X. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. Why do we buy high technology equipment? 2. Why do our engineers go on business abroad? 3. Why must passengers go through the Customs when they go abroad or come from abroad? 4. Why do we like going to the seaside to spend our holiday? 5. Why did you decide to learn English? 6. Why do our engineers learn foreign languages? 7. Why do you sometimes feel bad? 8. Why must we read English a lot?

Text at the hotel reserving a room

The secretary of the Russian Trade Delegation in London telephones the Tavistock Hotel to reserve a room for Mr. Kozlov.

Receptionist: Reception-desk. Tavistock Hotel. Good morning.

Secretary: Good morning. This is the Russian Trade Delegation. We'd like to reserve a room for Mr. Kozlov for three nights from the 20th of October.

Receptionist: Mr. Kozlov. Could you tell me what accommodation Mr. Kozlov would like to have?

Secretary: Yes, certainly. A single room with a private bath.

Receptionist: Just a minute. I'll see whether we have the accommodation available.

Secretary: Thank you.

Receptionist: Yes, I can reserve a single room with a bath from the 20th of October, for three nights.

Secretary: Thank you. What's the charge?

Receptionist: Eight pounds ten pence a night.

Secretary: Thank you. Good-bye.

Receptionist: Good-bye.

AT THE HOTEL

At about I o'clock in the afternoon Mister Kozlov arrived at the Tavistock Hotel. A hotel-porter took Kozlov's suit-case and showed him to the reception-desk. Kozlov told the receptionist that the Russian Trade Delegation had reserved a room in his name a few days before. The receptionist checked that and said that they could let him have a nice room on the third floor. After that the receptionist gave Mister Kozlov a form and asked him to fill it in.

Mister Kozlov wrote his name, address, nationality and occupation on the form and gave it back. Then the porter took the key to Kozlov's room and they went to the lift. In a minute they were on the third floor. The porter unlocked the door, brought in the suit-case and asked if that was all. Kozlov thanked him, gave him a tip and the porter went out. Kozlov unpacked his suit-case and rang the bell for a chambermaid because he wanted to have his suit pressed.

Chambermaid: Good afternoon, sir. What can I do for you?

Kozlov: Good afternoon. Could I have my jacket and trousers pressed?

Chambermaid: Very good, sir. I think I can do it right away.

Kozlov: Thank you. By the way, could I have an extra blanket? I'm afraid I'll be cold at night as the weather is damp to-day.

Chambermaid: I'll attend to it, sir.

Kozlov: Thank you. I wonder if the restaurant is open now.

Chambermaid: Yes, sir. The restaurant serves breakfast from eight to ten, lunch from twelve to two thirty and dinner from six to eight.

Kozlov: Thank you very much.

Commentary

1. the Tavistock Hotel ['tævistok] — гостиница "Тависток". Перед названиями гостиниц всегда употребляется определенный артикль.

2. ... for three nights — ... на трое суток

3. Could you tell me ... — He могли бы вы сказать мне ... Could — форма прошедшего времени от глагола саn — часто употребляется в речи как вежливая форма по отношению к настоящему времени.