The Course of English for University Students (Step 4). Учебное пособие

6. Still, I have mixed feelings about these changes. I believe that Rose Street was a better place to live ten years ago, since a sense of security and community is much more important than appearance or convenience. I would love to see Rose Street again as it used to be.

Ex. 41. Look at the notes below, then compare and contrast the two towns.

e.g. Town A is full of modern buildings whereas Town B is a mixture of old and new buildings.

Ex. 42. Read the model and correct the underlined words. Write S for spelling, WO for word order, G for grammar, or WW for wrong word then give the paragraph plan. What tenses have been used? Why?

Describe an area of the town you live in which you believe will change in the near future land explain in what ways it will become different

Allenby, one of the most run-down areas of town, is located to the south of the town centre, close to the canal. It used to be occupied by the cotton industry, but the mills were closed down many years before and most of Allenby has lain derelict since then.

The general impression of the place is one of neglect and emptiness: broken glass, a little stray cats, rubbish blown by the wind. Most of the stone buildings have turned almost black over the years, giving them a sombre, and in some cases, quite forbiding appearance. This is especially the case at night when the streets are unlighted and deserted.

The structures that most catch the eye are the big old mills and warehouses. These towering shapes are punctuated regularly with row upon row of high windows. Being such huge, they would have dwarfed the hundreds who once worked inside, but now they are

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empty and not even the old machinery remain. The nearby houses, in contrast, are tiny dilapidated terraces, all the same more or less.

Recently, however, the town council has released plans to clean up Allenby, following the successful development of similar areas in cities such as London and Liverpool. The mills and warehouses will transformed into airy open-plan apartments and galleries, while bar and restaurant owners will be encouraged to invest tn the terraced houses along the canal. This transformation will undoubtedly draw an up-market crowd, as more and much people seem to be showing an interest in the areas distinctive architectural and industrial past.

In the addition to this, the council has also promised to revamp the canal and it's tow-path in an attempt to help Allenby shed its reputation for being a magnet for dangerous and shady characters. As a result, the area is bound to attract business and Allenby will be able to develop a cleaner, safer and all together more appealing image.

If the example of London's riverfront properties are anything to go by, the redevelopment of Allenby will certainly revitalise the area and ultimately enhance the image of the town as a whole.

Ex. 43. Look at the following composition task instructions and answer the questions below.

a)Describe a well-known landmark in your country and explain why it is famous.

1 What are the key words?

2 Which landmark in your country would you choose to describe? 3 What particular features of this landmark would you choose to

describe?

4 What reasons can you think of that make the landmark famous?

5 What would a suitable paragraph plan for this task be?

b)Describe two areas of the town or city you live in which are very different from each other, and explain why they are so different.

1 What are the key words?

2 Which two areas of your town would you choose to describe?

3 What elements would you include in order to show how these two areas differ?

4 What words would you use to compare/ contrast these two areas?

5 What would a suitable paragraph plan for this task be?

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GRAMMAR CONVERSATIONS to enhance fluency

Conversation 1 (Present Continuous)

Mary: Hello, George! How are you feeling this morning? George: Not so hot.

Mary: Why are you wearing sun glasses? George: I've got a headache.

Mary: What are you carrying in that bag? George: Mind your own business.

Mary: Why aren't you working?

George: I am working! I'm not carrying this bag for my own amusement.

Mary: Why are you limping?

George: I've sprained my ankle. Why are you smiling? It's nothing to smile about.

Mary: I'm not smiling at you. The sun's in my eyes. George: Why aren't you working?

Mary: I'm not feeling too well. George: What's wrong?

Mary: My shoulders are hurting me. George: Whose coat are you wearing?

Mary: My own, of course. Why are you laughing?

George: Because you've forgotten ... to remove the coat hanger.

Conversation 2 (Present Perfect)

John: Where have you been?

Mary: I've been in the canteen.

John: Have you seen George?

Mary: Yes, I have.

John: Has he taken my car?

Mary: Yes, he has.

John: Has he got a licence?

Mary: No, he hasn't.

John: Why hasn't he taken a test?

Mary: He hasn't had time.

John: Where has he gone?

Mary: He's gone into town.

John: Has he done any work this morning?

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Mary: Yes, he has. John: What's he done?

Mary: He's filed his nails.

John: How long have you been here? Mary: I've been here since 2024. John: How long has George been here?

Mary: He's been here for five years. He's been here since 20... .

John: How long have you known him? Mary: I've known him for ten years. John: How long have you had that hair-do?

Mary: I've had it for three days. I've had it since Friday.

Conversation 3 (Present Perfect Continuous)

John: How long have you been waiting?

Mary: I've been waiting for half an hour. I've been waiting since ten o'clock. What have you been doing?

John: I've been resting. I've been sleeping.

Mary: And I've been standing here! I've been standing in the rain. I've been getting wetter and wetter.

John: I'm very sorry. I've been feeling so tired recently. What have you been doing?

Marv: I've been visiting friends. I've been shopping. What have you been doing?

John: I've been trying to finish an article for the newspaper. Mary: How long have you been working here?

John: I've been working here for two years. I've been working here since 20… . Where are you staying?

Mary: I'm staying at the Grand.

John: How long have you been staying there? Mary: I've been staying there since Friday. John: I've been meaning to phone you.

Conversation 4 (Past simple – Present Perfect)

John: What time is it? Mary: Half past four.

John: What have you done this afternoon?

Mary: I've pressed my trousers. I've washed my socks. I've baked a cake.

John: What did you do this morning?

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Mary: I went to town, I bought a hat. I paid the grocery bill. John: Have you seen this new film?

Mary: Yes, I have.

John: When did you see it?

Mary: I saw it last week. Have you seen it? John: No, I haven't. Who did you go with? Mary: I went with George.

John: Have you been on holiday? Mary: Yes, I have.

John: I went to Scotland. John: Where did you stay?

Mary: With friends in a little village. Have you been there? John: Yes, I went last year.

Mary: Did you go skiing?

John: No, I didn't. I've never tried it.

Conversation 5 (Past Continuous)

John: What were you doing when I phoned this morning? Mary: I was getting up.

John: What were you doing at 10 0'clock on Monday? Mary: I was playing tennis. What were you doing?

John: While you were playing tennis I was sweating in the office. Mary: Were you working?

John: Of course I was working.

Mary: But you weren't working when I phoned. You said you were sleeping.

John: I wasn't sleeping. I was sweeping. When you phoned I was sweeping the floor.

Mary: What was the office boy doing while you were sweeping? John: He was visiting a sick aunt. When I arrived he was crying.

So I gave him the day off.

Mary: I am glad his aunt is better. John: What do you mean?

Mary: When I saw him at 11 he was playing poker.

Conversation 6 (Past Pefect)

Mary: I thought you said there'd been an accident.

John: There had.

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Mary: Where's the body?

John: By the time I got here they'd already taken it away. Mary: What happened?

John: The lorry driver had forgotten that this was a one way street. He said he'd turned right without thinking. The driver of the car said he'd tried to swerve. But before he had time to do so the lorry had hit him. It was a new car, too. The man had bought it only two days before. Unfortunately, he hadn't insured it. A doctor examined the lorry driver and said he'd been drinking.

Mary: But I thought you said they'd taken away a body. John: They did.

Mary: Whose?

John: George's. He fainted.

Conversation 7 (Future Simple)

Mary: Won't John be annoyed? George: Annoyed at what? Mary: At your taking his car. George: He won't know. Mary: Why won't he?

George: He won't be back till after we get home. Mary: How do you know I won't tell him?

George: If you do you won't get a birthday present. Mary: But, won't John want to know where we've been? George: Yes, what'll we tell him?

Mary: I'll say we went to the pictures.

George: I hope it'll stop raining. He'll be certain to notice that the car's dirty.

Mary: Will we have to clean it? George: No, we won't.

Mary: What'll we do?

George: We'll leave it in a ditch and say it was stolen. Mary: At least you'll be telling the truth.

Conversation 8 (Future Continuous)

John: What'll you be doing this time next week? Mary: I'll be flying to London. What'll you be doing?

John: I'll be making a speech at the Rotary Club dinner.

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Mary: Will you be working tonight?

John: Yes, I will. I'll be preparing my speech. Mary: Will you be seeing George today? John: Yes, at lunch time.

Mary: Tell him I'll be waiting inside the pub. I'll be wearing a purple dress.

John: Why do you mention that?

Mary: Because I hope he'll be wearing his purple tie. John: Will you be coming over this evening?

Mary: I'd like to. But won't I be disturbing you? John: No, you won 't.

Mary: Won't you be writing your speech?

John: By the time you arrive I'll have finished it. I'll be listening to the radio or playing some records.

Conversation 9 (to have smth. done)

George: Do you cut your own hair?

Mary: No, I don't, have cut it at the haidresser's. Do you cut yours?

George: Yes, I do. Mary: It looks like it.

George: Where do you have it cut?

Mary: At that little shop opposite the bakery. George: I have my suits made at the shop next door. Mary: Has John repaired his car?

George: No, he took it to the garage. He had it fixed by a mechanic.

Mary: What has he have done?

George: He had the battery charged. He had the plugs cleaned. He had the tires changed. He had the wheels straightened.

Mary: That must have cost him something. George: No, he put it down on his expense account. Mary: Where is he this morning?

George: He's at the doctor's. He's having his temperature taken. He's having his heart examined. He's having his chest X-rayed. He's going to have his tonsils removed and his appendix taken out.

Mary: Rather him than me! But what have you had done to that suit you're wearing. It fits!

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George: I've had it altered, I've had the trousers lengthened. I've had the sleeves shortened.

Mary: And by the looks of it you've had the shoulders padded. George: That's the latest fashion.

Mary: Anyhow you look clean.

George: I've made a special effort. I've had my shoes polished. I've had my shirt washed. I've had my socks mended. I've had my trousers pressed. I've had my overcoat patched.

Mary: Has it always been green? George: No, I've had it dyed. Mary: What for?

George: I don't want John to recognize it.

Conversation 10 (Conditional 3)

Mary: Hello, John! Hello, George! What brings you here at this time of day?

John: We've come to lunch.

Mary: I didn't know you were coming. If I'd known I'd have stayed in and prepared something. I wouldn't have gone out. And if I'd known you were bringing George I'd have baked a cake.

John: Sorry, Mary. I didn't have time to phone. If I'd had time I'd have phoned you.

George: What he means is that if he'd had the money he'd have phoned you.

Mary: And now there's no food. If George had come yesterday he'd have had chicken. If he'd come on Sunday he'd have had steak. If he'd come on Saturday he'd have had trout.

George: What you mean is... If you'd invited me yesterday I'd have had chicken. If you'd invited me on Sunday I'd have had steak. If you'd invited me on Saturday I'd have had trout. That's beside the point. What have you got today?

Mary: Yesterday I lent ten pounds to the lady next door. If she'd returned it I could have bought some meat.

George: What did you buy? Mary: Spinach.

George: If I'd known that I wouldn't have come. Mary: Spinach is very nourishing.

George: John, I ask you! If I'd invited you to lunch would you have expected spinach?

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John: If I'd been invited to lunch I'd have been so grateful that I'd have eaten anything. And in any case I wouldn't have grumbled in front of my host.

George: You haven't answered my question. If I'd invited you to lunch would you have expected spinach?

John: Frankly, no!

Conversation 11 (to avoid doing smth)

John: Who's been smoking my best. cigars? Who's been drinking my brandy?

George: I admit smoking one of your cigars but I deny having touched your precious brandy. I always avoid drinking bad spirits.

John: I don't remember giving you permission. I don 't mind you having some if you ask me first but I detest scrounging. I regret having to say this but I'll have to stop letting you use my flat if this continues. And have you finished reading my private mail? I know you enjoy minding other people's business as much as you dislike minding your own.

George: But I can't help seeing what's in your letters if you leave them open.

John: You 're a lazy character, aren't you? You love doing nothing.

George: I admit being lazy. I hate working, I prefer eating and sleeping.

John: I appreciate hearing your point of view. However, I'm considering taking drastic steps.

George: What are you going to do? John: I intend throwing you out. George: But I like living here.

John: I know you do but you must start looking for a new place. George: I've no intention of going.

John: I insist on your leaving this afternoon.

George: It's no use shouting. There's no chance of my leaving today.

John: I'm tired of talking and I'm not interested in hearing any more. Out you go!

George: I was only joking. I've no intention of staying. I'm thinking of buying the house across the street. I never get tired of teasing you.

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