Vocabulary and Comprehension Exercises Exercise 1. (Text 1) Answer the questions.

1. How long have the people been standing on the corner?

2. What have they been doing? (Give five answers).

3. Why has one man been drinking coffee?

4. What are good reasons for taking buses?

5. What are the reasons for driving cars?

6. What are the problems with buses?

7. What are the problems with cars?

Exercise 2. (Text 1) Listen to the sentences below. All are in the present perfect tense. Some of the verbs describe a period of time, and some describe a completed action. If the verb describes an activity over a period of time, change it to the present perfect continuous tense. If it describes a completed action, simply repeat the sentence as it is.

1. He’s bought a ticket already.

2. He’s taken the bus for one month.

3. He’s stood on the corner since 9 a.m.

4. He’s asked the bus driver for a ticket.

5. We’ve caught the bus on the corner every day this week.

6. The bus has come on time every day.

7. We’ve waited for almost an hour.

8. He’s drunk all his coffee already.

Exercise 3. (Text 1) Listen to the sentences. If you can, change the verb phrase to the Present Perfect Continuous tense. If the verb cannot take a continuous tense, simply repeat the sentence as it is.

1. I’ve owned a car for ten years.

2. I’ve driven it to work every day.

3. I’ve never believed that cars are dirty.

4. I’ve always thought that cars are convenient.

5. I’ve parked very close to my office.

6. It’s taken half an hour to drive to work.

7. I’ve always hated to wait in the cold.

8. I’ve thought about taking the bus in the summer.

9. I’ve waited for a more convenient bus schedule.

10. I haven’t ever had a car.

11. I’ve had a lot of fun riding buses.

12. The schedule has been convenient for me.

13. The bus has come on time every day.

14. I’ve always liked the buses.

15. I’ve said hello to him every morning.

Exercise 4. (Text 2) Answer the questions.

1. What does Jenny do?

2. What’s the band called?

3. How many people are in it?

4. What’s the name of their latest record?

5. Is it very successful?

6. What’s their next record called?

7. How long has Jenny been singing with the band?

Exercise 5. (Dialogue) Answer the questions.

1. What is Nancy looking for?

2. What number is Nancy dialing?

3. Who does Nancy want to speak to?

4. Where is Nancy standing?

5. When is Peter’s birthday?

6. Can Harold come?

7. What is Peter fond of?

8. What is Nancy’s address?

9. Is it far from the railway station?

Exercise 6. Dictation-translation.

A: 1. Когда на улице холодно, ждать автобуса – не очень приятно.

2. Эти люди стоят на остановке уже 15 минут, внимательно следят за уличным движением и жалуются на погоду.

3. Использование автобусов уменьшает загрязнение окружающей среды, но люди предпочитают ездить на своих машинах.

4. Многие пользуются автобусами много лет и привыкли к этому.

5. Им нет необходимости искать место для парковки все это время.

B: 1. Простите, я ищу телефон-автомат.

2. Это сразу за углом.

3. Второй поворот налево.

4. Что мне купить для Питера?

5. Он любит читать книги о ковбоях.

6. Это недалеко от вокзала.

Grammar Exercises

Exercise 1.

Make the following sentences: a) interrogative; b) negative.

1. They’ve been waiting for half an hour.

2. She has been wearing glasses since she was ten.

3. It has been raining for two days now.

4. I have been working in the laboratory since October.

5. They have been walking for three hours.

6. He has been teaching in this school since 1995.

7. We have been fishing for two hours.

8. They have been living in France since 1990.

Exercise 2. Add «since» or «for»:

1. He has been selling cars ..... ten years.

2. He has been living here .... 1987.

3. I’ve been waiting ..... five o’clock.

4. We’ve been reading this book ..... last January.

5. We’ve been studying English ..... three months.

6. He has been sleeping ..... seven hours.

7. He has been working ..... seven o’clock this morning.

8. My friend has been ill ..... a long time.

9. It has been raining ..... yesterday morning.

10. She has been teaching in that school ..... 1998.

11. I’ve been working in this office ..... a month.

12. That man has been standing there ..... six o’clock.

13. The kettle has been boiling ..... a quarter of an hour.

14. I’ve been trying to open this door ..... forty five minutes.

Exercise 3. Make sentences with the Present Perfect Continuous tense.

e.g.	How long/ you/ wait? How long have you been waiting?

1. I/ try/ to phone him all day.

2. We/ live/ in this house for about twelve years.

3. Janet/ practise/ the violin all afternoon.

4. I/ wait/ for a letter from my father for weeks.

5. How long/ you/ learn/ English?

6. People/ fight/ each other for millions of years.

7. They/ talk/ for a long time.

8. It/ rain/ since I got up this morning.

Exercise 4. Complete the sentences by putting the parts in brackets in the order:

object + manner + place + time.

1. She can play ..... (now/ very well/ the piano).

2. The children have been playing ..... (this afternoon/ in the park/ football).

3. We work ..... (at school/ hard/ every day).

4. They live ..... (in Church Street/ now).

5. I’ll meet you ..... (at 10 o’clock/ in front of the office).

6. Johnny goes ..... (early/ to school).

7. Mr. Jones is coming ..... (right now/ up the street).

8. We are going camping ..... (this summer/ in the mountains).

9. She stays .... (at home/ every day).

10. I saw you ..... (this morning/ at the library).

Exercise 5. Put the sentences in right order.

1. took/ the children/ from the cupboard/ some cakes/ after breakfast.

2. loudly/ in the bath/ sings/ he/ always.

3. The Hunts/ one car/ got/ only/ have/ now.

4. was born/ in the morning/ at 2 o’clock/ 1994/ the baby/ on 3d June.

5. Usually/ come/ the students/ noisily/ out of class/ at four o’clock.

6. sings/ beautifully/ that song/ Jean/ generally.

7. music/ likes/ very much/ classical/ my father.

8. understand/ very well/ they/ French/ but/ don’t speak/ they/ it/ easily/ very.

Exercise 6. Put the verbs into the Present Perfect Continuous form:

A.: B:

I (live) here since 1998. The cat (sit) in front of the fire since tea-time. I (look) at this picture for five minutes, but I can’t see you in it. I’m afraid you (look) at the wrong one. You (wait) long for me? Yes! I (stand) here in the rain for half an hour. He (learn) English for three years, but he can’t even read a newspaper yet. Nobody has come to see us since we (live) in our new house. He (work) in the Post Office for twenty years. Lunch is not quite ready yet, although I (cook) all the morning. They are tired because they (work) in the garden since nine o’clock. Look! That light (burn) all night. I (bathe). That’s why my hair is all wet. You (drive) all day. Let me drive now. I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. I (try) to make a telephone call to Rome. He (overwork). That is why he looks so tired. He (study) Arabic for two years and doesn’t even know the alphabet yet. I (make) cakes. That is why my hands are all covered with flour. How long you (wait) for me? – I (wait) about half an hour. Have you seen my bag anywhere? I (look) for it for ages. Your fingers are very brown. You (smoke) too much. Tom (dig) in the garden all afternoon and I (help) him. I (shop) all day and I haven’t a penny left. We (live) here since 1990.

Exercise 7. Use the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Continuous.

1. I (sit) here waiting for you for nearly an hour. I (already drink) four whiskies.

2. What (you do) all this time? I (not see) you for weeks.

3. They (not work) for several days now. They (be) too ill.

4. It (not rain) for a month now. The grass is very dry.

5. They (go) to this pub every evening for the last 10 years.

6. I (sleep) for the last two hours and I (not wake) up properly yet.

Exercise 8. Use the question words below to complete the questions which

follow:

what when where which who whose why how

1. ..... time do you finish work?

2. ..... is it who lives in that big house?

3. ..... of these coats belong to you?

4. ..... advice would you give to someone about to leave school?

5. ..... old is your daughter now?

6. ..... exactly did you buy that lovely dress? In London?

7. I haven’t seen George for ages. ..... did you last come across him?

8. ..... bag is this? It’s not yours, is it?

9. About ..... long does it take to get to Birmingham?

10. ..... do you get to the post office from here?

11. ..... did you live before you came to London?

12. But ..... can’t you come? Are you busy?

13. ..... day does Dad get home?

14. I don’t know. ..... do you ask?

Exercise 9. Make questions from these sentences by using «who» or «what»

instead of the underlined words.

1. George bought her that necklace. Who .....

2. George bought her a necklace. What .....

3. They have invited Mary and Philip. Who ....

4. I’ve lent that book to Bill. Who .....

5. They gave the keys to Peter. What .....

6. My daughter answered the telephone. Who .....

7. The manager said no. What .....

8. I asked Andrew to help. Who .....

9. We can send a bunch of flowers. What .....

10. The children will be at home. Who .....

Exercise 10. Add a question-word to the following questions:

.... is your name? .... is that pretty girl? .... is your telephone number? .... trees grow in Egypt? .... is yours, the orange or the banana? .... colour is it? .... makes tea sweet? .... wants a piece of bread?

.... understands this exercise? .... is the answer to my question? ....of these books is your favourite? .... is wrong with the clock? .... bus goes to Charring Cross? .... is smoking here? .... is the largest town in the world? .... has happened?

Exercise 11. Tony is being interviewed for a job. Look at the interviewer’s

notes and Tony’s answers, then write the questions she is asking Tony.

age? live locally? address? which school/ go? work/ now? who/ work for? how long? enjoy/ present job? why/ want/ leave?

I’m 18. Yes, I do. 5, Flower Close. Benham School. Yes, I am. Millers Limited. For six months. yes, I do. The pay isn’t good.

Exercise 12. Complete the sentences with the correct question word.

Who Why When What Where Whose How

1. ...’s that man over there with the beard?

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

A: ... can you come and stay for the weekend? B: Next month, possibly. ... long does it take you to get to work in the morning? A: ... can I buy some fresh milk? B: At the shop on the corner. ...’s your new boss like? ... keys are these? I’ve found them on the floor. A: ... do you like living in York? B: Because the people are very friendly here. ... much is that large box of chocolates? ...’s the name of the travel agent’s name here?

Exercise 13. Use the words in brackets to write the correct questions for each answer.

e.g.: (start work) At 7.30 in the morning. – What time do you start work?

(get to work) (journey take) (far) (park your car) (finish work) (your wife work) (do after supper) (go to bed)

By car. About three quarters of an hour. Five kilometres. In the factory car park. At 5 p.m. No, she doesn’t. We watch TV. At about 11 o’clock.

Exercise 14. Translate from Russian into English.

1. Мне жарко, потому что я бежал.

2. Дождь идет уже три часа.

3. Наш экскурсовод бегло говорит по-английски.

4. Как долго вы обсуждаете этот вопрос?

5. Почему у тебя пальто мокрое? – Потому что я шел под дождем.

6. Ты все еще работаешь в той же фирме? – Да, я там работаю с тех пор, как закончил школу.

7. Генри все еще ждет Мэгги. – Как долго он ее ждет?

8. Которое пальто твое?

SOME MORE PRACTICE

Task 1. Read the text and roleplay the conversation between the captain and Des.

The captain asks: how long Des has been living there; where he has been sleeping; what he has been eating and drinking; how he has been amusing himself.

‘On the Island’

Last November, Des was trying to row single-handed across the Pacific Ocean when there was a storm. He was shipwrecked on a desert island and has been living there ever since. It is now the middle of December and a rescue ship has just arrived at the island. The captain wants to find out how Des has managed to survive on the desert island for so long. Fortunately, Des kept a diary.

November 15^th.

Not a bad island. Plenty of coconuts and bananas so I won’t die of hunger or thirst. I cut down some palm leaves and made myself a small shelter.

November 19^th.

Made myself a fishing rod today. Caught some fish from the lagoon. Delicious! No sign of any ship.

November 25^th.

Amused myself today – made a bamboo pipe and am now learning how to play it.

November 30^th.

Went to the other side of the island. Found three more shells for my collection.

December 6^th.

I’ve been living on this island for three weeks! When will somebody come?

Task 2.

How do you answer the questions, How do you do? and How are you?

Now read the text and answer the questions:

1. How many different examples of questions which are not really questions are mentioned in the text?

2. List all the ‘questions’ and say what other meaning they have.

“When is a question not a question?”

The answer to this could be: “When it’s a greeting”. Take ‘How do you do?’, for example. Although this ends in a question mark, it is not a question but a greeting. The correct response is to repeat the same ‘question’:’ How do you do?’

And again, if a friend stops you in the street and asks: ‘How are you?’, remember that this is not a true question. It would be extremely inappropriate to give a long description of your state of health. A simple ‘Fine, thanks’ is all they wish to hear, even though you may be wrapped in bandages as you speak.

If someone says at table: ‘Could you pass the milk ?’, they will be surprised if you answer: ’Yes, I could’. This is not a question but a request. Likewise, ’Couldn’t you go and fetch them, James?’ sounds like a harmless question but is in fact a direct order to James.

Task 3. Look at the pictures and answer the questions:

1. Where are the people standing?

2. What are they waiting for?

3. Are the people of the same age, sex?

4. How many people are there at the bus stop in the second picture?

5. Did any of the women in the queue get on the bus?

6. What should the men have done?

“At a Bus Stop”

UNIT 7

Grammar: Texts: Dialogue:

The Past Simple Tense The Past Tense of «be»: «was» and «were» The repetition-word «one» 1. «Guy Fawkes» «Dinosaurs» 1. «One Return to Hastings».

Text One

«Guy Fawkes»