A birthday party

In case of a birthday party there isn’t such a traditional order like in a wedding. People’s
birthday is always celebrated, already from the childhood. As for the children the main
question is where the party will be organised, and what kind of programs, competitions will
be held. As a little child (in primary school) I was invited quite a lot of parties. Sometimes I
couldn’t guess a suitable present, because I prepared for the 6th party. I usually gave a kid
champagne and sweets besides the present.
Nowadays, when we are teenagers, we celebrate one’s birthday more rarely in the certain
person’s home, guys either gather in a pub and drink sth, or we just wish happy birthday in
verbal if s/he isn’t so close friend. However, while a person is a child, the birthday is
celebrated in the same way with the family. As for me, my family greets me on my birthday
in the morning with two pecks and later, in the afternoon or evening the present is given to
me. I sometimes get it in advance, so I cannot look all wonder, but my parents always hid a
surprise for me.
 Television commercial

A television advertisement or television commercial – often just commercial or TV

ad (US) – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an
organization that conveys a message. It has a relevant role concerning the producers
and consumers (customers) , namely a transmitting role between these two groups. The
first and main goal is to increase the demand and disposal, the secondary is to
discipline and form the image, interest and style.
Advertisement income provides a significant portion of the funding for most privately
owned television networks. The vast majority of television advertisements today
consist of brief advertising spots, ranging in length from a few seconds to several
minutes (as well as program-length infomercials). Advertisements of this sort have
been used to sell every product imaginable over the years, from household products to
goods and services, to political campaigns.

The effect of television advertisements upon the viewing public has been so successful
and so pervasive that in some countries, like the United States, it is considered
impossible for a politician to wage a successful election campaign without the
purchase of television advertising. In other countries, such as France, political
advertising in television is strictly restricted, and some, like Norway, even completely
ban it.

Many television advertisements feature catchy jingles (songs or melodies) or catch-

phrases (slogan) that generate sustained appeal, which may remain in the minds of
television viewers long after the span of the advertising campaign.

Advertising agencies often use humor as a tool in their creative marketing campaigns.
In fact, many psychological studies tried to demonstrate the effect of humour and
indicate the way to empower advertising persuasion.

Some elementary facts concerning tv advertisement

The story should be told by the pictures and not by words.
Using too many words can make the customer confused .
If too many points are meant to be emphasized the viewers can loose there interest.
The success depends on the way how they make the demonstration easy of belief.
Among television commercials the advertisements can be separated in several ways.
Take the main types of them:
1) the typical product-advertising commercial

Generally they are displayed between two broadcasts or just during the pauses. It takes
at the most 1 minute, they aren’t planned too far, since to issue a commercial has a
quite high price. Occasionally, supported advertisements appear wedging in a
broadcast, like Formula 1. In the most cases, there is some connection between the ad
and the tv prog.concerning the main subject, the used instruments or the support.
Animation is often used in these advertisements. The pictures can vary from hand-
drawn traditional animation to computer animation. By using animated characters, an
advertisement may have a certain appeal that is difficult to achieve with actors or mere
product displays. For this reason, an animated advertisement (or a series of such
advertisements) can be very long-running, several decades in many instances. A
notable example is the series of advertisements for Kellogg's cereals, starring Snap,
Crackle and Pop. The animation is often combined with real actors.

2) trailer to draw televiewer’s attention

This type is broadcast at the same time than the previous, or the end of the certain
episode in case of series. These ads are cut and show the point combined with
excitments and this type’s duration is app. the same than the prev. one.

3) social purposive commercial

It transmits information which instruct and persuade the members of the population
about certain problems and the way of their disposal in favour of the social. In that
case we can notice that they also work with commercial’s instrument system.

Animation is often used in advertisements. The pictures can vary from hand-drawn
traditional animation to computer animation. By using animated characters, an
advertisement may have a certain appeal that is difficult to achieve with actors or mere
product displays. For this reason, an animated advertisement (or a series of such
advertisements) can be very long-running, several decades in many instances. A
notable example is the series of advertisements for Kellogg's cereals, starring Snap,
Crackle and Pop. The animation is often combined with real actors.
 And then there were none

And Then There Were None is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie and first
published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club in 1939 under the title of Ten Little Niggers
and one year later in US by under the title of And Then There Were None.

Eight people of different social classes have been invited to go to a mansion on Soldier Island
(or Nigger Island in the original version), which in reality is situated off the coast of Devon.
Each guest finds in his or her room a slightly odd bit of bric-a-brac and a framed copy of the
nursery rhyme "Ten Little Soldiers" ("Ten Little Niggers" in the UK publication and "Ten
Little Indians" in the US publication) hanging on the wall. During a large dinner, the guests
notice ten soldier figurines on the dining room table. Later, while they are having dinner, a
gramophone record plays, informing the ten that each is guilty of murder.
The guests realize they have all been tricked into coming to the island, but cannot get back to
the mainland, as the boat which had regularly delivered supplies has stopped arriving. They
are then murdered, one by one, with each murder paralleling a verse of the nursery rhyme, and
one of the ten soldier figurines being removed after each murder.
A fishing trawler, finds a letter in a bottle floating just off the Devon coast, and sends it to
Scotland Yard, who recognise it as a confession by the late Justice Wargrave. Wargrave
admits that he always felt a deep desire to commit a murder by his own hand. After
discovering that he was terminally ill, he decided to do just that by renting an island off the
Devon coast and luring nine people there, all of whom have caused death and escaped justice.
He then killed them one by one, reveling in the mental torture each survivor experienced as
their own fate approached.

The novel has also been published and filmed under the title Ten Little Indians. It is Christie's
best-selling novel with 100 million sales to date, making it the world's best-selling mystery
and the seventh most popular book in all time. And Then There Were None has been adapted
into several plays, films, and a video game.
 Backpacking holiday

If we talk about the backpacking tours the average there are possibilities to take part in
excursions whose substance is to achive a large distance. A group is from maximum 12
members, who don't stary with a high hand, rather they try to advance together. The move
happens by feet certainly, possibly they use the local transport, this is the fact which counts as
an speciality in this journey. But we definitely can't think of groups with luxury buses where
they can store teir stuffs, since the members have to drag along the bags. This kind of holiday
isn't about the continually planning, they try to decrease all the organizations and since there
isn't pre-planned transport and daily routine nothing can be calculable surely. Briefly here
everything is about the waywardness inside safety limits and about the adventures which
derive from that.

Package tour

It's a holiday that is organised by a company for a fixed price that includes the cost of travel,
hotels.
Well, firstly we have to choose our destination in a travel agency, if it's needed customers
have a chance to ask for the agent's help. It's useful to denote the most important infomation,
like the exact time of the departure and the arrival. Anyway inexact arrivals often cause
annoyance. Before the journey dealling with the travel insurance is an advisable arrangement.
By the way usually the travel agency offer one. During the packing it's worthy to be
considered to care about more kinds of clothes in case of rain, snow, hot and cold. In addition,
it's worthy to provide some medicine. Since the accomodations where the nights are spent are
usually not well equipped, it's useful to care of towel,cosmetics. And of course, if breakfast
doesn't belong to the room, tourists should pack sth to eat. Other important duty before the
start is the money-changing. Although there is often possibility to change money but it's safier
if we take enough money from Hungary.
It's luckily if the passengers arrive earlier to the bus than the exact time of the departure,
because if we hurry a bit we can take a seat freely. During the holiday mainly in case of
sightseeing, everybody should remain in a group. In our freetime there is enough time to
anywhere or admire what we wish. Since commonly the group is from more then 30 people,
we often may have an arguement. Everybody buy sth. souvenir, special food or drink , my
family also do it if we are on holiday.On the way home as usually the drivers try to stop the
least the way back is faster but not so cheerful.

2.4

This Swedish group has a wish to watch a performance of the Győri Balett one evening.
However, today it was even impossible to show them the Island of Margit, it had been raining
so heavily. I wish we hadn't started already after having breakfast.We had to get on the bus
immediately because of the rain so we couldn't visit any ruin.The more I bustle, the worse
everything happens. One of the three sympathetic men is a director, who was. Probably
pleased with the acting of the leading yesterday. Otherwise he wouldn't offer him a role in his
following film.
 Children’s education

When a child is born, he/she comes with a brain ready and eager to learn. From the moment
he opens his eyes, his senses are finely tuned to discover everything around him. The brain is
very much like a new computer. It has great potential for development, depending on what we
put into it. Early experiences greatly influence the way a person develops.

As parents we can make our children’s development faster and help them gain many abilities
with simple methods applied at home. By far the most important things you can do to help
your baby learn are to make lots of eye contact and talk to him. Even tiny babies can pick up
the tone of your voice, and store information about speech patterns to use later as they learn to
speak. Even very young babies enjoy the experience of sitting with you and looking at bright
pictures of everyday things he'll recognise, such as animals or toys. Parents need to provide
babies for new experience. Go out every day, to the shops, the park, your local parent and
baby group, to visit friends or just for a walk. The change of scene is stimulating for you and
your baby.
Regular practice is important, but not to the point of forcing. Above all, your child should
enjoy the learning process. Hold lessons only when he is receptive, and end them before he
loses interest. Many adults commit a fault as they ignore this natural curiosity and make such
claims on children that make the early reception unenjoyable. It’s impossible to expect school
level requirements in early childhood, since they can’t sit calmly and pay attention in a big a
silence let alone study in a direct a way. The direct teaching isn’t for babies or toddlers – the
school level and verbal education should be begun at the age of 10. Parents treat this case the
most promptly if they pay regard to their children’s motivation and interest and in these areas
they try to help them acquire the necessary abilities. Should we interrupt this process in
aggressive way the order of acquired abilities can hurt that may inhibit children’s
development.
There are several considerations of what it takes to follow the right early language education.
Some experts state that this process is unnecessary even harmful since in this way children
can’t acquire wholly not only the target language but also their native language. However, it is
a general consideration that those children who were given special stimulating training in
early childhood are much more inquiring and receptive. Anyhow, we must know with
violence it is really impossible to make the child acquire the target language by the age of 6.
Though it is easily imaginable to make children open and much more receptive to other
foreign languages all over the world and these cognitive benefits go with them for the rest of
their life.

In order to have a suitable training for our children we must clearly know how they look at the
world and the training system should be built up based on this outlook on life.
The child is curious, wants to make sense out of things and finds out how things work, gains
control over himself and his environment, does what he can see other people doing. He is
open, receptive and perceptive. He does not shut himself off from the strange, confused,
complicated world around him. He does not merely observe the world around him, but tastes
it, touches it, hefts it, bends it, breaks it.
There is great interest on the part of parents in teaching children their letters and numbers and
writing skills.
1. reading skill: they are beginning to develop eye-hand coordination. Next, they acquire
tracking skills (the ability to follow words and pages from left to right through a book). Then
children begin to recognize individual letters and later they realize that letters form words.
2. writing skill: First the child begins to develop the sequence of drawing skills (from
scribbling to making representational drawings). Next he/she begins to imitate letters and
numbers for fun and then to write for a purpose.
It is really important to take over as many abilities as possible but it means not only cognitive
development but also social and emotional one. These skills’ extension is noticeable through
the process of playing. Children begin to watch other children and to want to interact with
them. Children's play develops through stages (playing alone, playing near others but not with
them, playing with others but not sharing, playing and sharing, playing with a purpose,
organized games). Later, children develop the ability to respect the rights of others and to feel
empathy for them. They learn to work cooperatively with others and to resolve conflicts in
peaceful ways. Interacting with others in positive way is critical to success in the former in
school and later generally in life.

With the course of time children must get know new experience and challenge. Learning at
school requires students to pay attention, to observe, to memorize, to understand, to set goals
and to assume responsibility for their own learning. These cognitive activities are not possible
without the active involvement and engagement of the learner. Teachers must help students to
become active and goal oriented by building on their natural desire to explore, to understand
new things and to master them.
Research findings have shown that the ability to relate new information to prior knowledge is
critical for learning. It is not possible for someone to understand, remember or learn
something that is completely unfamiliar. Some prior knowledge is necessary to understand the
task at hand. Research also shows that learning is enhanced when teachers pay close attention
to the prior knowledge of the learner and use this knowledge as the starting point for
instruction.
1. Teachers can discuss the content of a lesson before starting in order to ensure that the
students have the necessary prior
knowledge and in order to activate this knowledge.
2. Teachers can ask the kind of question that helps students see relationships between what
they are reading and what
they already know.
In late elementary school and mainly middle school students are expected to prove their
abilities and show the acquired knowledge as much as possible. Applying strategies children
can improve their learning and make it faster. For this reason children develop strategies to
help themselves solve problems from an early age. For example, when pre-school children are
told to go to the supermarket to buy a list of food items, they often repeat the items on their
way to remember them better. When they go to school, children need help from teachers to
develop appropriate strategies for solving mathematics problems, when understanding texts,
doing science, learning from other students. The broader the range of strategies that children
can use appropriately, the more successful they can be in problem solving, in reading, in text
comprehension and in memorizing.

Conclusively, the right aspect of children’s education is to let them learn they interested in
and as parents the main task is to keep this inquiry even as well as provide them with support
in learning new things.
 Cloning humans and organisms

Human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a human, human cell,
or human tissue. The ethics of cloning is an extremely debated issue.
There are two commonly discussed types of human cloning: therapeutic cloning and
reproductive cloning.
Therapeutic cloning involves cloning cells from an adult for use in medicine and is an
active area of research. In this way scientists are able to create a human repair kit,
clone our cells and fix our genes that cause diseases. In fact, the British government
passes some principles to let cloning of human embryos conquer diseases like
Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.

Besides the therapeutic method, there is another purpose for cloning namely the
reproduction.
According to the scientists, the cells of a certain organism would be injected into an
egg and the egg would be put into the female’s uterus. The new organism would look
like his parent. This method can help couples with infertility problems and create a
child that resembles of his father. Moreover, another option for cloning would be to
bring a deceased family member back to life if there is a piece of DNA available but it
would bring up several ethical problems
Reproductive cloning could be also used effectively for repopulating endangered
species or drug-producing animals or to help make breeding of specific animals easier.

The ability to clone humans is absolutely a sign of the developed and ultra modern
technology available to scientists. Although in the most countries this proceeding is
banned, perhaps a decade later it won’t be restricted so strictly.

Though cloning humans isn’t permitted in our world, the genetic engineering in case
of the production of foodstuffs is now an entirely extended method.

The life, growth and unique features of the organism depend on its DNA. Molecular
biologists have discovered many enzymes which change the structure of DNA in
living organisms. Genetic engineers believe they can improve the foods we eat by this
proceed. In this way the weak points of organisms are avoided, thus they look perfect.
For example, tomatoes are sensitive to frost. This shortens their growing season. Fish,
on the other hand, survive in very cold water. Scientists identified a particular gene
which enables a flounder to resist cold and used the technology of genetic engineering
to insert this 'anti-freeze' gene into a tomato.
This makes it possible to extend the growing season of the tomato. However a deeper
consideration reveals some serious problems. Genetic engineering uses material from
organisms that have never been part of the human food supply to change the
fundamental nature of the food we eat. Without long-term testing no one knows if
these foods are safe. Genetic engineering can cause unexpected mutations in an
organism, which can create new and higher levels of toxins in foods.
 Computer and the Internet
Telecommunications
Nowadays computers are used in all fields of life. You can find them in banks, post
offices, shops, hospitals, restaurants, libraries, schools, offices, factories, homes, and so on.
Computers are used for storing data, word processing, keeping records, invoicing etc. Traffic
is also controlled with computers.
I use my computer regularly. I write my homework assignments on my computer. I
frequently surf the net and send e-mails and chat and I also like computer games. We have
computer science/ IT classes twice a week. We study word processing, using spreadsheets and
writing simple programmes. Our computer lab is quite well-equipped. There are twenty
computers with large screens and some laser printers. We have the most recent computer
programmes and access to the Internet. The lab is free for all students and is open from 7.45
to 15.30.
I can use the Internet from home. Everybody in my family uses it frequently to keep
updated, to keep contact with friends, and to surf the net for some information. You can gain
information on several things. You can check the timetables of trains, buses and planes. You
can book tickets and accommodation. You can order various products, such as clothes or
books. You can subscribe for newspapers and magazines and you can also read their shorter
versions on the net. You can check your bank account and complete transactions. You can
read about all kinds of topics and find photos and maps. You can download files, too.
Unfortunately, the information found on the net is not always reliable, depending on the
sources of information. The problem is that some pages aren’t updated regularly and some
people upload pages just for fun.
We also have a laptop at home. It’s good because you can take a laptop with you
anywhere and use it while travelling, during meetings, and on holiday. Its disadvantages are
that its battery runs down quite soon, its screen is smaller and it strains the eyes more than the
screen of the desktop.
Mainly young people like chatting, that is, exchanging messages on the Internet. When
you use a chat programme, you can immediately see what the other person is writing and
reply instantly. It’s just like talking on the phone, but instead of talking and listening, you are
typing and reading the screen.
The disadvantage of computers is that if you spend too much time in front of the
screen, it can cause headaches and can strain your eyes. The overuse of a keyboard can lead to
problems with your joints, wrists and hands. If your chair and desk are not comfortable
enough or you sit too long without getting up, you will have pains in your spine, neck, waist
and back.
I have a free e-mail account. Those who live far from their families can keep contact
with them by e-mail. They can write to their friends, relatives and colleagues. Some people
also get work by e-mail, like translators. If you want to open a free e-mail account, you can
turn to providers on the Internet. You just find their page, register and that’s all. You get
detailed, step by step instructions in several languages about how to register, so you don’t
have to worry, you will understand everything. You can write and get an e-mail quicker than
an ordinary letter. You just send e-mails from your computer, you don’t have to buy an
envelope and stamps and you don’t have to leave your home or office to post it. An e-mail is
less formal, its language is simpler and you don’t have to bother with the layout. Emoticons or
smileys are combinations of symbols that people attach to their messages in order to express
feelings. You have to read them sideways.
Computer viruses are dangerous because they spread quickly and cause harm just like
viruses that spread disease among people. They infect your computer and cause harm in files.
They can delete all files with the same extension, making it impossible to use the whole
computer. Bugs are minor programme faults. Computer worms are programmes that are
designed to damage computer systems by making copies of themselves and sending these
forward in e-mails.
Spam is similar to junk mail, that is, all the advertisements and free material that you
receive by post or is dropped into your mailbox although you didn’t ask for it. You receive
spam by e-mail. These messages are sent to several hundreds of people at the same time and
they advertise some product or service. People sometimes get upset when they find heaps of
spam in their e-mail boxes. What annoys them is that spam floods their mailbox and there is
no place for important messages they are expecting.
In Hungary there are two types of public phone boxes; one which operates with coins,
and another which operates with phone cards. You can buy cards at several places, e.g. at
newsagent’s and post offices. You pick up the receiver, put the coins or the card into the slot,
wait for the dialling tone, and dial the number. When you have finished the call, you hang up
the receiver. Telephones are useful because you don’t have to meet people or write letters
when there’s something to tell them, you can contact them by phone. Other people can also
reach you easily. If you have an answerphone, they can leave messages for you, too.
A mobile phone has several functions, depending on its brand. In every mobile phone
there’s a phone book, where you can store the numbers that you regularly call. In modern
phones you can add voice labels to the numbers. You can send and receive SMSs, get
information on calls and apply settings, e.g. the language, time and date, and hands-free
function. They also include some extras, like alarm clock, timer, stop-watch, calculator and
games. A lot of models offer WAP and MMS, too.
In my opinion, you feel safer if you have a mobile phone because you can ask for help
if something happens to you. As almost everybody has a mobile phone nowadays, it’s a kind
of an expectation for you to be contactable. Another reason for their popularity is that they are
becoming cheaper. They are very useful when you are in trouble: when you have got lost,
your car has broken down, when you have an appointment and you are late etc. On the other
hand, I think it’s rude to use your mobile phone in public places, like libraries, cinemas,
theatres, churches, wardrooms in hospitals, and schools and universities during classes. I can’t
stand people talking loudly on the phone in the streets, on means of public transport and in
restaurants. I think the advantages of mobiles phones are their disadvantages at the same time.
It’s good to be contactable but it’s sometimes disturbing that people can reach you
everywhere. You can send SMSs from your mobile phone, which is more comfortable and
cheaper than phoning. You can take your mobile phone everywhere, but you must remember
to take a charger with you when you spend several days far from your home because the
battery runs down in some days.
 Conscious and unconscious purchasing

Consumerism
Consumerism is a term used to describe the effects of equating personal happiness with
purchasing material possessions and consumption." Basically, Consumerism is the concept
that most people living in wealthy nations have that spending money brings happiness.
Spending money on fancy food, spending money on fancy clothing, spending money on
pointless magazines, spending money on posh vacations, these are all examples of
consumerism. And every day, the exorbitant consumption of the wealthy brings down the
poor. As the rich get richer and buy more things, the poor get poorer and can buy even less.

Nowadays we live in a consumer society that is a human society strongly influenced by

consumerism. It’s surrounded by everything this is the centre of the life. It has created mass
market, industrialization,culture attitudes that ensure that rising incomes are used to purchase
an ever-growing output. The result of the capitalism is a big difference between rich and poor
ehich leads to the exploitation of little children in Asia. The problem is that satisfaction is
very rare in our society because every time we need more and more and we don’t get it.We
don’t care about the origin of a product who made it or how was it made. We are influenced
by the media and if the product is cheap we don’t think about such things.

Unconscious
The organizations try to gain idea about the most prefered products or they try to influence
our interest, since it’s the key of the success in the market. However, the consumerism is now
more than a simple economic action : it owns social, cultural even psychological factors.
And first, take the third element, appearance of use-value. An expert refers to this as an
illusion and defines commodity aethetics as the sensual appearance and the conception of its
use-value. The practise of industrial design grew of the desire to increase sales of products in
a market flooded with too many goods. Industrial design was born of a lucky conjuction of a
saturated market which forced manufacturers to distinguish their products from others. And
for this reason a new strategy has been born: personalizing the products so various brands
were formed and the differrentation of googs was started( objects got a certain name, logo,
shape) Over the funtion of capital gain, this expert attributes to aethetics the ability to control
people through the device of sensuality. Peddling beauty is often seen as the primary goal of
industrial design, it’s he number one criteria for good design.this consideration was accepted
as a noble and rightful goal in the former but in the latter as a deceptive trick.
Another trick is the planned obsolescence. The producers keep the production even in order to
replace the wrong items continually. They produce goods with short lifetime and after a fast
quality failure they wait the new orders.
Nowaday Advertisements and the commercial media have larger effect on our minds and
thoughts than the real culture. At the age of socialism there was no real contest and people
couldn’t choose amoung various types of goods, so making coomercials was unnecessary.
They were rather appealing posters, funny films and not deceptive worksof which main goal
is to make the customers buy a product. Later, the viewing public was made believe that they
will be as young, beautiful, confident as the advertiser. And then the consumers got uset to the
unreality of the promises and enclosed values. Although commercials still draw the viewrs’
attention up with their visality and creativity the enclosed value is less popular. An ordinary
housewife can make the product more easily to believe.
Conscious

According to the classic consideration the conscious buyer is that who doesn’t
permit to be deceived, who clearly know the customer’s rights and use them.
Who attentively examine the prices, the quality of goods, the related services
and choose th ebest offer. However, nowadays being a conscious buyer must
mean more than represent ourselves with our rights. It’s important to be
conscious both ethically and environmentally and it means that we care not only
for ourselves but also others . These others may be living people, or our
children, grandchildren inthe future or may be plants and animals. So, conscious
buyers try to make decision which is worth not only to us but the world as well.
We usually choose based on the taste, colour, smell and size. Besides, we ought
to look at the labels where the important facts are usually noted. One question is:
Where was it made? Some people who don’t like the place, or the way how
that county runs where the product is made might decide not to buy it. Or
nowadays we live with fore-judgement concerning the Chinese products, though
not only low-class products are produced there. Another question is Who made
it? Maybe we know the organization or the person who made, we more easily
decide to buy and keep it for a long time. If it was made by sy who enjoyed
making it, so handmade product or made not with mass production, the quality
and maybe the design is better. What is it made from? If we look at the
ingredients we sometimes find that the perfumes are mainly alcohol and the
creams are mainly made of petroleum. Almost all products are sold in
packaging. Some products have too much packaging, creating more rubbish and
using up resources. Some use recycled packaging which is better for the
environment.
It’s useful if we go shopping think about what we really need to buy so that we
won’t be influenced by advertisements or promotions or the appealing boutiques
and their shop-windows.
 Daily Routine

On weekdays I get up at 6.00 o’clock. As a matter of fact I am a light sleeper so it is

quite easy for me to get up in the morning./ I am a heavy sleeper and I need some time till I
regain my senses and am wide awake again. To tell the truth, it is very difficult for me to get
up. First I go to the bathroom and wash my face and hands and dry myself with a towel.
Sometimes I take a shower. Then I go to the kitchen. It is my mother who gets breakfast
ready. She gets up much earlier than me and by the time I sit down at the table she has
prepared some sandwiches. I usually have a sandwich or toast or ham and eggs for breakfast
and drink a cup of tea. Sometimes I take some food with me, which I eat as elevenses at
school. After breakfast I clean my teeth, get dressed and comb my hair. I leave home at 7.00
o’clock and I go to the bus stop, which is 5 minutes away from our house/flat. I get on a
number 12 bus, take it 4 stops, change for bus number 35, which puts me off not far from my
school.
I usually have 7 lessons a day. The first lesson starts at 7.45 and the last one finishes at
2.10 in the afternoon. I have lunch in the school canteen. There is quite a good canteen and
the meals are cooked on the premises. We don’t pay the full price for the dishes./I always
have lunch at home. I don’t think I could ever put up with the kind of meal you get in a
canteen. What my mother cooks at home is more to my taste. I get home at about 3.00 p.m.
When I arrive I waste about half an hour hanging around without doing anything particular.
Then I start studying for the next day’s lessons and doing my homework. I have supper at
7.00 o’clock. Then I watch TV or just listen to music. I take a warm bath and go to bed at
about 10.00 o’clock.
At weekends the days are a little bit different. I get up late at about 10.00. I often meet
my friends and we go to the cinema, to pubs or we just go walking together. We go to discos
every second week because we like dancing very much. Of course on Sundays I have to
prepare for my lessons as well.
It is virtually my mother who does the housework in our family, but I help her. I clean
my own room, Hoover the carpets and I help my mother with the shopping. My mother dusts
the furniture, polishes the floor and does the cooking. My mother has green fingers; she takes
good care of the plants we have in the house. My father, however, does not do much. All he
does is some DIY at the weekends.
You have to air the rooms and put them in order every day so that they should look
clean and tidy. Washing-up is again one of those household chores that needs to be done
frequently. Other jobs - such as scrubbing the floor, emptying the waste-bin, cleaning the
windows etc. – can be done less frequently but you should do most of them at least once a
week. Men are usually good at decorating the flat and repairing household devices. A
handyman can fix a dripping tap, replace a burnt-out light bulb, stick on wallpaper, repair a
leaking waterpipe.
I think I am happy with the way of life I ma leading so I don’t really want to make any
changes. I can manage my time quite well so I can always afford to take a little rest whenever
I need it. I do things in order of importance and never put off till tomorrow what I can do
today.
 Describing a person

I have known this girl since my first year which I spent in my new school. We
have moved house with my family and choosing another school was advisable
and I fulfilled it, of course. She was the first of my mates who helped me to fit
into the class and her company.
As for her physical appearance, she is slightly shorter than me but her arms are
longer ones. She has a stunning feature, everybody notice her and her brilliant
hair. She adores bringing out her eyes with large amount of makeup.

For all that she has lots of assignments, she looks like the calmest person in the
world. In addition, she spends time on varied activities, including friends,
parties, sport and culture but she never flusters. I know only partly what gives
her this surprisingly large energy and this is her family which always lends a
hand when she needs it. Usually she creates a good impression in people’s eye
mainly of men. When it’s needed she shows herself to be a wreck in front of
certain boys but everybody knows that she is a balanced and decisive girl
withinside. Her other loveable feature is that she is always ready to help her near
and dear friend. When it comes to choose between being with her fellowship or
taking part in a family programme, she often settles upon the latter possibility,
especially if her little brother, Sam is involved. Sam is one of the most important
persons to her. Sam wants to be a dancer and her sister helps and leads Sam to
be succeed in his purpose.

To sum up, it’s tellable that this girl is quite out of the common. I have known
her app. for 3 years but even though I can say nothing negative about her I can
just fable about her virtues.
 Diets

According to experts we can make our life longer depending on our diet.
Following a balanced eating combined with physical activity we can easily lead
a healthy life.
Nutritionists hold different views on what it takes to follow a healthy diet. One
way or another there are 4 basic nutrients which we have to build in our meals.
General diets are based on the rates of these ingredients. In case of specific diets
there are certain ingredients of which consumption is limited or radically
decreased. In this way they omit f.e. fat or sugar totally. This method is used by
people who desire to reduce their fat or follow their doctor’s order. The reduced
quantity is mainly related to carbohydrate, this is the base of many reducing
diets, such as the Atkins-diet.
Dr. Robert Atkins originally created the so-called diet in the 1970's. The
popularity of this low-carb diet reached its zenith about ten years ago, but it is
believed that nowadays American stars turns to other, popular diets, like South
Beach diet by Dr. Agatson. The Atkins diet is based on Dr. Atkins' theory that
the over-consumption of carbohydrates is the root of most people's problems
with weight gain. The body is fueled by sugar, whether it is the natural sugar
found in foods or the processed sugar added to many foods. When your body
runs out of sugar to use as fuel, it uses carbohydrates instead. Carbohydrates are
long chains of sugars, which the body breaks down into sugar. Atkins believes
that when people limit the carbohydrates available, they force the body to use its
fat reserves as fuel, otherwise the extra sugar goes into fat stores.
Some researchers consider that there are possible health risks that can result
from following the Atkins diet. For example, certain experts say that the high
protein diet leads to high cholesterol level. Others advise that 150 grams of carbs
daily is necessary for proper body and brain function. Weight loss experts feel
that the Atkins diet is not for people with a risk of heart disease, and that the
restriction of fruits and vegetables is counter-productive to good nutrition. They
stress that all reduction of calories, coupled with exercise, results in the burning
of fat.
Not definitely each diet is harmful to people’s health. There is one by Norbi who
is a fitness devotee, it is called Update diet. According to Norbi the update isn’t
a reducing diet, rather than a lifestyle. Being on the Update doesn’t cause lack or
plus, so it can be calmly used by everyone. He divided the food products into 3
category, and during our reducing period only the foods fall into the 1st category
should be consumed. In Hungary this diet has helped many obese people and
nowadays products of Norbi is available widely, he has own bakeries, shops and
meals delivered by Gastroyal.

Fat reducing diets aren’t unhealthy by itself since 90% of women are on any
kind of diet. In some case, when a woman desires to look like a supermodel on
the covers, it can become such a craze that it leads to anorexia or bulimia.
People who suffer from such disease, eating doesn’t cause pleasure, rather than
remorse.
In the past years the ideal figure has become slimmer than a normal woman’s
figure. So, we spend time, money and energy trying to reach the slenderness
with permanent diet, suffering in the gym and taking reductants. Although news
are spreading about the finish of skinny’s cult, but it will hardly happen since
the fat reducing trade is a productive business which involve food products
offered in supermarkets, or the popularity of gym, and manifold products which
is adverted to help in fat reducing.
 English cuisine

Any country's cuisine and its ingredients are shaped by its climate,
history and geography, and English cuisine is no exception to this.
Potatoes, bread and cheese are the three basic ingredients of any
English cuisine.

British food has traditionally been based on beef, lamb, pork, chicken
and fish and generally served with potatoes and one other vegetable.
The most common and typical foods eaten in Britain include the
sandwich, fish and chips, pies like the cornish pasty, trifle and roasts
dinners. Some of their main dishes have strange names like Bubble &
Squeak and Toad-in-the-Hole.

Meals

Most people around the world seem to think a typical English breakfast
consists of eggs, bacon, sausages, fried bread, mushrooms and baked
beans all washed down with a cup of coffee. Now-a-days, however, a
typical English breakfast is more likely to be a bowl of cereals, a slice
of toast, orange juice and a cup of coffee.
Many people, especially children, in England will eat a bowl of cereal.
They are made with different grains such as corn, wheat, oats etc.
In the winter many people will eat "porridge" or boiled oats.

Many children at school and adults at work will

have a 'packed lunch'. This typically consists of a
sandwich, a packet of crisps, a piece of fruit and a
drink. The 'packed lunch' is kept in a plastic
container.
Sandwiches are also known as a 'butty' or 'sarnie'
in some parts of the UK.

The traditional English teatime snack includes assorted biscuits,

sandwiches and butterfly cakes. Various types of cheese form an integral
part of English recipes. Cheddar cheese is the common variety. English
cuisine has developed and improved over the years, and has been able
to come out of its stodgy image of 'fish and chips'.
The evening meal is usually called 'tea', 'dinner' or 'supper'.
The typical British meal for dinner is "meat and two veg". We put hot
brown gravy, (traditionally made from the juices of the roast meat, but
more often today from a packet!) on the meat and usually the
vegetables. One of the vegetables is almost always potatoes.

Sunday lunch time is a typical time to eat the traditional Sunday Roast.

Traditionally it includes roast meat, (cooked in the oven for about two
hours), two different kinds of vegetables and potatoes with a Yorkshire
pudding. The most common joints are beef, lamb or pork; chicken is also
popular.

Traditional English Christmas dinners are elaborate and delicious.

Turkey roast is a must for Christmas dinner. Goose of Dickens' is a
favourite dish for Christmas.

Yorkshire pudding is one of the most famous English recipes of all times.
It is an integral part of any celebration, be it Christmas, wedding or a
housewarming party. For this pudding, sifted flour, milk, vegetable oils,
and eggs and freshly ground black pepper are required. The oven has to
be heated, and the pudding tin has to be greased with vegetable oil. The
mixture is first placed in the bowl and then into the oven. Once it turns
puffy the pudding is removed from the oven and served.

Modern English dishes have been influenced by international flavours.

The contemporary English cuisine has incorporated many new
ingredients, retaining the traditional flavour and the richness. Food from
the Indian sub-continent has become very popular with the people in
Britain. Other than that French, Spanish, German and other European
cuisines also influence the cuisine of England.
 Family

I come from a small/ large family. I grew up as an only child./ I have got two elder brothers
and a sister, who is younger than me.
I live with my parents and my brothers and sister. My father is a(n) ……………. My mother
is a(n) ………….. / My parents divorced ….. years ago. I get on very well with them. I can
share my problems with them. I have a strong sense of family. My home and my immediate
family mean a great deal to me and my extended family is very important to me as well. I like
to see them as often as I can. /I don’t have very strong family ties and I am not in close
contact with many of my relatives. I haven’t seen some of them for ages.
(Description of your family.)
Nowadays Hungarian families are not large. An average family consists of a mother, a father
and 2 children. Different generations usually don’t live together, so it is quite rare in Hungary
for grandparents, aunts and uncles to share the house with the nuclear family. Pets – like dogs,
cats, goldfish, hamsters and budgerigars – are often regarded as close members of the family.
In the last 15 or 25 years there have been great changes in family life in Hungary. For
example, more couples now live together and have children without getting married. Among
married couples there has been an increase in divorce and separation with the result that there
are many more one-parent families. Members of a family see less each other than they used
to. The members of the wider family only meet at weddings, funerals and christenings. Some
of them turn up around the time of your nameday or birthday to say many happy returns.
Another change in family life is the attitude of adults to children: parents treat their children
more as equals than they used to and children are given more freedom to make their own
decisions in life. Despite these changes most people in Hungary decide to get married and
start a family.
 First Language aquisition
Language acquisition is the process by which humans acquire the capacity to perceive,
produce and use words to understand and communicate. This capacity involves the picking
up of diverse capacities including syntax, phonetics, and an extensive vocabulary. This
language might be vocal as with speech or manual as in sign. Language acquisition usually
refers to first language acquisition, which studies infants' acquisition of their native
language, rather than second language acquisition that deals with acquisition in both
children and adults of additional languages.

Syntactic development
a. One word stage (1-1.5 yrs. )
Single words
Semantic relations in children’s one-word utterances
Semantic relation utterance situation
Agent dada father enters room

b. Two word stage (1-2 yrs.)

Early word combination
Doggie bark the dog is barking
Daddy hat Daddy’s hat

c. Telegraphic Stage (2;0-2;5)

Emegence of clear phrase

After a period of several months in which the child’s speech is limited on one- and two-
word utterances, children begin to produce longer and more complex grammatical
structures. Some examples:
1. Chair broken
2. Daddy like this book.

Phonological Development
a. Babbling: Ability to produce speech sounds begins to emerge around six
months of age with the onset of babbling. Babbling allows children to
experiment with and begin to gain control over their vocal apparatus. Recall
all the myriad ways that articulators are involved in the formation of a single
speech sound.
b. Even though babbling is language specific, there are significant similarities in
babblings cross-linguistically.
Vocabulary Development
a. By 18 months, the average child ahs a vocabulary of 50 words or more.
b. Three strategies for learning the meanings of new words:
1. The whole object assumption: a new word refers to a whole
object. (Sheep: as a whole animal; not the whiteness, the
wool)
2. The type assumption: a new word refers to a type of thing, not
just to a particular thing. (Sheep: as an animal not just to one
particular sheep) 3. Basic level assumption: A new word
refers to types of objects that are alike in basic ways. (Sheep:
refers not to animals in general but to a particular class of
animals.)
c. Meaning errors:
1. overextensions
2. Underextensions: kitty might refer to the family pet kitty but
not to other kitties.

Language acquisition is the process by which humans acquire the capacity to perceive,
produce and use words to understand and communicate. This capacity involves the picking
up of diverse capacities including syntax, phonetics, and an extensive vocabulary. This
language might be vocal as with speech or manual as in sign. Language acquisition usually
refers to first language acquisition, which studies infants' acquisition of their native
language, rather than second language acquisition that deals with acquisition in both
children and adults of additional languages.
Football hooliganism is seen by most to mean violence and/or disorder involving
football fans. However there are two very specific 'types' of disorder that have been
labelled 'hooliganism': (a) Spontaneous and usually low level disorder caused by fans
at or around football matches (the type that typically occurs at England away
matches), and (b) Deliberate and intentional violence involving organised gangs (or
'firms') who attach themselves to football clubs and fight firms from other clubs,
sometimes a long way in time and space from a match.
Second is the more serious disorder caused by hooligan 'firms' in the UK.
Domestically this is still a huge problem, with most football clubs having groups of
'risk supporters' who wish to fight rival firms. UK police have to deal with the problem
of organised firms trying to confront each other on a regular basis, although the
disorder is rarely reported (due to the lack of coverage of incidents) and as it usually
takes place far from the ground, 'normal' fans do not tend to be directly affected by it.

The ozone layer is a layer of gas in the upper atmosphere which protects humans and
other living things from the harmful ultraviolet (UV-B) rays of the sun. In the 1970s
scientists discovered that certain man-made chemicals could destroy ozone and deplete
the ozone layer. Further research found that the growing production and use of chemicals
like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in aerosol sprays, refrigeration, insulation and air
conditioning was contributing to the accumulation of ozone-depleting substances (ODS)
in the atmosphere. They also observed that an ‘ozone hole’ was developing above the
Antarctic. A thinning ozone layer leads to a number of serious health risks for humans. It
causes greater incidences of skin cancer and cataract of the eye, with children being
particularly vulnerable. There are also serious impacts for biodiversity. Increased UV-B
rays reduce levels of plankton in the oceans and in this way cut down on fish stocks. It
can also have adverse effects on plant growth, thus reducing agricultural productivity.
Another negative effect is the reduced lifespan of certain materials.

MVK Zrt. is the name of the transport company of the city of Miskolc, Hungary. Unlike the
transport companies of many other cities, MVK Zrt. is independent from the company
responsible for municipal transport in the county (Borsod Volán) and is responsible only for
the mass transportation in Miskolc and the nearby town Felsőzsolca. The buses are usually
dark blue; the trams on Line 1 are yellow or red, on Line 2 are dark red.
Miskolc has a long history of mass transport. The first tramway was built in 1897, and
Miskolc was the first Hungarian city to have a scheduled bus line in 1903. Today Miskolc is
one of only six Hungarian cities that have an own mass transport company. The city has two
railway stations (Tiszai and Gömöri) and an unpaved airport which is not opened to public
and plays no role in mass transport. There is also a narrow-gauge railway line between
Miskolc and Lillafüred, but it has no importance other than being a tourist attraction.
 Friends
Special features

This is such a series which makes the biggest hit of all time as a sitcom. 4 hours before
filming was begun 500 funs waited to watch the premier episode of the season.
Marta Kauffman, David Crane created the Friends and their partner was Kevin Bright. They
were overseers of the Warner Bros., the most successful television company. Besides the
Friend two other shows were written by the trio. One of them, the Dream On opened the door
to the network. They wanted a unique show, and decided on the sitcom. The shot started in
1994.
In the stuff, there was needed a concerted work among the colleagues. The set dressers
had to furniture one of the 3 main sets of Friends, it was Monica’s and Rachel’s apartment.
The property masters’ work was to get and make the accessories. They were working on
Monica’s model house for 3 entire days. The set constructors planned the Central Perk, the
famous, make-believe café house and it was furnished by photos. The gaffers’ work was very
searching and they had to comply to set the system of light in an accurate way. While cameras
were rolling there was no time to correct the mistakes.
In the 4th day before shooting, everything is decided like the robe and makeup. The actors
picked up the present story from the previous season. The first days were about the
excitement of hearing a new script. The staff continually listened the script and if it wasn’t
funny, they made changing. They knew it is hard to be really funny, the jokes had to be tried
because it is not enough to seem something comic. There was no time to not being funny, they
just had to be. Sometimes everything was ready only the jokes missed. 14 incredibly smart
people worked on the joking scenes day in day out.
Script supervisor saw what minute need to do the scene; s/he always could be seen with a
timer. If it managed to be too short, a solution was that the writers wrote another person in the
story. In a sitcom production mobile cameras are needed. The camera assistant placed number
marks on the floor in every scene in order to avoid the cameras crashing each other. A 22-
minute-episode’s record was 4-5 hours.
During the play there were some important elements; how they form the words in order to
be funny the script. Moreover the jokes’ success depends on the uttered voice and how the
actors touch the words.
While the cameras were covering their ways across the stage, the writers were trying to
pitch new jokes. The set change could last for 20 minutes and the audience had to be amused.
The sitcom is similar to be a live TV show, they play to the audience and their feedback is
crucial.
The next step was to cut the scene and fit the records to each other. The editor’s work was
set the certain kind of laughing after the jokes. After a few days of the editing the writers
screened the first cut. If there was sth mistake in the cut one of the writers talked it with the
film-editor. After editing the creature of sound effects were the next step. They used every
kind of objects which could give sth sound. There is a surprisingly large importance of the
music in a sitcom. Well, the music-editor matched music with the actions. Furthermore the
engineers had to combine the sound elements, like music, dialogue and effects.
The participators in Friends feel themselves lucky to have the chance to work together
and have this memorable experience.
 Hagwon in South Korea

When considering if the opportunity to come to South Korea to teach English as

a second language is right for you it is important to compare the two options
available to you. These options generally fall into two categories: Public School
or privately owned and operated businesses known as “Hagwon” in Korea.
Hagwons are privately owned and operated businesses with little to no oversight
from the South Korean government. They are owned and operated by private
citizens for a profit. As with any business the sole focus is making a profit.
The point of this education system in Hagwon is to learn how to pass exams
which takes precedence over learning how to speak English.
The performance of students is measured by writing standardised, discrete item
multiple-choice tests. In all these tests, students receive an overall score
represented by a single number. If the goal of learning is simply to score highly
in tests, then class time must be devoted to two things: inputting students with
the knowledge they need to maximise their test scores and training students in
test-taking techniques. Having students engage in genuine communicative tasks,
as opposed to speaking activities such as reading aloud or repeating set phrases,
is regarded as a waste of time. English had received complaints from parents
when they had tried to incorporate discussion activities into their lessons.
Afterwards a directive had been issued: students were not to speak English
during English lessons.

The students range from age 3 to their 50's, but most are later elementary school
and middle school students. Most of the classes are an hour long: half an hour
with a Korean teacher, and half an hour with a foreigner.

The basic work-week for one of the foreign teachers at my hagwon is 33 hours
of class time, including Saturdays. Most classes are scheduled for between 2:00
and 10:00 pm. There are some holidays, but they may not be freely chosen - all
days off are scheduled by the hagwon. The foreign teachers live in an apartment
on the sixth floor of the building which contains the hagwon. They are hired on
the basis of one-year contracts, which can be renewed. (A teacher who stays for
a second year may be offered a more favorable contract).
 Health

Fortunately I am in good health. I try to take care of myself. In my opinion prevention is better
than cure. To keep in good health we should avoid stress and do some exercise every day. It is
important to breathe a bit of fresh air and not to sit inside from morning till night. We should try to
avoid fatty meat and animal fats so as not to be overweight.
In our climate, especially in autumn and late winter people often have health problems. They
catch a cold or flu. Last winter I had a bad cold. I couldn’t help sneezing and I was coughing. My nose
was running and later it was all clogged up. I had a splitting headache. It hurt when I swallowed. I had
a high temperature so I decided to see the G.P. I went to the local health centre and I waited in the
waiting room, which was full of patients. When the assistant shouted ’next please’, I entered the
consulting room. The doctor told me to strip to the waist and examined me. He began by feeling my
pulse then gave me a thermometer to take my temperature with. He looked at my throat and said that it
was badly inflamed. He also listened to my lungs and breathing with a stethoscope and took my blood
pressure. After the examination he diagnosed my illness. I had to stay in bed for a few days, drink a lot
of hot tea with lemon and keep warm. He made out a prescription for some antifebrile, some menthol
drops for my nose and a mixture for my throat. I had to gargle every two hours. I went to the chemist’s
for my medicine. I was put on the sick-list and had to stay off school for a week.
In our climate many people have arthritis and rheumatism. A lot of patients suffer from hay
fever, allergies and respiratory problems such as bronchitis and asthma. Quinsy and appendicitis are
very common with children as well as food poisoning and indigestion. Unfortunately more and more
people suffer from nervous breakdown and have crack-ups due to overwork and fatigue. The diseases
that seem to take the heaviest toll of human life are coronary heart diseases, circulatory disorders,
cancer and AIDS. Being very widespread in Hungary, smoking affects a lot of people. It is very
harmful for your health, especially for your circulatory system, throat, windpipes and lungs.
Alcoholism is even worse. Alcohol will slowly but surely ruin not only your health, but also your and
your family’s lives. Unfortunately the problem of drug taking is already present in Hungary.
If I have an aching tooth, I go to the dentist’s. After I have been comfortably seated in the
dentist’s chair he asks me which tooth is troubling me. He makes me open my mouth and begins
probing for cavities. When he finds one, he reaches for the drill. After drilling I am allowed to rinse
my mouth. The dentist then stops the cavity and asks me not to chew for an hour or two. If the aching
tooth is too far gone the dentist will pull it out. Before the extraction he anaesthetises your nerves with
an injection given in your gum.
There are a lot of departments in a hospital. Physicians work in the department of internal
medicine. Then there is the operating theatre, where surgeons work and the gynaecology and maternity
wards. The urology ward is where your kidney troubles are treated. If you have any problem with your
skin you are sent to the dermatology department. Then you can go to the ear-nose and throat
department or to the eye department. Psychiatrists and nerve specialists work in the neurology
department. There is also the cardiology department, the intensive care unit, the laboratory and the
casualty department.
In Hungary the medical services are substantially financed by the state budget. In fact you pay
a monthly contribution from your salary but you do not pay for the actual treatment. Medical centres
provide services free of charge but there are, of course, private practitioners that charge for visits.
Everyone can choose their G.P. freely and go to the one whom they trust most.
Independence day
The independence of the USA was declared from the United Kingdom of Great
Britain on 4th July, 1776. The president was Thomas Whitmore. As for the
celebrations, these take place outdoors where fireworks and concerts are
organised. The point if this day that American people should praise the nation’s
heritage, laws and society.

Saint Patrick’s Day

It is generally called St Paddy’s Day or Paddy’s Day. St. Patrick was a patron
saint of Ireland who made the shamrock to be a symbol of the Holy Trinity. St.
Patrick’s Day is celebrated worldwide, like Argentina or Australia. During the
feast the colour green is a main element and everything which is Irish.

Thanksgiving
It is a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general.
Thanksgiving was celebrated firstly in Canada and in the USA. Nowadays it is
spreading worldwide. Thanksgiving is held on 2nd Monday of October in Canada
and on 4th Thursday of Nov. in the USA. Usually the families gather and have
dinner together.

Guy Fawkes Night

~ is also known as Bonfire Night or Bonny Night. It is an annual celebration on
the evening of the 5th of Nov. when petards are blown up continually. Guy
Fawkes was the biggest sufferer of the punishment after the Catholics had
wanted to blast Jacob I. and the Parliament. Tough, Fawkes wasn’t the leader of
the outrage but his name remained in the public knowledge.

Halloween
Gallic people organised the New Year’s Eve on 1st of Nov. They thought dead
souls came back to life the day before New Year’s Eve. They built a fire and
shaved victims on top of hills. The roman tradition also left some marks. The
custom mixed, so elements today are f.e. a switch, black cats, skeleton and
jokes. Mainly in the USA and in Canada it’s a custom when children wearing
costumes ask sweets from the residents.
 May 1 – Work’s Day
Originally workers wanted to achieve better job circumstances with several campaigns. They
desired more rights and possibilities. Then, in the 20th century this traditional worker holiday
became a national day simultaneously in numerous countries. After a couple of years the
original Worker’s Day was called the Work’s Day. On this day the Catholics celebrate too.
They held it to honour the memory of Saint Joseph, who was Jesus’ father and who worked as
a carpenter.
Nowadays this holiday is still celebrated, during this time shops and institutes remain closed.

March 15 - Revolution
That day we celebrate the beginning of the Hungarian revolution. 15th March became a
symbol, which expresses our national’s freedom and the wish of independence too. Several
poets and politicians tried to encourage the Hungarian population, like Sandor Petőfi , Mór
Jókai and Pál Vasvári. Petőfi wrote the National’s Poem and performed it in front of the
National Museum. In the 48’s a revolution waving was noticeable but all of them were not so
efficient like this.
Today, in every corner of the country people remember to honour the memory of
revolutionists and we listen to the National Anthem and the Szózat. We respect this day
putting a tricolour above our heart, which was anyway tacked on people during the revolution.
Pancake Day
The Pancake Day and the Shrove Tuesday here is the same event. The
day before the 40-day-length Lent is spent cooking foods, for which
all the fattening ingredients are used. Like, flour, eggs, milk and sugar,
so they make a lot of pancakes. Shrove Tuesday is also celebrated in
other countries, such as France, Germany and America.

Valentine’s Day
Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on
February 14 by many people throughout the world. In the English-
speaking countries, it is the traditional day on which lovers express
their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting
flowers, or offering confectionery. The U.S. Greeting Card
Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are
sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-
sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas.

Columbus’ Day
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the
anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which
occurred on October 12, 1492.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt set aside October 12 as
Columbus Day and a Federal holiday. Since 1971, the holiday has
been commemorated in the U.S. on the second Monday in October,
the same day as Thanksgiving in neighboring Canada.

Remembrance Day
It is a day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed
forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since the First
World War. It is observed on 11 November to recall the end of World
War I on that date in 1918. Common British, Canadian, South
African, and ANZAC traditions include two minutes of silence at the
eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month (11:00 am, 11
November), as that marks the time (in the United Kingdom) when
armistice became effective. Ceremonies are held at local war
memorials, usually organized by local branches of the Royal British
Legion
 Holidays

Many countries around the world share certain holidays, such as New Year’s Day, Easter and
Christmas, but not every country celebrates them in the same ways or even on the same days. For example, many
European countries celebrate Christmas on its eve, December 24th, but in Britain and America it is celebrated on
December 25th.
Both Britain and the U.S.A. also celebrate some holidays which are not common or are just getting to be
known in other countries, for instance Valentine’s Day (February 14th), April Fool’s Day (April 1st), May Day
(May 1st) and Halloween (October 31st). In addition, both have holidays which are unique to them, some of
them commemorating important historical events. An important Welsh holiday is St. David’s Day (the patron
saint of Wales) on March 1st, and in Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) is the day celebrating their patron
saint. Midsummer’s Day (June 24th) marks the longest day of the year, and Guy Fawkes’ Day (November 5th)
commemorates the survival of the monarchy and the King after Guy Fawkes unsuccessfully tried to kill him in
1605.
In the U.S. there are only five national holidays that are celebrated in every state (New Year’s,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas), but there are many other holidays of
importance. The third Monday of February is called Presidents’ Day, which marks the birthdays of George
Washington and Abraham Lincoln. As in Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is observed in America, a day when people
wear green for the Irish saint. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are in May and June. In the summer there is
Independence Day (July 4th), which celebrates America’s independence from Britain. The first Monday of
September is Labor Day – the American equivalent of May 1st in Europe. Columbus Day (October 12th)
remembers the man who discovered America, and the fourth Thursday of November is Thanksgiving Day, a day
on which families give thanks to the good things they have by sharing a big meal.
Many of the holidays have traditional foods and activities associated with them, and nowadays it is
common to send greeting cards to family and friends on many of these days.
We celebrate birthdays, namedays, wedding anniversaries, Mother’s Day, Christmas, Easter, New
Year’s Day and some public holidays. On your birthday you invite your friends and relatives over and give a big
party. There is always a cake - for example, a chocolate layer cake – with as many candles on it as the child or
person is years old. On that day you get a lot of presents and a lot of cards from other friends and relatives saying
many happy returns of the day.
I think in this part of the world Christmas is the greatest family festival. It is very solemnly celebrated
with ancient customs and traditions. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, The Saviour of men. A
week before Christmas carol singers appear in the streets to announce the approach of the festival. They carry a
Christmas crib with them and go from house to house performing the nativity play. It relates the story of Christ’s
birth and the appearance of the three kings bringing presents to the son of god. Nowadays this custom is not
preserved in big cities. December 24th is Christmas Eve. The Christmas tree, a fir or pine tree, is decorated and
children are given a lot of presents. Most families go to the midnight service in church. On the first and second
day of Xmas families have big meals and visit each other in the afternoons. On Christmas Day the family gathers
round the table to partake of the traditional Hungarian Christmas lunch. Two things are essential parts of this
meal: stuffed cabbage and poppy-seed cake. The rest of the meal is usually beef soup followed by pork chops or
turkey.
At Easter we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, that is the rising of Jesus from the tomb 3 days after
his Crucifixion. Most Easter traditions are associated with Easter Monday when boys set out to call on their
female friends and relatives and sprinkle them with perfume or water. Girls, in return, treat them to home-made
cakes or some drinks and present them with eggs painted mainly red, green or yellow. Children are also
presented at Easter with either some chocolate eggs or a chocolate Easter bunny and an Easter chick. A typical
Easter Sunday breakfast consists of ham and hard boiled eggs. There are no set dishes that we eat for lunch at
Easter. As a general rule however, we usually have chicken soup, pork, beef or veal cutlet followed by some
dessert.
On New Year’s Eve people sit up till after midnight to see the new year in. At midnight we sing the
national anthem and drink champagne. Some people go to parties and dances others watch comic shows on TV.
Public holidays: On March 15th we commemorate the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence
of 1848-49. May 1st is a spring holiday when maypoles are put up in gardens. August 20th is the day of King
Stephen I. On this day we commemorate the founding of our state almost a thousand years ago. On October 23rd
we celebrate the declaration of the Hungarian Republic and commemorate the revolution of 1956.
 Your house / flat

We live in a two-storey house, facing south, with a big garden. If you look at our house from outside,
the front door is over on the left. This opens directly into a big room, about five metres by six metres. This is the
hall. There are doors on either side of the hall, leading to two smaller rooms, each of which is about three and a
half metres square. These are the study and the bathroom. There are two more doors in the left-hand wall of the
hall. The first leads to the kitchen with another small room, the pantry, opening off it, the second leads to the
dining-room. At the back of the hall, in the right-hand corner, a flight of stairs leads up to the first floor. The
stairs lead directly into the living room, about seven metres square. This has windows in the south and west
walls. Two doors lead to rooms which measure about three and a half metres. These are the bedrooms. Between
the two bedrooms, with a door to each is a small passage-way with built-in cupboards. Most of the windows face
the garden so that one can have a good view of the back garden and two windows overlook the street.
We live in a two-room flat on the third floor of a ten-storey block of flats. Our flat used to be a council
flat but we bought it from the council 8 years ago. Thus we now have a sixty-four square metre freehold flat. It is
not too spacious. However, it is comfortable with all modern conveniences such as hot water, electricity, gas
central heating, drains and a telephone.
My bedroom is four metres by five metres. Its window overlooks a playground. There is a full-length,
striped curtain on the window. The walls are painted/papered. It is painted light green. /The wallpaper has a blue
and white checked pattern. The ceiling is painted white. In my bedroom there is a bed right next the wall on the
left. The wardrobe and the chest of drawers are put along the wall. There is a desk with a swivel chair opposite
the bed/by the window. The blinds on the window shut out the morning light.
Our kitchen is of medium size. The various items of kitchen furniture are arranged in a continuous line
around the walls. We cook by gas and we have the gas-cooker right under the window. There is also a sink unit
with its sink and the draining-board where we just pile the already washed up dishes and let them dry. We have a
refrigerator with a small deep freeze, which is good for keeping our food fresh and cool. Our kitchen is almost
fully fitted. We have a dishwasher, a toaster, a food processor, a mincer, a coffee grinder, a percolator and a
micro-wave oven. Saucepans, frying pans, casseroles, jugs, bowls, mugs, the kitchen scales, the mixer, pressure
cooker, grater, corkscrew and the rolling pin are kept in the kitchen cupboard. On the shelves there are spices
and the ingredients needed every day for cooking like salt, flour, sugar and cooking oil. The kitchen floor is
tiled/covered with lino because it is easy to keep clean. We do not have a separate dining-room, we only have a
dining recess in the kitchen, which we use every day. It is there that we have all our meals. There is nothing else
in it except for a dining table and six chairs.
We have a white plastic tub in the bathroom and there is hot and cold running water. The washbasin is
beside the tub and over the washbasin there is a mirror. Both the floor and the walls are tiled to prevent the
plaster from getting wet through the continual splashing which inevitably occurs when you wash. Beside the
washbasin there is a towel rack on the wall. The soap dish is on the hand basin. On one of the bathroom shelves
we have toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorants, sprays, shampoo, bubble-bath mixture, body lotion and a nail
brush; and on the other we have detergents, washing powder and furniture polish.
In a house you can have an attic at the top of the house, which you use mainly for storing old furniture,
books and clothes in. You can also have a cellar in the basement.
We do up our house/flat every 3 years. You have to make the walls repainted/repapered or you have to
have a new floor put in. From time to time there are also certain things in a house/flat that go wrong and need
fixing. For example, when the tap keeps dripping, the pipes are leaking or the flush toilet keeps flooding. You
also have to fix the electrical appliances, put up a new shelf, drive in a nail, replace a burnt-out bulb and
eliminate a short circuit in the house/flat.
People can live in sky-scrapers, high-rise blocks, blocks of flats, terraced houses, semi-detached houses,
detached houses, bungalows, huts or cottages. They can own their flats – in that case they are called freehold
flats. They can rent a council owned flat sold to a cooperative of people. They can share a flat with other families
and live in co-tenancy. Some people live in lodgings.
There is a very serious shortage of accommodation for married couples in Hungary. People often have
to wait for years before they have a place of their own. The local councils built many blocks of flats and let them
to people who couldn’t afford to build or buy a flat of their own. There is a tendency now for local councils to
sell these flats with a mortgage at a high interest rate to the tenants living in them. To be able to build a house
you need to have enough money to put down a deposit. The deposit has to cover the cost of the land and some
percent of the cost of the construction. Then you can get a bank loan at quite a high interest rate and you pay it
back in monthly instalments. If you have two or more children, you may get a state grant, which you do not have
to pay back.
The traditional Hungarian cuisines dishes are cooked from the
ground, using a wide variety of fresh, unpreserved, high quality
ingredients, including meats, seasonal vegetables, fruits, fresh bread,
cheeses and honey, based on centuries old traditions in spicing and
preparation methods.
The Hungarian cuisine is influenced the history of the Magyar people.
The importance of livestock and the nomadic lifestyle of the Hungarian
people is apparent in the prominence of meat in Hungarian food and may
be reflected in traditional meat dishes cooked over the fire like Goulash
(in Hungarian "gulyás", lit. "herdsman's meat"), pörkölt stew and the
spicy Fisherman’s soup called halászlé each are traditionally cooked
over the open fire in a bogrács
The Hungarian cuisine was influenced by the Austrian cuisine under the
period of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Dishes and methods of food
preparation have often been borrowed from the Austrian cuisine and vice
versa. Cakes and sweets in Hungary show a strong German/Austrian
influence. All total, modern Hungarian cuisine is a synthesis of Ancient
Asiatic components mixed with Germanic, Italian, and Slavic elements.
The food of Hungary can be considered a melting pot of the continent.

In Hungary people usually have a large breakfast. Hungarian breakfast

generally is an open sandwich with fresh bread or a toast, butter, cheese
or different cream cheeses, túró cheese or körözött (Liptauer cheese
spread), cold cuts such as ham, véres hurka (similar to black pudding),
liver paté (called májkrém or kenőmájas), bacon, salami, beef tongue,
mortadella, disznósajt (head cheese), sausages like kabanos, beerwurst
or different Hungarian sausages (kolbász).[12] Even eggs, (fried,
scrambled or boiled), French toast called bundáskenyér and vegetables
(like peppers, bell peppers, tomatoes, radish, scallion and cucumber) are
part of the Hungarian breakfast. Sometimes breakfast is a cup of milk,
tea or coffee with pastries, a bun, a kifli or a strudel[13] with jam or honey,
or cereal like muesli and perhaps fruit. Children can have rice pudding
(tejberizs) or Cream of Wheat (tejbegriz) for breakfast topped with cocoa
powder and sugar. Hot drinks are preferred for breakfast.

Lunch is the major meal of the day, usually with several courses. Cold or
hot appetizers may be served sometimes (for example fish, egg or liver),
then soup. Soup is followed by a main dish. A main dish can be a sweet
pastry dish or dish including meat and salad, which precedes the
dessert. Fruit may follow. In Hungary pancakes are served as a main
dish, not for breakfast. Salad is always served with meat dishes, made of
lettuce with tomatoes, cucumbers and onions [15] or a simple thin sliced
cucumber salad in vinaigrette. Salads like Salade Olivier or potato salad
are made of boiled potatoes, vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, mushrooms,
fried or boiled meat or fish, in vinaigrette, aspic or mayonnaise. These
salads are eaten as appetizers or even as a main course.
Main courses

• Töltött káposzta (stuffed cabbage)

Töltött paprika (Stuffed peppers) - ground meat, rice and spices are used for the
filling)

Töltött tojás (Deviled eggs, cold in mayonnaise or warm, baked in the oven with sour
cream)
Főzelék (thick vegetable stew)
Lecsó (mixed vegetable stew)
Paprikás krumpli (paprika-based stew with spicy sausage and potatoes)

Lecsó

Gundel Palacsinta filled with nuts and chocolate sauce

Two remarkable elements of Hungarian cuisine that are hardly noticed

by locals, but usually conjure up much enthusiasm amongst foreigners,
are different forms of vegetable stews called főzelék[1] as well as cold
fruit soups, like cold sour cherry soup (Hungarian: hideg meggyleves).

Hungarian food is often spicy, as hot paprika is commonly used; on

account of the use of this spice (hot paprika), Hungarian cuisine is
arguably the spiciest cuisine native to Europe. Besides hot paprika,
sweet (mild) paprika is also used daily. The combination of paprika, lard
and red onions is typical of Hungarian cuisine, and the use of the thick
sour cream called tejföl. Besides different kinds of paprika and onions
(raw, sweated or caramelized), other common flavor components include
garlic, black peppercorn, parsley, ground black and white pepper.
 Hungary

Hungary is situated in Central Europe. The country occupies a territory of about 93,000 square
kilometres. Almost two thirds of this territory consists of fertile plains no more than 200 metres about sea level.
Our country can be divided into three large regions: Transdanubia, the Great Plain and Northern Hungary. The
Transdanubian part is mainly hilly with the exception of the northern region, which is called the Small Plain. The
soil is exceptionally good there for crops and vegetables. A similar area is the Great Plain, where most of
Hungary’s crops are grown. Northern Hungary is fairly mountainous and the country’s highest peak can also be
found there. Hungary belongs to the drainage system of Europe’s second largest river, the Danube. The Tisza is
another long river and Lake Balaton is the second largest freshwater lake in Central and Western Europe.
On the north Hungary is borded by the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, on the north-east by
the Ukraine, on the east by Romania, on the south by Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia while on the west the country
borders on Austria.
The official language of Hungary is Hungarian, but quite a few other languages are spoken as native
languages by the several ethnic minorities living near the country’s borders. These are German and the Slavonic
languages spoken in the countries around us. A lot of people think that Hungarian is a Slavonic language because
we are surrounded by Slavic countries. As a matter of fact Hungarian belongs to the Finno-Ugrian group of
languages and it is related to Finnish. The Finns and the Hungarians may have lived together in our original
homeland, which was perhaps to the west of the Urals, near the Volga and Kama Rivers.
The Hungarian Republic was proclaimed on 23rd October, 1989.
I think one reason for so many tourists coming to our country is the hospitality of the Hungarians.
Besides, the Carpathian Basin is at a cross-road for the travellers from north to south, from east to west. Hungary
also has various tourist attractions. Visitors can enjoy the wonderful sights of Budapest, relax on one of the
numerous beaches of Lake Balaton, go and see the lovely Hungarian villages where traditions of folk art are
preserved and treasured or visit some of the smaller but beautiful towns.
To introduce Budapest to a tourist from abroad I would tell him some historical and geographical data
about the Hungarian capital. 2000 years ago the Romans called this settlement Aquincum, that is the ’city of
waters’ because there were and still there are a lot of hot water springs and medicinal baths in this region. The
royal castle on Buda hills was built in the 15th century. Today Budapest is a busy metropolis with a population
of 2 million people. I would start the tour of Budapest by taking the tourist up to the Gellért Hill, because this is
the best point from which to see the panorama of the city. The hill was named after a Venetian bishop, who came
to Hungary in the 11th century to convert the inhabitants to Christianity. His statue stands on the very spot from
where the pagans threw him into the Danube. There is also a fortress on the top of the hill called the Citadel,
which was built in 1851. The highest point of the hill is the Statue of Liberty. Then I would take the visitor to the
centre of Buda where we can find the Castle Hill. On its top the Royal Castle District was built. In its central
Square, the Trinity Square, stands the famous Matthias Church. It is also called the Coronation Church and
several kings of Hungary were buried here. It was built in the 13th century in Gothic style. Behind the church
The Fishermen’s Bastion can be found, from which there is a magnificent view of the Danube with the Houses
of Parliament on the opposite bank. The most popular park in Budapest is the beautiful Margaret Island. It was
named after the pious Princess Margaret, daughter of King Béla IV. One of the best-known monuments in Pest is
the one in Heroes’ Square. It was erected in 1896 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the founding of
Hungary. On the tall column stands the figure of an angel bearing the ancient emblem of Hungary and its base is
surrounded by bronze horsemen representing the Magyar chieftains who led their tribes to this land.
 Ideal home

Actually if I think of a perfect dwelling, a spacious, cosy house in a calm, green

environment appears in my mind. However, I have managed to live only in flats; maybe this
is the reason why I have imagined a detached house as my ideal home.

I would like to have a dwelling which is entirely suitable for spending my time relaxing
or having fun in the garden. While I wish to live in peaceful surroundings I still need the city
to be close, so I would probably find an acceptable site hardly. Perhaps in Miskolc the part of
Bábonyi-bérc or Bodó-tető fulfill these specifics.
The number of the bedrooms might be 4, one-one for my brother and me, one is the main
bedroom and one of them could be a spare room which can be useful whenever a guest comes
to visit us. This extra room would be used as a workroom too. I would like to furnish a
modern kitchen with numerous windows so that the sunshine could fill in my environment.
Moreover, I have imagined a spacious living room where my family might keep their general
family discussions, and where hand I would like to loll on a huge couch and stare at the TV.
As for my bedroom if I had a chance I would surely plan a bigger one than I have
presently. I hate that I am unable to give enough place for my guests, mainly if they are
invited to spend the night at my place. I have always had my wall painted a warm colour, like
orange or apricot and if it comes to change I still stick to choose other lively colour.
I don’t mind having an own balcony and having the possibility to sit there and enjoy the nice
weather. Usually at the beginning of the summer I am so starved of the sunlight after the
winter and the cool spring this is the best activity to be done. Furthermore I would be also
pleased if I had an own bathroom, so the family members shouldn’t wait for each other in the
mornings and there would not be any arguments at all who the next is with having a shower.

These are the main aspects which I would definitely observe in case of a home changing.
Anyway manifold variations happened at home, because we have started a modernization at
the beginning of the summer.
Past tenses sometimes remain unchanged I/ (s)he/ we/ they had better remains unchanged. You Could in indirect statements
In theory the past tense changes to the past perfect, but had better can remain unchanged or reported by advise Could for present ability does not change:
in spoken English it is often left unchanged: + object + infinitive: ‘I can’t / couldn’t satnd on my head,’ he said = He said
He said, ‘I loved her.’ must become He said he had ‘The children had better go to bed early,’ said Tom. = he couldn’t stand on his head.
loved her. Tom said that the children had better go to bed early. Could for future ability can remain unchanged or be
But He said, ‘Ann arrived on Monday.’ Could be Conditional sentences type 2 and 3 remain unchanged: reported by would be able:
reported He said Ann arrived / had arrived on Monday. ‘If my children were older I would emigrate,’ he said. = He said, ‘I could do it tomorrow’ = He said he could do
The past continuous tense in theory changes to the past He said that if his children were older he would it / would be able to do it the next day.
perfect continuous but in practice usually remains emigrate. Could for past ability can remain unchanged or be
unchanged except when it refers to a completed action: Might, ought to, should, would, used to in indirect reported by had been able:
She said, ‘We were thinking of selling the house but we statements ‘I could read when I was three,’ she boasted = She
have decided not to’ = She said that they had been Might remains unchanged except when used as a boasted that she could / had been able to read when she
thinking of selling the house but had decided not to. request form: was three.
But He said, ‘When I saw them they were playing He said, ‘Ann might ring today’ = He said that Ann might Questions beginning Shall I / we? In indirect speech
tennis’ = He said that when he saw them they were ring that day. Requests for instructions or advice:
playing tennis. But ‘You might post these for me,’ he said = He asked me ‘What shall I do with it?’ = ‘Tell me what to do with it.’
Past / past continuous tenses in time clauses do not to post them for him. These are expressed in indirect speech by ask, inquire,
normally change. The main verb of such sentences can Ought to / should for obligation and assumption etc. with should or the be + infinitive construction:
either remain unchanged or become the past perfect: remains unchanged: ‘Shall we post it, sir?’ he said = He asked the customer
He said, ‘When we were living / lived in Paris we often ‘They ought to / should widen this road,’ I said = I said if they were to post / if they should post it.
saw Paul’ = He said that when they were living / lived that they ought to / should widen the road. Offers:
in Paris they often saw / had often seen Paul. But you ought to / you should, if used to express advice ‘Shall bring you some tea?’ = could be reported He
A past tense used to describe a state of affaires which rather than obligation, can be reported by advise + offered to bring me some tea.
still exists when the speech is reported remains object + infinitive. You must can also express advice Suggestions:
unchanged: and be reported similarly: ‘Shall we meet at the theatre?’ = could be reported He
She said, ‘I decided not to buy the house because it was ‘You ought to / should / must read the instructions,’ said suggested meeting at the theatre.
on a main road’ = She said that she had decided not to Ann = Ann advised / urged / warned me to read the Questions beginning will you / would you / could
instructions.
buy the houses because it was on a main road. you?
The advice form ‘If I were you I should / would …’ is
Unreal past tenses in indirect speech ‘Will you stand still!’ he shouted = He shouted at me to
normally reported by advise + object + infinitive:
Unreal past tenses after wish, would rather / sooner and stand still / He told / ordered me to stand still.
‘If I were you I’d wait,’ I said = I advised him to wait.
it is time do not change: ‘Would you like a lift?’ said Ann = Ann offered me a
The request form ‘I should / would be (very) grateful if
‘We wish we didn’t have to take exams,’ said the lift.
you would …’ is normally reported by ask + object +
children. = The children said they wished they didn’t ‘Would you like to come round? / Could you come
infinitive:
have to take exams. round for a drink?’ he said = He invited me (to come)
‘I’d be very grateful if you’d keep me informed,’ he said =
‘Bill wants to go alone,’ said Ann, ‘but I’d rather he round for a drink.
He asked me to keep him informed.
went with a group’ = Ann said that Bill wanted to go ‘Could / Would you give me a hand?’ she said = She
Used to doesn’t change:
alone but that she’d rather he went with a group. ‘I know the place well because I used to live here,’ he
asked us to give her a hand.
‘It is time we began planning our holidays,’ he said = He explained = He explained that he knew the place well
said that it was time they began planning their holidays. because he used to live there.
Let’s, let us, let him / them in indirect speech • by with an exclamation of delight/ disgust etc. + Alternatively it can be reported by would have to or
Let’s usually expresses a suggestion and is reported by he/ she etc. + verb. had to.
suggest in indirect speech: ‘Good!’ he exclaimed. = He gave an exclamation of Would have to is used when the obligation depends on
He said, ‘Let’s leave the case at the station’ = He pleasure. some future action, or when the fulfilment of the
suggested leaving the case at the station / He suggested ‘Ugh!’ she exclaimed, and turned the programme off. = obligation appears remote or uncertain, when must is
that we/ they should leave the case at the station. With an exclamation of disgust she turned the clearly replaceable by will have to:
But let’s not used alone in answers to an affirmative programme off. ‘If the floods get worse we must (will have to) leave the
suggestion is often reported by some phrase such as Other examples: house,’ he said. = He said that if the floods got worse
opposed the idea / was against it / objected: He said, ‘Thank you!’ = He thanked me. they would have to leave the house.
‘Let’s sell the house,’ said Tom. ‘Let’s not,’ said Ann. He said, ‘Curse this fog!’ = He cursed the fog. Had to is the usual form for obligations where times for
= Tom suggested selling the house but Ann was against He said, ‘good luck!’ = He wished me good luck. fulfilment have been fixed, or plans made, or when the
it. He said, ‘Happy Christmas!’ = He wished me a happy obligation is fulfilled fairly promptly, or at least by the
Let’s sometimes expresses a call to action. It is then Christmas. time the speech is reported:
usually reported by urge / advise + object + infinitive: He said, ‘Congratulations!’ = He congratulated me. Tom said, ‘I must be there by nine tomorrow’ = Tom
The strike leader said, ‘Let’s show the bosses that we He said, ‘Liar!’ = He called me a liar. said that he had to be there by nine the next day.
are united’ = The strike leader urged the workers to He said, ‘Damn!’ = He swore. Must not:
show the bosses that they were united. He called me a liar. I must not usually remains unchanged. You/ he must
He said, ‘Damn!’ = He swore. not remains unchanged or is expressed as a negative
‘It’s not my business,’ said the postman. ‘let the Yes and no are expressed in indirect speech by subject command.
government do something about it.’ = He said that it + appropriate auxiliary verb: He said, ‘You mustn’t tell anyone’ = He said that she
wasn’t his business and that the government ought to / He said, ‘Can you swim?’ and I said ‘No’. = He asked mustn’t tell /wasn’t to tell anyone. Or: He told her not
should do something about it. (me) if I could swim and I said I couldn’t. to tell anyone.
Exclamations and yes and no He said, ‘Will you have time to do it?’ and I said ‘Yes’. Needn’t
Exclamations usually become statements in indirect = he asked if I would have time to do it and I said I Needn’t can remain unchanged and usually does.
speech. The exclamation mark disappears. would. Alternatively it can change to didn’t have to/ wouldn’t
Exclamations beginning What (a)… or How … can be Must and needn’t have to :
reported Must used for deductions, permanent commands/ He said, ‘You needn’t wait’ = He said that I needn’t
• by exclaim / say that: prohibitions and to express intention remains wait.
He said, ‘What a dreadful idea!’ or ‘How dreadful!’ unchanged. Need I/ you/ he? Behaves exactly in the same way as
= He exclaimed that it was a dreadful idea / was Deductions: She said, ‘I’m always running into him; he must I/ you/ he?. It normally becomes had to:
dreadful. must live near here!’ = She said that … he must live in ‘Need I finish my pudding?’ asked the small boy. = The
the area. small boy asked if he had to finish his pudding.
• by give an exclamation of delight/ disgust/ horror/
relief/ surprise etc. Permanent command: He said, ‘This door must be kept
Other types of exclamations, such as Good! locked’ = He said that the door must be kept locked.
Marvellous! Splendid! Heavens! Oh! Ugh! etc. can be Must used casually to express intention: he said, ‘We
reported: must have a party to celebrate this.’ = He said that they
must have a party to celebrate it.’
• by give an exclamation of delight/ disgust/ horror/ Must used for obligation can remain unchanged.
relief/ surprise etc.
Information technology

For the development of the technology that exists today there were needed such
great scientists, like Benjamin Franklin, Michael Faraday and Alessandro Volta.
They all create or invented so radically new knowledge that means the basis of
any following invention. In case of communication appliances, the development
was possible thanks to the penetration of electricity. The first telegraphs were
created by Morse. However, these devices to be usable needed line
communication. It was followed by Bell’s invention which enabled to transmit
people’s speech. Hertz applying the electromagnetic waves established the basis
of radiotelecommunication. In the 19th century the model of the presently used
computers was introduced and it was made perfect by János Neumann. In the
middle of the 20th century a new branch of the electricity was developed, it is the
microelectronics. Following it, scientists were enabled to make inventions
relating to the space technology. Simultaneously some American company made
international contacts via satellites, with that telephone, telephotography,
electronic post services became available.
As for the future, technologies exist today including mobile phones or laptops
will play an important role invariably. Besides, more and more accessories will
be used. Due to the fact that the connection will be spread and the contents will
be digitalized, services will be available whenever and wherever.

With the help of computers people are able to arrange what they desire. Order
meals or buy products online and adjust official issues are all possible if we own
such a device. We don’t need to attend a library for collecting information, we
can send an e-mail immediately and spend time playing computer games.
Examining these specifics, it’s tellable that computers are the backbone of
international digital network.

Nowadays sending an e-mail is the easiest and maybe the most spread way of
the modern post. This method is far the fastest way of sending a letter; we just
have to type our message in and than click to send and the e-mail arrives in a
few minutes’.
Moreover people don’t need to spend money on stamps and spend time attend
post offices. Computer users often apply this facility of computers, they can get
notified about news, products, and it can be used instead of letter or the
expensive text messages. So the vast majority of the population sends and
receives e-mails, but the elderly may count as an exception.

In case of chatting, people use shorter sentences and words instead of longer
ones. Due to the fact that in this way we often type compact expressions, we can
easily get used to applying these incorrect phrases in verbal. It can mean a bit
problem and misunderstand between two generations. This subject can be
exmanined from a positive aspect. Some experts consider the chat to be the basis
of the birth of a new language.

The Web or its longer name World Wide Web is a part of the Internet. It’s
enable users to search information on websites or use the possibility to purchase
online. Most of the people have already downloaded any kind of file, decreasing
the CD and DVD sales number. As for me, I often look for pages from where I
can download films and at times I need to collect details and info to do my
homework. I also use the Messenger programme, like almost every student
nowadays.

E-commerce means an electric trade through the Internet, when the user or
customer can send a certain order to the maker or the trader. A long time ago the
problem caused by the large distance could be solved only with a large amount
of money. Today, when the number of the Internet users is increasing,
geography limit exists no longer. In this way, crowds of customers become
available for smaller corporations. From the customers’ aspect, this method is
much easier and more comfortable than the real shopping surroundings. People
don’t need to move away from their desk at the office or at home, there no
waiting line and we can choose from several methods of payment after ordering
a certain product. Following the arrival of the signal message about the order
can spend several days or weeks while our product arrives. Personal contact
doesn’t develop between the salesperson and the customer, but it’s not a
difficulty which can stop spreading this trade form.

From one side our life can be made easier using computers. On the other hand
building the telecommunication and the whole international economy depending
on computer networks is a risky attempt. Some people, hackers illegally steal
details from companies’ database using them to own aims.
The Hacker expression means such a computer expert, who knows the work of
computer systems on a high extend. These experts are well qualified
contributing to one or more parts of the computer technology and often they are
who create the operations on which computers and networks depend. However,
there is a relatively smaller group which consists of vandals and criminals. They
are usually called cracker which signal their wicked actions. Crackers actually
cause damages or commit a crime using operations created by real hackers.
They often get in large companies’ database and steal money or important
details. Nowadays, hacker expression is used for classic hackers and crackers as
well, and thanks to the media the meaning of the word is continually shifting
towards the misused definition.
The substantial difference is while hackers build, crackers destroy.
A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a
computer without the permission or knowledge of the owner. The term "virus" is
also commonly but incorrectly used to refer to other types of malware, adware,
and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability. A true virus can
only spread from one computer to another (in some form of executable code)
when its host is taken to the target computer; for instance because a user sent it
over a network or the Internet, or carried it on a removable medium such as a
floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB drive. Infected files on a network file system or
a file system accessed by another computer increase the likelihood of virus
spread.

Computer addiction is a new form of getting addicted, it has surfaced in the

recent years. There are several symptoms which can refer such kind of
addiction, like obsessively checking e-mail, playing online games for 12 hours
or more at a time, setting more value on chat-room friends than real friends,
neglecting family, work and even personal health and hygiene. Creating a single
definition for computer addiction is difficult because the term actually covers a
wide spectrum of addictions. If the computer use is so pervasive that it interferes
with other life activities, and if the user seems unable to stop using the computer
to excess despite negative consequences, the problem might be a computer
addiction. In this way these people aren’t able to live a normal and balanced life
with emotions and having an experience. All in all, there was enough reason to
open some clinics worldwide where experts and doctors help people to get over
this addiction.
 Jennifer Aniston
in the public eye
Jennifer started her career in 1990 with a forgettable film, of which title is How I spent my
summer. During the next years she was trying to become famous, but the series in which she
played quickly failed. In 1994 she went to the audition of Friends. Actually she applied for
the Monica’s role, but she was more successful as Rachel. In truth this series brought the fame
for her and the Friends proved to be prosperous, 10 seasons were made from it. Jennifer
became the most popular actress in the series; she and her hairdressing were followed by
crowds in the world. Moreover she got one million dollars for an episode in the last two
seasons, and it meant a record in the year of 2005. After finishing the play in Friends, she was
desired to be a leading actress in some romantic comedies, like the Brake up or Rumor has it.
Maybe the Along came Polly remained in the public knowledge. However, she hasn’t played
an extremely good role yet, but Jennifer is always in the public eye, and not permanently
because of her work. She has already got not manifold, yet some appreciations, she won a
Golden Globe and an Emmy price, thanks to the well-known Friends.

Robin Williams
the retirer talent
He has already stood out as a child with his great humour. The success arrived for him
quickly, his first series was lasting for 4 years and his first wide-screen film, the Popeye
established his reputation. In the 90’ he played in such famous films like Dead poets society
or Awakenings with Robert de Niro. Besides them, Robin W. acted in comedies; the Mrs.
Doubtfire is a really standard film. Well, he is an actor who is able to keep his feet in every
kind of film, in the area of drama, sci-fi, comedies, romantic comedies. R. W. counts as a
really praised actor, 4 Golden Globe awards and an Oscar statue were adjudged for him.
Juvenile delinquency refers to criminal acts performed by juveniles. Most legal systems
prescribe specific procedures for dealing with juveniles, such as juvenile detention centers.
There are a multitude of different theories on the causes of crime, most if not all of which can
be applied to the causes of youth crime. Youth crime is an aspect of crime which receives
great attention from the news media and politicians. A Juvenile Delinquent is one who
repeatedly commits crime, however these juvenile delinquents could most likely have mental
disorders/behavioral issues such as schizophrenia, post traumatic stress disorder, conduct
disorder[3] or bipolar disorder.

Theories on the causes of youth crime can be viewed as particularly important within
criminology.
• Classical criminology stresses that causes of crime lie within the individual offender,
rather than in their external environment. For classicists, offenders are motivated by
rational self-interest, and the importance of free will and personal responsibility is
emphasised[1]. Rational choice theory is the clearest example of this approach.
• The theory of Differential association also deals with young people in a group context,
and looks at how peer pressure and the existence of gangs could lead them into crime.
It suggests young people are motivated to commit crimes by delinquent peers, and
learn criminal skills from them

What should I do if my child has been arrested?

The answer to this question depends on the nature and seriousness of the offense. The typical
juvenile delinquent has 10 to 12 brushes with the law before a formal finding of guilt. In most
cases, a juvenile's first offense is a misdemeanor that results in a citation(beidézés) being
issued by the arresting officers and the juvenile being released into the custody(felügyelet) of
the legal guardian. For more serious offenses, the juvenile may be placed into custody at a
juvenile detention center, commonly known as Juvenile Hall, pending a court hearing. In
either case, the juvenile will be assigned an attorney by the court. With the advise of this
attorney, the juvenile can either plead guilty to the charges or request a trial. If the juvenile is
then found guilty, it will be up to the judge to determine proper disposition of the juvenile.
This could be anything from conditional release to the legal guardian, probation, placement
with the Department of Children's Services, or mandatory placement in a detention center.
Juvenile delinquency laws were designed to provide treatment, rather than punishment, for
juvenile offenders. Young delinquents usually are sent to juvenile courts, where the main aim
is to rehabilitate offenders, rather than to punish them. But the term juvenile delinquency
itself has come to imply disgrace (hátrányos megkülönböztetést von maga után) in today's
society. A youngster can be labeled a delinquent
for breaking any one of a number of laws, ranging from robbery to running away from home.

It is equally important that you take this incident as a warning sign that your child is in need
of help. Do not expect that this problem will go away on it's own, or that your child will just
grow out of it. The main purpose of any judicial proceeding is to provide the juvenile with the
services and supervision needed to address the circumstances which led to the juvenile's
behavior. It is often the result of escalating problematic behavior, which if caught early can be
redirected to a more positive path.
Survey

In remarks addressing a recent news conference on youth and school violence, Attorney
General Eric Holder drew attention to “a call to action to address a challenge that affects the
entire nation.”

A significant part of that challenge is the exposure(kitettség) of children to violence, and the
Attorney General announced the release of findings from the National Survey of Children's
Exposure to Violence in the first of a series of bulletins on the survey to be published by the
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

“The results are staggering,” he declared. “More than 60 percent of the children surveyed
were exposed to violence in the past year, either directly or indirectly. Nearly half of children
and adolescents were assaulted(megtámad) at least once, and more than one in ten were
injured as a result. Nearly one-quarter were the victim of a robbery, vandalism or theft, and
one in sixteen were victimized sexually.”

“Those numbers are astonishing,” he concluded, “and they are unacceptable.”

Delinquency Prevention is the broad term for all efforts aimed at preventing youth from
becoming involved in criminal, or other antisocial, activity. Increasingly, governments are
recognizing the importance of allocating resources(félretesz) for the prevention of
delinquency. With the development of delinquency in youth being influenced by numerous
factors, prevention efforts are comprehensive in scope (minden részletre kiterjedő).
Prevention services include activities such as family counseling, youth mentoring, parenting
education, educational support, and youth sheltering.

There are also a number of wilderness therapy programs and therapeutic boarding schools that
specialize in treating children and teens with emotional and behavioral issues. These
therapeutic programs can help teens learn to respect rules, find healthy ways to get their
underlying emotional needs met, and get them back on track before lasting damage is done.
 ORIGO (ITK) TÉTELEK (KÖZÉPFOK)
2008. OKTÓBER
1. ÉN ÉS A CSALÁDOM 7. EGÉSZSÉG, EGÉSZSÉGMEGŐRZÉS, SPORT

• bemutatkozás • testi és lelki egészség, egészséges életmód

• személyes információk • testápolás
• a család, barátok, rokonok bemutatása • betegség megelőzése, a betegség kezelése, betegápolás
• saját maga és családtagjai foglalkozása. ezzel • orvosnál
kapcsolatos tervek, elképzelések • gyógyszerek, gyógymódok
• harmadik személy külső megjelenésének, belső • orvosi szolgáltatások, biztosítás
tulajdonságainak, szokásainak leírása
• dohányzás, alkohol-és drogfogyasztás
• családi ünnepek, családi tradíciók
• sport: sportolási lehetőségek, sportágak
• tömegsport és versenysport
2. AZ OTTHON ÉS A SZŰKEBB KÖRNYEZET

8. VÁSÁRLÁS ÉS SZOLGÁLTATÁSOK
• a ház vagy lakás leírása
• a környék és a környezet leírása
• vásárlás, különösen élelmiszer, ruha és háztartási cikkek
• a város v. település, ill. kerület bemutatása, ahol lakik vásárlása
• otthonteremtés, lakáshelyzet; az ideális lakóhely • vásárlási lehetőségek és tapasztalatok
• a lakásfenntartás kérdései (költségek) • árak, a fizetés módjai
• diákszálló, albérlet: házirend, lehetőségek és tiltások • különböző üzlettípusok
• generációk együttélése • vásárlási szokások, ajándékozás
• munkák a házban és a ház körül • hirdetések, reklám
• szolgáltatások: posta, telefon, bank, Internet,
3. A MUNKA VILÁGA, NAPI TEVÉKENYSÉG rendőrség, diplomáciai képviselet, autójavítás, fodrász,
tisztító, stb.

• szokásos napi tevékenység otthon és a munkahelyen

• a szolgáltatások leírása, ezzel kapcsolatos tapasztalatok

• munkahely, munkakör, további tervek

9. UTAZÁS
• pályaválasztás
• népszerű foglalkozások, kereseti lehetőségek
• munkahelyi körülmények: előmenetel, munkával • utazási formák: üzleti út és turistaút, egyéni és
kapcsolatos problémák szervezett utazás
• munkahelyszerzés, munkanélküliség, szociális • utazás autóval, vonattal, hajóval és repülővel, ezek
problémák használata üzleti út és nyaralás során
• szálláslehetőségek, kemping
4. A TANULÁS VILÁGA • utazási irodai szolgáltatások
• utazási élmények

• a tanulással kapcsolatos napi tevékenység

• a külföldi tartózkodással kapcsolatos tudnivalók

• iskolájával, a tantárgyakkal, tanárokkal kapcsolatos

információk 10. ÉTKEZÉS
• iskolai hagyományok, iskolai élmények
• szervezett és önálló tanulás, egész életen át tartó • étkezési szokások
tanulás • étterem és más vendéglátó helyek
• iskolatípusok, vizsgák, értékelés, osztályzás • egészséges étkezés
• egy-két étel elkészítése
5. KAPCSOLATOK MÁS EMBEREKKEL: MAGÁNÉLET ÉS • otthoni vendéglátás, meghívás
KÖZÉLET
• a magyar konyha jellegzetességei

• barátok, ismerősök, iskola- és munkatársak 11. KÖZLEKEDÉS

• öltözködés, divat
• összejövetelek, egyesületi és klubélet, levelezés
• helyi és távolsági közlekedés leírása (megközelítési
• társasági élet lehetőségek)
• civil szervezetek • közlekedési eszközök (tömegközlekedés, autó, kerékpár,
• közbiztonság egyéb)
• autótartás
6. SZABADIDŐ, SZÓRAKOZÁS, KULTÚRA • jogosítvány
• esélyegyenlőség a közlekedésben (idősek, kisgyerekkel
közlekedők, gyerekek, mozgássérültek)
• a szabadidő eltöltése, szórakozási lehetőségek
• egyéni érdeklődés, hobbik
• közlekedési szabályok, közlekedési morál (autóvezetők
és gyalogosok, járműveken utazók, motorosok,
• színház, mozi, opera, koncert kerékpárosok)
• tévé (műsorfajták), újság, rádió • közlekedési gondok, közlekedésfejlesztés
• olvasás: könyvtár, olvasmányok, kedvenc könyve • közlekedésbiztonság
 ORIGO (ITK) TÉTELEK (KÖZÉPFOK)
2008. OKTÓBER
12. KOMMUNIKÁCIÓ

• az idegen nyelvek szerepe és fontossága

• nyelvtanulási módszerek és lehetőségek
• a számítógép szerepe a mindennapokban
• Internet
• a számítógép előnyei és hátrányai
• tömegtájékoztatás és véleményformálás (tévé, rádió,
sajtó)
• a kapcsolattartás egyéb eszközei (telefon, fax, mobil)

13. TÁGABB KÖRNYEZETÜNK, A TERMÉSZET VILÁGA

• természeti környezetünk (növények, állatok)

• éghajlat
• a környezetünket fenyegető veszélyek
• mindennapi környezetvédelem (a környezet tisztasága,
szelektív hulladékgyűjtés, energiatakarékosság,
újrahasznosítás)
• időjárás: az évszakokra jellemző időjárás, aktuális
időjárás

14. MAGYARORSZÁG

• Magyarország természeti értékei

• tájak, egy-egy város leírása, turisztikai nevezetességek
• alapvető földrajzi és történelmi ismeretek
• a főváros és/vagy szülővárosa legfontosabb
nevezetességei
• hagyományos és nemzeti ünnepek
• szokások
• nemzetiségek Magyarországon, magyar nemzetiségek
más országokban
• kulturális értékeink
• Magyarország politikai berendezkedése (államforma,
többpártrendszer, parlament, önkormányzatok)

15. A CÉLNYELV ORSZÁGA(I) ÉS AZ EU

• a célnyelvi ország(ok) főbb jellemzői (fekvés, nagyság,

főváros, pénznem, államforma, parlament)
• a legismertebb földrajzi értékek (éghajlat, tájak,
városok) és turisztikai nevezetességek
• néhány történelmi esemény
• ismertebb ünnepek, szokások
• a mindennapok kultúrája (étkezés, közlekedés, a társas
érintkezés formái)
• kulturális értékek
 1-2 Róna Street
Miskolc
3534

The Director
T-mobile Company
High Street
London
EZ2 GE3

28 September 2009

Dear Mr Smith,
I am writing to make a complaint about one of your products. I purchased a
mobile phone in a T-mobile shop 2 weeks ago exactly and I have already had a problem with
this appliance.

All the operations work in a suitable way, only the camera of the appliance
does not work properly. At first, I tried to help the situation by reading the user’s guide. I
followed all the points accurately but I did not manage to use the zoom function. I believe it is
a manufacture error and I hope that it was a good decision to turn to you for help.

I would be so grateful if you could send another device if the mine cannot be
repaired. In that case if it is not a company policy to provide another phone I would be also
pleased if you refunded the price of the mobile.

Thank you for your help in advance. I am look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,
Rita Nagy
 Love actually

This romantic comedy introduces the love from several aspects.

We meet a love which lasts a lifetime and an unspoken one between two youngs. Somewhere
the love counts as a second language in case of the English writer and the Portuguese woman.
And of course, the young Prime Minister falls in love as well, showing that the love and
politics can get on well with each other.
The story is quite a lifelike one, just the lots of cooing lovers paint a roseate world, but it is
entirely allowed in a romantic film.
The shooting happened in some regions of France an din London, of course. The calm and
reserved parts of the film were shot in France in the green nature with a lake nearby. The
more lively life acts in the crowded London which has anyway a really ferial atmosphere
during Christmas.
This film was made in 2003 and the story reflects exactly this time. Although this time can be
called a modern world, there is an old-fashioned love in the film. That scene refers to it, when
the writer marches through the town with the citizens behind him to find the woman whom he
longs for.
There is nobody who behaves in an extremely eccentric way, but everybody is a personality.
Like Billy Mack, the aged singer or Colin who wants to conquer the USA and the American
girls too.
 Meals

In most houses the meals are breakfast, lunch and supper. Supper is usually a cold meal for
which nothing is cooked. In an English home, however, four meals are served; they are breakfast,
lunch, tea and dinner. Dinner is the most important meal of the day and they serve hot dishes for it. An
English breakfast consists of cornflakes and porridge, bacon and eggs or ham and eggs with fried
beans, tomato or mushrooms, buttered toast or bread and butter with marmalade. Some orange juice is
drunk before breakfast and either tea or coffee is drunk after it. A continental breakfast is much less
substantial. We just have some buttered rolls with honey or marmalade or some sausages or eggs.
In different parts of Britain people call their meals different names. For most people the main
meal of the day is called dinner. But some families eat this at mid-day, while others eat it in the
evening. People who have dinner in the evening have a smaller meal called lunch at mid-day, and
people who have dinner at mid-day usually have another meal (which they call tea) between five and
six o’clock, or they have supper a little later.
I have breakfast at home. It is my mother/me who prepares it. I usually eat some cold cuts with
rolls, green pepper or tomato/toast/bread and butter and drink tea/milk. Lunch is the second meal of
the day and people have it between twelve and half past two. I usually have lunch in the school
canteen/at home. Lunch consists of three courses: first comes some soup (clear, vegetable, meat, pea,
bean or fruit soup). The second course is either some meat (a pork chop, a slice of roast beef, some
poultry or fish) with garnish (mashed potatoes, chips or rice) or with some vegetable dish made from
green peas, split peas, French beans, spinach or sorrel. The second course may also be some noodles,
pancakes, strudel (filled with fruit, cottage cheese, cabbage or poppy-seed), scones or doughnuts. The
third course is always some cake or depending on the season of the year fresh or stewed fruit.
Hungarian cuisine is very delicious. It has a good reputation and the foreigners who come here
find our dishes very tasty. The most well-known Hungarian dishes are: fish soup, Goulash, paprika
chicken with sour cream, stuffed cabbage, noodles with ground poppy-seed and sugar, with cabbage or
roasted paprika potatoes, noodles with cottage cheese, sour cream and scraps of roasted bacon, Újházi
chicken broth. In Hungary we use a lot of paprika, which is a spice that makes our dishes very hot and
tasty. We eat a lot of meat and prepare most of the meat dishes with sour cream.
Many foreigners tend to think that English food is tasteless and that the English eat everything
with chips and overcooked vegetables. I don’t know much about English food. Some English dishes
that I have heard of are: roast beef (traditionally eaten on Sunday; it is served with roast potatoes,
vegetables and gravy: a sauce made from meat juices and stock, thickened with flour), Christmas
pudding, Yorkshire pudding, shepherd’s pie. Britain’s most popular „fast food” is fish and chips. They
are served over the counter wrapped in paper. More recently, the British diet has been enriched by the
vast array of ethnic foods, from Indian and Italian to Chinese and Thai. Indeed curry – a spicy dish
with meat, fish or vegetables – is now Britain’s most popular meal. Afternoon tea is taken between
four and five. The members of the family come together in the sitting- room and eat bread and butter
and cakes with the tea and have a good chat with each other.
In recent years there has been a change in eating habits: the growing popularity of health
foods. People now want to eat food which they know is good for them. Health foods can mean
different things to different people. For some people it can mean eating more honey or brown sugar
and less white sugar. But for others it can mean not eating any food which has chemicals in it. A lot of
people now recognize that the chemicals which food companies add to our foods are bad for us, and so
they try not to eat those foods. Instead they often grow their own fruit and vegetables in their garden.
Some people are even more careful about their food. They will not eat meat at all. They are
vegetarians.
I can/ cannot cook and/but I like eating. My favourite dish is very simple and it is easy to
prepare. It is breaded pork cutlet.
In many families both parents work, which means that if meals are prepared at home, they
have to be quick to make. More and more families use so-called convenience foods: tinned/canned,
frozen, pre-baked etc.
 Miskolc

Miskolc, the third largest town in the country, is known for its industrial traditions as well as its rich
history and culture. Miskolc is the county seat of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county and a regional centre from
industrial, commercial and cultural aspects. It is in the north-east of Hungary. By the number of inhabitants after
the capital and Debrecen it is the third largest city in Hungary.
Its monuments are of outstanding interest: the Greek Orthodox Church, which was built in baroque
style, is decorated with the largest iconostas (16 metres tall) in Central Europe. Building began in 1785 by the
Greek community who had escaped from the Turkish rage in the Balkan during the 17th-18th century. The Avas
Hill is known for its wine cellars. The Avas lookout tower offers a panorama of the city. The last tower made of
wood was burnt down. The present one was built between 1962 and 1963. The lookout tower is 71 metres tall.
The oldest historic building of Miskolc is the Protestant Church on the Avas hill, built originally in the 14th
century. Next to this, there is the picturesque bell tower (belfry), which was built in 1557 and used as an emblem
of the town for a long time. Since 1941 its chimes have been the signal of the Miskolc Studio of the Hungarian
Radio. Its typical beauty is emphasized by the environment, which includes the oldest cemetery of the town.
Another church worth visiting is the Plank Church. The entrance of the churchyard is a beautifully carved so
called Székely-gate. There was a wooden church on this spot in 1698, which was rebuilt several times. The
church was burnt on December 4th, 1997. The wooden church has been entirely rebuilt from public contributions
on the base of the original plans.
The so-called Rákóczy house is one of the oldest houses of Miskolc. It has been the new central building
of the Miskolc Gallery since May 1996. The Miskolc National Theatre is unique amongst the classicist buildings
of Miskolc. This stone-built theatre was opened on 24th of August 1823. It was the first stone-built theatre in the
country. The complex itself consists of the main theatre, the Scene Studio Theatre, the Hall and the Summer
Theatre. The Museum of the History of the Theatre was handed over in the autumn of 1996. The theatre’s new
summer programme has made the cultural life of the whole town lively. This is the Opera Festival. The Herman
Ottó Museum used to be the oldest school of the town. The building itself has been a museum since 1899.
Miskolc is considered as a town of schools with its numerous primary and secondary schools. The University of
Miskolc honours the Selmec University as its predecessor. The Miskolc Heavy Industrial and Technological
University started in 1949 with the Engineering and Metallurgical Faculty in some buildings of the town
available for this purpose. At the end of the 80's the establishment became known as the University of Miskolc
and the Faculties of Law, Economics and Arts were founded. On one of the walls of the assembly hall built in
1980's there is a work by Szász Endre.
The medieval, four-tower Diósgyõr Castle was the dowry of Hungarian queens. The exhibition in the
round tower and the annual historical castle show in August recall those times. The stone made castle was built
in 1262-1270. Until the middle of the 16th century the castle was owned by wives and brides of several kings.
Owing to the constant restoration the Diósgyőr Castle is one of the most important medieval monuments of the
country. The Diósgyőr Castle is not only a beauty spot but it also holds international and national open-air
performances. It has been open to visitors only since 1960.
In neighbouring Újmassa, the Massa Museum presents the history of Diósgyõr iron production. The
Garadna trout farm, the Bánkút ski centre and the lookout places of the Bükk Mountains are also worth visiting.
Miskolc-Tapolca`s thermal cave bath is a natural formation. The water, rich in minerals, and the
crystalline air of the cave have a healing effect on heart and vascular, rheumatic and respiratory disorders.
Bathing here is an awesome experience, thanks to the special light effects, the underground stream and the
bubble bath. The Cave-bath opened in 1959 lessens the pain of those people who suffer from asthma. The lake
used for rowing on the side of the forest is surrounded by trees in leaf and varied with islands.
Lillafüred is a health-resort built on the meeting point of the Garadna and Szinva valley, on the side of
the Hámori Lake. The place took its name from Lilla Vay who was the wife of the minister of agriculture Count
Bethlen András. The route leading from Miskolc to Lillafüred leads onto one of the most beautiful ravines of the
country. The name of Lillafüred is associated with the beautifully furnished Palace Hotel built between 1927 and
1930. The hotel is surrounded by a terraced hanging garden and a huge park. The lake itself is not natural. The
murmur of the waterfall of the Szinva tumbling down beside the Palace Hotel also belongs to the atmosphere of
Lillafüred. Remarkable sights of the area of the holiday resort are the caves, famous for their dripstones and
archaeological findings from the prehistoric times. Lillafüred can be reached from Miskolc on either public road
or by narrow-gauge railway. The railway opened in 1921 and goes through a beautiful rocky land and
picturesque valleys. The Szent István Cave, which is a stalactite cave, was opened for the public in 1931. The
clime of the cave soothes the autonomic nervous system and eases the tormenting cough typical of people
suffering from asthma. The Szent Anna Cave, near the waterfall, is a tuff cave in the wall of the hanging garden.
The Szeleta Cave is a cave north-east of Lillafüred on the crest of the hill, 96 metres above the road in a steep
rock. The results of its excavation toured round the world in 1906. Cavemen's finely made implements were
found there.
 My dwelling

I live in a terraced house in Diógyőr. There is a large, apricot coloured building along
the road to Pereces. Well, I live there for the sixth years.

In that environment both of the modernism and old-style buildings are noticeable.
Collaterally with the building of this terraced house, several detached house were being
raised. However, out of them there are only dirty and mouldy dwellings in the surroundings.
There is no possibility to have fun or go out in the evenings here, only one entertainment
complex is in 10 minutes’ walk from my home, this is the Fontana. As far as transport is
concerned, the bus stop is close by us and the tramway is only a couple of minutes to walk,
well I should have nothing to complain of the transport.
A green playground is situated in the inside part of the house. Therefore many families
with children like living here. The air is better than in the city, because of Bükk nearby and
the traffic through there is minimal.
We live on the first floor and in addition there is only one neighbour besides us.
From the lobby the living room is approachable directly since there is no door. We have a
kitchen and a living room of about equal size with a cross-over too. Due to the fact that there
isn’t a door anywhere and the lobby, kitchen and living room is traversable from one to the
other there is a feeling of an open, spacey area. Anyway our flat is not so spacious, mainly not
the two bedrooms we have with my brothers. In my snug the warm colours dominate like
orange, yellow and ivory-white.
The reason why we have moved in Miskolc from Kazincbarcika since 5 year is the hope
of more exciting life with more facilities and of course the named school where I learn. We
spent that summer moving in and furnishing. Some family friends lent a hand, so the carriage
was managed quite fast and my father didn’t have to toil at the adjusting alone.
Although there was some restorations since then the most pieces of furniture were not
changed only the colour of the walls.

I will be living here for 2 years definitely but I am planning to go a medical university to
Debrecen so I will probably live further. I can easily imagine my life with my own family in
Miskolc, due to the developing.
 Describing a person : my grandfather

My grandfather is really a person about whom I have so many memories to

remember. He lives a quite ordinary life in a small city with a small family.
He is a typical elderly grandpa who sometimes resembles of Santa Claus.
Although, he doesn’t have so long a beard but really gives the impression of
being such a good person, like S.C. with his grey hair, big belly and smiling
face.
He owns a great number of positive features ranging from being generous to
having good sense of humour. In his early thirties he definitely counted as a joke
maker based on the relatives’ experience. Although, nowadays this funny
attitude is less typical of my grandpa, he became more serious and more
restrained,yet I still enjoy and smile at his jokes and cheek my grandma. I keep
him a generous person, since he would always give his last bit to his
grandchildren.
On the other hand, my grandma is not able to get my grandpa to go to
department stores or shops – he is a real man with some manly typicalities. So,
my grandma sometimes has to purchase men clothes on her own or if I am in
Barcika I can help her buy some articles. In this way my grandparents absolutely
complete each other, like two pieces of puzzle.
My grandparents have a relatively spacious site with a cosy weekend house on
it. My grandpa regularly goes there from the city and spends some hours at this
spot. He has been very caring about to this big garden for 20 years. Moreover,
he has a passion for his vine-stocks and making his own wine. He has already
deserve a great number of praises thanks to his popular red wine.
In brief, it is my grandpa’s introduction, whose 70th birthday was celebrated
last year.
 My ideal house

If I had a chance to live in my dream-home it surely would be such a home where I can
walk into with pleasure and where I feel in sure. The best would be if I could live near the city
but in green surrounding as well.

I would like to have a noticeable but of course not a tawdry house with suitable size
garden. I consider the houses with mediterranean style especially aesthetic ones. The garden
would be suitable to have a grill party or to have enough place to play with the children or
tend the flowerbed.
In my opinion a house of 200 square metre would be perfectly enough to live a spacious
house. As I have lived before this only in not too roomy flats, firstly I desire comfortable one.
I would like to maintain a room for all my children and I think two bathrooms are needed too,
mainly in the mornings.
The kitchen would be next to the living room directly without door. By the way it gives a
feeling of an open, spacey area and its furnishing is also more practically. I would like to put
windows to many places, because I would like to use artificial light only for decorate.
Anyway the sunshine is a surprisingly good effect to me so the kitchen and the living room
would be very light and decorated with plans and hidden lightning. I hope bright kitchen will
filled the delicious smells of the fresh cakes and the house will full of the delightful sound of
birds singing.
I am the enthusiast of the modern furnishing, but besides it I relish the oriental furniture.
Now I would like made a part of my wall in my room painted to purple and the other
dominating colours would be the green and the dark shaded wood.

This is my imagination about my ideal house in which I would like to spend my life as
an adult and as a parent.
The Hurricane Kathrina passed east of New Orleans on August 29, 2005 with a huge wind in
the category 3 range. By August 31, 2005, eighty percent of New Orleans was flooded, and
somewhere 5 meter high buildings were covered by water. Ninety percent of the residents of
southeast Louisiana were evacuated successfully, but the poor and elderly remained. Many
who remained in their homes had to swim for their lives, wade through deep water, or remain
trapped in their attics or on their rooftops. The number of deaths are estimated to be 1400. The
disaster was indicated in advance to Washington. The experts had already known the result of
the flooding which hit New Orleans and towns nearby. They foresaw that the rescue team will
be able to work hard because many roads will be blocked and 300 hundred thousands people
will be trapped. The Mayor declared the evacuation in the morning and he asked the residents
not to use the shelter just there isn’t other choice. Everybody tried to leave there home and got
into there cars, so the roads were fully with cars and the worried crowds. Several countries
gave a hand to the destroyed city and they sent aids to reduce the pain of the victims.
 Old days and today
In the pictures there is the same city but in other age of the life.
The school is at the same place than in the old times and visibly was not renovated
greatly. However, the other parts of the buildings varied as for the function. The old
newsagent is converted into a pub and the stylish café and the relevant chemist exists no
longer. Instead of them, the citizens can get amused in a theatre in the evenings. On the
onetime hotel several modernisms are already noticeable. The shops remind me of the old
times disappeared like the greengrocer and now there is an office-block or a modern dwelling-
house at that place. The former green environment is replaced by manifold skyscrapers and
the fields along the roads are already away so playing children aren’t visible. The dirt road is
changed by blacktop and the vehicles on it too. There are no chariots, but now many cars
pollute the air. However, there is a problem which I found, namely the situation of the school.
This is a squeezed part of the city where the children have to oversee.
As for my personal opinion, I feel better in a city than in a deserted village. I would
miss the entertainment facilities, large shops, schools and the important establishments.

Hawaii
For an enjoyable, fun-filled holiday there are several facilities. If sy wants a holiday of a
lifetime, a Hawaiian experience is definitely one not to be missed.
Over 7 million visitors come to experience this paradise annually, but the islands aren't so
crushed with sun-baked tourists and cooing honeymooners that it could be annoying. Hawaii
is famous for its sunlit, for its pleasant and hot tropical nights. Even so the most valuable
treasure in Hawaii is the famous hospitality. Furthermore eating out is an enjoyable
experience with a variety of food offered in manifold restaurants and if you wish in some
more exclusive hotels. There is an ample choice in accommodations’ ranging from jungle
lodges to a luxurious resort.
Although a holiday in Hawaii might be more expensive but it's definitely a good choice to
have a holiday of a lifetime.
 1. ÉN ÉS A CSALÁDOM

• I’m Peter Somogyi. My friends call me Soma and my family

- bemutatkozás
Peti. I’m twenty eight years old and I was born in Ajka on the sixteenth of
October in nineteen seventy-nine. I’m single and about one hundred and - személyes információk
eighty centimeter tall and weigh about seventy kilos. I work at a company
- a család, barátok, rokonok
called Continental here in Veszprém (a company manufacturing spare parts bemutatása
of the cars). I work as a quality engineer to be more precise measuring
- saját maga és családtagjai
technician. I’ve been working there since the end of the last year. I like my foglalkozása. ezzel kapcsolatos
job and my colleagues. I have to measure different dimensions on some tervek, elképzelések
head sensors every day and in the end I have to give the results about them
- harmadik személy külső
to the customer. megjelenésének, belső
tulajdonságainak, szokásainak leírása
• I come from a small family and live with my parents. There
- családi ünnepek, családi tradíciók
are four of us: my mum, my dad, my grandmother and me. Anyway, my
grandmother doesn’t live with us, but we live close enough to her. We live at five Verseny Street, in Ajka on
the second floor of a big block of flats. My parents are in their fifties, they are quite youngish. Unfortunately, I
grew up as an only child. I would always have liked to have a brother or a sister with whom I could share my
problems. My father is an old age pensioner but my mother still goes out work. My father has been retired for
eight years. He used to work as a miner and now he works for a small shop called Etalon-Electronic. He helps
anyone who would like to buy any fittings such as LCDs, DVD players, notebooks, etc. He is of medium
height, his body is average and he has got brown hair. He wears glasses for driving and reading. He has been a
very big instrumental guitar music collector since I knew him. My mother was born in the same year as my
father. She is fifty-three years old. She works at the local police station. As she sometimes works a lot therefore
she is very tired and anxious because of her job. Although she tries to be patient with us every day. My
grandmother was born before The Second World War. Her name is Etelka. She is a seventy-eight year-old-
modern lady, because she has got a mobile phone and a DVD player, too. She makes the lunch for us on
weekdays. My extended family is my three cousins and their parents. Because of the simplicity both of my
parents have got a sibling. My mother’s elder sister is Teri and her husband is my godfather called Misi. They
have got only a daughter called Szilvi, my elder cousin and two grandchildren. My father’s elder brother and
his wife have got two daughters. They work as a nurse in the Hospital of Veszprém. The elder one is called Évi,
she has got a son and the younger, Ági is single yet. All of them live in Ajka similarly to us.
• My father is fifty-three years old. He is of medium height. He wears a beard and a moustache
therefore he doesn’t have to shave every day. He has got a round face and a bit turned-up nose and brown eyes.
His hair is getting grey. He has got a thin body and narrow shoulders. He wears glasses. He has a thin lips and
expressive face. He hasn’t got wrinkles in spite of his age. He has been retired for years. He is interested in
instrumental guitar music, he is a great collector. He works at a shop although he is and old age pensioner. I get
on well with him, because he is understanding and patient. He is good mannered and sociable and he has got a
lot of friends. Sometimes he is moody and he has a good sense of humor and he usually is cheerful. He is
married and he is a reliable husband. I hope I’ve got my father’s personality. He is fond of shopping and he
likes going from shops top shops watching the prices every morning. My mum is very proud of him. My
mother is very careful of her appearance. She is as about tall as my father also she is of average height. Her hair
is rather red but it changes color according to fashion because she has it dyed. She has got a shoulder-length
hair and it’s a bit curly. She has a round face with a pointed nose, a wide mouth and green eyes. She has got a
thin body and narrow shoulders. She doesn’t wear glasses. She has full lips and has got wrinkles here and there.
She is interested in reading books. She is a good mannered woman and she is witty, very honest and permissive
with me. She worries about me if I go out with my friends or I leave home. She has luck, because she doesn’t
have to cook on weekdays only at weekends. Thanks godness, she always cooks what I like eating. She is a bit
self-controlled, modest and she is always casually dressed. She is fond of hoeing in the garden and talking with
the neighbours at her parental home.

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 1. ÉN ÉS A CSALÁDOM

FAMILY OCCASIONS, TRADITIONS IN HUNGARY

Christmas: Our family is not really that traditional. We don’t often go to church, only for weddings and
funerals. We used to try to go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve, but when it got around to midnight,
everyone was usually too drunk or had eaten too much or was too tired to walk a mile up to the church. At
Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, The Saviour of men. A week before X-mas, carol singers
appear in the streets to announce the approach of the festival. They carry a Christmas crib with them and go
from house to house performing the nativity play. It relates the story of Christ's birth and the appearance of the
three kings bringing presents to the son of god. We always send postcards to our distant relatives wishing
“Merry X-mas”. December 24th is Xmas Eve. The Xmas tree, a fir or pine, is decorated and children are given a
lot of presents. Most families go to the midnight service in church. On the first and second day of Xmas
families have big meals and visit each other in the afternoons. On Christmas Day the family gathers round the
table to partake of the traditional Hungarian Christmas lunch. Two things are essential parts of this meal:
stuffed cabbage and poppy-seed cake. The rest of the meal is usually chicken soup followed by pork chops or
turkey.
New Year’s Eve: On New Year's Eve people sit up till after midnight to see the new year in. At
midnight we sing the national anthem and drink champagne and then we wish to each other “Happy New
Year”. Some people go to parties and dances others watch comic shows on TV. We usually stay up until dawn.
Easter: At Easter we celebrate Jesus Christ's Resurrection that is the rising of Jesus from the tomb 3
days after his Crucifixion. Most Easter traditions are associated with Easter Monday when boys set out to call
on their female friends and relatives and sprinkle them with perfume or water. Girls, in return, treat them to
home-made cakes or some drinks and present them with eggs painted mainly red, green or yellow. Children are
also presented at Easter with either some chocolate eggs or a chocolate Easter bunny and an Easter chick. A
typical Easter Sunday breakfast consists of ham and hard-boiled eggs. There are no set dishes that we eat for
lunch at Easter. As a general rule however, we usually have chicken soup, pork, beef or veal cutlet followed by
some desert.
We celebrate birthdays, name days, wedding anniversaries, mother’s day and commemorate our close
relatives or friends on funerals.
Birthday or name day: on that day I invite my relatives, my friends and give a big party. Our small
family gathers round the table and we spend on talking, eating and discussing family matters in the afternoon.
They wish me “Happy birthday/name day (happy returns of the day)”. My mother usually prepares (or makes
cakes) a chocolate layer cake with many candles on it. She loves baking so she sometimes makes at least three
kinds of cakes for the occasion. If the weather is nice, we have a little garden party at my mother’s parental
home. We take the chairs and the tables out and put the pre-prepared snacks, sandwiches and drinks on them. I
always get some gifts; however, I can be happy about the small one, too.
Wedding: people sometimes can’t help falling in love with each other. In case the end of this situation is
usually a marriage apart from your childhood’s love. There is an old tradition including you ask your dear’s
hand. It is called the proposal. Traditionally the man goes down on one knee to pop the question. If he receives
a "yes", the couple is engaged. Traditionally the man buys his fiancée an engagement ring, most commonly a
diamond ring. Then some of us want to have an engagement party. Then the couple has to draw up a guest list,
send out invitations, buy the wedding dress, arrange a honeymoon, and of course, to select the wedding rings.
People can get married either in a church or in a registry office. In the latter case there must be two witnesses.
Most people, however, prefer to have a church wedding too, with the bride in white attended by her
bridesmaids and the bridegroom in black attended by his best men. After the wedding ceremony there is a large
reception where an enormous meal is eaten, the wedding cake is cut and toasts are drunk in whisky or sherry.
The guests are dressed in their best clothes and dance to accordion music. Old traditions such as dancing with
the bride at midnight and the bride leaving to change clothes after the dance are still kept at most wedding
parties. In addition to it the happy couple traditionally goes on honeymoon.
The members of the wider family only meet at weddings, funerals and christenings. Some of them may
turn up around the time of your name day or birthday to say many happy returns but most of them prefer to
write cards. There is only one sad occasion, which no one likes and it is called funeral. We usually take a
wreath containing flowers to the burial for the tomb.

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 2. AZ OTTHON ÉS A SZŰKEBB KÖRNYEZET
• I come from a small-sized industrial town called Ajka, in the Centre - a ház vagy lakás leírása
of the Transdanubian region (from the western part of Hungary). Ajka is
situated along the line diving the Bakony Hills region. Two important routes - a környék és a környezet leírása
pass through here, to the north Highway 8, which runs east to west, and in - a város v. település, ill. kerület
the middle region, the Székesfehérvár-Szombathely railway line. The Torna bemutatása, ahol lakik
stream flows through the inner part of the town. It has a population of - otthonteremtés, lakáshelyzet; az
35.000. But sometimes there are a lot of people coming from villages to do ideális lakóhely
the shopping. My town is about 130 kilometres far from the capital. - a lakásfenntartás kérdései
Ajka received its name its one-time owner called Heiko. Heiko was a (költségek)
warrior who came to Hungary with Gisely, wife of King Stephen. The - diákszálló, albérlet: házirend,
town’s development was founded on industry. As early as 1836 coal was lehetőségek és tiltások
discovered in Ajkacsingervölgy. Our glass factory is famous all over the - generációk együttélése
world, its products have been transported even to the Queen of England.
Ajka got its town status in 1959. Apart from the churches almost nothing - munkák a házban és a ház körül
remained of the old village. Sports hall, a swimming pool and a hospital
were built. At the moment there are much more modern sports halls, a modernized beach, a lot of schools and
hypermarkets such as Tesco, Penny, Lidl and in the nearest future Aldi and Interspar are going to move here.
We have got a library, a redecorated culture house and two department stores in the centre of the town. They
offer not only clothes but some other goods needed for the inhabitants, too. In addition to it, a new park center
is being built and it seems as if more firms come here.
It is a busy and lively town. I’m very happy to live here. Firstly, because most of my friends live here
and (I don’t have to travel to see them) secondly, because the town itself is cosy. It is neither too big nor too
small and it offers very good shopping and entertainment facilities. However, what I don’t like that it is dirty
for me and the pollution is big from the factories.
• I would prefer to live in the country. I consider myself to be privileged, because I live in a town. Towns
are lively places, where there is always something interesting happening. There is a wide choice of shops,
cinemas, theathres, restaurants and pubs. You can go out to a different place every night if you want to. Even if
I live in a village, I would prefer to move to a town because town life is so much exciting. Life is never dull in a
town, the latest exhibitions, films and plays are going on. Streets are better kept and shops are better supplied.
Shopping can even be a pleasure because there is a much wider choice of everything. City life is also better for
the children because there is a variety of schools they can choose from and they don’t need to commute. Neither
do adults need to commute to work, because they have more chance of employement.
Town life
Advantages:
Life is never dull (exhibitions, films, plays, friends)
Better supplies in shops (wide choicem, within easy reach)
Variety of schools and places of work, better chances of good education and employment
Higher living standards (better roads, more convenciences in flats)
Disadvantages:
Commuting difficulties (rush hours, traffic jams)
Pollution (from cars and factories)
Crowds, noise, rat race
Higher cost of living
Village life
Advantages:
People are friendly and close to nature
Gentle peace of living
Clean atmosphere-healthy living
More privacy and relaxation (gardening, walking in the forest and in the fields)
Disadvantages:
Life is boring (out-of-the-way, nowhere to go, long silent winter nights)
Commuting to work and school (less chance of a succesful career)
Less efficient services (one doctor or no doctor at all, muddly streets, few shops)

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 2. AZ OTTHON ÉS A SZŰKEBB KÖRNYEZET
• I live on a housing estate which is quite close way from the centre. But there are buses that take you to
the downtown. On foot it takes you about 10 minutes, but as I like riding a bike it takes me about a few minutes
to get anywhere. The ground is mainly flat there. It is an area of low hills and nice green valleys. Oak and fir
forests occupy the slopes of the hills. I live on the second floor with my parents of a block of flats. There are
some parking places and playgrounds around us. Part of the area is a lawn and road.
Our flat used to be a council flat but we bought it years ago. Thus we now have a 54 square metre
freehold flat. It isn’t a spacious one but just enough for a family of three. It is comfortable and equipped with all
modern conveniences such as hot water, eletricity, central heating, drains and a telephone. We have got a living
room, a hall, a small room for me, a kitchen, a toilet, a bathroom and a balcony. Besides we have got a cellar
where we can keep our different things such as bikes, boxes, old-fashioned clothes, books and my mother keeps
here our stewed fruits and the pickles. Our electric meter is in the staircase.
Our kitchen is of small size but the space is used very efficiently. We cook by an eletrical cooker and it
is right under the cupboard. Next to it is the sink unit with its stainless steel sink and the draining-board where
we just pile the already washed up dishes and let them dry. We haven’t got a dishwasher. Over the sink we keep
the microwave owen into the cupboard. There is never enough space in the cupboard. Saucepans, frying pans,
jugs, bowls, mugs, the kitchen scales, the mixer, pressure cooker, grater, hot sandwich oven and the rolling pin
are kept in the kitchen cupboard. On the shelves there are spices and the ingredients needed every day for
cooking like salt, flour, sugar and a cooking oil. We keep the bread slicer the working top of the cupboard and
in the drawers we keep the cutleries. There is the dining table with a corner seat by the window. We use on it
the percolator. The kitchen floor is covered with lino because it’s easy to keep clean. The wall is tiled with light
brown color. We don’t have a separate dining-room; we only have a lunch or dinner in the kitchen, which we
use every day. Sometimes we lay a table in the living room if we have a bigger occasion. No room for our
fridge and deep fryer in the kitchen therefore we use them in the hall.
We have a nice, large plastic bathtub in the bathroom and there is hot and cold running water. The
washbasin is beside the tub and over the washbasin is a mirror. We keep there the soap dish and our
toothbrushes and the toothpaste. The floor is covered with lino but the walls are tiled. On the left side you can
find the towel rack installed into the wall. If you enter here, there is a bathroom shelf over your head where we
own deodorants, sprays, body lotions, shampoos and any detergent. By the way we have an old washing
machine on the right side.
On both sides the left and the right there are two wardrobes in our living room. It is light and cosy. It
faces the street. We have a desk with two comfortable, modern chairs in the centre, which look like an
armchair. We keep on it some newspapers, some bills, a flower and an ashtray although we don’t smoke. The
books are also kept both in the living-room and in my room. There is a settee bottom of the left side’s wardrobe
where my father usually watches the news or some films lying on it. On the right side there is a sofa and a
bedside table. There are nice curtains on the windows and a big carpet on the floor. The floor is wall-to-wall
carpet and the walls are white washed. The furnitures are dark brown. There are plants and pictures on the
walls. There is a personal computer in the corner. There are a lot of chinas and ornaments on the shelves and
there is our TV by the window. Next to it there are some flower stands. Behind the TV there is a big balcony
door, which opens directly into the balcony.
My room is the smallest one. The ceiling is whitewashed and there is a wall-to-wall carpet on the floor
as well. I would have liked to have a wooden mosaics but my father denied my idea. Anyway, it was
redecorated last year. There is my comfortable bed on the right side. There are some cushions (or pillows) on it.
In front of my single bed I’ve got a wardrobe where I keep everything such as clothes, books, CDs, bills,
amplifier,… A chandelier hangs up on the ceiling. The walls are covered and there is my PC next to the bed.
My window faces a playground where I played a football a lot when I was a child. It has a blind because of the
summers hot.
• People can live in sky-scrapers, high-rise blocks, blocks of flats, terraced houses, semi detached houses,
bungalows, cottages. They can own their flats – in that case they are called freehold flats. They can rent a
council owned flat or live in a council built flat sold to a cooperative of people. They can share a flat with other
families and live in co-tenancy. Some people live in lodgings e.g. because they work in another city or haven’t
got money to buy it.
I have never lived in lodgings but I can imagine that you have to keep a number of houses rules. You are
not supposed to smoke in the common rooms, you are not allowed to be too noisy, take girls and boys into your
room, stick pictures on the wall and you have to use the bathroom at a fixed time. Students living away from
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 2. AZ OTTHON ÉS A SZŰKEBB KÖRNYEZET
home use student hotels and university halls of residence provided by universities in separate buildings.
Lodgings are used by those who can’t get a hostel room. This means that they have to pay to the landlady.
Some students prefer a one-room flatlet with cooking facilities or perhaps sharing the bathroom and kitchen.
When several students come together, they like to rent furnished, self-contained flats but they are difficult to
obtain and compared with other types of accommodation are very expensive.
• The local councils used to build many blocks of flats and let them to people who couldn’t afford to build
or buy of their own. The problem with it is that these flats were mainly one-or-two rooms flats, which were
comfortable enough for couple, but not for a family. Young married couples whom don’t have enough money
they have no other choice but to live with their parents. There is not serious shortage of accommodation for
married couples in Hungary. People don’t have to wait for years to buy a house or a flat, place of their own.
Nowadays, to be able to build or buy a house or a flat you need to have enough money to put down a deposit.
The deposit covers some percent of the cost of the flat. Then you can get a bank loan at quite a high interest rate
and you pay it back in monthly instalments. If you have children, you may get a state grant, which you do not
have to pay back. If you are a good worker, you may even get an interest-free loan from the company you are
working for.
• I always make my bed and air my room every morning. To tell the truth, I haven’t got a lot of
housework. At weekends, I always do my room and help dad to wash the car or clean the garage. I usually
empty the dust bin and my mother sometimes asks me to hoover the carpet in my room. If the weather is good
and it isn’t raining, she always cleans the windows and the doorsteps. She sweeps the floor then wipes it up.
After lunch or dinner my father washes up and dries the dishes. He likes doing it and therefore my mother is
very proud of him. She has to wash our clothes, but we have got an automatic washing-machine. Having been
washed our clothes, she had to iron them. She usually beats the bigger carpets.
As we have got a weekend house, my mother usually go to visit our garden. She waters the flowers and
the vegetables with a watering can. I sometimes have to dig a few parts of the garden in spring. It is not a
woman work, I think. She adores hoeing and meanwhile talking with her sister or the neighbours. In summer
the lawn grows, therefore we cut the grass with the lawnmower. The fruit trees mainly need spraying. In
autumn we harvest the fruits such as apples, pears, plums, grapes and nuts. Of course, the falling leaves have to
be raked.

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 3. A MUNKA VILÁGA, NAPI TEVÉKENYSÉG

• In fact, I need some time till I regain my senses in the - szokásos napi tevékenység otthon
morning. Being a heavy sleeper, it is very difficult for me to get up. I always és a munkahelyen
set the alarm clock and wake up between 6 and quarter past 6 on weekdays.
- munkahely, munkakör, további
However, if I go to work in the afternoon I can get up later. I never have tervek
coffee, but I like drinking milk or cocoa, which I make myself. When I get
- pályaválasztás
up I go to the bathroom to wash. I wash my face, neck, ears and hands in
cold running water and dry myself with a towel. Sometimes I take a shower - népszerű foglalkozások, kereseti
lehetőségek
or have a bath. Then I clean my teeth, don’t comb as I have short hair and I
begin to get dressed. I am always in a hurry in the mornings so I don’t have - munkahelyi körülmények:
time to prepare my breakfast therefore I make it in the previous evening. előmenetel, problémák
munkával kapcsolatos

Anyway, I am never hungry in the morning. As a rule, my father gets up

earlier than me and by the time I awake he has prepared some sandwiches -munkanélküliség,
munkahelyszerzés,
szociális
only for himself as he knows I don’t eat. Sometimes I turn on the radio to problémák
listen to the news broadcast and the weather forecast. However, when I go to
work in the morning, five of us travel together by car and the radio is on. I used to go to work by my bike at my
previous workplace.
I have to clock in when I arrive and clock out when I leave my company. I work flexitime, in two shifts,
normally 8 hours and 20 minutes. But we do some overtime every weekday, when I work in the morning. It
enables me to leave work an hour earlier anytime. I have been working as a measuring technician at Continental
since the end of the last year. I’m satisfied with my job, because I draw a higher salary than before and there are
comfortable surroundings there. My boss is all right in every respect, I can’t say anything against him. My
colleagues are very kind and helpful. I get on well with them. The salary and the conditions are good and my
firm treats me well.
When I get to the office I first open the post and read the letters I have got from my clients. I spend most
of my time measuring. Any pieces of the headsensors such as cables, connectors, labels or the sensor itself must
be checked. I measure their dimensions such as horizontal, vertical dimensions or positions, diameters, angles
or in fact I should find any mistake on them. I apply different test methods and procedures and use some test
equipment. There are two projectors, two microscopes, coordinate measuring machine, optical machine, a lot of
callipers, dial gauges, measuring rooler and plug ganges, which are available for me to measure. When I have
finished I have to write a test report for the order. The dimensions, which are out of the tolerance, must be
marked. To be the report approved or rejected must be written at the bottom of the last side and of course it
must be signed. Sometimes my boss asks me to water the flowers and air the office.
I have my breakfast at about 8 o’clock, which is usually some sandwiches. I always have lunch with
my colleagues at quarter to noon. In my opinion there are fine meals in the restaurant where we have lunch. If I
work in the afternoon I have lunch with my dad at my grandmother. As a general rule I finish work at 4 in the
afternoon. We talk a lot on the way home and get home at around 5. When I arrive I spend about half an hour
hanging around without doing anything particular. I sometimes surf on the net then I start studying for the next
English lesson. Unfortunately, we usually don’t have supper with each other. My father likes having it
meanwhile watching TV. My mother prefers eating in the kitchen. And I like having the dinner in my room.
After supper I help my mother to clear the table and wash up. Then I go to take a warm bath and go back in
front of my pc. Until I fall asleep, I watch TV a bit.
• I have had several jobs since I left school. My first job was at the local hospital where I worked
as an administrator. I had to install and repair some PCs. The atmosphere wasn’t good and I was underpaid. I
could say I was fed up with it. Then my second job came, which was rewarding and my starting salary was
higher than before. I’ve been working for about 3 years there. I was fond of my colleguaes and my job, too. I
adored working there. However, money talks. I would have liked to change my job therefore I applied for some
companies. In fact, I was not motivated only because of the money. I wanted to find such a firm where I can
earn more money and train new vocational things. Fortunately, I didn’t have to be unemployed as I could find a
new, my present job relatively fast.
It seems to be fashionable for people to change their jobs. Some people have to work too much, some
too little, others get bored with their jobs or fed up with their colleagues because of backbiting. People always
want more money and higher positions. If I want to change my job, I must look at the advertisements in the
newspapers, magazines or nowadays on the Internet. You must write your curriculum vitae or profile. I agree
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 3. A MUNKA VILÁGA, NAPI TEVÉKENYSÉG

with my future boss on my starting salary, the office hours and the lunch break, the amount of paid holiday I
would be entitled to. He also shows me round the office and tells me what my responsibilities would be. As the
job and the conditions appeal to me I accept that I would be on probation for the three months. Of course, you
should be adequately paid for your work so that you don’t have to work on the side.
To work Good points, bad points
- in factory - to get on well with boss and colleagues
- for a company, firm, subsidiary - good chance of promotion
- in agriculture - no backbiting
- in heavy, light industry - to have kind and helpful mates
- to run a private practice - to draw a high salary
- to be a guest-worker abroad - to work in pleasant and healthy surroundings
- to do casual work - to lick one’s boots
- to do moonlightning - to do a lot of overtime
- to be underpaid; high number of accidents
- no responsibility; no freedom
Jobs can be grouped in several ways as, e.g. manual and non-manual jobs. The workers doing manual work
often referred to as blue-collar workers. The ones doing mainly brainwork are called white-collar workers.
Some jobs need university qualifications, and these are professions; others don’t and these are skilled, semi-
skilled or unskilled. Skilled people are those who have learnt a trade such as pastry-cook, turner, joiner,
plumber, shop assistant, car mechanic, railwayman, tailor, barber. Unskilled jobs, such as the job of factory
hand, do not require special training.
Other occupations are the followings:
- Professions
Design/electrical engineer, psychiatrist, solicitor/barrister/lawyer, judge, physician(doctor), vet, interpreter,
(chartered) accountant, clerk, model, social worker, university professor, teacher, architect, surgeon, computer
programmer
- Trades and other occupations
caretaker, cashier, dustman, coach, chimney sweep, hotel receptionist, cook, coal miner, house painter, air pilot,
postman, travel agent, technician, salesman, baby sitter, shoemaker, librarian, speech-therapist, glazier, …
• I am afraid I don’t really know exact figures about how many unemployed inhabitants are there
in Hungary. All I know is that at the moment unemployement is still rising. The unemployed may feel guilty
about being out of work even if it is not their fault. They feel they are useless and a burden on a state. They join
the dole queue and receive just enough money not to starve. In my opinion some people don’t want to work,
because they can get enough aid from their councils; others haven’t got a suitable trade and some firms claim
much more than they should. You should have 3-5 years training in your trade and you should speak two
languages fluently although they don’t want to get you enough salary.
People begin to save when there is enough money for all that is needed in the family. Most people save
for a flat, a plot of land, a week-end cottage or for holidays abroad. There are some who save for a car or put
money aside to purchase durable consumer goods or new funiture. Naturally, many people save without any
definitive end, just for the sake of the safety. Others can’t afford to put any money aside because of their
income and it is just about enough to keep body and soul together.
The retirement age in Hungary is 60 for woman and 62 for men, but these age limits are going to be
changed in the near future. There are some occupations from which people can get pensioned off at an earlier
age if they have been in employment for at least 30 years. As far as I know a few such jobs are that of a miner,
a policeman, a fireman and the soldier.
It seems to me that in today’s Hungary wage-earners earn more than salary-earners, especially if they
work in private industry. For example the starting salary wages of a skilled worker with three years’ training are
higher than the commencing salary of a teacher or a doctor with eight or nine years’ training. I would
recommend my son to set up his own business or to tell the truth, more you learn, more you earn at a joint-
venture. If my daughter didn’t want to go to university, I would recommend her to become a hairdresser or a
beautician. Both are good jobs for getting tips.

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 4. A TANULÁS VILÁGA

By the time I got the junior section of primary school called

Veres Pálné, it was quite obvious that I was rather slow on the uptake. I - a tanulással kapcsolatos napi
was not one of those bright students who can easily cope with difficulties tevékenység
in subjects. I usually studied by fits and starts, which meant I sometimes - iskolájával, a tantárgyakkal, tanárokkal
failed to fulfil the requirements. When I didn’t know the material, I must kapcsolatos információk
confess, I used cheat sheets. Besides, I sometimes relied on other - iskolai hagyományok, iskolai élmények
students and expected them to prompt. I had to wear a uniform at that
- szervezett és önálló tanulás, egész
school called cloak (gown). This school had five grades and there were életen át tartó tanulás
extra courses called electives such as draw or music study circle,
- iskolatípusok, vizsgák, értékelés,
physical education. There were not compulsory sports, but we could osztályzás
choose some sports like football in spring, basketball or volleyball in
winter or table tennis anytime. Different schools’ teams competed against each other in championship
tournaments. My mum made some sandwiches me for breakfast and fortunately, I could eat my lunch at my
grandmother every weekday.
Hungarian secondary schools fall into three categories: Secondary Grammar, Secondary Technical or
Vocational Schools. I myself attended a Secondary Grammar School and I think these schools are very
competitive in Hungary. Well, I applied for admission to one of the most known grammar schools in my
hometown, where I spent five years. The school was named after a famous engineer called Bánki Donát. I took
my school-leaving examination here. Our school building lay in the centre of the city. It was a big, white-
coloured, two-storey building with a large school yard and some trees around it. Both the library and the school
buffet were in the basement where you could buy sandwiches, milk, cocoa, and the basic articles needed for
school work such as books, notebooks, pens, pencils, rubbers and so on. Most classrooms were on the first and
second floors while the headmaster’s office and the staff room were in a separate corridor on the ground floor.
Our school had also got some special laboratories such as language, physics, chemistry, arts and craft labs.
These labs were quite well equipped. In the language lab e.g. we had a television and cassette players with
headphones and all the necessary dictionaries. We had also a computer room, where we could study computer
techniques and programming. No uniform had to be worn at this school to be more precise it was not
compulsory any more.
I liked having my friends. They were all very hard-working and most of them were bright, too. Our class
was a good team and there was a good atmosphere. We often helped each other with the homework. Our
teachers were satisfied with us and we all respected them. There were no unqualified teachers on the staff. They
were all very competent and imparted a great deal of knowledge to us. If somebody lagged behind, the others
helped him. We didn’t want anybody to drop out. Anyway, I had a few teachers who just yabbered on but
nobody listened to them. They liked some students better than others and had their favourites in each class.
We had two hours’ homework every afternoon and sometimes it took even longer because we had to
learn poems from a Hungarian author or texts in a foreign language by heart. All of us were expected to
specialise at the age of sixteen in order to concentrate on the subjects that we need for university entrance.
Additional lessons were offered to us in the subjects that we opted for and they were usually the ones that we
would need for our future career. You are of school-age while you are not eighteen in Hungary. If you are not
there, you are marked absent in the attendance register and you will be given a warning later if your absence
has not been excused e.g. by a doctor’s note.
My favourite subjects were arts subjects. They came to me easily and I took pleasure in studying some
of them. I especially liked history, grammar and perhaps literature, but most of my friends found them very
difficult. Because they thought they were useless subjects. Maths was, in fact, the least popular subject in my
class. I always hated it, because I have never had got sense of it. Physics was my weak point, too. I don’t even
like to think of it. Although I tried to do my best in these subjects too, my efforts were not always crowded with
success. Chemistry and music weren’t my cup of tea either.
I was fairly energetic so I did a quite a lot of things in the afternoons. To tell you the truth, studying was
quite a demanding activity for me. So as not to fail my exams, my parents set up maths lessons for me. I had to
take private lessons twice a week. However, there were things I enjoyed. This was a gymnastics work-out four
times a week, which I enjoyed very much. And I quite often had my friends over, played with the computer or
just watched television. I didn’t like to overload myself; I liked to have time relax. I didn’t know what I would
have liked to do when I left school. One thing was sure I would have liked to go on my studies.
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 4. A TANULÁS VILÁGA

After leaving secondary high school (in the fourth year), I decided to go on with my studies and applied
for the local technical school. I managed to pass the final exams and I didn’t get such bad grades after all.
Having gone to the technical school, I enrolled for an intermediate-software-operator course. It took me if I
remember well, nine months. But, in my humble opinion it was worth finishing it. After leaving the fifth year, I
learnt a second trade in Veszprém called text and picture editor. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a job where I was
promised to be employed. Therefore, I went on my studies and became technical engineer assistant. Although, I
have got three trades I’ve been working as a measuring technician for three years.

Sort of schools:
Pre-school education/crèche University of Technology
Kindergarten, nursery school University of Medicine
Primary/elementary school University of Arts and Sciences
Secondary/high school Teacher Training College
Secondary technical school University of Economics
Vocational school Faculty of Arts/Natural Sciences/Law
Academic grammar school Academy of Fine Arts/Music/Applied Arts/Film and
Co-education school/mixed school Theatrical Arts
Boarding school College of Finance and Accountancy
Approved school, Hostel Training College for Kindergarten Teachers
School traditions and experiences
I was fond of class outings. There was a confidential-clerk in my class who was pointed/marked by our
head-master. He had to collect the money from each classmate. We usually went to a trip in every year as usual
in Hungary. We often visited famous museums, castles or churches. My elder cousins used to regularly go for
gathering or vintage from their school. They were fetched by the school-bus and sometimes they got a little
salary, too. In my time the repeated occasions were the carnival in February or school-balls and you could apply
for the summer’s camp if you wanted to. However, I’ve never taken a part in a camp.
During the year we commemorate all the public holidays and important events of Hungarian history
with some productions prepared and performed by alternate classes. Every year in February or March there is a
party organised in honour of the school leaving students. Both humorous skits and some serious programmes
are performed by the third-year students and each school leaver is presented a blue ribbon marking the years
they have spent in school. Then a big school ball is held, the greatest attraction of which are the ball-opening
dances. In May the school leaving ceremonies continue and the fourth-year students wander around the school.
The last phase of these ceremonies is the final party or school-leaving feast, which is always held after the final
exams. Each form goes out to a nice restaurant with their teachers and they eat and drink to their hearts’ content
to make the end of the school years memorable.
In addition to it, on these days a serenade is held by the leaving students, which means they go for visit
their teachers in their private flat or detached house and they are singing a kind song to say goodbye to him or
her.

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 5. KAPCSOLATOK MÁS EMBEREKKEL: MAGÁNÉLET ÉS KÖZÉLET

• For everyday wear I like sports jackets, a pair of corduroys, pure - barátok, ismerősök, iskola-
woollen jumpers, cotton shirts with checked patterns. I like wearing baggy és munkatársak
trousers or stretch jeans with a pair of sport or low-shoes. Blue jeans and denim - öltözködés, divat
skirts are extremely popular nowadays. They can be worn with everything and for
everyday wear. They are durable, hard-wearing, washable and crease-resistant. In -ésösszejövetelek, egyesületi
klubélet, levelezés
short they are practical for causal wear.
A man usually can wear a vest, a pair of underpants, a shirt, trousers, - társasági élet
perhaps a waistcoat, a tie and a jacket or a single- or double-breasted suit. On his - civil szervezetek
feet he wears a pair of socks and low-heel shoes with rubber or leather soles. A
fashionably dressed man wears a purple, mustard yellow, dark green or royal blue - közbiztonság
suit with a brightly coloured patterned shirt and a tie. A woman wears a pair of panties, bras, a slip, a blouse, a
skirt or a dress, or a suit, a pair of tights or stockings. A well-dressed woman always appears elegant. She is
choosy about clothing and dresses in perfect taste. She usually wears a brightly-coloured suit with golden
buttons and a white blouse. The skirt is mini and she looks charming and marvellous in it. She may also wear
tight trousers which show off her figure well. Her dresses are always padded at the shoulders. She wears long
ear-rings but has never much make-up on apart from her lipstick which is quite bright in colour.
I think fashion adds spice to life: colour, variety, beauty. Women must always be well-dressed and
follow fashions to please themselves and men. The world would be a dull place if people wore the same things.
As for me I don’t care much about fashion. I always wear whatever I think is comfortable, practical and
attractive. My family tries to keep pace with changing fashion (mostly my mum) but we don’t carry it to
extremes. You know we are simple people with a medium income so we can’t afford to spend so much money
on clothes. My mother has a good dress sense. Everything she wears invariably suits her. My grandmother is
good at sewing and knitting pretty dresses, well-cut suits and fashionable pullovers. All clothes she makes for
her grandchild are a perfect fit.
However, it depends on the weather what I put on. In winter you must be careful not to catch cold. You
must wear warm clothes and dress in layers. In cold weather people wear fur hats or thick, knitted hats and
gloves, warm scarves and polo-necked sweaters, cotton stockings or trousers, winter boots and thick fur-lined
overcoats. In summer, anyway, it is enough to put on a light dress with a low-cut neck or a T-shirt with shorts
or breeches and a pair of low shoes or sandals. On the beach women wear a bathing suit or a bikini (sometimes
a topless one) and perhaps a straw hat. Men wear swimming trunks. In autumn (fall), the best strategy for
protecting yourself from the rain is to carry an umbrella with all the time. I don’t like this season, because it is
the rainiest one. When the weather is colder, people put on a mackintosh or some other kind of waterproofs. It
is important that you should wear water-resistant shoes or wellingtons as well because you can catch a cold
easily if you step in the puddles in the street and get your feet wet.
• Most towns and villages have clubs or community centres which cater for the cultural
requirements of the population. They combine recreation and education and do a lot to help people to develop
their talents. They provide entertainment, all sorts of facilities for amateur science and art activities, organise
concerts, shows, theatrical performances and lectures on political, scientific and cultural topics. They regularly
organise exhibitions of modern art and make efforts to enable museum visitors of every age to better understand
the items on display.
Most cultural centres have their own amateur art groups, folk ensembles, choirs or even orchestras who
quite often give public performances or concerts. They run astronomy, photo and sewing circles as well as
separate clubs for teenagers and pensioners.
Most school institutes have a club, which is extremely popular with the student body. It is not only
provides, such as video shows, concerts and discos, but a wide choice of amateur art activities like painting,
sculpture, pottery, music, dancing and acting as well. Especially popular are the musical and theatrical groups.
Those who like singing join the choir and those who have exceptionally fine voices and a good ear for music go
in for solo singing. Those who make dancing a hobby have a choice of ballet, folk dancing or acrobatic rock-
and-roll. Most students seem to prefer theatricals. Some of their amateur productions have won the praise of
professionals.
The correspondence used to be a popular thing between the pals and students, but this habit totally
changed. On these days you need to write a letter in a paper form in ink only if it is demanded e.g. official
letters or profiles with your own hand to apply for a job or perhaps a few lines for your relatives. Nowadays
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 5. KAPCSOLATOK MÁS EMBEREKKEL: MAGÁNÉLET ÉS KÖZÉLET

people settle all their things on the Internet. The today’s letter is named an e-mail. There are a lot of e-mail
programmes so as to help you to write your message easier. In addition to it, e.g. most firms supply only an e-
mail address where you can send your curriculum vitae. The most important difference and the biggest
advantage is its quickness compare to the old form.
• Civil organisations: I’m not a member of any civil organisations. In fact, I don’t know exactly
what they are employed in. However, there are different kinds e.g. The Red Cross or the Maltese Cross Service
where you can take your old fashionable clothes. They will give them to the poor people. Besides, language
courses and computer studies are organized by them, too. In my opinion they usually arrange blood-giving-
weekends everywhere. It is a great idea because in that way you can help other people who are in need of
blood. You feel only a small pinprick and you relax on a bed for a few minutes. Not to speak of the fact that
you will be examined and it may be important for you. In the end you are rewarded with some goods such as a
beer, a refreshing and a bar of chocolate so as to be able to regain your energy.
Public safety: There are, at least one local police station in every town or village. Of course, there are
more in bigger cities or in the capital. They deal with the public safety’s questions such as car stolen, damaging,
and burglars or in fact, they should care about your safety in the streets in the evenings. They have to take
drunken people into hospital or they help you if you have lost your way going home.

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 6. SZABADIDŐ, SZÓRAKOZÁS, KULTÚRA

• In fact, I don’t spend a lot of time on hobbies. At weekends I usually - a szabadidő eltöltése,
like only relaxing and pursue some hobbies that are collecting music and szórakozási lehetőségek
listening to the latest songs that I am interested in. Besides, I’m fond of - egyéni érdeklődés, hobbik
watching and listening concerts on DVD. In these respects I take after my
father a bit, because he has been a big collector since I knew him. I used to - színház, mozi, opera, koncert
draw and used to pursue modelling when I was a child, but I gave it up - tévé (műsorfajták), újság, rádió
because lack of the time. On these days in my spare time I like going on trips
- olvasás: könyvtár,
to the nature with my family or sometimes reading English topics on the olvasmányok, kedvenc könyve
Internet. I don’t keep any pets as I live in a freehold flat and in my opinion
their place is not there. Other people keep dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea-pigs, parrots or have big tanks with
goldfish or terrapins in them. Although, both cooking and baking cakes are not my line, I seldom make my
favourite meals such as a French salad, a Hungarian lecsó or a pizza.
If you are a stay-at-home type, you can pursue a lot of hobbies that are typically home occupations. Some
of them are only for women – I have never seen a man knitting, crocheting or sewing e.g. neither have I seen a
woman hammering – others are for men, for instance do-it-yourself. Most of these hobbies, however, are
unisex, that is, they suit both sexes. They are: collecting stamps, napkins, coins or even buttons; making soft
toys, gifts; drawing, painting or writing poetry, modelling, mounting and developing photos, playing card
games, chess or other party games or keeping pets. As far as I know keeping pets has always been an English
hobby. If they can’t afford to keep a pet, they go bird-watching and this brings them a lot of enjoyment.
Gardening is another common British hobby as well as taking photos, printing and enlarging them. The most
popular outdoor games are football, golf and cricket.
Hobbies indoor: painting, drawing, collecting, reading, playing card games, board games, chess, keeping pets,
do-it yourself, sewing, knitting, cooking, learning languages, listening to records, doing embroidery, crossword
puzzles
Hobbies outdoor: fishing, angling, gardening, pot-holing, mountain climbing, hiking, doing sports, hunting
• If you live in a big town you are a lucky chap from the point of view of entertainment possibilities.
You have a rich choice of museums, exhibitions where you can see paintings, graphics, water-colours and
sculptures. If you want to dine out or listen to folk or gypsy music there are several restaurants, pubs, night
clubs which you can choose from.
Theatre
I’m not much of a theatre goer. In fact neither my time nor my money allows me to go to the theatre
regularly. And, to tell you the truth, I am not really interested in it. I prefer watching TV or video films at home,
or perhaps going to the cinema. If you stay at home, you don’t have to dress up, and this is a great advantage.
Anyway, the play I saw last was a great one. I wasn’t disappointed, because it was a splendid adaptation of two
famous lady’s life called Marlene Dietrich and Edit Piaf. The plot of the play was really gripping and rich in
surprising returns. It held the attention of the audience from the beginning to the end.
I can buy a theatre tickets at the booking-office. I like to sit in the boxes because they are quite near the
stage and they are by far the most comfortable. I normally sit in the stalls, which are the seats on the ground
floor. Over the boxes is the dress circle then follow the balconies and finally the gallery. As you enter the
theatre there is usually a big foyer, where people can meet before the performance. The two main parts of a
theatre are the stage and the auditorium. The hall is usually separated from the stage by the orchestra pit. A
curtain, when lowered, covers the stage and during the performance footlights illuminate the stage. In a big
theatre there are several cloakrooms where you can leave your hats and coats. Then you show your ticket to the
usherette, who will offer you a programme and lead you down the aisle to your row and seat. While the
beginning of the play, you can leaf the programme booklet from which you learn about the cast, the director,
about the approximate plot of the play and perhaps the programme of the theatre for that season. Right before
the performance the orchestra begins tuning up. Then the lights go out, the curtain rises and the play begins. A
play usually consists of at least two acts, but sometimes there are three acts with two intervals in between them.
During the interval you can go to the refreshment room where you can discuss the play over a nice drink. After
then the bell rings for the next act. In the end of the play the curtain fall and the lights go up. The audiences
usually applaud the company. Curtain call follows curtain call and the whole cast is given a standing ovation.

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 6. SZABADIDŐ, SZÓRAKOZÁS, KULTÚRA

Concert
I quite like pop music although I wouldn’t call myself a fan. I gladly like listening to any music. At the
beginning of this year we went to a 2-day concert was given by some well-known Scandinavian bands, in the
Netherlands. Lots of guitar artists appeared there who celebrated the 48th guitar festival at Tilburg. There were
some very young, ambitious bands who were very talented musicians with a fine technique. For example there
was a little nine-year-old drummer. Everybody was very surprised at his ability. Anyway, the instrumental
music lovers were really delighted including me, too. Their CD covers, labels were signed by the famous
guitarists after the show.
Cinema
The usual cinema show consists of a feature film begun by a newsreel, lots of commercials and of
course short films like trailers from the future films. The main film is usually cinemascope and dubbed.
However, an undubbed film is very good for language learning. And if you master the given language you can
even enjoy the films without looking at the subtitles. Low attendance at cinemas is due to several factors. On
one hand the price of cinema tickets has been raised and it is not a cheap evening any more to go out to see a
film; mostly if you would like to have a popcorn or a refreshment. On the other hand the cinema owners seem
to forget that most families have video or DVD players at home and you can borrow all films from the
videotheque. There are some different films like these: western, adventure film, thriller, horror film, science-
fiction fantasy, detective film, comedy, screen adaptation of a successful novel entitled e.g. Harry Potter.
TV, radio
• I usually switch on the TV in the evenings and read on the teletext channel the TV programmes
for the day. There is usually quite a rich choice of programmes. To tell you the truth I like watching TV
because it brings the world into your home and keeps you informed about what is happening around you. I
especially enjoy Hungarian soap-operas and some programmes that show you famous people over the world. I
never miss the half-past-seven o’clock news either. I also love witty and humorous cartoons like “Tom and
Jerry” or “the Roadrunner”.
Only one or maybe two Hungarian state channels used to be received at home, because there was no one
who could have made a business from the broadcasting. Today, I don’t know exactly how many channels I can
get on TV, but there are quite a lot. There are two well-known and popular commercial channels called Rtl-
Klub and TV2. There is no great difference between them. They are financed by its advertisements so the
programmes are interrupted for commercials, which I dislike. Besides we can also receive lots of different
Hungarian channels such as my mum’s favourite TV Paprika or my dad’s much liked political channels, the
old ones MTV1-2 and TV Danube, our local television programme, the satellite channels about sports and
documentaries and of course some German or English ones. To be frank, there is only one thing that these
programmes are good for and this is the language learning.
I’m interested in historical films, adventure films and series. I also enjoy witty and exciting detective
stories, particularly one of them titled Columbo. I like Peter Falk the star of Columbo because he can always
find the murderer, although he always forgets everything that he needs. He is so funny with his old fashioned
balloon coat or his broken down car and he always comes back to ask the suspect one more question even if the
suspect thinks that he won’t any more. I can’t help watching the next part if it is on in a reasonable time on TV.
I quite often watch video or cinema films and I’m a regular customer at the video hire shop. I enjoy perhaps
crimes the most because they are usually very well done and give you a lot of excitement. I have never been
disappointed by horror films, they are macabre or spine-chilling and I think somewhere at the back of their
minds everybody longs for adventure and thrills or even fear. And these films are able to fill in this gap in our
lives. Anyway, in my opinion it isn’t worth sitting in front of the telly, because your health could be damaged
because of sitting there for so long and even you may become a couch potato.
We begin the day by switching on the radio in my colleague’s car to listen to the time-signal, which is of
great help when we are in hurry, the news broadcast and the weather forecast. We are listening to some kind of
radio stations it depends on the persons in the office. Radio “Petőfi” used to have mainly a lot of light music
programmes: pop, jazz, folk, rock or gypsy but it totally changed today. Perhaps radio ‘Kossuth’ has the most
varied and serious programmes. It transmits running commentaries, radio plays, political and economic
programmes, lectures, press reviews and even bedside stories for children. At my workplace all of us love
musical broadcasts such as “Radio 1”, Radio “Danubius” or Radio “Sláger”.

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 6. SZABADIDŐ, SZÓRAKOZÁS, KULTÚRA

Newspapers, libraries
For each week all radio and television programmes are published in the Radio and TV Times. This
weekly has quite a big circulation, bigger than most dailies. Daily papers are almost the same in appearance and
lay-out. They all have a political section containing world and domestic news. The main news is usually placed
on the first page right under the heading. Current events or topicalities may also be reported and commented on
by the editor on the front page, usually with big headlines. The arts review and the science pages are usually in
the middle of the paper followed by the fashion, gossip and travel columns while sports news is generally on
one of the last pages. Apart from news, newspapers also contain many other features like advertisements,
announcements of births, marriages and deaths, crossword puzzles, horoscopes, letter from readers, obituaries
of famous people who have died, weather forecasts and classified advertisements, which may be personal or
advertise jobs, houses or cars for sale. Just like many other countries, Hungary, too, has local and national
papers. They are either serious or sensational. At present most of them are tabloids. There are also several
periodicals coming out weekly, monthly and quarterly. Journals dealing with specialised subjects such as
medicine, science, trade or education are usually published monthly or quarterly. The well-known Hungarian
daily papers perhaps are “the Napló” and “the Népszabadság”. The popular tabloids are the Blikk or The Story
Magazine and there is a journal with financial affair called HVG. Some serious British papers are The Times,
The Guardian, The Sun or the Daily Mirror. I always skim through the whole paper first and choose the articles
that at first sight seem to be interesting. The headlines are printed in block letters so they easily catch the eye.
After scanning the paper I always start reading the sport pages first. Then I read the jobs or the political reviews
and the internal affairs.
I can borrow books from a library. In fact, nowadays I don’t need to have a lot of books, therefore I
quite rarely use the local lending library of which I am not a member at the moment, but my father is. Anyway,
I used to be a member there when I was a student. At that time I was used to reading as we had to read all
compulsory readings. To join a library you have to fill in a lending card. If you want to borrow a book, you
write the author’s name, the title and ISBN number on the book card and the librarian puts down on your card
the date when the book is due for return. Books are issued for three weeks, but can be renewed for another
three. Only a limited number of books can be borrowed at a time. For overdue books fines are charged.
There are a lot of books in a library that normally cannot be borrowed. They are mainly encyclopaedias,
dictionaries and lexicons. You are allowed to work with them in the reading room, where you will also find
newspapers and periodicals published in Hungary from the 1930s. I often go to the bookshops just to look
around. But sometimes I can’t resist temptation and buy some languages books, maps or a magazine for my
mother. Last time I bought two expensive dictionaries, but it was worth buying them, because I can use them in
the future, too.

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 7. EGÉSZSÉG, EGÉSZSÉGMEGŐRZÉS, SPORT
• Fortunately I am in good health and I can’t remember the - testi és lelki egészség, egészséges
time that I was last ill. I try to take care of myself; you know good health életmód
above wealth the saying goes. Although, I sometimes crawl without socks - testápolás
at home. Many people neglect their health and get a bad cold easily when
the rainy weather sets in. - betegség megelőzése, a betegség
kezelése, betegápolás
When I was ill last time I had flu, strong headache and a sore
throat. My nose was running and I was coughing and sneezing. I had a - orvosnál
temperature of thirty-eight point five degrees. I also had a pain in my - gyógyszerek, gyógymódok
chest. In Hungary, you must register in by phone to the GP (General
Practitioner) before you get there. Then the assistant gets you an - orvosi szolgáltatások, biztosítás
appointment. When the nurse shouted ‘next please’, I entered the surgery - dohányzás, alkohol-és drogfogyasztás
room. The doctor told me to strip to the waist. He gave me a thorough - sport: sportolási lehetőségek, sportágak
medical check-up. He/she began by feeling my pulse and looks at my
tongue. As my temperature was quite high he looked at my throat and said - tömegsport és versenysport
that it was badly inflamed. He also listened to my lungs, heart, breathing
and took my blood pressure. After the through examination he diagnosed my illness and told me that I had all
the symptoms of influenza. He sent me to the laboratory for a blood test and prescribed me some medicine (he
made out a prescription) such as some anti-febrile to keep my fever down, some menthol drops for my nose and
a mixture for my throat. I had to gargle every two hours. He told me I had to stay in bed for a few days and also
told me to drink a lot of hot tea with lemon and keep warm. In the end I was put on the sick-list (the doctor
made out a sickness certificate in my name for my company; health care benefit) and had to stay off work for a
week. I went to the chemist’s where they made up the mixture and reminded me to shake it well before use. I
also bought some pain-killers for my headache and took one pill three times a day after meals. I told my boss
that I couldn’t work for a few days and he wished me a quick recovery. After following the doctor’s advice and
taking the medicine in the prescribed way, I soon recovered from my illness.
In our climate, especially in autumn and late winter people often have health problems. They catch a
cold or flu and those who don’t have enough resistance can contract pneumonia. Arthritis and rheumatism are
also caused by cool and damp weather. The number of patients suffering from hay fever, allergies and
respiratory problems such as bronchitis and asthma, is rising. Quinsy and appendicitis are very common with
children as well as food poisoning and indigestion. A very upsetting tendency is that more and more people
suffer from nervous breakdowns and have crack-ups due to the overwork and fatigue. In the most serious cases
people end up in mental hospitals and never recover from their illness. Such diseases as the plague, cholera,
small-pox, malaria, tuberculosis and many others were stamped out a long time ago. Children get vaccinations
for small-pox and polio at a young age and are also given periodical medical check-ups at school. The diseases
that seem to take the heaviest toll of human life are coronary heart diseases, circulatory disorders, cancer and
the relatively new contagious AIDS, which spreads through sexual intercourse or blood transfusion.
Being very widespread in Hungary, smoking affects a lot of people. It is very harmful for you health,
especially for your circulatory system, throat, windpipes and lungs. Alcoholism is even worse because one you
have become dependent on alcohol it is extremely difficult to give up drinking. And alcohol will slowly but
surely ruin not only your health, but also your family’s lives. Fortunately, drug addicts are still few and far
between in this country but the problem is already present. We must do everything to prevent a large number of
youngsters getting affected by drug-taking. To keep in good health we should first of all no join the rat-race of
modern life. We should avoid stress and tension and do some exercise every day. It is important to breathe a bit
of fresh air and not to sit inside from morning till night. We should try to avoid fatty meat and animal fats so as
not to be overweight. Remember the saying, ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’.
Some diseases: mumps, measles, chicken pox, whooping cough, dysentery, (diarrhoea) [as fit as a fiddle]
I was in hospital when I was a child. I had my tonsils removed. I think this is a very common reason for
an operation even in adulthood. Most people, however, are operated on for appendicitis. Sometimes an
emergency operation is needed. Before the operation the surgeons and the nurses dress in green, wash their
hands and put on masks. You are put on a stretcher and taken to the operating theatre where you get local or
general anaesthetics.
Fortunately, I have never broken any of my bones, but at once I sprained my knee and had to go hospital
for an X-ray. If a young person’s bone is broken, it will set quickly but he will have to have it in plaster for a

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 7. EGÉSZSÉG, EGÉSZSÉGMEGŐRZÉS, SPORT
time, too. If it is his leg that is broken he will naturally have to go round on crutches until the plaster comes off.
Once the plaster comes off, he will still have to rest it and walk as a little as possible.
Of course, not only should you visit the dentist when one of your teeth is aching but you should go for a
regular check-up at least once a year. It is very important to brush your teeth at least three times a day
particularly after meals to protect your denture or your mouth against getting worse or foul breath. After I’ve
been comfortably seated in the dentist’s chair he asks me which tooth is troubling me. He makes me open my
mouth and begins probing for cavities. When he finds one, he gives you an injection and reaches for the drill.
After drilling I am allowed to rinse my mouth. The dentist then stops the cavity and asks me not to chew for an
hour or two. If the aching tooth is too far gone the dentist will pull it out. Before the extraction he anaesthetises
your nerves with an injection given in your gum so the pain that you actually feel is quite bearable.
In Hungary the whole system of health care is undergoing a change at present. The Health Minister was
resigned. Besides, there are a lot of problems in the health care. A round fee has been introduced recently, but it
was cancelled by a referendum. We had to pay three hundred forints to the GP and more fees for staying in
hospital. The medical services are substantially financed by a state budget on one hand. However you pay a
monthly contribution from your salary but you don’t pay for the actual treatment. Medical centres provide
service free of charge but there are, of course, private practitioners and even some private policlinics that
charge for visits. Everyone can choose their GP freely and go to the one whom they trust most. Surgeries are
open four hours a day treating patients who are mobile. People on sick leave get seventy five percent of their
salary. With some countries Hungary has an agreement and so when you are abroad as a tourist you don’t have
to pay for health care or if you have to, the insurance company will pay it back to you. But you shouldn’t forget
to take out a policy before the journey.
• I am not particularly interested in sports and I’m not involved in any regular sports activity. In
fact I like riding a bike, I can get somewhere really quickly and it contributes a lot to the healthy way of living,
I think. Unfortunately, I can’t bring myself to do physical jerks every morning. I used to do some push-ups and
I could do a few ones with one hand too, but nowadays I always fail after the fifth even with my two hands. I
sometimes go swimming with my friends to the local swimming pool. Sport helps you to keep fit and preserve
your health. Quite a few of my colleagues and friends are involved in regular sports activities. They mainly play
ball games such as perhaps the well-known one football and handball for a team or only for hobby. We have a
lot of opportunities to pursue sports in our town, you just have to be determined and find time for it. There are
two green football-fields, a lot of smaller soccer grounds, a swimming pool, some tennis courts, a few fitness-
wellness-clubs. We had two or three P.E. (Psychical Education) lessons a week at school, if I remember well. It
was so pleasing to move your muscles after sitting for long hours at the school desk and going numb. When the
weather was bad, we did some gymnastics in the gym, and if it was nice, however, we played outdoor games in
the football field or run on the tracks around it. At the beginning of the lessons we always did some warming-
up exercises.
In international competitions there are six gymnastics exercises for men, and these are: high bars,
parallel bars, rings, pommel-horse, vault and floor exercises. The four-exercises for women are vault, beam,
uneven parallel bars and floor exercises again. Athletics includes all kinds of track and field events. The track
events are running in different distances, hurdles, and steeple chase; the field events comprise hammer, discus,
and javelin throwing as well as like pole vaulting, high jumping, long jumping or hop-skip-and-jump. The basic
winter sports are skiing, including ski-jumping, slalom racing, downhill and cross country skiing, skating. I
have never pursued winter sports, but there is a quite slippery steep slope not far from our place in the Parkerdő
where we can toboggan freely in winter. I can’t skate or ski so all I can do is watch the competitions on TV.
Slalom racing and ice dancing are my favourite. I love watching their great speed and swift movements. In fact
all winter sports are spectacular. Aquatic sports include all sports done in or on water. Water-polo, high
diving, diving, swimming, rowing, sailing, wind-surfing, water-skiing are all aquatic sports. There are different
strokes in swimming e.g. breaststroke, crawl…
The Olympic 2008: It is a big sport event that is held every four year. It will be held this summer, in
Beijing, the capital of China. The competitors will be playing against each other in 28 branches, but some of
them will be held in other towns. A lot of Hungarian admirers are said to travel to cheer. A sportsman can play
much more if he is encouraged or hailed, I think. Hungarians are really good at swimming e.g. Gergő Kis or
László Cseh is expected to win a few gold medals or at least to be on the foot-plate. Anyway, Gergő lives in
Ajka thus we are very proud of him. In fact we used to excel at swimming because we had e.g. Krisztina
Egerszegi and Tamás Darnyi who seemed to be by far the best all over the world both in the Olympic Games
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 7. EGÉSZSÉG, EGÉSZSÉGMEGŐRZÉS, SPORT
and the World Championship for years. They broke lots of records mostly they were unbeatable in backstroke
and crawl stroke (freestyle) despite coming from our small country. We are also good at rowing, boxing,
pentathlon and particularly men water-polo. In the Olympics we usually win at least two or three gold, silver or
bronze medals. We used to excel in table tennis and football, but we aren’t quite good at them any more. I can’t
wait to watch the events on telly, because they are really exciting and of course I adore win, too. Unfortunately,
the games may be disturbed by the politics, because there were quite lot demonstrations because of the
communism and around the torch.
I am not much of a football fan because I think football is in a mess in Hungary. Besides, I say that it is
better to watch football matches on telly because that way you can definitely avoid the occasional fights on the
terraces. I go off it (lose interest in) when I watch on TV some fans breaking and crashing anything that get
their way. After some matches shop windows near the grounds are smashed up and even the police are attacked
by them. We should build more protective fences or barriers to stop fans fighting each other or others. Most
Hungarian teams are extremely weak and whenever there is a championship they never get further than the
qualifying heats. Other countries’ selected teams easily knock them out. Sometimes they manage to draw, but
in the most cases they are defeated by two or more goals. Football: There are two teams, each consisting of ten
players and a goalkeeper, who play each other on a pitch. No player, but the goalkeeper handle the ball, but
heading is allowed. The forwards try to out-manoeuvre the opponents and get close enough to the goal kick the
ball on it. If it happens, it means a goal and the team leads by one goal to nil (1:0). The game is governed by
rules which must be strictly observed. A referee is assisted by two linesmen. The referee can award a free kick
or a penalty if there is foul play. He may even send a player off the field for a grave offence. The team that
scores more goals wins the match. The goal scorer, usually the top player, is feted as a hero.
Classification of sports:
Professional sports/amateur sports
Outdoor/indoor sports
Winter sports/summer sports
Team sports/individual sports
Water sports/athletics/ball games/
Enumeration: soccer, handball, basketball, volleyball, spinning, swimming, tennis, table tennis, track and field
events, hurdles, steeple chase, javelin throwing, pole vaulting, slalom racing, cross-country skiing, bob-
sleighing, figure skating, aquatics, high diving, rowing, breaststroke, crawl (freestyle), butterfly stroke,
backstroke, fencing, pentathlon, motor racing, hockey, floor exercises, parachuting, equestrian sports,
weightlifting, wrestling, boxing, shooting and archery, chess
Typical English Sports: cricket, rugby, soccer, golf, tennis, darts

epidemic-járvány
to feel dizzy-szédül
to get vaccinations-oltást kap vmi ellen
fracture-törés
ankle-boka

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 8. VÁSÁRLÁS ÉS SZOLGÁLTATÁSOK
• I like window-shopping especially in a new shopping - vásárlás, különösen élelmiszer, ruha és
centre, but I rarely waste time doing it. If I want to buy something, I’ll go háztartási cikkek vásárlása
in the largest hypermarket and buy it. In my family every morning it is
- vásárlási lehetőségek és tapasztalatok
my dad who buys everything that we need such as bread or rolls, milk,
some cold cuts and the basic food for supper and breakfast. He always - árak, a fizetés módjai
buys different products for my grandmother mostly which are quite - különböző üzlettípusok
heavy. Thus we don’t need to do week-end shopping as other families
- vásárlási szokások, ajándékozás
do.
I prefer shopping in the nearest super/hypermarket because it sells - hirdetések, reklám
almost everything that a family needs. There you can get almost - szolgáltatások: posta, telefon, bank, Internet,
everything under one roof. Almost all supermarkets are self-service rendőrség, diplomáciai képviselet, autójavítás,
stores, which are really popular because you make your choice as you fodrász, tisztító, stb.
please. Another advantage of supermarkets is that they have lower prices - a szolgáltatások leírása, ezzel kapcsolatos
than small shops. I suppose this is because bulk sale is cheaper. But tapasztalatok
sometimes they cut the price of certain goods so that people will come to
them. These hypermarkets are owned and run by rich investigators thus the bigger fish eat the little fish. People
who are in favour of small shops argue that their needs are much better looked after in a small shop and that the
assistants are more polite and attentive when serving them. Smaller shops are mainly privately owned and their
number is growing from month to month. These shops are the baker’s, butcher’s, confectioner’s, fruiterer’s,
greengrocer’s, grocer’s, fishmonger’s etc. They always have fresh products, the bread is never stale or dry, the
milk is never sour, and the service is always fast and polite. Anyway, I warn everybody against doing their big
shopping on Friday or Saturday because on these days the bigger shops are full of customers. On Saturdays’
mornings you always have to queue up in front of the counters as well as the pay desks. Everybody is in a
hurry, both buyers and shop assistants are nervous and there are often a lot of irritating remarks. They have got
plastic baskets for the fewer goods and wire trolleys for customers who want to buy a lot. Young mothers often
use them to push their babies in. The goods are tidily arranged on trays and long shelves on which the various
prices are clearly marked or the goods themselves are labelled.
The first counter to your right is the fruit and vegetable counter with its fresh fruits, mainly the ones in
season and tangerines, oranges, bananas, pineapples, pruned fruits like figs and dates, tinned fruit, marmalade
and lots of different kinds of vegetables. Next we come to the confectionery shelves with all sorts of sweets,
chocolate bars, cakes, biscuits, fancy cakes, boxes of chocolates, candied peanuts and stuffed sweets. Then
comes the bakery counter, which is always well stocked with fresh white wheat and brown rye bread, rolls,
croissants, buns, rusks, etc. after that we come to the wine counter, where dry and sweet wines (common table
or vintage wines) are sold. Then comes the dry groceries shelves, where you buy flour, cereals, tea, spices, rice
sugar (lump, castor, granulated or brown). Everything is sold ready packed. Vegetable and sunflower oils are
sold ready-bottled. There is also a big dairy counter with a large variety of dairy products: sweet or salted
butter, margarine, eggs, hard and soft cheese, full-fat or skimmed milk, sour cream, sweet cream and fruit
yoghurts. Next to this is the delicatessen and smoked meats and sausages counter. This counter sells ready-to-
serve foods such as roast chicken, prepared meats, French salads etc. Here one is offered a variety of sausages,
ham, bacon, rolled beef, smoked pork, salami and other cold cuts. There is a special hall, where they sell meat
and poultry, lard and other animal fats and offal. A special counter handles packed meats. Meat is sold here
ready-weighed and packed in cling film. There is a wide choice of fat and lean pork, beef, veal and minced
meat not to mention semi-prepared, ready-to-fry and ready-to-serve meats.
Before going shopping I take stock of our supplies then there is no need to run to the neighbour to
borrow a bit of this or a little of that. After taking stock I draw up a shopping list and set out to do my shopping.
I walk from shelf to shelf, filling my basket with the things I need. I have to think over what to buy because I
can’t afford to buy all kinds of things I don’t need. After finishing shopping I go to the cash desk, where there is
often a long queue. When it is my turn, the cashier adds up the bill on the cash register and gives me the receipt.
I can pay today in cash, by credit card or with buying tickets. The easiest thing is to pay in cash, because paying
with the buying tickets aren’t changed and if you pay by a credit card, make sure you know your pin-code and it
is slower, too. The grand total is rounded whole. Then I pack the things I have bought into a shopping bag and
leave the shop/supermarket. Meat is usually sold by the joint or slice, bread is by the loaf, flour, rice and salt by
the packet, cream, yoghurt and milk by the carton, oil, juice, beer and wine by the bottle and you normally ask

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 8. VÁSÁRLÁS ÉS SZOLGÁLTATÁSOK
for a jar of jam or instant coffee, a tube of mustard or toothpaste, a packet of tea or cigarettes, a head of lettuce
or cabbage, a bunch of grapes or bananas and a box of matches.
If an article, usually a durable consumer product, costs more than you can afford, you buy it on a hire-
purchase. A majority of shops and stores offer facilities for credit buying. This means that you pay a cash
deposit on the price of the article whether it is a car, a TV or a furniture, and pay the balance off in instalments
over an agreed period of time. It is a widely used method of buying because it enables a lot of people to obtain
things. The buyer signs a written agreement with the finance company which lends him the money at an
agreed rate of interest. He is also asked to find someone to act as guarantor for the loan. The interest rates vary,
but usually they are around 30 percent. The final price you pay depends on the size of initial cash deposit and
the length of time over which payments are spread.
• Other services: At the photographer’s you can have your photo taken and if it’s urgent, they
will do it in a few minutes. The photos from your family or anything may be enlarged, developed or you can
have snapshots printed, too. The watchmaker repairs or sets your watch if it is slow or fast and he also changes
the battery if it is run down. The shoemaker does the shoe heels or soles, patches or sews the upper leather of
your shoes if they want repairing. I go to the dry-cleaner’s if I want to have any stains removed or if I want any
of my clothes dyed from one colour to another. I rarely go to the barber’s where I have a haircut, shampoo and
shave. I like having my hair cut myself instead of the barber’s not to mention it’s free. I used to go to the
hairdresser and had my hair done according to the dictates of fashion. If the clothes do not fit well or we want
to have a new suit made, a tailor or a dressmaker is needed. Ready-to-wear suits often do not fit; the jacket
may be a bit broad in the shoulders or the trousers too long. They must be taken in or let out, turned up or let
down. When buttons have come off, they have to be sewn on. We take our car for its usual MOT (Ministry of
Transport) to the local garage, where the car mechanic gives it a check-up and repairs any parts that don’t
work properly.
Our central department store in our town is a two-storey building where you can buy several thousand
items of consumer goods. All the best-known products are usually in stock. On the ground floor you will find
jewellery, haberdashery, sports articles, toys, perfumery, household goods and leather goods. The second floor
is taken up by ready-made clothes for men and women and a nice assortment of underwear. You will also find
coats for all season wear (fur coats, overcoats, waterproofs, raincoats) and footwear (boots, slippers, sandals,
and high-heeled shoes) as well as textiles, drapery, millinery counters, cameras, musical records.
If you would like to buy clothes first you should ask the shop assistant to show you some. She will show
you some of pieces, which you can try on in the changing room. If it fits you then you buy it otherwise you can
ask another one e.g. in a larger size.
The central post office in our town occupies a huge, old building. It has a lot of services e.g. it
maintains connection with our relatives/friends living far away from us (drop a letter or a postcard); you can
subscribe to newspapers or magazines; you can buy stamps, post-cards or envelopes; you can send money by
money order or cheque; you can also post a parcel. These things have changed a lot recently, to be more precise
they have become more simple and faster.
In front of it you see public telephone boxes mainly for long-distance calls. To tell you the truth a few
people use them, because today almost everybody has got a mobile phone (See further details below). When
you enter the lobby there are some post-boxes where we can post our letters or postcards; we take it for granted
that the postman will deliver it to the right place. On the right side there is a newspapers and magazines counter,
which sells the latest issues of all dailies, weeklies, annuals. There is a sale of stamps counter, too where you
can buy stamps, coins, postcards, letter writing paper and envelopes. When you enter the main hall you see
rows of counters and bottom of them a sign or a topic, which helps you how to find the one you want. The first
is marked parcel post, which handles all parcels and packages. There is a parcel balance where your parcel is
weighed. You must fill in a parcel form before posting it. At all other counters you can send money by money
order or cheque; take up money; post letters, telegrams, postcards; pay your rent or bills for gas, electricity,
telephones. There is also a savings bank section, where you can keep a savings account or buy bonds. Packets
and parcels can be sent by parcel post or if they are not too big, by letter post. Letter post is quicker. A letter
can be registered or sent by recorded delivery, which means that the person who receives it must sign it. If a
letter is urgent, you send it express or ‘air mail’ and pay a bit more for the postage. In Hungary we write the
addressee’s name on the right-hand side of the envelope in the middle. Right underneath we write the town,
street and house number. In the bottom right-hand corner we write the postal code of the town or village the
addressee lives in. The sender’s name and address go in the left-hand corner of the envelope.
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 8. VÁSÁRLÁS ÉS SZOLGÁLTATÁSOK
Nowadays people send letters less and less in a normal form than before, because a new technique was
born. It’s called ‘e-mail’ and sent on the internet by electronic form. It is quite similar to its forefather, but it is
quicker and more modern. You can create a free e-mail address; you only have to register on the suitable web-
site. There is a window where you can write the subject of the letter, the addressee’s e-mail address or and there
is a copy box where you can pick a name of your friend hereby he’ll receives ‘a copy’ from it; you can add
some files that you want to send and of course there is more space for the text itself. This service has been quite
widespread because most companies and households have got personal computers with Internet connection.
Phone: We are on the phone at home. It has been installed for years and since then it has been much easier for
us to sort out things. Our telephone hasn’t, but most of them have an answer-phone system, which if we aren’t
at home would automatically answer telephone calls and record any message (which is) left by the caller. In my
opinion telephone is a marvellous invention.
Traditional telephoning: If you want to make a telephone call, first step is to pick up the receiver and
wait for the dialling tone. Then you insert a twenty-forint coin into the slot and begin dialling the number. If
you are calling a place in the same area you just dial the number, but if it is in another area you dial first the
code for that area. Then when you hear a sort of musical sound you dial the particular number. For these long-
distance calls the charge is usually higher. A high tone buzzing means the line is engaged. I hang up and my
coin is returned. Then I try again. If you are hearing a pay tone of rapid pips, it means you have to insert more
money otherwise they will get cut off and you can start the operation all over again. If you have misdialled, you
have to apologise and say ‘sorry, wrong number’. If the number is unobtainable, it means that you must have
dialled no the correct number and a machine tells you ‘the dialled number is not in use’. When you have been
put through you hold on till somebody at the other end of the line answers the phone. He will say ‘Hallo, this is
Mr. X speaking’. Then you can give your name and actually your connection is come off (or you say who you
would like to talk to).
As the matter of fact, it is an old-fashioned process to make a phone call in a telephone box. Nowadays
most people have got a mobile phone (moving/portable phone), which maintains connections you almost
anywhere. These receivers are bought in different sizes and there are three big suppliers in Hungary from which
you can choose. On one hand you can be a subscriber and then you have to pay your bill monthly or on the
other hand you can be a post-paid costumer. The procedure of the answering itself is almost the same as the old
method but of course a coin isn’t needed. However, there is one thing that can cause a problem when you are in
such a place where there is no reception.
Internet: The word itself is widespread all over the world. It means ‘network of networks’ and it is a spacious
system, which contains lots of computer-networks. In fact, you can send files to anywhere with its help, there
are a lot of computer needed operations like sending e-mails, downloading files, buying things with credit card
and mostly it delivers lots of information if you are ‘surfing on the net’. There are some internet browsers
which must be installed on your PC and then you can type a web-site address that you want to see.

zip-fastener-cipzár
to consume-fogyaszt
cellphone-mobil telefon

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 9. UTAZÁS

• People often travel on business, for pleasure, for relaxation or - utazási formák: üzleti út és turistaút,
even for education or for their health. I love it too, but the snag is that I egyéni és szervezett utazás
can’t afford to travel as much as I’d like to. I’ve neither the money nor - utazás autóval, vonattal, hajóval és
the time for it. But I usually go for a trip/journey at least once a year in repülővel, ezek használata üzleti út és
summer. In a package tour you travel with others and follow a nyaralás során
prearranged itinerary covering all the famous landmarks. You pay a - szálláslehetőségek, kemping
single, all-inclusive price that covers everything such as transportation,
- utazási irodai szolgáltatások
meals, accommodation, sightseeing tours and guides. With independent
travel you pay as you go and during the journey you can change your - utazási élmények
mind if you want to. But you can go in a travel agency and ask them to - a külföldi tartózkodással kapcsolatos
give you cost estimates and secure reservation for you. It used to be long tudnivalók
time ago. Nowadays people who have Internet they manage all services and goods of the journey on the net.
Lots of travel agencies advertise themselves on different web-sites. You can browse among the pictures of the
accommodation; you can read some details about them and of course their prices are shown for a night. You
can book a room in a hotel or in an apartman and you can pay a deposit, too. I prefer individual travel to
group travel. If you go on a package, you have to be adaptable, you have no time to look at everything you are
interested in and the worst thing is when you have a bad guide. He can spoil all your holiday. I can be my own
master, depend on nobody and can always do what I like. Although, package tours have some advantages too:
everything is arranged for you by travel agency from the necessary documents to hotel reservations. And it
doesn’t seem to be very romantic to arrive in a strange town at night with no idea where to go.
I plan my holiday well in advance and make a lot of arrangements. First of all I decide where to go.
Fortunately, we have unlimited possibilities to go practically anywhere in the world only you need have enough
foreign currency. It is enough to have a valid passport if you want to travel abroad. Passports expire from time
to time and people have to extend them or apply for a new one. Your passport entitles you to go any country in
the world without restrictions. As our country is a member of European Union, today you don’t have to have
your passport to step the borders at least your new type of identity card may be needed. You don’t need a visa
in none of the countries of Europe but it is needed to the USA or Australia now yet. You need to have some
foreign currency though, which you can get at a money changer, a bank or a travel agency. The exchange rate is
always changes for the forint’s value. The things that you need for a holiday are always determined by the
length, the time and the type of the holiday. The general rule is that you should try to travel light and take the
fewest possible clothes with you. You must also pack your toilet goods in and don’t forget about your camera
either, provided you have one. Customs officials examine the luggage of out-going and in-going travellers. You
may be asked to produce all the articles which you are bringing in with you. You must truthfully answer any
questions put to you by the Customs officer. There are goods liable to duty and you have to pay taxes on them.
If you have nothing to declare you tell the officer about it or if you are at the airport you simply go through the
green channel. If you have dutiable goods, you go to the red channel and declare them. Most of personal
belongings are exempt from duty. You must pay duty on a large amount of spirits, tobacco, coffee, on electrical
appliances etc. If you try to smuggle and then a dutiable article is found in your baggage, you have to pay a fine
and your article may be confiscated.
If you like sleeping in a tent in the open air then camping is the most ideal way of spending your holiday.
Apart from hot showers most camping sites offer other facilities like flush toilets, drinking water, cooking
areas, guarded parking places, electricity, bungalows, restaurants, bathing and fishing facilities and sports
grounds. It is so exciting to arrive at a camp-site and pitch your tent wherever you want or park your caravan.
Furthermore you can cook your supper over the camping gas fire and you are close to the nature all the time.
You can enjoy absolute freedom and have none of the headaches of advance hotel booking. For a ludicrously
small sum you can enjoy a comfort. Camp-sites are usually situated beside clear streams, in green valleys
between high mountains, by a lake or pond, or at the seaside. All of outdoor sports are available including water
sports and hiking. Foreigners in Hungary can stay in well equipped, modern camping-sites all around Lake
Balaton in guest-houses, motels or hotels. The most popular form of accommodation in the Balaton region is
renting private rooms or flats for a certain period of time. There are a lot of people letting their houses to
foreigners in summer. In Budapest, there are a lot of nice first-class hotels where people from abroad can spend
some pleasant and comfortable nights.

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 9. UTAZÁS

You can book a hotel room on the phone or you might as well book on the internet. If they have vacancies
or they are not all booked up, they can usually offer you a choice of single/double rooms or suites, rooms with
or without showers. While booking, you have to make sure what room you want to take. It can be faced to the
main street or it can be on the ground floor/top floor. Besides you have to decide whether you want a breakfast
or full board or not. When you have arrived at the hotel you go up to the reception desk and show your passport
or I.D. to the receptionist. It can quite easily happen that he isn’t at the desk. In such a case you can ring the
bell. He will fill in a registration slip for you and write your name in the hotel register. If you haven’t done it
previously, it is good to ask him about the price of the room per night and what meals and facilities this price
includes. Then the reception clerk will give you your key (ticket for the room) and the porter will show you to
your room and he’ll also take up your luggage (hotel valet). When you decide to leave, you give your key to the
receptionist, check out and settle your bill.
• Train/rail: I hardly ever travel by train, perhaps once in a blue moon. However, I like travelling by
rail because it’s very comfortable and quick. Besides it’s an excellent way to get to see the countryside too. And
although the trains don’t always leave and arrive on the dot, they are usually punctual.
Tickets can be purchased from railway stations and travel agencies. If you go on a day trip it is better to
buy a return ticket than a single one as you pay less and you don’t have to worry about buying another ticket for
your journey back. Children under the age of 14 get some reduction, you just have to ask for a special
children’s ticket at the booking office. I think that the railway today still carries the bulk of passenger traffic.
There are a lot of commuters who can’t afford to use their cars every day so they choose to travel by train.
Others choose the railway because in a train they always have enough space to move about, and they can be
absolutely relaxed and calm on a train. In Hungary you have the choice of following kinds of trains: express
trains, fast and slow passenger trains. Express trains are usually through trains while slow passengers trains stop
at every single station. You have to make a seat reservation for express trains, but not for fast or slow passenger
trains. In the hall, in front of the booking offices there are long queues of people buying tickets. Some of them
are already nervous because they are afraid of missing their trains. Others are waiting patiently for their trains
to be announced over the loudspeakers. Unfortunately, there is a growing number of homeless people who find
shelter in the waiting rooms of railway stations. Having bought a cheap fare, I go to the platform where I’m
waiting for the train. You mustn’t step over a yellow painted line because it is dangerous. Inside the first-class
carriages you can find very comfortable upholstered seats while in a second-class car the compartments are less
comfortable and the seats are covered with fake leather. That’s why the latter one is cheaper. In each
compartment there are luggage racks over the seats where you can put your trunks, holdalls or suitcases. I like
sitting facing the engine as opposed to sitting back to the engine. I always choose a non-smoking compartment
and preferably a seat by the window. During the journey an inspector can come to clip every passenger’s ticket.
Without having a ticket you’ll possibly be fined by the ticket inspector on the train. You can go to the corridor
and look at the beautiful scenery. There are some people who are smoking; others are trying to get past them
while they go away to be more precise people are coming to and fro. If it is not a direct train you have to
change to get your real destination.
Apart from passengers, trains also carry goods of many different kinds. Railway transport is still one of
the cheapest ways of carrying freight over long distances. For example milk, coal, cars and many other things
are transported by loaded containers. Most railway accidents happen at level crossings where there are no
crossing gates and inattentive drivers go across the track without checking if the signal is red or white.
Sometimes trains go off the track it can cause delays or even casualties.
Types of trains: slow train/passenger train/fast train
through train/direct train/non-stop express
freight train/goods train
• Air(port): Air travel is definitely the quickest way of transport. Air travel does save time. I have flown
once or twice in my life and the mere feeling of flying was really a memorable experience for me. I wish I
could fly more often. I enjoyed travelling in a jet because it was so nice to be above the clouds, not to mention
clear weather when you could see everything underneath and everybody tried to look through the window and
drunk in the sights. MALÉV, the Hungarian Airlines operate flights to all important cities abroad all the year
around. Some internal flights have been started recently which enable you to get to another town within
Hungary in the shortest possible time.

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Before boarding the plane the passengers must register at the check-in counter. While checking in your
luggage is weighed and the attendant attaches a special tag to it to prevent it from getting lost or misplaced. If
you exceed the baggage allowance you will have to pay an excess fare. After the officer has checked your
passport you go to the departure lounge where you usually have to wait for some time before your plane is due
to take off. It is wise to check the flight list on the TV screens to see if your flight is going to be delayed or not.
Departures, calls for flights, delays, cancellations or changes are also announced over loudspeakers. When your
flight is announced you go to the right gate and boarding begins. Stewardesses greet you on the board the plane.
You show your boarding card to them and take your seat. They help everyone to put the hand-luggage into the
luggage-compartment, to sit comfortably in the reclining seats and to adjust the safety belts.
Statistics show that air travel is safer than any other way of travelling. Air crashes are rarer than serious
accidents on the railways not to mention roads. The cockpit is full of modern navigational equipment and the
landing and take-off are controlled by computers. To be hijacked – eltérítik / To ascend/descend – fel/le száll
• Ship: I’ve travelled by ship several times on Lake Balaton, but most of these trips were pleasure
cruises. After we had bought the tickets we went to the pier and saw the ship entering the harbour. Then it
dropped anchor, we went on the board and the ship started. You can enjoy the sight of the calm, green water
and the white sailing boats on it as well as the pleasant view of the surrounding hills and villages. In Hungary
you can also take one of the passenger boats which ply our big rivers or the ferries that cross them regularly.
From May to September there is a daily boat service on the Danube between Budapest Vienna, which takes
about five hours. On Lake Balaton a daily ferry run from Balatonfüred to Siófok every day. (Tihany-Fonyód?)
Big ocean liners are like real floating cities with all modern conveniences. They can transport several
thousand passengers. The cabins are above and below deck. A cabin looks very much like a compartment of a
railway sleeping car. All cabins have portholes. In stormy weather many passengers feel seasick when the stern
dips down and the bow goes up. In case of emergency like running aground, hitting an iceberg or sinking, on
board a ship are available life-boats, life-belts, buoys and other safety devices. When the ship approaches its
destination, it slowly slips into the harbour and the passengers disembark.
Types of watercraft: sailing ship, barge, trawler, yacht, kayak, tanker, submarine, ferry, ocean liner, raft,
paddle-boat, rubber boat To be shipwrecked - hajótörést szenved
• Coach, bus: Hungary has quite an extensive inter-city coach network reaching into all parts of the
country. The vehicles are comfortable and the service is reasonably rapid. Prices are on a par with those for
first-class rail travel. Most coaches are operated by a company called Volán, but the number of privately run
coaches is gradually increasing. At present they are mainly hired for school trips or package tours.
Unfortunately, they are often on a strike in fact because they can. They demand to rise their salary if not they
don’t transport the passengers.

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 10. ÉTKEZÉS

• In Hungary in most houses the meals are breakfast, lunch and

supper. Hungarian breakfast consists of milk or tea, some cold meals with a - étkezési szokások
slice of bread spreading butter or rolls, different jams, honey and toast. - étterem és más vendéglátóhelyek
In an English home four meals are served: they are breakfast, lunch, tea
and the most important meal of the day is the dinner. English breakfast - egészséges étkezés
consists of cornflakes, ham and eggs (boiled and fried) with tomato or - egy-két étel elkészítése
mushrooms, buttered toast or bread and butter with marmalade and fish may
be served. Some orange juice is drunk before breakfast and tea or coffee is - otthoni vendéglátás, meghívás
drunk after it. - a magyar konyha jellegzetességei
MEALS IN HUNGARY MEALS IN ENGLAND
- to have breakfast - to drink early morning tea
- to take one’s elevenses - to eat a substantial breakfast
- to have lunch at work/at home - to have a snack for lunch
- to have a cold meal for supper - to have a big dinner
I usually have no breakfast at home except at weekends because I have it with my colleagues at my work. I
eat some sandwiches which I have made previously or I sometimes buy a ‘cocoa snail’. I usually eat some cold
cuts with rolls, green pepper or tomato and drink cold milk. Some people just eat an apple or a banana or drink
a cup of tea/coffee. At weekends we have a more relaxed breakfast; we often eat ham and eggs or gypsy toast.
To make a tea (for more persons) I put the kettle under the tap and fill it up with water. Then I put it on the
electric cooker (or in the microwave oven) and bring the water to boil. When the water is boiling I put the tea-
bags into it. I leave them to brew for some minutes then I take them out. I serve it with sugar and lemon. To
make sandwiches I cut a loaf of bread into slices and spread some butter or marge over them. I make hard-
boiled eggs, cut them up and put them on the bread together with some slices of salami or cold sausages.
Finally I grate some cheese and sprinkle it over the bread slices. For decoration I use paprika paste or mustard.
Lunch is the second meal of the day and people have it between twelve and half past two depending on
the time of the lunch break at work. It is usually a heavy meal and most working people have it in a self-service
restaurant or in the canteen of their factory. There we join to the queue. After taking a tray, the cutlery, some
paper serviettes and a plastic glass we choose what we want to have. Naturally, canteen food isn’t in the same
street as what your (grand) mother/wife cooks at home, but I’m not particularly choosy or fastidious about what
I eat. I eat everything that is delicious and well-cooked and I don’t have particularly sweet tooth. Lunch consists
of three courses: first comes some soup (clear, vegetable, meat, pea, bean or fruit soup). I generally take fruit
soup, because this is my favourite. The second course is either some meat (a pork chop, some poultry or fish,
usually tuna or heck) with garnish (mashed potatoes, chips or rice) or some vegetable dish made from green
peas, French beans, marrow, spinach or sorrel. Cabbage is also popular prepared as cabbage with tomatoes or
stuffed cabbage. The second course may also be some noodles, pancakes, strudel (filled with fruit, cottage
cheese, cabbage or poppy-seed), scones or doughnuts. The third course is always some cake or depending on
the season of the year fresh or stewed fruit.
The Hungarians take great pride (are proud of) in their fish dishes, made from the delicate pike-perch
caught in Lake Balaton and the many varieties that abound in the Danube or in the smaller ponds. The Fish
soup is a meal itself. I think Hungarian cuisine has a good reputation and the foreigners who come here find
our dishes very tasty and luscious. Hungarian Goulash e.g. is world famous but there are many other lesser-
known specialities. Among the most popular national dishes are paprika chicken with sour cream, stuffed
cabbage, noodles with poppy-seed and sugar/cabbage or roasted paprika potatoes. Our national dish is noodles
with cottage cheese, sour cream and scraps of roasted bacon. We are also fond of different soups; we are a
soup-eating nation. Both the ‘beans soup of Jókai’ and ‘Újházi chicken broth’ are the most famous soup in
Hungary. A typical Hungarian lunch is unimaginable without soup. We must mention ‘pancake Hortobágyi
style’ and a pudding called ‘floating islands’ yet.
I lay the table as I sometimes do for a Sunday lunch. I spread a nice white cloth over the dining table and
put a vase with flowers in the middle. I put out the dinner plates first, then the soup plates. The knife and spoon
go on the right-hand side, the napkin and the fork on the left. I put the side plates, goblets, glasses and dessert
spoons in front of the plates. Finally I try not to forget about the saltcellar, the pepper pot and the toothpicks
either.

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 10. ÉTKEZÉS

FEW RECIPES
How to make the “Hungarian lecsó (Stewed peppers and tomatoes with sausage)”
Ingredients:
- Red pepper 1 pinch
- Salt 2 teaspoon
- Onions 300g
- Sausage 300g
- Green peppers 1kg
- Tomatoes ½ kg
- Oil
- rice
Simmer diced onions in oil and add the cleaned peppers sliced in ringlets. Let them sauté for 5mn. Under
covered lid at a low heat. Now add sausage slices, peeled and diced tomatoes and spices. Heat it at a medium
range for a half hour. Prepare rice in the meantime and serve together with the “lecsó”.

How to make “rakott krumpli”

Ingredients:
- 6 eggs :
- Cooking oil
- 2kg potato
- red pepper
- sausage
- sour cream
- salt
- Red pepper/paprika
- pepper
Cook the potatoes and the eggs then peel them. Then you have to make a sauce by the following steps: cut
onions and simmer them in oil, add a bit red pepper to it, pour into it a carton of sour cream and stir it while
boiling. Having sliced the eggs and the potatoes, you put them into a Pyrex dish/bowl (or a roasting/baking
dish/tin) by making layers. Meanwhile sprinkle with salt and season with pepper. Cook while it is red.
• To eat out means to have a meal in a restaurant. If you want to dine out you have the choice of
going to a first-, second-, or third-class restaurant, a self-service restaurant or in summer to an open-air
restaurant. People choose the self-service system if they are in a hurry and they want to have a quick meal. You
go into the restaurant and choose the dish you want to eat from the list (which is) hanging on the wall. Then you
pick up a tray, knife, fork, spoon and queue at the counter where the food is on display. You pick out what you
want and put it on your tray, which you have to push along a special rack till you reach the cashier. The cashier
will give you the bill. After paying you take your tray to any table you like. You can sit alone or with another
customer. Furthermore advantages are that you can have a hot meal in few minutes and you never buy a pig in a
poke. The only disadvantage is that you may not always find a free table. If people have time and money, they
go to a first-class restaurant. When you enter a restaurant, first you have to leave your coats in the cloakroom.
After that you enter the dining-room and either look for an empty table yourself or the headwaiter shows you to
one. Some people reserve tables in advance, otherwise they may not always have luck in finding a free table.
You sit down at the table and ask the waiter for the menu. If you decide to dine a la carte, you go through the
menu and give the order to the waiter. Sometimes you ask the waiter what he can recommend you. Some
restaurants have certain special dishes which can’t be eaten at other places. As most dishes have a fancy name
you sometimes ask the waiter what that dish includes. Paying for your dinner at a restaurant in Hungary is not
always very simple. You have to make a sign to the waiter and let him know that you’d like to ask for the bill.
He comes immediately and you can pay. You usually give the waiter a tip or leave it on the table. It is usually
ten or fifteen per cent of the grand total. I love eating in restaurant because the atmosphere is so
intimate/familiar there and a soft music is sounding at the background not to mention you are served. But I
rarely go to restaurant unless there is an occasion. We often go to a café or a pizzeria where we go Dutch.
• Most people in Hungary eat more than necessary. Our calorie intake is about double the amount
we actually need. People eat a lot of carbo-hydrates in food like bread, cakes and sugar, which are very
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 10. ÉTKEZÉS

fattening. I think we also eat more meat and protein than necessary, especially fatty meats (which) are favoured
by most Hungarians. That is why there are so many fat people among us. A healthy diet should contain at least
the same amount of fibre as fat. It should also contain the major nutrients, such as vitamins, protein, calories or
iron. It should be high in vegetables and grains, with modest amount of meat. I would say: eat when you are
hungry, but don’t force the food down when you are not. I have never been on a slimming diet because I’m on
the skinny side. I don’t easily put on weight even if I eat a lot. I think we are so wasteful while in some parts of
the world there are millions of people (who are) suffering from malnutrition. I get very upset when I see people
wasting food (e.g. throw any bread into the dustbin).
• Last year I took one of my cousins to a good restaurant. She was wined and dined at my
expense. We sat down at the corner and the waiter brought us the menu immediately. We both felt like some
orange juice and apricot brandy first. Then we began to study the menu more closely. It contained a wide range
of appetizers (hors-d’ oeuvres), that is: cold appetizers, soups, vegetables, meat dishes, salads, desserts, cheese,
fruit and drinks. The waiter came up to our table and inquired what we would like to order. To start with I
ordered fried cheese and a chicken soup ‘richly’ for her. I ordered slices of turkey with mushroom spreading
whipped cream and rice as the main course for me and the other one was tenderloin steak with jacket potato.
While waiting for the meal we were sipping our apricot brandy. Having had our supper, we drunk a full-bodied
Hungarian wine from Badacsony. When it was the time for the sweet course we could hardly move. In the end
we wanted to have a soft dessert like ice-cream and finished a glass of refreshment. We sat talking for a while
then I called the waiter and settled the bill. I told him to keep the change. We left the restaurant with the
enjoyable feeling that we had had a very good meal.

well-done-jól átsült hús

rare-véres (marhahús)

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 11. KÖZLEKEDÉS

• I came here by car as I live in Ajka about thirty kilometres from - helyi és távolsági közlekedés
here. If we hadn’t got a car, I must have taken the early morning coach to get leírása (megközelítési lehetőségek)
here in time. Although it is not very cheap, I like driving. A car is always - közlekedési eszközök
quick and comfortable. The traffic was not particularly heavy on the motorway (tömegközlekedés, autó, kerékpár,
and nothing out of the ordinary happened. I managed to park the car in the car egyéb)
park across the road. The whole journey from my home to here didn’t take - autótartás
more than half an hour.
- jogosítvány
• In most big cities people have a wide choice of vehicles as
public transport services consist of buses, trams, suburban trains, the - esélyegyenlőség a közlekedésben
(idősek, kisgyerekkel közlekedők,
underground system and perhaps trolley buses. Day by day the inhabitants gyerekek, mozgássérültek)
have to travel long distances to and from work and school and most of them
- közlekedési szabályok,
use the public transport network. In addition to the inhabitants lots of people közlekedési morál (autóvezetők és
commute and go to work in big cities and thus public transport has to handle gyalogosok, járműveken utazók,
motorosok, kerékpárosok)
an enormous number of passengers. I sometimes cannot avoid going to the
capital and I prefer using the public transport services to driving because of the - közlekedési gondok,
közlekedésfejlesztés
heavy traffic. Perhaps the taxi is the most comfortable, but also the most
expensive means of transport. The yellow tram is the cheapest and generally - közlekedésbiztonság
the slowest, but also the most frequent vehicle after the underground. It works
by electricity and has a pair of fixed rails and electric wires so it doesn’t pollute the air as much as buses do.
The trolley bus is a mixture of trams and buses; it has rubber tyres but runs on electricity. The underground
railway is definitely the quickest means of transport as it goes under the ground so it never gets into traffic
jams. It runs every other minute. Every vehicle stops at determined distances. If you want to get off you signal
to the driver by pushing a button (except the underground railway, the tram), which is nearest to you and the
bus comes to a halt at the next stop. Stops are marked with signs of different colours for different types of
vehicles. Trams usually run in the middle of the road so at the tram stops there are special islands for
pedestrians. Before getting on a vehicle we have to take care for our tickets because of the no-conductor
system. Tickets for buses, trams and the underground are on sale at termini, major news-stands, tobacconist’s,
shops and post offices, but not on board the vehicles themselves. Tickets for suburban trains must be purchased
at the railway stations. Fares for suburban trains vary according to the distance. Other vehicles charge a flat rate
for a ticket. Ticket prices have gone up so many times recently thus one cannot really follow these changes in
prices. You perhaps had better buy a season/monthly ticket. It is valid from the first of the month till the fifth of
the next month. You put the ticket in a machine, pull the handle and your ticket will be punched. You have to
keep your ticket while travelling as inspectors make occasional spot-checks on tickets and you can expect quite
a hefty fine if yours isn’t in order. If you are a fare dodger, the ticket inspector may fine you to several thousand
forints. The taxi or the car is perhaps the most convenient way of travelling in a town. Cars are waiting at taxi
ranks and can be called on the street or by telephone. They are quite expensive, though, so people only use
them when they are in an unknown town and don’t know how to get about it, or when they have a lot of
luggage to carry or even when they go out somewhere in the evening and don’t want to drive. The fare is
recorded on a meter, which a passenger can see from his seat.
The best point about cycling to work or school is that it is cheap. It also helps you to keep fit unless
there is too much smog to breathe in on the way. It can be quite quick because it doesn’t need much space for
overtaking; there can be no problems with parking either. You will definitely not get a parking ticket if it is
parked in the wrong place. The worst thing about cycling is that you are in danger if you ride the bicycle in the
busy place. It doesn’t protect you from bad weather either. What’s more if you don’t lock it properly, it can
easily be stolen. cycling lane – biciklizár , to lock-lezárni
• In Hungary you can get a driving licence from the age of 18, but before you get it you first have
to pass a theoretical test and a practical one. In the theoretical part you are asked about the rules of the Highway
Code and if you pass this test you are allowed to attempt driving with the examiner sitting next to you. First you
take a “routine exam mixed with a technical exam” including U-turns, three-point turns, reserving into a narrow
space and other manoeuvres and you certainly have to show the examiner that you know the car’s technical side
such as changing fuses or any wheel, oil level checking or lights test etc. Then comes the next test called
“driving in or around the town”. Between the previous ones you are expected to take a health theoretical exam
too. You will still need a health certificate to testify that there is nothing wrong with your health that hinders
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 11. KÖZLEKEDÉS

you from driving. Anyway, people don’t often pass the first time. We have got a Suzuki Ignis, which we bought
a brand-new style two years ago. It was worth buying it because it is swift, economical and comfortable. Its
only one disadvantage is its a bit high petrol consumption. The interior space is more than enough for four
people. It does not have much luggage space though unless you remove the rear seats. When we bought it, we
were happy to see that the body is new and it had got 0 km. We like it because it is silent, has a good
acceleration and has never let us down. A car virtually consists of two basic parts; the wheels and the body.
Under the bonnet are the parts that basically move the car: the engine, the cylinders, the carburettor, the shafts,
the battery, the spark plugs and the petrol tank. The things that the driver has to manipulate while driving are
the clutch, accelerator and brake pedals, the handbrake and the steering wheel. The speedometer and the
different indicator lights are on the dashboard. What you can see on a car from the outside are the headlights,
the registration number on the number-plate, the windscreens with wipers, the bumpers, the rear view mirror,
the boot, the mudguard and the rear indicator lights. Under the car are the chassis and the exhaust pipe. The
starting of the car: when I get into our car I first put the ignition key into the keyhole and I turn it by switching
on the ignition. Then I push down the clutch pedal and turn the key while starting the engine. Then I put the
gear lever into first gear. (Then if the handbrake was pulled in I take off it). I let out the clutch pedal slowly
while pushing down the accelerator pedal and thus the car moves off.
An MOT test is a compulsory test on cars done at determined intervals over a certain age. It is important
to have your car MOT-ed regularly, because it may turn out to be unfit for driving. In that case it endangers
both your and other motorists’ lives.
The most frequent types of driving offences are: improper parking, reckless switching between traffic
lanes and driving through the red lights. Unfortunately these drivers aren’t always fined as traffic wardens
cannot be present everywhere. So in most cases offending drivers get away without a fine and sometimes they
are just let off with a caution. In fact it hasn’t been true recently because of the “0-tolerance“.
• The problem of modern traffic is caused by a lot of different factors. The most acute is perhaps
the constant congestion on the roads, traffic islands, pavements and in the vehicles themselves. Urban areas are
beginning to get choked and traffic has slowed down immensely. Because of the large number of cars pouring
onto roads travelling about towns has become very difficult, and the environment has become more polluted.
Public transport has deteriorated and the roads are also in an awful state of repair. The general view now is that
the roads as well as public transport need to be improved and not allowed to deteriorate further. Ring roads
have been built around larger towns to prevent city centres from seizing up entirely. Heavy goods vehicles have
been banned out of Budapest even the use of cars is restricted to prevent constant traffic jams and pollution.
Greater use of one-way streets and computer-controlled sets of traffic lights may also help the traffic flow.
Several pedestrian subways and vehicle underpasses are being built at crossings.
There is a high number of road accidents in this country, but fortunately they don’t all end with deaths.
In most cases they result in bodily injuries. I think drivers, pedestrians and road conditions can be blamed for
this. Drivers who drive too fast and without any consideration for others, and the ones who think they are safe
at the wheel even though they have drunk too much. Pedestrians, who step off the pavement without first
looking to the left or right, cross the roads when the traffic lights are against them or those who jump off
moving vehicles. In most places and especially at busy junctions traffic lights control the traffic. The green light
lets cars through while the red light tells them stop and amber means wait. The automatic light system allows
you to pass along the main roads without stops. There are other signs on the road too, which either give you
direct orders or warn you of possible danger. There are also direction signs, cat’s eyes, mile posts and signs
painted on the road. A good driver has to know what they all mean and has to follow their instructions. He must
also know the Highway Code.
In Hungary we drive on the right opposite to England where people drive on the left. It would be
difficult for you to be used to driving on the left, I think. You have to keep to (observe) the speed limit
everywhere. In Hungary you can drive 50 kilometre/hours in a town, 90 on the main road and 130 on the
motorway. But there are some sign-posts which control the speed e.g. near schools, zebra crossings, housing
estates, heavy bends etc. In a junction you have to give way to the one coming from the main road. It is signed
by a priority sign. There is an extended form of this one called “Stop! And give way”. At this time first you
have to stop definitely. There is no sign-post in a co-ordinate junction and a certain “right-hand rule” pre-
dominates here. General rule is that you have to be careful for the older people, kids, bikers, dogs etc. You

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 11. KÖZLEKEDÉS

mustn’t turn around or reserve in a bridge or in a level crossing. Certainly if you can see an accident you are
liable to help others and you have to call the ambulance and police.

Places for traffic in towns, outside towns

In town: carriage-way, one-way street, junction, cul-de-sac, lay-by, avenue, roundabout, pedestrians precinct,
level crossing, flyover, bridge
Outside town: motorway, main road, ring road, roundabout, slip road, central reserve
Some traffic signs
To give orders: give away, no overtaking, maximum speed limit, no stopping, no parking, end of restriction, no
entry
To warn of danger: slippery road, road narrows, railway crossing, caution, dangerous bend to right
To give information: motorway, parking, filling station, dead end, hospital, zebra crossing, bus stop
Other information
Breathalyser, horn, to collide, to fasten the seatbelts, bottleneck, driving on the left (in England), to overtake

Points – váltó (vasútnál)

Barrier; gate - sorompó

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 12. KOMMUNIKÁCIÓ
• It is worth learning a foreign language because of the
following reasons: - az idegen nyelvek szerepe és
fontossága
The importance of learning languages
- to talk freely to each other about business, politics, culture, - nyelvtanulási módszerek és
lehetőségek
hobbies, sport
- to promote friendship and understanding among people - a számítógép szerepe a
- to establish ties with other nations mindennapokban

- to make friends / to correspond - Internet

- the learn about other people’s culture, way of life
- a számítógép előnyei és hátrányai
- the read authors in the original
- to understand foreign TV channels - tömegtájékoztatás és
véleményformálás (tévé, rádió, sajtó)
- to be better informed about the world
- to make oneself understood while travelling - a kapcsolattartás egyéb eszközei
(telefon, fax, mobil)
- to have more chances to travel on business
- to get a scholarship, to go abroad to study
- to read scientific articles
- to keep abreast of the latest discoveries and inventions (or of your colleagues)
- to have an all-around education
• First of all you can learn English/German at school, both in primary and secondary school or
even at university. If you are not a student any more you can go to a course and get as many as four to ten
English lessons a week. In bigger towns there are courses for all levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced.
These courses are usually cheaper than the ones offered by private teachers, from whom you can get one-to-one
tuition if you wish. The idea of self-study is favoured by some of those who think that a language can be
enquired alone without the help of an expert teacher.
Most satellite channels offer English/German speaking programmes and there are quite a few
language teaching programmes on Hungarian TV too. The CNN always broadcasts so I watch the news
whenever I can. It helps me to learn the language and get interesting information about the world. I often watch
American movies by original language and enjoy the casts beautiful pronunciation and intonation. The more I
listen to the English broadcasts/films the more I am able to catch and grasp, I think. You can get the leading
English and American newspapers at the post offices and there is a daily called ‘Daily News’, which covers
the latest Hungarian and foreign news in English and German. Besides you can buy/subscribe different dailies.
They can all help you to master this language if you read them regularly and don’t give up after the first
hardships.
I’m studying English so that I can communicate with people from different parts of the world and I
must be able to have my knowledge for my work in the future. In fact by far the most essential reason why I
began to study was that wherever I went everybody always said to me ‘I had got the intermediate level
certificate; it was easy to pass. Why don’t you have it?’ and it made me nervous. Then I’ve decided to obtain at
least the intermediate level in English. And whatever will be I would achieve/accomplish my purpose. In
addition to it, if I should lose my present job I must be communicating English in a job interview. There is no
problem today if someone can speak a foreign language. You are demanded to speak at any level by almost
every company mostly if it is needed for your work. If you speak a world language you can make friends during
your travels and even through letters by corresponding with boys and girls from other countries. Your
possibilities in your life are much wider. I am no longer considered to be an educated person without the
knowledge of at least one foreign language. The most widely taught language in Hungary is German. There is
no school, let it be primary or secondary without at least one or two teachers of German. In my opinion English
has become more important than German recently in the world though. It is quite popular, especially among
youngsters. When a child reaches the age of 8 and enters the third year of primary school, he/she starts studying
a foreign language. The child is offered a choice which is usually between German and English. Children can
even specialise in either of them if they wish and can get more than the average number of lessons a week in the
chosen language.
In most secondary schools a choice of three or four, sometimes even five foreign languages is offered
to the pupils. These languages are German, English, French, Italian, Spanish and perhaps Russian or Latin. As
for me, the teaching of English isn’t enough efficient in Hungarian secondary schools. It is impossible to
acquire a language in three 45-minute periods a week with twenty to thirty students in a group. There is also a
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 12. KOMMUNIKÁCIÓ
lack of English teachers in most schools now that western languages have become prevalent instead of Russian.
Some schools are in short of teaching aids such as cassette players, videos or photocopies. However, there are
such pupils between 14 and 18 who manage to pass the intermediate level state language exam. In fact, it is
worth passing this exam because you can get easily into university.
• I’m used to using my mobile phone every day. I take it everywhere except the bathroom or the
toilet. It is good that I can be reached any time. Today you can’t be without it, I think. There are so many
interesting things you can do with a mobile phone. Besides the original function of making a phone call, you
can send short messages and even pictures to your friends. There are games on the phone, so I just can’t get
bored. Most mobile phones even have Internet access, however, the speed of the connection has not been
satisfactory yet. Still, you can always check what’s on the cinema, the result of a football team’s match and the
weather forecast. A lot of people say that a cell phone damages your brain, but a certain headset is available for
it.
• I think the greatest invention of our times was the invention of computers. Here in Hungary
we used them for about twenty years. Today computers are easy to carry not to talk about laptops. We rely on
them so much that it is hard to imagine life without a PC. Obviously, it has made our lives more comfortable,
because a lot of things have become more easily accessible this way. A few decades ago people struggled to
produce readable handwriting, but now the struggle is about typing. It is true, however, that comforts have
brought about laziness and carelessness, too. Now e.g. we don’t have to pay attention to spelling correctly
because the spell check program on the computer is able to correct the mistakes you make. Computers have
changed our lives in several ways. They have made people become less interested in real things. They prefer
living in a virtual reality, which is sometimes far from the truth. It seems to me that people are afraid of
revealing their real selves and always want to be someone else, which can be done with the help of the Internet.
I don’t really like these changes, because this way we will lose our identities and will be indifferent to others.
I’ve got a personal computer at home. I quickly became a fan, but I have not become an addict. My parents are
quite strict about how much time I spend in front of the screen. I’ve been using it for long years and I even do
my work with it. We had the Internet connected up years ago and what’s more my dad owns a PC with net too.
Everyday I find new and interesting things on the worldwide web. I can chat with my friends or I can play
games with people from all over the world.
Advantages Disadvantages
to work easier and faster you become its addict (forget to eat regularly)
your back will hurt because of sitting in front of it long times
your eyes are getting worse

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 13. TÁGABB KÖRNYEZETÜNK, A TERMÉSZET VILÁGA
• Flora and fauna: Our flora and fauna are very similar
to those of our neighboring countries and it is different, too. You can - természeti környezetünk (növények,
find grassy steppes here. We have all kinds of medicinal herbs, the állatok)
use of which we have to relearn. We have oak trees on the lower - éghajlat
slopes where the weather is warmer. Beech trees can be found more
frequent above 600 meters. There are more pine woods near the - a környezetünket fenyegető veszélyek
border where the hills are higher. Foreigners like coming to hunt here - mindennapi környezetvédelem (a környezet
in Hungary because we still have a lot of wild animals, hunting seems tisztasága, szelektív hulladékgyűjtés,
energiatakarékosság, újrahasznosítás)
to be cheap for them and our hospitality is still well known. The
kinds of game that can be found in our country: deer, mouflon, wild - időjárás: az évszakokra jellemző időjárás,
boar, pheasant, partridge, wild duck, dove, hare, wild goose, fox and aktuális időjárás
many others.
• Hungary is in the temperate zone and has a continental climate. This means that the weather is
quite easily predictable and there are big differences between the weather in the four seasons: spring, summer,
autumn and winter. Occupying a relatively flat area in the Carpathian Basin, Hungary is protected from the
extremes of weather by the mountain ranges encompassing her from almost all sides. Her climate is influenced
by both moderate maritime and mild Mediterranean air currents. Temperatures above 30°C (degree) may occur
in July and August but generally do not last long. January and February are the coldest months, but even then
average temperature doesn’t fall below minus 5°C.
• Weather: my favourite season is spring. After the long cold, wet and foggy days it is warm
again. Nature also awakens from its sleep and the trees and bushes are full of blossom. It smells of flowers
everywhere. The nicest spring flowers are snowdrops, violets, tulips, primroses, daffodils, hyacinths and lily of
the valley. This is also the time for fruit trees to come out in buds and bloom. I like nature so I try to make the
best of the fine weather. May is just the right month for taking walks or going on trips to the surrounding hills.
On a sunny day in spring I can’t really settle down to anything except lying in the sun and enjoying the first
warm sunshine of the year. The weather in spring is quite capricious, especially in April. There can be heavy
rainstorms lasting for a few hours or scattered showers lasting even for a couple of days. It was extremely hot
summer last term. There was a heat wave in July. The sun was burning for days and end. There was scarcely a
breath of air. The heat was increasing and it was getting hotter and hotter. It was sweltering heat and I
remember that the people walking in the streets had to find shelter in the shade of big trees to avoid getting
sunstroke. I got as browns as berries although I hate lying in the sun. In summer a hot spell is followed by quick
showers that sweep through the fields. Before a shower the sun hides behind the clouds which look dark and
heavy against the summer sky. When the sky is completely overcast you know that the rain is not far off. Then
suddenly lightning and thunder begin. Lightning is quite dangerous and it may strike big trees or even houses. If
it is a passing shower then right after it a rainbow appears in the sky, which turns blue again and the sunshine is
hotter than ever. Sometimes it pours down with rain (to rain cats and dogs) and it won’t stop. You can easily get
soaked to the skin. There is even hail in summer which causes a lot of damage to the crops. Wheat is harvested
in the middle of summer and there are lots of fruits that are ripened by the hot sun during the summer days.
There are cherries, raspberries, gooseberries, red-currants, sour cherries etc. In summer it is enough to put on a
light dress with a low-cut neck or a T-shirt with shorts or breeches and a pair of low shoes or sandals. On the
beach women wear a bathing suit or a bikini and perhaps a straw hat. Men wear swimming trunks. The
beginning of autumn is called an Indian summer if the weather is still warm. Usually it is just like summer. We
say that autumn is a rich season because the trees are full of fruits like apples, pears, plums, nuts, almonds,
mulberries etc. and most of the vegetables are harvested at the beginning of the autumn too. In Hungary the
grape harvest, that is vintage, is a great feast. Friends and relatives come together to pick the grapes from the
vines, to press them, pour the grape juice into wine-casks and let it ferment for a while for it to be decanted
later. The rainiest season is definitely autumn. The best strategy for protecting yourself from the rain is to carry
an umbrella or a mackintosh with you all the time. In autumn, people put on a mackintosh or some other kind of
waterproofs. It is important that you should wear water-resistant shoes or wellingtons as well because you can
catch a cold easily if you step in the puddles and get your feet wet. All kinds of precipitation may occur during
the autumn months from drizzle and rain through mist, fog, hoar frost and sleet to snow. In autumn the leaves
of trees slowly become coloured, you can see yellowish, brownish and reddish ones. In October the weather is
very changeable; one day it is as if it were summer the next is just like in winter. In November there is often
frost. When winter is here, the temperature falls below zero. Then smooth snow falls down from big, grey
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 13. TÁGABB KÖRNYEZETÜNK, A TERMÉSZET VILÁGA
clouds. There are blizzards and stormy winds shake the trees and windows and it’s very pleasant to sit by the
fire inside while the wind is blowing outside. There are usually hard frosts in January. I often feel cold in such
weather. I shiver with cold when I go to work in the morning. My eyes are watering from the cold. In winter
you must be careful not to catch cold. You must wear warm clothes and dress in layers. In cold weather people
wear fur hats or thick, knitted hats and gloves, warm scarves and polo-necked sweaters, cotton stockings or
trousers, winter boots and thick fur-lined overcoats. Winter weather often paralyses traffic on the roads. They
are slippery, because of the ice covering them and there are a lot of accidents. You must not drive at a high
speed. Fog also delays traffic. Planes cannot land at the airport because of poor visibility. It’s better to cancel
driving when there is dense fog hanging over the roads. If the snow sets in, the roads are deep in snow. They
may be blocked by snowdrifts. Hard snowstorms sometimes stop all the traffic and many cars get stuck in the
snowdrifts.
England has a maritime climate, which means that the weather is very wet and rainy there. It is usually
very changeable and it is difficult to forecast with certainty even for a day. It is damp and not too cold all times
of the year. It rarely snows and if it does, it melts when it reaches the ground. Summers are cool and damp too.
Possibly because it is so unpredictable, English people are always prepared to discuss the weather.
Spring weather Summer weather
slight breeze to perspire/sweat (izzadni)
it begins to thaw to rain cats and dogs
there are avalanches in the mountains to get soaked to the skin
to be struck by lightning
Autumn weather Winter weather
it is wretched/rotten to have subzero temp.
to have chilly weather there is a blizzard
to drizzle, rain, pour, sleet a snowflake
It is misty, foggy
humid, wet, damp
to reach gale force
• There has been more and more damage to the environment since the increase of the world’s
population and industry. I have heard of air, water and soil pollution. In general, the larger the city the higher
the degree of air pollution, which is caused mainly by factories or by fumes from cars and from other means of
transport. Even rivers are dirtier in a city than in the country. All types of pollution can be very dangerous for
plants and animals as well as for human health. This is why we must avoid polluting our environment in any
way. Acid rain is caused by air pollution. Vehicle pollution mainly in urban areas can be dangerous. Floods are
caused by cutting down trees. Grass and undergrowth and shrubs aren’t able to hold humidity. Rain is joined by
melted snow water and evaporation is also slow. If people cut down woods there is a big amount of water,
which runs down quickly and there is nothing that can slow down the speed of it. Soil is also washed away so
people cannot plant in the usual way. The other reason for floods is global warming. Ice in North Pole melts so
another large of water appears in the seas and ocean. Air becomes humid so more rain falls. The other
consequence of warming up is that seasons are changing all the time. There are heavy rains and a lot of snow
where there didn’t use to be. (like snow in Florida). There was the winter flood in the east part of Hungary in
2001 and 2002. The water was not only cold but it ruined a lot of houses. In the summer of 2002 there were
serious floods all over Europe. France, Germany, the Czech Republic and Hungary suffered the biggest
damages from the floods. Some people even died. Polluted rivers flow into the oceans and seas so they poison
wild life plants and animals. So species die out. Originally waters of rivers, oceans and seas clean themselves
but if a lot of alga appears on the surface of the water it is not able to do so. There are disasters on waters, too.
Ships and boats are wrecked and they may sink. If tankers sink, oil gets into the water and disaster can happen
in a few days. Oil can get on and among the feather of birds, on the skin of seals and whales and other animals.
These living creatures aren’t able to fly or swim and not able to escape if it’s needed. Oil can get into their
stomachs. Different chemicals have damaged the ozone layer. Since mainly the 1950s people have used more
and more oil and natural gas. Since the 1970s and 1990s we use 60 percent more energy. So all of these factures
cause the green-house effect, which have led to an increase in temperature levels. Cutting down forests also
“helps” the problem. Humid jungles absorbed carbon-dioxide and produce oxygen. Developed countries
realized the danger. So they started to develop rules on protecting the environment. Because of the very hot, dry
summers fires often occur in different places like fields, woods and in bushes. These can occur not only
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 13. TÁGABB KÖRNYEZETÜNK, A TERMÉSZET VILÁGA
relatively small areas but also in huge territories. Fire-brigades rush to the spot; they try to put out fire with
water or appropriate chemicals as soon as possible. Helicopters are often in action. They spray the inoculators
from above. If there is strong wind it makes the work more difficult. It often takes days or even weeks to put
out fires and of course rains help. An economic reactor exploded in Chernobyl in 1986 spreading a radioactive
cloud of dust mainly in Europe. This has been the most dangerous event in the history of nuclear power
production. Since then there have been more and more demonstrations against nuclear power. The Greens are
people who try to protect environment either with legal and illegal actions. They are known to have tied
themselves onto e.g. rails, which is really illegal and very dangerous. But they also table bills in Parliament.
Volcanoes sometimes erupt without any reason. Although, the environment regenerates itself with it, they
destroy spacious forests and spread volcanic ash all around. In fact, there mostly used to happen several times.
Lots of cinema films created about famous volcanoes erupting like Etna, Vesuvius, and St. Helen.
Earthquakes are caused by seismic waves.
• There are more and more steps being taken in our country to enable everyday people to be
environmentally friendly. The state itself tries to persuade citizens to recycle. If you pay for having your
rubbish taken away, you have to pay less if there is less rubbish in your dustbin. When these dustbins were
introduced it was strange to use them but nowadays it is and everyday event. In Hungary there are different
colors of dustbins at more and more local housing estate. We should collect our rubbishes separately e.g.
glasses, paper, plastic, dangerous litters etc. Certainly you mustn’t throw away any litters where you are warned
by noticing “no dumping!” The first thing I can do is that I don’t litter the streets, but try to put the rubbish into
the dustbin. Hopefully, I find one when I need it. Our household could also select waste. There’s a selective
waste collection in the area where I live. I also pay attention to buying products which have been recycled and I
always ask the shop assistants not to put the products into plastic bags for me. I rather put them into a box or a
carrier bag.
We’ve been using some light bulbs in our flat since their prices were payable. In addition to it, my dad
always warns us not to leave the light switched on if we aren’t in the room. At my workplace we have some air-
conditioners but we only use them if needed because of their consumption (so as to save more energy).
Unfortunately, I have a bad habit from which I try to give up. I can’t help turning on both my PC and my TV.
However, I also know that no one is able to watch both of them at the same time.

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 14. MAGYARORSZÁG

• Hungary is situated in Central Europe at approximately

an equal distance from the Equator and the North Pole. The country - Magyarország természeti értékei
occupies a territory of about 93,000 square kilometers and there are - tájak, egy-egy város leírása, turisztikai
about ten million people living here. There are nineteen counties. Our nevezetességek
country can be divided into three large regions: Transdanubia, the Great
- alapvető földrajzi és történelmi
Plain and Northern Hungary. The Transdanubian part is mainly hilly with ismeretek
the exception of the northern region, which is called the Small Plain. The
- a főváros és/vagy szülővárosa
soil is exceptionally good there for crops and vegetables. A similar area legfontosabb nevezetességei
is a Great Plain, where most of Hungary’s crops are grown. Northern
- hagyományos és nemzeti ünnepek
Hungary is fairly mountainous and the country’s highest peak can also be
found there. Hungary belongs to the drainage system of Europe’s second - szokások
largest river, the Danube. The Tisza is another long river and Lake - nemzetiségek Magyarországon,
Balaton is the second largest freshwater lake in Central and Western magyar nemzetiségek más országokban
Europe. - kulturális értékeink
Regions
- Alföld, the Great Hungarian Plain - Magyarország politikai berendezkedése
(államforma, többpártrendszer,
- Transdanubia: parlament, önkormányzatok)
- Western Hungary (Kisalföld, the Little Hungarian Plain )
- Southern Transdanubia
- Central Transdanubia and Lake Balaton
- Northern Hungary
On the north Hungary is bordered by the Czech and Slovak Republic, on the north-east by the Ukraine,
on the east Romania, on the south by Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia while on the west the country borders on
Austria. The official language of Hungary is Hungarian, but quite a few other languages are spoken as native
languages by the several ethnic minorities living near the country’s borders. These are German and the Slavonic
language spoken in the countries around us.
• The Hungarian Republic was proclaimed on (the) 23rd (of) October, (in) 1989. Soon afterwards
the ruling (then the only) party split up and new parties were formed. In the parliamentary elections held in
March and April 1990, six parties received enough votes to be represented in Parliament. The president of the
most successful party, the Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) formed a coalition government in May 1990.
This meant the end of a forty-year-long totalitarian system in Hungary and pullout of the Soviet troops. People
began to feel free as they realised that their minds were no longer manipulated centrally and they were allowed
to join any political party or movement they sympathised with.
There are 4 parties in the Hungarian Parliament. The MDF (see above) and the Young Democratic
Federation belong to the opposition. The Hungarian Socialist Party and the Alliance of Free Democrats have
been making up the government since the last election. The supreme power is vested in the Parliament whose
members are elected for four years. Since Hungary became a parliamentary democracy, the Parliament has been
in session almost continually, MPs work there, sometimes more days a week. There are constant debates and
heated discussions whenever the government is trying to push a bill through, unlike a few years ago when
everything was accepted by a unanimous vote.
• Tourism also plays an important role in our economy as millions of tourists come to Hungary
from year to year. I think one reason for so many tourists coming to our country is the hospitality of the
Hungarians. Besides, the Carpathian Basin is at cross-roads for the traveller from north to south, from east to
west. Hungary also has various tourist attractions. Visitors can enjoy the wonderful sights of Budapest, relax on
one of the numerous beaches of Lake Balaton, go and see the lovely Hungarian villages where traditions of folk
art are preserved and treasured or visit some of the smaller but beautiful towns like Veszprém, Kőszeg, Eger or
Szentendre. The can go for outings to the romantic ‘Puszta’, the Great Hungarian Plain, where they can see the
famous Hungarian stud farms. Hungary has a lively cultural life. The most popular cultural events attended by
a lot of tourists seem to be the open-air summer festivals held in different towns, such as the Szeged Open-air
Festival, the Sopron Festival Weeks, the Szentendre Summer or the Veszprém Castle Concerts while in spring
the greatest event is the Budapest Spring Festival. Apart from festivals, the Opera House, concert halls, open-air
theatres and museums are also visited by a lot of tourists who are genuinely interested in the cultural life of the
country.
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 14. MAGYARORSZÁG

• To introduce BUDAPEST to a tourist from abroad I would tell him some historical and
geographical data about the Hungarian capital: 2000 years ago the Romans called this settlement Aquincum
that is ‘the city of waters’ because there were and still there are a lot of hot water springs and medicinal baths in
this region. Real urbanisation began in the fifteenth century when under the rule of Sigismund of Luxemburg
the royal castle on the Buda hills was built. The later centuries, especially the nineteenth century saw the
flourishing of Pest lying on the other side of the River Danube. Today Budapest is a busy metropolis with a
population of 2 million people. The city is extremely rich in historical and cultural monuments, works of art and
natural beauties.
If you have a foreign guest you have to show him/her the Castle District with the Matthias Church, the
Fisherman’s Bastion and Szécsenyi National Library in the Royal Castle. Looking over the river Danube there
is Europe’s most beautiful House of Parliament. In the middle of the Heroes’ Square there is a one hundred and
eighteen foot high column with the Archangel Gabriel on the top. At one side of the square there is the Museum
of Fine Arts where you can see wonderful pictures. The other important museum is the National Museum,
where the Revolution and War of Independence started on 15th March, 1848. The Opera House designed by
Miklós Ybl is as famous as the Opera House in Vienna. The building was renovated recently so it is much nicer
now. If you want to see elegant clothes and all kinds of people from different nationalities you have to go to
Váci Street, the pedestrian zone and at the end of the street the Vörösmarty Square with the famous Café
Gerbaud. St. Stephen’s Basilica is the second centre of Christianity in Hungary after the Basilica of Esztergom.
Margaret Island is a perfect place for recreation. You can take long walks, admire the beautiful flowers and
trees there and you can go for a swim there. The Gellért Spa Bath, Szécsenyi Bath, the Király and Rudas Baths
are world famous and you can feel artistic atmosphere, too. Among the nine bridges famous ones are: the Chain
Bridge built and designed by Adam Clark. At the bottom of the bridge there are the beautiful lions. The bridge
joins the Pest side with the Gellért hill. The other bridge is the Elizabeth Bridge, the first suspension bridge.
Liberty bridge has at one foot of it the technical university and at the other foot is the market-hall.
The Sights of Budapest
Castle Hill
- King Béla IV. – fortification – XIII.th century
- King Sigismund – royal palace – XV.th century
- Coronation Church
- Fishermen’s Bastion
- Hilton Hotel
Gellért Hill
- Citadel – to have a nice view of the city and the bridges spanning the Danube
- Statue of St. Gellért
- Statue of Liberty
Margaret Island
- to be named after Princess Margaret, daughter of King Béla IV.
- to be the ‘park’ of Budapest
- the best place for trips and recreation
Heroes’ square
- Millinary Monument (to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the founding of Hungary)
- to be surrounded by a colonnade
- statues of the great rulers and leaders of Hungarian history
City Park
- artificial lake (to row in summer, to skate in winter)
- Vajdahunyad Castle (a mixture of architectural styles)
- Zoo and Botanical Gardens
- Fun Fair
- Municipal Grand Circus
Museums
- Aquincum Museum
- Castle Museum
- Museum of War History
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 14. MAGYARORSZÁG

- Museum of Fine Arts (painting, sculpture and graphic collection by European masters)
- Hungarian National Gallery (large collection of Hungarian works of fine arts)
- Hungarian National Museum (exhibitions on Hungarian history and natural science) (Hungarian crown
jewels)
• Sopron is located on the west border of Hungary and is famous for its faithfulness. If you are
there you have to go to Orsolya Square, to the Fire Tower and to Szécsenyi Square and to the Fő/main Square.
If you go to Pannonhalma Abbey you are visiting the first church in Hungary. In Tihany Abbey you can find
the deed of foundation, in which are the first written Hungarian words. Other evidence of our religious life is
the church of Ják, Zsámbék and Debrecen and the Basilica of Esztergom. There are many castles in our country
and there used to be many more before World War I. because Hungary played a very important part in
protecting Europe against invadors. The following castles are worth seeing: the castles of Tata, Csesznek,
Sárvár, Veszprém, Siklós, Eger and Diósgyőr. Palace of Keszthely is famous for the Festetics family who
helped the agricultural and cultural life of Hungary. They also established the agricultural university and the
foundation of the museum there. The palace of Fertőd used to belong to Esterházy Family, which is a great
Hungarian political, cultural family again. Arts have always played a great role in their lives. Haydn used to be
their family musician.
Hungarian folk art is world famous. It is true for craftwork, our folksongs, gipsy music and clothing.
The Embroidery of Kalocsa, Mezőkövesd and Matyo embroidery are popular and a lot of foreigners buy
embroidered things for presents. If we talk about folk arts we shouldn’t forget horses. Our forefathers
conquered the territory on horseback. If you go to Hortobágy or Bugac you will see famous stud farms there.
There are university towns and cities in Hungary like Pécs, Szeged, Debrecen, Győr and of course Budapest. If
you are in Pécs you should go to see the Synagogue, the Minaret and the Barbican. If you are in Szeged you
should visit Cathedral Square and from the city you can go to Ópusztaszer, where our nation is celebrated there
with Festy cyclorama. Among our natural beauties we have to mention the Mátra hills, Aggtelek Stalactite
Caves, Őrség, Danube bend and Hortobágy puszta.
20th August is the festival of foundation of our state. Saint Stephen’s Day is celebrated everywhere.
There are different ceremonies, programmes and fireworks in the evening all over the country. We shouldn’t
forget that it is the festival of new bread. Every year the Flower Festival is organized in Debrecen. It is
always gorgeous but the festival itself is danger because it costs a lot of money. 23rd October is the holiday of
Declaration of the Hungarian Republic in 1989. The revolution against communism and the Soviet rule started
on 23rd October in 1956.
Some cultural events in our country: the Kapolcs festival has been organized for ten years. It is famous
for performing different plays and there is folk art fair, too. Győr is also famous for its International Cultural
Summer Festival and Spring Festival. In summer opera singers, actors and directors want to perform their
plays in the Szeged Open Air Theatre. They have to prepare and enter for the programmes well in advance.
The Water-Music-Flower Festival in Tata is both a cultural and entertaining event and people like to go there
to have fun. Some people say that the events of Pepsi Island are wonderful and they not only have fun but they
learn a lot of new things. Others accuse the islands of vandalism and being noisy and aggressive behaviour. The
fact is that is taken place for ten years now and it attracts a lot of young people. Hungary is said to be a great
wine producer. Our climate and geographical position are very good for grape growing and producing wine.
Hungarian people celebrate wine e.g. during the week of Wine Week of Badacsony, with the Vintage Parade
and Vintage and Folk Art Fair in Badacsony, Wine Weeks in Balatonfüred, in Szépasszonyvölgy the Festival of
Eger and Sopron Festival Weeks. You must have heard of the “busójárás , the so called Mardi Gras
procession” in Mohács. At the end of winter, on the last Sunday of Carnival people walk along the streets
wearing funny masks, sometimes animal heads and they make an awful noise to drive out winter and greet
spring. It also symbolizes the driving out of the Turks.
One of the internationally well-known sport events is Formula 1. in the Hungaroring, in Mogyoród.
Popular and famous drivers come here from all over the world and police has to guarantee their and
everybody’s safety. People have to buy tickets well beforehand and they cost a lot of money. Enterprises can
make a good profit there.

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 14. MAGYARORSZÁG

Public and traditional holidays in Hungary

th
15 March (the fifteenth of March)
We commemorate the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of eighteen-forty-eight and fourty-nine.
We wear ‘kokárda’ (national sign, emblem)” on this day on the left side of our suit or coat where our heart is.
1st May (the first of May – Labour Day)
It is a spring holiday when maypoles are put up in gardens. The beer and the Vienna sausage occur to me about
this public holiday mostly. Lots of interesting programmes are usually held and a board is stood upright, too.
20th August (the twentieth of August)
It is the day of Stephan the first. On this day we commemorate the founding of our state almost a thousand
years ago. This is the day of new bread.
23rd October (the twenty-third of October)
We celebrate the declaration of the Hungarian Republic and commemorate the revolution of nineteen-fifty-six.

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 15. A CÉLNYELV ORSZÁGA(I) ÉS AZ EU

GREAT BRITAIN
The British Isles is the name given to England, Scotland, -(fekvés, a célnyelvi ország(ok) főbb jellemzői
nagyság, főváros, pénznem,
Wales and the whole of Ireland in the geography books. The United államforma, parlament)
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK) is the name of
- a legismertebb földrajzi értékek
the land the Queen reigns over. Southern Ireland is independent of the (éghajlat, tájak, városok) és turisztikai
UK. Great Britain is surrounded by the Atlantic-ocean. The highest nevezetességek
mountains are in Scotland and Wales: Ben Nevis and Snowdon. The
- néhány történelmi esemény
south coast has a mild and sunny climate which makes it popular with
both holiday-makers and the elderly. The east coast is flat and it is - ismertebb ünnepek, szokások
dominated by agriculture.
- a mindennapok kultúrája (étkezés,
England occupies about 244,100 square kilometres area. Its közlekedés, a társas érintkezés formái)
population is 57 million and currency is Pound Sterling (£, font). The
capital is London and the spoken languages are English and Welsh. - kulturális értékek
Britain has a two-party system of the Labour and the
Conservative Party. The governmental model that has been operating in Britain since 1688 is called
Constitutional Monarchy. This means that it has a monarch (king, queen) as the Head of State. The monarch
has very little power and can only reign with the support of Parliament. Parliament consists of two houses: the
House of Commons and the House of Lords. There were several well-known prime minister in the UK.
Margaret Thatcher was the first woman Prime Minister. John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown is the current
one. Queen Elizabeth II. has been reigning in the country for more than 50 years. Her son, Charles is going to
succeed her. In 1990 John Major was elected as PM, he had a very successful European policy and adopted a
more compromising attitude.
British people watch a lot of television and also said to be the world’s most dedicated home-video
users. This doesn’t mean that they’ve given up reading. In Britain more papers are sold than in any other
country in the world. Some of these people have the reputation of being shy and reserved with strangers. But
others are extroverts and talk to anybody. British people don’t like answering personal questions about their
private lives. You must never ask them how mush money they earn, or how old they are. Everybody knows that
all Englishmen wear bowler hats, pinstripe suits and carry umbrellas; Scotsmen are mean, hate spending
money and drink whisky all day long; Welshmen do nothing play rugby and sing (and some British people tell
jokes about Irish). Interestingly enough, the English drive on the left. Tourists must be very careful if they want
to drive and walk in England. It is difficult to get used to their traffic. What’s more, the steering wheel of their
cars is on the right side.
(Several peoples tried to invade England and its other territories. Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings all
endeavored to conquer all the country. A Norman man, William the Conqueror was the first king to be crowned in 1066.
In 1666 there was a fire which destroyed more than half the city of London including the old St. Paul’s Cathedral.)
Regions
Scotland
There are three large geographical areas in Scotland: the Highlands, the Lowlands and the Islands, 5 million
people live in Scotland. Edinburgh is the capital; Glasgow is the chief industrial and commercial city. Places to
visit:
- The Edinburgh Festival – for music and drama
- Loch Ness – to catch a glimpse of the monster?
England
- Hadrian’s Wall – named after the Roman Emperor Hadrian – was completed in the 2nd century. It is
huge fortification all along the Scottish border.
- The Lake District – an area of mountains and lakes which looks larger than it really is. It has dramatic,
romantic scenery.
- Stratford-on-Avon – the birthplace and burial place of William Shakespeare. The Royal Shakespeare
Company plays here at the Festival Theatre as well as in London.
- Stonehenge (it is made of stones, the great circle of standing stones is believed to have had some
religious or astronomical purpose)
- Windsor – the town on the River Thames. Its castle is a royal residence.
- Eton – close to Windsor. The famous public school here was founded in 1440.
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 15. A CÉLNYELV ORSZÁGA(I) ÉS AZ EU

- Canterbury – the cathedral and the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the religious head
of the Church of England.
- Oxford and Cambridge – the famous (and the oldest) university towns in Britain.
The Sights of London
- The Tower of London (an ancient fortress; to play an important part in British history; to serve as a
palace and a prison; to be a museum; crown jewels; to be guarded by beefeaters), raven (holló)
- Buckingham Palace (residence of the queen; changing of the guard at 11:30)
- Westminster Abbey (to contain tombs and monuments of famous Britons; to be the scene of coronations
and royal weddings)
- Houses of Parliament (to have parliamentary sessions; a flag on Victoria Tower; Clock Tower – Big
Ben), House of Lords, House of Commons
- ST. Paul’s Cathedral (second largest dome in the world; built by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th
century)
- Trafalgar Square (heart of London; fountains and pigeons; Nelson’s Column (Nelson was an admiral,
who defeated Napoleon’s troops in a battle at Waterloo ; The National Gallery)
- The Monument (to commemorate the Great Fire of London in 1666)
- Downing Street No. 10. (residence of the Prime Minister; Gordon Brown, to be guarded all day)
- Famous bridges: Westminster Bridge, Tower Bridge
- Famous museums: The British Museum, The New London Museum, Tate Gallery, Victoria and Albert
Museum
- Madame Tussaud’s Waxworks (in Baker Street, famous people, politicians, actors… in waxwork)
Wales
The capital is Cardiff. There are 2.9 million inhabitants in Wales. The highest number live in the industrial
areas of South Wales. There is a Welsh language. Welsh folklore and language strengthen each other. Every
year a national festival of traditional poetry and music is held. It’s called the “Eisteddfod”.
Northern Ireland
The country’s capital is Belfast. It is a land of lakes, rivers and a varied sea coast. It is a great place for outdoor
sports and for tourism – when times are peaceful. Above all, the Northern Irish people are friendly and
generous.
• The most well-known festivals in England
th
14 February: It's St Valentine's Day; many people send a card to the one they love or someone whom they
have fallen in love with. People usually do not sign these cards and a lot of time is spent trying to guess who
has sent them.
31st October: Hallowe'en means 'holy evening' and takes place on 31st October. Although it is a much more
important festival in the United States than Britain, it is celebrated by many people in the UK. It is particularly
connected with witches and ghosts. At parties people dress up in strange costumes and pretend they are witches.
They cut horrible faces in potatoes and other vegetables and put a candle inside, which shines through the eyes.
People may play difficult games such as trying to eat an apple from a bucket of water without using their hands.
In recent years children dressed in white sheets knock on doors at Hallowe'en and ask if you would like a 'trick'
or 'treat' (csokit vagy csalunk). If you give them something nice, a 'treat', they go away. However, if you don't
they play a 'trick' on you, such as making a lot of noise or spilling flour on your front doorstep.
5th November (Guy Fawkes Day): In 1605 King James I was on the throne. As a Protestant, he was very
unpopular with Roman Catholics. Some of them planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5th November
of that year, when the King was going to open Parliament. Under the House of Lords they had stored thirty six
barrels of gun powder, which were to be exploded by a man called Guy Fawkes. However one of the plotters
spoke about these plans and Fawkes was discovered, arrested and later hanged. Since that day the British
traditionally celebrate 5th November by burning a dummy, made of straw and old clothes, on a bonfire, whilst at
the same time letting off fireworks. This dummy is called a 'guy' and children can often be seen on the
pavements before 5th November saying, 'Penny for the guy'. If they collect enough money they can buy some
fireworks.
(Blow up - explode; Carol - a Christmas hymn; Dummy - an object made to look like a real person; Hanged -
killed by hanging from a rope tied round the neck; Public holiday - a day when nobody goes to work; Witch - a woman
who uses magic)

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 1. ÉN ÉS A CSALÁDOM

• I’m Peter Somogyi. My friends call me Soma and my family

- bemutatkozás
Peti. I’m twenty eight years old and I was born in Ajka on the sixteenth of
October in nineteen seventy-nine. I’m single and about one hundred and - személyes információk
eighty centimeter tall and weigh about seventy kilos. I work at a company
- a család, barátok, rokonok
called Continental here in Veszprém (a company manufacturing spare parts bemutatása
of the cars). I work as a quality engineer to be more precise measuring
- saját maga és családtagjai
technician. I’ve been working there since the end of the last year. I like my foglalkozása. ezzel kapcsolatos
job and my colleagues. I have to measure different dimensions on some tervek, elképzelések
head sensors every day and in the end I have to give the results about them
- harmadik személy külső
to the customer. megjelenésének, belső
tulajdonságainak, szokásainak leírása
• I come from a small family and live with my parents. There
- családi ünnepek, családi tradíciók
are four of us: my mum, my dad, my grandmother and me. Anyway, my
grandmother doesn’t live with us, but we live close enough to her. We live at five Verseny Street, in Ajka on
the second floor of a big block of flats. My parents are in their fifties, they are quite youngish. Unfortunately, I
grew up as an only child. I would always have liked to have a brother or a sister with whom I could share my
problems. My father is an old age pensioner but my mother still goes out work. My father has been retired for
eight years. He used to work as a miner and now he works for a small shop called Etalon-Electronic. He helps
anyone who would like to buy any fittings such as LCDs, DVD players, notebooks, etc. He is of medium
height, his body is average and he has got brown hair. He wears glasses for driving and reading. He has been a
very big instrumental guitar music collector since I knew him. My mother was born in the same year as my
father. She is fifty-three years old. She works at the local police station. As she sometimes works a lot therefore
she is very tired and anxious because of her job. Although she tries to be patient with us every day. My
grandmother was born before The Second World War. Her name is Etelka. She is a seventy-eight year-old-
modern lady, because she has got a mobile phone and a DVD player, too. She makes the lunch for us on
weekdays. My extended family is my three cousins and their parents. Because of the simplicity both of my
parents have got a sibling. My mother’s elder sister is Teri and her husband is my godfather called Misi. They
have got only a daughter called Szilvi, my elder cousin and two grandchildren. My father’s elder brother and
his wife have got two daughters. They work as a nurse in the Hospital of Veszprém. The elder one is called Évi,
she has got a son and the younger, Ági is single yet. All of them live in Ajka similarly to us.
• My father is fifty-three years old. He is of medium height. He wears a beard and a moustache
therefore he doesn’t have to shave every day. He has got a round face and a bit turned-up nose and brown eyes.
His hair is getting grey. He has got a thin body and narrow shoulders. He wears glasses. He has a thin lips and
expressive face. He hasn’t got wrinkles in spite of his age. He has been retired for years. He is interested in
instrumental guitar music, he is a great collector. He works at a shop although he is and old age pensioner. I get
on well with him, because he is understanding and patient. He is good mannered and sociable and he has got a
lot of friends. Sometimes he is moody and he has a good sense of humor and he usually is cheerful. He is
married and he is a reliable husband. I hope I’ve got my father’s personality. He is fond of shopping and he
likes going from shops top shops watching the prices every morning. My mum is very proud of him. My
mother is very careful of her appearance. She is as about tall as my father also she is of average height. Her hair
is rather red but it changes color according to fashion because she has it dyed. She has got a shoulder-length
hair and it’s a bit curly. She has a round face with a pointed nose, a wide mouth and green eyes. She has got a
thin body and narrow shoulders. She doesn’t wear glasses. She has full lips and has got wrinkles here and there.
She is interested in reading books. She is a good mannered woman and she is witty, very honest and permissive
with me. She worries about me if I go out with my friends or I leave home. She has luck, because she doesn’t
have to cook on weekdays only at weekends. Thanks godness, she always cooks what I like eating. She is a bit
self-controlled, modest and she is always casually dressed. She is fond of hoeing in the garden and talking with
the neighbours at her parental home.

FAMILY OCCASIONS, TRADITIONS IN HUNGARY

Christmas: Our family is not really that traditional. We don’t often go to church, only for weddings and
funerals. We used to try to go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve, but when it got around to midnight,
everyone was usually too drunk or had eaten too much or was too tired to walk a mile up to the church. At
Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, The Saviour of men. A week before X-mas, carol singers
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appear in the streets to announce the approach of the festival. They carry a Christmas crib with them and go
from house to house performing the nativity play. It relates the story of Christ's birth and the appearance of the
three kings bringing presents to the son of god. We always send postcards to our distant relatives wishing
“Merry X-mas”. December 24th is Xmas Eve. The Xmas tree, a fir or pine, is decorated and children are given a
lot of presents. Most families go to the midnight service in church. On the first and second day of Xmas
families have big meals and visit each other in the afternoons. On Christmas Day the family gathers round the
table to partake of the traditional Hungarian Christmas lunch. Two things are essential parts of this meal:
stuffed cabbage and poppy-seed cake. The rest of the meal is usually chicken soup followed by pork chops or
turkey.
New Year’s Eve: On New Year's Eve people sit up till after midnight to see the new year in. At
midnight we sing the national anthem and drink champagne and then we wish to each other “Happy New
Year”. Some people go to parties and dances others watch comic shows on TV. We usually stay up until dawn.
Easter: At Easter we celebrate Jesus Christ's Resurrection that is the rising of Jesus from the tomb 3
days after his Crucifixion. Most Easter traditions are associated with Easter Monday when boys set out to call
on their female friends and relatives and sprinkle them with perfume or water. Girls, in return, treat them to
home-made cakes or some drinks and present them with eggs painted mainly red, green or yellow. Children are
also presented at Easter with either some chocolate eggs or a chocolate Easter bunny and an Easter chick. A
typical Easter Sunday breakfast consists of ham and hard-boiled eggs. There are no set dishes that we eat for
lunch at Easter. As a general rule however, we usually have chicken soup, pork, beef or veal cutlet followed by
some desert.
We celebrate birthdays, name days, wedding anniversaries, mother’s day and commemorate our close
relatives or friends on funerals.
Birthday or name day: on that day I invite my relatives, my friends and give a big party. Our small
family gathers round the table and we spend on talking, eating and discussing family matters in the afternoon.
They wish me “Happy birthday/name day (happy returns of the day)”. My mother usually prepares (or makes
cakes) a chocolate layer cake with many candles on it. She loves baking so she sometimes makes at least three
kinds of cakes for the occasion. If the weather is nice, we have a little garden party at my mother’s parental
home. We take the chairs and the tables out and put the pre-prepared snacks, sandwiches and drinks on them. I
always get some gifts; however, I can be happy about the small one, too.
Wedding: people sometimes can’t help falling in love with each other. In case the end of this situation is
usually a marriage apart from your childhood’s love. There is an old tradition including you ask your dear’s
hand. It is called the proposal. Traditionally the man goes down on one knee to pop the question. If he receives
a "yes", the couple is engaged. Traditionally the man buys his fiancée an engagement ring, most commonly a
diamond ring. Then some of us want to have an engagement party. Then the couple has to draw up a guest list,
send out invitations, buy the wedding dress, arrange a honeymoon, and of course, to select the wedding rings.
People can get married either in a church or in a registry office. In the latter case there must be two witnesses.
Most people, however, prefer to have a church wedding too, with the bride in white attended by her
bridesmaids and the bridegroom in black attended by his best men. After the wedding ceremony there is a large
reception where an enormous meal is eaten, the wedding cake is cut and toasts are drunk in whisky or sherry.
The guests are dressed in their best clothes and dance to accordion music. Old traditions such as dancing with
the bride at midnight and the bride leaving to change clothes after the dance are still kept at most wedding
parties. In addition to it the happy couple traditionally goes on honeymoon.
The members of the wider family only meet at weddings, funerals and christenings. Some of them may
turn up around the time of your name day or birthday to say many happy returns but most of them prefer to
write cards. There is only one sad occasion, which no one likes and it is called funeral. We usually take a
wreath containing flowers to the burial for the tomb.

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 2. AZ OTTHON ÉS A SZŰKEBB KÖRNYEZET

• I come from a small-sized industrial town called Ajka, in the Centre - a ház vagy lakás leírása
of the Transdanubian region (from the western part of Hungary). Ajka is
situated along the line diving the Bakony Hills region. Two important routes - a környék és a környezet leírása
pass through here, to the north Highway 8, which runs east to west, and in - a város v. település, ill. kerület
the middle region, the Székesfehérvár-Szombathely railway line. The Torna bemutatása, ahol lakik
stream flows through the inner part of the town. It has a population of - otthonteremtés, lakáshelyzet; az
35.000. But sometimes there are a lot of people coming from villages to do ideális lakóhely
the shopping. My town is about 130 kilometres far from the capital. - a lakásfenntartás kérdései
Ajka received its name its one-time owner called Heiko. Heiko was a (költségek)
warrior who came to Hungary with Gisely, wife of King Stephen. The - diákszálló, albérlet: házirend,
town’s development was founded on industry. As early as 1836 coal was lehetőségek és tiltások
discovered in Ajkacsingervölgy. Our glass factory is famous all over the - generációk együttélése
world, its products have been transported even to the Queen of England.
Ajka got its town status in 1959. Apart from the churches almost nothing - munkák a házban és a ház körül
remained of the old village. Sports hall, a swimming pool and a hospital
were built. At the moment there are much more modern sports halls, a modernized beach, a lot of schools and
hypermarkets such as Tesco, Penny, Lidl and in the nearest future Aldi and Interspar are going to move here.
We have got a library, a redecorated culture house and two department stores in the centre of the town. They
offer not only clothes but some other goods needed for the inhabitants, too. In addition to it, a new park center
is being built and it seems as if more firms come here.
It is a busy and lively town. I’m very happy to live here. Firstly, because most of my friends live here
and (I don’t have to travel to see them) secondly, because the town itself is cosy. It is neither too big nor too
small and it offers very good shopping and entertainment facilities. However, what I don’t like that it is dirty
for me and the pollution is big from the factories.
• I would prefer to live in the country. I consider myself to be privileged, because I live in a town. Towns
are lively places, where there is always something interesting happening. There is a wide choice of shops,
cinemas, theathres, restaurants and pubs. You can go out to a different place every night if you want to. Even if
I live in a village, I would prefer to move to a town because town life is so much exciting. Life is never dull in a
town, the latest exhibitions, films and plays are going on. Streets are better kept and shops are better supplied.
Shopping can even be a pleasure because there is a much wider choice of everything. City life is also better for
the children because there is a variety of schools they can choose from and they don’t need to commute. Neither
do adults need to commute to work, because they have more chance of employement.
Town life
Advantages:
Life is never dull (exhibitions, films, plays, friends)
Better supplies in shops (wide choicem, within easy reach)
Variety of schools and places of work, better chances of good education and employment
Higher living standards (better roads, more convenciences in flats)
Disadvantages:
Commuting difficulties (rush hours, traffic jams)
Pollution (from cars and factories)
Crowds, noise, rat race
Higher cost of living
Village life
Advantages:
People are friendly and close to nature
Gentle peace of living
Clean atmosphere-healthy living
More privacy and relaxation (gardening, walking in the forest and in the fields)
Disadvantages:
Life is boring (out-of-the-way, nowhere to go, long silent winter nights)
Commuting to work and school (less chance of a succesful career)
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 Less efficient services (one doctor or no doctor at all, muddly streets, few shops)
• I live on a housing estate which is quite close way from the centre. But there are buses that take you to
the downtown. On foot it takes you about 10 minutes, but as I like riding a bike it takes me about a few minutes
to get anywhere. The ground is mainly flat there. It is an area of low hills and nice green valleys. Oak and fir
forests occupy the slopes of the hills. I live on the second floor with my parents of a block of flats. There are
some parking places and playgrounds around us. Part of the area is a lawn and road.
Our flat used to be a council flat but we bought it years ago. Thus we now have a 54 square metre
freehold flat. It isn’t a spacious one but just enough for a family of three. It is comfortable and equipped with all
modern conveniences such as hot water, eletricity, central heating, drains and a telephone. We have got a living
room, a hall, a small room for me, a kitchen, a toilet, a bathroom and a balcony. Besides we have got a cellar
where we can keep our different things such as bikes, boxes, old-fashioned clothes, books and my mother keeps
here our stewed fruits and the pickles. Our electric meter is in the staircase.
Our kitchen is of small size but the space is used very efficiently. We cook by an eletrical cooker and it
is right under the cupboard. Next to it is the sink unit with its stainless steel sink and the draining-board where
we just pile the already washed up dishes and let them dry. We haven’t got a dishwasher. Over the sink we keep
the microwave owen into the cupboard. There is never enough space in the cupboard. Saucepans, frying pans,
jugs, bowls, mugs, the kitchen scales, the mixer, pressure cooker, grater, hot sandwich oven and the rolling pin
are kept in the kitchen cupboard. On the shelves there are spices and the ingredients needed every day for
cooking like salt, flour, sugar and a cooking oil. We keep the bread slicer the working top of the cupboard and
in the drawers we keep the cutleries. There is the dining table with a corner seat by the window. We use on it
the percolator. The kitchen floor is covered with lino because it’s easy to keep clean. The wall is tiled with light
brown color. We don’t have a separate dining-room; we only have a lunch or dinner in the kitchen, which we
use every day. Sometimes we lay a table in the living room if we have a bigger occasion. No room for our
fridge and deep fryer in the kitchen therefore we use them in the hall.
We have a nice, large plastic bathtub in the bathroom and there is hot and cold running water. The
washbasin is beside the tub and over the washbasin is a mirror. We keep there the soap dish and our
toothbrushes and the toothpaste. The floor is covered with lino but the walls are tiled. On the left side you can
find the towel rack installed into the wall. If you enter here, there is a bathroom shelf over your head where we
own deodorants, sprays, body lotions, shampoos and any detergent. By the way we have an old washing
machine on the right side.
On both sides the left and the right there are two wardrobes in our living room. It is light and cosy. It
faces the street. We have a desk with two comfortable, modern chairs in the centre, which look like an
armchair. We keep on it some newspapers, some bills, a flower and an ashtray although we don’t smoke. The
books are also kept both in the living-room and in my room. There is a settee bottom of the left side’s wardrobe
where my father usually watches the news or some films lying on it. On the right side there is a sofa and a
bedside table. There are nice curtains on the windows and a big carpet on the floor. The floor is wall-to-wall
carpet and the walls are white washed. The furnitures are dark brown. There are plants and pictures on the
walls. There is a personal computer in the corner. There are a lot of chinas and ornaments on the shelves and
there is our TV by the window. Next to it there are some flower stands. Behind the TV there is a big balcony
door, which opens directly into the balcony.
My room is the smallest one. The ceiling is whitewashed and there is a wall-to-wall carpet on the floor
as well. I would have liked to have a wooden mosaics but my father denied my idea. Anyway, it was
redecorated last year. There is my comfortable bed on the right side. There are some cushions (or pillows) on it.
In front of my single bed I’ve got a wardrobe where I keep everything such as clothes, books, CDs, bills,
amplifier,… A chandelier hangs up on the ceiling. The walls are covered and there is my PC next to the bed.
My window faces a playground where I played a football a lot when I was a child. It has a blind because of the
summers hot.
• People can live in sky-scrapers, high-rise blocks, blocks of flats, terraced houses, semi detached houses,
bungalows, cottages. They can own their flats – in that case they are called freehold flats. They can rent a
council owned flat or live in a council built flat sold to a cooperative of people. They can share a flat with other
families and live in co-tenancy. Some people live in lodgings e.g. because they work in another city or haven’t
got money to buy it.

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 I have never lived in lodgings but I can imagine that you have to keep a number of houses rules. You are
not supposed to smoke in the common rooms, you are not allowed to be too noisy, take girls and boys into your
room, stick pictures on the wall and you have to use the bathroom at a fixed time. Students living away from
home use student hotels and university halls of residence provided by universities in separate buildings.
Lodgings are used by those who can’t get a hostel room. This means that they have to pay to the landlady.
Some students prefer a one-room flatlet with cooking facilities or perhaps sharing the bathroom and kitchen.
When several students come together, they like to rent furnished, self-contained flats but they are difficult to
obtain and compared with other types of accommodation are very expensive.
• The local councils used to build many blocks of flats and let them to people who couldn’t afford to build
or buy of their own. The problem with it is that these flats were mainly one-or-two rooms flats, which were
comfortable enough for couple, but not for a family. Young married couples whom don’t have enough money
they have no other choice but to live with their parents. There is not serious shortage of accommodation for
married couples in Hungary. People don’t have to wait for years to buy a house or a flat, place of their own.
Nowadays, to be able to build or buy a house or a flat you need to have enough money to put down a deposit.
The deposit covers some percent of the cost of the flat. Then you can get a bank loan at quite a high interest rate
and you pay it back in monthly instalments. If you have children, you may get a state grant, which you do not
have to pay back. If you are a good worker, you may even get an interest-free loan from the company you are
working for.
• I always make my bed and air my room every morning. To tell the truth, I haven’t got a lot of
housework. At weekends, I always do my room and help dad to wash the car or clean the garage. I usually
empty the dust bin and my mother sometimes asks me to hoover the carpet in my room. If the weather is good
and it isn’t raining, she always cleans the windows and the doorsteps. She sweeps the floor then wipes it up.
After lunch or dinner my father washes up and dries the dishes. He likes doing it and therefore my mother is
very proud of him. She has to wash our clothes, but we have got an automatic washing-machine. Having been
washed our clothes, she had to iron them. She usually beats the bigger carpets.
As we have got a weekend house, my mother usually go to visit our garden. She waters the flowers and
the vegetables with a watering can. I sometimes have to dig a few parts of the garden in spring. It is not a
woman work, I think. She adores hoeing and meanwhile talking with her sister or the neighbours. In summer
the lawn grows, therefore we cut the grass with the lawnmower. The fruit trees mainly need spraying. In
autumn we harvest the fruits such as apples, pears, plums, grapes and nuts. Of course, the falling leaves have to
be raked.

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 3. A MUNKA VILÁGA, NAPI TEVÉKENYSÉG

• In fact, I need some time till I regain my senses in the - szokásos napi tevékenység otthon
morning. Being a heavy sleeper, it is very difficult for me to get up. I always és a munkahelyen
set the alarm clock and wake up between 6 and quarter past 6 on weekdays.
- munkahely, munkakör, további
However, if I go to work in the afternoon I can get up later. I never have tervek
coffee, but I like drinking milk or cocoa, which I make myself. When I get
- pályaválasztás
up I go to the bathroom to wash. I wash my face, neck, ears and hands in
cold running water and dry myself with a towel. Sometimes I take a shower - népszerű foglalkozások, kereseti
lehetőségek
or have a bath. Then I clean my teeth, don’t comb as I have short hair and I
begin to get dressed. I am always in a hurry in the mornings so I don’t have - munkahelyi körülmények:
time to prepare my breakfast therefore I make it in the previous evening. előmenetel, problémák
munkával kapcsolatos

Anyway, I am never hungry in the morning. As a rule, my father gets up

earlier than me and by the time I awake he has prepared some sandwiches -munkanélküliség,
munkahelyszerzés,
szociális
only for himself as he knows I don’t eat. Sometimes I turn on the radio to problémák
listen to the news broadcast and the weather forecast. However, when I go to
work in the morning, five of us travel together by car and the radio is on. I used to go to work by my bike at my
previous workplace.
I have to clock in when I arrive and clock out when I leave my company. I work flexitime, in two shifts,
normally 8 hours and 20 minutes. But we do some overtime every weekday, when I work in the morning. It
enables me to leave work an hour earlier anytime. I have been working as a measuring technician at Continental
since the end of the last year. I’m satisfied with my job, because I draw a higher salary than before and there are
comfortable surroundings there. My boss is all right in every respect, I can’t say anything against him. My
colleagues are very kind and helpful. I get on well with them. The salary and the conditions are good and my
firm treats me well.
When I get to the office I first open the post and read the letters I have got from my clients. I spend most
of my time measuring. Any pieces of the headsensors such as cables, connectors, labels or the sensor itself must
be checked. I measure their dimensions such as horizontal, vertical dimensions or positions, diameters, angles
or in fact I should find any mistake on them. I apply different test methods and procedures and use some test
equipment. There are two projectors, two microscopes, coordinate measuring machine, optical machine, a lot of
callipers, dial gauges, measuring rooler and plug ganges, which are available for me to measure. When I have
finished I have to write a test report for the order. The dimensions, which are out of the tolerance, must be
marked. To be the report approved or rejected must be written at the bottom of the last side and of course it
must be signed. Sometimes my boss asks me to water the flowers and air the office.
I have my breakfast at about 8 o’clock, which is usually some sandwiches. I always have lunch with
my colleagues at quarter to noon. In my opinion there are fine meals in the restaurant where we have lunch. If I
work in the afternoon I have lunch with my dad at my grandmother. As a general rule I finish work at 4 in the
afternoon. We talk a lot on the way home and get home at around 5. When I arrive I spend about half an hour
hanging around without doing anything particular. I sometimes surf on the net then I start studying for the next
English lesson. Unfortunately, we usually don’t have supper with each other. My father likes having it
meanwhile watching TV. My mother prefers eating in the kitchen. And I like having the dinner in my room.
After supper I help my mother to clear the table and wash up. Then I go to take a warm bath and go back in
front of my pc. Until I fall asleep, I watch TV a bit.
• I have had several jobs since I left school. My first job was at the local hospital where I worked
as an administrator. I had to install and repair some PCs. The atmosphere wasn’t good and I was underpaid. I
could say I was fed up with it. Then my second job came, which was rewarding and my starting salary was
higher than before. I’ve been working for about 3 years there. I was fond of my colleguaes and my job, too. I
adored working there. However, money talks. I would have liked to change my job therefore I applied for some
companies. In fact, I was not motivated only because of the money. I wanted to find such a firm where I can
earn more money and train new vocational things. Fortunately, I didn’t have to be unemployed as I could find a
new, my present job relatively fast.
It seems to be fashionable for people to change their jobs. Some people have to work too much, some
too little, others get bored with their jobs or fed up with their colleagues because of backbiting. People always
want more money and higher positions. If I want to change my job, I must look at the advertisements in the
newspapers, magazines or nowadays on the Internet. You must write your curriculum vitae or profile. I agree
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with my future boss on my starting salary, the office hours and the lunch break, the amount of paid holiday I
would be entitled to. He also shows me round the office and tells me what my responsibilities would be. As the
job and the conditions appeal to me I accept that I would be on probation for the three months. Of course, you
should be adequately paid for your work so that you don’t have to work on the side.
To work Good points, bad points
- in factory - to get on well with boss and colleagues
- for a company, firm, subsidiary - good chance of promotion
- in agriculture - no backbiting
- in heavy, light industry - to have kind and helpful mates
- to run a private practice - to draw a high salary
- to be a guest-worker abroad - to work in pleasant and healthy surroundings
- to do casual work - to lick one’s boots
- to do moonlightning - to do a lot of overtime
- to be underpaid; high number of accidents
- no responsibility; no freedom
Jobs can be grouped in several ways as, e.g. manual and non-manual jobs. The workers doing manual work
often referred to as blue-collar workers. The ones doing mainly brainwork are called white-collar workers.
Some jobs need university qualifications, and these are professions; others don’t and these are skilled, semi-
skilled or unskilled. Skilled people are those who have learnt a trade such as pastry-cook, turner, joiner,
plumber, shop assistant, car mechanic, railwayman, tailor, barber. Unskilled jobs, such as the job of factory
hand, do not require special training.
Other occupations are the followings:
- Professions
Design/electrical engineer, psychiatrist, solicitor/barrister/lawyer, judge, physician(doctor), vet, interpreter,
(chartered) accountant, clerk, model, social worker, university professor, teacher, architect, surgeon, computer
programmer
- Trades and other occupations
caretaker, cashier, dustman, coach, chimney sweep, hotel receptionist, cook, coal miner, house painter, air pilot,
postman, travel agent, technician, salesman, baby sitter, shoemaker, librarian, speech-therapist, glazier, …
• I am afraid I don’t really know exact figures about how many unemployed inhabitants are there
in Hungary. All I know is that at the moment unemployement is still rising. The unemployed may feel guilty
about being out of work even if it is not their fault. They feel they are useless and a burden on a state. They join
the dole queue and receive just enough money not to starve. In my opinion some people don’t want to work,
because they can get enough aid from their councils; others haven’t got a suitable trade and some firms claim
much more than they should. You should have 3-5 years training in your trade and you should speak two
languages fluently although they don’t want to get you enough salary.
People begin to save when there is enough money for all that is needed in the family. Most people save
for a flat, a plot of land, a week-end cottage or for holidays abroad. There are some who save for a car or put
money aside to purchase durable consumer goods or new funiture. Naturally, many people save without any
definitive end, just for the sake of the safety. Others can’t afford to put any money aside because of their
income and it is just about enough to keep body and soul together.
The retirement age in Hungary is 60 for woman and 62 for men, but these age limits are going to be
changed in the near future. There are some occupations from which people can get pensioned off at an earlier
age if they have been in employment for at least 30 years. As far as I know a few such jobs are that of a miner,
a policeman, a fireman and the soldier.
It seems to me that in today’s Hungary wage-earners earn more than salary-earners, especially if they
work in private industry. For example the starting salary wages of a skilled worker with three years’ training are
higher than the commencing salary of a teacher or a doctor with eight or nine years’ training. I would
recommend my son to set up his own business or to tell the truth, more you learn, more you earn at a joint-
venture. If my daughter didn’t want to go to university, I would recommend her to become a hairdresser or a
beautician. Both are good jobs for getting tips.

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 4. A TANULÁS VILÁGA

• By the time I got the junior section of primary school

called Veres Pálné, it was quite obvious that I was rather slow on the - a tanulással kapcsolatos napi
uptake. I was not one of those bright students who can easily cope with tevékenység
difficulties in subjects. I usually studied by fits and starts, which meant I - iskolájával, a tantárgyakkal, tanárokkal
sometimes failed to fulfil the requirements. When I didn’t know the kapcsolatos információk
material, I must confess, I used cheat sheets. Besides, I sometimes relied - iskolai hagyományok, iskolai élmények
on other students and expected them to prompt. I had to wear a uniform
- szervezett és önálló tanulás, egész
at that school called cloak (gown). This school had five grades and there életen át tartó tanulás
were extra courses called electives such as draw or music study circle,
- iskolatípusok, vizsgák, értékelés,
physical education. There were not compulsory sports, but we could osztályzás
choose some sports like football in spring, basketball or volleyball in
winter or table tennis anytime. Different schools’ teams competed against each other in championship
tournaments. My mum made some sandwiches me for breakfast and fortunately, I could eat my lunch at my
grandmother every weekday.
Hungarian secondary schools fall into three categories: Secondary Grammar, Secondary Technical or
Vocational Schools. I myself attended a Secondary Grammar School and I think these schools are very
competitive in Hungary. Well, I applied for admission to one of the most known grammar schools in my
hometown, where I spent five years. The school was named after a famous engineer called Bánki Donát. I took
my school-leaving examination here. Our school building lay in the centre of the city. It was a big, white-
coloured, two-storey building with a large school yard and some trees around it. Both the library and the school
buffet were in the basement where you could buy sandwiches, milk, cocoa, and the basic articles needed for
school work such as books, notebooks, pens, pencils, rubbers and so on. Most classrooms were on the first and
second floors while the headmaster’s office and the staff room were in a separate corridor on the ground floor.
Our school had also got some special laboratories such as language, physics, chemistry, arts and craft labs.
These labs were quite well equipped. In the language lab e.g. we had a television and cassette players with
headphones and all the necessary dictionaries. We had also a computer room, where we could study computer
techniques and programming. No uniform had to be worn at this school to be more precise it was not
compulsory any more.
• I liked having my friends. They were all very hard-working and most of them were bright, too.
Our class was a good team and there was a good atmosphere. We often helped each other with the homework.
Our teachers were satisfied with us and we all respected them. There were no unqualified teachers on the staff.
They were all very competent and imparted a great deal of knowledge to us. If somebody lagged behind, the
others helped him. We didn’t want anybody to drop out. Anyway, I had a few teachers who just yabbered on
but nobody listened to them. They liked some students better than others and had their favourites in each class.
We had two hours’ homework every afternoon and sometimes it took even longer because we had to
learn poems from a Hungarian author or texts in a foreign language by heart. All of us were expected to
specialise at the age of sixteen in order to concentrate on the subjects that we need for university entrance.
Additional lessons were offered to us in the subjects that we opted for and they were usually the ones that we
would need for our future career. You are of school-age while you are not eighteen in Hungary. If you are not
there, you are marked absent in the attendance register and you will be given a warning later if your absence
has not been excused e.g. by a doctor’s note.
My favourite subjects were arts subjects. They came to me easily and I took pleasure in studying some
of them. I especially liked history, grammar and perhaps literature, but most of my friends found them very
difficult. Because they thought they were useless subjects. Maths was, in fact, the least popular subject in my
class. I always hated it, because I have never had got sense of it. Physics was my weak point, too. I don’t even
like to think of it. Although I tried to do my best in these subjects too, my efforts were not always crowded with
success. Chemistry and music weren’t my cup of tea either.
I was fairly energetic so I did a quite a lot of things in the afternoons. To tell you the truth, studying was
quite a demanding activity for me. So as not to fail my exams, my parents set up maths lessons for me. I had to
take private lessons twice a week. However, there were things I enjoyed. This was a gymnastics work-out four
times a week, which I enjoyed very much. And I quite often had my friends over, played with the computer or
just watched television. I didn’t like to overload myself; I liked to have time relax. I didn’t know what I would
have liked to do when I left school. One thing was sure I would have liked to go on my studies.
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 After leaving secondary high school (in the fourth year), I decided to go on with my studies and applied
for the local technical school. I managed to pass the final exams and I didn’t get such bad grades after all.
Having gone to the technical school, I enrolled for an intermediate-software-operator course. It took me if I
remember well, nine months. But, in my humble opinion it was worth finishing it. After leaving the fifth year, I
learnt a second trade in Veszprém called text and picture editor. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a job where I was
promised to be employed. Therefore, I went on my studies and became technical engineer assistant. Although, I
have got three trades I’ve been working as a measuring technician for three years.

Sort of schools:
Pre-school education/crèche University of Technology
Kindergarten, nursery school University of Medicine
Primary/elementary school University of Arts and Sciences
Secondary/high school Teacher Training College
Secondary technical school University of Economics
Vocational school Faculty of Arts/Natural Sciences/Law
Academic grammar school Academy of Fine Arts/Music/Applied Arts/Film and
Co-education school/mixed school Theatrical Arts
Boarding school College of Finance and Accountancy
Approved school, Hostel Training College for Kindergarten Teachers

School traditions and experiences

I was fond of class outings. There was a confidential-clerk in my class who was pointed/marked by our
head-master. He had to collect the money from each classmate. We usually went to a trip in every year as usual
in Hungary. We often visited famous museums, castles or churches. My elder cousins used to regularly go for
gathering or vintage from their school. They were fetched by the school-bus and sometimes they got a little
salary, too. In my time the repeated occasions were the carnival in February or school-balls and you could apply
for the summer’s camp if you wanted to. However, I’ve never taken a part in a camp.
During the year we commemorate all the public holidays and important events of Hungarian history
with some productions prepared and performed by alternate classes. Every year in February or March there is
a party organised in honour of the school leaving students. Both humorous skits and some serious programmes
are performed by the third-year students and each school leaver is presented a blue ribbon marking the years
they have spent in school. Then a big school ball is held, the greatest attraction of which are the ball-opening
dances. In May the school leaving ceremonies continue and the fourth-year students wander around the school.
The last phase of these ceremonies is the final party or school-leaving feast, which is always held after the final
exams. Each form goes out to a nice restaurant with their teachers and they eat and drink to their hearts’ content
to make the end of the school years memorable.
In addition to it, on these days a serenade is held by the leaving students, which means they go for visit
their teachers in their private flat or detached house and they are singing a kind song to say goodbye to him or
her.

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 5. KAPCSOLATOK MÁS EMBEREKKEL: MAGÁNÉLET ÉS KÖZÉLET

• For everyday wear I like sports jackets, a pair of corduroys, pure - barátok, ismerősök, iskola-
woollen jumpers, cotton shirts with checked patterns. I like wearing baggy és munkatársak
trousers or stretch jeans with a pair of sport or low-shoes. Blue jeans and denim - öltözködés, divat
skirts are extremely popular nowadays. They can be worn with everything and for
everyday wear. They are durable, hard-wearing, washable and crease-resistant. In -ésösszejövetelek, egyesületi
klubélet, levelezés
short they are practical for causal wear.
A man usually can wear a vest, a pair of underpants, a shirt, trousers, - társasági élet
perhaps a waistcoat, a tie and a jacket or a single- or double-breasted suit. On his - civil szervezetek
feet he wears a pair of socks and low-heel shoes with rubber or leather soles. A
fashionably dressed man wears a purple, mustard yellow, dark green or royal blue - közbiztonság
suit with a brightly coloured patterned shirt and a tie. A woman wears a pair of panties, bras, a slip, a blouse, a
skirt or a dress, or a suit, a pair of tights or stockings. A well-dressed woman always appears elegant. She is
choosy about clothing and dresses in perfect taste. She usually wears a brightly-coloured suit with golden
buttons and a white blouse. The skirt is mini and she looks charming and marvellous in it. She may also wear
tight trousers which show off her figure well. Her dresses are always padded at the shoulders. She wears long
ear-rings but has never much make-up on apart from her lipstick which is quite bright in colour.
• I think fashion adds spice to life: colour, variety, beauty. Women must always be well-dressed
and follow fashions to please themselves and men. The world would be a dull place if people wore the same
things. As for me I don’t care much about fashion. I always wear whatever I think is comfortable, practical and
attractive. My family tries to keep pace with changing fashion (mostly my mum) but we don’t carry it to
extremes. You know we are simple people with a medium income so we can’t afford to spend so much money
on clothes. My mother has a good dress sense. Everything she wears invariably suits her. My grandmother is
good at sewing and knitting pretty dresses, well-cut suits and fashionable pullovers. All clothes she makes for
her grandchild are a perfect fit.
However, it depends on the weather what I put on. In winter you must be careful not to catch cold. You
must wear warm clothes and dress in layers. In cold weather people wear fur hats or thick, knitted hats and
gloves, warm scarves and polo-necked sweaters, cotton stockings or trousers, winter boots and thick fur-lined
overcoats. In summer, anyway, it is enough to put on a light dress with a low-cut neck or a T-shirt with shorts
or breeches and a pair of low shoes or sandals. On the beach women wear a bathing suit or a bikini (sometimes
a topless one) and perhaps a straw hat. Men wear swimming trunks. In autumn (fall), the best strategy for
protecting yourself from the rain is to carry an umbrella with all the time. I don’t like this season, because it is
the rainiest one. When the weather is colder, people put on a mackintosh or some other kind of waterproofs. It
is important that you should wear water-resistant shoes or wellingtons as well because you can catch a cold
easily if you step in the puddles in the street and get your feet wet.
• Most towns and villages have clubs or community centres which cater for the cultural
requirements of the population. They combine recreation and education and do a lot to help people to develop
their talents. They provide entertainment, all sorts of facilities for amateur science and art activities, organise
concerts, shows, theatrical performances and lectures on political, scientific and cultural topics. They regularly
organise exhibitions of modern art and make efforts to enable museum visitors of every age to better understand
the items on display.
Most cultural centres have their own amateur art groups, folk ensembles, choirs or even orchestras who
quite often give public performances or concerts. They run astronomy, photo and sewing circles as well as
separate clubs for teenagers and pensioners.
Most school institutes have a club, which is extremely popular with the student body. It is not only
provides, such as video shows, concerts and discos, but a wide choice of amateur art activities like painting,
sculpture, pottery, music, dancing and acting as well. Especially popular are the musical and theatrical groups.
Those who like singing join the choir and those who have exceptionally fine voices and a good ear for music go
in for solo singing. Those who make dancing a hobby have a choice of ballet, folk dancing or acrobatic rock-
and-roll. Most students seem to prefer theatricals. Some of their amateur productions have won the praise of
professionals.

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 The correspondence used to be a popular thing between the pals and students, but this habit totally
changed. On these days you need to write a letter in a paper form in ink only if it is demanded e.g. official
letters or profiles with your own hand to apply for a job or perhaps a few lines for your relatives. Nowadays
people settle all their things on the Internet. The today’s letter is named an e-mail. There are a lot of e-mail
programmes so as to help you to write your message easier. In addition to it, e.g. most firms supply only an e-
mail address where you can send your curriculum vitae. The most important difference and the biggest
advantage is its quickness compare to the old form.
• Civil organisations: I’m not a member of any civil organisations. In fact, I don’t know exactly
what they are employed in. However, there are different kinds e.g. The Red Cross or the Maltese Cross Service
where you can take your old fashionable clothes. They will give them to the poor people. Besides, language
courses and computer studies are organized by them, too. In my opinion they usually arrange blood-giving-
weekends everywhere. It is a great idea because in that way you can help other people who are in need of
blood. You feel only a small pinprick and you relax on a bed for a few minutes. Not to speak of the fact that
you will be examined and it may be important for you. In the end you are rewarded with some goods such as a
beer, a refreshing and a bar of chocolate so as to be able to regain your energy.
Public safety: There are, at least one local police station in every town or village. Of course, there are
more in bigger cities or in the capital. They deal with the public safety’s questions such as car stolen, damaging,
and burglars or in fact, they should care about your safety in the streets in the evenings. They have to take
drunken people into hospital or they help you if you have lost your way going home.

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 6. SZABADIDŐ, SZÓRAKOZÁS, KULTÚRA

• In fact, I don’t spend a lot of time on hobbies. At weekends I usually - a szabadidő eltöltése,
like only relaxing and pursue some hobbies that are collecting music and szórakozási lehetőségek
listening to the latest songs that I am interested in. Besides, I’m fond of - egyéni érdeklődés, hobbik
watching and listening concerts on DVD. In these respects I take after my
father a bit, because he has been a big collector since I knew him. I used to - színház, mozi, opera, koncert
draw and used to pursue modelling when I was a child, but I gave it up - tévé (műsorfajták), újság, rádió
because lack of the time. On these days in my spare time I like going on trips
- olvasás: könyvtár,
to the nature with my family or sometimes reading English topics on the olvasmányok, kedvenc könyve
Internet. I don’t keep any pets as I live in a freehold flat and in my opinion
their place is not there. Other people keep dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea-pigs, parrots or have big tanks with
goldfish or terrapins in them. Although, both cooking and baking cakes are not my line, I seldom make my
favourite meals such as a French salad, a Hungarian lecsó or a pizza.
If you are a stay-at-home type, you can pursue a lot of hobbies that are typically home occupations. Some
of them are only for women – I have never seen a man knitting, crocheting or sewing e.g. neither have I seen a
woman hammering – others are for men, for instance do-it-yourself. Most of these hobbies, however, are
unisex, that is, they suit both sexes. They are: collecting stamps, napkins, coins or even buttons; making soft
toys, gifts; drawing, painting or writing poetry, modelling, mounting and developing photos, playing card
games, chess or other party games or keeping pets. As far as I know keeping pets has always been an English
hobby. If they can’t afford to keep a pet, they go bird-watching and this brings them a lot of enjoyment.
Gardening is another common British hobby as well as taking photos, printing and enlarging them. The most
popular outdoor games are football, golf and cricket.
Hobbies indoor: painting, drawing, collecting, reading, playing card games, board games, chess, keeping pets,
do-it yourself, sewing, knitting, cooking, learning languages, listening to records, doing embroidery, crossword
puzzles
Hobbies outdoor: fishing, angling, gardening, pot-holing, mountain climbing, hiking, doing sports, hunting
• If you live in a big town you are a lucky chap from the point of view of entertainment possibilities.
You have a rich choice of museums, exhibitions where you can see paintings, graphics, water-colours and
sculptures. If you want to dine out or listen to folk or gypsy music there are several restaurants, pubs, night
clubs which you can choose from.
Theatre
I’m not much of a theatre goer. In fact neither my time nor my money allows me to go to the theatre
regularly. And, to tell you the truth, I am not really interested in it. I prefer watching TV or video films at home,
or perhaps going to the cinema. If you stay at home, you don’t have to dress up, and this is a great advantage.
Anyway, the play I saw last was a great one. I wasn’t disappointed, because it was a splendid adaptation of two
famous lady’s life called Marlene Dietrich and Edit Piaf. The plot of the play was really gripping and rich in
surprising returns. It held the attention of the audience from the beginning to the end.
I can buy a theatre tickets at the booking-office. I like to sit in the boxes because they are quite near the
stage and they are by far the most comfortable. I normally sit in the stalls, which are the seats on the ground
floor. Over the boxes is the dress circle then follow the balconies and finally the gallery. As you enter the
theatre there is usually a big foyer, where people can meet before the performance. The two main parts of a
theatre are the stage and the auditorium. The hall is usually separated from the stage by the orchestra pit. A
curtain, when lowered, covers the stage and during the performance footlights illuminate the stage. In a big
theatre there are several cloakrooms where you can leave your hats and coats. Then you show your ticket to the
usherette, who will offer you a programme and lead you down the aisle to your row and seat. While the
beginning of the play, you can leaf the programme booklet from which you learn about the cast, the director,
about the approximate plot of the play and perhaps the programme of the theatre for that season. Right before
the performance the orchestra begins tuning up. Then the lights go out, the curtain rises and the play begins. A
play usually consists of at least two acts, but sometimes there are three acts with two intervals in between them.
During the interval you can go to the refreshment room where you can discuss the play over a nice drink. After
then the bell rings for the next act. In the end of the play the curtain fall and the lights go up. The audiences
usually applaud the company. Curtain call follows curtain call and the whole cast is given a standing ovation.
Concert
- 12 -
 I quite like pop music although I wouldn’t call myself a fan. I gladly like listening to any music. At the
beginning of this year we went to a 2-day concert was given by some well-known Scandinavian bands, in the
Netherlands. Lots of guitar artists appeared there who celebrated the 48th guitar festival at Tilburg. There were
some very young, ambitious bands who were very talented musicians with a fine technique. For example there
was a little nine-year-old drummer. Everybody was very surprised at his ability. Anyway, the instrumental
music lovers were really delighted including me, too. Their CD covers, labels were signed by the famous
guitarists after the show.
Cinema
The usual cinema show consists of a feature film begun by a newsreel, lots of commercials and of
course short films like trailers from the future films. The main film is usually cinemascope and dubbed.
However, an undubbed film is very good for language learning. And if you master the given language you can
even enjoy the films without looking at the subtitles. Low attendance at cinemas is due to several factors. On
one hand the price of cinema tickets has been raised and it is not a cheap evening any more to go out to see a
film; mostly if you would like to have a popcorn or a refreshment. On the other hand the cinema owners seem
to forget that most families have video or DVD players at home and you can borrow all films from the
videotheque. There are some different films like these: western, adventure film, thriller, horror film, science-
fiction fantasy, detective film, comedy, screen adaptation of a successful novel entitled e.g. Harry Potter.
TV, radio
• I usually switch on the TV in the evenings and read on the teletext channel the TV programmes
for the day. There is usually quite a rich choice of programmes. To tell you the truth I like watching TV
because it brings the world into your home and keeps you informed about what is happening around you. I
especially enjoy Hungarian soap-operas and some programmes that show you famous people over the world. I
never miss the half-past-seven o’clock news either. I also love witty and humorous cartoons like “Tom and
Jerry” or “the Roadrunner”.
Only one or maybe two Hungarian state channels used to be received at home, because there was no
one who could have made a business from the broadcasting. Today, I don’t know exactly how many channels I
can get on TV, but there are quite a lot. There are two well-known and popular commercial channels called Rtl-
Klub and TV2. There is no great difference between them. They are financed by its advertisements so the
programmes are interrupted for commercials, which I dislike. Besides we can also receive lots of different
Hungarian channels such as my mum’s favourite TV Paprika or my dad’s much liked political channels, the
old ones MTV1-2 and TV Danube, our local television programme, the satellite channels about sports and
documentaries and of course some German or English ones. To be frank, there is only one thing that these
programmes are good for and this is the language learning.
I’m interested in historical films, adventure films and series. I also enjoy witty and exciting detective
stories, particularly one of them titled Columbo. I like Peter Falk the star of Columbo because he can always
find the murderer, although he always forgets everything that he needs. He is so funny with his old fashioned
balloon coat or his broken down car and he always comes back to ask the suspect one more question even if the
suspect thinks that he won’t any more. I can’t help watching the next part if it is on in a reasonable time on TV.
I quite often watch video or cinema films and I’m a regular customer at the video hire shop. I enjoy perhaps
crimes the most because they are usually very well done and give you a lot of excitement. I have never been
disappointed by horror films, they are macabre or spine-chilling and I think somewhere at the back of their
minds everybody longs for adventure and thrills or even fear. And these films are able to fill in this gap in our
lives. Anyway, in my opinion it isn’t worth sitting in front of the telly, because your health could be damaged
because of sitting there for so long and even you may become a couch potato.
We begin the day by switching on the radio in my colleague’s car to listen to the time-signal, which is
of great help when we are in hurry, the news broadcast and the weather forecast. We are listening to some kind
of radio stations it depends on the persons in the office. Radio “Petőfi” used to have mainly a lot of light music
programmes: pop, jazz, folk, rock or gypsy but it totally changed today. Perhaps radio ‘Kossuth’ has the most
varied and serious programmes. It transmits running commentaries, radio plays, political and economic
programmes, lectures, press reviews and even bedside stories for children. At my workplace all of us love
musical broadcasts such as “Radio 1”, Radio “Danubius” or Radio “Sláger”.

- 13 -
 Newspapers, libraries
For each week all radio and television programmes are published in the Radio and TV Times. This
weekly has quite a big circulation, bigger than most dailies. Daily papers are almost the same in appearance and
lay-out. They all have a political section containing world and domestic news. The main news is usually placed
on the first page right under the heading. Current events or topicalities may also be reported and commented on
by the editor on the front page, usually with big headlines. The arts review and the science pages are usually in
the middle of the paper followed by the fashion, gossip and travel columns while sports news is generally on
one of the last pages. Apart from news, newspapers also contain many other features like advertisements,
announcements of births, marriages and deaths, crossword puzzles, horoscopes, letter from readers, obituaries
of famous people who have died, weather forecasts and classified advertisements, which may be personal or
advertise jobs, houses or cars for sale. Just like many other countries, Hungary, too, has local and national
papers. They are either serious or sensational. At present most of them are tabloids. There are also several
periodicals coming out weekly, monthly and quarterly. Journals dealing with specialised subjects such as
medicine, science, trade or education are usually published monthly or quarterly. The well-known Hungarian
daily papers perhaps are “the Napló” and “the Népszabadság”. The popular tabloids are the Blikk or The Story
Magazine and there is a journal with financial affair called HVG. Some serious British papers are The Times,
The Guardian, The Sun or the Daily Mirror. I always skim through the whole paper first and choose the articles
that at first sight seem to be interesting. The headlines are printed in block letters so they easily catch the eye.
After scanning the paper I always start reading the sport pages first. Then I read the jobs or the political reviews
and the internal affairs.
• I can borrow books from a library. In fact, nowadays I don’t need to have a lot of books,
therefore I quite rarely use the local lending library of which I am not a member at the moment, but my father
is. Anyway, I used to be a member there when I was a student. At that time I was used to reading as we had to
read all compulsory readings. To join a library you have to fill in a lending card. If you want to borrow a book,
you write the author’s name, the title and ISBN number on the book card and the librarian puts down on your
card the date when the book is due for return. Books are issued for three weeks, but can be renewed for another
three. Only a limited number of books can be borrowed at a time. For overdue books fines are charged.
There are a lot of books in a library that normally cannot be borrowed. They are mainly encyclopaedias,
dictionaries and lexicons. You are allowed to work with them in the reading room, where you will also find
newspapers and periodicals published in Hungary from the 1930s. I often go to the bookshops just to look
around. But sometimes I can’t resist temptation and buy some languages books, maps or a magazine for my
mother. Last time I bought two expensive dictionaries, but it was worth buying them, because I can use them in
the future, too.

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 7. EGÉSZSÉG, EGÉSZSÉGMEGŐRZÉS, SPORT

• Fortunately I am in good health and I can’t remember the - testi és lelki egészség, egészséges
time that I was last ill. I try to take care of myself; you know good health életmód
above wealth the saying goes. Although, I sometimes crawl without socks
- testápolás
at home. Many people neglect their health and get a bad cold easily when
the rainy weather sets in. - betegség megelőzése, a betegség
kezelése, betegápolás
When I was ill last time I had flu, strong headache and a sore
throat. My nose was running and I was coughing and sneezing. I had a - orvosnál
temperature of thirty-eight point five degrees. I also had a pain in my - gyógyszerek, gyógymódok
chest. In Hungary, you must register in by phone to the GP (General
Practitioner) before you get there. Then the assistant gets you an - orvosi szolgáltatások, biztosítás
appointment. When the nurse shouted ‘next please’, I entered the surgery - dohányzás, alkohol-és drogfogyasztás
room. The doctor told me to strip to the waist. He gave me a thorough - sport: sportolási lehetőségek, sportágak
medical check-up. He/she began by feeling my pulse and looks at my
tongue. As my temperature was quite high he looked at my throat and said - tömegsport és versenysport
that it was badly inflamed. He also listened to my lungs, heart, breathing
and took my blood pressure. After the through examination he diagnosed my illness and told me that I had all
the symptoms of influenza. He sent me to the laboratory for a blood test and prescribed me some medicine (he
made out a prescription) such as some anti-febrile to keep my fever down, some menthol drops for my nose and
a mixture for my throat. I had to gargle every two hours. He told me I had to stay in bed for a few days and also
told me to drink a lot of hot tea with lemon and keep warm. In the end I was put on the sick-list (the doctor
made out a sickness certificate in my name for my company; health care benefit) and had to stay off work for a
week. I went to the chemist’s where they made up the mixture and reminded me to shake it well before use. I
also bought some pain-killers for my headache and took one pill three times a day after meals. I told my boss
that I couldn’t work for a few days and he wished me a quick recovery. After following the doctor’s advice and
taking the medicine in the prescribed way, I soon recovered from my illness.
• In our climate, especially in autumn and late winter people often have health problems. They
catch a cold or flu and those who don’t have enough resistance can contract pneumonia. Arthritis and
rheumatism are also caused by cool and damp weather. The number of patients suffering from hay fever,
allergies and respiratory problems such as bronchitis and asthma, is rising. Quinsy and appendicitis are very
common with children as well as food poisoning and indigestion. A very upsetting tendency is that more and
more people suffer from nervous breakdowns and have crack-ups due to the overwork and fatigue. In the most
serious cases people end up in mental hospitals and never recover from their illness. Such diseases as the
plague, cholera, small-pox, malaria, tuberculosis and many others were stamped out a long time ago. Children
get vaccinations for small-pox and polio at a young age and are also given periodical medical check-ups at
school. The diseases that seem to take the heaviest toll of human life are coronary heart diseases, circulatory
disorders, cancer and the relatively new contagious AIDS, which spreads through sexual intercourse or blood
transfusion.
Being very widespread in Hungary, smoking affects a lot of people. It is very harmful for you health,
especially for your circulatory system, throat, windpipes and lungs. Alcoholism is even worse because one you
have become dependent on alcohol it is extremely difficult to give up drinking. And alcohol will slowly but
surely ruin not only your health, but also your family’s lives. Fortunately, drug addicts are still few and far
between in this country but the problem is already present. We must do everything to prevent a large number of
youngsters getting affected by drug-taking. To keep in good health we should first of all no join the rat-race of
modern life. We should avoid stress and tension and do some exercise every day. It is important to breathe a bit
of fresh air and not to sit inside from morning till night. We should try to avoid fatty meat and animal fats so as
not to be overweight. Remember the saying, ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’.
Diseases: mumps, measles, chicken pox, whooping cough, dysentery, (diarrhoea), [as fit as a fiddle]
• I was in hospital when I was a child. I had my tonsils removed. I think this is a very common
reason for an operation even in adulthood. Most people, however, are operated on for appendicitis. Sometimes
an emergency operation is needed. Before the operation the surgeons and the nurses dress in green, wash their
hands and put on masks. You are put on a stretcher and taken to the operating theatre where you get local or
general anaesthetics.
- 15 -
 Fortunately, I have never broken any of my bones, but at once I sprained my knee and had to go hospital
for an X-ray. If a young person’s bone is broken, it will set quickly but he will have to have it in plaster for a
time, too. If it is his leg that is broken he will naturally have to go round on crutches until the plaster comes off.
Once the plaster comes off, he will still have to rest it and walk as a little as possible.
• Of course, not only should you visit the dentist when one of your teeth is aching but you should
go for a regular check-up at least once a year. It is very important to brush your teeth at least three times a day
particularly after meals to protect your denture or your mouth against getting worse or foul breath. After I’ve
been comfortably seated in the dentist’s chair he asks me which tooth is troubling me. He makes me open my
mouth and begins probing for cavities. When he finds one, he gives you an injection and reaches for the drill.
After drilling I am allowed to rinse my mouth. The dentist then stops the cavity and asks me not to chew for an
hour or two. If the aching tooth is too far gone the dentist will pull it out. Before the extraction he anaesthetises
your nerves with an injection given in your gum so the pain that you actually feel is quite bearable.
• In Hungary the whole system of health care is undergoing a change at present. The Health
Minister was resigned. Besides, there are a lot of problems in the health care. A round fee has been introduced
recently, but it was cancelled by a referendum. We had to pay three hundred forints to the GP and more fees for
staying in hospital. The medical services are substantially financed by a state budget on one hand. However you
pay a monthly contribution from your salary but you don’t pay for the actual treatment. Medical centres provide
service free of charge but there are, of course, private practitioners and even some private policlinics that
charge for visits. Everyone can choose their GP freely and go to the one whom they trust most. Surgeries are
open four hours a day treating patients who are mobile. People on sick leave get seventy five percent of their
salary. With some countries Hungary has an agreement and so when you are abroad as a tourist you don’t have
to pay for health care or if you have to, the insurance company will pay it back to you. But you shouldn’t forget
to take out a policy before the journey.
• I am not particularly interested in sports and I’m not involved in any regular sports activity. In
fact I like riding a bike, I can get somewhere really quickly and it contributes a lot to the healthy way of living,
I think. Unfortunately, I can’t bring myself to do physical jerks every morning. I used to do some push-ups and
I could do a few ones with one hand too, but nowadays I always fail after the fifth even with my two hands. I
sometimes go swimming with my friends to the local swimming pool. Sport helps you to keep fit and preserve
your health. Quite a few of my colleagues and friends are involved in regular sports activities. They mainly play
ball games such as perhaps the well-known one football and handball for a team or only for hobby. We have a
lot of opportunities to pursue sports in our town, you just have to be determined and find time for it. There are
two green football-fields, a lot of smaller soccer grounds, a swimming pool, some tennis courts, a few fitness-
wellness-clubs. We had two or three P.E. (Psychical Education) lessons a week at school, if I remember well. It
was so pleasing to move your muscles after sitting for long hours at the school desk and going numb. When the
weather was bad, we did some gymnastics in the gym, and if it was nice, however, we played outdoor games in
the football field or run on the tracks around it. At the beginning of the lessons we always did some warming-
up exercises.
In international competitions there are six gymnastics exercises for men, and these are: high bars,
parallel bars, rings, pommel-horse, vault and floor exercises. The four-exercises for women are vault, beam,
uneven parallel bars and floor exercises again. Athletics includes all kinds of track and field events. The track
events are running in different distances, hurdles, and steeple chase; the field events comprise hammer, discus,
and javelin throwing as well as like pole vaulting, high jumping, long jumping or hop-skip-and-jump. The basic
winter sports are skiing, including ski-jumping, slalom racing, downhill and cross country skiing, skating. I
have never pursued winter sports, but there is a quite slippery steep slope not far from our place in the Parkerdő
where we can toboggan freely in winter. I can’t skate or ski so all I can do is watch the competitions on TV.
Slalom racing and ice dancing are my favourite. I love watching their great speed and swift movements. In fact
all winter sports are spectacular. Aquatic sports include all sports done in or on water. Water-polo, high
diving, diving, swimming, rowing, sailing, wind-surfing, water-skiing are all aquatic sports. There are different
strokes in swimming e.g. breaststroke, crawl…
The Olympic 2008: It is a big sport event that is held every four year. It will be held this summer, in
Beijing, the capital of China. The competitors will be playing against each other in 28 branches, but some of
them will be held in other towns. A lot of Hungarian admirers are said to travel to cheer. A sportsman can play
much more if he is encouraged or hailed, I think. Hungarians are really good at swimming e.g. Gergő Kis or

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László Cseh is expected to win a few gold medals or at least to be on the foot-plate. Anyway, Gergő lives in
Ajka thus we are very proud of him. In fact we used to excel at swimming because we had e.g. Krisztina
Egerszegi and Tamás Darnyi who seemed to be by far the best all over the world both in the Olympic Games
and the World Championship for years. They broke lots of records mostly they were unbeatable in backstroke
and crawl stroke (freestyle) despite coming from our small country. We are also good at rowing, boxing,
pentathlon and particularly men water-polo. In the Olympics we usually win at least two or three gold, silver or
bronze medals. We used to excel in table tennis and football, but we aren’t quite good at them any more. I can’t
wait to watch the events on telly, because they are really exciting and of course I adore win, too. Unfortunately,
the games may be disturbed by the politics, because there were quite lot demonstrations because of the
communism and around the torch.
I am not much of a football fan because I think football is in a mess in Hungary. Besides, I say that it is
better to watch football matches on telly because that way you can definitely avoid the occasional fights on the
terraces. I go off it (lose interest in) when I watch on TV some fans breaking and crashing anything that get
their way. After some matches shop windows near the grounds are smashed up and even the police are attacked
by them. We should build more protective fences or barriers to stop fans fighting each other or others. Most
Hungarian teams are extremely weak and whenever there is a championship they never get further than the
qualifying heats. Other countries’ selected teams easily knock them out. Sometimes they manage to draw, but
in the most cases they are defeated by two or more goals. Football: There are two teams, each consisting of ten
players and a goalkeeper, who play each other on a pitch. No player, but the goalkeeper handle the ball, but
heading is allowed. The forwards try to out-manoeuvre the opponents and get close enough to the goal kick the
ball on it. If it happens, it means a goal and the team leads by one goal to nil (1:0). The game is governed by
rules which must be strictly observed. A referee is assisted by two linesmen. The referee can award a free kick
or a penalty if there is foul play. He may even send a player off the field for a grave offence. The team that
scores more goals wins the match. The goal scorer, usually the top player, is feted as a hero.
Classification of sports:
Professional sports/amateur sports
Outdoor/indoor sports
Winter sports/summer sports
Team sports/individual sports
Water sports/athletics/ball games/
Enumeration: soccer, handball, basketball, volleyball, spinning, swimming, tennis, table tennis, track and field
events, hurdles, steeple chase, javelin throwing, pole vaulting, slalom racing, cross-country skiing, bob-
sleighing, figure skating, aquatics, high diving, rowing, breaststroke, crawl (freestyle), butterfly stroke,
backstroke, fencing, pentathlon, motor racing, hockey, floor exercises, parachuting, equestrian sports,
weightlifting, wrestling, boxing, shooting and archery, chess
Typical English Sports: cricket, rugby, soccer, golf, tennis, darts

epidemic-járvány
to feel dizzy-szédül
to get vaccinations-oltást kap vmi ellen
fracture-törés
ankle-boka

- 17 -
 8. VÁSÁRLÁS ÉS SZOLGÁLTATÁSOK

• I like window-shopping especially in a new shopping - vásárlás, különösen élelmiszer, ruha és

centre, but I rarely waste time doing it. If I want to buy something, I’ll go háztartási cikkek vásárlása
in the largest hypermarket and buy it. In my family every morning it is - vásárlási lehetőségek és tapasztalatok
my dad who buys everything that we need such as bread or rolls, milk,
some cold cuts and the basic food for supper and breakfast. He always - árak, a fizetés módjai
buys different products for my grandmother mostly which are quite - különböző üzlettípusok
heavy. Thus we don’t need to do week-end shopping as other families
- vásárlási szokások, ajándékozás
do.
I prefer shopping in the nearest super/hypermarket because it - hirdetések, reklám
sells almost everything that a family needs. There you can get almost - szolgáltatások: posta, telefon, bank, Internet,
everything under one roof. Almost all supermarkets are self-service rendőrség, diplomáciai képviselet, autójavítás,
stores, which are really popular because you make your choice as you fodrász, tisztító, stb.
please. Another advantage of supermarkets is that they have lower prices - a szolgáltatások leírása, ezzel kapcsolatos
than small shops. I suppose this is because bulk sale is cheaper. But tapasztalatok
sometimes they cut the price of certain goods so that people will come to
them. These hypermarkets are owned and run by rich investigators thus the bigger fish eat the little fish. People
who are in favour of small shops argue that their needs are much better looked after in a small shop and that the
assistants are more polite and attentive when serving them. Smaller shops are mainly privately owned and their
number is growing from month to month. These shops are the baker’s, butcher’s, confectioner’s, fruiterer’s,
greengrocer’s, grocer’s, fishmonger’s etc. They always have fresh products, the bread is never stale or dry, the
milk is never sour, and the service is always fast and polite. Anyway, I warn everybody against doing their big
shopping on Friday or Saturday because on these days the bigger shops are full of customers. On Saturdays’
mornings you always have to queue up in front of the counters as well as the pay desks. Everybody is in a
hurry, both buyers and shop assistants are nervous and there are often a lot of irritating remarks. They have got
plastic baskets for the fewer goods and wire trolleys for customers who want to buy a lot. Young mothers often
use them to push their babies in. The goods are tidily arranged on trays and long shelves on which the various
prices are clearly marked or the goods themselves are labelled.
• The first counter to your right is the fruit and vegetable counter with its fresh fruits, mainly the
ones in season and tangerines, oranges, bananas, pineapples, pruned fruits like figs and dates, tinned fruit,
marmalade and lots of different kinds of vegetables. Next we come to the confectionery shelves with all sorts
of sweets, chocolate bars, cakes, biscuits, fancy cakes, boxes of chocolates, candied peanuts and stuffed sweets.
Then comes the bakery counter, which is always well stocked with fresh white wheat and brown rye bread,
rolls, croissants, buns, rusks, etc. after that we come to the wine counter, where dry and sweet wines (common
table or vintage wines) are sold. Then comes the dry groceries shelves, where you buy flour, cereals, tea,
spices, rice sugar (lump, castor, granulated or brown). Everything is sold ready packed. Vegetable and
sunflower oils are sold ready-bottled. There is also a big dairy counter with a large variety of dairy products:
sweet or salted butter, margarine, eggs, hard and soft cheese, full-fat or skimmed milk, sour cream, sweet cream
and fruit yoghurts. Next to this is the delicatessen and smoked meats and sausages counter. This counter sells
ready-to-serve foods such as roast chicken, prepared meats, French salads etc. Here one is offered a variety of
sausages, ham, bacon, rolled beef, smoked pork, salami and other cold cuts. There is a special hall, where they
sell meat and poultry, lard and other animal fats and offal. A special counter handles packed meats. Meat is
sold here ready-weighed and packed in cling film. There is a wide choice of fat and lean pork, beef, veal and
minced meat not to mention semi-prepared, ready-to-fry and ready-to-serve meats.
Before going shopping I take stock of our supplies then there is no need to run to the neighbour to
borrow a bit of this or a little of that. After taking stock I draw up a shopping list and set out to do my shopping.
I walk from shelf to shelf, filling my basket with the things I need. I have to think over what to buy because I
can’t afford to buy all kinds of things I don’t need. After finishing shopping I go to the cash desk, where there is
often a long queue. When it is my turn, the cashier adds up the bill on the cash register and gives me the receipt.
I can pay today in cash, by credit card or with buying tickets. The easiest thing is to pay in cash, because paying
with the buying tickets aren’t changed and if you pay by a credit card, make sure you know your pin-code and it
is slower, too. The grand total is rounded whole. Then I pack the things I have bought into a shopping bag and
leave the shop/supermarket. Meat is usually sold by the joint or slice, bread is by the loaf, flour, rice and salt by
- 18 -
the packet, cream, yoghurt and milk by the carton, oil, juice, beer and wine by the bottle and you normally ask
for a jar of jam or instant coffee, a tube of mustard or toothpaste, a packet of tea or cigarettes, a head of lettuce
or cabbage, a bunch of grapes or bananas and a box of matches.
• If an article, usually a durable consumer product, costs more than you can afford, you buy it on a
hire-purchase. A majority of shops and stores offer facilities for credit buying. This means that you pay a cash
deposit on the price of the article whether it is a car, a TV or a furniture, and pay the balance off in instalments
over an agreed period of time. It is a widely used method of buying because it enables a lot of people to obtain
things. The buyer signs a written agreement with the finance company which lends him the money at an
agreed rate of interest. He is also asked to find someone to act as guarantor for the loan. The interest rates vary,
but usually they are around 30 percent. The final price you pay depends on the size of initial cash deposit and
the length of time over which payments are spread.
• Other services: At the photographer’s you can have your photo taken and if it’s urgent, they
will do it in a few minutes. The photos from your family or anything may be enlarged, developed or you can
have snapshots printed, too. The watchmaker repairs or sets your watch if it is slow or fast and he also changes
the battery if it is run down. The shoemaker does the shoe heels or soles, patches or sews the upper leather of
your shoes if they want repairing. I go to the dry-cleaner’s if I want to have any stains removed or if I want any
of my clothes dyed from one colour to another. I rarely go to the barber’s where I have a haircut, shampoo and
shave. I like having my hair cut myself instead of the barber’s not to mention it’s free. I used to go to the
hairdresser and had my hair done according to the dictates of fashion. If the clothes do not fit well or we want
to have a new suit made, a tailor or a dressmaker is needed. Ready-to-wear suits often do not fit; the jacket
may be a bit broad in the shoulders or the trousers too long. They must be taken in or let out, turned up or let
down. When buttons have come off, they have to be sewn on. We take our car for its usual MOT (Ministry of
Transport) to the local garage, where the car mechanic gives it a check-up and repairs any parts that don’t
work properly.
Our central department store in our town is a two-storey building where you can buy several thousand
items of consumer goods. All the best-known products are usually in stock. On the ground floor you will find
jewellery, haberdashery, sports articles, toys, perfumery, household goods and leather goods. The second floor
is taken up by ready-made clothes for men and women and a nice assortment of underwear. You will also find
coats for all season wear (fur coats, overcoats, waterproofs, raincoats) and footwear (boots, slippers, sandals,
and high-heeled shoes) as well as textiles, drapery, millinery counters, cameras, musical records.
If you would like to buy clothes first you should ask the shop assistant to show you some. She will show
you some of pieces, which you can try on in the changing room. If it fits you then you buy it otherwise you can
ask another one e.g. in a larger size.
• The central post office in our town occupies a huge, old building. It has a lot of services e.g. it
maintains connection with our relatives/friends living far away from us (drop a letter or a postcard); you can
subscribe to newspapers or magazines; you can buy stamps, post-cards or envelopes; you can send money by
money order or cheque; you can also post a parcel. These things have changed a lot recently, to be more precise
they have become more simple and faster.
In front of it you see public telephone boxes mainly for long-distance calls. To tell you the truth a few
people use them, because today almost everybody has got a mobile phone (See further details below). When
you enter the lobby there are some post-boxes where we can post our letters or postcards; we take it for granted
that the postman will deliver it to the right place. On the right side there is a newspapers and magazines counter,
which sells the latest issues of all dailies, weeklies, annuals. There is a sale of stamps counter, too where you
can buy stamps, coins, postcards, letter writing paper and envelopes. When you enter the main hall you see
rows of counters and bottom of them a sign or a topic, which helps you how to find the one you want. The first
is marked parcel post, which handles all parcels and packages. There is a parcel balance where your parcel is
weighed. You must fill in a parcel form before posting it. At all other counters you can send money by money
order or cheque; take up money; post letters, telegrams, postcards; pay your rent or bills for gas, electricity,
telephones. There is also a savings bank section, where you can keep a savings account or buy bonds. Packets
and parcels can be sent by parcel post or if they are not too big, by letter post. Letter post is quicker. A letter
can be registered or sent by recorded delivery, which means that the person who receives it must sign it. If a
letter is urgent, you send it express or ‘air mail’ and pay a bit more for the postage. In Hungary we write the
addressee’s name on the right-hand side of the envelope in the middle. Right underneath we write the town,

- 19 -
street and house number. In the bottom right-hand corner we write the postal code of the town or village the
addressee lives in. The sender’s name and address go in the left-hand corner of the envelope.
Nowadays people send letters less and less in a normal form than before, because a new technique was
born. It’s called ‘e-mail’ and sent on the internet by electronic form. It is quite similar to its forefather, but it is
quicker and more modern. You can create a free e-mail address; you only have to register on the suitable web-
site. There is a window where you can write the subject of the letter, the addressee’s e-mail address or and there
is a copy box where you can pick a name of your friend hereby he’ll receives ‘a copy’ from it; you can add
some files that you want to send and of course there is more space for the text itself. This service has been quite
widespread because most companies and households have got personal computers with Internet connection.
• Phone: We are on the phone at home. It has been installed for years and since then it has been
much easier for us to sort out things. Our telephone hasn’t, but most of them have an answer-phone system,
which if we aren’t at home would automatically answer telephone calls and record any message (which is) left
by the caller. In my opinion telephone is a marvellous invention.
Traditional telephoning: If you want to make a telephone call, first step is to pick up the receiver and
wait for the dialling tone. Then you insert a twenty-forint coin into the slot and begin dialling the number. If
you are calling a place in the same area you just dial the number, but if it is in another area you dial first the
code for that area. Then when you hear a sort of musical sound you dial the particular number. For these long-
distance calls the charge is usually higher. A high tone buzzing means the line is engaged. I hang up and my
coin is returned. Then I try again. If you are hearing a pay tone of rapid pips, it means you have to insert more
money otherwise they will get cut off and you can start the operation all over again. If you have misdialled, you
have to apologise and say ‘sorry, wrong number’. If the number is unobtainable, it means that you must have
dialled no the correct number and a machine tells you ‘the dialled number is not in use’. When you have been
put through you hold on till somebody at the other end of the line answers the phone. He will say ‘Hallo, this is
Mr. X speaking’. Then you can give your name and actually your connection is come off (or you say who you
would like to talk to).
As the matter of fact, it is an old-fashioned process to make a phone call in a telephone box. Nowadays
most people have got a mobile phone (moving/portable phone; cell phone), which maintains connections you
almost anywhere. These receivers are bought in different sizes and there are three big suppliers in Hungary
from which you can choose. On one hand you can be a subscriber and then you have to pay your bill monthly
or on the other hand you can be a post-paid costumer. The procedure of the answering itself is almost the same
as the old method but of course a coin isn’t needed. However, there is one thing that can cause a problem when
you are in such a place where there is no reception.
• Internet: The word itself is widespread all over the world. It means ‘network of networks’ and it
is a spacious system, which contains lots of computer-networks. In fact, you can send files to anywhere with its
help, there are a lot of computer needed operations like sending e-mails, downloading files, buying things with
credit card and mostly it delivers lots of information if you are ‘surfing on the net’. There are some internet
browsers which must be installed on your PC and then you can type a web-site address that you want to see.

zip-fastener-cipzár
to consume-fogyaszt
cellphone-mobil telefon

- 20 -
 9. UTAZÁS

• People often travel on business, for pleasure, for - utazási formák: üzleti út és turistaút,
relaxation or even for education or for their health. I love it too, but the egyéni és szervezett utazás
snag is that I can’t afford to travel as much as I’d like to. I’ve neither the - utazás autóval, vonattal, hajóval és
money nor the time for it. But I usually go for a trip/journey at least once repülővel, ezek használata üzleti út és
a year in summer. In a package tour you travel with others and follow a nyaralás során
prearranged itinerary covering all the famous landmarks. You pay a - szálláslehetőségek, kemping
single, all-inclusive price that covers everything such as transportation,
- utazási irodai szolgáltatások
meals, accommodation, sightseeing tours and guides. With independent
travel you pay as you go and during the journey you can change your - utazási élmények
mind if you want to. But you can go in a travel agency and ask them to - a külföldi tartózkodással kapcsolatos
give you cost estimates and secure reservation for you. It used to be long tudnivalók
time ago. Nowadays people who have Internet they manage all services and goods of the journey on the net.
Lots of travel agencies advertise themselves on different web-sites. You can browse among the pictures of the
accommodation; you can read some details about them and of course their prices are shown for a night. You
can book a room in a hotel or in an apartman and you can pay a deposit, too. I prefer individual travel to
group travel. If you go on a package, you have to be adaptable, you have no time to look at everything you are
interested in and the worst thing is when you have a bad guide. He can spoil all your holiday. I can be my own
master, depend on nobody and can always do what I like. Although, package tours have some advantages too:
everything is arranged for you by travel agency from the necessary documents to hotel reservations. And it
doesn’t seem to be very romantic to arrive in a strange town at night with no idea where to go.
I plan my holiday well in advance and make a lot of arrangements. First of all I decide where to go.
Fortunately, we have unlimited possibilities to go practically anywhere in the world only you need have enough
foreign currency. It is enough to have a valid passport if you want to travel abroad. Passports expire from time
to time and people have to extend them or apply for a new one. Your passport entitles you to go any country in
the world without restrictions. As our country is a member of European Union, today you don’t have to have
your passport to step the borders at least your new type of identity card may be needed. You don’t need a visa
in none of the countries of Europe but it is needed to the USA or Australia now yet. You need to have some
foreign currency though, which you can get at a money changer, a bank or a travel agency. The exchange rate is
always changes for the forint’s value. The things that you need for a holiday are always determined by the
length, the time and the type of the holiday. The general rule is that you should try to travel light and take the
fewest possible clothes with you. You must also pack your toilet goods in and don’t forget about your camera
either, provided you have one. Customs officials examine the luggage of out-going and in-going travellers. You
may be asked to produce all the articles which you are bringing in with you. You must truthfully answer any
questions put to you by the Customs officer. There are goods liable to duty and you have to pay taxes on them.
If you have nothing to declare you tell the officer about it or if you are at the airport you simply go through the
green channel. If you have dutiable goods, you go to the red channel and declare them. Most of personal
belongings are exempt from duty. You must pay duty on a large amount of spirits, tobacco, coffee, on electrical
appliances etc. If you try to smuggle and then a dutiable article is found in your baggage, you have to pay a fine
and your article may be confiscated.
• If you like sleeping in a tent in the open air then camping is the most ideal way of spending your
holiday. Apart from hot showers most camping sites offer other facilities like flush toilets, drinking water,
cooking areas, guarded parking places, electricity, bungalows, restaurants, bathing and fishing facilities and
sports grounds. It is so exciting to arrive at a camp-site and pitch your tent wherever you want or park your
caravan. Furthermore you can cook your supper over the camping gas fire and you are close to the nature all the
time. You can enjoy absolute freedom and have none of the headaches of advance hotel booking. For a
ludicrously small sum you can enjoy a comfort. Camp-sites are usually situated beside clear streams, in green
valleys between high mountains, by a lake or pond, or at the seaside. All of outdoor sports are available
including water sports and hiking. Foreigners in Hungary can stay in well equipped, modern camping-sites all
around Lake Balaton in guest-houses, motels or hotels. The most popular form of accommodation in the
Balaton region is renting private rooms or flats for a certain period of time. There are a lot of people letting
their houses to foreigners in summer. In Budapest, there are a lot of nice first-class hotels where people from
abroad can spend some pleasant and comfortable nights.
- 21 -
 You can book a hotel room on the phone or you might as well book on the internet. If they have vacancies
or they are not all booked up, they can usually offer you a choice of single/double rooms or suites, rooms with
or without showers. While booking, you have to make sure what room you want to take. It can be faced to the
main street or it can be on the ground floor/top floor. Besides you have to decide whether you want a breakfast
or full board or not. When you have arrived at the hotel you go up to the reception desk and show your passport
or I.D. to the receptionist. It can quite easily happen that he isn’t at the desk. In such a case you can ring the
bell. He will fill in a registration slip for you and write your name in the hotel register. If you haven’t done it
previously, it is good to ask him about the price of the room per night and what meals and facilities this price
includes. Then the reception clerk will give you your key (ticket for the room) and the porter will show you to
your room and he’ll also take up your luggage (hotel valet). When you decide to leave, you give your key to the
receptionist, check out and settle your bill.
• Train/rail: I hardly ever travel by train, perhaps once in a blue moon. However, I like travelling
by rail because it’s very comfortable and quick. Besides it’s an excellent way to get to see the countryside too.
And although the trains don’t always leave and arrive on the dot, they are usually punctual.
Tickets can be purchased from railway stations and travel agencies. If you go on a day trip it is better to
buy a return ticket than a single one as you pay less and you don’t have to worry about buying another ticket for
your journey back. Children under the age of 14 get some reduction, you just have to ask for a special
children’s ticket at the booking office. I think that the railway today still carries the bulk of passenger traffic.
There are a lot of commuters who can’t afford to use their cars every day so they choose to travel by train.
Others choose the railway because in a train they always have enough space to move about, and they can be
absolutely relaxed and calm on a train. In Hungary you have the choice of following kinds of trains: express
trains, fast and slow passenger trains. Express trains are usually through trains while slow passengers trains stop
at every single station. You have to make a seat reservation for express trains, but not for fast or slow passenger
trains. In the hall, in front of the booking offices there are long queues of people buying tickets. Some of them
are already nervous because they are afraid of missing their trains. Others are waiting patiently for their trains
to be announced over the loudspeakers. Unfortunately, there is a growing number of homeless people who find
shelter in the waiting rooms of railway stations. Having bought a cheap fare, I go to the platform where I’m
waiting for the train. You mustn’t step over a yellow painted line because it is dangerous. Inside the first-class
carriages you can find very comfortable upholstered seats while in a second-class car the compartments are less
comfortable and the seats are covered with fake leather. That’s why the latter one is cheaper. In each
compartment there are luggage racks over the seats where you can put your trunks, holdalls or suitcases. I like
sitting facing the engine as opposed to sitting back to the engine. I always choose a non-smoking compartment
and preferably a seat by the window. During the journey an inspector can come to clip every passenger’s ticket.
Without having a ticket you’ll possibly be fined by the ticket inspector on the train. You can go to the corridor
and look at the beautiful scenery. There are some people who are smoking; others are trying to get past them
while they go away to be more precise people are coming to and fro. If it is not a direct train you have to
change to get your real destination.
Apart from passengers, trains also carry goods of many different kinds. Railway transport is still one of
the cheapest ways of carrying freight over long distances. For example milk, coal, cars and many other things
are transported by loaded containers. Most railway accidents happen at level crossings where there are no
crossing gates and inattentive drivers go across the track without checking if the signal is red or white.
Sometimes trains go off the track it can cause delays or even casualties.
Types of trains: slow train/passenger train/fast train
through train/direct train/non-stop express
freight train/goods train
• Air(port): Air travel is definitely the quickest way of transport. Air travel does save time. I have
flown once or twice in my life and the mere feeling of flying was really a memorable experience for me. I wish
I could fly more often. I enjoyed travelling in a jet because it was so nice to be above the clouds, not to mention
clear weather when you could see everything underneath and everybody tried to look through the window and
drunk in the sights. MALÉV, the Hungarian Airlines operate flights to all important cities abroad all the year
around. Some internal flights have been started recently which enable you to get to another town within
Hungary in the shortest possible time.

- 22 -
 Before boarding the plane the passengers must register at the check-in counter. While checking in your
luggage is weighed and the attendant attaches a special tag to it to prevent it from getting lost or misplaced. If
you exceed the baggage allowance you will have to pay an excess fare. After the officer has checked your
passport you go to the departure lounge where you usually have to wait for some time before your plane is due
to take off. It is wise to check the flight list on the TV screens to see if your flight is going to be delayed or not.
Departures, calls for flights, delays, cancellations or changes are also announced over loudspeakers. When your
flight is announced you go to the right gate and boarding begins. Stewardesses greet you on the board the plane.
You show your boarding card to them and take your seat. They help everyone to put the hand-luggage into the
luggage-compartment, to sit comfortably in the reclining seats and to adjust the safety belts.
Statistics show that air travel is safer than any other way of travelling. Air crashes are rarer than serious
accidents on the railways not to mention roads. The cockpit is full of modern navigational equipment and the
landing and take-off are controlled by computers. To be hijacked – eltérítik / To ascend/descend – fel/le száll
• Ship: I’ve travelled by ship several times on Lake Balaton, but most of these trips were pleasure
cruises. After we had bought the tickets we went to the pier and saw the ship entering the harbour. Then it
dropped anchor, we went on the board and the ship started. You can enjoy the sight of the calm, green water
and the white sailing boats on it as well as the pleasant view of the surrounding hills and villages. In Hungary
you can also take one of the passenger boats which ply our big rivers or the ferries that cross them regularly.
From May to September there is a daily boat service on the Danube between Budapest Vienna, which takes
about five hours. On Lake Balaton a daily ferry run from Balatonfüred to Siófok every day. (Tihany-Fonyód?)
Big ocean liners are like real floating cities with all modern conveniences. They can transport several
thousand passengers. The cabins are above and below deck. A cabin looks very much like a compartment of a
railway sleeping car. All cabins have portholes. In stormy weather many passengers feel seasick when the stern
dips down and the bow goes up. In case of emergency like running aground, hitting an iceberg or sinking, on
board a ship are available life-boats, life-belts, buoys and other safety devices. When the ship approaches its
destination, it slowly slips into the harbour and the passengers disembark.
Types of watercraft: sailing ship, barge, trawler, yacht, kayak, tanker, submarine, ferry, ocean liner, raft,
paddle-boat, rubber boat To be shipwrecked - hajótörést szenved
• Coach, bus: Hungary has quite an extensive inter-city coach network reaching into all parts of
the country. The vehicles are comfortable and the service is reasonably rapid. Prices are on a par with those for
first-class rail travel. Most coaches are operated by a company called Volán, but the number of privately run
coaches is gradually increasing. At present they are mainly hired for school trips or package tours.
Unfortunately, they are often on a strike in fact because they can. They demand to rise their salary if not they
don’t transport the passengers.

- 23 -
 10. ÉTKEZÉS

• In Hungary in most houses the meals are breakfast, lunch and

supper. Hungarian breakfast consists of milk or tea, some cold meals with a - étkezési szokások
slice of bread spreading butter or rolls, different jams, honey and toast. - étterem és más vendéglátóhelyek
In an English home four meals are served: they are breakfast, lunch, tea
and the most important meal of the day is the dinner. English breakfast - egészséges étkezés
consists of cornflakes, ham and eggs (boiled and fried) with tomato or - egy-két étel elkészítése
mushrooms, buttered toast or bread and butter with marmalade and fish may
be served. Some orange juice is drunk before breakfast and tea or coffee is - otthoni vendéglátás, meghívás
drunk after it. - a magyar konyha jellegzetességei
MEALS IN HUNGARY MEALS IN ENGLAND
- to have breakfast - to drink early morning tea
- to take one’s elevenses - to eat a substantial breakfast
- to have lunch at work/at home - to have a snack for lunch
- to have a cold meal for supper - to have a big dinner
I usually have no breakfast at home except at weekends because I have it with my colleagues at my work. I
eat some sandwiches which I have made previously or I sometimes buy a ‘cocoa snail’. I usually eat some cold
cuts with rolls, green pepper or tomato and drink cold milk. Some people just eat an apple or a banana or drink
a cup of tea/coffee. At weekends we have a more relaxed breakfast; we often eat ham and eggs or gypsy toast.
To make a tea (for more persons) I put the kettle under the tap and fill it up with water. Then I put it on the
electric cooker (or in the microwave oven) and bring the water to boil. When the water is boiling I put the tea-
bags into it. I leave them to brew for some minutes then I take them out. I serve it with sugar and lemon. To
make sandwiches I cut a loaf of bread into slices and spread some butter or marge over them. I make hard-
boiled eggs, cut them up and put them on the bread together with some slices of salami or cold sausages.
Finally I grate some cheese and sprinkle it over the bread slices. For decoration I use paprika paste or mustard.
Lunch is the second meal of the day and people have it between twelve and half past two depending on
the time of the lunch break at work. It is usually a heavy meal and most working people have it in a self-service
restaurant or in the canteen of their factory. There we join to the queue. After taking a tray, the cutlery, some
paper serviettes and a plastic glass we choose what we want to have. Naturally, canteen food isn’t in the same
street as what your (grand) mother/wife cooks at home, but I’m not particularly choosy or fastidious about what
I eat. I eat everything that is delicious and well-cooked and I don’t have particularly sweet tooth. Lunch consists
of three courses: first comes some soup (clear, vegetable, meat, pea, bean or fruit soup). I generally take fruit
soup, because this is my favourite. The second course is either some meat (a pork chop, some poultry or fish,
usually tuna or heck) with garnish (mashed potatoes, chips or rice) or some vegetable dish made from green
peas, French beans, marrow, spinach or sorrel. Cabbage is also popular prepared as cabbage with tomatoes or
stuffed cabbage. The second course may also be some noodles, pancakes, strudel (filled with fruit, cottage
cheese, cabbage or poppy-seed), scones or doughnuts. The third course is always some cake or depending on
the season of the year fresh or stewed fruit.
The Hungarians take great pride (are proud of) in their fish dishes, made from the delicate pike-perch
caught in Lake Balaton and the many varieties that abound in the Danube or in the smaller ponds. The Fish
soup is a meal itself. I think Hungarian cuisine has a good reputation and the foreigners who come here find
our dishes very tasty and luscious. Hungarian Goulash e.g. is world famous but there are many other lesser-
known specialities. Among the most popular national dishes are paprika chicken with sour cream, stuffed
cabbage, noodles with poppy-seed and sugar/cabbage or roasted paprika potatoes. Our national dish is noodles
with cottage cheese, sour cream and scraps of roasted bacon. We are also fond of different soups; we are a
soup-eating nation. Both the ‘beans soup of Jókai’ and ‘Újházi chicken broth’ are the most famous soup in
Hungary. A typical Hungarian lunch is unimaginable without soup. We must mention ‘pancake Hortobágyi
style’ and a pudding called ‘floating islands’ yet.
I lay the table as I sometimes do for a Sunday lunch. I spread a nice white cloth over the dining table and
put a vase with flowers in the middle. I put out the dinner plates first, then the soup plates. The knife and spoon
go on the right-hand side, the napkin and the fork on the left. I put the side plates, goblets, glasses and dessert
spoons in front of the plates. Finally I try not to forget about the saltcellar, the pepper pot and the toothpicks
either.

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 FEW RECIPES
How to make the “Hungarian lecsó (Stewed peppers and tomatoes with sausage)”
Ingredients:
- Red pepper 1 pinch
- Salt 2 teaspoon
- Onions 300g
- Sausage 300g
- Green peppers 1kg
- Tomatoes ½ kg
- Oil
- rice
Simmer diced onions in oil and add the cleaned peppers sliced in ringlets. Let them sauté for 5mn. Under
covered lid at a low heat. Now add sausage slices, peeled and diced tomatoes and spices. Heat it at a medium
range for a half hour. Prepare rice in the meantime and serve together with the “lecsó”.

How to make “rakott krumpli”

Ingredients:
- 6 eggs :
- Cooking oil
- 2kg potato
- red pepper
- sausage
- sour cream
- salt
- Red pepper/paprika
- pepper
Cook the potatoes and the eggs then peel them. Then you have to make a sauce by the following steps: cut
onions and simmer them in oil, add a bit red pepper to it, pour into it a carton of sour cream and stir it while
boiling. Having sliced the eggs and the potatoes, you put them into a Pyrex dish/bowl (or a roasting/baking
dish/tin) by making layers. Meanwhile sprinkle with salt and season with pepper. Cook while it is red.
• To eat out means to have a meal in a restaurant. If you want to dine out you have the choice of
going to a first-, second-, or third-class restaurant, a self-service restaurant or in summer to an open-air
restaurant. People choose the self-service system if they are in a hurry and they want to have a quick meal. You
go into the restaurant and choose the dish you want to eat from the list (which is) hanging on the wall. Then you
pick up a tray, knife, fork, spoon and queue at the counter where the food is on display. You pick out what you
want and put it on your tray, which you have to push along a special rack till you reach the cashier. The cashier
will give you the bill. After paying you take your tray to any table you like. You can sit alone or with another
customer. Furthermore advantages are that you can have a hot meal in few minutes and you never buy a pig in a
poke. The only disadvantage is that you may not always find a free table. If people have time and money, they
go to a first-class restaurant. When you enter a restaurant, first you have to leave your coats in the cloakroom.
After that you enter the dining-room and either look for an empty table yourself or the headwaiter shows you to
one. Some people reserve tables in advance, otherwise they may not always have luck in finding a free table.
You sit down at the table and ask the waiter for the menu. If you decide to dine a la carte, you go through the
menu and give the order to the waiter. Sometimes you ask the waiter what he can recommend you. Some
restaurants have certain special dishes which can’t be eaten at other places. As most dishes have a fancy name
you sometimes ask the waiter what that dish includes. Paying for your dinner at a restaurant in Hungary is not
always very simple. You have to make a sign to the waiter and let him know that you’d like to ask for the bill.
He comes immediately and you can pay. You usually give the waiter a tip or leave it on the table. It is usually
ten or fifteen per cent of the grand total. I love eating in restaurant because the atmosphere is so
intimate/familiar there and a soft music is sounding at the background not to mention you are served. But I
rarely go to restaurant unless there is an occasion. We often go to a café or a pizzeria where we go Dutch.
• Most people in Hungary eat more than necessary. Our calorie intake is about double the amount
we actually need. People eat a lot of carbo-hydrates in food like bread, cakes and sugar, which are very

- 25 -
fattening. I think we also eat more meat and protein than necessary, especially fatty meats (which) are favoured
by most Hungarians. That is why there are so many fat people among us. A healthy diet should contain at least
the same amount of fibre as fat. It should also contain the major nutrients, such as vitamins, protein, calories or
iron. It should be high in vegetables and grains, with modest amount of meat. I would say: eat when you are
hungry, but don’t force the food down when you are not. I have never been on a slimming diet because I’m on
the skinny side. I don’t easily put on weight even if I eat a lot. I think we are so wasteful while in some parts of
the world there are millions of people (who are) suffering from malnutrition. I get very upset when I see people
wasting food (e.g. throw any bread into the dustbin).
• Last year I took one of my cousins to a good restaurant. She was wined and dined at my
expense. We sat down at the corner and the waiter brought us the menu immediately. We both felt like some
orange juice and apricot brandy first. Then we began to study the menu more closely. It contained a wide range
of appetizers (hors-d’ oeuvres), that is: cold appetizers, soups, vegetables, meat dishes, salads, desserts, cheese,
fruit and drinks. The waiter came up to our table and inquired what we would like to order. To start with I
ordered fried cheese and a chicken soup ‘richly’ for her. I ordered slices of turkey with mushroom spreading
whipped cream and rice as the main course for me and the other one was tenderloin steak with jacket potato.
While waiting for the meal we were sipping our apricot brandy. Having had our supper, we drunk a full-bodied
Hungarian wine from Badacsony. When it was the time for the sweet course we could hardly move. In the end
we wanted to have a soft dessert like ice-cream and finished a glass of refreshment. We sat talking for a while
then I called the waiter and settled the bill. I told him to keep the change. We left the restaurant with the
enjoyable feeling that we had had a very good meal.

well-done-jól átsült hús

rare-véres (marhahús)

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 11. KÖZLEKEDÉS

• I came here by car as I live in Ajka about thirty kilometres from - helyi és távolsági közlekedés
here. If we hadn’t got a car, I must have taken the early morning coach to get leírása (megközelítési lehetőségek)
here in time. Although it is not very cheap, I like driving. A car is always - közlekedési eszközök
quick and comfortable. The traffic was not particularly heavy on the motorway (tömegközlekedés, autó, kerékpár,
and nothing out of the ordinary happened. I managed to park the car in the car egyéb)
park across the road. The whole journey from my home to here didn’t take - autótartás
more than half an hour.
- jogosítvány
• In most big cities people have a wide choice of vehicles as
public transport services consist of buses, trams, suburban trains, the - esélyegyenlőség a közlekedésben
(idősek, kisgyerekkel közlekedők,
underground system and perhaps trolley buses. Day by day the inhabitants gyerekek, mozgássérültek)
have to travel long distances to and from work and school and most of them
- közlekedési szabályok,
use the public transport network. In addition to the inhabitants lots of people közlekedési morál (autóvezetők és
commute and go to work in big cities and thus public transport has to handle gyalogosok, járműveken utazók,
motorosok, kerékpárosok)
an enormous number of passengers. I sometimes cannot avoid going to the
capital and I prefer using the public transport services to driving because of the - közlekedési gondok,
közlekedésfejlesztés
heavy traffic. Perhaps the taxi is the most comfortable, but also the most
expensive means of transport. The yellow tram is the cheapest and generally - közlekedésbiztonság
the slowest, but also the most frequent vehicle after the underground. It works
by electricity and has a pair of fixed rails and electric wires so it doesn’t pollute the air as much as buses do.
The trolley bus is a mixture of trams and buses; it has rubber tyres but runs on electricity. The underground
railway is definitely the quickest means of transport as it goes under the ground so it never gets into traffic
jams. It runs every other minute. Every vehicle stops at determined distances. If you want to get off you signal
to the driver by pushing a button (except the underground railway, the tram), which is nearest to you and the
bus comes to a halt at the next stop. Stops are marked with signs of different colours for different types of
vehicles. Trams usually run in the middle of the road so at the tram stops there are special islands for
pedestrians. Before getting on a vehicle we have to take care for our tickets because of the no-conductor
system. Tickets for buses, trams and the underground are on sale at termini, major news-stands, tobacconist’s,
shops and post offices, but not on board the vehicles themselves. Tickets for suburban trains must be purchased
at the railway stations. Fares for suburban trains vary according to the distance. Other vehicles charge a flat rate
for a ticket. Ticket prices have gone up so many times recently thus one cannot really follow these changes in
prices. You perhaps had better buy a season/monthly ticket. It is valid from the first of the month till the fifth of
the next month. You put the ticket in a machine, pull the handle and your ticket will be punched. You have to
keep your ticket while travelling as inspectors make occasional spot-checks on tickets and you can expect quite
a hefty fine if yours isn’t in order. If you are a fare dodger, the ticket inspector may fine you to several thousand
forints. The taxi or the car is perhaps the most convenient way of travelling in a town. Cars are waiting at taxi
ranks and can be called on the street or by telephone. They are quite expensive, though, so people only use
them when they are in an unknown town and don’t know how to get about it, or when they have a lot of
luggage to carry or even when they go out somewhere in the evening and don’t want to drive. The fare is
recorded on a meter, which a passenger can see from his seat.
The best point about cycling to work or school is that it is cheap. It also helps you to keep fit unless
there is too much smog to breathe in on the way. It can be quite quick because it doesn’t need much space for
overtaking; there can be no problems with parking either. You will definitely not get a parking ticket if it is
parked in the wrong place. The worst thing about cycling is that you are in danger if you ride the bicycle in the
busy place. It doesn’t protect you from bad weather either. What’s more if you don’t lock it properly, it can
easily be stolen. cycling lane – biciklizár , to lock-lezárni
• In Hungary you can get a driving licence from the age of 18, but before you get it you first have
to pass a theoretical test and a practical one. In the theoretical part you are asked about the rules of the Highway
Code and if you pass this test you are allowed to attempt driving with the examiner sitting next to you. First you
take a “routine exam mixed with a technical exam” including U-turns, three-point turns, reserving into a narrow
space and other manoeuvres and you certainly have to show the examiner that you know the car’s technical side
such as changing fuses or any wheel, oil level checking or lights test etc. Then comes the next test called

- 27 -
“driving in or around the town”. Between the previous ones you are expected to take a health theoretical exam
too. You will still need a health certificate to testify that there is nothing wrong with your health that hinders
you from driving. Anyway, people don’t often pass the first time.
• We have got a Suzuki Ignis, which we bought a brand-new style two years ago. It was worth
buying it because it is swift, economical and comfortable. Its only one disadvantage is its a bit high petrol
consumption. The interior space is more than enough for four people. It does not have much luggage space
though unless you remove the rear seats. When we bought it, we were happy to see that the body is new and it
had got 0 km. We like it because it is silent, has a good acceleration and has never let us down. A car virtually
consists of two basic parts; the wheels and the body. Under the bonnet are the parts that basically move the car:
the engine, the cylinders, the carburettor, the shafts, the battery, the spark plugs and the petrol tank. The things
that the driver has to manipulate while driving are the clutch, accelerator and brake pedals, the handbrake and
the steering wheel. The speedometer and the different indicator lights are on the dashboard. What you can see
on a car from the outside are the headlights, the registration number on the number-plate, the windscreens with
wipers, the bumpers, the rear view mirror, the boot, the mudguard and the rear indicator lights. Under the car
are the chassis and the exhaust pipe. The starting of the car: when I get into our car I first put the ignition key
into the keyhole and I turn it by switching on the ignition. Then I push down the clutch pedal and turn the key
while starting the engine. Then I put the gear lever into first gear. (Then if the handbrake was pulled in I take
off it). I let out the clutch pedal slowly while pushing down the accelerator pedal and thus the car moves off.
An MOT test is a compulsory test on cars done at determined intervals over a certain age. It is important
to have your car MOT-ed regularly, because it may turn out to be unfit for driving. In that case it endangers
both your and other motorists’ lives.
The most frequent types of driving offences are: improper parking, reckless switching between traffic
lanes and driving through the red lights. Unfortunately these drivers aren’t always fined as traffic wardens
cannot be present everywhere. So in most cases offending drivers get away without a fine and sometimes they
are just let off with a caution. In fact it hasn’t been true recently because of the “0-tolerance“.
• The problem of modern traffic is caused by a lot of different factors. The most acute is perhaps
the constant congestion on the roads, traffic islands, pavements and in the vehicles themselves. Urban areas are
beginning to get choked and traffic has slowed down immensely. Because of the large number of cars pouring
onto roads travelling about towns has become very difficult, and the environment has become more polluted.
Public transport has deteriorated and the roads are also in an awful state of repair. The general view now is that
the roads as well as public transport need to be improved and not allowed to deteriorate further. Ring roads
have been built around larger towns to prevent city centres from seizing up entirely. Heavy goods vehicles have
been banned out of Budapest even the use of cars is restricted to prevent constant traffic jams and pollution.
Greater use of one-way streets and computer-controlled sets of traffic lights may also help the traffic flow.
Several pedestrian subways and vehicle underpasses are being built at crossings.
There is a high number of road accidents in this country, but fortunately they don’t all end with deaths.
In most cases they result in bodily injuries. I think drivers, pedestrians and road conditions can be blamed for
this. Drivers who drive too fast and without any consideration for others, and the ones who think they are safe
at the wheel even though they have drunk too much. Pedestrians, who step off the pavement without first
looking to the left or right, cross the roads when the traffic lights are against them or those who jump off
moving vehicles. In most places and especially at busy junctions traffic lights control the traffic. The green light
lets cars through while the red light tells them stop and amber means wait. The automatic light system allows
you to pass along the main roads without stops. There are other signs on the road too, which either give you
direct orders or warn you of possible danger. There are also direction signs, cat’s eyes, mile posts and signs
painted on the road. A good driver has to know what they all mean and has to follow their instructions. He must
also know the Highway Code.
In Hungary we drive on the right opposite to England where people drive on the left. It would be
difficult for you to be used to driving on the left, I think. You have to keep to (observe) the speed limit
everywhere. In Hungary you can drive 50 kilometre/hours in a town, 90 on the main road and 130 on the
motorway. But there are some sign-posts which control the speed e.g. near schools, zebra crossings, housing
estates, heavy bends etc. In a junction you have to give way to the one coming from the main road. It is signed
by a priority sign. There is an extended form of this one called “Stop! And give way”. At this time first you
have to stop definitely. There is no sign-post in a co-ordinate junction and a certain “right-hand rule” pre-

- 28 -
dominates here. General rule is that you have to be careful for the older people, kids, bikers, dogs etc. You
mustn’t turn around or reserve in a bridge or in a level crossing. Certainly if you can see an accident you are
liable to help others and you have to call the ambulance and police.

Places for traffic in towns, outside towns

In town: carriage-way, one-way street, junction, cul-de-sac, lay-by, avenue, roundabout, pedestrians precinct,
level crossing, flyover, bridge
Outside town: motorway, main road, ring road, roundabout, slip road, central reserve
Some traffic signs
To give orders: give away, no overtaking, maximum speed limit, no stopping, no parking, end of restriction, no
entry
To warn of danger: slippery road, road narrows, railway crossing, caution, dangerous bend to right
To give information: motorway, parking, filling station, dead end, hospital, zebra crossing, bus stop
Other information
Breathalyser, horn, to collide, to fasten the seatbelts, bottleneck, driving on the left (in England), to overtake

Points – váltó (vasútnál)

Barrier; gate - sorompó

- 29 -
 12. KOMMUNIKÁCIÓ

• It is worth learning a foreign language because of the

following reasons: - az idegen nyelvek szerepe és
fontossága
The importance of learning languages
- to talk freely to each other about business, politics, culture, - nyelvtanulási módszerek és
lehetőségek
hobbies, sport
- to promote friendship and understanding among people - a számítógép szerepe a
mindennapokban
- to establish ties with other nations
- to make friends / to correspond - Internet
- the learn about other people’s culture, way of life
- a számítógép előnyei és hátrányai
- the read authors in the original
- to understand foreign TV channels - tömegtájékoztatás és
véleményformálás (tévé, rádió, sajtó)
- to be better informed about the world
- to make oneself understood while travelling - a kapcsolattartás egyéb eszközei
(telefon, fax, mobil)
- to have more chances to travel on business
- to get a scholarship, to go abroad to study
- to read scientific articles
- to keep abreast of the latest discoveries and inventions (or of your colleagues)
- to have an all-around education
• First of all you can learn English/German at school, both in primary and secondary school or
even at university. If you are not a student any more you can go to a course and get as many as four to ten
English lessons a week. In bigger towns there are courses for all levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced.
These courses are usually cheaper than the ones offered by private teachers, from whom you can get one-to-one
tuition if you wish. The idea of self-study is favoured by some of those who think that a language can be
enquired alone without the help of an expert teacher.
Most satellite channels offer English/German speaking programmes and there are quite a few
language teaching programmes on Hungarian TV too. The CNN always broadcasts so I watch the news
whenever I can. It helps me to learn the language and get interesting information about the world. I often watch
American movies by original language and enjoy the casts beautiful pronunciation and intonation. The more I
listen to the English broadcasts/films the more I am able to catch and grasp, I think. You can get the leading
English and American newspapers at the post offices and there is a daily called ‘Daily News’, which covers
the latest Hungarian and foreign news in English and German. Besides you can buy/subscribe different dailies.
They can all help you to master this language if you read them regularly and don’t give up after the first
hardships.
I’m studying English so that I can communicate with people from different parts of the world and I
must be able to have my knowledge for my work in the future. In fact by far the most essential reason why I
began to study was that wherever I went everybody always said to me ‘I had got the intermediate level
certificate; it was easy to pass. Why don’t you have it?’ and it made me nervous. Then I’ve decided to obtain at
least the intermediate level in English. And whatever will be I would achieve/accomplish my purpose. In
addition to it, if I should lose my present job I must be communicating English in a job interview. There is no
problem today if someone can speak a foreign language. You are demanded to speak at any level by almost
every company mostly if it is needed for your work. If you speak a world language you can make friends during
your travels and even through letters by corresponding with boys and girls from other countries. Your
possibilities in your life are much wider. I am no longer considered to be an educated person without the
knowledge of at least one foreign language. The most widely taught language in Hungary is German. There is
no school, let it be primary or secondary without at least one or two teachers of German. In my opinion English
has become more important than German recently in the world though. It is quite popular, especially among
youngsters. When a child reaches the age of 8 and enters the third year of primary school, he/she starts studying
a foreign language. The child is offered a choice which is usually between German and English. Children can
even specialise in either of them if they wish and can get more than the average number of lessons a week in the
chosen language.
In most secondary schools a choice of three or four, sometimes even five foreign languages is offered
to the pupils. These languages are German, English, French, Italian, Spanish and perhaps Russian or Latin. As
- 30 -
for me, the teaching of English isn’t enough efficient in Hungarian secondary schools. It is impossible to
acquire a language in three 45-minute periods a week with twenty to thirty students in a group. There is also a
lack of English teachers in most schools now that western languages have become prevalent instead of Russian.
Some schools are in short of teaching aids such as cassette players, videos or photocopies. However, there are
such pupils between 14 and 18 who manage to pass the intermediate level state language exam. In fact, it is
worth passing this exam because you can get easily into university.
• I’m used to using my mobile phone every day. I take it everywhere except the bathroom or the
toilet. It is good that I can be reached any time. Today you can’t be without it, I think. There are so many
interesting things you can do with a mobile phone. Besides the original function of making a phone call, you
can send short messages and even pictures to your friends. There are games on the phone, so I just can’t get
bored. Most mobile phones even have Internet access, however, the speed of the connection has not been
satisfactory yet. Still, you can always check what’s on the cinema, the result of a football team’s match and the
weather forecast. A lot of people say that a cell phone damages your brain, but a certain headset is available for
it.
• I think the greatest invention of our times was the invention of computers. Here in Hungary we
used them for about twenty years. Today computers are easy to carry not to talk about laptops. We rely on them
so much that it is hard to imagine life without a PC. Obviously, it has made our lives more comfortable,
because a lot of things have become more easily accessible this way. A few decades ago people struggled to
produce readable handwriting, but now the struggle is about typing. It is true, however, that comforts have
brought about laziness and carelessness, too. Now e.g. we don’t have to pay attention to spelling correctly
because the spell check program on the computer is able to correct the mistakes you make. Computers have
changed our lives in several ways. They have made people become less interested in real things. They prefer
living in a virtual reality, which is sometimes far from the truth. It seems to me that people are afraid of
revealing their real selves and always want to be someone else, which can be done with the help of the Internet.
I don’t really like these changes, because this way we will lose our identities and will be indifferent to others.
I’ve got a personal computer at home. I quickly became a fan, but I have not become an addict. My parents are
quite strict about how much time I spend in front of the screen. I’ve been using it for long years and I even do
my work with it. We had the Internet connected up years ago and what’s more my dad owns a PC with net too.
Everyday I find new and interesting things on the worldwide web. I can chat with my friends or I can play
games with people from all over the world.
Advantages Disadvantages
to work easier and faster you become its addict (forget to eat regularly)
your back will hurt because of sitting in front of it long times
your eyes are getting worse

- 31 -
 13. TÁGABB KÖRNYEZETÜNK, A TERMÉSZET VILÁGA

• Flora and fauna: Our flora and fauna are very similar
to those of our neighboring countries and it is different, too. You can - természeti környezetünk (növények,
find grassy steppes here. We have all kinds of medicinal herbs, the állatok)
use of which we have to relearn. We have oak trees on the lower - éghajlat
slopes where the weather is warmer. Beech trees can be found more
frequent above 600 meters. There are more pine woods near the - a környezetünket fenyegető veszélyek
border where the hills are higher. Foreigners like coming to hunt here - mindennapi környezetvédelem (a környezet
in Hungary because we still have a lot of wild animals, hunting seems tisztasága, szelektív hulladékgyűjtés,
energiatakarékosság, újrahasznosítás)
to be cheap for them and our hospitality is still well known. The
kinds of game that can be found in our country: deer, mouflon, wild - időjárás: az évszakokra jellemző időjárás,
boar, pheasant, partridge, wild duck, dove, hare, wild goose, fox and aktuális időjárás
many others.
• Hungary is in the temperate zone and has a continental climate. This means that the weather is
quite easily predictable and there are big differences between the weather in the four seasons: spring, summer,
autumn and winter. Occupying a relatively flat area in the Carpathian Basin, Hungary is protected from the
extremes of weather by the mountain ranges encompassing her from almost all sides. Her climate is influenced
by both moderate maritime and mild Mediterranean air currents. Temperatures above 30°C (degree) may occur
in July and August but generally do not last long. January and February are the coldest months, but even then
average temperature doesn’t fall below minus 5°C.
• Weather: my favourite season is spring. After the long cold, wet and foggy days it is warm
again. Nature also awakens from its sleep and the trees and bushes are full of blossom. It smells of flowers
everywhere. The nicest spring flowers are snowdrops, violets, tulips, primroses, daffodils, hyacinths and lily of
the valley. This is also the time for fruit trees to come out in buds and bloom. I like nature so I try to make the
best of the fine weather. May is just the right month for taking walks or going on trips to the surrounding hills.
On a sunny day in spring I can’t really settle down to anything except lying in the sun and enjoying the first
warm sunshine of the year. The weather in spring is quite capricious, especially in April. There can be heavy
rainstorms lasting for a few hours or scattered showers lasting even for a couple of days. It was extremely hot
summer last term. There was a heat wave in July. The sun was burning for days and end. There was scarcely a
breath of air. The heat was increasing and it was getting hotter and hotter. It was sweltering heat and I
remember that the people walking in the streets had to find shelter in the shade of big trees to avoid getting
sunstroke. I got as browns as berries although I hate lying in the sun. In summer a hot spell is followed by quick
showers that sweep through the fields. Before a shower the sun hides behind the clouds which look dark and
heavy against the summer sky. When the sky is completely overcast you know that the rain is not far off. Then
suddenly lightning and thunder begin. Lightning is quite dangerous and it may strike big trees or even houses. If
it is a passing shower then right after it a rainbow appears in the sky, which turns blue again and the sunshine is
hotter than ever. Sometimes it pours down with rain (to rain cats and dogs) and it won’t stop. You can easily get
soaked to the skin. There is even hail in summer which causes a lot of damage to the crops. Wheat is harvested
in the middle of summer and there are lots of fruits that are ripened by the hot sun during the summer days.
There are cherries, raspberries, gooseberries, red-currants, sour cherries etc. In summer it is enough to put on a
light dress with a low-cut neck or a T-shirt with shorts or breeches and a pair of low shoes or sandals. On the
beach women wear a bathing suit or a bikini and perhaps a straw hat. Men wear swimming trunks. The
beginning of autumn is called an Indian summer if the weather is still warm. Usually it is just like summer. We
say that autumn is a rich season because the trees are full of fruits like apples, pears, plums, nuts, almonds,
mulberries etc. and most of the vegetables are harvested at the beginning of the autumn too. In Hungary the
grape harvest, that is vintage, is a great feast. Friends and relatives come together to pick the grapes from the
vines, to press them, pour the grape juice into wine-casks and let it ferment for a while for it to be decanted
later. The rainiest season is definitely autumn. The best strategy for protecting yourself from the rain is to carry
an umbrella or a mackintosh with you all the time. In autumn, people put on a mackintosh or some other kind of
waterproofs. It is important that you should wear water-resistant shoes or wellingtons as well because you can
catch a cold easily if you step in the puddles and get your feet wet. All kinds of precipitation may occur during
the autumn months from drizzle and rain through mist, fog, hoar frost and sleet to snow. In autumn the leaves
of trees slowly become coloured, you can see yellowish, brownish and reddish ones. In October the weather is
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very changeable; one day it is as if it were summer the next is just like in winter. In November there is often
frost. When winter is here, the temperature falls below zero. Then smooth snow falls down from big, grey
clouds. There are blizzards and stormy winds shake the trees and windows and it’s very pleasant to sit by the
fire inside while the wind is blowing outside. There are usually hard frosts in January. I often feel cold in such
weather. I shiver with cold when I go to work in the morning. My eyes are watering from the cold. In winter
you must be careful not to catch cold. You must wear warm clothes and dress in layers. In cold weather people
wear fur hats or thick, knitted hats and gloves, warm scarves and polo-necked sweaters, cotton stockings or
trousers, winter boots and thick fur-lined overcoats. Winter weather often paralyses traffic on the roads. They
are slippery, because of the ice covering them and there are a lot of accidents. You must not drive at a high
speed. Fog also delays traffic. Planes cannot land at the airport because of poor visibility. It’s better to cancel
driving when there is dense fog hanging over the roads. If the snow sets in, the roads are deep in snow. They
may be blocked by snowdrifts. Hard snowstorms sometimes stop all the traffic and many cars get stuck in the
snowdrifts.
England has a maritime climate, which means that the weather is very wet and rainy there. It is usually
very changeable and it is difficult to forecast with certainty even for a day. It is damp and not too cold all times
of the year. It rarely snows and if it does, it melts when it reaches the ground. Summers are cool and damp too.
Possibly because it is so unpredictable, English people are always prepared to discuss the weather.
Spring weather Summer weather
slight breeze to perspire/sweat (izzadni)
it begins to thaw to rain cats and dogs
there are avalanches in the mountains to get soaked to the skin
to be struck by lightning
Autumn weather Winter weather
it is wretched/rotten to have subzero temp.
to have chilly weather there is a blizzard
to drizzle, rain, pour, sleet a snowflake
It is misty, foggy
humid, wet, damp
to reach gale force
• There has been more and more damage to the environment since the increase of the world’s
population and industry. I have heard of air, water and soil pollution. In general, the larger the city the higher
the degree of air pollution, which is caused mainly by factories or by fumes from cars and from other means of
transport. Even rivers are dirtier in a city than in the country. All types of pollution can be very dangerous for
plants and animals as well as for human health. This is why we must avoid polluting our environment in any
way. Acid rain is caused by air pollution. Vehicle pollution mainly in urban areas can be dangerous. Floods are
caused by cutting down trees. Grass and undergrowth and shrubs aren’t able to hold humidity. Rain is joined by
melted snow water and evaporation is also slow. If people cut down woods there is a big amount of water,
which runs down quickly and there is nothing that can slow down the speed of it. Soil is also washed away so
people cannot plant in the usual way. The other reason for floods is global warming. Ice in North Pole melts so
another large of water appears in the seas and ocean. Air becomes humid so more rain falls. The other
consequence of warming up is that seasons are changing all the time. There are heavy rains and a lot of snow
where there didn’t use to be. (like snow in Florida). There was the winter flood in the east part of Hungary in
2001 and 2002. The water was not only cold but it ruined a lot of houses. In the summer of 2002 there were
serious floods all over Europe. France, Germany, the Czech Republic and Hungary suffered the biggest
damages from the floods. Some people even died. Polluted rivers flow into the oceans and seas so they poison
wild life plants and animals. So species die out. Originally waters of rivers, oceans and seas clean themselves
but if a lot of alga appears on the surface of the water it is not able to do so. There are disasters on waters, too.
Ships and boats are wrecked and they may sink. If tankers sink, oil gets into the water and disaster can happen
in a few days. Oil can get on and among the feather of birds, on the skin of seals and whales and other animals.
These living creatures aren’t able to fly or swim and not able to escape if it’s needed. Oil can get into their
stomachs. Different chemicals have damaged the ozone layer. Since mainly the 1950s people have used more
and more oil and natural gas. Since the 1970s and 1990s we use 60 percent more energy. So all of these factures
cause the green-house effect, which have led to an increase in temperature levels. Cutting down forests also
“helps” the problem. Humid jungles absorbed carbon-dioxide and produce oxygen. Developed countries
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realized the danger. So they started to develop rules on protecting the environment. Because of the very hot, dry
summers fires often occur in different places like fields, woods and in bushes. These can occur not only
relatively small areas but also in huge territories. Fire-brigades rush to the spot; they try to put out fire with
water or appropriate chemicals as soon as possible. Helicopters are often in action. They spray the inoculators
from above. If there is strong wind it makes the work more difficult. It often takes days or even weeks to put
out fires and of course rains help. An economic reactor exploded in Chernobyl in 1986 spreading a radioactive
cloud of dust mainly in Europe. This has been the most dangerous event in the history of nuclear power
production. Since then there have been more and more demonstrations against nuclear power. The Greens are
people who try to protect environment either with legal and illegal actions. They are known to have tied
themselves onto e.g. rails, which is really illegal and very dangerous. But they also table bills in Parliament.
Volcanoes sometimes erupt without any reason. Although, the environment regenerates itself with it, they
destroy spacious forests and spread volcanic ash all around. In fact, there mostly used to happen several times.
Lots of cinema films created about famous volcanoes erupting like Etna, Vesuvius, and St. Helen.
Earthquakes are caused by seismic waves.
• There are more and more steps being taken in our country to enable everyday people to be
environmentally friendly. The state itself tries to persuade citizens to recycle. If you pay for having your
rubbish taken away, you have to pay less if there is less rubbish in your dustbin. When these dustbins were
introduced it was strange to use them but nowadays it is and everyday event. In Hungary there are different
colors of dustbins at more and more local housing estate. We should collect our rubbishes separately e.g.
glasses, paper, plastic, dangerous litters etc. Certainly you mustn’t throw away any litters where you are warned
by noticing “no dumping!” The first thing I can do is that I don’t litter the streets, but try to put the rubbish into
the dustbin. Hopefully, I find one when I need it. Our household could also select waste. There’s a selective
waste collection in the area where I live. I also pay attention to buying products which have been recycled and I
always ask the shop assistants not to put the products into plastic bags for me. I rather put them into a box or a
carrier bag.
We’ve been using some light bulbs in our flat since their prices were payable. In addition to it, my dad
always warns us not to leave the light switched on if we aren’t in the room. At my workplace we have some air-
conditioners but we only use them if needed because of their consumption (so as to save more energy).
Unfortunately, I have a bad habit from which I try to give up. I can’t help turning on both my PC and my TV.
However, I also know that no one is able to watch both of them at the same time.

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 14. MAGYARORSZÁG

• Hungary is situated in Central Europe at approximately

an equal distance from the Equator and the North Pole. The country - Magyarország természeti értékei
occupies a territory of about 93,000 square kilometers and there are
- tájak, egy-egy város leírása, turisztikai
about ten million people living here. There are nineteen counties. Our nevezetességek
country can be divided into three large regions: Transdanubia, the Great
- alapvető földrajzi és történelmi
Plain and Northern Hungary. The Transdanubian part is mainly hilly with ismeretek
the exception of the northern region, which is called the Small Plain. The
- a főváros és/vagy szülővárosa
soil is exceptionally good there for crops and vegetables. A similar area legfontosabb nevezetességei
is a Great Plain, where most of Hungary’s crops are grown. Northern
Hungary is fairly mountainous and the country’s highest peak can also be - hagyományos és nemzeti ünnepek
found there. Hungary belongs to the drainage system of Europe’s second - szokások
largest river, the Danube. The Tisza is another long river and Lake - nemzetiségek Magyarországon,
Balaton is the second largest freshwater lake in Central and Western magyar nemzetiségek más országokban
Europe. - kulturális értékeink
Regions
- Alföld, the Great Hungarian Plain - Magyarország politikai berendezkedése
(államforma, többpártrendszer,
- Transdanubia: parlament, önkormányzatok)
- Western Hungary (Kisalföld, the Little Hungarian Plain )
- Southern Transdanubia
- Central Transdanubia and Lake Balaton
- Northern Hungary
On the north Hungary is bordered by the Czech and Slovak Republic, on the north-east by the Ukraine,
on the east Romania, on the south by Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia while on the west the country borders on
Austria. The official language of Hungary is Hungarian, but quite a few other languages are spoken as native
languages by the several ethnic minorities living near the country’s borders. These are German and the Slavonic
language spoken in the countries around us.
• The Hungarian Republic was proclaimed on (the) 23rd (of) October, (in) 1989. Soon afterwards
the ruling (then the only) party split up and new parties were formed. In the parliamentary elections held in
March and April 1990, six parties received enough votes to be represented in Parliament. The president of the
most successful party, the Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) formed a coalition government in May 1990.
This meant the end of a forty-year-long totalitarian system in Hungary and pullout of the Soviet troops. People
began to feel free as they realised that their minds were no longer manipulated centrally and they were allowed
to join any political party or movement they sympathised with.
There are 4 parties in the Hungarian Parliament. The MDF (see above) and the Young Democratic
Federation belong to the opposition. The Hungarian Socialist Party and the Alliance of Free Democrats have
been making up the government since the last election. The supreme power is vested in the Parliament whose
members are elected for four years. Since Hungary became a parliamentary democracy, the Parliament has been
in session almost continually, MPs work there, sometimes more days a week. There are constant debates and
heated discussions whenever the government is trying to push a bill through, unlike a few years ago when
everything was accepted by a unanimous vote.
• Tourism also plays an important role in our economy as millions of tourists come to Hungary
from year to year. I think one reason for so many tourists coming to our country is the hospitality of the
Hungarians. Besides, the Carpathian Basin is at cross-roads for the traveller from north to south, from east to
west. Hungary also has various tourist attractions. Visitors can enjoy the wonderful sights of Budapest, relax on
one of the numerous beaches of Lake Balaton, go and see the lovely Hungarian villages where traditions of folk
art are preserved and treasured or visit some of the smaller but beautiful towns like Veszprém, Kőszeg, Eger or
Szentendre. The can go for outings to the romantic ‘Puszta’, the Great Hungarian Plain, where they can see the
famous Hungarian stud farms. Hungary has a lively cultural life. The most popular cultural events attended by
a lot of tourists seem to be the open-air summer festivals held in different towns, such as the Szeged Open-air
Festival, the Sopron Festival Weeks, the Szentendre Summer or the Veszprém Castle Concerts while in spring
the greatest event is the Budapest Spring Festival. Apart from festivals, the Opera House, concert halls, open-air

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theatres and museums are also visited by a lot of tourists who are genuinely interested in the cultural life of the
country.
• To introduce BUDAPEST to a tourist from abroad I would tell him some historical and
geographical data about the Hungarian capital: 2000 years ago the Romans called this settlement Aquincum
that is ‘the city of waters’ because there were and still there are a lot of hot water springs and medicinal baths in
this region. Real urbanisation began in the fifteenth century when under the rule of Sigismund of Luxemburg
the royal castle on the Buda hills was built. The later centuries, especially the nineteenth century saw the
flourishing of Pest lying on the other side of the River Danube. Today Budapest is a busy metropolis with a
population of 2 million people. The city is extremely rich in historical and cultural monuments, works of art and
natural beauties.
If you have a foreign guest you have to show him/her the Castle District with the Matthias Church, the
Fisherman’s Bastion and Szécsenyi National Library in the Royal Castle. Looking over the river Danube there
is Europe’s most beautiful House of Parliament. In the middle of the Heroes’ Square there is a one hundred and
eighteen foot high column with the Archangel Gabriel on the top. At one side of the square there is the Museum
of Fine Arts where you can see wonderful pictures. The other important museum is the National Museum,
where the Revolution and War of Independence started on 15th March, 1848. The Opera House designed by
Miklós Ybl is as famous as the Opera House in Vienna. The building was renovated recently so it is much nicer
now. If you want to see elegant clothes and all kinds of people from different nationalities you have to go to
Váci Street, the pedestrian zone and at the end of the street the Vörösmarty Square with the famous Café
Gerbaud. St. Stephen’s Basilica is the second centre of Christianity in Hungary after the Basilica of Esztergom.
Margaret Island is a perfect place for recreation. You can take long walks, admire the beautiful flowers and
trees there and you can go for a swim there. The Gellért Spa Bath, Szécsenyi Bath, the Király and Rudas Baths
are world famous and you can feel artistic atmosphere, too. Among the nine bridges famous ones are: the Chain
Bridge built and designed by Adam Clark. At the bottom of the bridge there are the beautiful lions. The bridge
joins the Pest side with the Gellért hill. The other bridge is the Elizabeth Bridge, the first suspension bridge.
Liberty bridge has at one foot of it the technical university and at the other foot is the market-hall.
The Sights of Budapest
Castle Hill
- King Béla IV. – fortification – XIII.th century
- King Sigismund – royal palace – XV.th century
- Coronation Church
- Fishermen’s Bastion
- Hilton Hotel
Gellért Hill
- Citadel – to have a nice view of the city and the bridges spanning the Danube
- Statue of St. Gellért
- Statue of Liberty
Margaret Island
- to be named after Princess Margaret, daughter of King Béla IV.
- to be the ‘park’ of Budapest
- the best place for trips and recreation
Heroes’ square
- Millinary Monument (to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the founding of Hungary)
- to be surrounded by a colonnade
- statues of the great rulers and leaders of Hungarian history
City Park
- artificial lake (to row in summer, to skate in winter)
- Vajdahunyad Castle (a mixture of architectural styles)
- Zoo and Botanical Gardens
- Fun Fair
- Municipal Grand Circus
Museums
- Aquincum Museum
- Castle Museum
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 - Museum of War History
- Museum of Fine Arts (painting, sculpture and graphic collection by European masters)
- Hungarian National Gallery (large collection of Hungarian works of fine arts)
- Hungarian National Museum (exhibitions on Hungarian history and natural science) (Hungarian crown
jewels)
• Sopron is located on the west border of Hungary and is famous for its faithfulness. If you are
there you have to go to Orsolya Square, to the Fire Tower and to Szécsenyi Square and to the Fő/main Square.
If you go to Pannonhalma Abbey you are visiting the first church in Hungary. In Tihany Abbey you can find
the deed of foundation, in which are the first written Hungarian words. Other evidence of our religious life is
the church of Ják, Zsámbék and Debrecen and the Basilica of Esztergom. There are many castles in our country
and there used to be many more before World War I. because Hungary played a very important part in
protecting Europe against invadors. The following castles are worth seeing: the castles of Tata, Csesznek,
Sárvár, Veszprém, Siklós, Eger and Diósgyőr. Palace of Keszthely is famous for the Festetics family who
helped the agricultural and cultural life of Hungary. They also established the agricultural university and the
foundation of the museum there. The palace of Fertőd used to belong to Esterházy Family, which is a great
Hungarian political, cultural family again. Arts have always played a great role in their lives. Haydn used to be
their family musician.
Hungarian folk art is world famous. It is true for craftwork, our folksongs, gipsy music and clothing.
The Embroidery of Kalocsa, Mezőkövesd and Matyo embroidery are popular and a lot of foreigners buy
embroidered things for presents. If we talk about folk arts we shouldn’t forget horses. Our forefathers
conquered the territory on horseback. If you go to Hortobágy or Bugac you will see famous stud farms there.
There are university towns and cities in Hungary like Pécs, Szeged, Debrecen, Győr and of course Budapest. If
you are in Pécs you should go to see the Synagogue, the Minaret and the Barbican. If you are in Szeged you
should visit Cathedral Square and from the city you can go to Ópusztaszer, where our nation is celebrated there
with Festy cyclorama. Among our natural beauties we have to mention the Mátra hills, Aggtelek Stalactite
Caves, Őrség, Danube bend and Hortobágy puszta.
20th August is the festival of foundation of our state. Saint Stephen’s Day is celebrated everywhere.
There are different ceremonies, programmes and fireworks in the evening all over the country. We shouldn’t
forget that it is the festival of new bread. Every year the Flower Festival is organized in Debrecen. It is
always gorgeous but the festival itself is danger because it costs a lot of money. 23rd October is the holiday of
Declaration of the Hungarian Republic in 1989. The revolution against communism and the Soviet rule started
on 23rd October in 1956.
Some cultural events in our country: the Kapolcs festival has been organized for ten years. It is famous
for performing different plays and there is folk art fair, too. Győr is also famous for its International Cultural
Summer Festival and Spring Festival. In summer opera singers, actors and directors want to perform their
plays in the Szeged Open Air Theatre. They have to prepare and enter for the programmes well in advance.
The Water-Music-Flower Festival in Tata is both a cultural and entertaining event and people like to go there
to have fun. Some people say that the events of Pepsi Island are wonderful and they not only have fun but they
learn a lot of new things. Others accuse the islands of vandalism and being noisy and aggressive behaviour. The
fact is that is taken place for ten years now and it attracts a lot of young people. Hungary is said to be a great
wine producer. Our climate and geographical position are very good for grape growing and producing wine.
Hungarian people celebrate wine e.g. during the week of Wine Week of Badacsony, with the Vintage Parade
and Vintage and Folk Art Fair in Badacsony, Wine Weeks in Balatonfüred, in Szépasszonyvölgy the Festival of
Eger and Sopron Festival Weeks. You must have heard of the “busójárás , the so called Mardi Gras
procession” in Mohács. At the end of winter, on the last Sunday of Carnival people walk along the streets
wearing funny masks, sometimes animal heads and they make an awful noise to drive out winter and greet
spring. It also symbolizes the driving out of the Turks.
One of the internationally well-known sport events is Formula 1. in the Hungaroring, in Mogyoród.
Popular and famous drivers come here from all over the world and police has to guarantee their and
everybody’s safety. People have to buy tickets well beforehand and they cost a lot of money. Enterprises can
make a good profit there.

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 Public and traditional holidays in Hungary
th
15 March (the fifteenth of March)
We commemorate the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of eighteen-forty-eight and fourty-nine.
We wear ‘kokárda’ (national sign, emblem)” on this day on the left side of our suit or coat where our heart is.
1st May (the first of May – Labour Day)
It is a spring holiday when maypoles are put up in gardens. The beer and the Vienna sausage occur to me about
this public holiday mostly. Lots of interesting programmes are usually held and a board is stood upright, too.
20th August (the twentieth of August)
It is the day of Stephan the first. On this day we commemorate the founding of our state almost a thousand
years ago. This is the day of new bread.
23rd October (the twenty-third of October)
We celebrate the declaration of the Hungarian Republic and commemorate the revolution of nineteen-fifty-six.

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 15. A CÉLNYELV ORSZÁGA(I) ÉS AZ EU

GREAT BRITAIN
The British Isles is the name given to England, Scotland, -(fekvés, a célnyelvi ország(ok) főbb jellemzői
nagyság, főváros, pénznem,
Wales and the whole of Ireland in the geography books. The United államforma, parlament)
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK) is the name of
- a legismertebb földrajzi értékek
the land the Queen reigns over. Southern Ireland is independent of the (éghajlat, tájak, városok) és turisztikai
UK. Great Britain is surrounded by the Atlantic-ocean. The highest nevezetességek
mountains are in Scotland and Wales: Ben Nevis and Snowdon. The
- néhány történelmi esemény
south coast has a mild and sunny climate which makes it popular with
both holiday-makers and the elderly. The east coast is flat and it is - ismertebb ünnepek, szokások
dominated by agriculture.
- a mindennapok kultúrája (étkezés,
England occupies about 244,100 square kilometres area. Its közlekedés, a társas érintkezés formái)
population is 57 million and currency is Pound Sterling (£, font). The
capital is London and the spoken languages are English and Welsh. - kulturális értékek
• Britain has a two-party system of the Labour and the
Conservative Party. The governmental model that has been operating in Britain since 1688 is called
Constitutional Monarchy. This means that it has a monarch (king, queen) as the Head of State. The monarch
has very little power and can only reign with the support of Parliament. Parliament consists of two houses: the
House of Commons and the House of Lords. There were several well-known prime minister in the UK.
Margaret Thatcher was the first woman Prime Minister. John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown is the current
one. Queen Elizabeth II. has been reigning in the country for more than 50 years. Her son, Charles is going to
succeed her. In 1990 John Major was elected as PM, he had a very successful European policy and adopted a
more compromising attitude.
British people watch a lot of television and also said to be the world’s most dedicated home-video
users. This doesn’t mean that they’ve given up reading. In Britain more papers are sold than in any other
country in the world. Some of these people have the reputation of being shy and reserved with strangers. But
others are extroverts and talk to anybody. British people don’t like answering personal questions about their
private lives. You must never ask them how mush money they earn, or how old they are. Everybody knows that
all Englishmen wear bowler hats, pinstripe suits and carry umbrellas; Scotsmen are mean, hate spending
money and drink whisky all day long; Welshmen do nothing play rugby and sing (and some British people tell
jokes about Irish). Interestingly enough, the English drive on the left. Tourists must be very careful if they want
to drive and walk in England. It is difficult to get used to their traffic. What’s more, the steering wheel of their
cars is on the right side.
(Several peoples tried to invade England and its other territories. Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings all
endeavored to conquer all the country. A Norman man, William the Conqueror was the first king to be crowned in 1066.
In 1666 there was a fire which destroyed more than half the city of London including the old St. Paul’s Cathedral.)

Regions
Scotland
There are three large geographical areas in Scotland: the Highlands, the Lowlands and the Islands, 5 million
people live in Scotland. Edinburgh is the capital; Glasgow is the chief industrial and commercial city. Places to
visit:
- The Edinburgh Festival – for music and drama
- Loch Ness – to catch a glimpse of the monster?
England
- Hadrian’s Wall – named after the Roman Emperor Hadrian – was completed in the 2nd century. It is
huge fortification all along the Scottish border.
- The Lake District – an area of mountains and lakes which looks larger than it really is. It has dramatic,
romantic scenery.
- Stratford-on-Avon – the birthplace and burial place of William Shakespeare. The Royal Shakespeare
Company plays here at the Festival Theatre as well as in London.
- Stonehenge (it is made of stones, the great circle of standing stones is believed to have had some
religious or astronomical purpose)
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 - Windsor – the town on the River Thames. Its castle is a royal residence.
- Eton – close to Windsor. The famous public school here was founded in 1440.
- Canterbury – the cathedral and the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the religious head
of the Church of England.
- Oxford and Cambridge – the famous (and the oldest) university towns in Britain.
The Sights of London
- The Tower of London (an ancient fortress; to play an important part in British history; to serve as a
palace and a prison; to be a museum; crown jewels; to be guarded by beefeaters), raven (holló)
- Buckingham Palace (residence of the queen; changing of the guard at 11:30)
- Westminster Abbey (to contain tombs and monuments of famous Britons; to be the scene of coronations
and royal weddings)
- Houses of Parliament (to have parliamentary sessions; a flag on Victoria Tower; Clock Tower – Big
Ben), House of Lords, House of Commons
- ST. Paul’s Cathedral (second largest dome in the world; built by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th
century)
- Trafalgar Square (heart of London; fountains and pigeons; Nelson’s Column (Nelson was an admiral,
who defeated Napoleon’s troops in a battle at Waterloo ; The National Gallery)
- The Monument (to commemorate the Great Fire of London in 1666)
- Downing Street No. 10. (residence of the Prime Minister; Gordon Brown, to be guarded all day)
- Famous bridges: Westminster Bridge, Tower Bridge
- Famous museums: The British Museum, The New London Museum, Tate Gallery, Victoria and Albert
Museum
- Madame Tussaud’s Waxworks (in Baker Street, famous people, politicians, actors… in waxwork)
Wales
The capital is Cardiff. There are 2.9 million inhabitants in Wales. The highest number live in the industrial
areas of South Wales. There is a Welsh language. Welsh folklore and language strengthen each other. Every
year a national festival of traditional poetry and music is held. It’s called the “Eisteddfod”.
Northern Ireland
The country’s capital is Belfast. It is a land of lakes, rivers and a varied sea coast. It is a great place for outdoor
sports and for tourism – when times are peaceful. Above all, the Northern Irish people are friendly and
generous.
• The most well-known festivals in England
th
14 February: It's St Valentine's Day; many people send a card to the one they love or someone whom they
have fallen in love with. People usually do not sign these cards and a lot of time is spent trying to guess who
has sent them.
31st October: Hallowe'en means 'holy evening' and takes place on 31st October. Although it is a much more
important festival in the United States than Britain, it is celebrated by many people in the UK. It is particularly
connected with witches and ghosts. At parties people dress up in strange costumes and pretend they are witches.
They cut horrible faces in potatoes and other vegetables and put a candle inside, which shines through the eyes.
People may play difficult games such as trying to eat an apple from a bucket of water without using their hands.
In recent years children dressed in white sheets knock on doors at Hallowe'en and ask if you would like a 'trick'
or 'treat' (csokit vagy csalunk). If you give them something nice, a 'treat', they go away. However, if you don't
they play a 'trick' on you, such as making a lot of noise or spilling flour on your front doorstep.
5th November (Guy Fawkes Day): In 1605 King James I was on the throne. As a Protestant, he was very
unpopular with Roman Catholics. Some of them planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5th November
of that year, when the King was going to open Parliament. Under the House of Lords they had stored thirty six
barrels of gun powder, which were to be exploded by a man called Guy Fawkes. However one of the plotters
spoke about these plans and Fawkes was discovered, arrested and later hanged. Since that day the British
traditionally celebrate 5th November by burning a dummy, made of straw and old clothes, on a bonfire, whilst at
the same time letting off fireworks. This dummy is called a 'guy' and children can often be seen on the
pavements before 5th November saying, 'Penny for the guy'. If they collect enough money they can buy some
fireworks.
(Blow up - explode; Carol - a Christmas hymn; Dummy - an object made to look like a real person; Hanged -killed by
hanging from a rope tied round the neck; Public holiday - a day when nobody goes to work; Witch - a woman who uses magic)
- 40 -
 Shopping

When we do our daily shopping we have a lot of choice where to go. We can go to a supermarket or to a
small shop. In a supermarket you can get almost everything under one roof. Supermarkets are self-service shops,
which are very popular because you can see many different varieties of the available articles and you make your
choice as you please. You don’t have to walk from shop to shop till you can get everything. Another advantage
of supermarkets is that they have lower prices than small shops. Sometimes they cut the price of certain goods so
that people will come to them. On the other side, people who are in favour of small shops argue that their needs
are much better looked after in a small shop and that the assistants are more polite and attentive when serving
them. When you are a regular customer in a small shop, the assistants know you and you are served very
politely. When I go into a shop I choose a plastic or wire basket or a wire trolley if I want to buy a lot. Then I
walk from shelf to shelf and fill my basket with the things I need. In a supermarket there are a lot of counters:
Fruit and vegetable counter: apples, oranges, bananas, pears, pineapples, pruned fruits like figs and dates,
peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, mushrooms, onions etc.
Confectionery: all sorts of sweets, chocolate bars, cakes, biscuits, boxes of chocolates
Bakery counter: white wheat and brown rye bread, rolls, croissants, buns etc
Wine counter: dry and sweet wines, champagnes etc.
Dry groceries: flour, cereals, tea, spices, sugar (lump, castor, granulated or brown), noodles
Dairy counter: butter, margarine, cheese, full-fat or skimmed milk, sour cream, fruit yoghurts
Deep-freeze counter: frozen meat, vegetables
After finishing shopping I go to the cash desk, where there is often a long queue. When it is my turn, the
cashier adds up the bill on the cash register and gives me the receipt. I pay then put the small change into my
purse. Then I pack the things I have bought into a shopping bag and leave the shop.
Some housewives like going to the market because the choice of fresh fruit and vegetables is much wider there
than in any shops. At the stands private farmers sell their own home-grown products as well as free-range eggs,
hens and ducks.
There are a lot of specialist shops as well: baker’s, butcher’s, fruiterer’s, greengrocer’s, fishmonger’s,
jeweller’s, sports shops, haberdasher’s, stationer’s, second-hand bookshop, pet shop, newsagent’s, chemist’s,
shoeshop.
In a department store you can find almost everything in one place. There are a lot of departments where
you can buy what you want. The departments are the following: jewellery, haberdashery, toys, perfumery,
household goods, crockery, ready-made clothes for men and women, electrical appliances, drapery and textiles,
sports goods, shoes, lingerie, confectionery, china, glass and giftware etc. At times the big department stores
hold bargain sales and sell articles at reduced prices.
If an article costs more than you can afford, you buy it on higher- purchase. A majority of shops offer
credit buying. This means that you pay a cash deposit on the price of the article and pay the balance off in
instalments over an agreed period of time. The buyer signs a written agreement with the finance company which
lends him the money at an agreed rate of interest. He is also asked to find someone to act as guarantor for the
loan.
Sportmen’s lifes
Obviously they own less free time than an ordinary working man. Professional sportsmen
usually have to participate two trainings a day in the morning and in the hours of early-
evening. Between the two dates some people need to go to work in order to complete their
little income. Moreover, most of their weekends are occupied since many matches are played
at the end of the week.
To be a real good and well-qualified sportman attending trainings and sportcamps are really
necessary from childhood. In this way these children and youngsters omit quite large number
of course in the school while they are in training or matches. It generally said that a sportman
is a dud and has bad marks in the school. Anyway in the most cases this public opinion is
right as these youngsters don’t make too much effort to make up the arrears.
As for the qualities which a sportman should possess with includes everything that help in
teamwork, determination and good qualification. So, they need talent, cooperative skills,
persistence and regard for sport.
As we know professionals have an income from sport but it can be either enough to get by or
not enough to lead a normal life. Of course, in the developed countries players in second or
third class earn the same amount of money (even bigger) than Hungarian sportsmen in the
first class.
Nowadays courses are started especially for ex-sportsmen who need a kind of qualification in
other area of the life after the trainings and matches. They often choose a sort of job on the
sport’s world such as trainer, manager or commentator. In some cases, sportsmen participate
in university education and get their degree during their sport career, so they will possibly
work in that site of work.
 Sports

I am interested in sport. I think that some of the secrets of healthy living are fresh air and plenty of
exercise. Taking part in sport is so much enjoyment. Sport helps you to keep fit, preserve your health
or even to develop your will-power.
We have a lot of opportunities to pursue sports, you just have to be determined and find time for it.
You can play ball games such as football, handball, volley-ball or basketball. You can go running or
jogging. You can do athletics. It includes all kinds of track and field events. The track events are
running in different distances, hurdles and steeple chase; the field events comprise hammer, discus and
javelin throwing as well as jumping like pole vaulting, high jumping, long jumping and hop-skip-and-
jump. The basic winter sports are skiing, including ski-jumping, slalom racing, downhill and cross-
country skiing, skating and bob sleighing. I also like watching figure skating and ice dancing on TV.
Aquatic sports include all sports done in or on water. Water-polo, high-diving, diving, swimming,
rowing, sailing, wind-surfing and water-skiing are all aquatic sports. Fortunately we have got many
good swimmers in Hungary. There are different strokes in swimming, for example breaststroke,
butterfly stroke, crawl stroke and backstroke. Hungarian competitors are also very good at other sports
such as rowing, fencing, water-polo, pentathlon and handball.
We have three P.E. lessons a week. Our school has three gyms but two of them are too small.
Fortunately, our school is being done up at the moment so it will have better facilities to do sports next
year. It also has two sports grounds, one for football and the other for volley-ball. In our gyms there
are wall bars on the walls and climbing ropes hanging down from the ceiling. There are facilities for
gymnastics, for example a pair of uneven parallel bars, a vaulting horse, a pommel horse, a beam and a
number of floor mats. It is pleasing to move your muscles after sitting for long hours at the school
desk and going numb. We usually play ball games or do some gymnastics in the gym. At the
beginning of the lessons we always do some warming-up exercises. When it is nice, we play outdoor
games or run on the tracks around the football field.
The most typical English national sports are cricket (which is played with a ball, but is otherwise
incomprehensible), rugby, soccer, golf (in which you try to knock a ball into a hall), tennis (in which
you try to hit a ball so that your opponent cannot hit it) and perhaps darts. Many other sports are also
played in Britain, including croquet, in which you try to knock a ball through some hoops and
basketball, in which you try to get a ball through a net
The sport itself
Doing a sport should belong to our everyday routine. As we usually don’t move much during
the day we need some activity that keeps our body fit and healthy and the first step is to
getting more active is simply making the decision to take up a new hobby that will change our
life.
We all know that regularly doing a sport has a multitude benefits ranging from mind
refreshing to the reduction of stress level. It has a good impact on our healthy including
prevention from diseases, like heart disease or high blood pressure, reduction of the risk of
diabetes and weight loss. Moreover sports can teach children teamwork and give them a sense
of pride and accomplishment. At the same time, they can teach children accept losing as part
of competition, so they are not constantly hurt by it. Learning to lose is part of learning to
win. Besides team sports improve team spirit and cooperational skills and sports allow
children to assume leadership roles, handle conflict and manage their time.
In Hungary most of the people do not do any sports at all. They keep sitting in front of the TV
and find only excuses why not start to pursue some physical activity; people say they don’t
have enough time to get active.
To make the population more conscious about the importance of sporty lifestyle, the media
has started to circulate vast information about what to do to reach a high level of quality life:
they raise parents’ and children’s awarness what foods they should avoid consuming or how
dangerous it is to neglect our health.
 Going out, theatres, cinemas and films

I love going to the theatre. This year I have a season ticket so I can see some good performances. I like
tragedies, comedies, operas, historical plays, ballets or musicals. When I last went to the theatre I saw a splendid
play, …….. The plot of the play was really interesting. It held the attention of the audience from the beginning to
the end. The cast was marvellous and everyone was impressed by the fine acting. The main characters were
superb. They were applauded and called back by the audience several times. When the curtain fell and the lights
went up the theatre echoed with stormy applause. Curtain call followed curtain call.
There are many people working on staging a play. After the script of the play has been written by the
playwright or the play to be put on has been chosen, the director chooses his cast and begins to rehearse the
scenes. The make-up artist puts make-up on the actors’ faces, the set designer designs the scenery on the stage
and special workshops get busy preparing the sets. The property department supplies the furnishings and when
the costume designer has designed the clothes the dress department makes the costumes. The stage manager
looks after everything on the stage during the performance. When everything is ready and the rehearsals go off
without a hitch a dress rehearsal is called. This is the final rehearsal before the first night and all the actors and
actresses are dressed in their costumes.
I can buy the theatre tickets at the booking-office. I like to sit in the boxes because they are quite near
the stage and they are by far the most comfortable. People can sit in the stalls, which are the seats on the ground
floor. Over the boxes is the dress circle, then follow the balconies and finally the gallery.
As you enter the theatre there is usually a big foyer, where people can meet before the performance. The
two main parts of a theatre are the stage and the auditorium. The hall is usually separated from the stage by the
orchestra pit. At the sides of the stage are the wings. A curtain, when lowered, covers the stage and during the
performance footlights or toplights illuminate the stage. In a big theatre there are several cloakrooms where you
can leave your hats and coats. You can either hire or buy operaglasses from the cloakroom attendants. Then you
show your ticket to the usherette, who will offer you a programme and lead you down the aisle to your row and
seat. When people have found their seats, they usually start leafing through the programme booklet from which
they learn about the cast, the director, about the approximate plot of the play and perhaps the programme of the
theatre for that season. Right before the performance the orchestra begins tuning up, if an orchestra is needed for
the play at all. Then the lights go out, the curtain rises and the play begins. A play usually consists of at least two
acts, but sometimes there are three acts with two intervals in between them. During the interval you can go to the
refreshment room where you can discuss the play over a nice drink. There is usually an exhibition in the foyer,
which you can see before the bell rings for the next act.
I suppose the most frequently played dramatist is Shakespeare and he is very popular in most countries.
His most popular plays are the following: Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, The
Merchant of Venice, As You Like It, The Taming of the Shrew, Anthonius and Cleopatra, Richard III, etc.. The
plays of G. B. Shaw are also well-known and popular in Hungary. His plays are Pygmalion and Saint Joan on
Hungarian stages. The most popular American dramatists are perhaps Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams.
At the theatre we can see a drama (tragedy or comedy), an opera, an operetta, a musical, a ballet, a
variety show, a concert, a matinee performance or even a puppet show. In an opera we call actors and actresses
singers because they sing arias or sing in chorus but they never speak. There are always understudies in order to
be able to take a singer’s place at short notice if necessary. An opera always begins with an overture and the
orchestra plays a very important part throughout the performance.
Cinemas do not have live performances, but the films are projected on the screens. The usual cinema
show consists of a feature film preceded by a newsreel, lots of commercials and perhaps some short films like a
popular science film, a travelogue, a documentary or an animated cartoon for example as well as a trailer from
the next film on the programme. The main film is usually cinemascope and dubbed. I don’t like films with sub-
titles. It spoils the view and distracts my attention. In fact dubbing is done so well in Hungary that even when
you watch the close-ups you get the impression that they are speaking Hungarian. An undubbed film is very
good for language learning, though. And if you master the given language you can even enjoy the films without
looking at the subtitles. Nowadays there are a lot of multiplex cinemas where there are many halls playing
different films.
 Titanic

Titanic is a 1997 American romance film directed, written, co-produced and co-
edited by James Cameron based on the sinking of the RMS Titanic. It stars
Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson and Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater,
two members of different social classes who fall in love aboard the ill-fated
maiden voyage of the ship. The main characters and the central love story are
fictional, but some characters (such as members of the ship's passengers and
crew) are based on real historical figures. Gloria Stuart plays the elderly Rose,
who narrates the film in a modern day framing device.

Production of the film began in 1995, when Cameron shot footage of the real
wreck of the RMS Titanic. He envisioned the love story as a means to engage
the audience with the real-life tragedy.

Cameron also used scale models and computer-generated imagery to recreate the
sinking. Titanic became at the time the most expensive film ever made, costing
approximately US$200 million with funding from Paramount Pictures and 20th
Century Fox.

Upon release, the film turned out to be an enormous critical and commercial
success, winning eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It became the
highest-grossing film of all time, with a worldwide total of over $1.8 billion.
However,it's also a tremendous achievement for it's director James Cameron.
Mixing a real disaster with romance is harder to do than some might think.
Maybe he did have a right to say "I'm king of the world" when the film won
Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars. Besides, it picked up other 9
awards and 3 nominating.
 Travelling

Rail travel is not terribly expensive and it is an excellent way to get to see the countryside. The trains
are usually punctual and cheap fare is offered to pensioners, students and to those working in the public services.
Some people choose the railway because in a train they always have enough space to move about and they can
be relaxed on a train as opposed to a car where they have to attend to the road while driving. On the other side
you have to be very time-conscious throughout the whole journey so as not to miss your trains or connections. A
train consists of a diesel or electric locomotive and several carriages or cars including either or a dining car or a
buffet car. On a train you can sit in a first-class or a second-class carriage and you can also choose between a
non-smoking or a smoking compartment. In each compartment there are luggage racks over the seats where you
can put your suitcases. When I travel by train I like to sit facing the engine rather than back to the engine. During
the journey an inspector comes to clip every passenger’s ticket.
Air travel is definitely the quickest way of transport. It is definitely for those who are not afraid of
flying. Those who are nervous fliers think that it is tiring and exhausting. There are some people who get airsick
when the journey is especially rough. Before boarding the plane the passengers must register at the check-in
counter. While checking in your luggage is weighed. After the weigh-in you get a boarding pass which indicates
the flight number, the destination, the class (comfort or tourist) and the seat number. After the officer has
checked your passport you go to the departure lounge where you usually have to wait for some time before your
plane is due to take off. You will possibly find a duty-free shop there where you can kill the time until
departure. The goods in such shops are always cheaper than their regular price. It is wise to check the flight list
on the TV screens to see if your flight is going to be delayed or not. Departures, calls for flights, delays,
cancellations or changes are also announced over loudspeakers. When your flight is announced you go to the
right gate and boarding begins. Stewardesses and stewards greet you on board the plane. You show your
boarding card to them and take your seat. They help everyone to put the hand-luggage into the luggage-
compartment and to fasten the safety belts. When the plane has reached the right altitude the captain welcomes
the passengers. In a short time the air hostess comes and serves the passengers light food and refreshments. After
the plane has landed the passengers begin to alight. They go through the passport control and if they have
nothing to declare they choose the green route.
In Hungary you can take one of the passenger boats which ply our big rivers or the ferries that cross
them regularly. From May to September there is a daily boat service on the Danube between Budapest and
Vienna.
Hungary has quite an extensive inter-city coach network reaching into all parts of the country. The
vehicles are comfortable and reasonably rapid.
Nowadays everyone is crazy about travelling. People love moving around, they travel both inland and
abroad. People often travel on business, for pleasure, for relaxation or even for education or for their health.
 Television and radio

I don’t watch TV regularly. I am not really interested in the programmes. They repeat what
has already been broadcast before. There are a lot of soap operas and telephone quizzes in the
afternoons. However, sometimes I like watching TV because it brings the world into your home and
keeps you informed about what is happening around you.
I can get a lot of channels on TV. There are the two national channels, the commercial
channels, the local television programmes and the satellite channels. I really enjoy the sports and
music broadcasts etc. The satellite programmes are very good for language learning. You can listen to
the announcers’ nice pronunciation and train your ears to understand what they are saying. When I
watch TV, I am interested in historical films, documentaries, travelogues and films about nature and
animal life, detective stories. Now it is very comfortable to choose from the different channels. You
can switch on the teletext channel and read the latest news as well as the TV programmes for the day.
Sometimes I also watch video films.
Some people grumble about TV and blame it for their children’s negligence and their own
laziness. It is true that because of TV a lot of people do not go out and sit at home. They have become
coach potatoes who sit down in a comfortable armchair in front of the TV-set when they come home
from work/school and won’t get up until late at night. They prefer staying at home as they don’t need
to dress up. It is also much cheaper than going out.
There are four national channels in Britain: BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV and Channel 4. There is no
great difference between BBC 1 and ITV but programmes on BBC 2 tend to be of a more intellectual
and cultural nature.
I also like listening to the radio but I prefer the telly. It is more spectacular therefore more
enjoyable, but, when I am busy, I often prefer the radio to TV. I begin the day by switching on the
radio to listen to the time-signal, which is of great help when I am in a hurry, the news broadcast and
the weather forecast. Sometimes radio is just a background noise for me. I usually listen to music
programmes on the radio.
The first two national radio stations have mixed programmes while Radio Bartók has mainly
music programmes consisting of classical music and live broadcasts of concerts. Radio Petőfi also has
a lot of music programmes, but the music here is mainly light: pop, rock, jazz etc. Perhaps Radio
Kossuth has the most varied and serious programmes. It transmits running commentaries, radio plays,
political and economic programmes, lectures, press reviews, telecasts from theatres, news summaries
every hour and even bedside stories for children. Besides the three national channels there a lot of
commercial channels.
A radio has four basic knobs: marked tone control, tuner, waveband control and volume
control. You use the volume control to turn the radio up and down, the waveband control to switch
from short-wave to long-wave, for example, a tuner to find the right frequency and a tone control to
get clearer reception.
 Types of restaurants

Elegant restaurants have already existed for a couple of centuries, while fast food
restaurants began to spread just in the 21st century. This kind of restaurant
represents the modern lifestyle and quickly conquered the world. The first fast food
restaurant in Hungary is the member of the McDonald’s franchise system, which is
similar to Burger King or KFC.
The main difference between a fast food restaurant and a more elegant, traditional
restaurant is the way of the serving. Guests have two possibilities; either order their
meals and consume them at the table after the plates have been prepared, or they
can grab a hamburger and eat it. Fast food restaurants are by far the fastest servers
and this is the reason they how they got their names. Other noticeable difference is
the atmosphere we can enjoy. In a traditional restaurant the tables aren’t placed so
thickly than in a fast food restaurant here, the air is filled with oil smell and loud
voices. The life in these restaurants also represents the modern life, like the foods
which are obtainable there.

The food choice and the method of payment also differ in both of cases. In a
traditional restaurant customers can order anything from the category of soup to
dessert and usually the list of beverages is also wide. Here, we ask for the bill from
the waiter after finishing our meal. In a fast food restaurant the types of foods aren’t
so varied, usually hamburgers and French fries are on offer. The payment happens
immediately after the order and this whole process takes app. 5 min.

Fast food restaurants are criticized by nutritionists since junk food we can eat there
is harmful to people’s health. Although, these strivings are in progress, the
popularity of fast food restaurants doesn’t decrease.
 Denice

Venice is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world which is famous
for the cooing honeymooners. Venice is surrounded by sea, namely the Adriatic Sea, that’s
why Venice is called to the’ City of water’. This place is also known as the City of bridges
thanks to the world-famous bridges which enable the people to move on the ground without
getting on a boat. The city centre is crushed with tourists and not with citizens since only
hardly more than 60 thousands people live in the historical centre of Venice.

Venice is a typical Italian town because of the narrow street, the cluttered old houses
and the stylish café and intimate restaurants in every corner. However, it is worthy to be
considered which restaurant we choose, because the prices might be surprisingly high.
As for the landmark in Venice, an extremely long list can be made about the famous
buildings, bridges, museums which make Venice a memorable city. Namely, the continually
crowded Saint Mark square and its continuance, the Piazetta. The Canal Grande is the main
transport route of the city. It is 3 kilometres long and 4-5 metres deep in average.
Furthermore, over 100 palaces and temples align on the two side of the canal.
The visitors cannot be bored here because there is always something to do thanks to the
numerous facilities. Venice is ideal for the fashion-loving tourists with full wallets; there is an
ample choice in exclusive and extremely expensive boutiques’. The tourists don’t have to
worry about the place of the lunch, since there is a takeaway in every corner with smelling
and appetizing food. The most famous method f the sightseeing in Venice happens with
gondola. It has a high price and maybe it starts loosing its particularity but it is worth taking
part in a ride.
Unfortunately there are two steady danger sources in Venice today, the siltation and the
aqua alta (high water) In 1996 the Saint Mark square and the lower parts of Venice were
flooded by the sea over 100 times.

Due to the fact that Venice already belongs to the UNESCO, there is a larger chance to
find out the method with which the sinking can be stopped. This unique place has to remain
on the earth!
 Weather and clothing

Hungary is in the temperate zone and has a continental climate. The weather is quite easily predictable
and there are big differences between the weather in the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
My favourite season is spring. After the long cold, wet and foggy days it is warm again. Nature also
awakens from its sleep and the trees and bushes are full of blossom. It smells of flowers everywhere. The nicest
spring flowers are snowdrops, violets, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, primroses and daisies. This is also the time for
fruit trees to come out in buds and bloom. If the weather is nice I go on trips or just go walking in spring. It is so
pleasing to enjoy the first warm sunshine of the year. In spite of the sunny hours the weather is not exactly
settled in spring. It is in fact quite capricious, especially in April. There can be heavy rainstorms or scattered
showers.
In summer it can be really hot. There is often a heat wave in July. The sun burns for days on end and
there is scarcely a breath of air. Sometimes it is so hot that people walking in the streets have to find shelter in
the shade of big trees to avoid getting sunstroke. We all get as brown as berries. But a hot spell is either followed
by quick showers or steady rains lasting for a few days. Before a shower the sun hides behind the clouds. When
the sky is completely overcast you know that the rain is not far off. Then suddenly lightning and thunder begin.
Lightning is quite dangerous and it may strike big trees or even houses. If it is a passing shower then right after it
a rainbow appears in the sky. Sometimes it pours down with rain and you can easily get soaked to the skin.
Wheat is harvested in the middle of summer and there are lots of fruits that are ripened by the hot sun during the
summer days. These are cherries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants and sour cherries etc. Most people take their
holidays in summer and go to a lake, to the mountains or to the seaside abroad and enjoy the nice weather. In
summer you just put on a light dress with a low-cut neck or a T-shirt with shorts or breeches and a pair of low
shoes or sandals. On the beach women wear a bathing suit or a bikini. Men wear swimming trunks.
In autumn the weather is colder. The rainiest season is definitely autumn. All kinds of precipitation may
occur during the autumn months from drizzles and rains through mist, fog, hoar frost and sleet to snow. It is
advisable to carry an umbrella with you all the time. In autumn the leaves of trees slowly become coloured, you
can see yellowish, brownish and reddish ones. The beginning of autumn is called an Indian summer if the
weather is still warm. There is still plenty of sunshine and usually it is just like summer. We say that autumn is a
rich season because the trees are full of fruits like apples, pears, plums, nuts, almonds etc. and most of the
vegetables are harvested at the beginning of autumn too. In Hungary the grape harvest, that is vintage, is a great
feast. Friends and relatives come together to pick the graves from the vines, to press them, pour the grape juice
into wine-casks and let it ferment for a while.
When winter is here, the temperature falls below zero. Then snow falls down from big, grey clouds.
There are blizzards and stormy winds shake the trees and windows. There are usually hard frosts in January. I
often feel cold in such weather. I shiver with cold and I am half frozen when I go to school. In winter you must
be careful not to catch cold. You must wear warm clothes and dress in layers. In cold weather people wear thick,
knitted hats and gloves, warm scarves and polo-necked sweaters, trousers, winter boots and thick fur-lined
overcoats. Winter weather often paralyses traffic on the roads. They are slippery because of the ice covering
them and there are a lot of accidents. People often say about bad weather that it gets them down. When the sky is
overcast a lot of people become depressed and low-spirited.
England has a maritime climate, which means that the weather is very wet and rainy there. It is usually
very changeable and it is difficult to forecast with certainty even for a day. It is damp and not too cold at
virtually all times of the year. Possibly because it is so unpredictable, English people are always prepared to
discuss the weather.
 A wedding ceremony in Hungary

People usually get married in spring or summer when the weather is

warm and pleasant. The fiancé and fiancée bring their invitation 1
month before the wedding. It is another custom for the young couple:
they go and make invitation personally if they really want you to go to
their wedding. It is the right time when relatives ask them about their
plans for the future or what they hope to get as a present. The friends
or the family ask about the date and time, the dresses and the presents
as well. The guests usually offer their help before the wedding, baking
cakes or cooking, decorating the church or the house. Some people go
to restaurant others like to stay at home and prepare everything
themselves. The present is often determined by the couple, it’s
frequently something useful in the kitchen or other household
equipment. This present is can be given in a party which is held before
the wedding or exactly on the Big Day.
People visit their hairdresser's and they ask some mascara to ensure
their elegance. Photos are usually made to be a nice memory of this
day. The photographer takes many photos inside and some outside in
the park among colourful flowers.
In Hungary the typical wearing is a wonderful long white dress often
without sleeves, adding a very nice necklace with earrings as well.
The groom is very elegant too. He wears noir or white suit with white
shirt and tie. In our country the fiance wears a white dress because
white is the colour of truth. She has got a nice bunch of flowers which
is given her by the groom.
The official wedding ceremony is in the church and´or at the council.
Everybody congratulates them after the ceremony. The guests and
relatives go to a party then. It is usually dinner-time. There is a band
which plays after dinner and everybody goes to dance. The highlight
of the dinner is the huge tart. It is cut and served for the guests by
groom and the bride. Midnight is a very important point of time in a
wedding party. Some of the groom's friend try to "steal" the new wife
but he must be very careful and hinder it. There's a bridesman during
the wedding who organizes all these entertaining parts. He is the
person who wants to "sell" the bride at midnight. Everybody who
gives some money to the bridesman can dance with the bride until the
groom dances and takes her away. When they return after a while the
new wife wears new dress, red mostly and they dance till morning.
The guests can eat all the time if they want and have a fun.
 Youngsters eating habits

What we eat determines how we live; depending on our diet we can

gain anything from glowing skin to the all-round feeling of good
health. Our eating habits are of a particular importance for children,
who have high nutritional needs for growth and development. Many
aspects of child health are directly impacted by nutrition. Making poor
food choices or not having healthy food choices obtainable, combined
with inactivity, can lead to overweight and obesity in case of children.

It is generally true worldwide, mainly in the developed countries that

the majority of children prefer junk food to rich gourmet dishes.
In the past 20 years, the number of obese children in Canada has
doubled. As for the European continent, French youngsters are
believed that their slim figure won’t be admired anymore, thanks to
their modern diet. Since this new lifestyle is represented on TV, the
modern view of nutrition is spreading quickly, namely we had better
to grab some fast food and not to sit at the table while we finish the
meal calmly. The main problem is the high quantity of saturated fat
which can be found in junk food, moreover this kind of nutrition is
less satisfying and lower in vital nutrients.

Poor nutrition in childhood also has a negative impact on cognitive

development and school performance, it increases the potential for
infection and irritability and results in a low energy level. Children
who miss meals, or who do not have enough dietary intake, show
decreased readiness to learn and to have normal cognitive functioning.
Besides, speed and accuracy of information retrieval is also affected,
like the work of memory, verbal fluency, attention span, and
behaviour in general.
Apart from malfunction, another alarming fact that contributes to
youngsters’ healthy problems, is the loss of traditional mealtime.
Sitting down as a family at the dinner table appears to play an
important role in promoting healthful eating among adolescents,
according to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic
Association.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota have found that
children ages 11 to 18 who eat meals with their family consume
higher amounts of fruits, vegetables, grains and nutrient-dense foods
than those who eat separately. Additionally, adolescents who
consumed at least seven family meals per week have lower intakes of
snack foods than those who ate fewer family meals.

The School Health Study which is a study that looked at children in

grades 4-8 have showed that less than half of the students were
drinking milk at least twice a day and one-third do not drink milk
daily. Other findings of the study are similar,with low milk, and fruit
and vegetable consumption, and excessive quantity of high-fat snacks.

Possibilities to improve the present situation.

1) To increase nutrition education and promote healthy eating to
students, parents, teachers and all those who have an impact on how
children eat.
2) To increase access to safe and healthy foods in all types of
environments where children gather.
3) To conduct research which increases our understanding of how
children and youth are currently eating, factors influencing eating
habits and how we can best improve their current eating
Terrorism

There are some useful words that you should know, before we start discussing the
terrorism-related questions.

intimidate – megfélemlít
assassination – merénylet
biological warfare – biológiai hadviselés
intelligence agency – titkosszolgálat, hírszerzés
strike – lecsap (valahol)
eradicate – kiírt
file – akta
hijack – eltérít (repülőgépet)

And now, some questions related to the topic.

Question: What is terrorism?

Answer: the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political
purposes.

coerce: synonym of force (kényszerít) and it also means oppress (elnyom)

Question: Do you think terrorism has become an integral part of our world?

Answer: Unfortunately terrorism today has became an integral part of our lives. Is this likely
to change anytime soon? I don't see this threat going away. You can look at the volume of
attacks that occurred all over the globe. It's seems as if no country has been untouched
recently.

(Forrás: http://en.gpf-yaroslavl.ru/viewpoint/Fred-Burton-Direct-and-clear-threat)

integral part: essential to completeness (szerves része)

Question: How can you fight terrorism?

Ide jöhetnek ilyen kifejezések, hogy:

intelligence agency
bug – poloska (be bugged-bepoloskázva lenni)
tracer – nyomkövető
spy satellite – kémműhold
national security – nemzetbiztonság
run a photo in - lefuttat valahol egy képet (valamilyen rendszerben)
iris scan – retina scannelés
body scanner – testátvilágító készülék (repülőgépes ellenőrzésnél)
Question: Is there a chance that intelligence agencies are well-prepared to filter out
terrorists?

filter out – kiszűr

well-prepared – jól felkészült

Question: How real is the threat of bioterrorism?

Bioterrorism is terrorism by intentional release or dissemination of biological agents (toxin,

bacteria, viruses).

claim the life of – valaki életét követeli (The wars in 1914 and 1916 have claimed the lives of
million of people – az 1914-es és 1916-os háború milliók életét követelte)

civilian – civil
toxin- méreg
release – szabadon bocsát
cause – okoz, előidéz
spread through – terjed valamin keresztül (spread through air, water, in food)
bioweapon – biofegyver
method/ approach – módszer
infect – megfertőz
anthrax – lépfene
deliberately – szándékosan
vector – vírushordozó
host – gazdaszervezet