The Countryside — Unit 14, Beginner English
Countryside and nature, farms and animals, countryside activities, describing adjectives, and there is / there are.
Reading: Life on a Farm
My uncle is a farmer. He lives in a small village in the countryside. There are many fields near his farm. He grows wheat and vegetables in the fields. There is also a forest behind the farm. There are many trees in the forest. There is a river near the forest. The water is clean and cold.
My uncle has many animals on his farm. There are cows, sheep, and chickens. There are also two horses. The cows give milk. The sheep give wool. The chickens lay eggs. He takes care of all the animals every day. He feeds them in the morning and in the evening.
There is a small lake near the farm. There are fish in the lake. I go fishing there when I visit my uncle. I also go for a walk in the countryside. The air is fresh and clean. I love the countryside. It is quiet and peaceful. There are not many cars or people. I feel very happy there.
My uncle's day starts very early. He gets up at half past four in the summer. He says the countryside is most beautiful at that time, because the sky is pink and everything is quiet.
His farm also has three pigs and one old dog. The dog helps him with the sheep. In spring the grass is very green and the crops grow fast. In winter the fields are brown and empty, and there is often ice on the path.
My cousin rides her horse across the fields every afternoon. She wants to be a farmer too. Her brother does not. He wants to live in a big city, because he says the village is too quiet.
I understand both of them. But when I walk in the woods and I see the wildlife, I think my uncle has the best life in the world.
Vocabulary from this unit
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| countryside | /ˈkʌntrisaɪd/ | land outside towns and cities | I love walking in the countryside. |
| country | /ˈkʌntri/ | (1) a nation (2) the countryside | We live in the country, not the city. |
| village | /ˈvɪlɪdʒ/ | a small town in the countryside | We live in a small village. |
| town | /taʊn/ | a place bigger than a village | There is a town 10 km away. |
| city | /ˈsɪti/ | a large town | I don't like living in a big city. |
| nature | /ˈneɪtʃə/ | everything in the natural world | I love nature and animals. |
| wildlife | /ˈwaɪldlaɪf/ | animals and plants in nature | You can see a lot of wildlife here. |
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| field | /fiːld/ | an area of land for crops or animals | There are fields of wheat. |
| wood | /wʊd/ | a small forest (synonym: forest) | We walked through the wood. |
| forest | /ˈfɒrɪst/ | a large area of trees | There is a big forest near here. |
| hill | /hɪl/ | land higher than the land around it | We climbed the hill. |
| mountain | /ˈmaʊntən/ | a very high hill | The mountains are beautiful. |
| river | /ˈrɪvə/ | water that flows | We swam in the river. |
| lake | /leɪk/ | water with land around it | There is a lake in the park. |
| path | /pɑːθ/ | a small road for walking | We followed the path. |
| bridge | /brɪdʒ/ | a structure over water | We crossed the bridge. |
| farm | /fɑːm/ | a place where people grow food | My uncle works on a farm. |
| tree | /triː/ | a tall plant with a trunk | There are many trees in the forest. |
| flower | /ˈflaʊə/ | a colourful plant | The flowers are beautiful. |
| grass | /ɡrɑːs/ | a green plant that covers the ground | The grass is very green. |
| sky | /skaɪ/ | the space above the earth | The sky is blue. |
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| farmer | /ˈfɑːmə/ | a person who works on a farm | My uncle is a farmer. |
| cow | /kaʊ/ | a farm animal that gives milk | We have 20 cows. |
| sheep | /ʃiːp/ | a farm animal with wool | There are many sheep in the fields. |
| pig | /pɪɡ/ | a pink farm animal | The pigs are in the pen. |
| chicken | /ˈtʃɪkɪn/ | a farm bird that lays eggs | We have 50 chickens. |
| horse | /hɔːs/ | a large animal you can ride | She rides her horse every day. |
| crop | /krɒp/ | a plant that farmers grow | We grow crops like wheat and corn. |
| grow | /ɡrəʊ/ | to make plants | Farmers grow vegetables. |
| feed | /fiːd/ | to give food to animals | I feed the chickens every day. |
| take care of | /teɪk keər əv/ | to look after | She takes care of the animals. |
3 more vocabulary sections in the full unit.
This is the free sample from this unit. The full unit adds 1 more reading passage, comprehension questions with an answer key, the listening exercises, flashcards for the vocabulary above, and a speaking task — with your progress tracked so the next unit unlocks when you are ready for it.
Common questions
What level is this unit?
Beginner — roughly CEFR A0–A1. If you are not sure of your level, the course places you with a short diagnostic before you start rather than making you guess.
Do I need to pay to use this?
The reading passage and vocabulary on this page are free to read. The rest of the unit — the remaining passages, the exercises, the listening, the answer key and the progress tracking — is part of the paid General English course.
Is this British or American English?
British English spelling and vocabulary, which is what most learners in Azerbaijan are taught and what IELTS expects, though both are accepted in the exam.