Text e. Who are these? people describing

Ex. 1. Read the texts below.

1. She’s absolutely adorable. I think she’s very pretty, she makes me laugh a lot, um... she tells terrible jokes but I like the way she tells them. She’s a bit naughty sometimes and I curse her when she gets me up at six o’clock in the morning, but when I hear her singing in the morning, well, all is forgiven. She can twist me round her little finger, of course.

2. He was very boring and predictable. The kind of person, who remembered birthdays and anniversaries, but who made you angry because there was absolutely nothing spontaneous about him. His ideas of fun were so unadventurous. Well, the first few years were OK, but after that I’d just had enough. Reliable, stable, dependable, and boring.

3. Well, he’s quite well-dressed and punctual. Sometimes he’s cheerful and tells us jokes, but other times we have to do a lot of work. We don’t really know him very well. Oh, I know he’s married, but I’ve never met him socially or anything like that. He seems very professional.

Ex. 2. Write a description of a person that you know without naming him or her. Let your groupmates guess.

Do you have a “Type a” or “Type b” personality?

Some doctors believe there are two main types of personalities: “Type A” and “Type B”. Type A people are ambitious, aggressive, hard-working, and competitive; they are sometimes impatient and are often in a hurry. Type В people are more relaxed and don’t get bothered easily. Doctors say that because they are so hard driving. Type A personalities often suffer from stress and high blood pressure.

Additional exercises

Ex. 1. Supply the correct reflexive pronouns.

Example: I enjoyed ______ very much at the party. I enjoyed myself very much at the party.

1. I see you’ve cut _____ again. Won’t you ever learn how to shave? 2. How did Tom dry _____? — He used your towel. 3. She has no reason to blame _____ for what has happened. 4. I think that poor dog has hurt ______. 5. “One prides _____ on one’s patience,” the boss said, in his usual pompous manner. 6. We amused _____ playing football on the beach. 7. Our new neighbours knocked at our door and introduced _____. 8. Sheila prides _____ on her ability to judge people’s characters. 9. Bill had to absent _____ from work when his baby was born. 10. Strictly between _____, she’s wrong. 11. She's very certain of _____. 12. Granddad doesn’t like living by _____ (= without help, alone). 13. Jimmy tied his shoelaces all by _____ (= without help, alone). 14. She made the dress by _____ (= without help, alone). 15. Harry knows how to take care of _____. 16. I've cut _____ with the bread knife. 17. Take care of _____! 18. You saw what happened _____. 19. They _____ saw what happened. 20. Just among _____, he is stupid.

Ex. 2. Respond using negative interrogative.

Example: A: I talked to Tom.

B: Didn’t you talk to Jack too?

1. I helped Bill. 2. I thanked George. 3. I paid Peter. 4. I congra­tulated Andrew. 5. I fined Paul. 6. I met Arthur. 7. I wrote to Bill. 6. I saw Ann. 9. I photographed Oliver. 10. I sent a card to Hugh. 11. I got a ticket for Mary. 12. I kept a seat for Bob. 13. I asked George. 14. I invited Margaret. 15. I forgave Alec. 16. I offered a lift to Bill. 17. I stopped Peter. 18. I warned Hugh.

Ex. 3. Paraphrase the following sentences using ‘could’ to express suggestion.

Example: Why not go to the park? We could go to the park.

1. Let’s go for a walk.

2. What about playing a game of cards?

3. Shall we go for a swim?

4. Why don’t we lie in the sun?

5. How about visiting Peter?

6. Why not go to the cinema?

7. What about going to a restaurant?

8. Why not spend the weekend in Brighton?

9. Why don’t we dine out?

10. How about buying a garage?

Ex. 4. Put in the verbs in brackets in past tenses.

1. He (write) a letter when I (see) him.

2. Harry (do) his work while his brothers (play) games.

3. The man (fall down) as he (run) for the bus.

4. We (sing) a song when George (come) into the room.

5. While the teacher (give) a lesson, a small dog (walk) into the room.

6. When the phone bell (ring), I (work) in the garden.

7. My hat (blow) off while I (cross) the bridge.

8. The rain (begin) to fall while we (watch) the game.

9. Just as I (get) interested in my work, I (have) to go home.

10. He (lose) his pocket-book while he (see) the sights of Rome.