Unit 6 topic: house. Flat. Renting a flat

Listen, read and practise.

 

Cliff had been given notice to leave his lodgings. His landlady who was elderly and unmarried did not like his habit of giving noisy parties. She liked his habit of practising the guitar in the early hours of the morning even less. He bought a copy of the local paper and turned to the Accommodation Vacant page. There were a good many advertisements for rooms to let, but most of them were either too far out or too expensive. Finally, right at the end of the last column on the page (lines 7-8) he found one that seemed suitable. The rent was reasonable and it was in the centre of the town.

He went round to the address, and ringing the bell, waited. The man who came to the door was middle-aged and had a round, smilmg face. But the main thing Cliff noticed was that he was wearing a very long and shabby overcoat which had no buttons on it.

"I believe you have a room to let," Cliff said.

"That is so, yes. Won't you come in?"

The house was rather sparsely furnished. It was chilly too arid smelt a bit damp, which was probably the reason, Cliff thought, why the man wore an overcoat indoors. Though this did not explain why the overcoat hadn't got any buttons.

He was shown the room, a good-sized bed-sitter (i.e. bedroom and sitting-room combined) on the first floor, looking out over the street. There was a chest-of-drawers and a wardrobe against one wall, a double-bed against another, and on the floor a plun coloured carpet with ink marks on it. The walls were pale green The ceiling had cracks in it and needed a coat of paint. There wa a large sash window with faded curtains.

"This seems all right," Cliff said.

"I'm glad you like it," the man said. "The rent is nine pound a week."

"It says eight in the advertisement."

The man smiled. "I hate arguing about money," he said. "Just for you, as a friendly gesture, I will reduce the rent to eight."

Cliff did not see how this could be regarded as a reduction, but he did not think it was worth arguing about. "Does that include breakfast?" he said.

"No."

"Are there any cooking facilities?"

"Yes, you can have the use of the kitchen certainly."

"Would there be any objection to me having a small electric fire in here?"

"Small or large, as you like. It makes no difference to me, since you will be paying for it." The man laughed, as if it was a good joke.

"There is a separate meter for electricity, as there is for gas," he said.

Cliff now mentioned the point which really interested him most. "Are there any restrictions," he said, "such as not having parties, or not being allowed baths, or not being able to practise my guitar?"

"Good heavens, no. I want you to feel free here. I want you to behave as if you were at home. The only restrictions are financial ones."

"What does that mean?"

"It means paying in advance, paying weekly and in cash please, not by cheque."

"I'd better think it over," Cliff said.

"I like you," the man said. "I took to you the moment I saw you. That is why I reduced the rent. I am often away on business. Making a living today is hard work, and I want someone like you, a reliable young man, to look after things while I'm away."

Cliff was not used to being described as reliable. The landlord struck him as eccentric and perhaps a bit untrustworthy, but the room was cheap, and being able to do as he pleased appealed to him very much.

"All right," he said. "I'll take it. I'd like to move in next Saturday, if that's all right with you."

"Fine." The man smiled more broadly than ever, and held out his hand. "My name is Joseph. I am sure we shall be good friends. Making friends is very important. You might care to pay a small deposit. As a guarantee, you know. Shall we say five pounds?

Thank you. Now let's have a drink on it. I've got some excellent sherry. I got it cheap, through a friend. Excuse me a moment."

A few minutes later Joseph came back with the sherry. Cliff sipped his sherry; the sherry tasted like petrol.

"Can I have my receipt for my £5?" he said.

A. Questions

I. Why did Cliff have to look for a flat? 2. What sort of paper did he buy? 3. What was wrong with most of the rooms? 4. Where was the advertisement that seemed suitable? 5. What was the man who came to the door like? 6. What was strange about the man's overcoat? 7. How did the house smell? 8. Where was the room? 9. What colour were the walls? 10. What really interested Cliff most? 11. How did Joseph want the rent paid? 12. What was Cliff not used to? 13. How did the landlord strike Cliff? 14 Why did he decide to take the room?

B. Retell the text.

C. Special Difficulties

I. Join these sentences with the conjunctions to say why. More than one order is possible.

1. Service in this hotel ought taimprove. There's been a change of management, (because)

Service in this hotel ought to improve because there's been a change of management.

2. The Air Traffic Controllers are on strike. We have cancelled our holiday, (as)

3. She's never in when I phone. I'll have to write to her. (sincej

4. I've had to have the document translated. I can't read Rus­sian, (since)

5. He phoned the police. He had lost his wallet, (because)

6. It was such a beautiful day. We decided to have a picnic, (as)

7. All the seats on the train were taken. We had to stand, (since)

8. We couldn't drive across the bridge. It was closed, (because)

9. We were late. We didn't get any food, (since)

П. Join these sentences using the conjunctions in brackets to introduce contrast. More than one order is possible.

• eg She has plenty of money. She is very mean, (although) Although she has plenty of money, she is very mean.

1. I'm going to buy a computer. I haven't got much money, (even though) 2. They have a car. They rarely use it. (though) 3. He was innocent. He was sent to prison, (although) 4. He has a number of relatives living nearby, but he never visits them, (even though) 5. She never takes any kind of exercise. She is quite fit and healthy.(even though) 6. I intend to go for a walk this morning. It's raining, (even if) 7. The play was wonderful. The film was a commercial failure, (whereas) 6. I try hard to play the piano. I don't seem to improve, (although) 9.Your design is excellent. It isn't suitable for our purposes, (while) 10. She likes hard work. He's quite lazy, (whereas) 11. She likes going out a lot. He prefers staying at home, (while)

III. Complete each sentence in A using as if and the most suitable idea from B. Use the verbs in brackets in the past tense.

eg 1. She's 50 years old, but she looks as if she was/were 30.

А В

1. She's 50 years old, but she looks... (own) the hotel

2. He's only a receptionist, but he acts... (belong) to him

3. They're quite rich, but they behave... (be) dying

4. He's only got a cold, but he acts... (be) poor

5. It's my car, but he treats it... (be) my boss

6. He isn't my boss, but sometimes

he acts.. (be) 30

7. I'm not a child, but sometimes

you talk to me... (know) me

8. She doesn't know me, so why did

she smile at me... (be) a child

IV. Complete the sentences using like or as.

Note: We use like when we compare things.

She looks beautiful — like a princess, (she isn't really a

princess)

He eats like a pig.

We use as as a preposition to talk about someone's job

or the function of a thing.

I once worked as a postman. (I really was a postman.)

Please don't use my shoe as a hammer.

1. Sarah looks a lot... her brother. 2.1 joined the company. _a secretary. 3. Their garden is in a terrible mess. It looks... a jungle. 4. The building looks more... a church than a bank. 5. Stop behaving... a fool. 6. A few years ago I worked... a bus driver. 7. He's been learning English for a few years but he still speaks... a beginner 8. My feet are really cold. They're... blocks of ice. 9. Margaret once had a part-time job... a tourist guide. 10. We don't need all the bedrooms in the house, so we use one of them... a study. 11. His house is full of interesting things. It's... a museum. 12. The news that he was getting married came... a complete surprise to me. 13. He's 35 but he sometimes behaves... a child.

V. Complete the sentences using at the end or in the end.

Note: At the end means "at the point where something stops". We're going on holiday at the end of this week. At the end of the film I felt very sad. In the end means "finally" or "after some time". We couldn't decide what to do yesterday evening. In the end we decided to stay at home. At first, I didn't like him, but in the end we became good friends.

1. We were going to walk home, but... we decided to take a taxi. 2.1 hated school at first, but... I quite enjoyed it. 3. They're going to Italy... of next week. 4. At first he didn't want to come with us on holiday, but... he changed his mind. 5. I looked everywhere for my wallet and... I found it in my pocket. 6. She's starting work... of May. 7. We were all exhausted... of the journey.

VI. Rephrase these sentences using the modal verbs in brackets.

eg Perhaps she is ill. (may) She may be ill.

Perhaps they went out. (might) They might have gone

out.

1. Perhaps you're right, (could) 2 Perhaps she'll win the race. (might) 3. Perhaps she forgot about the meeting, (may) 4. Perhaps they were asleep, (might) 5. Perhaps he doesn't know the address.

(may) 6- Perhaps they left early, (could) 7. Perhaps he isn't coming _now. (might) 8. Perhaps I'll see you tomorrow, (may) 9. Perhaps they'^re going on holiday, (could) 10. Perhaps she didn't catch the bus. (may)

In the United States, many people once lived in large two-and three-story homes. Today many people would like to live in such dwellings, but most people can't. They don't have enough money to buy them or even to make the first downpayment. So, many people rent from month to month.

But some Americans really want to live in a house of their own. So they build their own home or they buy a house that is situated in a vicinity where homes are cheaper. It is better to reside in a bad part of town, they think, than not to live in a house at all. Or they buy an old house and remodel it. Then they decorate it with antique furnishings. Sometimes, they can make an old house look more beautiful than a new one.

Usually, it is not difficult for people to find an old home to buy. Many older people decide that they don't need a spacious home after their children leave. So they sell their house and move to a cosy apartment.

But when people move into a house, they sometimes have problems. Homeowners have to do their own maintenance. For example, if there is a problem with the plumbing, one can't ask the landlord or landlady to fix it. On the other hand, people can remodel their homes in any way they want without having to be afraid of being evicted by the owner. Overall, most Americans would probably prefer to live in a house rather than in an apartment.

A. Study and practise the text.

B. How much does the average house cost in your country? What makes one house more expensive than another?

 

Many young Americans do not live with their families, but in Apartment blocks or residential areas where everyone is more or less of the same age.

Young people often move away from home when they leav_e school (if they can afford it) into shared apartments or small one-room "studio" apartments. They do their own cooking and cleaning, and go to the family home perhaps for the weekend.

Young married couples may move to new suburbs where most people have young families. In the country, some even build their houses themselves.

If a family's income goes up, they often move to another suburb, where the houses are bigger, with two or even three garages, a swimming pool, a games room for the children and everything a family could want.

Old people often do not live with their grown-up children. Many live in old people's homes. Some live in special towns, built for old people, where there are no young children and the atmosphere is quiet.

Americans are always on the move, and some families change their homes every few years. Every year, 20% of Americans move house. Mr and Mrs Schultz could start life in an apartment in New York, go on to a white painted wooden home in New England with small windows to keep out the cold in winter, and end their life in a sunny house in California where oranges grow in the garden and big windows give a wonderful view of the swimming pool and the sea.

A. Speak about American homes.

Pfcitish Q-tomes

British homes are usually smaller than American homes, but, like Americans, old people, young families and unmarried people do not usually live together.

Many British people love old houses, and these are often more expensive than modern ones. They also love gardening, and you will see gardens everywhere you go: in towns, villages and out in the country. Some are very small, with just one tree and a few flowers. Others are enormous, with plenty of flowers and enough vegetables and fruit trees to feed a family.

There are 22 million homes in Britain — big homes and small homes, old cottages and new high-rise buildings, houses and flats. (Americans say "apartment", but British people say "flat".)

Two thirds of the families in Britain own their own homes. vlillions of these "owner-occupied" houses are the same, with two _Or three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, a sitting room, a dining room and a kitchen downstairs and a small garden at the back and front of the house. To pay for their house, home owners borrow money from a "building society" and pay back a little every month.

One quarter of British people live in rented state-owned homes, called "council houses". Many of these are flats, but some are houses, each with a small piece of garden. Other people rent their homes from private owners.

There are a great many different kinds of homes in Britain, but there are not enough! It is often very difficult for young people to find a home when they want to start a family.

A. Ask and answer questions on the text.

B. Speak about British homes.

Many people have started living in condominium homes, houses and apartments that share the same walls and the same services. Single people, young families, and the elderly buy condominiums, or "condos", for several reasons. Also, condos are often cheaper than traditional individual houses.

Condominiums fit today's life style. A lot of people aren't interested in working in gardens, mowing lawns, and doing other chores around the house in the evenings and on the weekends. They don't want these responsibilities. When they aren't at work, they want to be able to travel, play sports, and enjoy other leisure-time activities. When they are at home, they want to relax and enjoy themselves.

Of course, people still have to clean and paint the inside of their homes, but they don't have to worry about cleaning or Painting the outside. And they don't have to mow the lawn or find someone to pick up the garbage. In a condo, full- or part-time workers take care of these services.

The elderly often like living in condos because they aren't ^able to take care of traditional houses and lawns. Also, they enjoy having friends nearby — for social reasons and for security. Security is another good reason for living 'in a condominium.

'23ак 1110

People live in groups of three, four, or more homes. Also, if _no one is at home, there are always several neighbours who can keep their eyes on the empty house.

A. Study and practise the text

B. Think of a house you know and describe it to a classmate.

Mr Hernandez sells houses. At the moment he is showing 736 Pear-blossom Avenue to Mr and Mrs Willis.

"Here we are. As you can see, Mr and Mrs Willis, it's really quite a big house, with two stories. Upstairs there are three bed­rooms and a bathroom, and downstairs we have a large living rcom, a dining room, and a kitchen. There is no basement under the house

"Before we go in, let's take a look at the house from the outside I think you'll agree that the front yard is a nice size and the height around it makes it a little more private. There's a two-car garage next to the house, and, as you can see, the driveway is in \ cry good condition. Now, look up there at the roof. It was repaired only four months ago, so you won't have any trouble from the rain. As you can see, there's a chimney up there. The house has a working fireplace. And the present owners put in a new furnace, so you'll have plenty of heat all winter.

"O.K. Let's go in here through the front gate and up the walk to the front door. Follow me.

"I'll just open the door and here we are inside. Here's a little hall where you can hang your hats and coats. On your right is the living room, and this door on your left leads into a small dining room. As you can see, it has a lovely wooden floor. The dining room and the kitchen are connected, so you can cook in the kitchen and serve the meals in the dining room. From the kitchen window you have a nice view of the backyard, which, as you can see, has a wooden fence around it. You could have a nice flower or vegetable garden back there.

"The house is in excellent condition. You'll have no problems with any of the walls, floors or ceilings. So, any questions? Ah, yes, the price. Three bedrooms, a garage and a yard. Well, what do you think?

A Study and practise the text.

п. Describe a very traditional type of house in your country.

My favourite room is our kitchen. Perhaps the kitchen is the most important room in many houses, but it is particularly so in our house because it's not only where we cook and eat but it's also the main meeting place for family and friends. I have so many memories of times spent there: special occasions such as homecomings or cooking Christmas dinner; troubled times, which lead to comforting cups of tea in the middle of the night; ordinary daily events such as making breakfast on dark, cold winter mornings for cross, sleepy children before sending them off to school, then sitting down to read the newspaper with a steaming hot mug of coffee.

Whenever we have a party, people graviate with their drinks to the kitchen. It is always the fullest and noisiest room in the house. So what does this special room look like? It's quite big, but not huge. It's big enough to have a good-sized rectangular table in the centre, which is the focal point of the room. There is a large window above the sink, which looks out onto two apple trees in the garden. The cooker is at one end, and above it is a wooden pulley, which is old-fashioned but very useful for drying clothes in wet weather. At the other end is a wall with a large notice-board, which tells the story of our lives, past, present, and future, in words and pictures: a school photo of Megan and Kate, a postcard from Auntie Nancy in Australia, the menu from a take­away Chinese restaurant, a wedding invitation for next Saturday. All our world is there for everyone to read!

The front door is seldom used in our house, only by strangers. All our friends use the back door, which means they come straight into the kitchen and join in whatever is happening there. The kettle goes on immediately and then we all sit round the table, drinking tea and putting the world to rights! Without doubt some of the happiest times of my life have been spent in our kitchen.

•4. Study and practise the text. • Write a similar description of your favourite room.

Mr and Mrs Turvey both hated housework. They were a very messy couple who never put things away. When they went to bed, for example, they always left their clothes on the floor. Their kitchen was always in a mess, too. Even though they had a dishwasher they always left the dirty dishes in the kitchen sink and only did the dishes when there wasn't a clean plate in the house. It was the same with their clothes. They never put them into the washing machine until there was nothing else left to wear. The living room always looked as though a bomb had just gone off. There were things everywhere. There was thick dust on every piece of furniture and the carpet had not been vacuumed for weeks. And the bathroom¹

One day, when Mr Turvey couldn't find one of his shoes, and Mrs Turvey couldn't see her face in the bathroom mirror, they decided it was time to get the house cleaned. So they found Maria, a foreign student at a local language school, who needed some extra money.

Maria came to the house and worked all day long. She washed and dried all the clothes. Then she got out the iron. She ironed the clothes, folded them neatly and put them away. She swept all the dust off the floors with a large broom. She took a wet cloth and wiped the dust off every surface in the house and then polished the furniture until it was shining. She got out the vacuum cleaner and vacuumed all the carpets. In the kitchen the floor was filthy. It was too dirty to wash with a mop, so Maria got on her hands and knees and scrubbed the dirt off with a scrub brush. Finally, she made the bed and, when she finished, the house looked spotless.

Mr and Mrs Turvey came home that evening. There was nothing on the floor. There was no dust on the furniture. The wood was shining and you could smell the polish. In their bedroom all their clothes were clean and put away in closets. "So what do you think?" Mrs Turvey asked her husband.

"It looks nice and neat,'' he said, "but how are we ever going to find anything?"

4. Ask and answer questions on the text. Retell the text.

B.I. Are you a tidy person? 2. What does the room tell you about its owner? 3. Who does most of the housework in your home? 4 What kind of housework do you do and how often? 5. What kind

of housework do you most hate doing? 6. What kind of housework do you least mind doing? 7. Which of the following machines is the most useful for housework: a dishwasher, a washing machine, a vacuum cleaner?

 

The Spring Garden Apartment Complex offers you and your family country living at its best. Surrounded by beautiful woods and hills, Spring Garden is located ten miles outside the city but is only minutes from downtown on the freeway.

Unfurnished two-bedroom apartments are available. Each apartment has a dishwasher, central heating, air conditioning, and a laundry room. Children and pets are welcome.

In addition, there are tennis and basketball courts, two swimming pools, and a playground. There are two parking spaces for each apartment.

 

Come and experience the luxury of Regency Towers and enjoy the convenience of living only a five-minute walk from the city centre! Each apartment in this forty-story building has a wonderful view of the city. A wide choice of apartments is available, from studios to large three-bedroom apartments.

Each apartment is completely furnished and offers every modern convenience: central heating, air conditioning, laundry facilities, and your own microwave oven. Free maid service is available. Adults preferred; no pets. Regency Towers also offers a swimming pool and an exercise room. There is twenty-four-hour security service.

Л. Read these newspaper ads and find five differences between the apartment complexes.

•5. You have an apartment or a house for rent. Write an ad for it.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I'm really getting tired of the weather. It's been raining for two

days, and I wish it would stop.

I'm also getting tired of this apartment. There are so many problems. The living room ceiling leaks. The carpets are dirty The kitchen hasn't been painted recently. The refrigerator should be replaced (it's so old that it doesn't work very well). And the bathroom is in such terrible condition that I don't know what to do — the toilet doesn't work, the shower leaks, and there isn't any hot water.

The landlord is very nice, but I don't think he is going to fix anything. I don't know what we are going to do. We may have to move.

Any suggestions?

Love, Gina

A. You have rented a furnished apartment. Write-to your friend what you like and dislike about it.