Баранова, Starlight 8. Учебник. Module 2e

rooms: kitchen, bedroom, dining room, study, utility room
furniture: chair, dining table, bookcase, desk, coffee table
appliances: microwave, vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, washing machine, fridge

The picture shows that people in the 1950s didn’t have as much technology in their kitchens as we have. For example, they didn’t have electric kettles – they heated water on top of the cooker. The woman is using a wooden spoon to mix ingredients, which shows that people didn’t have electric mixers, either. The picture suggests that people in the 1950s used cookbooks a lot – the woman is holding one open and there is also one on the kitchen table.

The kitchen in my house has a lot of modern electrical appliances whereas the one in the picture has got authentic 1950s ones. We have an electric kettle, a fridge, a dishwasher, a cooker and a microwave. We have cupboards on the walls and under the counters. We also have a wooden table with chairs around it. Our kitchen isn’t as colourful as the one in the picture.

I think Joanne Massey’s life is simple. She lives like a 1950s woman without a mobile phone or modern gadgets.

1 D (lines 14-19)
2 C (lines 26-28)
3 В (lines 31-34)
4 D (lines 42-46)
5 C (lines 51-53)

1 warp
2 TVs
3 music
4 values
5 conveniences
6 bright
7 stylish
8 fashion
9 career
10 tips
11 appliances
12 back
Suggested Answer Key
Joanne Massey lives in a 1950s time warp.
They had black and white TVs in the 50s.
Rock and roll music was popular then.
People had traditional values in the 50s.
She has a laptop and other 21st century conveniences but she keeps them hidden.
She likes to wear bright lipstick.
Her husband often wears a stylish suit from the 50s.
Joanne doesn’t like the throwaway fashion of modern times.
She has a successful singing career as Lola Lamour.
Joanne writes a blog giving people cleaning tips.
Joanne Massey has lots of second-hand appliances in her house.
There wasn’t so much violence and greed back then.

cherishes – adores
vintage – antique
convention – large meeting
trilby (hat) – a hat made of felt
bland – dull
values – moral principles
throwaway – disposable
looked after – took care of
spirit – energy
pensions – money for retired people from the state
distressing – upsetting
tips – advice
admits – confesses
conveniences – useful equipment
out of sight – hidden
in retreat from – running away from
greed – desire to have more of sth than you need
materialism – culture of valuing shopping and goods
shudder – shake in disgust
Joanne Massey lives in a home that has a 1950s cooker, radio, and telephone. It has retro decor, including metal kitchen units and a 1950s TV cabinet. She dresses like a woman in the 1950s, in clothes like pencil skirts, white blouses, and wide belts. She wears bright 1950s-style lipstick. Her lifestyle is also very 1950s. She bakes cakes for friends, gives 1950s-style shopping and cleaning tips, helps her elderly neighbours, drives a 45-year-old car, and avoids supermarkets and newspapers.

I think Joanne Massey is a very caring person. She says she doesn’t like the 21st century because of violence, greed, and materialism. She prefers having a 1950s lifestyle because she thinks people treated each other better then. I think living like it’s the 1950s is a little strange, but I admire her because she has strong values and prefers a simpler life.

My lifestyle is similar to Joanna Massey’s. I don’t use the Internet every day and I like cooking a lot. Although I don’t go shopping for my neighbours like Joanne, I do help them with chores like gardening sometimes.