2. Find the English equivalents in the text:

как насчет, подняться, создать собственное предприятие, над землей, безопасный, боязнь высоты, выделиться из толпы, выглядеть как все остальные, известный, популярный, не имеет значения, убедиться.

3. Find the synonyms to the following words from the text:

ideal, to like, to examine, surroundings, famous, convenient, appearance.

4. Answer the questions:

1. What is the way to go up for Dan Garner?

2. When did he decide to build a luxury tree house in the garden?

3. What are the advantages of tree houses?

4. Are there any disadvantages?

5. What does the author of the text say about people who live in ordinary settings?

6. Do all people like unusual houses? Why?

7. Would you like to live in an unusual house?

5. Choose the most suitable answer:

1. Why did Dan build a tree house in the garden?

1. He wants to persuade people to buy such a house

2. His family wanted to live in a tree house

3. He built it to earn a living

4. His family needed more room

2. The “Headington shark”

1. was created by Bill Heines

2. crashed into the roof of Bill Heines’ house one night

3. was immediately popular with everyone in the town

4. was built without any warning

3. Unusual houses

1. say who their owners are

2. are dangerous for other people

3. spoil the look of the neighbourhood

4. are not convenient to live in.

TEXT 4

1. Read the text.

Digging it down under

The Harper family live in a large, comfortable home. Like many other houses, it has all modern conveniences. Unlike many other houses, it has no windows. The Harpers live in Coober Pedy, Australia, where two thirds of the population live underground.

Coober Pedy is an opal-mining town in the Australian desert. Above ground, the town does not look very welcoming. The earth is red and dry under the scorching sun. There is a small number of shops and offices. Underground, however, it’s a very different story. There are shops, hotels, restaurants and churches, all built underground to escape from the extreme temperatures and violent dust storms of the desert.

The underground dwellings range from dugouts to luxurious caverns with beautiful furniture. The Harper family home has 3 spacious bedrooms and a large living room. The Harper children, Tom and Wendy, spend most of their time in the games room or swimming pool! The house is clean and comfortable and the Harpers enjoy entertaining guests there.

The Harper’s beautiful home is a result of their own hard work, as it was once just a small, two-room cave home. “The advantage of living underground is that, if you need another room, you just dig it!” says Mr. Harper. “And the advantage of living in an opal-mining town is that you often find opals while you are extending your house!” Besides, children can make as much noise as they want, because the walls are soundproof.

The underground homes at Coober Pedy offer an interesting way of life, as well as peace and quiet and relief from the desert sun. The Harper family are certainly content. “Life is so much simpler underground,” says Wendy. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

to dig - копать

opal-mine – шахта по добыче опалов

scorching - палящий

dugout - землянка

cavern - пещера

to extend - расширять

quiet – тишина, спокойствие

relief – зд. спасение, облегчение

content – довольный