Task 1: Reading. Read the text and answer the questions. Write full sentences. What is a hobby? In the 16th century a favorite toy for children of all ages was the hobbyhorse. In appearance a hobbyhorse could be as simple as a stick, or it could have a decorated wooden framework with an imitation horse's head attached. Children used them for the games of the time involving war and knighthood, cowboys and Indians. The pleasure of doing something outside the routine activities of daily life had brought a new word into the language, the word hobby which is a shortened form of hobbyhorse. Hobbies differ like tastes. If you have chosen a hobby according to your character and taste you are lucky because your life becomes more interesting. Hobbies are divided into large classes: doing things, making things, collecting things, and learning things. The most popular of all hobby groups is doing things. It includes a wide variety of activities, everything from gardening to travelling and from chess to volleyball. Sport has always been popular in every country. Gardening is one of the oldest of man's hobbies. It's a well known fact that the English are very fond of gardening and growing flowers, especially roses. Millions of people all over the world spend their holidays travelling, they travel to enjoy picturesque places, or just for a change of scene. It's always interesting to discover new things, different ways of life, to meet different people, to try different food, to listen to different musical rhythms. Most travellers and holiday-makers take a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them - the sights of a city, old churches and castles, views of mountains, lakes, valleys, plains, waterfalls, forests; different kind of trees, flowers and plants, animals and birds. Making things includes drawing, painting, making sculpture, designing costumes, handicrafts. Many world famous collections started in a small way with one or two items. People with a good deal of money often collect paintings, rare books and other art objects. Often such private collections are given to museums, libraries and public galleries so that others might take pleasure in seeing them. No matter what kind of hobby a person has, he always has the opportunity of learning from it. Learning things can be the most exciting aspect of a hobby. 1) What is the origin of the word "hobby"? 2) What is the definition of the word "hobby"? 3) What are 4 large classes? 4) What is the most popular of all hobby groups? 5) What is one of the oldest of man's hobbies? 6) Why are people fond of travelling? 7) What do people usually collect? mounties» (2000-2009).
