1 Choose the best variant.

1. We are good friends. We ________________ each other for a long time.

a) know b) have known c) knew

2. I have known Andrew since I _____ a child.

a) was b) has been c) were

3. We have been learning English ________.

a) last year b) for six years c) often

4. It is obvious that linguistic proficiency often ________ graduates a vital edge over other applicants.

a) has given b) gives c) is giving

5. Today English ___________ the world’s most important language in science and cultural relations.

a) became b) will become c) has become

6. Knowledge of a foreign language _____________the career prospects of future graduates.

a) is increasing b) increased c) will increase

2 Read about the experience of a Spanish girl in learning English. Underline the correct tense in the following sentences.

I (1) hated/have hated languages at school. I just wasn’t interested in learning, so I never (2) did/was doing my homework and I (3) was/have been always bottom of the class when it (4) has come/came to exams! Maybe it wasn’t her fault, but I really didn’t get on with my teacher. She seemed to think I (5) am/was a stupid young girl just because I didn’t know a past participle from an auxiliary verb (I still don’t actually). And even if I (6) did learn/will learn English, there were no English-speaking people in my town, so who would I ever speak English to?

Things (7) have started/started to change when I (8) has got/got my first job, though. I (9) was spending/spent my first two years in the Sales Department, and I (10) had to/have to speak English on the phone almost every day, which wasn’t easy. I didn’t really have enough time to go to classes, so at first I (11) tried/have tried to study on my own.

I also (12) was persuading/persuaded an English-speaking friend to give me some private lessons and I (13) started/was starting to make progress. I don’t know when it (14) has been/was exactly that I (15) realized/was realizing my English (16) has been/was good enough to do First Certificate, but I did .... and I passed!

So I don’t hate English any more. In fact it (17) has made/made quite a big difference to my life!

3 Write about your attitude to learning English. You may borrow the words and expressions from the text above.

 Vocabulary Focus

The verb do is frequently used in English. Do is a general word for any activity and it is often used as a phrasal verb and in set expressions.

 Practice

1 Give English equivalents to the following phrases.

1. наносить вред _____________________________________________________

2. хорошо учиться ____________________________________________________

3. проводить исследование _____________________________________________

4. делать все возможное _______________________________________________

5. оказать услугу _____________________________________________________

6. обойтись без чего-либо ______________________________________________

7. покончить с чем-либо ________________________________________________

The verb make is frequently used in English. Make often means produce/ create something. It is often used as a phrasal verb and in set expressions.