English customs and traditions

UNIT10. CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS IN ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES

BRITISH AND AMERICAN FAMILIES

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

British and American families are small. In fact the populations of both Britain and the USA have stopped growing. The typical family has a father, mother and two children. Grandparents come to visit, but do not usually live with their children.

Most people get married between the ages of 20 and 23 but many marriages end in divorce. This means that both countries have a large number of "single parent families", one father or mother looking after their children alone.

The typical British family has a car, a colour TV set, a washing machine, and a cat or dog as well. They start the day at about 7 o'clock, have breakfast at 8. and are off to work by 8.30. More and more women now go out to work as well as men. The children have lunch at school at about 12.30, and come home at 4 in the afternoon. Their parents are usually home by 6 o'clock, and the family eats together at 6.30 or 7. In the evenings, father may go to the pub for a drink, or stay at home and watch TV with the others. Children go to bed early, at about 8 o'clock, two or three hours before their parents.

The typical American family has more money than a British family. Many have two or three cars, large modern kitchens and more electrical goods. They eat more meat and spend more on clothes. But their daily programme is nearly the same. Like British children, American children eat lunch at school, come home mid-afternoon, and go to bed earlier than their parents.

Read, translate and retell the text:

Every country and every nation has own traditions and customs. England is a land of traditions. First of all it concerns United Kingdom political system. In Great Britain there is no written constitution, only customs, traditions and precedents. After the English Revolution Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy headed by King (now Queen, Elisabeth the second). Traditionally the queen acts only on the advice of her Ministers. She reigns but she does not rule.

Englishmen have traditions not only in political, but in social life. For example, London, the capital of England, is traditionally divided into three parts: the West End, the East End and the City. The City is a historical, financial and business centre of London. The East End is the district inhabited by the workers, and the West End is a fashionable shopping and entertaining centre. English people like to spend their free time in numerous pubs where they can have a glass of beer and talk about different things with their friends.

The English are traditional about their meals. They eat eggs and bacon with toasts for breakfast, pudding or apple pie for dessert. Every English family has five o'clock tea. A typical feature of an English house is a fireplace, even when there is central heating in the house.

English people like domestic animals. Every family has a pet: a dog, a cat or a bird.

Politeness is a characteristic feature of Englishmen. They often say "Thank you", "Sorry", "Beg your pardon".

Englishmen have many traditional holidays, such as Christmas, St.Valentine's Day, Mother's day, Easter and others.

ADD TO YOUR ACTIVE VOCABULARY:

own – собственный

concern – забота

written constitution – письменная (написанная) конституция

precedent – прецедент

advice – совет

to reign – править

inhabited – населенный

fashionable – модный, стильный

entertaining – развлекательный

pub – паб, пивнушка

dessert – десерт

fireplace – камин

central heating – центральное отопление

politeness – вежливость

feature – черта характера

Easter – Пасха

Ex. 1. Answer the questions:

1. Is England a land of traditions?

2. What is there in Great Britain instead of written constitution?

3. When did Great Britain become a constitutional monarchy?

4. Englishmen have traditions not only in political, but in social life, haven’t they?

5. Is London traditionally divided into two or three parts?

6. Is the City a historical, financial and business centre of London?

7. Where can Englishmen have a glass of beer and talk about different things with their friends?

8. The English are traditional about their meals, aren’t they?

9. What do they usually eat?

10. What is a typical feature of an English house?

Дата добавления: 2014-10-15