Collect paintings, rare books and other art objects. Often such private collections are given to museums, libraries and public
galleries so that others might take pleasure in seeing them.
No matter what kind of hobby a person has, he always has
the opportunity of learning from it. Learning things can be
the most exciting aspect of a hobby.
1) What is the origin of the word "hobby"?
2) What is the definition of the word "hobby"?
3) What are 4 large classes?
4) What is the most popular of all hobby groups?
5) What is one of the oldest of man's hobbies?
6) Why are people fond of travelling?
7) What do people usually collect?
II. Writing
Task 2.
Chose the correct prepositions.
1. Always turn off/up your mobile phone when you
enter the library.
2. Brain has just turned down/off a fantastic job offer.
3. What do you like doing on/in your spare time?
4. My younger sister cries when no one is paying
attention to/on her.
5. I run across/over some old friends at the hockey
match.
6. My parents were proud of/to me when I won the race.
7. Is American football similar with/to rugby?
8. We have to book our tickets today - we're running
out/down of time!

Task 1

1) The origin of the word "hobby" is hobbyhorse toy, imitation of a horse.

2) Hobby is an activity you do outside your routine.

3) 4 large classes of hobbies are: doing things, making things, collecting things and learning things.

4) The most popular hobby group is "doing things"

5) One of the oldest of man's hobbies is the gardening.

6) People are fond of travelling because it appeals to their interest to discover new things and sensations.

7) People usually collect paintings, rare books and other art objects.

Task 2

1) Always turn off your mobile phone when you enter the library.

2) Brain has just turned down a fantastic job offer.

3) What do like doing in your spare time?

4) My younger sister cries when no one is paying attention to her.

5) I run across some old friends at the hockey match.

6) My parents were proud of me when I won the race.

7) Is American football similar to rugby?

8) We have to book our tickets today - we're running out of time!

Full text found:

What is a hobby?

In the 16th century a favorite toy for children of all ages was the hobbyhorse. In appearance a hobbyhorse could be as simple as a stick, or it could have a decorated wooden framework with an imitation horse's head attached. Children used them for the games of the time involving war and knighthood, cowboys and Indians. The pleasure of doing something outside the routine activities of daily life had brought a new word into the language, the word hobby which is a shortened form of hobbyhorse.

Hobbies differ like tastes. If you have chosen a hobby according to your character and taste you are lucky because your life becomes more interesting. Hobbies are divided into large classes: doing things, making things, collecting things, and learning things. The most popular of all hobby groups is doing things. It includes a wide variety of activities, everything from gardening to travelling and from chess to volleyball. Sport has always been popular in every country. Gardening is one of the oldest of man's hobbies. It's a well known fact that the English are very fond of gardening and growing flowers, especially roses. Millions of people all over the world spend their holidays travelling, they travel to enjoy picturesque places, or just for a change of scene. It's always interesting to discover new things, different ways of life, to meet different people, to try different food, to listen to different musical rhythms. Most travelers and holiday-makers take a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them - the sights of a city, old churches and castles, views of mountains, lakes, valleys, plains, waterfalls, forests; different kind of trees, flowers and plants, animals and birds. Making things includes drawing, painting, making sculpture, designing costumes, handicrafts. Many world famous collections started in a small way with one or two items. People with a good deal of money often collect paintings, rare books and other art objects. Often such private collections are given to museums, libraries and public galleries so that others might take pleasure in seeing them. No matter what kind of hobby a person has, he always has the opportunity of learning from it. Learning things can be the most exciting aspect of a hobby.