Learn to Speak English. Методическое пособие для студентов всех специальностей дневного отделения - Асафова Г. К. , Матр

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There should be a special phone on the shoulder of the road

I’ve had an accident

My car broke down on the ... road (parkway, expressway)

My car is stuck

The engine died

The brakes aren’t working

I have a flat tire

The wheels are making a grinding noise

The engine won’t start

I ran out of gas

A car hit my car from behind

Where can I rent a car?

How much does it cost to rent a car?

What is the cost per day (per mile)?

What are the weekly (monthly) rates?

How do I pay for renting a car?

What’s the gas mileage?

How much is the deposit?

When can I pick up the car?

What kind of gas does it take?

What do I do if the car brakes down?

Do I have to pay for repairs if the car breaks down?

Who do I call if the car breaks down?

Who do I notify if there is an accident?

VII. SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

1.(a) You have just come to the US, and you enquire the hotel receptionist about renting a car. What questions would you ask?

(b) You have to explain your Russian friend how he can rent a car in the USA.

2.Give advice to a driver whose car broke down.

3.Make up dialogues with the expressions from sections IV and V.

Lesson 20.

A WASHINGTON TRAFFIC JAM

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I. NOTE

Washington, D.C., is both the capital of the United States and one its most beautiful and historic cities. The metropolitan Washington area has a population of close to four million.

Washington is the headquarters of the federal government. All three brunches of the US government, the legislative (Congress), executive (President), and judicial (Supreme Court) reside and meet in Washington. The President proposes laws and manages America's relations with other countries. Congress makes and passes legislation. Finally, the Supreme Court interprets the laws, deciding whether they are constitutional or not.

Some of the famous places mentioned in Aunt Stephanie's letter are:

—Georgetown, a fashionable residential area and site of Georgetown

University.

—Smithsonian Institution: several museums housing more than 60 million items. The museums are as follows: National Air and Space museum (where you can see the Wright brothers’ plane and Charles Lindbergh's “Spirit of Saint Louis”; National Museum of American History; National Museum of Natural History; and the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building. The world famous National Gallery of Art and Hirshhorn Museum are also part of the Smithsonian.

—National Archives, containing the original of Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence.

—National Arboretum, which has trees and shrubs from many parts of the

world.

—Lincoln Memorial, a monument honoring Abraham Lincoln.

—US Capitol, the place where members of Congress meet to discuss and vote on legislation.

II. DIALOGUE

You(reading your Aunt’s letter):”Washington taught me so much about American history. I therefore instruct my nephew to do the following while he is in Washington:

1.Visit Georgetown where I lived a number of years ago as a student.

2.Have dinner at Antonio’s, my favorite Italian restaurant. Request a menu and bring back a copy of the check as proof.

3.Visit the Smithsonian Institution. Take a picture of Lindbergh’s “Spirit of St. Louis.”

4.Visit the National Archives to view the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.

5.Drive through the National Arboretum, Washington’s best-kept secret.

6.Finish by visiting the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol.

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While I do not expect my nephew to prove that he visited all the places I have listed, I assume that he will follow my wishes. My hope is that he will learn as much about the U.S. as I did when I first moved here.”

(Finally, the traffic begins to move. You drive to your hotel and spend the next two days exploring Washington as your aunt directed.)

III.GRAMMAR EXERCISES

1.In this exercise you have to read a situation and

then write a sentence with I wish ... would ...

Example: It’s raining. You want to go out, but not in the rain. So you

want it to stop raining. What do you say?

...I wish it would stop raining...

1 You’re waiting for Tom. He’s late and you’re getting impatient. You want

him to come. What do you say? I wish ...

2 A baby is crying and you’re trying to sleep. You want the baby to stop

crying. What do you say? I ...

3 You’re looking for a job — so far without success. You want somebody to

give you a job. What do you say? I wish somebody ...

4 Brian has been wearing the same old clothes for years. You think he needs

some new clothes and you want him to buy some. What do you say to

him? ...

IV. IDIOMS

Put the Cart before the Horse

(to have things in the wrong order; to have things confused and mixed up)

You’re eating your desert! You’ve put the cart before the horse.

Slow down and get organized. Don’t put the cart before the horse!

John has the cart before the horse in most of his projects.

Upset the Apple Cart

(to mess up or ruin something)

Tom really upset the apple cart by telling Mary the truth about Jane. I always knew he’d upset the apple cart.

On Easy Street (in luxury; slang)

If I had a million dollars, I’d be on easy street.

Everyone has problems, even people who live on easy street.

Get/Have a Fix on Something

(to find out the exact location of something)

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I can’t get a fix on your location. Where are you? We are trying to get a fix on your radio transmission.

(to begin to understand the direction of a discussion)

I can’t quite get a fix on what you are trying to say.

I can’t get a fix on where you’re going with this argument.

Give Someone a Fix on Something (to tell someone the location of something)

Please give me a fix on your location.

V. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

There’s much traffic here.

The traffic is always congested (heavy) at this corner. Finally there’s a lull in the traffic after the rush hour.

The road doesn’t correspond to the needs of modern traffic. The policeman is directing traffic (he is on point duty). You have to be quick in order to dodge (escape) the traffic. Traffic signs are always conspicuous.

The noise of the traffic kept me awake. The traffic was dislocated by a snow storm.

She made a movement to cross into the traffic. I could see her through a gap in the traffic. Let’s wait for a break in the traffic.

This is a busy traffic crossing. Are you able to read traffic signs?

Honking is a menace to traffic safety. Traffic keeps to the left in England.

All the traffic has to make way for a fire-engine.

VI. SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

Tell a friend of yours about places of interest in Washington D.C. 1. Make up dialogues, using expressions from sections IV and V.

Lesson 21.

A FENDER BENDER IN CHICAGO

I. NOTE

If all goes well while you are in the States, you will not have to contend with such an unpleasant situation. However, sometimes there will be the unavoidable accident and encounter with the police. It is best to remain calm, to explain who you are and where you are from, and to show any documentation that is requested.

If you've rented a car, be sure that you are familiar with the insurance options. You may or may not be insured by your agency at home while driving in the U.S. It is

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best to look into this before you leave your home. If you do request additional insurance coverage from the rental agency, you may end up paying $10-15 more per day.

II. DIALOGUE

First Motorist: What the hell do you think you’re doing?

Second Motorist: Sorry, I didn’t see your turn signal until it was too late to stop. First Motorist (turning to you): Hey buddy, did you see what happened?

Second Motorist: Calm down. It was just one of those things. I have insurance. You: I really don’t want to get involved.

(A police officer arrives to investigate the accident. The two motorist explain what happened. The officer turns to you.)

Officer: Can I have your name, address, and phone number?

You: Yes, here’s my passport. I’m a foreigner. I’ve come to Chicago on business. Here’s a contact if you need to get in touch.

(You give the officer the name, address, and phone number of a friend of your aunt whom you’re supposed to look up while you’re in Chicago.)

III.GRAMMAR EXERCISES

1.In this exercise you have to complete the

sentences with these verbs:

12 If you walk into the road without looking, you risk ... down by a car.

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2. Answer these questions using the verbs given.

Examples: Why do you never fly? (hate)

...I hate flying...

Why does Tom go to the cinema so often? (like)

...He likes going to the cinema...

1 Why do you always wear a hat? (like) I ...

2 Why does Ann watch television so often? (enjoy) She ...

3 Why do you never go to the cinema? (not/like) ...

4 Why does Jack take so many photographs? (like) ...

5 Why don’t you work in the evenings? (hate) ...

3. This time put the verb into the correct form, -ing or to + infinitive.

Examples: I enjoy ...being... (be) alone.

Would you like ...to come...(come) to a party?

1 Do you mind ... (travel) such a long way to work every day? 2 Ann loves ... (cook) but she hates ... (wash) up.

3 I can’t stand people ... (tell) me what to do when I’m driving. 4 I don’t like that house. I would hate ... (live) there.

5 Do you like ... (drive)?

6 When I have to catch a train, I’m always worried about missing it. So I like

... (get) to the station in plenty of time.

7 I very much enjoy ... (listen) to classical music.

8 I would love ... (come) to your wedding but it just isn’t possible. 9 Sometime I’d like ... (learn) to play the guitar.

4. Put the verb into the correct form, -ing or to +

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6 He looks so funny. When I see him, I can’t help ... (smile).

7 The fine weather helped ... (make) it a very enjoyable holiday.

5. In this exercise you have to read a sentence and then write a second sentence with the same meaning. Each time begin in the way shown. Example: I phoned Ann and then I went out.

After ...phoning Ann I went out...

1 Tom went to bed but first he had a hot drink. Before ...

2 The plane took off and soon afterwards it crashed. Soon after ...

3 We didn’t eat at home. We went to a restaurant instead. Instead of ...

4 You put people’s lives in danger if you drive dangerously. You put people’s

lives in danger by ...

5 He hurt his leg but he managed to win the race. In spite of ...

6 Bill is a very good cook. Bill is very good at ...

7 I don’t intend to lend her any money. I have no intention of ...

8 George took more exercise and so lost weight. By ...

9 He was angry with me because I was late. He was angry with me for ...

10 Tom thinks that doing nothing is better than working. Tom prefers doing

10 I’ve always dreamed ... on a small island in the Pacific. (live) 11 The cold water didn’t stop her ... a swim. (have)

12 Have you ever been accused ... a crime? (commit) 13 She apologized ... so rude to me. (be)

14 We have decided ... a new car. (buy)

7. Now you have to make sentences with worth.