-English).
Writing
7. Write an essay answering the question to what extent do you agree or disagree with statements:
a) Studying the English language in ESC is the best option. (Model answer: https://www.ielts-mentor.com/writing-sample/writing-task-2/2105-ielts-writing-task-2-sample-956-studying-the-english-language-in-an-english-speaking-country-is-the-best-option).
b) Studying the English language in ESC is the best but not only way to learn a language. (Model answer: https://www.testbig.com/ielts-essays/ studying-english-language-english-speaking-country-best-not-only-way-learn-language-do).
SOCIAL ENGLISH STUDIES
50
Grammar
8. Look at four things people say about the US and Americans. Do you think they are true or not true? Then read the text and check your answers.
Americans – is it true?
Four foreigners, who live in the US talk about the things people say about Americans ...
Americans eat fast food every day. Pei from China Itʼs true that Americans eat a lot of fast food, but they donʼt eat fast food every day. I share an apartment with an American woman, and she cooks all the time. She only eats fast food on some days – with me!
The sun shines a lot in Southern California. Alberto from Mexico The weather changes quickly in many places in the US, but not in Southern California. The sun shines a lot there. It doesnʼt shine every day, but be careful when it shines. It gets very hot! I always wear sunglasses when I go out.
Americans like animals. Naomi from Japan I have a lot of friends here and many of them have a dog, a cat or a bird. One American family that I know has a dog, a cat and two birds. American people love animals!
Americans are always loud. Gianni from Italy Some Americans are very loud, but I work with an American man at a coffee shop, and heʼs really quiet and polite. He doesnʼt talk very much. But heʼs a very nice guy!
Americans eat fast food every day.
The sun shines a lot in Southern California
Americans like animals.
Americans are always loud.
Unit 4. Customs and Traditions of English Speaking Countries
51
9 Look at four things people say about Britain and the British. Do you think they are true or not true? Then read the text and check your answers.
The British – is it true?
Four foreigners who live in Britain talk about the things people say about the British...
British people drink tea at 5.00. Kati from Hungary Itʼs true that British people drink a lot of tea (and coffee) but they donʼt drink tea at a special time. I work for a British company here and my boss drinks tea all the time.
It rains a lot. Marina from Ukraine It rains a lot, but it doesnʼt rain every day. Be careful because the weather changes quickly. I always take an umbrella when I go out.
British people like animals. Norma from Mexico I have a lot of friends here and they all have a dog or a cat. One family that I know has two dogs and five cats. British people love animals!
The food in Britain isnʼt very good. Hasan from Turkey
The restaurants are quite expensive but they are great, and the food is good in a lot of pubs, too. I share a flat with a Scottish boy, and he cooks every night. He watches all the cooking programmes on TV and he makes great curries!
10. Answer the questions with a partner about texts 8 and 9.
1) Look at the highlighted verbs. Why do some verbs end in -s?
2) Write the he / she / it form of these verbs.
change have talk go cook eat make watch
British people drink tea at 5 o’clock.
It rains a lot
British people like animals.
The food in Britain isn't very good.
SOCIAL ENGLISH STUDIES
52
3) Find negative verbs. How are they different from affirmative verbs:
a) for he/ she/ it;
b) for all other persons? Reading
11. Read the article. Do you know any more words that are British English, not American English?
British and American English – the same, but different
British and American people speak the same language – English, but with some small differences
VOCABULARY. Some words are different in British English, for example, British people say postcode, not zip code, holiday, not vacation, and mobile phone, not cell phone. Some words have different meanings, for example in American English, a purse is a womanʼs bag. In British English, a purse is a small thing (like a wallet) where women have their money and credit cards.
SPELLING. Color, favor, and other words that end in -or in American English end with -our in British English, e.g., colour, favour. Center, theater, and other words that end in -ter in American English end with -tre in British English, e.g., centre, theatre.
GRAMMAR. British grammar is very similar to American grammar, but with some small differences, especially prepositions. For example, British people say See you on Friday, but Americans say See you Friday.
PRONUNCIATION. The most important difference between American and British English is pronunciation. American accents and British accents are very different, and when a British person starts speaking, American people know he or she is British, and vice verca. 12. Look at the highlighted words in the text and guess their meaning.
Unit 4. Customs and Traditions of English Speaking Countries
53
13. Read the article again. Mark the sentences T (true) or F (false).
1) American English and British English are very different.
2) Holiday and postcode are the same in British and American English.
3) Purse has different meanings in American and British English.
4) Neighbour is British spelling.
5) British and American grammar are not very different.
6) Itʼs difficult to know from their accent if a person is British or American. Home Project
14. Make ppt presentation about customs and traditions in English speaking countries
CANADA
The UK
NEW ZEALAND
AUSTRALIA
THE USA
Useful Resources
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2WQBD6nNY4&feature=plcp.
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0r0VTos_wU.
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y48Jqdglal0.
SOCIAL ENGLISH STUDIES
54
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT_-viaUegI.
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhFsvaYrEc0. Additional Reading Section
15. Look at the photos in the text. In which one can you see ... ?
a drive-through
a ride
a car lane
a redwood forest
a cup of coffee
a driver
a theme park
a hamburger
16. Read the article. Mark the sentence T (true) or F (false). Say why the F ones are false.
1) A large cup of coffee in Australia is the same as a small cup of coffee in the US.
2) California doesnʼt have a lot of state parks.
3) Jenny doesnʼt like the salespeople in shopping malls.
4) The fall is very cold in California.
5) Itʼs easy to drive in the US.
6) Jenny doesnʼt like the long lines for rides at theme parks.
7) Jenny eats hamburgers and French fries at Red Robin.
State Parks, Freeways, and Other Things I love about the US
Jenny Clark, an Australian mom and college student who lives in California, says the US isnʼt just OK – itʼs paradise
a)
b)
Unit 4. Customs and Traditions of English Speaking Countries
55
c)
d)
e)
f)
These are some of her reasons ...
Coffee. American cups of coffee are very big! A small cup of coffee in the US is like a large cup of coffee in Australia. If youʼre in a hurry, you go to a drive-through and buy coffee from your car. Itʼs so easy!
State Parks. California has 278 state parks, and they are beautiful. At the weekends, I bring my family to a state park in my area. We explore the forest, find small animals, and enjoy the tall redwood trees.
Malls. I love shopping, and in the US, the malls are very big. People walk around and shop for hours. US malls have many different stores, and the salespeople are friendly and help you find things.
Fall. I love the fall weather in the US. A good fall day in California is cool, but not too cold. I also love the trees. They change from green to yellow, red, and brown.
Freeways. I prefer the roads in the US. The freeways are very fast, and in California they have a lot of car lanes. Itʼs really easy to drive from one place to another.
SOCIAL ENGLISH STUDIES
56
Theme Parks. Theme parks are very popular in the US, and we live near the Great America Theme Park. My children like the rides and water slides. Sometimes the lines for the rides are long, but thatʼs OK. We need rest!
Red Robin. Red Robin is a restaurant that has great hamburgers. I donʼt eat meat, but I like the French fries and lemonade at Red Robin. I think the fried cheese sticks are fantastic, but sometimes they arenʼt on the menu. Maybe thatʼs because they arenʼt very healthy!
17. Underline these verbs in the text. What do they mean? Compare your ideas with a partner.
buy bring explore find enjoy walk help prefer drive need think
18. Look at the photos in the text. In which one can you see ... ?
a chemist
a waiter
a zebra crossing
cash machine (ATM in American English)
a cup of coffee
a cyclist
a pedestrian
a driver
19. Read the article. Mark the sentence T (true) or F (false). Say why the F ones are false.
1) Britain is a good country for cyclists and pedestrians.
2) Itʼs expensive to use ATMs in Britain.
3) British drivers are nice to other drivers.
4) In Britain people donʼt have ID cards.
5) Summers in Britain are very hot.
6) In Starbucks in Britain waiters donʼt use your first name.
Starbucks, summer, and other things I love about Britain
Mark Vanhoenacker, an American journalist who lives in London, says the UK isnʼt just OK – itʼs Magic
Unit 4. Customs and Traditions of English Speaking Countries
57
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
SOCIAL ENGLISH STUDIES
58
These are some of his reasons ...
Walking. Britain isnʼt a good place for cyclist. But for pedestrians it is wonderful. When you walk on a zebra crossing, all the drivers stop.
Banks. British banks are great – you do everything online, and you donʼt pay when you take money out of an ATM. And if you want to change banks, the banks do all the work.
Drivers. The British are very polite when they drive. They donʼt hoot, and they are patient with other drivers. They always say thank you when you let them pass.
Boots the Chemist. Chemists in the UK are wonderful, friendly shops and completely different from US pharmacies. Boots sells everything you want, not just medicine, and the shop assistants give you good advice.
No ID Cards. Britain is one of the only places in the world, where people donʼt have ID cards. In the US you need ID when you buy a drink, go to a club, use a credit card, or take an intercity train.
Summers. I love British summers! A good summer day in Britain is dry and warm, but not very hot.
Starbucks. Starbucks isnʼt British, of course, but I prefer the Starbucks in Britain. They are nice, friendly places where people read the newspaper and drink good coffee. And the waiters donʼt write your name on the cups. I feel stupid in America when the waiter calls “Mark, your tall cappuccino with extra chocolate!”
20. Underline these verbs in the text. What do they mean? Compare your ideas with a partner.
walk pay drive sell give need buy use prefer feel call
21. Read the guidebook extract about things to do in New York City, and find the answers to the “Where can you ... ?" questions. Answer with BP (Bryant Park), CL (The Cloisters), or HL (the High Line).
Unit 4. Customs and Traditions of English Speaking Countries
59
WHAT TO DO IN NEW YORK CITY …
1. WHEN ITʼS VERY COLD
Go ice skating at Bryant Park. Bryant Park is a beautiful park in midtown Manhattan, behind the New York Public Library in Sixth Avenue. In winter, the area behind the library is made into an ice-skating rink. There is a skating school where you can take lessons, and there is a cafe where you can enjoy lunch or dinner after you skate. From October to January, Bryant Parkʼs walking paths become an outdoor shopping center called the Holiday Shops at Bryant Park.
2. WHEN ITʼS RAINING
Go to Fort Tryon Park and visit The Cloisters. You can take a subway or a bus from midtown Manhattan and visit The Cloisters (part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art) in Fort Tryon Park in the north of Manhattan. The Cloisters is very popular with adults and children. Adults like this museum because it is full of interesting old art and architecture. Children like this museum because the building looks like a castle! If the sun comes out, walk outside and look at the amazing views of the George Washington Bridge or the New Jersey Palisades across the Hudson River.
3. WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING
Go to the High Line, New York Cityʼs newest park. On the west side of Manhattan between Gansevoort Street and West 34th Street, the High Line is a 1 – mile public park on old train tracks. The High Line has flower gardens with chairs so you can sit and enjoy the sun. It has beautiful views of the Hudson River and interesting art. Itʼs a perfect place for a picnic in the afternoon or a walk in the evening. Itʼs a beautiful place and you canʼt believe that you are in the middle of a busy city.
WHERE CAN YOU ... ?
SOCIAL ENGLISH STUDIES
60
1
learn to do something new
2
take a walk in the evening
3
have a very good view
4
see art
5
exercise
6
do some shopping
7
see a bridge
8
see a very interesting building
22. Talk to a partner and ask following questions:
a) Which of the three places would you prefer to go to? Why?
b) Where is a good place to go in your town ... ?
→ when itʼs very cold;
→ when itʼs raining;
→ when the sun is shining.
3) What can you do in these places?
23. Read the guidebook extract about things to do in London, and find the answers to the “Where can you ... ?" questions. Answer with SH (Somerset House), SK (South Kensington), or HH (Hampstead Heath).
WHAT TO DO IN LONDON …
1. WHEN ITʼS VERY COLD
Go ice skating at Somerset House. Somerset House is a beautiful 18 th century building on the river Thames. In winter, the area in front of the house is made into an ice-skating rink. There is a skating school, where you can have lessons, and there are also late-night sessions and DJ nights. In November and December there is an enormous Christmas tree, and the café serves special Christmas food.
2. WHEN ITʼS RAINING
Go to South Kensington, and visit three wonderful museums. You can walk from one to the other because they are all very near. The Science Museum is very popular with adults and children, and also the Natural History Museum, which has life-size robotic dinosaurs and other
Unit 4. Customs and Traditions of English Speaking Countries
61
fascinating exhibits. The third museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, is full of art and design from all over the world. It has an amazing collection of fashion from the 17 th century to the present day. And if the sun comes out, I cross the road into Kensington Gardens, one of Londonʼs many parks, and visit the famous statue of Peter Pan.
3. WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING
Go to Hampstead Heath, Londonʼs biggest park. From the top of Parliament Hill, in the south part of the Heath, you can see many of Londonʼs famous monuments, including St Paulʼs Cathedral and the London Eye. Have a picnic, and then, if itʼs hot, walk to the open-air swimming pool, where you can swim with plants and trees all round you. It is a magical place, and you canʼt believe that you are in the middle of a capital city.
WHERE CAN YOU ... ?
1
learn to do something new
2
eat outside
3
have a fantastic view
4
see beautiful old clothes
5
do some exercise
6
have fun after 9 p.m.
7
see some animals that donʼt exist today
8
see a famous character from a book
24. Talk to a partner and discuss the question “Which of the three places would you prefer to go to? Why?”
SOCIAL ENGLISH STUDIES
62

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post