Preface

This Handbook is intended for the students who learn English as their second foreign language on the level of beginners.

The Handbook consists of twelve units which contain a set of exercises aimed at training and consolidating the vocabulary of everyday topics and in this it fully meets the requirements of the approved Curriculum on oral and written speech practice of English as second foreign language.

Apart from traditional lexical exercises the students will find here exercises on translation from Russian into English and tasks that develop their oral speech skills.

The Key section at the end of the Handbook makes it possible to use it not only in the classroom but also for the students’ autonomous work.

Unit I. Getting to know you

Vocabulary exercises

Ex. 1. Find the words from column B to match their description in column A.

A.	B.
an arranged meeting between a man and a woman who don’t know each other	a) poor
having stopped working, usually because of your age	b) agony aunt
not formal or not for a formal situation	c) outgoing
in or from a country that is not your own	d) fun
having very little or no money	e) advise
someone who is attractive	f) star sign
to tell someone what you think they should do (in a particular situation)	g) relationship
an activity that is very enjoyable and exciting; a person who is amusing and enjoyable to be with	h) couple
two things or people of the same kind	i) foreign
one of the twelve signs of the ZODIAC	j) blind date
a period of study in a particular subject at university	k) grow up
to gradually change from being a child to being an adult	l) good-looking
the way that two people feel about each other	m) retired
a person who writes in a newspaper or magazine and helps people with their personal problems	n) course
someone who likes to meet and talk to new people	o) casual
to or in the centre or main business area of a town or city	p) graduate
to complete a course of education (at a college or university)	q) downtown

Ex. 2. Match synonymous words and expressions.

hard	a) sociable
kid	b) pair
learn	c) give up work
good-looking	d) strange
funny	e) difficult
couple	f) offer suggestions
foreign	g) amusing
retire	h) child
advise	i) attractive
outgoing	j) study

Ex. 3. Match antonymous words and expressions.

casual	a) single
difficult	b) often
foreign	c) keep working
married	d) unsuccessful
poor	e) formal
retire	f) terrible
successful	g) native
wonderful	h) uncomfortable
comfortable	i) easy
sometimes	j) rich

Ex. 4. Complete the charts below. Mind some spelling changes.

noun	verb		noun	adjective
1. advice 2. ---- 3. graduation 4. ----	---- design ---- inform		1. fun 2. success 3. ---- 4. retirement	---- ---- poor ----

Ex. 5. Complete the sentences with one of the words from Ex. 4.

1. After I … , I am going to work as a teacher.

2. I think you’ll like her, she’s great ….

3. Could you give me some … about buying a house?

4. He works hard because he wants to be ….

5. His parents were … . They couldn’t buy him a new suit.

6. Jim worked for a computer company but now he is ….

7. A … is someone whose job is to make plans or patterns for clothes.

8. She sent me a lot of … about the project.

9. I need someone to … me.

Ex. 6. Complete the collocations using the words in the box. Use each of the words once only. Think of your own examples.

designer, blind, star, friendly (give), successful, good (great), married, relationship, close, agony

1. … advice

2. a … date

3. a … couple

4. … fun

5. … relationship

6. a … sign

7. … clothes

8. … in business

9. … aunt

10. … problems

Ex. 7. Insert the right prepositions where necessary.

1. Emma is very outgoing, she likes to talk … new people.

2. Alice graduated … medical school last year.

3. Michael and his friend live in different towns and talk … the phone very often.

4. He lives in London, but he grew … in Manchester.

5. I look … my grandchildren every Tuesday and Thursday while my daughter goes shopping.

6. I could listen … this singer all day – he has such a beautiful voice.

7. I’m really worried … my brother.

8. He is French. He comes … France.

9. Can you speak … German?

10. Nigel works … a publishing company.

11. I go to the theatre once … a month.

12. She spends a lot of money … clothes.

13. My elder brother is crazy … football.

14. It takes him … least twenty minutes to get there.

15. They’re still trying to think … a name for the baby.

Ex. 8. Fill in each gap with a suitable word.

1. I think it’s interesting to know the … of your boyfriend. a) warning sign b) bad sign c) star sign

2. Can you give me some …? I’m thinking of going on holiday. a) advice b) help c) advise

3. Andy is doing a one-year journalism …. a) lesson b) lecture c) course

4. He had to … school at 15, because he needed money. a) graduate b) leave c) complete

5. Is he married? – No, he is …. a) single b) lonely c) alone

6. Sam and Dave … the same hobby. They enjoy listening to music. a) divide b) separate c) share

7. Jean felt more comfortable in … clothes. a) relaxed b) calm c) casual

8. We were so …, we couldn’t afford to eat more than one meal a day. a) bad b) poor c) hard

9. She has a close … with her daughter. a) relationship b) connection c) position

10. You’ll like her, darling, she’s great …. a) fun b) amazement c) enjoyment

Ex. 9. Replace the underlined words with a single word or word combination.

1. After I complete a course of educational university, I’m going to work for a big company.

2. The period of study lasts five years and it’s all in English.

3. My father works in the centre of the city.

4. We’re looking for someone who likes to meet and talk to new people.

5. What impression do you get of the two people who are married?

6. Let’s phone Dr Mary Steiner. She writes an agony column.

7. Would you ever go on an arranged meeting with a man you haven’t met before?

8. What do you want to be when you become an adult?

9. Do you remember any amusing stories about students?

10. Can you speak any languages of other countries?

Ex. 10. Translate into English.

1. Джим – мой лучший друг. Я часто обсуждаю c ним свои проблемы. Он всегда может дать мне хороший (дружеский) совет.

2. Познакомься с Холли. Она привлекательная, с ней приятно поговорить. Она очень забавная.

3. Мэт и Джеймс – близнецы, но они очень разные. Мэт – тихий (спокойный), он любит оставаться дома. Джеймс часто встречается с друзьями, ходит на вечеринки.

4. Мой брат изучает медицину в университете. Это трудная работа, но она ему нравится. Он много работает, чтобы по окончании добиться успеха.

5. Бет ищет идеального партнера. Она хочет познакомиться с молодым человеком, который любит спорт, путешествия и приключения. Ее друзья собираются организовать свидание вслепую, но ей не нравится эта идея.

6. Дейв не женат. Я думаю, он еще не готов разделить свою жизнь с кем-либо.

7. Моя бабушка – пенсионерка. Она живет одна, но не чувствует себя одинокой. Мы навещаем ее по крайней мере два раза в месяц. Мы хорошо проводим время в деревне (за городом). Приятно отдохнуть вдали от города.

8. Моя подруга хорошо одевается, она любит удобную одежду.

Follow up. Speak about your best friend.