Taste and smell

We are most familiar with the senses of taste and smell for the pleasure they can bring. However, they probably were developed to protect us from eating food that could be poisonous. Our sense of smell is much stronger than our sense of taste. When we taste food we rely on the smell and texture as well as the taste. This explains why we cannot taste food very well when we have a cold.

When eating a pear, for example, scent from the fruit rises up the nose and dissolves in a mucus lining that covers the scent-sensitive cells at the top of the nose. These special odor-sensitive cells become stimulated when vapors are released from food, drinks, and the environment. They are called olfactory cells and they contain hairs on which mucus lies. Vapors dissolve in the mucus, causing nerve impulses to be sent to the olfactory lobe in the brain, where the smell is recognized and enjoyed. The pear’s sweetness is also sensed by taste buds on the tongue, and is similarly transmitted by nerve signals to the brain.

Our tongue contains about 10,000 taste buds, which pick up and respond to salt, sweet, sour, or bitter tastes. The taste buds are stimulated when chemicals from food are dissolved in the mouth’s fluid – our saliva. Combined together, the four basic tastes give us a range of subtle flavors.

Hearing

The part of the ear we see is shaped to collect sound and allow it to travel along the ear canal to the eardrum. Sound causes the eardrum to vibrate. Behind the eardrum are three small bones called the hammer, anvil and stirrup, which get their names from their shapes. Vibrations from the eardrum cause the small bones to vibrate too, and these vibrations pass through an oval window to the cochlea. The cochlea is a coiled tube filled with liquid. Low-pitched sounds make the first part of the tube vibrate, while high-pitched sounds vibrate a part further up. These vibrations are picked up by nerve fibers connected to the brain. The brain can tell where the vibrations are occurring and so can tell one sound from another.

Ears help us to balance. There are three semi-circular canals in the ear. They contain fluid that moves when we change our position. The moving fluid sends signals to the brain that helps our body to adjust and keep its sense of balance.

2. Imagine that you are making a speech on one of these topics:

1. The skin.

2. Seeing.

3. Taste and smell.

4. Hearing.

3. Write an essay describing human senses.

Grammar exercises

Ex. 1. Compare the use of the Past Simple and the Present Perfect tense-forms. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. Ann bought herself a new dress yesterday. She paid 30 poundsfor it.

2. Have a look. I've just bought a lovely pair of shoes.

3. Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radium and in 1903 won the Nobel Prize.

4. The police haven't found the boy yet. He disappeared 3 days ago.

5. How many times have you been in love? When did you fall in love first?

6. Ron hasn't studied much this term.

7. When did they get married? — Last year. So they have been married for about a year.

8. Chemistry has never been my favourite subject. I liked Maths when I studied at school.

9. Sam hasn’t drunk alcohol since he got into a car accident.

10. I bought everything I needed and went straight home.

11. I have bought a new car. — But where's the car you bought last уear?

12. That's where I used to live in my childhood.

13. Where is your key? — I don't know. I'm afraid I've lost it. — But when did you see it last ?

14. Peter was meeting someone that night so I stayed at the office and worked for a few extra hours.

Ex. 2. Complete the sentences. Use the present perfect in the correct form.

1. A: Is it raining at the moment? В: … (it / just / stop).

2. I can't find my keys. ... (you / see) them?

3. A: Where's your dictionary?

B: I don't know ... (it / disappear).

4. A: Let's go and see 'Lions of Africa' at the Cannon cinema.

В: … (I / already / see) it.

A: Oh well, ... (you / see) 'Green Beans'?

B: No, let's go to that.

5. A: Please can I have my book back.

B: Oh dear. ... (I / not / finish) it.

6. A: Are Steve and Martha at home? B: No, ... (they / go) out.

7. John looks thinner. ... (he / lose) weight?

8. A: Is Sally enjoying her new job?

В: I don't know. (I / not / hear) from her.

9. A: Why doesn't this tape recorder work?

B: I think ... (you / break) it.

10. Mary, you're very late. I was worried about you. Where ... (you /be)?

11. A: How many times ... (you / take) your driving test?

B: Twice. My third one is next week.

12. This music is new to me. I'm sure ... (I / not / hear) it before.

Ex. 3. Complete the sentences with already (I've already .../She's already ...) or yet (He hasn't ...yet/ They haven't ...yet).

1. MARK: Lets go to the new Spielman exhibition at the Modern Art Museum.

JANE: I … . It's not very good. (see)

2. DAVID: Don't forget to tell Mary the good news.

LIZ: I ... and she was very happy. (tell)

3. SUE: What does John say in his letter?

CHRIS: I don't know. I ... I've been too busy. (read)

4. TIM: Did Sue's operation go well?

PAT: She ... . The hospital were too busy. (have)

5. JOHN: I enjoyed reading that new novel by Sarah Dunmore. Is it her first book?

JILL: No, she ... three, but I think this one is her best. (write)

6. PETE: Is that your father's new car?

PAUL: Yes, it arrived last week but he … . (drive)

7. KATE: When are Tony and Chris going to sell their house?

MICK: They ... They're moving to London next week. (sell)

Ex. 4. You work for a travel agency. A customer, Jack, is interested in one of your walking holidays in the tropical rain forests of South America. You are asking him some questions beginning Have you ever...?

YOU: Can you walk a long distance? … (walk) more than 40 kms? Are you healthy? … (have) a serious illness? ... break) an arm or a leg? Can you swim? ... travel) in a canoe? Do you like flying? ... (fly) in a helicopter? Can you read a map? … (lose) your way? Do you sleep well? … (sleep) outside? Are you afraid of heights? … (climb) a high mountain?

JACK: Yes, no problem. Yes, often. Yes, very. No, never. My leg, twice. Yes. Yes, once. Not very much. Yes, a few times. I think so. No, never. Yes, always. Yes, many times. No. Yes, once.

Ex. 5. Complete the conversations. Make questions with How long ... + the present perfect.

1. PIPPA: Do you like London?

MARTIN:Yes, very much.

PIPPA: … here? (live)

2. MIKE: This is a really good party, isn't it?

JEAN: Yes, great.

MIKE: … here? (be)

3. PETE: Does Julie enjoy her work?

LYNN: Not very much. She thinks the bank is a bit boring.

PETE: … there? (work)

4. ТОМ: Are you OK? You look a bit pale.

LIZ: I've got a headache.

ТОМ: … it? (have)

5. ALEX: Did you know David and Sheila are going to get married in the autumn?

JOHN: … each other? (know)

6. SARAH:Today is Tom's last day at work. He doesn't want to stop but he's 65 next month so … .

DAVID: ... with his company? (be)

SARAH:All his working life.

Ex. 6. Open the brackets using the Present Perfect or the Past Simple tense-forms.

1. What's the best film you ever (see)?

2. Simon is not at home. He (go) to a football match.

3. Why do you look so sad? Anything (happen)?

4. Jaime lives in Venezuela; he never (see) snow.

5. A lot of rain (fall) last week.

6. I (know) Helen for 10 years. We (study) at university together. She was one of the best students.

7. The house they (buy) looks much larger than ours.

8. You (cut) your finger! How it (happen)?

9. He (be) interested in jazz ever since he (leave) school.

10. We (have) a lovely time in Wales. — So you (enjoy) your holiday, didn't you?

11. My elder brother (have) a car for two years already. He (buy) it in France.

12. You (see) Tom? — Yes, I (talk) with him an hour ago.

13. Are you the boy whose dog (make) a terrible noise at night? — I'm sorry, but you are mistaken, sir. I never (own) a dog.

14. What (happen) there? — The dog (bite) the boy when he entered the garden.

15. You (know) each other before? — Yes. We first (meet) 3 years ago.

16. Why are you limping? — I (twist) my ankle.

17. The plane (take) off from London at 9.00 and (land) in Geneva at 10.30.

18. Joanna (not/change); she is the same as ever.

19. When I (switch) on the dishwasher, the machine (make) a loud noise.

20. People always (want) to be able to fly like birds in the sky.

21. I once (play) a guitar which (have) only five strings.

22. I never (teach) a class where the students are so lazy.

23. I (lose) a button. I don't suppose I’ll ever find it.

24. The slower you eat the more you will think you (eat).

25. You (be) already late for classes twice this week, Nick.

26. What a surprise! You're the very person 1 (want) to see so much.

27. They say the police already (catch) both of the thieves.

28. When we (be) kids, we (love) the beach very much, so we (use) to spend all our holidays at the.sea.

29. You (make up) your mind yet? What you (decide) to do?

30. Thanks a lot. It (be) a wonderful holiday. We (have) great fun.

31. Anyone (leave) a note for me?

32. People (use) to come at the weekends, but during the week I (be) alone in that huge house.

33. We (see) him at the summer course in London.

34. All the shirts you (send) your father (fit) him perfectly so far.

35. Although I (study) French for years I have difficulties in speaking the language.

36. Yesterday we (have) supper with the neighbours of ours.

37. Some years ago 1 (come) across this photo in an old magazine.

38. We (not/give) him a thing to eat since he (arrive).

39. Jerry (fail) his exams. He'll have to take them again.

40. It's ages since I last (see) a decent comedy film on television.

41. We understood that it (be) just a slip of the tongue.

42. The police (find) the bomb yet?

43. My computer (break down) again. It's time for me to buy a new word processor.

44. They always (bring) flowers when they came to visit me.

45. I'm sorry for her. She (have) bad luck all her life.

46. You (see) my gloves, by any chance?

47. He (give up) smoking yet? When he (do) it?

UNIT 4

GRAMMAR: PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS.