Listen, read and practise.
1. John: Do you see that man over at that table in the comer?
What's he doing? Ian: He's having an argument with the waiter. I think he's
complaining about his soup. John: You're right. He's shouting at the waiter. He's saying
that it tastes terrible. Can you hear what he's saying
now? Ian: Yes. He's telling the waiter there's a fly in his soup.
He doesn't see why he should pay for it.
2 Wife: Oh, don't put your coat on that chair! You' re al -ways leaving your clothes around. It's so untidy!
Husband: OK! OK! Calm down. Don't let's have an argument. You are always complaining these days. Wife: I'm not surprised — living with you! Husband: Come on! You're forever telling me to relax. Why
don't you try it?
3. Tom: I'm flying to New York at the weekend. I'm staying at a hotel with my Uncle Joe and Aunt Jane. He's an artist and she's a photographer. Nick: What's the hotel called?
Tom: The New York Tower. It has a restaurant at the top. The restaurant turns round eighteen times a day so you can see the whole city. An orchestra plays there in the evening.
A Week in Vlctor's life
John: Tell me, Victor, what do you do Sundays?
Victor: On Sunday I try to sleep late.
John: And on weekdays?
Victor: Unfortunately, I never have much peace on weekdays, because I must work.
John: Work? You?
Victor: Yes, I'm a student of English — like you!
John: OK, Victor. What exactly do you do on weekdays?
Victor: On Monday morning I play golf.
John: Golf?
Victor: Yes. And on Monday afternoons I go swimming at the swimming pool. I need to relax after my game of golf.
John: Oh, yes.
Victor: On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, after my serious music lessons at the music school I am a singer in a rock group.
John: Stop! Stop! Please ... enough! What do you do on Thursdays?
Victor: I rest all day long. I wake up in the evening to set my alarm-clock for lunch-time on Friday. On
a letter
Fridays I go to the library to meet my friends to organise a picnic in the country among the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees.
John: Please, Victor. But there's one thing I don't understand. When do you learn English?
Victor: A quarter of an hour every evening, in a comfortable armchair, with my video English method and a large glass of orange juice!
A. Ask questions on the text.
B. Imagine you are Victor. Tell about your week routine. Your friends will ask you some more questions to get additional information.
C. Ask each other questions about a week in your lives.
D. Tell your partner what you usually do during the week. Your partner will ask you some questions to get some details.
E. Which of the members of your family is the busiest? What is his/her week like?
Dear Mum and Dad,
How are you? The camp is OK. The weather is horrible. It is raining. We are all writing letters. What's the weather like at home? We get up every morning at a quarter to eight and have a shower. The water is always cold. It's really horrible!
Then we get dressed and have breakfast at half past eight. Breakfast is nice. We have three different sorts of cereal, bacon and eggs, toast and marmalade and tea.
After breakfast we go riding or canoeing. We have a morning break at eleven o'clock. We usually have orange juice and biscuits. Then we have free activities.
We have lunch at half past one. We have hamburgers and chips or fish and chips but the chips aren't very nice. In the afternoon we usually play football or volleyball. Tea is at four o'clock and after tea we ride on the mini motorbikes. They are great!
We have supper at seven. After supper we watch a video or have a disco. We can play our own cassettes. Bedtime is at half
past nine. I am in a very big room with seven other girls. Our monitor is called Louise but we call her Lulu.
We're both all right and we aren't homesick! (I am a little bit, Andy.)
Love from Kate and Andy
A. Ask and answer questions on the text.
B. Describe the children's rest at the camp.
C. This is a passage from another letter. Tina's mother is writing a letter to a friend.
I'm sitting on the beach, eating an ice cream. Tina and Jack are swimming in the sea and Max is in the park, playing with a friend. Tom's listening to the radio and reading. We're having a fantastic holiday. Abercwim is a little fishing village in North Wales with a park, a castle, some Roman remains and some lovely gardens, and there's a little fishing port with a light-house. Everybody here is really friendly. I think we're lucky. This is our second holiday this year and we're doing just what we want to do: sleeping, eating and playing games. The food is lovely too.
D. You 're on holiday in the south. Write a postcard to your friend describing a) your usual day b) what you and your family are doing at the moment.
Happy birthday to you
Mike: Hello?
Sue: Hello, Mike. I'm ringing you up to wish you a happy
birthday. Mike: Sue, what a fantastic surprise! Where are you phoning
from? I can hear you so clearly. I thought you were in
Spain.
Sue: Yes, I am. And I'm having a marvellous time here. Mike: What's the weather like? It's pouring with rain here. Sue: It's absolutely boiling. I'm living in my bikini, and
getting really brown. Mike: Lucky you. Hey, where are you ringing from? I can
hear people laughing and talking in the background.
Sue: Ah, that's because I'm in a cafe by the beach. Jill and I are having a drink here and writing our postcards. I'm sending you one, so that you can see what it looks like here. I wish you were here, Mike. I can see the beach from where I'm standing. There are thousands of people sunbathing, and there's ...
Mike: Hey, stop. You're making me jealous. There's nothing interesting happening here. Everybody's complaining and saying what an awful summer we're having.
Sue: Oh, dear — still, I expect you're getting a lot of work done. How's it going?
Mike: Oh, fine. I'm working on the last article now. Actually, at this very moment I'm having a break and making myself some coffee. Good God, that reminds me. Can you hold on a moment? The kettle's probably boiling. Just a tick.
Sue: Hey, Mike, don't go. I'd better ring off now. This is costing me a fortune. I'll ring you again in a few days, OK?
Mike: Right. Thanks for remembering my birthday. I'm feeling better already. Look after yourself. Miss you.
Sue: Me too. Goodbye.
Mike: Bye.
A. Questions
1. Where is Sue at the moment? 2. What is she doing in Spain? 3. Is she alone there? 4. Why is Sue calling Mike? 5. Is Sue enj oying her holidays? 6. Why does Mike feel j ealous? 7. How is Mike doing?
B. Read the conversation and analyse its language peculiarities.
C. Give the appropriate English phrases from the text.
Откуда ты звонишь? Береги себя. Я работаю над последней статьей. Скучаю по тебе. Ты вызываешь у меня зависть. Я звоню тебе, чтобы пожелать счастливого дня рождения. Какой замечательный сюрприз! Я думал, что ты в Испании. Я прекрасно провожу время. Какая погода? Здесь льет дождь. Все жалуются и говорят о том, какое ужасное у нас лето. Здесь страшная жара. Спасибо, что не забыла о моем дне рождения. Я полагаю, что ты
продвигаешься со своей работой. Я уже чувствую себя лучше. Я позвоню тебе через несколько дней, хорошо? Я отчетливо гебя слышу. Жаль, что тебя здесь нет. Тысячи людей загорают на пляже. Подожди минутку. Тебе везет. Я слышу, как смеются и разговаривают люди. Мы здесь пьем напитки и пишем почтовые открытки. Здесь ничего интересного не происходит. Как продвигаются дела? В этот самый момент я отдыхаю. Это напомнило мне. Я лучше положу трубку. Мне это дорого стоит.
D. Give a brief account of the conversation.
E. Roleplay the conversation.
F. Situation: You are having your holidays at the seaside. At the moment you're phoning your mother. She wants to know whether you're having a good time.
G. Tell the class how you usually spend у our holidays.
What are you Doing here?
Barbara Cooper is in Milan on a business trip. She is sitting in a small cafe outside the central station waiting to catch a train to Florence. Suddenly she sees an old school friend, Martha Hunt, walking past the cafe.
Barbara: Martha! Martha: Barbara!
Barbara: What are you doing here? You live in Manchester, don't you?
Martha: Yes, that's right. I do. But I'm having a week's holiday
here. Barbara: What? Here in Milan?
Martha: Yes, I'm visiting a friend. You know him actually-
Roger.
Barbara: Yes. I remember Roger.
Martha: Well, he's working here as a freelance journalist. Barbara: Is he? That must be fun.
Martha: Well, he says he's enjoying it. What about you? What are you doing here? Having a holiday as well?
Barbara: No, not me. I'm working. I'm looking for some
new shoe designs for the shop. Martha: Oh, yes. I read about you in the Old Cliftonians'
magazine. You're the manageress of a shoe shop now,
aren't you?
Barbara: Yes, that's right. It's doing quite well, in fact. Martha: Which hotel are you staying at, by the way? Barbara: Well, I'm not staying in Milan any more. I'm catching the
train to Florence in half an hour. In fact I must go soon. Martha: Oh, that's a pity. Anyway, I must go too. I must try
and come and see you in Bristol one day. Barbara: Yes, do. And give my regards to Roger. Martha: Yes, I will. Well — look after yourself, don't work
too hard.
Barbara: No, I won't. Have a nice holiday, by the way! Martha: Thanks. Bye, Barbara.
A. Questions
1. Where are Barbara and Martha at the moment? 2. What are they doing in Milan? 3. How long are they staying in Milan?
B. Read the text and comment on the uses of the Simple Present and Present Continuous.
C. Give the appropriate English phrases from the text.
Должно быть, это интересно. У меня поезд во Флоренцию через полчаса. Передай привет своему другу. Между прочим, в какой гостинице ты остановилась? Меня больше не будет в Милане. Я здесь неделю отдыхаю. Ты гаже здесь отдыхаешь? Ты заведуешь обувным магазином, не так ли? Фактически наш магазин преуспевает. Жаль. Я должна постараться навестить тебя в Бристоле когда-нибудь. Я навешаю друга. Я ищу новые образцы обуви для магазина. Он говорит, что ему это нравится. Позаботься о себе, не работай слишком много. Хорошего тебе отдыха.
D. Ask detailed questions on the text. Your partner will answer the questions.
E. Give a brief account of the conversation.
F. Roleplay the conversation.
G. Situation: You are in London on business. You happen to meet your former classmate who has come to London to take part in a conference. You start talking.
Cathy and Steve
Cathy and Steve are engaged, but unfortunately Cathy lives in Sussex and Steve in Yorkshire. It is nine o'clock on Saturday morning, when the phone rings beside Steve's bed. He is still asleep.
Steve: Hello?
Cathy: Hello dear, where are you?
Steve: Where all civilized people should be at this time on a Saturday morning — in bed.
Cathy: Lazy thing!
Steve: What do you mean "lazy thing"? I earn my rest. I work jolly hard, you know.
Cathy: Of course you do, dear.
Steve: What about you? What are you doing?
Cathy: At the moment I'm drinking a cup of coffee and talking to my lazy fiance, but later I'm going shopping. That's what I want to talk to you about.
Steve: Mmm.
Cathy: I'm getting the curtains for the bedroom. Steve: Good.
Cathy: Do you like the idea of pale green? Steve: That sounds all right.
Cathy: Plain... then there won't be any problem when we come to buy the carpet. But I want to order the curtains today, because Aunt Phyllis is staying, and she's giving us the curtains as a wedding present. So we're going together to choose the material. Steve: That's a good idea. Cathy: What are you doing today? Steve: Well, this morning I've got a little shopping to do, then this afternoon I'm going to the football with Jim. Cathy: All right. Love, enjoy yourself. Bye. Steve: Same to you. Bye.
A. Questions
1 . Do Cathy and Steve see one another every day? If not, why not? 2. Why isn't Steve at work when the phone rings? 3. What does Cathy call Steve? 4. How does he defend himself? 5. What is Cathy doing while she's talking to Steve? 6. What is she planning to buy? 7. Is she planning to buy flowered material? S.Where is Steve going this afternoon?
B. Read the conversation. Comment on the uses of the Present Continuous and Simple Present.
C. Give a brief account of the conversation.
D. Roleplay the conversation.
old Arthur
Everyone knows him as Old Arthur. He lives in a little hut in the middle of a small wood, about a mile from the village. He visits the village store twice a week to buy food and paraffin, and occasionally he collects letters and his pension from the post office. A few weeks ago a reporter from the local newspaper interviewed him. This is what he said:
I get up every morning with the birds. There is a stream near my hut and I fetch water from there. It's good, clear, fresh water, better than you get in the city. Occasionally, in the winter, I have to break the ice. I cook simple food on my old paraffin stove; mostly stews and things like that. Sometimes I go to the pub and have a drink, but I don't see many people. I don't feel lonely. I know this wood very well, you see. I know all the little birds and animals that live here and they know me. I don't have much money, but I don't need much. I think I'm a lucky man.
A. Questions
1. Where does Old Arthur live? 2.Who interviewed him recently? 3. How far is it to the village? 4. How often does Arthur go into the village?-5. What does he buy from the village store? 6. What does he collect from the post office? 7. Where does he get his water from? S.What does he say about the water in the stream? 9. What does he cook on?
B. Give short answers to the following questions.
1 . Is Arthur quite old? 2. Is he a lonely man? 3. Is the store in the village? 4. Is the water in the stream clean? 5. Does old Arthur see many people? 6. Does he get his water from a tap? 7. Does he like the birds and animals in the wood? 8. Does the stream sometimes freeze in winter? 9. Does Arthur cook on an electric stove? 1 0. Does he get his pension from the post office?
C. Imagine that you are interviewing Old Arthur. These are the answers he gives to your questions. What were the questions you asked him?
1 . In a little hut in the wood. 2. At the village store. 3. On my old paraffin stove. 4. Yes, I go there occasionally for a drink. 5. From the stream. 6. No, I never feel lonely. 7. Not much, my eyes aren't too good. 8. No, I haven't got a radio. 9. No, I was an only child, and my parents died when I was quite young. 10. No, I don't believe in doctors.
D. Situation: You are interviewing Old Arthur on his life in the wood. Add more details about Arthur's life.
E. Make up negative statements.
eg He only sees a few people. not/many He doesn't see many people.
1 . He only visits the village store twice a week. not/every day
2. He only breaks the ice on the water occasionally. not/often
3. He only collects his letters from the post office once a month.
not/every week
4. He cooks on a paraffin stove. not/a gas stove
5. He lives in a hut in the wood. not/an ordinary house
6. He gets his water from the stream. not/ a tap
7. There is no television in his hut.
not/television
8. There is no radio in his hut. not/radio
9. He usually feels quite cheerful, not/miserable
10. He only has one cooking pot. not/complicated meals
F. Speak on Arthur's life. What do you think of this sort of life? Do you think Arthur is really a lucky man?
G. Speak on the advantages and disadvantages of living in a village.
H. Do you have any friends or relatives who live in a village? Who are they? What do they do? What is their life in the country like? Have you got a country house? Where is it? Have you got any conveniences in the house? Do you like life in the country?
David in the Snowstorm
In London it doesn't often snow, but when it does, life becomes very difficult for everyone. Cars have to go very slowly because the roads are covered in ice and wet snow, so there are traffic jams, and lots of people arrive late for work. The snow usually melts quickly and this makes the pavements dangerous and unpleasant to walk on. Only children really like the snow.
David works in the local library. He usually goes to work by bus, but this morning he's walking because there don't seem to be any buses. He is wearing his winter coat and a scarf, but it is still snowing and the wet snow is trickling down his neck, and making him feel very uncomfortable. He's looking forward to having a nice, hot cup of coffee.
A. Questions
1. Does it often snow in London? 2. What effect does the snow have on people's lives? 3. What happens to cars? 4. Do people arrive at work on time? 5. Does the snow melt quickly? 6. What is the result of the snow melting? 7. Who likes the snow very much? 8. Where does David work? 9. Why is he walking to work today? 10. What is he wearing? 11. What is trickling down
his neck? 12. What effect is this having on him? 13. What is David looking forward to?
B. Now dose the book and ask your own questions on the text.
C. What do you know about the English weather? What is the weather in your country like? What do you like winter (summer, autumn, spring) for? What don't you like about each season of the year?
D. Situation: David and you are talking about the weather inyour countries.
A. Dау in the life of Takashi Tackashimi
Takashi Takashimi, a fashion designer from Tokyo, talks to Margot Townsend.
I get up at about ten o'clock. I don't like getting up early. I never eat breakfast — I sometimes have a cup of tea. I eat nothing during the day. I just don't feel hungry at all.
I live about eight minutes from the office near Shibuya. I drive to the office every morning in my car — a black BMW. I always wear black or navy blue. I sometimes wear a white shirt or T-shirt but no bright colours.
I work from about noon till seven in the evening. I don't mind working late. Before a fashion show I usually work until eleven or twelve at night. I eat out in restaurants about six nights a week. I hate going to new restaurants. I usually go to a few old favourites.
I live with my daughter, who's eighteen. The house is always untidy. She doesn't like cooking or cleaning and nor do I! I spend no time at all in my house — it's not a big part of my life.
I usually stay in Tokyo at the weekend. I don't mind that because I hate making plans. The traffic in Tokyo is terrible but sometimes I just get in my car and drive.
I travel a lot. My work has taken me to different parts of the world.
A. Questions
1. Does Takashi get up early or late? 2. What colour clothes does he like wearing? 3. What sort of restaurants does he hate
going to? 4. Why is his home untidy? 5. Why does he spend his weekends in Tokyo? 6. Does he travel a lot?
B. What is Takashi's average day like? Is it very different from yours?
C. Situation: You and your friend are speaking about your daily routine.