Leisure Activities

Leisure Activities

Most of Britain’s population enjoys sport and leisure activities in one way or another, and whether as a participant or a spectator there are a whole host of activities to enjoy.

In recent years the encouragement toward a more healthy lifestyle has led to more people taking up physical activity, whether to get fit or to keep fit. These activities can be found indoors at leisure, sporting and recreation centres and outdoors, at the many free publicly available playing fields and also at clubs and associations which are open to members or paying visitors. In any event there are plenty to choose from whatever your level of physical fitness.

As with most countries many of the leisure activities in the UK are much more sedate. Whether as an individual or a team, a child, adult or family, most towns and cities have something for everyone.

How to ask someone to repeat something

Try out the various ways in asking people to repeat what they said.

Man: (Mumbling “Have you seen a green pen anywhere?”)

Woman: I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that.

Man: (Mumbling)

Woman: Could you say that again?

Man: (Mumbling “Green pen, see it anywhere?”)

Woman: I’m sorry…er I still didn’t get that.

Man: (Trying very hard but still mumbling)

Woman: Could you say that again?

Man: (slightly frustrated and mumbling again)

Woman: One more time?

Man: (Mumbling)

Woman: No. Sorry. Nothing.

Man: (Mumbling)

Woman: Look! I can’t hear a word you’re saying.

Man: I said “Have you seen a green…pen”…oh, there it is!

Difference between the UK and Great Britain

Do you find it difficult to understand the difference

between the UK and Great Britain?

Man: So where are you from?

Woman: Scotland. Are you Scottish too?

Man: Well no, I’m English actually, but… you know… it’s all like the same thing, isn’t it?

Woman: Not exactly.

Man: Go on! Isn’t Scotland just like well, a bit of England?

Woman: No, it is not!

Man: Sorry, Britain I mean.

Woman: “Britain” is not “England”!

Man: Well yeah… I know that, I’m not stupid or anything… but Britain’s like, England, Scotland and Wales, isn’t it?

Woman: Not exactly.

Man: Yeah, it is; the UK, the United Kingdom.

Woman: The United Kingdom is “Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland”.

Man: Oh I see, but we’re all like the same nation, aren’t we?

Woman: Not really. Four nations, one state.

Man: Oh, I get it! So the UK (is) like the same as Great Britain...

Woman: Great Britain is a geographical term – it’s a big island with Scotland, England, and Wales on it.

Man: All right, but we all have the same prime minister, don’t we?

Woman: Yes, and the same head of state.

Man: The Queen!

Woman: Exactly.

Man: And the same government?

Woman: Well, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own local parliaments.

Man: Oh. I see.

Woman: It’s complicated.

Man: Yeah, I can see that.

Currency in the UK - La moneda en el Reino Unido

Although the UK is in the European Union, it has taken the decision at the moment not to adopt the Euro as its currency. Instead it retains pound sterling.

A pound consists of 100 pence. The word ‘pence’ being very often shortened to the letter ‘p’ in both the written and in conversational form.

The following coins are in regular circulation:

• 1p
• 2p
• 5p
• 10p
• 20p
• 50p
• £1
• £2

The following notes are also used:

• £5
• £10
• £20
• £50

These notes are usually issued in the name of the Bank of England and the notes and coins are accepted throughout the UK. You may occasionally find some bank notes bearing the names of Banks in Scotland or Northern Ireland, like the Scottish notes shown here. These are still legal tender throughout the UK but some traders, because they are not familiar with them, may be reluctant to accept them outside of the country in which they were issued. If you do have any difficulties though, any Bank will replace them without charge.

Short Answers

Click the answer button to see the answer.

1. Are you busy?
   Yes, ___.
   AnswerYes, I am. / Yes, we are.

2. Do you live in New York?
   No, ___.
   AnswerNo, I don't. / No, we don't.

3. Can Sylvia ride a bike?
   Yes, ___.
   AnswerYes, she can.

4. Does your father read the newspaper every day?
   Yes, ___.
   AnswerYes, he does.

5. Do you and your friends play soccer on Saturday?
   No, ___.
   AnswerNo, we don't.

6. Is your sister a doctor?
   No, ___.
   AnswerNo, she isn't.

7. Can Jack and Brian play the piano?
   Yes, ___.
   AnswerYes, they can.

8. Is Paris big?
   Yes, ___.
   AnswerYes, it is.

9. Are you thirsty?
   No, ___.
   AnswerNo, I'm not. / No, we aren't.

10. Does Robert like pepperoni pizza?
    No, ___.
    AnswerNo, he doesn't.

11. Are the students listening to music?
    No, ___.
    AnswerNo, they aren't.

12. Is the supermarket next to the post office?
    No, ___.
    AnswerNo, it isn't.

13. Is Leonardo di Caprio Vietnamese?
    No, ___.
    AnswerNo, he isn't.

14. Is your mother sleeping?
    No, ___.
    AnswerNo, she isn't.

15. Can you speak Portuguese?
    Yes, ___.
    AnswerYes, I can. / Yes, we can.

Wh Questions

Who, What, Where, Why, Which, When or How

Click the answer button to see the answer.

Doug: Hi, Tim. AnswerHow are you?

Tim: Not bad. AnswerHow was your Christmas?

Doug: Fantastic.

Tim: Oh! AnswerWhat did you do?

Doug: I went home for Christmas.

Tim: AnswerWhere is home?

Doug: Australia.

Tim: AnswerHow long did you go for?

Doug: I spent three wonderful weeks there.

Tim: AnswerWhen did you leave?

Doug: I left on December 15th.

Tim: AnswerWhat did you do in Australia?

Doug: I saw my family and friends and visited all my favorite places.

Tim: AnswerHow far is it to Australia?

Doug: It's eight and a half hours by plane.

Tim: AnswerWhich airline did you take?

Doug: I took Singapore Airlines.

Tim: AnswerWhy didn't you take Australia - Asia Airline?

Doug: Because they were booked out.

Tim: AnswerWhen did you get back?

Doug: I got back yesterday.

Tim: AnswerWho met you at the airport?

Doug: My brother met me.

Tim: AnswerWhat did you do on Christmas Day?

Doug: We had a big party at my parents' house.

Tim: AnswerWho attended the party?

Doug: My whole family came. Everybody was there except for my sister. She couldn't come.

Tim: AnswerWhy not? AnswerWhere was she?

Doug: She was in another city.

Tim: AnswerWhich city was she in?

Doug: She was here, in Chai Yi. She had come to spend Christmas with me.

Tips for Travellers to the UK

Click the answer button to see the answer.

1. Don't ___ large amounts of cash with you.
   a. carry
   b. carries
   c. carried
   Answera

2. Traveller cheques in dollars, francs, pounds and yen ___ safer.
   a. is
   b. are
   c. were
   Answerb

3. British banks and post offices ___ open on Sundays and national holidays.
   a. don't
   b. doesn't
   Answera

4. National holidays ___ actually called bank holidays.
   a. am
   b. is
   c. are
   Answerc

5. Most banks also ___ at 3:00 and aren't open Saturday afternoons either.
   a. close
   b. closes
   c. closed
   Answera

6. Shops are usually ___ from 9:00 to 5:30.
   a. open
   b. opens
   c. opened
   Answera

7. But in big towns, once a week there is "late night opening" when the closing time ___.
   a. change
   b. changes
   c. changed
   Answerb

8. Credit cards ___ accepted at most major shops.
   a. is
   b. are
   Answerb

9. A pickpocket is someone who ___ purses, handbags and wallets. This is probably the biggest danger you face.
   a. steal
   b. steals
   c. stole
   Answerb

10. Therefore, it is a good idea to ___ your traveller cheque numbers, passport number and your credit card numbers in a safe place.
    a. keep
    b. keeps
    c. kept
    Answera

11. Other dangers ___ spending too much, eating too much and of course in Scotland, drinking too much whiskey.
    a. are
    b. is
    Answera

12. The emergency telephone number for the police, ambulance and fire is the same. You ___ "999".
    a. dialed
    b. dials
    c. dial
    Answerc

13. If you dial "999", you ___ to tell the operator the address, telephone number and what service you want.
    a. have
    b. has
    c. had
    Answera

14. Hotels are available in every town, but there are also "bed and breakfast" available. These ___ cheaper and usually much more personal.
    a. is
    b. are
    Answerb

15. The tourist information centres are very helpful and ___ free maps.
    a. give
    b. gives
    c. gave
    Answera