Leisure in Britain
The British spend their free time in different ways. People generally use it to relax, but many people also (1)_____ voluntary work, especially for charities. People spend a lot of their free time in the home, where the (2) _______ popular leisure activity is watching television, the average viewing time being 25 hours a week. People often (3) ________ programs on video so that they can watch later, and video recorders are also used (4) ________ watching videos hired from a video rental shop. Reading is also a favourite way of spending leisure time. The British spend a lot of time reading newspapers and magazines.
In the summer gardening is popular, and in winter it is often replaced by “do-it yourself”, (5)________ people spend their time improving or repairing their homes. Many people have pets to look after; taking the dog for a daily walk is a regular routine.
The extra leisure time (6)____ at weekends means that some leisure activities many of them to do with sport, normally (7)____ place only then. Tradition spectator sports include football, cricket, horse racing, motor racing and motor cycle racing. Popular forms of (8)______ are swimming, tennis, ice-skating or roller skating cycling, climbing, and hill or country walking.
Families often have a “day out’ at the weekend, especially in summer, with (9)______ to a local event such as a festival, fair or show. Young people especially go to clubs and discos, while people of all (10) ______ go to the theatre, the cinema art exhibitions and concerts.
People generally use it to relax, but many people also (1)_____ voluntary work, especially for charities.