Family Size
On average 2 or 4 people live as a family in one home Britain. This is smaller than most other European countries. Most British children live with their parents at least until they finish school at the age of 17 or 18. Then many go away to college, leaving some parents sad and lonely and enjoying their release from parental responsibilities. But many adults stay with their parents during their college years or return home after graduation. Today's parents cannot even be sure that their married children have moved out forever. After a divorce they may return to the parental home temporarily or even for a long-term.
Older people take pride in their independence, enjoy their freedom and don't want to be a burden to their children. The telephone, the car and the airplane keep them in close contact even when they live in different parts of the country. Members of family — grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins-keep in touch, but they see less of each other than they used to. This is because people often move away from home town to work and so the family becomes scattered. Christmas is the traditional season for reunions.
Although the family group is smaller nowadays than it used to be, relatives often travel many miles in order to spend the holiday together. Family parties may be very joyous (радостный) when they bring together relatives who haven't seen each other for a while.
Place of Living
Most people in GB live in urban areas. Towns and cities are spreading into surrounding environment to cope with the increase populations. In England, an average of 7,000 hectares of farmland, countryside and green space were converted to urban use every year. This is almost the equivalent size of 9,600 international football pitches!
Who owns houses in Great Britain?
Now people are buying their own homes more than in the past. About two thirds of the people have their own homes or are in the process of buying it. Most others live in houses or flats that they rent from a private landlord the local council, or housing association. People buying their property almost always pay for it with a special loan called a mortgage, which they must repay, over a long period of time, usually 25 years.
What are houses in Great Britain like?
Most houses in England are made of stone or brick from the local area where the houses are built. The colors of the stones and bricks may vary across the country. Great Britain has many types of homes. In the large cities, people often live in apartments, which are called flats. In most towns, there are streets of houses joined together in long rows. They are called terraced houses (таунхауз).
The main types of houses in Great Britain are:
Detached (особняк) (a house not joined to another house);
Semi-detached (двухквартирный) (two houses joined together);
Terrace (дом ленточной застройки) (several houses joined together);
Flats (apartments).
The most popular type of home in England is semi-detached (more than 27% of all homes). Almost half of London's households are flats, maisonettes or apartments.
Cost of Houses
A big problem in England is the rising cost of houses. In 1990 first-time buyers paid an average of around £40,000, in 2001 this had more than doubled to £85,000 and in 2015 to £196,565. The cost of housing in England has increased much faster than people's wages.
Average wage per year: £23,244.
Average house price: £196,924.
Task 3. Answer the questions:
What is the typical British family?
What was the problem about British family between 1971 and 2012?
What can you tell about institute of marriage in GB nowadays?
What is the legal age for marrying in the UK?
Where can marriage take place?
What kinds of wedding traditions in UK do you know?
What is the usual family size in UK?
Where do the most British people live?
What kinds of houses in UK do you know?
Task 4. Fill in the gaps using the information from the text.
The typical English family headed by … has undergone substantial changes during the … century.
. … was very difficult, expensive and took a long time.
People are generally … at a later age now and many women do not want to have … immediately.
After years ago changes allowed couples to get married in all sorts of … .
… chooses a … who will look after the couple rings during the wedding ceremony.
After the wedding ceremony … are invited to attend a meal and further … .
Most British children live with … at least until they finish … at the age of … or … .
But many adults stay with their … during their … years or return home after graduation.
Although the family group is smaller nowadays that it used to be … often travel many miles … the holiday together.
Task 5. Learn the words and expressions:
-
1.
to be reputed
прослыть
2.
reserved
сдержанный, скрытный
3.
haughty
надменный, высокомерный
4.
steady
уравновешенный, постоянный
5.
easy going
добродушный
6.
to be fond of
увлекаться
7.
peculiar
своеобразный, особенный
8.
loud
громкий
9.
to rush
спешить, бросаться, устремляться
10.
queue
очередь
11.
to shake hands
пожать руку
12.
good tempered
добродушный
13.
cheerful
веселый
14.
castle
крепость, замок
15.
neighbor
сосед
16.
fireplace
камин
17.
deep rooted
укоренившийся
18.
plot
участок земли
19.
cemetery
кладбище
20.
jeweled
драгоценный
21.
lamb’s wool
овечья шерсть
22.
earth
земля
23.
thatched
соломенный
24.
porch
крыльцо, веранда
25.
crowd
толпа, множество
26.
silence
тишина
27.
leisure
отдых, досуг
28.
substantial
питательный, существенный
29.
plain
простой, незатейливый
30.
stew
тушеное мясо
31.
occasion
случай
32.
apple tart
яблочный пирог
33.
custard
заварной крем
Task 6. Read the text and translate it.