READING

A. Discuss.

Do you know of any unusual hobbies? Why do you think people do them?

B. Read the text below and say what strikes you as unusual about each of the four hobbies.

THE WORLD OF UNUSUAL HOBBIES

Welcome to Unusual Hobbies (UH), the website designed for those who find stamp
collecting to be a cliché, planking to be mindless, and pastimes such as knitting or soap
making not stimulating enough. Here are this week's suggestions:

THE CRYPTOZOOLOGIST CLUB (CC)

ABOUT US: We prove that animal species previously thought to be non-existent actually do
exist.

REACTION: Scientists ridicule us because they believe that cryptozoology is a pseudoscience,

however, we have made many discoveries. Don't forget that the mountain gorilla, the
colossal squid and the okapi were once believed to be non- existent.

EQUIPMENT: Night-vision goggles, maps and compasses. Proof is everything so make sure
you have a good camera and the very latest in audio-recording equipment. WHEN WE MEET:
For many years now, the CC has been holding weekly lectures and organizing annual trips all
over the world to search for creatures such as the Yeti in the Himalayas or Bigfoot in the
United States.

OUR LEADER'S STATEMENT: "If you have always loved monsters and chasing the great
unknown, then cryptozoology is for you."-Max Sturlington

GUERILLA GARDENERS (GG)

ABOUT US: More adventurous than your routine gardener, we secretly transform concrete
wastelands into garden landscapes.

REACTION: We have sometimes been criticized for trespassing on land that doesn't belong
to us, but most people like the way we turn the ugliest city areas into beautiful green
gardens.

EQUIPMENT: Seeds, watering cans, spades and other gardening tools.

WHEN WE MEET: The GG's group digs have been taking place twice a month for the last two
years.

OUR LEADER'S STATEMENT: "Every sidewalk crack is an opportunity to create an unexpected

oasis. Gemima Potter

GOSFORD BEACHFINDERS (GB)

ABOUT US: Few people know what detectorists are, but you've probably seen us with our
metal detectors searching for "treasure" on the beaches. At Gosford Beach, we've created
GB to ensure that there aren't too many detectorists bumping into each other.

REACTION: Curious vacationers don't have a clue what we're looking for, but they had better
make sure their rings or watches don't slip off while they're swimming because we're there
to collect what they drop.

EQUIPMENT: A hat, the highest protection sunscreen you can find and a metal detector with
big headphones.

WHEN WE MEET: Hopefully, rarely! After all, the more detectorists, the less money! Besides,
we value our privacy and do what we do in the utmost secrecy.

OUR LEADER'S STATEMENT: "Finders keepers, losers weepers!"- Timmy Haggison

GEOCACHERS INTERNATIONAL (GI)

ABOUT US: We aren't just the players of a global hide-and- seek game! We are the makers of
a fascinating trend!

REACTION: The game first began in 2000 to test GPS (Global Positioning System), a multi-
million dollar navigational satellite system. Since then, it has grown more and more popular
with hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide

EQUIPMENT: Upon membership to our site, you'll get a free user ID. Then, find the geocache
(a) waterproof container containing a logbook) that's nearest to your home, jot down its
location and use a GPS device to find it.

WHAT WE DO: Members receive details about the hundreds of thousands of geocaches
hidden in over 200 countries by visiting our website. The easiest geocache searches are as
near as one's local park, while the more challenging ones may require group work. Those
who find their geocache take a small souvenir but have to replace it with another for future
visitors to find. They can also share their stories with other geocachers online.
OUR LEADER'S STATEMENT: "The prizes are just plastic trinkets. It's the journey itself that's
the greatest reward." Ranger Moon (from Gl's Scream Team 3)

C. Read the statements below and decide which hobby group they apply to. Write CC for
The Cryptozoologist Club, GG for Guerilla Gardeners, GB for Gosford Beachfinders and Gl
for Geocachers International.

1. Natural History books probably had to be rewritten thanks to us. ……….

2. We were created to limit the number of people practicing this hobby. ……….

3. Members enjoy sharing their views with other members. ……….

4. Participating in this hobby requires accessing the Internet first. ……….

5. Our hobby was originally created to examine how something worked. ……….

6. Our job is to create things, not find them. ……….

7. We are not taken seriously by the scientific community. ……….

8. The end result of our work usually pleases people. ……….

9. We benefit from people's carelessness. ……….

10. You can take a small item if you put another in its place. ……….

D. Look at the highlighted words/phrases in the text and choose the correct meaning.

1. pseudoscience 4. value

a) a true science a) worry about

b) not really a science b) pay for
c) an amusing science c) appreciate

2. wasteland 5. jot down

a) land that shouldn't be wasted a) make a note of

b) land that is polluted b) search for
c) land that nothing grows on c) ask about

3. trespassing 6. trinket

a) entering without permission a) an inexpensive item

b) not using b) expensive jewelry
c) getting permission to use c) a useful gadget
E. Discuss.

Which of the hobby groups mentioned in the text would you be interested in joining? Why?

Vocabulary
Complete The Sentences With The Correct Form Of The Words In The Boxes.

criticize blame accuse

1. He_________________ her of stealing the ring.

2. Stop________________ me Don't you have anything good to say?

3. She________________ her brother for missing the ferry because he had left their tickets
at home.

share divide distribute

4. Do you want to ____________ a pizza?

5. Can you ______________ these flyers outside the station?

6. The school year is _____________ into two semesters.

reward prize medal

7. He won a silver _____________ at the last Olympics.

8. There is a $2,000______________ for anyone who gives information that will help the
police catch the criminal.

9. She won first__________ in the race.

competition game race

10. Do you want to play a computer _____________ after school?

11. They are holding a___________ best young scientist.

12. Who came in second place in the bike _________________?

leisure occupation pastime

13. Her favorite _____________ is playing volleyball.

14. He doesn't have much time for_______________ now that he has started a new job.

15. Now that he's not working. Grandpa's main_______________ is fixing things for friends.
fan spectator audience

16. The ____________ was great at last night's concert.

17. She's a Chicago Bulls ____________, like her brother.

18. There were 30,000, ______________ at the game.

B. Read the dialogue and then match the words in bold with their definitions.

A: What are you doing next weed?

B: I don't know. What's the date on Saturday?

A: I'll check my calendar. Saturday is the 15"

B: The 15th? That's the weekend of the annual fair in my hometown. Do you want to come?
It's great. There's music sports, competitions, food, beverages and jugglers.

A: Sounds good.

B: It should be this year as it's a decade since the fair first started. I was at the first one, too!

A: Wow! I can't believe it's been going on for ten years and I've never been there..

B: Then you should definitely come. Fall is the most beautiful season there. All the trees are
red and golden.

A: Susie was telling me they have other fairs there, too.

B: Yes, every four years they have a leap year festival at the end of February with local arts
and crafts and, of course, more food and music. You should come to the one next year! The
organizer died a year ago, but she would have been one century old next year, so it's going
to be a special festival to honor her. Her death marks the end of an era and the beginning of
a new one.

A: You mean she died when she was 98 and she could still organize a festival?

B: Well, she was very healthy until the end. She used to have weekly meetings with the
other volunteers and always insisted on everyone being punctual. If someone was late. she
would jokingly remind them of the time zone we are in. Ah, she will be missed!

1. a year with an extra day in February that happens every four years:_______________

2. when something happens every week:__________________________

3. one of 24 areas of the world which has its own time:______________________________

4. on time:____________________________
5. when something happens once a year:_______________________________

6. one hundred years:_______________________________

7. a chart showing days of the week and months of the year:__________________________

8. ten years:______________________________________

9. a period of time that is remembered for a particular reason:_______________________

10.one of four periods in the year that marks a change in weather:___________________

A. Complete with the words in the box. There are two extra words which you do not need
to use.

clue trinkets membership pastime tools gardener ring privacy prize focus

1. Jack bought Alice an expensive_______________________ for their anniversary.

2. Mark has a shelf in his house where he puts all the__________________he buys during
his trips abroad.

3. Can you be quiet? I'm trying to

4. My favorite tools gardener ring privacy prize focus on my report is reading books.

5. Unfortunately. I don't have the right,

6. I have three sisters, so I don't get much

7. Kelly doesn't have a to fix the engine in my house about how to download files from the
Internet.

8. What is the cost of a one-year at your gym?

L Complete with the correct form of the words in capitals.

1. The police finally found the

2. When Rita saw the snake, her first,

3. My younger brother spends his time watching

4. Doing crosswords is

5. The beach was filled with they were looking for.