Englich for Talking. Учебно-методическое пособие

c. As a group, discuss the effects that climate has on lifestyle. Think of things like housing, clothes, food, entertainment, holiday destinations. Compare your country with Britain, or another country you know. What differences or similarities can you think of between them that might be related to climate?

Ex. 20. a. Put the words on the right into the gaps in A and В to make phrases. Then say what you think they mean.

b. Match the words in column A to those in column B to form phrasal verbs with the meanings in column C.

Ex. 21. a. Complete 1–10 with one of these words, and explain the meanings of the idioms.

bright clouds cold dry frosty heat rain rainy season (x2)

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1.Why don't you put that money in the bank and save it for a …… day?

2.I know we've lost every match so far, but rather than get depressed, let's look on the…... side.

3.My uncle has serious money problems but he's sure he's going to win the lottery; my aunt thinks he's got his head in the …… .

4.I like to buy vegetables when they're fresh and in ……, rather than get frozen ones.

5.Ben was going to do a parachute jump, but at the last minute he got …… feet and decided to stay on the plane.

6.Easter, the summer months and Christmas are the high ……, when tickets cost a lot more.

7.Everyone got very angry, and in the …… of the moment Mark threatened to hit Colin.

8.The Socialist Party now have 49,9% of the votes, so they're nearly home and …… .

9.When Mr.Simms went to the bank to borrow yet more money, the manager gave him a …… reception.

10.Everybody else in the class had flu, but I felt as right as ….., and carried on going to lessons.

b.Correct the errors in these idioms.

1.Matt often says things in the heat of the moment and then regrets it later.

2.Gail had been planning to run in the city marathon, but I think she got cold feet.

3.I know we're in a bit of trouble, but let's look on the bright side.

4.Since Paolo played so badly last month, he's been given a frosty reception by his team mates.

5.Kat should be thinking about her interview tomorrow, but she's got her head in the clouds.

6.Don't worry about your temperature. Take your medicine and you'll soon be as right as rain.

Ex. 22. Complete the sentences below with one of these weather idioms.

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1.‘You re not ill, are you?’ ‘Not really, I'm just feeling a bit …… at the moment.’

2.‘Why don't you join us for lunch?’ ‘I'd like to, but I'm completely ……with work.’

3.‘What was all the arguing about?’ ‘Don't worry, it was only …… .’

4.‘How do you work this photocopying machine?’ ‘Sorry, I haven't

…….’

5.‘Didn't anyone help you wash up?’ ‘No, when the meal was over, they were all off …… .’

6.‘Is Henry in favour of the idea?’ ‘I don't really know, he keeps

…….’

7.‘What's Jane looking so happy about?’ ‘Oh, she's been …… ever since she got engaged.’

Ex. 23. Answer these “weather” questions. (phrasal verbs)

1.What happens when the sun goes down, sets, and when it goes in, goes behind the clouds?

2.What happens when it comes up, when it comes out, rises in the morning and when it beats down?

3.Which of the above do you associate with brighten up, and which with cloud over?

4.What happens when rain pours down, and when it eases off?

5.Why might a river dry up, and when might it fill up again?

6.At what time of day does it warm up, and when does it cool down?

7.How do people feel when the heat builds up, and if it doesn't let up?

8.What is the difference between a lake that freezes over, and a pipe that freezes up?

9.What has happened if people have been flooded out, or if a sporting event has been rained off?

10.What do people on holiday do to cool off, and how do they chill out?

Ex. 24. a. Read and translate the following weather and climate metaphors and learn them by heart.

His dishonest policies towards the workers created a climate of distrust. The government reforms have created a climate of change.

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She has a very sunny disposition – she's hardly ever miserable. Job prospects are sunny.

Unfortunately, our plans met with a frosty reception. ‘You lied to me, didn't you?’ she said icily.

I'm snowed under with work – I’ll never get through it all in time. After the company accounts were examined, the manager left under a cloud of suspicion.

Don't let your love for him cloud your judgement. The soldiers were hit with a hail of bullets.

The Prime Minister was greeted with a hail/storm of abuse. After the long flight I was in a haze for a day or two.

I've only a hazy idea what you mean. The truth is hidden in the mists of history.

She looked at him misty-eyed – clearly in love. The article sparked off a whirlwind of speculation. They had a whirlwind romance.

The horses thundered down the race track.

Thunderous applause followed his speech.

The winds of change/discontent/democracy are blowing across the country.

b. Find collocations for these words. Use a dictionary to find more if necessary.

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c.Translate the following proverbs and sayings or give their Russian equivalents. Explain their meaning and use them in 3- sentence situation of your own.

1.I'm feeling a bit under the weather today.

2.Make hay while the sun shines.

3.Rain before seven, fine before eleven.

4.It never rains but it pours.

5.One swallow does not make a summer.

6.Sow the wind and reap the whirl-wind.

7.Everything is good in its season.

8.It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good.

9.Don't worry. He'll be as right as rain in no time.

10.Every cloud has a silver lining.

11.It's just a storm in a teacup.

12.He really put the wind up me when he said we might lose our jobs.

d.Fill in the gaps in the sentences below with one of the following idioms:

to catch the wind with a net not to have the foggiest idea to chase rainbows to snowball a bit of blue sky to be snowed under to be on cloud nine a storm in a teacup thunderous applause to save for a rainy day under the weather out of season.

1.When the audience like a performance, they show it with...

2.When you feel that you'll never finish your work, you're ...

3.When you are completely in the dark about something, you ...

4.When a project gets bigger and bigger, it...

5.When you are ecstatically happy, you are ...

6.When you feel unwell, you say that you are ...

7.When you pursue illusory goals or hopes, you ...

8.When you get yourself busy with a useless thing, you ...

9.When you lay up money for the future, you ...

10.When something is absolutely out of place, it is ...

11.When somebody gets some hope at last, he or she gets ...

12.When there is a lot of fuss about a small mishap, it is ...

Ex. 25. Read the dialogues and make up your own.

a. Practise the following dialogue.

A: What's the weather today?

В: The temperature has fallen again. A: I enjoy the cold weather.

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В: Don't you mind the cold?

A: Not at all. I prefer a cold winter to a hot, muggy summer.

В: I agree. After the terrible August we had last year, low temperatures are kind of refreshing.

A: In August, there wasn't a breeze anywhere. There was 90% humidity, and the temperature stayed above 90° for 15 straight days.

В: It's six o'clock now. I'll turn on the radio. Let's listen to the weather report. Radio: At the cold front crosses the region tonight, temperatures will drop

considerably. The present temperature is 26 degrees. Tonight will be partly cloudy. Tomorrow will become sunny, windy, and very cold. High 20, low 16. Strong winds from the north will bring Arctic air to the region. Snow will develop at the end of the week.

A: Did you listen to the weather forecast?

В: Yes, I did. The mild weather will continue. Scattered showers will occur tomorrow night.

A: And what about the day after tomorrow?

В: Skies will begin to clear. Drier, colder air will arrive from the northwest. Sunny, but cold weather will prevail the day after tomorrow.

A: At this time of the year, the weather is so changeable.

b. Practise the following conversation.

A young Californian and an Englishman have just met on a ski lift in the Swiss Alps.

Mike: So, you're from sunny California. Tell me, is it really hot in Southern California all year round?

Brad: No, it can get cold. But never freezing cold. It never snows in Los Angeles for example. But it's chilly in winter, especially in the evenings.

Mike: Does it ever rain?

Вrad: Not much. But in January and in February we sometimes get really heavy rainstorms that last all day.

Mike: And what is the summer like?

Вrad: It can be boiling hot in the summer. Too warm for me. In Los Angeles, it gets smoggy too. Your eyes hurt and you can't see the sun in the sky.

Mike: How awful!

Вrad: Yes, it is. But what about English weather? Is it true that London is very foggy?

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Mike: No. People always think that. You see it all the time in the movies, but actually London hasn't had any thick fogs since the 1950s. The weather in England is bad though.

Вrad: Yes, I've heard that, but how bad it is?

Mike: Well, for one thing, it never gets really hot, even in the summer. And for another, it rains a lot. Sometimes you can't even see the rain. It is just a light drizzle, but if you're outside you get soaking wet.

c. Read the following dialogue and find:

Here and There

L: Hallo, Becky! You are looking very brown!

B: It's very hot, in Moscow at the moment. I heard there was a heat wave and everybody is sunbathing. People link Russia with snow and ice, but that’s just not true.

L: I remember you told me in your letter that it was very cold, didn’t you?

B: Yes, but it was in winter, the temperature went down to –25˚ (minus 25 degrees Celsius). It was cold and the snow was up to our knees. There were a couple of snow storms when you couldn't go out because the snow was falling so thickly that it was difficult to breathe and the wind could knock you down. That’s what is known as a proper Russian winter – bitter, severe and beautiful.

L: Oh, but how did you survive?

B: The Russian central heating is very effective.

L: So you weren't cold at night? As you know I am always cold. And even in summer I have to use my electric blanket.

B: Poor thing! And what was the winter like here, in Southampton?

L: Oh, even you couldn't believe how wet this winter was. I always wore my wellies. There were strong gales which destroyed many

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trees. Our house suffered from the storm, several window frames were broken.

B: Oh, how dreadful! I hope that was all that was damaged.

L: Not all! My umbrella turned out of my hands and was blown into the dirty puddles.

B: Don't worry. I was just going to give you an umbrella as a birthday present.

L: Oh really? That's very nice of you.

d. Work in pairs. Take turns to read the parts. Respond as you wish. The response may be in any form (statement, question, exclamation) as long as it is appropriate.

I. A. – Oh, goodness gracious! Now, do look up at the sky. I’ve never seen such black clouds. Oh, we'll get drenched!

B. – ………………………….

II.A. – What does it look like outdoors?

B.– …………………………

III. A. – The sun is trying to come out. Shall we go to the suburbs?

B.– …………………………

IV. A. – The first snowfall of the season! What a beautiful sight! I’m going out. Are you?

B.– …………………………..

V. A. – I should like to go to Sochi, but I'm so afraid of the heat. How about you?

B.– …………………………..

VI. A. – What's the matter? You are shivering all over! And clothes are soaking wet!

B. – …………………………..

VII. A. – Has it stopped raining? В. – No, not yet. Why?

A. – .........................................

VIII. A. – How do you like it here?

B. – London is a wonderful city, but your weather is terrible! A. – ………………………….

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IX. A. – ………………………….

B.– The weather forecast promised a dry, sunny day, didn't it?

X. A. – I must be going now and I wouldn't like to get wet through and through.

B.– ………………………….

Ex. 26. Read the text and:

a.Fill in the blanks with the corresponding words.

b.Retell it.

The naughtiest thing in the world is the … . It's like a capricious woman who always does the opposite to what you ask her.

When you want to go for a picnic in the open air you ask the skies to

…and the day to be fine. Nervously you switch on the radio and listen to the … .You tremble with joy to hear that it’ll … and … dry with … , and

…. Your imagination draws a hot summer afternoon and yourself saying: “Nice weather we are having today!” You take a lot of food and no warm clothes, go to the countryside but... do not get anything … .

You get it … and … with … which ends with a … . The sky is so …, the … follow one another with such frequency, the … and … are so frightening that you’ve got no illusions left. You throw away the food and go back hungry and angry. And when you already approaching your home

…it suddenly … . Oh, Goodness!

Each summer every student survives through the best time of his or her life

– an examination session. Then many students plead: “Please, weather, stay …, … or even … with … and … leaving … and … everywhere, especially on the playground. And I’ll be a good student.” The radio promises: “ … with … .” But the ‘patch’ is never in the right place. Instead the skies send … and excellent weather for a … . Everyone knows that sun tan never helps at exams.

And it is always like this. When you go skiing and want to have … weather with a lot of …, it starts … and your skis sink in the … . Instead of a … and … on the trees you get excellent … . The weather does not feel any pangs of remorse.

When you go in the car to the country, enjoying nice weather and a beautiful view of a … in the blue sky, you pay nо attention to some … . Some time later a … in the distance turns into … and you spend a lovely two hours instead of one at the steering wheel.

When you plant some much-cared-for flowers in the garden, either a … or a … kills them. Digging muddy flowerbeds one feels exasperated: “what beastly weather we’ve had this week! And it keeps nasty! Wretched!”

To tell the truth, sometimes the weather is ashamed and turns for the better. But not always. More often it sticks to its own pattern and after a short warm spell turns bad again. Why is it always like this? Maybe,

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because the father likes surprises and wants to bring in adventures to our life, breaking the boring routine with marvellous happenings?

1.Do you agree that the weather is like a capricious woman? Prove your point.

2.Say what weather you like best of all and why.

3.Do you listen to the weather forecasts? Do you trust them? Have you heard the weather forecast for today? Was it right?

Ex. 27. a. Read the weather forecasts. Say what time of the year they refer to.

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