Unusual Types of Houses

Unusual Types of Houses

(Listening Comprehension Test)

I. PRE-LISTENING TASK

Look up the meaning of the following words to avoid difficulties of understanding.

barge (n)

tunnel (n)

nightmare (n)

squeeze (v)

permission (n)

concrete (n)

advertisement (n)

deck (n)

storing (n)

tight (adj)

local council

save up

line smth with smth

move in

II. LISTENING AND COMPREHENSION TASKS

2.1 Listen to 4 people talking about their houses and mark the statements as True or False.

1. All the owners were looking for something unusual to buy.

2. Each of the owners is pleased with the house.

3. Five unusual houses are mentioned in the recording.

4. The houses were originally used for other purposes.

5. All the houses are round.

2.2 Listen to the descriptions again and fill in the chart below.

Houses/Characteristics	Boat-house	Underground-house	Tunnel house	Garden house
Neighbourhood Floors Rooms bedroom kitchen bathroom living room store room Conveniences Garden Other characteristics

III. LANGUAGE FOCUS AND AUDITORY MEMORY CHECK

3.1 While listening to the texts this time insert the missing prepositions.

1. We saw an advertisement____a house boat.

2. Not the kind___thing you used to see _____the river_____London.

3. It’s not actually____the water any more, but it’s quite___the river.

4. We are connected ___the mains electricity and water.

5. We had plans made ____this house.

6. You can’t see much____it___the outside.

7. Down___here the house is actually quite large.

8. We go upstairs___the garden___our house.

9. The railway line was closed_____30 years ago.

10. We have____the same amount____space as there would be____a 3 bedroom house.

3.2 Listen to the recording again and write down six sentences with used to/get used to.

3.3 Remember the words from the recording which are synonyms to the following ones below.

build

difficult

advise

place

small

number

IV. FOLLOW UP ACTIVITY

• Would you like to live in a house of the kind you’ve heard in the recording? Why? Give ypur arguments for and against in writing.