Improvement n.

improvement in smth.: There was a slight improvement in the economy.

improvement on smth.: These white walls are a big improvement on that disgusting old wallpaper.

rent n.

to pay a rent: I pay a higher rent than the other tenants because my room is bigger.

high / low rent: Rents here are ridiculously high.

rent v.

to rent smth. from smb/smth..: I rented a car from a garage so that I could get about.

to rent smb. smth.: The old lady rented us her spare bedroom for ₤55 a week.

to rent (out) to smb.: My Dad has a cottage which he rents (out) to tourists.

affordable adj.: I bought nice clothes at affordable prices.

afford v.

to afford smth.: I don’t know how he can afford a new car on his salary. / She can’t afford the time off work to see him.

to afford to do smth.: I can’t afford to buy a house.

provide v.

to provide smth.: This booklet provides useful information about local services.

to provide smth. for smb.: We have concerns about whether the government will be able to provide social services for poor families.

to provide smb. with smth.: The government provides poor families with social services.

to provide for smb. (phr. v.): He has five children to provide for.

Exercises

1. Comprehension. Decide whether these statements are true or false, according to the story:

1. Eight country houses were sold off because of the financial crisis at the CHA.

2. Richard Burrows’s family have always dreamed of living in the country.

3. Richard Burrows has always been keen on buying Danny House in West Essex.

4. Richard’s family ended up renting an apartment in a retirement home.

5. Before Danny House was built the spot in the West Sussex downs had been empty.

6. In 1918 the War Cabinet of Prime Minister David Lloyd George were residents of the mansion.

7. Winston Churchill once visited Danny House.

8. Danny House is a charity organization which provides retired residents with apartments.

9. Danny House provides playgrounds for croquet.

10. Richard’s family occupy two apartments in Danny House.

11. Richard’s mother-in-law is in the business as well as his wife.

12. In 1955 colonial officials rented apartments in Danny House to retired admirals.

13. All the houses owned by the CHA have been sold off.

14. Not all the residents of the eight country houses will be allowed to stay there.

II. Vocabulary. Choose the most appropriate explanation for the following words:

spectacular

1. luminous

2. impressive

3. faded

luxurious

1. very bright and shiny

2. growing in amount

3. very comfortable and expensive

opulent

1. rich and beautiful

2. poor and dirty

3. well lighted and big

tranquil

1. calm and peaceful

2. beyond ordinary

3. imposing

adjacent

1. next to

2. sticky

3. separated from

plight

1. an unpleasant condition

2. a collapse

3. a restoration

cherish

1. to search for happiness

2. to keep hopes

3. to make dreams come true

considerable

1. fairly large

2. strong

3. increased in size

convene

1. to change an opinion

2. to accommodate

3. to arrange a meeting

affordable

1. hardly ever possible

2. not expensive

3. permissible

mounting

1. forthcoming

2. gradually increasing

3. slowly improving