There is no place like home

Many English families have got their own houses, but some people live in the flats. There are two floors in the traditional English house: the ground floor and the first floor. People in England like their homes and always show them to their visitors.

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Mr. Dunn, a British businessman, often comes to the Russian Trade Delegation. One Sunday he invites some members of the delegation to his place to spend an evening with his family.

Mr. Dunn’s family lives in a small house with a garden. There is a sitting-room and a study downstairs. The kitchen is downstairs too. The sitting-room is large and sunny. There is sofa, two armchairs and a TV-set there. The nice carpet on the floor makes the room comfortable.

The study is a small room with bookshelves on the walls. Upstairs there are two bedrooms and a bathroom.

The Dunns like their house and think: "There is no place like home".

Questions

1. Have you got a large or small flat?

2. How many rooms are there in your flat?

3. Is your flat in a new or in an old district?

4. How do you like your district?

5. Are there any parks and gardens in your district?

6. You’ve got a comfortable flat, haven’t you?

7. What floor is your flat on?

8. Is there much or little furniture in your flat?

9. Is there any built-in furniture in your flat?

10. Have you got a flat in a new or in an old block of flats?

11. There is a sitting room in your flat, isn’t there?

12. How many windows are there in your sitting room?

13. What is there in your sitting room?

Unit 3. Working day words and expressions

in the morning in the day time at midnight this morning yesterday afternoon last night tomorrow morning the day after tomorrow

last week a week ago in a fortnight once a day on weekdays weekend day off from time to time

What is the exact time, please?

My watch is five minutes fast (slow).

My watch has run down. I must wind it up.

My watch always keeps good time.

At what time?

Right away.

What time is it by your watch?

What is your time?

Time is up.

Take your time.

I was having the time of my life.

My working day

On weekdays I usually get up at seven o’clock. I make my bed, open the window and do my morning exercises. Then I go to the bathroom where I clean my teeth, shave and wash myself. If I have enough time I take a cold and hot shower. It really wakes me up and makes my body feel good. After bathroom I go back to my room where I dress and brush my hair. In ten minutes I am ready for breakfast. It may be a cup of tea or coffee and a sandwich.

After breakfast I put on my coat, take the bag and go to school. As I live not far from school it takes me only five or seven minutes to get there. I don’t want to be late for the first lesson so I come to school a few minutes before the bell. I leave my coat in the cloakroom and go upstairs to the classroom.

The lessons begin at eight o’clock in the morning and they are over at half past one in the afternoon. After classes I go home and have dinner there. I usually have something substantial for dinner, for example, cabbage soup for the first course, hot meat or fish with some vegetables for the second. Then I drink a cup of tea or milk. Sometimes when I have to stay at school after classes I go to the school canteen and have dinner there.

After dinner I have a short rest, read newspapers, make some telephone calls and go to the bakery. Then I do my homework. We study many subjects at school and it takes me three or even more hours to do the homework. Sometimes I go to the library to get ready to my practical classes or to write a report. As a rule I have no free time on my week-days.

Eight o’clock is supper time in our family. We all get together in the kitchen, then go to the sitting room and watch TV, read books or discuss different problems. Twice a week I go to school in the evening to play volleyball. I am a member of the school volleyball team and we have our training rather late.

At about eleven at night I go to bed.