During the past hundred years, the radio, the cinema and now television have made very great changes in the entertainments with which people fill their free time.
A hundred years ago people knew how to entertain themselves much better than they do now.
When a group of people gathered together, they talked, played cards or other games, read aloud to each other, or went out shooting or walking together. Most people could sing a little, or play a musical instrument, so at a party the guests entertained each other.
Conversation was an art, amusing conversation could keep people happy for hours.
As for games, such as football, tennis, people played them more often than they do now. Most of them didn’t play very well, but they could amuse themselves and their friends.
Nowadays we are entertained by professionals. Why listen to your friends singing when you can hear the greatest singer of the world on the radio? Why play football with players who are not very good at it, when you can go by train or car to see some of the best players in your country playing an important match; or, if you’ve got a television set, just sit comfortably at home and watch the game without going outside at all?
The art of conversation and writing letters is dying. People are becoming more and more lookers and listeners and less and less doers and talkers though it’s much better to do something not very well oneself than always to sit and watch others doing it.
Vocabulary
entertainments — развлечения, увеселения
past — зд. последний
to fill — заполнять
to play cards — играть в карты
an art — зд. искусство
nowadays — в настоящее время, теперь
a professional — профессионал
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