4. Am I on the Right Road to the British Museum?

Rogov: Excuse me. Am I on the right road to the British Museum?

Boy: The British Museum? Let me think... I'm afraid you aren't.

You'll have to go back one block and then turn to your left. Go straight along that street as far as the Museum.

Rogov: Thank you. Isn't it better for me to take a taxi?

Boy: Oh, you needn't. It's just a ten minutes' walk from Here.

Rogov: Thank you ever so much.

Boy: It's all right, sir.

5- Do I Take the Underground?

Panina: Excuse me. Do I take the underground to get to Hyde Park?

Passer-by: Well, it depends on what part of the Park you need.

Panina: I want to get to Marble Arch.

Passer-by: I see. Then you'd better go there by bus. The bus stops just round the corner while the nearest underground station is quite a long way away.

Panina: Thank you very much.

Passer-by: Not at all.

6. On a Bus

Panina: Excuse me... I want to get to the Palladium Theatre. Do I

get off at the next stop? Passenger: Well, what stop is that?.. Oh no! You go farther. Two or

three more stops. Or... wait a moment. You may get off here

and take another bus. It'll probably be quicker. Panina: Oh, thank you. I'll stay on this bus and not bother to

change. Passenger: Yes, that's probably best.

7. You're Going in the Opposite Direction

Rogov: Excuse me... I want to get to Waterloo Bridge. What stop do I get off at?

Passenger: Waterloo Bridge?... Just a minute. But you are going away from it. The bus is going in the opposite direction.

Rogov: Do you mean to say I've taken the wrong bus?

Passenger: You should have taken the same number but a bus go­ing in the other direction.

Rogov: Thank you very much.

8. Fares, Please!

Panina: Is this the right bus for Central Park, Conductor (Driver)?

Conductor: Yes. We go past the Park... Fares, please!

Panina: What's the fare to the Park?

Conductor: 10 pence... Move along! No standing on the platform!

Move on! There's room there.

Panina: Will you tell me when we're there?

Conductor: Very well.

9. I Can Give You a Lift

Harry (from his car): Hello, Alexei! Where are you walking so fast?

Rogov: Oh, it's you, Harry. I'm hurrying to the theatre. I don'tknow exactly how long it will take me. I want to be on the safe side.

Harry: Well, I can give you a lift, if you want.

Rogov: I wouldn't liке to put you out but if you have time...

Harry: It'll be just on my way. Take the front seat. Close the door properly. Thank you.

Exercese 3. Practise these substitution dialogues in pairs.

1.

-Excuse me... Can you tell (show) me the shortest way to the railway station^?

–Let me think. Go along this street and take the first (second) turn on your left (right).

the centre, the nearest underground station, the nearest cinema, the market

2.

• Does this bus (tram) go to the Central Stadium!

• I'm afraid not. You should take the number 18 bus.

Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street, the Tower, Hyde Park, the Opera, the National Gallery

3.

-Am I going the right way to the Consul Hotel!

-Yes.

-Is it far from here?

- Oh, no. It's just round the corner.

the Moskva Hotel, the Bolshoi Theatre; behind that tall house, ten minutes' walk, near at hand

4.

• Where do I get off to reach Liverpool Street Station!

• You must get off at the next stop.

Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square; now, in three stops, at the last stop but one

5.

-Which is the most convenient way to get to the Browns' place? - It's best to go there by tram.

by underground (tube), by bus, on foot, by taxi (by car)

Exercese 4. Make up questions using the situation and the prompt words given below.

You come out of a London Hotel where you are staying. You want to get to some place. But on crossing the road and taking the first turn on your right you feel you are losing your way. You ad­dress a passer-by.

Model: - the railway station

- Excuse me. Can you tell me the way to (Am I on the right road for) the railway station?

the Russian Embassy, London University, Oxford Street, Central Park, the Zoo, the Bank of England, the Colonnade Hotel, Stevens Travel Agency, the British Museum, Park Lane, Waterloo Bridge, the Tower, the General Post Office.

Exercese 5. Answer the questions using the Passive Voice.

Model: - You found the road to the office very quickly. Did someone show you the way there?

- Yes, I was shown the way (to the office).

1. You've stayed at the Savoy. Did somebody recommend this hotel to you? 2. Did someone tell you how to reach the National Gallery? 3. You've come very early. Did anybody give you a lift? 4. You’ve done that very well. Did they show you how to do it? 5. It's good you've managed to pack so quickly. Did Jane give you a hand? 6. Oh, you have parked your car here. It's all very well, but did the traffic warden allow you to park in this place? 7. You’ve got the newest telephone directory. Did they send you one? 8. You have a very good job. Did they offer it to you long ago?

Exercese 6. Make up dialogues using the situations and the guide words given betow.

1. Walking in the street, you meet a friend of yours who says that he is sick and tired of the London traffic, noise and bad air and that he is thinking of moving to a small town in the north.

Guide words: I'm not surprised. How long have you been living in London? I think it's a good idea.

2. You are in a new (unknown to you) district of a large city looking for your friend's address. The houses around you - those tra­ditional English homes - seem very much alike. You ask a passer-by to help you find the place.

Guide words: My friend's address is... . A normal two-storey house he said. I've just moved in myself. Try the third house on your left.

3. You are sorry to have missed your bus. You are afraid you might be late for work. You* colleague who lives in the same block of flats might also be late for work. But he comforts you.

Guide words: My luck!⁶ Just missed by a hair! We can still make it. You needn't worry.

4. A stranger comes up to you and asks you the way to the central railway station. You give him the necessary directions.

Guide words: Go along this street as far as... . Take the first turn on your left. Take bus 35 and then change for tram 16.

Exercese 7. Let's talk a little. React to the statements you hear (your responses being exclamations, questions, requests, suggestions, etc.).

1. Titova: When I manage to get on this bus, I arrive at work in 27 or 30 minutes. 2. Mr Cousins: I don't like to travel by underground. 3. Kolotov: The most convenient way to get to this new district is by taxi. 4. Solntseva: An underground station will be opened soon in our street. 5. Miss Young: It takes me about two hours to get to my office.

Exercese 8. Disagree with the statements avoiding a simple negation.

Model: - Getting about an unfamiliar town is a simple thing.

No, I don't think that's correct (logical, always true, exact). When people find themselves in an unknown (unfamiliar) town, they can easily lose their way; they have to ask passers-by how to get to the place they need.

1. The tram is the most modern kind of city transport. 2. Buses are usually empty during rush-hours. 3. The British Museum is situ­ated in Glasgow. 4. The Thames divides Paris into two parts. 5. The first words we use to ask about the way are: "Thank you. What's the time now?" 6. There is an underground railway or tube in every British town.

Exercese 9. Answer your friend's questions.

1. Do you know the town you live in very well? 2. What num­ber bus do you take when you go to work? 3. What kind of city transport do you like best? 4. What is the most convenient kind of city transport (if there is such)? 5. What is the usual interval be­tween underground trains? 6. From what time in the morning till what time at night do buses, trolley-buses and trams run? 7. Are the traffic rules in Britain different from those in other European coun­tries? 8. What are traffic lights used for? 9. What is the main street in your town? 10. What are the most common conversational for­mulas we use when asking the way? 11. Are there conductors on buses and trams in Moscow? How do passengers pay their fares?

Exercese 10. Say it in English.

1. Извините, не покажите ли вы мне дорогу к железнодо­рожному вокзалу? Спасибо. 2. Скажите, как мне пройти к цен­тральному стадиону? 3. Скажите, пожалуйста, я пройду так к гостинице «Минск»? 4. Идите прямо вдоль этой улицы, затем поверните направо. 5. Пройдите прямо три квартала по этой улице, затем поверните налево. 6. Идите прямо, дойдете до высотного здания, а там спросите у кого-нибудь. 7. Вам надо сесть на 18-й номер трамвая и проехать... Дайте подумать... и проехать четыре остановки, затем вернуться назад на один квартал. 8. Поезжайте на автобусе до метро (это конечная оста­новка), затем на метро к центру четыре остановки. 9. Я доеду на этом автобусе до Трафальгарской площади? - Боюсь, что нет. Вам надо было сесть на 22 или 14. А этот автобус вообще идет в обратном направлении. 10. На чем удобнее всего доби­раться до вашего учреждения? - Из отеля, где вы останови­лись, лучше всего идти пешком или взять такси. - Спасибо.

Exercese 11. You arc on an underground train reading a newspaper. Have a talk with your friend about the news you have read.

Exercese 12. Tell us about your native town.