1What are the common hobbies people often practise?
2What is your hobby? Why did you choose it?
3Find words in the lesson on common hobbies for these clues: a synonym of 'unrevealed', a synonym of 'sharpen', an antonym of 'boring', an antonym of 'unexcited', a synonym of 'healing' and a synonym of 'frame'.
4Find the meanings of these words and phrases in a dictionary and use them in sentences of your own: ignite, in-demand, let off, a notch, passionate, refurbishing, a blog, hanging out.
5Write True, False or Not Given for each statement about common hobbies: Outdoor hobbies are more popular than indoor hobbies. You need more effort for reading than for other hobbies. Only good dancers choose dancing as their hobby. Antiques are also used for interior decoration in a house. Paintings can be used to express your feelings. People who choose photography as their hobby are pro photographers. Keeping journals helps people become successful. Flexibility in time and place is the best part of knitting.
6What aspects of our life influence the hobbies we choose?
7What makes reading the most popular hobby?
8How can people practise dancing?
9What things are necessary for one to go with painting?
10Write the benefits of doing photography.
11Why has writing become a popular hobby?
12How can knitting be rewarding to a person?
13Do you think a person's hobby really helps him or her in a professional career? Discuss.
14Pronounce these words and notice the consonant clusters in them: scout, instant, pulp, help, street, frustrating, golf, twelfth, scratch, spurious, spleen, sprout, blog, sclerosis, trout, hundredth.
15In groups of three, have conversations like the example (one suggests, one agrees, one declines) for these situations: fly to India, play cricket, ride a bike, go to the stadium, watch the premiere show of a new film, go swimming.
16In groups, take turns to express your likes, dislikes or preferences about these careers: a teacher, a scientist, a sweeper, a beautician, a policeman, a business woman, a journalist, a singer.
17Complete these sentences with the correct passive forms of the verbs: Ganga feeds the dogs. The police catch a lot of criminals in London. They often help us. They don't rent cars there. Do you turn the laptop on first? Somebody follows me home every evening. We usually leave a saucer of milk for the cat. I like journalists following me on the way. I loathe people pulling my hair. Ashmina adores teachers checking her notebooks. Deuniya does not mind anyone mocking at him.
18Change these sentences into the passive voice: The gardener waters the flowers every day. People see foxes in their gardens at night. We expect students not to talk during examination. Rivers of fresh water form this lake. National parks attract many domestic and foreign tourists. They promise him higher wages. Does Biraj always beat Balgopal? Nobody knows the secret. They are sure to help the helpless. Scientists have to discover a more effective vaccine for Covid-19. What do they prefer to eat? Sources say most people in the region are still illiterate.
19People have different hobbies and interests which may lead them to the careers they adopt. Write an essay on your hobbies explaining how they might influence your career.
20Look at the picture of the children in the tree. What are the children doing? Do you like climbing trees? Why?
21Find words in the poem 'Climbing' that have these meanings: a small flash of light, especially a reflected one; main branch of a tree; a little tower of a building or a castle; a set of steps leading from one floor of a building to another; causing great wonder, extraordinary.
22Choose the correct answer about the poem. What does the speaker view from the branch of the tree: the sky, the earth or the town? What aids the speaker to go up and up: the apple tree, the branches on the tree, or a stair bought for her support? What does the speaker compare the glow of a dome with: a turret, a spire or sea foam? Which statement is true: the speaker used to climb onto the tree top; the speaker is sure to get to the top of the tree now; or the tree leaves will certainly prevent her from going higher? Which statement carries the message of the poem: we should not give up in the middle of any situation or a goal; be satisfied with what you have at the moment; or we cannot enter heaven without a staircase?
23Why does the speaker want to climb the tree?
24What things are shining brightly when viewed from above?
25Is it the first time that the speaker has climbed up the tree? How do you know?
26Make a list of words from the poem which describe light or brightness.
27What do the sky and the earth symbolise in the poem?
28'The more determined you are, the better opportunity you will achieve in life and obtain what you want in life.' Do you agree with this statement? Discuss.
29Look at the two pictures in the listening section. Mention the two hobbies. Which hobby would you choose? Why?
30Listen to the audio and number the ten hobbies from 1 to 10 in the order you hear them: reading, crafting, bird watching, gardening, playing video games, travelling, fishing, watching television, listening to music, collecting.
31Listen again and match the first halves of the sentences with their endings. First halves: travelling, ice fishing, craft websites, watching television, birding, music, playing video games. Endings: are inspiring the people for creativity; has changed dramatically in recent years; is an excellent intergenerational activity; makes the memories long lasting; get a bad rap; is more challenging; brings people together.
32Rank these ten hobbies according to your choice.
33Change these sentences into the passive voice using 'being' or 'having': Puja hates people shouting at her in the street. Jahagir can't stand beggars wiping his feet. Our class teacher detests students flattering her. The headteacher likes teachers checking students' homework. The actress does not mind journalists following her. Rebika prefers people writing to her better than talking to her on the lines.
34Change these sentences into the active voice: A lot of books are stored online by various sites. Computers are repaired with warranty here. Chinese is rarely spoken in our community. The criminal is thought to have fled to another country. It is believed that the film can spell the spectators. It is expected that the war is going to end soon. She is supposed to be married. I hate being kept waiting. She loves having her clothes praised. This road is not very often used. Ajima is never punished by teachers. Many accidents are caused by speeding.
35Imagine you are the headteacher of a school and your school has a vacancy for the post of Secondary Level English teacher. Write an advertisement for the post mentioning the required academic qualification, experience, deadline and other necessary information.
36Paraphrase this text: 'Women have traditionally been seen as mothers and home makers and it is only in recent years that they have been making significant inroads into the job market. There is still a long way to go before they achieve complete equality with men but the situation has definitely improved.'
37Paraphrase this text: 'In the 1920s, an American academic, Elton Mayo, researched the effects of the physical environment on the productivity of workers. The result, known as the Hawthorne Studies, named after the electrics company where it took place, showed that workers could be motivated to work harder by making small changes to the workplace, such as altering the lighting or the layout of a room.'
38Interview at least five of your friends about their hobbies. Note down what careers they might choose. Then prepare a chart including those bits of information and display it in the class.
39What is the difference between 'I prefer ... to ...' and 'I'd prefer to ... rather than ...'? Give an example of each.
40When is the agent usually left out of a passive sentence?
41Name two figures of speech used in 'Climbing' and give an example of each from the poem.
42Explain the idioms 'spill the beans' and 'bite off more than you can chew', and use each in a sentence.
43How is a paraphrase different from a summary?