Read several interesting facts about houses. Transalte into Russian.

The oldest house in the world was discovered at Mezhirich near Kiev in the Ukraine in 1965 by a farmer. It is approximately from 10,000 ВС and it is made of mammoth bones.

• The Smallest House in Great Britain can be found on the Quay, in Conwy, Wales. Its dimensions are 3.05 metres x 1.8 metres.

• Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and, dating back to the time of William the Conqueror, is the oldest in continuous occupation. Windsor Castle is one of the principal official residences of the British monarch.

2. Translate into Russian:

 

What is Home?

(After Ernestine Schumann-Heink)

A roof to keep out the rain. Four walls to keep out the wind. Floors to keep out the cold.

Yes, but home is more than that. It is the laugh of the baby, the song

of the mother, the strength of the father. Warmth of loving hearts, light from happy eyes, kindness, loyalty, comradeship.

Home is the first school and the first church for young ones, where they learn what is right, what is good and what is kind. Where they go for comfort when they are hurt or sick.

Where joy is shared and sorrow eased. Where fathers and mothers are respected and loved. Where children are wanted. Where the simplest food is good enough for kings because it is earned. Where money is not so important as loving kindness. Where the tea-kettle sings from happiness.

That is home. God bless it.

3. Read and translate. State the suffixes:

A. To symbolize, to simplify, meanness, goodness, mobilization, translator, compressor, swimmer, rainy, wooden, movable, freedom, importance, friendship, cruelty, manhood, careless, readable, foolish, thankful, possible, dependent, to blacken, badly, to falsify.

B. If the birds are capable of happiness in a cage, such happiness or contentment is but a poor pale emotion compared with a wild exuberant gladness they have in freedom.

 

3.8. Translate the following words into Russian:

Useful, useless, usefully, uselessly, usefulness, uselessness, careful, careless, carefully, carelessly, carefulness, carelessness.

 

Text 2. living in a flat

I. Warm-up activities

1.1. Pronounce the words properly and state the part of speech:

Facilities, to include, picturesque, heating, electricity, chute, rubbish, wardrobe, wall-unit, opposite, colour, to hang, spacious, some, to rest, where, cosy, beige, comfortable, to fortunate, enjoyable.

1.2. Match the columns:

1. all modern facilities	1. вешать
2. rubbish chute	2. уютный
3. cosy	3. водопроводная вода
4. to hang	4. все современные удобства
5.to gather	5. собираться
6.to change round	6. мусоропровод
7.running water	7. менять местами (мебель и т. п.)
8.opposite	8. 12-этажный
9. well-equipped	9. хорошо оборудованный
10. fortunate	10. противоположный
11. dishwasher	11. микроволновая печь
12. microwave oven	12. посудомоечная машина
13. view of	13. хорошо спланированный
14. 12-storeyed	14. удачный, везучий
15.block of flats	15. вид на
16. well-planned	16. подоконник
17. to keep a pet	17. обеденный стол и стулья
18. сonvenient	18. удобный, подходящий
19. window-sill	19. многоквартирный дом
20. dining group	20. держать домашнее животное

 

1.2. Match the words with their definitions:

1. picturesque	1. giving a feeling of comfort, warmth, and relaxation
2. infrastructure	2. a place, amenity, or piece of equipment provided for a particular purpose
3. facilities	3. the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society
4. cosy	4. visually attractive, especially in a quaint or charming way
5. to include	5. Able to be used for a practical purpose or in several ways
6. wardrobe	6. a machine for washing dishes automatically.
7. dishwasher	7. a large, tall cupboard in which clothes may be hung or stored
8. fortunate	8. fashionable, elegant
9. stylish	9. favoured by or involving good luck; lucky
10. useful	10. comprise or contain as part of a whole

 

II. Reading

Our family lives in a new 12-storeyed block of flats. It’s situated in a very picturesque place with well-developed infrastructure.

Our flat is on the ninth floor. It is very comfortable and well-planned. We have all modern facilities including central heating, electricity, gas, cold and hot running water, telephone, lift and rubbish chute. There are three rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a hall in our flat. There is also a balcony where we can enjoy a lovely view of the river.

The largest room is the living room. It has many useful functions. For example, we can watch TV there or have family dinners. At other times we welcome guests there and they can even stay overnight. We have a large sofa in the living-room, which can be transformed into a bed. Opposite the window there is a wall unit with lots of books, a TV-set, and a stereo system. There are two comfortable armchairs and a small coffee table in the right-hand corner. There is also an electric fire in our living room. We like the living room best of all, so in the evenings we gather there to have tea, watch TV, talk, and rest.

My parents’ bedroom is rather nice. It is a room with a bed, two bedside tables, two lamps and a wardrobe. There is also a small TV-set on the wall. The wallpapers in this room are light brown and there is a nice painting on the wall. My mother is fond of flowers which she keeps on the window-sill.

My room is the smallest one, but it is very cosy and light. There is a sofa, a wardrobe, a computer table with my laptop on it, an armchair, and several bookshelves here. There is a thick carpet on the floor. The wallpapers in my room are beige. There are some big posters with my favourite musical bands on the wall. I like my room very much, but from time to time I change it round. I quite often move the sofa and change the posters on the wall.

Our kitchen is big and light and is well-equipped. There is a stylish dining group there. We have got a lot of home appliances in the kitchen such as a fridge, a microwave oven, a dishwasher, a coffeemaker and a toaster.

We don’t keep any pets in the flat, but there is a large aquarium in the hall where we have a lot of exotic and colourful fish. I like my flat very much. I think it is a good place to live in. We are fortunate that we have very nice neighbours surrounding us so this makes living in a flat very easy and enjoyable.

III. Comprehension checking

3.1. Answer the following questions:

1. Do you live in a house or in a block of flats?

2. Which floor is your flat on?

3. Is your flat well-planned? Is it comfortable?

4. How many rooms are there in your flat?

5. Where do you usually have your meals?

6. Is there much furniture in your flat? Do you change it round from time to time?

7. What is there in your room?

8. Are there any pictures on the walls of your flat?

19. What colour are the walls in your room?

10. What is your kitchen like?

11. How often do you redecorate the rooms?

12.Do you consider your dwelling to be cosy and stylish?

3.2. Decide whether these statements are true, false or information is not available:

1. The narrator’ family lives in a new cottage.

2. The largest room is the living room.

3. There are a lot of flowers in the living room.

4. The wallpapers in the parents’ room are light brown.

5. There is a balcony in the narrator’s room.

6. The kitchen is small.

7. There are a lot of home appliances in the kitchen.

8. The family meets friends in the kitchen.

9. The family has got a cat.

10. The family often redecorates the flat.

 

3.3. Complete the sentences. Use:

Picturesque place, overnight, lovely view, fond of, window-sill, round, spacious, dining group, colourful

 

1. It’s situated in a very …

2. At other times we welcome guests there and they can even stay …

3.. There is also a balcony where we can enjoy … a of the river.

4. My mother is… flowers which she keeps on the ….

5.. From time to time I change it …

6. Our kitchen is … and light with a stylish ….

7. We have a lot of exotic and … fish.

IV. Grammar in Focus

4.1. Translate the sentences with the Simple Passive. Give the negative and question forms:

A) 1. The flat is usually decorated by balloons for my birthday party. 2. Various types of dwelling are sold in our city. 3. Many houses are built by the workers every year. 4. This ancient castle is situated in the center of the town. 5. My room is redecorated every five years.

B) 1. This small cottage was bought by their friends. 2. The windows were broken last night. 3. The mansion was sold two weeks ago. 4. The armchairs were taken away by Ann and Tom. 5. The old house was repaired by new owners last year.

C) 1. Тhese houses will be built next year. 2. The water supply will be cut off in May. 3. This room will be cleaned in two hours. 4. The block of flat will be repaired in autumn.

4.2.*Put the sentences into the Passive:

1. This factory produces fashionable furniture every year.

2. They informed me about the sale of this flat.

3. She will sell her nice house in a week.

4. The young specialist got the nice apartment from the company last year.

5. They usually rent a nice cottage in the country.

6. Our neighbours don’t keep any pets in the flat.

7. Helen polished the furniture two days ago.

8. Our friends will buy a new flat next summer.

9. Max and Kate often decorate the room with flowers.

10. My sister didn’t water the flowers yesterday.

4.3. Correct the mistakes using Present, Past or Future Simple Passive:

1. This house built 200 years ago.

2. The room cleans twice a week.

3. These pictures painted by friend of mine.

4. A garage is a place where cars repair.

5. This nice apartment will buy by our neighbours.

6. Somebody broke into our bungalow, but nothing stolen.

7. When sold this new cottage?

8. How often this house redecorates?

9. The new furniture will bring next week.

10. How these windows broke?

V. Speaking

5.1. Read the short dialogues and try to dramatize them:

1) M: I hear you are moving into a new flat, aren’t you?

N: Why, surely. We’ve got a new four-room flat not far from the railway station.

M: Is there any new district in that area?

N: Yes, come and see how we’ve settled. Will you?

M: Certainly, I will, with pleasure.

 

2) A: Where do you live, Ann?

B: In a flat, near my office.

A: How big is it?

B: Not very big. It’s a two-room flat.

A: And a kitchen and a bathroom?

B: Yes, of course.

A: And what about the rooms? Are they big?

B: The living-room is, but the bedroom is a bit small. But it’s OK.

A: Is it expensive?

B: No, it's quite cheap, really.

A: And are you happy there?

B: Yes, I am, but it isn’t perfect, you know.

A: Oh, what’s wrong with it then?

B: Well, there’s a lot of traffic to the street outside, so it’s a bit noisy.

A: Is that all?

B: No, it’s also a bit cold there, the heating isn’t very good.

A: Where would you really like to live?

B: I’d like to have a small cottage near the sea with an orange tree in the garden.

A: Oh, dear, what a sweet dream.

 

3) D: There you are at last. The flat is in a mess and nobody is going to help me.

P: Oh, I’m very sorry, Mum. What can I start with?

D: Take the vacuum cleaner and clean all the carpets at first. Then wipe the dust off every surface in the rooms. Don’t forget to wet the duster.

P: Well, what about the furniture? Shall I polish it?

D: Of course, my dear. And I’m tidying up the kitchen. Come on.

5.2. Make up your own dialogues using the models from the
task 5.1.

5.3*. Tell about your flat.

VI. Listening

6.1. Listen to the text Apartments for Rent on http://www.esl-lab.com