8. Match each hobby (a –k) with the benefits people get from it (1 – 11). More than one answer is possible.

а) Stamp-collecting 1) More general knowledge

b) Writing to pen-friends 2) An introduction to foreign language

c) Gardening 3) Pride in the way things look

d) Sport 4) Keeping fit

e) Electronics 5) A chance to compete

f) Art 6) Meeting people

g) Music 7) Gaining or saving money

h) Model-making 8) Discipline

i) Tourism 9) Knowledge of science

j) Sewing 10) Habit of being precise and careful

k) Painting 11) Enjoying the beautiful

9. Organize the following words by putting them in the correct column.

amateur theatre antiques board games books camping cards climbing computer games draughts/checkers (AE) coins gardening hang-gliding hiking musical instruments needlework painting photography postcards pottery puppets stamps wind-surfing writing poetry

Things people collect	Creative hobbies	Outdoor activities	Things you can play

10. Match the words and phrases in column a with those in column b. Tick the phrases that apply to you.

1. I study a lot. I have no a) to keep fit

2. Playing computer games is b) a drama society

3. I joined the club c) fun

4. Dancing is d) hiking and camping

5. I go in for sport e) leisure time

6. I am crazy about f) amusing

7. I love theatre. I attend g) to meet interesting people

8. I am keen on h) knitting

9. I enjoy k) pop-music

10. I love l) poetry and art

11. Tell about your hobby/your friend’s/your parent’s. Say what you’ve gained from it. The words in the box can help you.

to be interested in to take part in to learn to get to know to have fun to keep fit to like doing smth to make friends to collect

12. Prepare a list of sentences (up to 10) for translation from the British National Corpus with the use of the following words from the above text: leisure, occupation, pleasure, to require, to gain. Use the site www.natcorp.ox.ac.uk/ .

13. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

Language Functions Agreeing and disagreeing

In talking about almost anything, and especially when discussing certain topics, such as religion, the economy, or politics, you hear many opinions expressed. You will probably agree with some and disagree with others.

It is easy to agree with someone, on any level of formality: “I agree completely with what you said in your lecture” or “Yeah, that’s right, Dave.” The only way to get into trouble is by being insincere and only pretending to agree. A person who always agrees with someone else and never has an individual opinion is not respected. This is especially true in employer-employee relationships. If the employee always agrees with the boss, the employee is called a “Yes-man”. It is OK to disagree with superiors, as long as it is done in an acceptable way.

Agreement	Disagreement
Formal
I absolutely / entirely / agree with you. I’m exactly of the same opinion. My own opinion is exactly the same. That’s quite right. You are quite right there. I can’t help thinking the same. I won’t deny it.	I disagree, I’m afraid. I disagree with you on that point. I differ from you. I don’t think so. That’s not the way I see it. I can’t help thinking the opposite.
Neutral
Yes, it is / does / can / has. That’s true. Yes, I fully / I partially agree. Beyond all doubt. In a way yes. I think so.	No, he isn’t / doesn’t / can’t / hasn’t. That’s wrong. I’m not sure, in fact. I’m afraid you are wrong / mistaken. Far from it. Not at all. Just on the contrary.
Informal
How true. / Too true. Looks like that. Oh, exactly. / Very likely. Of course. Sure. / Certainly. OK. / Yes, indeed. Right you are. That’s it. I see. Exactly / definitely so. Undoubtedly.	Not really. No way! Impossible. / Unlikely. Surely not. / Certainly not. By no means! It won’t work! Nonsense! Rubbish and stuff. Never!