Look at the notes and the expressions below, then, working in pairs, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having a pet.

Use the expressions: first and foremost... ; in addition ... ; I admit you're right, but ... ; on the contrary ... ; I don't think it is so, etc.

Advantages:

• people learn to care for other creatures;

• reduces stress;

• children become more sociable;

• good company for old people, etc.

• Disadvantages:

• can be very expensive (e. g. vet's bills);

• pets may be jealous of babies;

• pets may aggravate health problems (e. g. asthma, allergies).

 

Animals have always been in our lives.

There are words selected from text you have to read. Give a brief outline of its content.

hunter-охотник ; guiding-сопровождение ; blind-слепой ; to worship-поклоняться ; to worry -беспокоить; ancient Egyptians-древние египтяне; to be descended-происходить от ; extra-sensual power-иметь сверх чувствительную силу; to mourn for smb – оплакивать к-л; to embalm- бальзамировать; to be put to death – носить до самой смерти;

Read the text, choose some phrases from the text you like and explain their reason.

 

Dogs have been around us for thousands of years, and they've served as hunters and guards. In the Roman town of Pompeii, there is a house that bears the warning — bewares of the dog. Apart from catching things, and guarding things, dogs are of course very good at guiding people. The Romans used to have guide dogs for the blind — not exactly blind, but blind drunk. For when a Roman went out to pubs, he would take his dog with him to lead him home. He had nothing to worry about stag­gering home behind his dog.

The ancient Egyptians used to worship their cats, and lots of them believed that they were descended from cats. Cats are psychic. They have extra-sensual powers. And the Egyptians knew this — they made cats sacred. If a cat died, the whole family would mourn for it. They closed the cat's eyes, put a blue collar around its neck, and then they had it embalmed. And if anyone killed a cat in Ancient Egypt, he was put to death.

3. Speak about this problem round the circle. Who expresses his opinion the last has won!

 

Agriculture and fishers in Britain

Text you are about to read dwells upon agriculture and fishers in Britain. Predict with your neighbor some of the vocabulary you might encounter in the text.

Read the text and underline by the way most important sentences.

Although Britain is a highly industrialized country, agri­culture is still one of her most important industries. Just over 700,000 farm workers provide over half the food needed by some 55.5 million people. This is achieved by widespread use of machinery (there are over 500,000 tractors in use) and by using the latest results of research and scientific experi­ments.

For a small country, Britain has a great variety of soil, climate and types of farming; ranging from beef breeding in Scotland and sheep farming in the mountains of Wales to growing crops, mainly wheat, barley, oats and potatoes, in the large, flat, fertile areas of the eastern counties.

Over 200 years ago British livestock breeders developed the principles which have produced some of the world's finest pedigree cattle, sheep, pigs and horses. Famous breeds of cattle — Hereford, Shorthorn, Aberdeen Angus, Yorkshire and others — have laid the foundation of pedigree herds in North and South America, Australia and many other countries. Agricultural research is carried out at over 50 research stations in pest control, fertilizers, plant and animal diseases and the improvement of crops and livestock.

Sea fishing, round the coasts of Britain and in distant waters, is of great importance in Scotland and in the North-East of England. Research into improved methods of fishing, processing and storage plays a big part in modernizing an ancient industry.

Write all dates from the text.

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