The Wild West The story of the Wild

The Wild West The story of the “Wild West” began in the eighteenth century, when people started to go west to look for new land. In the nineteenth century, many went west to look for gold. They built new towns in the mountains and in the desert. Some people were lucky, but many were not. When they couldn’t find gold, the towns became empty. Now some of these “ghost towns” are popular tourists attractions. Life in the Wild West was dangerous. The Native Americans in the west did not welcome the white people who took their land. Sometimes they attacked them. There were bears and other dangerous wild animals, and it was necessary to carry a gun. Today many Americans still keep a gun in their house, and all American police officers carry guns. Another tradition that comes from the wild west is “cowboy” clothing. In the days of the wild west each piece of clothing was important. Cowboys wore scarves and hats, boots, jeans and “chaps”. The scarf and hat protected them from the dust and sun. The boots made riding more comfortable and protected the cowboy from the mud, the long grass and the snakes. The chaps protected his legs and clothes. Jeans, or “Lewis”, were invented in the middle of the nineteenth century by a San Francisco tailor, Levi Strauss.

He made them for miners, who needed strong pants. Soon cowboys started wearing them too. Today jeans are worn in all parts of the world as well as in the U. S. In the nineteenth century thousands of cowboys worked on big ranches in the west. Often they spent weeks away from the ranch house, “rounding up” cattle and taking them to the markets or railway yards. At the end of round – up they held competitions to see who was best at roping a cow, riding a wild horse or bull, or shooting. These competitions were called rodeos. Rodeos became more popular towards the end of the century. They are still popular today – there around five hundred rodeos each year in the U. S. Modern rodeos have brass bands, singing cowboys and clowns. The largest rodeo is Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming, and it lasts for one week.

Предтекстовый этап 1. Read the title of the story, look through the text and say what the story is about. 2. Read the first sentences of the paragraphs and say what questions will be described in them. 3. a) Write these cardinal numerals in figures. eighteen, nineteen, thousand, five hundred b) Make these cardinal numerals ordinal. 4. Look through the text and choose the words denoting : 1)clothes; 2)competitions. Write them in two columns. 5. Give the first form of the following irregular verbs. began, went, were, became, could, wore, spent, hold 6. Choose the sentences in the Passive Voice and translate them. They built new towns in the mountains and in the desert. At the end of round – up they held competitions to see who was best at roping a cow, riding a wild horse or bull, or shooting. These competitions were called rodeos.

Текстовый этап 1. Read the text and give the title to each paragraph. 2. Write out of the text the sentences with the words to look for gold, empty, dangerous. 3. Read aloud the verbs which give the dynamics of the narration. 4. Make up the sentences with the following words and word – combinations. to go west, to build, to carry a gun, to protect, to hold competitions. 5. Read the text and choose the sentences in which you find the description of: a) when the story of the “Wild West” began; b) dangerous life in the Wild West; c) cowboy clothing; d) rodeos. 6. Find and read the sentences you think are the most important in the story, and read those which you find the most interesting.

Послетекстовый этап 1. Are these statements true or false? a) The story of the “Wild West” began in the 17 th century. b) People started to go west for entertainment. c) Life in the Wild West was very pleasant. d) The Native Americans in the west welcomed the white people. e) The scarf and hat protected cowboys from the dust and the sun. 2. Answer these questions. a) What did the story of the “Wild West” begin with? b) Why did many people go west in the 19 th century? c) Were all people who went to the west lucky? d) What are “ghost towns”? e) Why didn’t the Native Americans welcome the white people who came to the west? f) Why do many Americans still keep a gun in their house?

g) What is the other tradition that comes from the Wild West? h) What did cowboys wear at that time? i) Why did they wear such clothing? j) When and where were jeans invented? k) Who invented them? l) Whom did Levi Strauss make jeans for? m) Today jeans are worn in all parts of the world, aren’t they? n) What did cowboys spend their weekends? o) What competitions did they hold? p) What do modern rodeos have? 3. What do you know about - the “Wild West”? - life in the “Wild West”? - cowboy clothing? - rodeos in the past and nowadays?

4. Read the sentences in the right way to make up a plan. Life in the Wild West was dangerous. Another tradition that comes from the Wild West is ‘cowboy clothing”. Often the cowboys spent weeks away from the ranch house. Some people were lucky, but many were not. At the end of a round –up they held competitions. The story of the “Wild West” began in the eighteenth century. The Native Americans in the west did not welcome the white people. These competitions were called rodeos. 14

5. Use the plan to retell the story about the “Wild West”. 6. Say - what your favourite travelling clothes are. - If you would like to visit a rodeo in the U. S. and way. 7. Say a few words about your attitude to the text “Wild West”. 8. Was it difficult or not to read the text? Why? 9. Think about the other title to the text. 10. Make up the advertisement to - jeans; - rodeos. 15