Exercises

Look at the newspaper story. Find examples of passive verbs in the following tenses: the Present Indefinite, the Past Indefinite, the Future Indefinite and the Present Perfect.

Why weren’t we warned?

Last night South-East England was hit by the worst storms since records were started. Twenty people were killed by the hurricane-force winds. In Dorset two firemen were killed and four were injured, when a tree fell on their fire engine.

Hundreds of houses were wrecked by winds of up to 110 mph. Roofs and chimneys were ripped off and windows were smashed. A woman was killed in a hotel in Windsor when a chimney fell through the roof.

Thousands of trees were blown down. At Kew Botanical Gardens in London many rare trees and plants – some of them over two hundred years old – have been destroyed. Many houses are without electricity now, because power lines were brought down. Thousands of people are without telephones, too. Many lines won’t be repaired until next week. Two people were rescued when their car was found by Electricity Board workmen in Kent. They were taken to hospital with broken legs.

Roads and railway lines were blocked by trees and many cars were crushed. In London and the south of England schools, offices and shops have been closed today, because people cannot get to work. Dover Harbour was closed. Hundreds of small boats were smashed by huge waves, and the ferry, Hengist, was thrown onto the beach.

This morning angry MPs are asking: “Why weren’t we warned?” No warning was given by the Meteorological Office. The late night weather forecast is recorded early in the evening. At that time the storm wasn’t expected to hit England. But about midnight it changed direction and moved north.

The strong winds have been followed by heavy rain and many parts of the south and west are flooded.

TOPIC

Topical Vocabulary

1.Remember the following words and word combinations:

single room номер для одного

double room номер для двох

suite swi:t люкс

reception clerk черговий адміністратор

lobby вестибюль

snack легка закуска на швидкоруч

to require вимагати

2.Read and translate paying attention to the active words and word combinations.

At the hotel

While travelling people often put up at a hotel. It is more convenient to book rooms in advance as hotels can be full up. As soon as you arrive at a hotel you go into a large entrance-hall. In many hotels the doorman calls one of the porters who takes your luggage and shows you the way to the reception desk. The reception clerk asks you to register. He gives you a registration form to fill in and sign (the form is filled in block letters).

The following information is required:

1.Name (in full). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

surname, first name, patronymic

2.Place of permanent residence. . . . . . . . . . . .

3.Passport №. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The clerk tells you which is your room, which floor it is on and then gives you the key.

After all formalities are over the porter takes your luggage up in the lift to your room. He unlocks the door and if you need nothing else he is dismissed.

Once you decide to stay at a hotel you are referred to as a “guest”. You will find notices everywhere reminding “guests to leave their keys at the desk when going out”. In the lobby you can usually find a newspaper stall and stalls where cigarettes, sweets and souvenirs are sold. Most hotels have snack bars and restaurants. At large hotels you may ask for any service by telephone. You tell the operator if you wish to be called at a certain time, you call room service when you want a meal or drinks sent up to your room, valet or maid service if you need something cleaned or pressed.

Many hotels have special weekly and monthly rates, so that it is cheaper to pay by the week, by the month than by the day. You will find rooms with and without bath, single rooms, double rooms and complete suites consisting of two and more rooms.

Guests are required to warn the clerk in advance about the day and date of their departure so that he can have the bill ready for them in time.

3.Reading Comprehension.

1.How often do you travel? Where?

2.Why do people usually put up at a hotel while travelling?

3.Why is it more convenient to book rooms in advance?

4.Who takes the visitor’s luggage and unlocks the room at a hotel?

5.What should a person fill in on arriving at a hotel?

6.There are different notices everywhere at a hotel. What do they remind us of? ( find the example in the text and think of your own).

7.What service may we ask for at large hotels by telephone? Why is it convenient?

8.What rooms are usually found at a hotel?

9.What are you required to do before the day of your departure? What for?

4.Find the English equivalents.

Зупинитися в готелі, швейцар, багаж, зареєструватись, заповнити бланк, напис (на дверях тощо), відкрити двері, попросити про послугу, працівник готелю, покоївка, прилавок (ларьок), вимагати, попередити, солодощі.

5. Answer the following questions

1.Where do people usually stay when they arrive at a town in which they don’t live? 2.Have you ever stayed at a hotel? 3.Would you prefer putting up at a hotel to staying at your friend’s? Why? 4.How many hotels are there in your town? Which of them are most popular with the guests? Is it difficult to get accomodation there? 5.What should you do to be certain to get a room at a hotel? 6.Why is it good to reserve rooms in advance? 7.In what ways do people usually reserve rooms with hotels? 8.What are guests required to do first when they arrive at a hotel? 9.What information is required from those who are signing in at hotel? 10.What kinds of rooms can we book at a hotel? 11.What is the rate for a room per day? Is it the same for all kinds of room? Is it cheaper to pay by the day or by the week? 12.What services does a guest get at modern hotels? 13.Can meals be served in his room (at his wish)?

6.Have you ever put up at a hotel? Describe what it was like (you may invent your story).