Т.В. Артеменко, Е.В. Кривощекова, Е.В. Кравченко, Н.Е. Николаева - Reader in Language and Culture - Part II, страница 10

But just how far does this love go?The answer is QUITE far. Today, half of the 24.2 million homes in GreatBritain have a pet. Cats are especially popular because many people wholive alone and go to work like independent pets. There are eight million catsin Britain.

Other popular pets are dogs, birds, rabbits, fish, guinea-pigs andhamsters.51ANIMAL PROTECTION2.The British have always loved animals. Great Britain was the firstcountry to create a society to protect animals in 1824. The society stillexists today, and it is called the RSPCA — the Royal Society for thePrevention of Cruelty to Animals. The RSPCA finds new owners for 96,000homeless animals every year. Britain was also the first country to introducedog biscuits. They were invented in 1860 by James Spratt, an Americanwho was visiting England. When he saw dogs eating leftover biscuits in thestreet, he decided to make biscuits just for dogs.PET ACCESSORIES3.Today's posh pets need more than good food.

They want to bepampered, just like humans. In Great Britain, you can see an astrologer whowill do a special horoscope for your pet. Or you can take your pet to see apsychic or psychologist. You can buy pet accessories and designer clothes,too, like leather jackets, special flashing collars for walking at night, petperfume — you name it, they have got it! There are also special accessoriesdesigned to keep your pet fit such as treadmills for dogs to exercise indoorsor orthopaedic beds for dogs that suffer from a bad back. There is even aspecial pet hotel in Newcastle upon Tyne that offers cats and dogs anopportunity to exercise in the indoor gym, relax in the Jacuzzi or watchvideos of their owners on personal TV and video sets.NEED TO GO ON A BUS - HAMSTERS GO FREE!1.Jordan Underwood, the 10-year-old owner of Nibbles the hamster,was very surprised when a bus driver asked him to pay an additional Юр ontop of his own bus fare to take his hamster on a bus in Northampton.

Theboy was so upset that he complained to the bus company and the story got52into the national newspapers.2.The bus company took a few days to decide what to do and thenacted as follows. The company not only apologised to the hamster and hisowner for the extra charge and gave Jordan a free bus pass for a month butalso gave the hamster his own life-time travel pass. The boy and hamsterwere then taken for a tour around the town on one of the company's buses,which had a sign reading "The Hamster Special".3.The bus company also issued special travel regulations forhamsters, which say:4.'First, hamsters are encouraged to travel free of charge on any ofour services, preferably accompanied by a fee-paying human.5.'Second, young hamsters will be asked to give up their seat to anelderly or disabled hamster.6.'Thirdly, we request that hamsters do not use mobile phones orWalkmans while travelling on our buses for the comfort and convenience ofother hamsters.'7.Jordan was very pleased that the company acknowledged itsmistake but thought that it was not enough to compensate the emotionaldamage that the conflict created for his hamster! He said: 'I think theyshould do something more.

They could buy him a bigger cage or a wheel.'Tasks for discussion.I.1. Give expamles from the text to prove that the British are thrueanimal lovers.2. Do you think that their love sometimes takes too extravagantforms?3. What does the story the hamster illustrate?II.531.Are Russians fond of their pets?2.What legal campaign has begun recently in this country? Has ifbrought any results yet?3.Do you agree that a nation’s attitude to animals reflects the levelof its social development? How are the correlated?How the British relax1.As British people say, “all work and no play makes Jack a dullboy. ” Like everybody else.

British people like doing things outside work.2.Gardening is a well-known favourite. As the weather in Britain isrelatively mild, British people manage to do gardening almost all the yearround. Sometimes this can be just doing a bit of weeding and sometimes,serious vegetable and fruit growing. In fact, regardless of the size of thegarden, the British can always find plenty to do in it. Mowing grass is alsovery important.

Every Sunday morning (except for winter) they come out tomow their lawns. To outsiders, it almost seems like an obsession but to aBritish person it is an important social duty. The British see an unmownlawn, not only as a sign of laziness, but also as disrespect to others (and youcan get fined for it as well).3.Walking is also very popular. Ask any British person if they havea pair of walking boots and the answer will probably be yes. Except for drysummer davs, the beautiful British countryside is pretty muddy, so you needa good pair of walking boots or 'wellies' to enjoy your walk.

Walking as aleisure activity has a long tradition in England. You can buy a variety ofmaps and guides to walking routes. Organised walking is also popular andis a good way to discover local sights of interest with a group of likeminded people and a good guide.4.Cycling is another popular activity,. Unfortunately, many Britishroads are very busy and don't have cycling paths, so cycling can be a bit54dangerous in Britain, many people find quiet country roads and spend theirwhole holidays exploring their homeland on their bikes. More extremesports like rock climbing also attract people.

And, of course, the famousBritish eccentricity is the cause of unusual sports like extreme ironing.Extreme ironing is a serious sport where teams of people compete at whocan do their ironing in more extreme conditions. Extreme ironing is now aninternational sport with serious competitions and organised events.5.Of course, not all British people keep fit by engaging in extremesports. Many go to the gym. swimming pool or fitness classes.

However, ithas to be said that the British are not the sportiest nation in the world. Yousee, watching TV often gets in the way. Increasingly, British people spendtheir free time watching TV. Sad, but true. The only comforting thing is thatthey are not on their own — most of the world seems to be doing the same!6.As far as actually going away on holiday, many British peoplechoose to spend their holidays abroad, preferably somewhere warm and dry.Spain, France and Greece are regular destinations due to convenientlocation and kind climate.

City breaks are also a good idea for changing thescenery and enjoying new places without too much trouble.Tasks for discussion.I.1.What are the British people’s favourite leisure time activities?2.Why is gardening so popular?3.What aitems doe one need to go walking in Britain?4.Does one nedd special equipment and sports facilities to be fit?5.Where do British people prefer to spend their holidays?II1.

How do Russian relax? What factors account for their preferences?2. What are favourite Russian resorts?British Humour55Do you get it?—What is an ig?—An Eskimo house without a loo.1.It is common to hear foreigners use the phrase: 'typical British sense ofhumour', but what exactly does that mean? As a nation, the British areproud of their particular sense of humour and believe that it is unique.British people often say that foreigners, in particular, the French andAmericans, don't understand British jokes. This statement is, of course, a bitunfair, but it does reflect some differences in what people in differentcountries and cultures find funny. The strange thing is that British humouris based on two rather contradictory foundations.

On the one hand, there is atypically dry, almost sarcastic understatement. On the other, there is anational obsession with something called 'toilet humour'.UNDERSTATEMENT AND IRONY2.The first characteristic is probably the most famous. British peopleuse understatement almost all the time. Perhaps it is connected to theterrible climate in Britain. The statements like: 'It's a bit chilly, isn't it?', or,'I'm just a bit tired' are often used when it is terribly cold, or you areabsolutely exhausted.3.Understatement is closely connected to a more general term:irony.

Quite often foreigners have to spend some time getting used toBritish people being constantly ironic - in other words — saying theopposite of what they think or feel. The statements: 'Lovely weather we'rehaving at the moment', or, 'Turned out nice again, didn't it?' are to be usedwhen it is raining heavily, or the weather suddenly turns bad after you leavethe house without a coat or umbrella.

Another example of irony used forhumours purposes: We visit our friend in the hospital. We know from his56wife that the prognosis is bad, and also that our friend has been informed ofhis condition. When we enter, we ask him how he's feeling. 'Well,' he says,'I have been better.1 Of course, in some countries it would be unusual tomake jokes when you are ill but in Britain it is absolutely normal. It is wellknown that British people do not like showing their feelings and emotions,so they often turn to irony to conceal what they really feel.4.Both understatement and irony depend a lot on tone of voice.