Reading comprehension (2nd term)

Although nowadays the majority of people prefer to learn about the news from the Internet or TV, reading is still an important leisure activity in Britain and there is a very large number of books, newspapers and magazines devoted to a wide variety of subjects. The biggest-selling magazines in Britain (after TV guides which sell over 3 million copies a week) are women’s and pop music publications.

The best-selling books are not great works of literature but stories of mystery and romance which are sold in huge quantities (Agatha Christie’s novels, for example, have sold more than 300 million copies). It has been estimated that only about 3 per cent of the population read “classics” such as Charles Dickens or Jane Austin, whereas popular books sales can be enormous, particularly if the books are connected with TV shows or dramatizations.

• 1. People in Britain don't read nowadays because they prefer watching TV.

• Although nowadays the majority of people prefer to learn about the news from the Internet or TV, reading is still an important leisure activity in Britain and there is a very large number of books, newspapers and magazines devoted to a wide variety of subjects. The biggest-selling magazines in Britain (after TV guides which sell over 3 million copies a week) are women’s and pop music publications.

  The best-selling books are not great works of literature but stories of mystery and romance which are sold in huge quantities (Agatha Christie’s novels, for example, have sold more than 300 million copies). It has been estimated that only about 3 per cent of the population read “classics” such as Charles Dickens or Jane Austin, whereas popular books sales can be enormous, particularly if the books are connected with TV shows or dramatizations.

• 2. Women's and pop music publications are very popular in Britain.

Although nowadays the majority of people prefer to learn about the news from the Internet or TV, reading is still an important leisure activity in Britain and there is a very large number of books, newspapers and magazines devoted to a wide variety of subjects. The biggest-selling magazines in Britain (after TV guides which sell over 3 million copies a week) are women’s and pop music publications.

The best-selling books are not great works of literature but stories of mystery and romance which are sold in huge quantities (Agatha Christie’s novels, for example, have sold more than 300 million copies). It has been estimated that only about 3 per cent of the population read “classics” such as Charles Dickens or Jane Austin, whereas popular books sales can be enormous, particularly if the books are connected with TV shows or dramatizations.

• 3. Not many people buy TV guides.

Although nowadays the majority of people prefer to learn about the news from the Internet or TV, reading is still an important leisure activity in Britain and there is a very large number of books, newspapers and magazines devoted to a wide variety of subjects. The biggest-selling magazines in Britain (after TV guides which sell over 3 million copies a week) are women’s and pop music publications.

The best-selling books are not great works of literature but stories of mystery and romance which are sold in huge quantities (Agatha Christie’s novels, for example, have sold more than 300 million copies). It has been estimated that only about 3 per cent of the population read “classics” such as Charles Dickens or Jane Austin, whereas popular books sales can be enormous, particularly if the books are connected with TV shows or dramatizations.

4. Stories of mystery and romance are more popular than great works of literature.

Although nowadays the majority of people prefer to learn about the news from the Internet or TV, reading is still an important leisure activity in Britain and there is a very large number of books, newspapers and magazines devoted to a wide variety of subjects. The biggest-selling magazines in Britain (after TV guides which sell over 3 million copies a week) are women’s and pop music publications.

The best-selling books are not great works of literature but stories of mystery and romance which are sold in huge quantities (Agatha Christie’s novels, for example, have sold more than 300 million copies). It has been estimated that only about 3 per cent of the population read “classics” such as Charles Dickens or Jane Austin, whereas popular books sales can be enormous, particularly if the books are connected with TV shows or dramatizations.

• 5. Only a few people in Britain read classical literature.

Although nowadays the majority of people prefer to learn about the news from the Internet or TV, reading is still an important leisure activity in Britain and there is a very large number of books, newspapers and magazines devoted to a wide variety of subjects. The biggest-selling magazines in Britain (after TV guides which sell over 3 million copies a week) are women’s and pop music publications.

The best-selling books are not great works of literature but stories of mystery and romance which are sold in huge quantities (Agatha Christie’s novels, for example, have sold more than 300 million copies). It has been estimated that only about 3 per cent of the population read “classics” such as Charles Dickens or Jane Austin, whereas popular books sales can be enormous, particularly if the books are connected with TV shows or dramatizations.

• 6. Agatha Christie's novels are still popular in Britain.

Complete the dialogue with the replies from the box.

• - Well, Ann, do you like reading?

• - Yes, very much.                                          [It’s just terrific! I can’t put it down!, What book is that?, As a rule I read true-to-life stories., Actually, I have just started a new book, Well, what kind of book is that?, I can say reading is my hobby.]

• - What kind of books do you prefer?

• -                                          [It’s just terrific! I can’t put it down!, What book is that?, As a rule I read true-to-life stories., Actually, I have just started a new book, Well, what kind of book is that?, I can say reading is my hobby.]

• - Are you reading anything at the moment?

• -                                          [It’s just terrific! I can’t put it down!, What book is that?, As a rule I read true-to-life stories., Actually, I have just started a new book, Well, what kind of book is that?, I can say reading is my hobby]

• -                                          [It’s just terrific! I can’t put it down!, What book is that?, As a rule I read true-to-life stories., Actually, I have just started a new book, Well, what kind of book is that?, I can say reading is my hobby.]

• - The Moon and Sixpence by Sommerset Maugham.

• - And when was it written?

• - As far as I remember it was written at the beginning of the 20th century. So it's quite classical.

• -                                          [It’s just terrific! I can’t put it down!, What book is that?, As a rule I read true-to-life stories., Actually, I have just started a new book, Well, what kind of book is that?, I can say reading is my hobby.]

• - This is a story of the conflict between the artist and conventional society, based on the life of the French painter Paul Gauguin.

• - Ah! I think you are really enjoying reading this book.

• -                                          [It’s just terrific! I can’t put it down!, What book is that?, As a rule I read true-to-life stories., Actually, I have just started a new book, Well, what kind of book is that?, I can say reading is my hobby.]

• - That's great!

• 1. Why do English people like to discuss weather?

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• 2. What weather is considered to be bad?

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• 3. What are the words used for wet weather in the text?