1. Summer vacation
During my summer vacation, I visited my hometown and stayed at my uncle’s farmyard. It was huge, with a big barn full of animals and modern facilities. Every morning, I helped to feed the cows and milk them. The air was free and fresh, and sometimes a guest came to see the farm. I felt happy, though a little homesick at night because I missed my friends. The landscape around the farm was lovely and interesting, with green fields and quiet hills. Sometimes it was noisy near the animals, but in the evening everything became quiet and relaxed. The farm was a bit isolated, and I sometimes felt lonely, but it was a wonderful experience I’ll never miss.
Vocabulary
- barn /bɑːn/ — сарай, коровник
- facilities /fəˈsɪlɪtiz/ — оборудование, приспособления
- farmyard /ˈfɑːmjɑːd/ — двор фермы
- feed /fiːd/ — кормить
- free /friː/ — свободный
- guest /ɡest/ — гость
- happy /ˈhæpi/ — счастливый
- homesick /ˈhəʊmsɪk/ — тоскующий по дому
- hometown /ˈhəʊmtaʊn/ — родной город
- huge /hjuːdʒ/ — огромный
- interesting /ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/ — интересный
- isolated /ˈaɪsəleɪtɪd/ — изолированный, одинокий
- landscape /ˈlændskeɪp/ — пейзаж
- lonely /ˈləʊnli/ — одинокий
- lovely /ˈlʌvli/ — прекрасный, чудесный
- milk /mɪlk/ — доить
- miss /mɪs/ — скучать
- noisy /ˈnɔɪzi/ — шумный
- quiet /ˈkwaɪət/ — тихий
- relaxed /rɪˈlækst/ — расслабленный
2. Life in the City
Living in an urban city has its pros and cons. Everything is close at hand — shops, offices, and parks — and there is always convenient public transport to take you anywhere. However, the crowded streets and heavy traffic can make you feel stressed and tired. The constant noise and pollution often make people worried about their health. Life in the city is full of hustle and bustle, and although it offers a high quality lifestyle, the high cost of living makes it difficult for many families. Some people have to lead an unhealthy lifestyle because they work too much and have no time to rest. On the other hand, there are more jobs and usually a low rate of unemployment, which attracts people from smaller towns. Still, many dream to swap their city life for a quieter place where they can enjoy peace and quiet instead of endless traffic and noise.
Vocabulary
- stressed — подавленный
- swap — менять(ся), обмениваться
- tired — уставший
- urban — городской
- worried — обеспокоенный
- close at hand — близко, рукой подать
- constant noise & pollution — постоянный шум и загрязнение
- convenient public transport — удобный общественный транспорт
- crowded streets — переполненные улицы
- heavy traffic — оживлённое движение
- high cost of living — высокая стоимость жизни
- high quality lifestyle — высокий уровень жизни
- high/low rate of unemployment — высокий/низкий уровень безработицы
- hustle and bustle — толчея и суета
- lead (un)healthy lifestyle — вести (не)здоровый образ жизни
- peace and quiet — тишина и спокойствие
3. Better Safe Than Sorry
Last night, my neighbour installed a new alarm system to protect his house from any danger. Recently, there have been several burglar attacks and crimes in our urban area. He also added a door chain and a peephole to check who is at the door before opening it. He read about safety tips in a leaflet that said, “Better safe than sorry.” One day, a stranger came and asked to see his identification, but my neighbour refused to hand over his valuables and called the police instead. The robber tried to run after him, but the police arrived quickly. They managed to catch him and hand over the stolen items. Later, they advised everyone to install alarms, switch on/off outside lights from dusk to dawn, and always stay alert. People learned that safety doesn’t mean fear — it means being wise.
Vocabulary
- alarm system — сигнализация
- burglar — вор, взломщик
- crime — преступление
- danger — опасность
- door chain — дверная цепочка
- identification — удостоверение личности
- install — устанавливать
- leaflet — листовка
- peephole — глазок (в двери)
- protect — защищать
- rob — грабить
- shoplift — совершать кражу в магазине
- steal — воровать
- stranger — незнакомец
- valuables — ценности
- hand over — передавать из рук в руки
- run after — бежать за, преследовать
- run into — сталкиваться, наталкиваться
- run out of — исчерпать свой запас чего-либо
- switch on/off — включать/выключать
- better safe than sorry — бережёного Бог бережёт
- dusk to dawn — от зари до зари
- How about … + ing — как насчёт …
- I think you should … — я думаю, тебе стоит …
- Why don’t you …? — почему бы тебе не …?
4. A Perfect Weekend
Last weekend was full of activities. On Saturday morning, I decided to choose between going to a museum or spending time outdoors. Since the weather was great, I went to the park, a popular spot for young people to hang out. Many families were there too, enjoying the carousel and other attractions. My friends and I brought our skating gear and had a crazy fun time skating around. Later, we went shopping, had lunch in a café, and continued to chat with friends about our week. On Sunday, I wanted to rest, so I stayed home, watched an online exhibition, and decided to surf the Net to find ideas for our next trip. My plans included maybe to go surfing or do the gardening if the weather allows. Before sunset, I went to the beach to sunbathe and enjoy the peaceful evening. Weekends like that make life truly popular and joyful, full of small adventures to visit again and again.
Vocabulary
- activity — деятельность, занятие
- attraction — аттракцион, привлекательное место
- carousel — карусель
- choose — выбирать
- crazy — сумасшедший
- exhibition — выставка
- hang out — постоянно бывать, гулять
- include — включать (в себя)
- museum — музей
- outdoors — вне дома
- popular — популярный
- shop — делать покупки
- skating gear — принадлежности для катания на роликах, скейтбордах, скутерах
- spot — место
- visit — посещать
- chat with friends — болтать с друзьями
- do the gardening — работать в саду
- go surfing — заниматься сёрфингом
- go sunbathing — загорать
- have lunch outdoors — обедать в кафе (не дома)
- surf the Net — бродить по сети Интернет
5. The Castle on the Mountain
Last summer, I visited an ancient castle built high on a mountain, surrounded by a beautiful river and breathtaking view. The architecture was unique, a true masterpiece of medieval times. The castle was also part fortress and part tower, designed to protect the city centuries ago. It dates back to the twelfth century, and every stone seemed to tell its own legend. Some tourists said they saw a ghost wandering through the dark halls — a spooky but fascinating story! Inside, I found classical paintings and sculptures that looked like treasures from another world. From the top of the tower, I could even see an old volcano, now extinct, resting peacefully in the distance. A black raven flew above the walls, adding mystery to the atmosphere. Although one part of the wall had fallen down, the castle still stood strong, a proud witness of time and history.
Vocabulary
- architecture — архитектура
- castle — замок
- century — век
- classical — классический
- extinct — потухший (о вулкане)
- fortress — крепость
- ghost — привидение
- legend — легенда
- masterpiece — шедевр
- medieval — средневековый
- mountain — гора
- raven — ворон
- river — река
- spooky — жуткий, страшный
- tourist — турист
- tower — башня
- unique — уникальный
- view — вид
- volcano — вулкан
- date back — относиться к (о времени)
- fall down — падать