Reading

Hobbies and Pastimes

Hobbies and Pastimes
What is Hobby?
Hobby /hɒbi/ - an activity done regularly in one’s leisure time
for pleasure
What is your hobby?
 What do you do in your leisure time for rest and relaxation? People in society have
different hobbies or pastimes to enjoy themselves in their leisure (free) time. Some people, for
example, like to play games, some like to go for a walk, some like to watch films, and so on. The
whole point of them, of course, is that they are done out of personal interest and for pleasure
and enjoyment, not for financial gain.
Most people’s hobbies turn out to be easy and stress-free pastimes such as collecting
things, making things, sports, playing a musical instrument, reading, and so on. And – so it is
claimed – they are good for you, too. Pursuing a hobby can have calming and helpful beneficial
effects. For a start, it can take your mind off your problems, and the more interests you have, the
more you enjoy life.
One way in which the subject becomes a little bit serious is when you are applying for a
job and writing out your curriculum vitae, or resume. There’s invariably a section which asks
what your outside interests are, and because getting a job is a serious business, and you want to
impress your prospective employers, you might find yourself claiming that you like nothing
better at weekends than being flown by helicopter to the top of the Alps and then making your
way home by snowboard and hang-glider. Perhaps people find themselves doing this because
they feel that applying for a job and coming across well at interview is a test of character and
being an aficionado of extreme sports is a lot cooler than stamp collecting.
 Exercise I
Match the expressions 1-10 to the definitions a-j.
1. personal interest a. a list of qualifications, achievements, skills, etc
2. financial gain b. a person who likes a particular sport, activity or subject very much and
knows a lot about it
3. stress-free c. doing something or trying to achieve something over a period of time
4. pursuing a hobby d. earnings or profit
5. take mind off e. likely to happen at a future date
6. curriculum vitae f. make someone feel admiration and respect
7. impress g. making a good impression
8. prospective h. relaxed or leisurely
9. coming across well i. self-interest
10. aficionado j. stop thinking about something
 What do you do in your leisure time for rest and
relaxation? People in society have different hobbies
or pastimes to enjoy themselves in their leisure
(free) time. Some people, for example, like to play
games, some like to go for a walk, some like to
watch films, and so on. The whole point of them, of
course, is that they are done out of personal
interest and for pleasure and enjoyment, not for
financial gain.
Most people’s hobbies turn out to be easy and
stress-free pastimes such as collecting things,
making things, sports, playing a musical instrument,
reading, and so on. And – so it is claimed – they are
good for you, too. Pursuing a hobby can have
calming and helpful beneficial effects. For a start, it
can take your mind off your problems, and the
more interests you have, the more you enjoy life.
a. a list of qualifications, achievements, skills, etc
b. a person who likes a particular sport, activity
or subject very much and knows a lot about it
c. doing something or trying to achieve
something over a period of time
d. earnings or profit
e. likely to happen at a future date
f. make someone feel admiration and respect
g. making a good impression
h. relaxed or leisurely
i. self-interest
j. thinking about something
 One way in which the subject becomes a little a. a list of qualifications, achievements, skills, etc
bit serious is when you are applying for a job and b. a person who likes a particular sport, activity or
writing out your curriculum vitae, or resume.
subject very much and knows a lot about it
There’s invariably a section which asks what your
outside interests are, and because getting a job is a c. doing something or trying to achieve something over
serious business, and you want to impress your a period of time
prospective employers, you might find yourself
d. earnings or profit
claiming that you like nothing better at weekends
than being flown by helicopter to the top of the e. likely to happen at a future date
Alps and then making your way home by f. make someone feel admiration and respect
snowboard and hang-glider. Perhaps people find
g. making a good impression
themselves doing this because they feel that
applying for a job and coming across well at h. relaxed or leisurely
interview is a test of character and being an i. self-interest
aficionado of extreme sports is a lot cooler than
j. thinking about something
stamp collecting.
 Exercise I (Answer)

1. personal interest i. self-interest

2. financial gain d. earnings or profit
3. stress-free h. relaxed or leisurely
4. pursuing a hobby c. doing something or trying to achieve something over a period of time
5. take mind off j. stop thinking about something
6. curriculum vitae a. a list of qualifications, achievements, skills, etc
7. impress f. make someone feel admiration and respect
8. prospective e. likely to happen at a future date
9. coming across well g. making a good impression
10. aficionado b. a person who likes a particular sport, activity or subject very much and
knows a lot about it
Exercise II
Read the article and choose the best option.
1. According to the passage, going for a walk, reading and cooking are
A. stress-free pastimes B. tests of character C. beneficial effects D. financial gain

2. The word "it" in second paragraph refers to

A. a hobby B. pursuing a hobby C. a start D. a musical instrument

3. People pursue different hobbies or pastimes for all the following reasons EXCEPT
A. to make a profit B. to enjoy themselves
C. to take their mind off their problems D. to enjoy life

4. When people apply for a job, they may express their unusual hobbies or pastimes because
A. getting a job is a serious business B. it is important.
C. they think they are much cooler than normal hobbies D. it is a part of job experiences.

5. According to the paragraph, a resume usually includes

A. extreme sports B. personal interests
C. serious business D. prospective employers
 What do you do in your leisure time for rest and relaxation? People in society have different hobbies
or pastimes to enjoy themselves in their leisure (free) time. Some people, for example, like to play games,
some like to go for a walk, some like to watch films, and so on. The whole point of them, of course, is that
they are done out of personal interest and for pleasure and enjoyment, not for financial gain.
Most people’s hobbies turn out to be easy and stress-free pastimes such as collecting things, making
things, sports, playing a musical instrument, reading, and so on. And – so it is claimed – they are good for
you, too. Pursuing a hobby can have calming and helpful beneficial effects. For a start, it can take your
mind off your problems, and the more interests you have, the more you enjoy life.

1. According to the passage, going for a walk, reading and cooking are
A. stress-free pastimes B. tests of character C. beneficial effects D. financial gain

2. The word "it" in second paragraph refers to

A. a hobby B. pursuing a hobby C. a start D. a musical instrument

3. People pursue different hobbies or pastimes for all the following reasons EXCEPT
A. to make a profit B. to enjoy themselves
C. to take their mind off their problems D. to enjoy life
 One way in which the subject becomes a little bit serious is when you are applying for a job
and writing out your curriculum vitae, or resume. There’s invariably a section which asks what
your outside interests are, and because getting a job is a serious business, and you want to impress
your prospective employers, you might find yourself claiming that you like nothing better at
weekends than being flown by helicopter to the top of the Alps and then making your way home by
snowboard and hang-glider. Perhaps people find themselves doing this because they feel that
applying for a job and coming across well at interview is a test of character and being an
aficionado of extreme sports is a lot cooler than stamp collecting.

4. When people apply for a job, they may express their unusual hobbies or pastimes because
A. getting a job is a serious business B. it is important.
C. they think they are much cooler than normal hobbies D. it is a part of job experiences.

5. According to the paragraph, a resume usually includes

A. extreme sports B. personal interests
C. serious business D. prospective employers
 Exercise III
Read the article and decide if the sentences are True ( T ) or False ( F ).
Correct the false sentences.
1. People in society have different hobbies or pastimes to gain financial profit.

2. Many people do stress-free pastimes as their hobbies which are simple and
undemanding.

3. Two examples of extreme sports are collecting coins and playing piano.

4. People think that being an aficionado of collecting coins is a lot cooler than stamp
collecting.

5. People describe unusual hobbies in curriculum vitae to impress their future boss.
 What do you do in your leisure time for rest and relaxation? People in society have different
hobbies or pastimes to enjoy themselves in their leisure (free) time. Some people, for example, like to
play games, some like to go for a walk, some like to watch films, and so on. The whole point of them,
of course, is that they are done out of personal interest and for pleasure and enjoyment, not for
financial gain.
Most people’s hobbies turn out to be easy and stress-free pastimes such as collecting things,
making things, sports, playing a musical instrument, reading, and so on. And – so it is claimed – they
are good for you, too. Pursuing a hobby can have calming and helpful beneficial effects. For a start, it
can take your mind off your problems, and the more interests you have, the more you enjoy life.

1. People in society have different hobbies or pastimes to gain financial profit.

(F) to enjoy themselves in their leisure (free) time

2. Many people do stress-free pastimes as their hobbies which are simple and undemanding.

(T)
3. Two examples of extreme sports are collecting coins and playing piano.

(F) stress-free pastimes

 One way in which the subject becomes a little bit serious is when you are applying for a job
and writing out your curriculum vitae, or resume. There’s invariably a section which asks what your
outside interests are, and because getting a job is a serious business, and you want to impress your
prospective employers, you might find yourself claiming that you like nothing better at weekends than
being flown by helicopter to the top of the Alps and then making your way home by snowboard and
hang-glider. Perhaps people find themselves doing this because they feel that applying for a job and
coming across well at interview is a test of character and being an aficionado of extreme sports is a lot
cooler than stamp collecting.

4. People think that being an aficionado of collecting coins is a lot cooler than stamp collecting.
(F) extreme sports
5. People describe unusual hobbies in curriculum vitae to impress their future boss.

(T)
Vocabulary Development
Complete the answers with given words or phrase.
aficionado character curriculum vitae hobbies
leisure pursuing relaxed sport

relaxed
1. People may have different hobbies or pastimes to feel ----- in their spare time.
2. People think that encountering an interview is a test of -----. character
3. When you apply for a job, you have to attach your ----- . curriculum vitae
sport
4. My favourite ----- is tennis.
aficianado
5. He has become a complete -----, an expert in his field.
hobbies
6. Susan's ----- include reading, cooking, and listening to music.
7. According to the passage, ------ a hobby can have helpful beneficial effects. pursuing
8. Watching T.V is now the nation's most popular ----- activity. leisure
Have A Nice Day!