Listen to the conversation below. Mark the intonation and be prepared to comment on it. Practise reading the dialogue together with a partner.

 

“Granny, have I any cousins?”

“Yes, Benny, you have two.”

“Whose children are they? How old are they? Are they boys or girls?”

“Not so many questions at once, please, Benny! Your cousins are: a five-year-old boy, Georgie, and a four-year-old girl, May. They are your Aunt Emily’s children. They are in Canada now with their parents: your Aunt Emily, my daughter, and her husband, Mr. Thomas Brown.”

“In Canada? What’s Canada, Granny? Where is it?”

“Canada is a far away country. It is in the north of America.”

“In the north of America? Where is it? Is it as far as London?”

“Oh, no, Benny! It’s much farther.”

“But, Granny – “

“Come along, my dearest. It’s just the time for your midday milk.”

 


SECTION 2: SOUND REVISION

Exercise 1

 

Look at the pictures and listen. Read the sentences together with the tape. Pay attention to the ‘th’ sound.

 

 

Exercise 2

Listen to the dialogues. Practise reading them with a partner. Make sure your [ θ ] and [ ð ] sounds are correct.

 

Dialogue A

: Edith smith is only thirty.

: Is she? I thought she was thirty-three.

: Edith’s birthday was last Thursday.

: Was it? I thought it was last month.

: The Smiths’ house is worth thirty thousand pounds.

: Is it? I thought it was worth three thousand.

: Mr. Smith is the author of a book about moths.

: Is he? I thought he was a mathematician.

: I’m so thirsty.

: I thought you drank something at the Smiths’.

: No. Edith gave me nothing to drink.

: Shall I buy you a drink?

: Thank you.

Dialogue B

: Sally, have you got anything planned for Thursday?

: For Thursday, Simon?

: For Thursday the 13th. It’s my birthday, you see.

: Simon! Your birthday! Thank heavens you said!

: Yes, I’m going to be thirty-three. I thought I’d throw a party or something to

celebrate.

: What a super idea!

: Do you think you’ll be free?

: For Thursday? Yes, I think so.

: Fine, so I’ll see you soon. It starts at six.

: Yes, thanks… oh, and Simon…

: Yes?

: So I’m so slow.

Exercise 3

 

Look at the pictures and listen. Practise saying the sentences paying attention to the sound [f].

 

Exercise 4

 

Listen and then practise saying the following sentences first very slowly, then faster. Pay attention to the correct articulation of the sounds [b] and [v].

 

a. Vincent brought Brenda a marvelous souvenir vase he’d bought in Venice.

b. Bob Viney, the village baker’s boy, loves betty Vole, the barmaid at “The Bull’.

c. Vera Bathory, the Viennese vampire, bathes every evening in buckets of blood.

d. A visiting burglar broke victor Barton’s marble bust of Voltaire into various bits.

e. Valentine Barlowe, the TV ventriloquist, lives in “Belleview’ – a vast brick villa built in 1812.

 

 

Exercise 5

Listen to the tape and practise saying the following headlines.

British Van Driver Banned from Costa Brava Bar

 

Bomb Victim Vivienne Gives Birth to Baby Boy

 

Brighton Vicar Leaves ‘Boring’ Wife for Blond Barmaid

 

Brave Bob Saves Baby Vicki from Blazing Bedroom

 

Violent Bolivian Lover Obsessed by Vow of Revenge

 

Exercise 6

 

Listen to the sentences below. Practise saying them paying attention to the sound [w].

 


Exercise 7

 

Match the questions and the answers, then listen and check your answers. Practise reading them in pairs.

 

1. Where was Wendy while they were watching the whales?   2. What was wrong with the weather on Wednesday?   3. Which wine would you like, Winifred?   4. When were they walking in Wales?   5. Why were Wayne and Wanda whispering? a. While we were in Hawaii.     b. The sweet white one, Walter.     c. Working in Washington.   d. They didn’t want Will to worry.   e. It was wet and windy.

 

 

Exercise 8

 

Listen to the dialogue. Practise reading it. Watch for the correct articulation of the sounds [w] and [v].

 

: Did you see Victor on Wednesday, Wendy?

: Yes. We went for a walk in the woods near the railway.

: Wasn’t it cold on Wednesday?

: Yes. It was very cold and wet. We wore warm clothes and walked quickly to keep

warm.

: It’s lovely and quiet in the woods.

: Yes. Further away from the railway it was very quite, and there were wild squirrels

everywhere. We counted twenty squirrels.

: How wonderful! Twenty squirrels! And did you take lunch with you?

: Yes. About twelve we had veal sandwiches and sweet white wine, and we watched

the squirrels. It was a very nice walk.

 

 

Exercise 9

 

Listen to the sentences, practise saying them first slowly and then faster. Pay attention to the [h]s.

 

a. Helen has cut her own hair again – it’s absolutely horrible!

 

b. Have you heard about Hannah’s horrific adventure in Hamburg?

 

c. Henry’s uncle Herbert has had another heart attack in hospital.

 

d. Old Hugh hasn’t eaten his ham and eggs already, has he?

 

e. Hazel and Alan have had another unhappy holiday hitchhiking in Austria

and Hungary.

 

 

Exercise 10

 

Put the jumbled sentences below in the correct order. Listen to the tape and compare your answers. Repeat each sentence with the tape.

 

a. helped/ I have?

b. hamburgers/ hate/ eating/ I!

c. in/ Abigail/ here/ hovered/ has?

d. Aunt Hannah/ Alan Harbord/ his/ adores.

e. heart attack/ had/ Harriet Elston/ old/ a.

f. Helmut/ Anna/ hurriedly/ about/ asked/ English/ homework/ his.

g. overcoat/ a/ Arthur Harris/ in/ always/ handkerchief/ his/ has.

 

 

Exercise 11

 

Listen to the dialogue. Practise saying it line by line, then read it with a partner.

M: Who’s that with Henry Higgins?

W: It’s his wife, Hazel.

M: Hazel? But his wife’s name’s Helen!

W: Oh no, Helen left him… he’s married to Hazel now.

M: No! How did it happen?

W: Well, you know last Easter, Henry and Helen had a holiday in Honolulu.

M: Yes… What happened?

W: They had a horrible holiday, and when they arrived home, Helen left him!

M: I see.. and who are those horrid little girls?

W: Holly and Hannah, Hazel’s children from her first marriage.

M: But Henry hates children!

W: Mm… how interesting!

 

 

Exercise 12

 

Listen to the dialogue, write it down, then practise reading it, paying attention to the [s] sounds.

 

Helpful phrases:

 

Water-skiing

The Six Star Hotel

 

 

Exercise 13

 

Listen to and practise reading the following text, paying attention to the difference in the articulation of the sounds [s] and [ S ].

 

Sheila is a a receptionist at the International Hotel in Chicago. At the moment she’s studying Spanish.

 

 

Exercise 14

Listen to the tape and put down the sentences you hear. Practise saying them as fast as possible.

 

 

Exercise 15

 

Listen to the following headlines and practise saying them.

 

English Shoppers Short of Cash

 

Swedish Fashion Show Shocks British

 

Inflation Hits Russian Champagne

 

Ambitious Scottish Receptionist Shoots Boss

 

Irish Fishing Ship Sinks in Pacific Ocean

 

 

Exercise 16

 

Listen to the tongue-twisters. Practise saying them very slowly first and then faster. Make sure you pronounce the sounds [s], [z], [ S ], [ Z ], [ C ], [ G ] correctly.

 

A.

a. Which of Shirley Hatchard’s children stole a portion of cherry cheesecake from the kitchen shelf?

 

b. Sheila Charlton’s Czech washing machine chewed up Richard Sheridan’s checked shorts.

 

c. The rich Turkish sugar merchant purchased a shining Porsche for his Chinese chauffeur to polish.

 

d. Sasha, the Russian chess champion, chased Sharon, the Scottish chambermaid,

round the kitchen floor, so Sharon showed Sasha the door.

 

B.

a. In his youth, Jerry Josephs, the New York millionaire, used to play jazz on a huge

German tuba.

 

b. Julian Jones is jealous of Eunice’s Jaguar, but Eunice Jones is jealous of Jason’s

jacuzzi, and Jason Jones is jealous of Julian’s yacht.

 

c. That fabulous jade unicorn is the most beautiful Japanese statue in any

European museum.

 

d. Journalist Jane Young stupidly damaged George Joyce’s new yellow jeep on the

edge of the bridge.

 

 

Exercise 17

Listen to the dialogue, mark the intonation and practise reading it with a partner.

 

Jim: Excuse me. Did you use to live in York?

Jack: Yes.

Jim: Did you use to be a tutor at the University?

Jack: Yes. For a few years.

Jim: do you remember Hugh Young? He was a music student.

Jack: Hugh Young? Did he use to have a huge yellow jeep?

Jim: Yes. And he used to play beautiful tunes on the tuba.

Jack: Yes, I knew Hugh. He used to be a very stupid student. Do you have any news of Hugh?

Jim: Yes. He’s a millionaire now in New York.

Jack: A millionaire? Playing the tuba?

Jim: Oh, no. He produces jam in tubes, and tins of sausages and onion stew, and sells them in

Europe. I read about Hugh in the Newspaper yesterday.

Jack: Oh! Well, he wasn’t so stupid.

Exercise 18

Listen to the dialogue and prepare its model reading, trying to imitate the intonation.

Jerry: Just outside this village there’s a very dangerous bridge.

John: Yes. Charles told me two jeeps crashed on it in January. What happened?

Jerry: Well George Churchill was the driver of the larger jeep, and he was driving

very dangerously. He’d been drinking gin.

John: George Churchill? Do I know George Churchill?

Jerry: Yes. That ginger-haired chap. He’s the manager of the travel agency in

Chester.

John: Oh, yes. I remember George. He’s always telling jokes. Well, was anybody

injured?

Jerry: Oh, yes. The other jeep went over the edge of the bridge, and two children and

another passenger were badly injured.

John: Were both the jeeps damaged?

Jerry: Oh, yes.

John: And what happened to George?

Jerry: George? He’s telling jokes in jail now, I suppose!

Exercise 19

 

Match up the following mini-dialogues. Listen to the keys and practise reading the sentences, paying attention to the [ ŋ ] sounds in them.

 

a. Captain! I think we are sinking.     b. have you got an English-Hungarian dictionary?     c. This orange looks strange, Miss.     d. We’re not inviting that boring old thing for Christmas. 1. All right, Angela, you can exchange it for another one.   2. But darling, he’s single, ninety-nine, and his only niece lives in Montreal.   3. Incredible! They said the Titanic was unsinkable!     4. Bilingual dictionaries are with the foreign language books on the second floor, sir.

 

 

Exercise 20.

 

Put the jumbled sentences below into the correct order. Listen to the tape and check your answers. Practise saying them.

 

a. skating rink/ Aunt Angela/ at a/ a tango/ Uncle Frank/ Birmingham/ with/ while dancing/ banged/ her ankle

 

b. at the pretty, young singer/ in a singles’ bar/ winked/ drinking/ the Hong Kong gangster/ singing romantic sings/ a gin sling

 

c. tongue/ pink/ long/ this/ string/ what’s/ Angus King’s/ that/ on?

 

d. hanged/ for killing/ a boxing ring/ wrongfully/ a Singapore dancer/ Washington banker/ outside/ was/ a

 

Exercise 21

 

Listen to the dialogue, write it down, mark the intonation. Prepare model reading of the dialogue.

 

Ruth librarian

Laura waitress

Rita electrician

Rosemary

Roland

 

 

Exercise 22

 

Listen and practise reading the headlines below. Pay attention to the sound [ W ].

 

BIRMINGHAM GIRL MURDERED

 

Nurse Kirsty marries in Turkey

 

Prince Albert’s thirtieth birthday

 

GERMAN UNIVERSITY BURNS

 

British workers ‘worst in world’

 

Exercise 23

 

Listen to the dialogue. Prepare its model reading. Work with a partner.

 

Sir Herbert: Nurse!

Colonel Burton: Nurse! I’m thirsty!

Sir Herbert: Nurse! My head hurts!

Colonel Burton: NURSE!

Sir Herbert: Curse these nurses!

Colonel Burton: Nurse Sherman always wears such dirty shirts.

Sir Herbert: And such short skirts.

Colonel Burton: She never arrives at work early.

Sir Herbert: She and …er…Nurse Turner weren’t at work on Thursday, were

they?

Colonel Burton: No, they weren’t.

Sir Herbert: Nurse Sherman is the worst nurse in the ward, isn’t she?

Colonel Burton: No, she isn’t. She’s the worst nurse in the world!

Exercise 24

 

A. Listen to the following phrases, practise saying them. Pay attention to the short and long [u] sounds.

 

 

sugar cubes blue wool a full moon a stupid wolf a school bully football boots fruit juice good looks a beautiful woman a cookery book new toothpaste a rude butcher a huge computer Peruvian music

 

 

B. Listen to some more phrases, put them down and practise reading them.

Make up sentences of your own, using as many of the phrases as possible.

 


Exercise 25

 

Below are some common English sayings and proverbs. Work out their meanings and practise reading the proverbs.

 

a. No news is good news.

b. I wouldn’t like to be in your shoes.

c. He’s getting too big for his boots.

d. The proof of the pudding id in the eating.

e. It’s too good to be true.

f. He’s got a screw loose.

 

 

Exercise 26

Put down all the words you hear on the tape. Concentrate on the sounds [ O: ] and [әu]. Check for the spelling in a good dictionary.

Invent your own tongue twisters using as many words and phrases from the exercise as possible.

 

 

Exercise 27

 

Listen to the mini-dialogues, write them down and practise reading them, paying attention to the differences in articulation of the vowels [ O ], [ O :], [ әu ].

 

 

Exercise 28

Listen to and practise saying the sentences. Start by saying them slowly and then faster. Make sure you pronounce the [ æ ] and [ A ] sounds correctly.

 

a. The young man was wearing fashionable sunglasses, black gloves, and a gangster’s hat.

 

b. The wasp that’s trapped in the jar of blackcurrant jam is buzzing angrily.

 

c. Thank you very much for coming to pay back that money you borrowed on Monday, Danny.

 

d. While cutting up lamb the drunken butcher hacked off his thumb with a hatchet.

 

e. My husband had a double brandy, my mother wanted apple juice, but I drank champagne.

 

 

Exercise 29

Listen to the dialogue, write it down and practise reading it with a partner.

 

Exercise 30

 

 

Listen to and practise reading the following phrases, paying attention to the short and long [i] sounds. Make up similar phrases of your own.

 

English teachers Greek islands Swiss cheese Irish whiskey Italian ice-cream Indian tea Swedish films Egyptian spices

 

Exercise 32.

Listen to Jenny talking about her holiday. Are thebold sounds [e] or [ei]? Practise reading the paragraph.

 

Last year, I went to Spain on holiday with my friend Jane. The hotel was great, but the weather was terrible! It rained every day for ten days!

 

 

Exercise 33

 

Listen to the dialogue, mark the intonation. Practise reading the dialogue, paying attention to the correct articulation of the diphthong [ai ].

Myra: (smiling) Hello, Mike!

Mike: Hello, Myra. Hello, Violet! You’re looking nice, Violet. (silence)

Mike: Would you like some ice-cream, Violet?

Violet: No thanks, Mike. I’m busy typing. Talk to me some other time. I have

ninety-nine pages to type by Friday.

Mike: Never mind. Do you like riding, Violet?

Violet: Sometimes.

Mike: Would you like to come riding with me tonight, Violet?

Violet: Not tonight, Mike. I’m going for a drive with Nigel.

Mike: What about Friday?

Violet: I’m going climbing with Miles.

Mike: Hm! Oh, all right. ‘Bye!

Myra: Violet, he’s put something behind your typewriter.

Violet: Is it something nice, Myra?

Myra: No. It’s a spider.

 

Exercise 34

Put the following jumbled sentences into the correct order. Listen and compare your answers with the tape. Practise saying the sentences. Make sure your [au] is correct.

 

a. lying/ this morning/ ₤ 50/ I found/ I town/ on the ground/ I was/ when.

 

b. ‘s going to/ now/ round/ Laura/ you/ the house/ show.

 

c. downstairs/ shower room/ in the/ we caught/ mouse/ little/ a/ this morning/ brown.

 

d. and/ they’ve got/ you/ know/ town/ country/ house/ a/ a/ house.

 

e. from/ the/ they/ to the/ tower/ ground/ cow/ of the/ the/ lowered/ window.

 

 

Exercise 35

A. Listen and then read the phonemic symbols paying attention to the correct articulation of the diphthongs.

 

a. [ ә riәl biәd ]

 

b. [ ә leizi dei ]

 

c. [ fεә hεә ]

 

d. [ nOizi bOiz ]

 

e. [ ә kәuld nәuz ]

 

f. [ ә brait lait ]

 

g. [ ә laud ∫aut ]

 

B. Listen to the phrases and fill in the gaps, then listen again and practise saying the phrases.

 

a. a __________ combing his _______

b. a __________ wearing a _________

c. a __________ making a __________

d. a __________ holding a __________

e. a __________ drinking a _________

f. a __________ saying ____________

g. Mr. ________ asking the _________

 

 


SECTION 3: BASIC COURSE

 

Principles of Classification of English Consonants