Unit 4: Favorite Pastimes

Quick Check

A. Vocabulary. Tick (Q) the activities you often do. Compare your answers with a partner.
B. Comprehension. Answer yes or no.

1. yes Ali often works out.
2. yes Josh knows how to ice-skate.
3. no Teens seldom buy things online.
4. no Most teens are not interested in reading about current events.

3 Grammar

A. Look at the chart of Sabah’s activities. Make sentences, and compare with a partner.

Sample answers:

1. Sabah always takes a shower in the morning. / She takes a shower every day.

2. She makes her bed on the weekend/twice a week.

3. She does homework five times a week.

4. She cooks dinner twice a week. She sometimes cooks dinner.

5. She draws and paints four times a week. / She often draws and paints.

6. She watches TV once a week/ She seldom watches TV.

7. She takes French classes three times a week.

B. Ask and answer questions about Sabah.

1. How often does she take a shower?

She takes a shower every day.

2. When does she make her bed?

She makes her bed on the weekend.

3. What language does she study?

She studies French.

4. When does she take these classes?

She takes classes on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

5. How often does she do her homework?

She does her homework five times a week.

6. What hobby does she have?

She draws and paints.

7. How many times a week does she do it?

She does it four times a week.

8. What does she never do on the weekend?

She never does her homework, she never cooks dinner, she never watches TV, and she never takes French classes on the weekend.

9. Does she watch TV during the week?

Yes, she does.

10. Does she know how to cook?

Yes, she does.

C. Write about your usual activities. Then compare with your classmates.

Every Day brush my teeth

Three Times a Week play football

Twice a Week go to the park

Once a Week visit my uncle

Never Do the dishes

4 Listening

Listen to what Qassim and Fatima like to do in their free time. Answer yes or no.

Qassim

1. no He goes indoor climbing every day.
2. yes, He knows how to climb very well.
3. no Qassim never climbs mountains.

Fatima

1. yes Fatima usually cooks with Nura.
2. yes, She can cook well.
3. no Fatima’s friends think that cooking is a creative hobby.

6 Conversation

About the Conversation

1. What’s Rick’s pastime?

He flies model airplanes.

2. How often does he do it?

He normally does it on the weekend.

3. Does he perform stunts?

Yes, he does.

4. What does he invite Jason to do?

He invites Jason to come along with him.

5. What does Jason think Rick’s hobby is at first?

He thinks Rick flies' planes.

Your Turn

Do a group survey.

1. Ask your classmates about their free-time activities.
2. Which activity comes first on your list?
3. Which activities are the most popular?
List the activities in order of preference.

A: What do you do in your free time?

B: I usually go to the coffee shop. I play football, and I read novels.

A: Which activity come first on your list?

B: Reading novels is my first priority.

8 Reading

After Reading

Complete the chart with the information on aero models from the article.

9 Writing

A. Write notes in the chart about your hobby or pastime.

B. Read the text about Nura’s hobby. Circle the gerund where it is a subject.
Underline the gerund where it is an object of the verb.

Painting is my hobby. I enjoy drawing and painting pictures in my free time.

I just need some paper, my paints and brushes, and my imagination.

I don’t have much free time, so I usually paint on weekends. I often spend two or three hours creating a picture.

I paint in my room or in the garden because I like painting flowers and trees.

I usually feel like painting alone, but sometimes my friend and I paint together.

She’s a good artist, and she teaches me things.

I love painting because it’s a relaxing and creative pastime.

C. Write about your hobby or pastime. Use your notes from the chart and ideas from this unit.

Reading is my hobby. I enjoy reading novels, historical stories in my free time.

I just need books and a calm place with a cup of coffee. Actually, I don't have much free time, so I read on weekends. I usually spend six hours reading.

I love to be alone when I am reading.

11 Form, Meaning and Function

A. Write the gerund or infinitive of the verb in parentheses.

My favourite pastime is football. I spend a lot of time practicing (1. practice) because I’d like to be (2. be) a professional football player one day.

My team trains twice a week, and our coach also recommends working out (3. work out) at the gym twice a week.

We usually play matches on the weekends.

My teammates and I love to win/winning (4. win), but we can’t stand losing (5. lose).

We hope to win (6. win) the cup this year.

In my free time, I enjoy hanging out (7. hang out) with my friends.

On Saturdays, we like ridding/ to ride (8. ride) our bikes in the park.

When it’s raining, we prefer going/ to go (9. go) to the mall.

We like looking/ to look (10. look) in the stores, and sometimes we want to buy (11. buy) things like magazines or clothes.

When we don’t feel like shopping (12. shop), we eat lunch in the food court.

B. Write about your likes and dislikes. Use gerunds and infinitives.

1. I like playing video games.
2. I’d love to travel around the world.
3. I enjoy making model planes.
4. I prefer to send text messages.
5. I dislike watching TV.
6. I can’t stand cooking.
7. I spend my free time reading books.
8. I recommend working out at a gym.