Unit 14: RECREATION
Look at the people in these pictures.
A. READING
What are they doing?
WARM-UP:
When do they often do these activities?
What do you often do in your free time?
Work in pairs. Which of the following leisure activities do you think British people do in their spare time?
reading books/newspapers
watching TV/videos
playing sports
shopping
singing
meeting friends
listening to music
watching sports
spending time outdoors
playing a musical instrument
Leisure (n):
Ex: In her leisure time, she visits museums and galleries.
Recreation (n):
Household (n):
Average( n):
Ex: The average of 3, 8 and 10 is 7.
Pursuit (n):  Pursue (v):
Ex: My pursuits include listening to music, reading, and gardening.
Undertake (v) :(undertook – undertaken)
Sophisticated (a):
Ex: a play that will only appeal to sophisticated audience.
Entry qualification (n.p): entry procedures

NEW
WORDS
AND
PHRASES
READ THE TEXT AND LISTEN TO THE TAPE: UNIT 14: RECREATION
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, goes an English saying. Recreation and entertainment are important to people everywhere in the world. However, forms of popular entertainment are different in different countries.
In Britain, the most common leisure activities are home based. Watching television is by far the most popular pastime, and nearly all households have a television set. Over 51 percent of households have two or more television sets and average viewing time for the population aged four and over is 25 hours a week. Other pursuits include listening to music, reading, do-it-yourself home improvements, and gardening.
British people are also very interested in watching and taking part in sports. Walking and swimming are the two most popular sporting activities, being almost equally undertaken be men and women. Snookers, pool and darts are the next most popular sports among men. The most popular spectator sports are football and rugby in winter, and cricket and athletics in summer.
In the last few years in Britain, a new trend has been developing, i.e., taking weekend or holiday courses. There is a enormous range of courses on offer. The course can be as simple as bricklaying or as sophisticated as making your own stock market decisions. For people who are interested in art, there are courses in painting or drawing. People who like music can take a course in karaoke singing. Courses like shoemaking or glass engraving provide people with practical skills they can do with hands. Those who want to improve their minds can take a course of “Living with more meaning”. Entry qualifications to weekend courses are generous, that is, generally no qualifications are necessary, apart from an ability to pay the fees, which may be quite high.
The words/phrases in italics in the following sentences all appear in the passage. Circle the correct answer.
1.The activities are home based. They are organised .......
A. at home B. outdoors C. In the basement of the house.
2. Television viewing is by far the most popular pastime. This mean .......
A. People have to go very far to watch television.
B. television viewing is much more popular than any other pastime.
C. television viewing is as popular as other pastime.
3. There are many different courses on offer. This means .......
A. there are many different courses on television.
B. there are many different courses to be taken.
C. there are many different courses that teach people to make offers.
5. Spectator sports are..............
A. sports people take part in
B. sports people often watch
C. beautiful sports.
6. Entry qualifications are ...........
A. necessary conditions for being admitted to the course.
B. ability to pay the fees.
C. entry examinations.
The words/phrases in italics in the following sentences all appear in the passage. Circle the correct answer.
4.Besides watching television, people have other pursuits. This means........
A. besides watching television, people have other leisure activities.
B. besides watching television, people have to work.
C. besides watching television, people don’t enjoy anything else.
Answer the questions
1. Why are recreation and entertainment important to people?
 Because without them people will become dull/bored.
2. What sports do the British like watching?
 Football and rugby in winter; cricket and athletics in summer.
3. What sports do they like taking part in?
 Walking and swimming.
4. Why do many British people take weekend courses?
 Because this is a new kind of entertainment which gives them pleasure.
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, goes an English saying. Recreation and entertainment are important to people everywhere in the world. However, forms of popular entertainment are different in different countries.
In Britain, the most common leisure activities are home based. Watching television is by far the most popular pastime, and nearly all households have a television set. Over 51 percent of households have two or more television sets and average viewing time for the population aged four and over is 25 hours a week. Other pursuits include listening to music, reading, do-it-yourself home improvements, and gardening.
British people are also very interested in watching and taking part in sports. Walking and swimming are the two most popular sporting activities, being almost equally undertaken be men and women. Snookers, pool and darts are the next most popular sports among men. The most popular spectator sports are football and rugby in winter, and cricket and athletics in summer.
In the last few years in Britain, a new trend has been developing, i.e., taking weekend or holiday courses. There is a enormous range of courses on offer. The course can be as simple as bricklaying or as sophisticated as making your own stock market decisions. For people who are interested in art, there are courses in painting or drawing. People who like music can take a course in karaoke singing. Courses like shoemaking or glass engraving provide people with practical skills they can do with hands. Those who want to improve their minds can take a course of “Living with more meaning”. Entry qualifications to weekend courses are generous, that is, generally no qualifications are necessary, apart from an ability to pay the fees, which may be quite high.
After you read (work in pairs)
Which of the British leisure activities mentioned in the passage are also popular in Vietnam? Which are not?
 watching television
 listening to music
 reading
 gardening
 watching sports
 playing sports
 spending time outdoors
 taking weekend
or holiday courses
 karaoke singing
A: I think some popular leisure activities in Vietnam are watching TV, gardening and karaoke singing.
B: You’re right. There’s no doubt about that. Besides, Vietnamese people like playing sports such as football, volleyball and swimming in their free time, too.
Consolidation
Recreation and entertainment are important to our life because without them we’ll easily become dull / bored.
Some common leisure activities in Britain are: watching television, listening to music, reading, gardening, watching sports, playing sports, spending time outdoors, taking weekend or holiday courses, karaoke singing,...

Homework
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