Conversation Practice Listen, read and practise. 1 страница
1. Woman: (Phone rings) Hello?
Caller: Hello. I'm calling about the apartment you have for
rent. Is it still available? Woman: Yes, it is. Caller: Now, it says it's partly furnished. What furniture
does it have? Woman: Well, it has a dining table with six chairs, two sofas
in the living room, a bed, and... let's see... Oh, yes,
a stove and a refrigerator. Caller: Uh-huh. And, um, six hundred and eighty dollars a
month •— does that include electricity? Woman: Yes, it does. Caller: Oh, good! Well, I think I'd like to come and see it
When would be a good time?
Woman: How about this evening around seven o'clock? Caller: That'd be fine.
A. Roleplay the conversation.
2. Man: (Phone rings) Hello?
Caller: Hello. I'm calling about the studio apartment you're
advertising in the paper. Man: Yes, what would you like to know? Caller: Well, how big is it exactly? Man: Uh, it's about three hundred square feet. Caller: Oh, that's very small! Man: There's one room and then there's a separate small
kitchen.
Caller: Mm, well, what floor is it on? Man: It's on the thirty-fifth floor. It has a lovely view of
the city. Caller: Well, I think eight seventy-five is a bit too much
for my budget. Thanks anyway, bye.
A. Describe the apartment to let. Roleplay the conversation.
3. Woman: Hello, 224 6818.
Man: Hello, I'm phoning about the flat.
Woman: Of course. What would you like to know?
Man: Well, first, can you tell me where it is please? Is it
near some shops and the tube? Woman: Well, the flat is in Islington. We're only 100 metres
from the shops and a five minute walk from the
tube.
Man: That's a nice location. And how much does it cost? Woman: Three hundred and sixty pounds a month. And you
have to pay a month's deposit.
Man: I see, and is it a big flat? How many square metres is it? Woman: Oh, I don't know. There are two bedrooms and a
very large living room. Would you like to see it? Man: Yes, when can I come, please? Woman: Mm. Can you come this afternoon? About four?
It's number 2, Canbury Road. Man: Yes, that's fine. I'll see you then. Goodbye.
4. Questions
1. Why is the man phoning? 2. Where is the flat? 3. How much does it cost? 4. Is the flat large? 5. Does the man want to see the flat? 6. What time is he going to come?
B. Give a brief account of the conversation.
C. Roleplay the conversation.
D. Situation: You've read an advertisement for a flat to let. You need a small flat for yourself not far from the centre of the city. At the moment you are phoning to make some inquiries about the flat.
4. Mr Andrews: Hello?
Max Ripley: Hello, Mr Andrews? This is Max from Rip.
ley's Realty.
Mr Andrews: Hi. Have you found a house for me yet? Max Ripley: Yes, I have a great house to show you on Pad-ley Drive. It's only $ 200,000. Mr Andrews: Oh, that's too expensive for me. Max Ripley: I have another one on Bank Street. It's only
$85,000. But it only has one bedroom. Mr Andrews: Oh, that's not big enough. Max Ripley: Well, how about a house in the country? Mr Andrews: That sounds interesting. Max Ripley: Yes, it's fairly old, so it needs a little work.
But it's really nice, and has a lovely view. Mr Andrews: Well, what about the yard? Max Ripley: Oh, it's quite large. There's a beautiful apple
tree in the front yard. Mr Andrews: Sounds good! Uh, we have a dog. Is there a
fence around the yard? Max Ripley: Yes, there's an old-fashioned picket fence around
it. Very beautiful. Mr Andrews: Is there a big garage? And is there plenty of
room in the backyard?
Max Ripley: Well, yes. And it's within your price range. Mr Andrews: It sounds nice! My wife and I would like to
see it.
A. Questions
1. Who is Mr Ripley calling? Why? 2. How much is the house on Padley Drive? 3. Does the price suit Mr Andrews? 4. Wh} doesn't the house on Bank Street suit Mr Andrews? 5. Why does the house in the country sound interesting to Mr Andrews?
g. Give a brief account of the conversation. C. Roleplay the conversation.
E. Flat to let. Centre of town. Three rooms, central heating. Short let only. Tel: 544 9011 evenings.
Luxury flat to let. Short stay only. Three bedrooms, living room, dining room. Central heating, double glazing, TV, video, micro-wave, etc. Tel: 569 2927 days only.
House, town centre. Two large bedrooms. Near shops and bus station. Suit two couples or family. Only £65 per week. Tel: 0220 317991
Bedsit. Spacious bed-sitting room with small kitchen and bathroom. Suit one person or couple. £30 per week. Tel: 071432 023
Situation: You and your partner want to stay in a flat. Look at the advertisements above. Now telephone and ask for details about the flat. Ask also for an appointment.
5. Kelly is looking for a place to rent. She is talking to an agent.
Kelly: (Dials)
Agent: Good afternoon. Victoria Home Rentals. May I help
you? Kelly: Uh, yes. Hi. My name's Kelly McDonald and I'm
looking for a place to rent.
Agent: All right. Are you looking for an apartment or a house? Kelly: A house.
Agent: OK. And what's your price range? Kelly: Umm, about eight hundred to a thousand dollars a
month. My husband and I need a pretty big place for
our family... at least three bedrooms. Agent: OK. And do you have your own furniture? Kelly: Yes, we do.
Agent: Are you interested in a particular part of town? 4 Kelly: Well, both of our children are going to Webster High
School, so we'd like to find a place somewhere near
there.
Agent: All right. Anything else?
Kelly: Uh yes. We want a big yard because we have two dogs. Agent: Hmmm. Well, let me tell you what I have here.
Kelly: OK.
Agent: I think I have a place you and your family will like.
It's a nice four-bedroom house that's unfurnished, but
it's about five miles from the high school. Kelly: Oh! Well, that shouldn't be a problem. I'm sure there
are school buses. Agent: Oh, yes. And the house has a large yard. It even has u
fence around it, which would be perfect for your dogs. Kelly: Wow! It sounds too good to be true! It must be awfully
expensive. Agent: No, the rent is only seven hundred and fifty dollars a
month.
Kelly: That's wonderful! Agent: Would you like to see it? Kelly: Definitely! When could we come? Agent: How about four o'clock this afternoon? We can meet
at the house. The address is five-seven-two Bush Road...
A. Questions
\. What is Kelly looking for? 2. What is their price range? 3. Do they want a furnished house? 4. What particular part of town would they like? 5. Why do they want a big yard? 6. What sort ot house does the agent offer Kelly? 7. Is she going to see it?
B. Give a brief account of the conversation.
C. Roleplay the conversation.
D. Make up a similar conversation.
6. Landlady: 447 4716.
Student: Hello. Is that Mrs Davies?
Landlady: Speaking.
Student: Good afternoon. My name's Stephen Brent. I was given your address by the student accommodation agency. I understand you have a room to let.
Landlady: Yes, that's right. I've just got one room still vacant It's an attic room, on the second floor. It's rather small, but I'm sure you'll find it comfortable.
Student: I see. And how much do you charge for it?
Landlady: The rent's £25 a week. That includes electricity, but not gas.
Student: Has the room got central heating?
Landlady: No, it's a gas fire which keeps the room very warm.
Student: I see... And what about furniture? It is furnished, isn't it?
Landlady: Oh yes... Er... There's a divan bed in the corner with a new mattress on it. Er... Let me see... There's a small wardrobe, an armchair, a coffee table, a bookshelf...
Student: Is there a desk?
Landlady: Yes, there's one under the window. It's got plenty of drawers and there's a lamp on it.
Student: Oh good... Is there a washbasin in the room?
Landlady: No, I'm afraid there isn't a washbasin. But there's a bathroom just across the corridor, and that's got a washbasin and a shower as well as a bath. You share the bathroom with the people in the other rooms. The toilet is separate, but unfortunately it's on the floor below.
Student: Oh, that's all right... What about cooking? Can I | cook my own meals?
j Landlady: Well, there's a little kitchenette next to your room. \ It hasn't got a proper cooker in it, but there's a gas
! ring and an electric kettle by the sink. I find my
students prefer to eat at the university.
Student: I see. And is the room fairly quiet?
Landlady: Oh yes. It's at the back of the house. It looks onto the garden and it faces south, so it's bright and sunny, too. It's very attractive, really. And it's just under the roof, so it's got a low, sloping ceiling. Would you like to come and see it? I'll be in for the rest of the day.
Student: Yes, I'm very interested. It sounds like the kind of room I'm looking for. Can you tell me how to get there?
Landlady: Oh, it's very easy. The house is only five minutes' walk from Finchley Road tube station. Turn right outside the station, and then it's the third street on the left. You can't miss it. It's got the number on the gate. It's exactly opposite the cemetery.
A. Ask detailed questions on the text. Answer the questions
B. Describe the room to let.
C. Roleplay the conversation.
E. Flats to let. In centre of London. Two rooms, kitchen and bathroom. Central heating, double glazing. Short let only. Tel: 6043221.
Large flat. In good area N.I. Four rooms and balcony. Suit professional couple. Good location for shops and underground. Tel: 224 8818.
House to let. Walton-on-Thames. (30 mins from London) Short let only. Tel: 0932 41120
Situation You're looking for a good flat or a house to rent. Look at the advertisements above. Now telephone and ask for details. Also ask for an appointment.
(I=Interviewer; Mrs R.=Mrs Robinson)
I: Mrs Robinson. You live in Milton Keynes.
MrsR.: Yes, that's right.
I: Do you live in a house or in a flat?
MrsR.: I live in a house.
I: Is it an old house?
Mrs R.: No, it's new. Milton Keynes is all new.
I: Is it a large house?
Mrs R.: No, it's not very large.
I: How many bedrooms are there?
Mrs R.: There are three. Two large bedrooms and one small bedroom.
I: How large is the kitchen?
Mrs R.: I think it's eleven square metres.
I: Is there a garage?
Mrs R.: Yes, there is.
I: And do you like Milton Keynes?
Mrs R.: Yes, I do. I like it a lot. I live in a semi-detached house, with three bedrooms, two living rooms, a kitchen and one bathroom. It's also got a large
garden. The two living rooms are very large, and two of my bedrooms are also large, fifteen square metres, nine square metres and eight square metres, I think. The kitchen is ten square metres.
A. Questions
1. Where does Mrs Robinson live? 2. Does she live in a house or in a flat? 3. Does she seem to like her house or not? 4. Is the house old or new? 5. How many bedrooms are there? 6. Are they large? 7. How many living rooms are there? 8. Are they large? 9. Is there a garage?
B. You are Mrs Robinson. Speak about your house.
C. Roleplay the conversation.
D. Find out which of your classmates lives in a house. Ask him/ her questions about the house.
Mr Tard: Good morning, Mr Menning. How are you?
Mr Menning: Fine, thank you. How are you?
Mr Tard: Fine, thanks. I am on my way home. Do you
want to see my new house? Mr Menning: Yes, I do. Is it far? Mr Tard: No, I walk to the college every morning. It takes
about 10 minutes. Mr Menning:! like this street.
Mr Tard: It's Maple Street. Here is our house now. Mr Menning: You've got a beautiful yard, Mr Tard.
Mr Tard: Thank you. My family enjoys it very much. We spend a lot of time here in the summer. Please, come in. Mr Menning:Your living-room is very attractive. I like your large windows. Mr Tard: We like plenty of light.
Mr Menning:Is your furniture new? It seems quite modern. Mr Tard: Yes, it's new. My wife and I like modern furni- ture. It's very comfortable. In fact we have a com-
fortable house.
Mr MenningiDo you have a bedroom downstairs?
Mr Tard: No, our three bedrooms are upstairs. Downstairs we have a living-room, a dining-room and'a kitchen. We have a bathroom downstairs too. We have a toilet and a wash-basin.
Mr Menning:Do you have a bathroom upstairs too?
Mr Tard: Yes, the upstairs bathroom has a tub and a shower. And, of course, it has a toilet and a wash basin.
Mr Merming:Do you have a large family, Mr Tard? -
Mr Tard: We have three children. Our two boys have their room and the baby-girl has her room. They use the yard for their play-room in the summer.
Mr Menning: Do they have a play-room in the winter?
Mr Tard: They use the boys' room. It's quite large.
Mr Menning: I like your living-room very much. Do you own your home?
Mr Tard: No, we rent our house but we want to buy a house soon. We enjoy ours. Please, drop in again.
Mr Menning: Thank you very much.
A. Questions
1. Is Mr Tard's house far from the college? 2. In what street is his house? 3. Has he got a beautiful yard? 4. Is the living-room attractive? 5. Is the furniture old or new? 5. How many bedrooms are there? 6. Are they downstairs or upstairs? 7. Is Mr Tard's family large? 6. Where do the children have their play-room in the summer and in the winter?
B. You are Mr Tard. Speak about your new house.
C. Roleplay the conversation.
D. Situation: You are at your friend's house. It is large and comfortable, it is also well furnished. You compliment your friend on the flat and the furniture.
E. Have you ever been to the USA? What is a typical American house like?
Tom: Have you moved to your new apartment yet, Fred?
Fred: Yes, we moved in last Saturday.
Tom: So, how do you like it?
Fred: Oh, it's great! There's plenty of room, and it's quiet, too.
Tom: Yeah? Uh, what's the building like? Does it have a pool?
Fred: No, it doesn't have a pool, but there's a big yard for the
kids to play in. Tom: It sounds nice.
Fred: It is. Why don't you come over this weekend and see it? Tom: So, Fred, tell me about your new neighbourhood. What's
it like? Fred: Well, the location is really convenient. We can walk
everywhere ... to the post office, the bank, the grocery
store... Tom: Great!
Fred: And we're only a ten-minute walk from downtown. Tom: Hey, that's nice! But, uh, isn't there a lot of traffic? Fred: No, not really. Uh, even though we're close to downtown, our apartment is on a side street, so it's quiet...
there's not much traffic at all. Tom: Mm, that's good! Fred: And besides all those conveniences, the neighbourhood
has another big advantage... Tom: Oh? What's that? Fred: There's a terrific Chinese restaurant right across the
street from our apartment. You know how my wife and
I both hate to cook! Tom: (Laughs) I sure do.
366
A. Ask and answer questions on the text.
B. You are Fred. Speak about your new apartment.
C. Roleplay the conversation.
D. Pair work:Talk about the place where you live. Ask these and other questions of your own.
Your home
Do you live in a house or an apartment? 367
How long have you lived there?
How big is it?
Does it have...?
Do you like it there?
Is there anything you don't like about it?
Your neighbourhood
What are your neighbours like?
What kind of neighbourhood is it?
Do a lot of families with young children live there?
Are there many older people living there?
Are there any shops in the neighbourhood?
Is there good transportation nearby?
What do you like most about the neighbourhood?
Is there anything you don't like about it?
E. Write a paragraph like this about your home and neighbourhood.
I live in a two-bedroom apartment. It's on the tenth floor of a large apartment building near the downtown area, and the rent is fairly reasonable. It's quite a nice area to live in because there are lots of shops and restaurants neafby. However, sometimes it is too noisy at night because of all the buses and cars that go by. Even though it isn't perfect, I wouldn't want to move. I can easily walk to work in ten minutes, and my neighbours are very friendly.
Andy and Rose live in Bristol. One evening they invite their friend, Mike, to visit them.
(Door chime)
Andy: Come in Mike.
Mike: Hello. Sorry I'm late Rose.
Rose: What's the matter Mike? You don't look too good.
Mike: Oh, I'm all right. I'm just a bit tired, that's all.
Rose: Come and sit down. Would you like a glass of wine?
Mike: Yes ... thanks, (drinks) Oh, that's delicious.
Andy: Why are you so tired Mike?
Mike: I've got a new flat. I'm busy getting furniture for it.
Andy: That's great! Where is it? Is it near your work?
Mike: It's in Clifton. It's a long way from the office but there's
a good bus service. It only takes half an hour. Rose: Tell us about the flat. Is it nice?
Mike: Yes, it's on the top floor of a house in Belldock Avenue ... er ... number 34.
Rose: How big is it? I mean... how many rooms?
Mike: Well, it's got a lovely sitting room... There's a big window in it.,. I can see Elsley Park. Then there's a nice bedroom at the back.
Rose: What about the kitchen and the bathroom ... what are they like?
Mike: The bathroom's rather small... but... er... the kitchen's nice and big.
Andy: What sort of furniture have you got?
Mike: Well, I haven't got very much furniture yet. I bought a fridge and a cooker today. They were very expensive!
Andy: Where did you get them? Did you buy them in a shop?
Mike: Yes, at Curry's in the High Street.
Andy: Why don't you look in the newspaper? I was looking at some advertisements this afternoon. There were lots of advertisements for furniture.
Mike: Yes, that's a good idea. I want to buy some furniture for the sitting room.
Rose: Andy, would you like some more wine?
Andy: No, thanks. And why don't we go out and eat?
Rose: Oh, I don't know ... er... what do you think Mike? Are you feeling better?
Mike: Yes, I'm fine. I'd love to go out and eat.
Andy: Good. Where shall we go? Any suggestions?
Rose: There's a new Chinese restaurant in South Street...
Mike: I'm not so keen on Chinese food... There's an Italian restaurant near my new flat... How about going there?
Rose: Yes, I love Italian food.
Andy: So do I.
Mike: Good. Let's go then. I can show you my new flat after the meal.
Andy: Fine, where are my car keys...
A. Questions
1. Why does Mike look tired? 2. Where is his new flat? 3. Is it far
from his office? 4. How many rooms are there in his flat? 5. What are the rooms like? 6. What furniture has Mike got? 7. Is he going to buy any more furniture? 8. What are the three friends going to do?
B. Give a brief account of the conversation.
C. Roleplay the conversation.
D. Situation: Your friend is moving to a new flat. He says he likes it very much. You want to know where his new flat is, whether it's large or small, whether it's high up, if the layout of the rooms is nice and the like.
E. Where do your classmates live? Find out about their homes.
The bell rings. Susan's mother is at the door.
Mother: Hallo dear. Oh! I see I've arrived too late. You've
almost completely settled in.
Susan: Not quite. By the way, I didn't expect you to come
here to work. Come in! I'll show you the flat. This
is the living room, which isn't completely furnished
* yet, but it's comfortable enough to receive my friends,
isn't it?
Mother: Well of course! And that balcony is really very useful. You should plant some flowers there. Susan: Don't worry mother. I'll plant some soon. But come and have a look at my bedroom. For the moment there's only a bed and a cupboard, but you'll see, when I've got some bookshelves and a desk I'll be able to work quite nicely. Mother: And what's more, a tiled bathroom! Susan: I must say I looked for nearly six months. I asked estate agents and friends and went through advertisements.
Mother: I hope the rent isn't too high. Susan: No. It's quite reasonable. But I've been lucky because most of the flats I was offered were less comfortable and the rents were too high. Mother: You've done very well! You're really very lucky.
A. Questions
1. Was Susan expecting her mother to help her settle into the new flat? 2. What does Susan say about the room? 3. What is the balcony like? 4. What suggestion does Susan's mother make regarding the balcony? 5. What furniture is there in the bedroom? 6. What pieces of furniture is Susan planning to get? 7. Had Susan been looking for a flat for a long time? 8. What did she do in order to find a flat? 9. Is the rent of the flat expensive? 10. Why does Susan believe she has been lucky?
B. Here is a reported version of the conversation. Study and practise it.
The bell rings.
Susan's mother is at the door.
They say hello. Susan's mother is surprised to see that Susan has almost completely settled in. Susan says she will show her the flat. They look into the living room, which is not completely furnished yet, but is comfortable enough to receive friends. Susan's mother comments on the balcony which is very large and sunny. She suggests that Susan should plant some flowers there. Then they look into the bedroom. For the moment there is only a bed and a cupboard there but, as Susan says, when she has got some bookshelves and a desk she'll be able to work nicely. Her mother is very impressed with the tiled bathroom. Susan mentions that she looked for a flat for nearly six months. She asked estate agents and friends and went through advertisements. Her mother enquires about the rent. Susan reassures her and tells her it is quite reasonable. She also thinks she has been lucky because most of the flats she was offered were less comfortable and the rents were too high. Her mother congratulates her and says Susan is really very lucky.
Note: enquire = inquire . C. Roleplay the conversation.
I D. Situation: You are showing your friend your flat. Both you and i your guest make some comments on the flat, the furniture, etc.
| E. How often have you moved in the last five years? In your life-1 time?
F. Imagine you are about to move to a new neighbourhood. Find out all the details about it.
G. Situation: You talk about your new flat and compare it with the old one.
Listening
Judson Webb was an American businessman. He had a comfortable flat in New York but in summer he left the city and went to the country. There he had a cottage of three rooms, a bathroom and a kitchen. In one of the rooms there was a big closet where he kept his guns, fishing-rods, wine and other things. He liked his cottage very much, especially his own closet and he got very angry when anybody else entered his closet and touched his things.
It was autumn now and Judson was packing his things for the winter. When he looked at the shelf on which the whisky stood his face changed. All the bottles were unopened except one. The bottle was less than half full. As he took it from the shelf, Helen, his wife, came into the room carrying her suitcase. She stopped and looked in surprise as she saw the bottle of whisky in her husband's hand. She watched her husband take small white tablets out of his pocket and put them one by one into the bottle. Helen's face became pale. She looked at her husband in horror. "What are they?" she asked at last. "Will they make the thief sick?"
"Not only sick. They will kill him," he answered with satisfaction.
He closed the bottle and put it back on the shelf. He looked pleased.
"Don't do it Judson," Helen cried. "It's murder. What right have you to punish the man if he steals a little whisky?"
"It's my house and I make my laws here. A thief is a thief."
She knew it was useless to argue with him. He had always been ruthless. She went to the door.
"I'll walk down the road and say good-bye to the caretaker's wife," she said quietly. She made up her mind to tell the caretaker's wife about it. Someone had to know.
"All right, my dear," he smiled, "and don't worry about your poor little thief. No one will be hurt unless he drinks some whisky."
Helen went down the road and Judson started to close the closet door. He suddenly remembered he had not packed his hunting boots lying on the table in the garden. He left the door open and went to the garden to fetch them. But when he wanted to take his boots he suddenly slipped on a stone and his head struck the heavy table as he fell.
Several minutes later he felt a strong arm round him and the caretaker's voice was saying: "It's all right, Mr Webb. Take this — it'll make you feel better."
A small whisky-glass was pressed to his lips. Half-conscious, he drank.
A. Questions
1. Where did the Webbs spend the summer? 2. What did Judson notice when he was packing his things? 3.What did he do? 4. Did his wife approve of that? 5. What did she decide to do? 6. What happened some time later?
Reading
Over half the people in Britain live in their own houses, about a third live in property rented from the local council and one in eight live in privately-rented accommodation. The total number of dwellings is more than 22 million and houses are much more common than flats (the ratio is approximately four to one). More than 40 per cent of families live in a home built after 1945.
Although the number of houses built during the 1980s went down (especially in the public housing sector traditionally provided by local authorities) the number of people owning their own homes has more than trebled in the last thirty-five years: in 1951 only 4 million dwellings were owned by the people who lived in them; by 1988 it was more than 13 million and still rising. Under the Conservative government many people who previously rented their homes from the local council were given the opportunity to buy them. There are tax incentives for people who buy their own homes.
Buying a house is a large financial investment for many people and the majority buy their homes with a mortgage loan from a
building society or bank. The loan is repaid in monthly instalments over a period of twenty years or more. Some people rent or buy accommodation through housing associations which provide a financial alternative to the mortgage system. There has also been an increase in the amount of accommodation for older people, as the number of pensioners increases. Accommodation known as "sheltered" housing provides homes (with some degree of assistance) for elderly and disabled people.
The standard of housing has improved but while most of the old slum areas in cities have been cleared, many of the large square blocks of flats which replaced them as part of the high-rise housing programme of the 1960s have been criticized as being badly designed and built. Some have been pulled down and replaced with low-rise housing. However, because fewer houses were built and more council property was sold off, there were fewer houses available, especially for young people and those who could not afford a mortgage. House prices tend to adjust according to how much money people are earning (with occasional "booms" in property prices): in Britain the cost of buying somewhere to live varies considerably according to the area.
A. Questions
1. What are the three types of housing mentioned? 2. What is the ratio of houses to flats in Britain? 3. What has happened to home ownership in Britain? 4. What is happening to housing rented from local authorities in Britain? 5. Explain the following, "sheltered" housing, a mortgage, a slum area. 6. What differences are there between housing in Britain and in your country?