Text a a room with a view

Anna is working in London sales office of Luffthansa, the big German airline. She is going to be in London for at least two years. She likes the job; she likes London. The reason she is not happy is that she cannot find a room of her own. She has looked at many flats but they have all been so expensive. At the moment she is staying with a cousin in Putney, a suburb of London. The two girls do not get on well together. Anna knows that she must find a room of her own. She likes Putney. The journey to her office only takes twenty minutes. So the question is: Can she find a room in Putney for a reasonable rent?

On Tuesday, April the 15^th, Anna asked the manager for the morning off. The manager said that she could have the whole day free. She left the house and got a bus to Putney Bridge. Anna set off for the offices of the Echo, the local newspaper, to put an advertisement. She arrived at the offices of the Echo at twenty past nine and went up to the advertising department on the second floor.

Opposite her she saw a pretty, dark-haired girl and smiled at her. The girl was also filling a form.

Anna looked at the girl for a while and finally said:

Anna: Excuse me. I’m not quite sure how you say this in English. Do you say :”I want to let a room” or “I want to rent a room?”

Girl: Well, that depends. Have you got a room, or… Anna: No, I want one …

Girl: Then you want to rent a room. You rent a room from someone, you let a room to someone.

Anna: I see. I always mix up those two verbs.

Susan: You speak very good English. Where do you come from?

Anna: Germany. My home’s in Hamburg. My name’s Anna Clein.

Susan: How do you do? I’m Susan Bond. (They shake hands) You say you’re looking for a room?

Anna: Yes.

Susan: Furnished or unfurnished?

Anna: Furnished.

Susan: Hm. How much do you want to pay?

Anna: Not more than five pounds a week.

Susan: That’s funny. We want to let a room, and the rent is five pounds a week. Why don’t you come and see it? It’s quite near here.

Susan and Anna left the offices of the Echo together. They crossed the bridge over the river and walked along the busy High Street. Then they climbed a steep hill and took the third turning on the left. The name of the street was Chestnut Avenue.

It was a tall, well-built house. Anna liked the look of it immediately. Susan walked up a short flight of steps and opened the front door. Anna followed her into the hall.

Susan: Mother’s out. But I can show you the room. It’s on the top floor. (They climbed the stairs). Here we are. (She opens a door on the landing at the top of the stairs).

Anna: What a lovely room!

Susan: You like it?

Anna: Yes, I do. Very much. (She walks over to the window and looks at the view). And such a marvelous view! Doesn’t the river look beautiful when the sun’s shining on it? I do like to live near the water. You’ve got a very nice garden, haven’t you?

Anna liked the room very much. It was bigger than she expected - about twenty feet (6 meters) long by sixteen feet (5 meters) wide. One end had a curtain in front of it. Anna looked behind the curtain. In one corner there was a wash-basin. She turned on the taps. The water from the hot tap was really hot. There was also an electric cooker, and on a shelf above it there were three new saucepans and a frying pan. Beside the cooker there was a small cupboard. Anna opened it. In it there were plates, cups, saucers and a teapot. In a drawer at the top there were knives, forks and spoons. This part of the room was really a small kitchen. Anna pulled back the curtain and looked at the rest of the room.

The carpet was light grey and covered most of the floor. In front of the gas fire there was a thick red rug. The curtains were also red – but of a lighter shade. The walls were white. The sun was now shining brightly through the window. It was a cheerful comfortable room.

Beneath the window there was a dressing-table with three drawers and a mirror. There were two armchairs, a small table with reading lamps and a few pictures on the walls. Anna did not like the pictures. “I’ll soon change those”, she thought, for she had already decided that she wanted the room. Next to the gas fire there was a large built-in cupboard for clothes.

That evening Anna met Mrs. Bond. The two of them got on very well.

Mrs. Bond: Well, that’s fine, Anna. We’ll be very pleased to have you. When do you want to move in?

Anna: May I come on Saturday?

Mrs. Bond: Yes, of course. I’ll be in all Saturday morning. I hope you‘ll like it here.

So, Anna got a room with a view over the river Themes.

EXERCISES ON THE TEXT

Ex. 1 Find in the text English equivalents for the following Russian phrases. Arrange them into groups according to the subject matter.

По крайней мере; своя собственная комната; посмотреть много квартир; дорогой (о цене); дорога на работу занимает 20 минут; умеренная плата за квартиру; во вторник 15 апреля; можете быть свободны весь день; отправиться куда-либо; редакция местной газеты; поместить объявление; отдел объявлений на третьем этаже; заполнить бланк(анкету); напротив кого-либо; улыбнуться кому-либо; смотреть на кого-либо некоторое время; сказать что-либо по-английски; сдавать комнату кому-либо; меблированная комната; шесть метров в длину и 5 метров в ширину; на верхнем этаже; заглянуть за занавес; повернуть краны; рядом с чем-либо; в ящике наверху; ковер покрывал почти весь пол; быть более светлым по тону; настольная лампа; въехать в квартиру.

Ex.2 Arrange the points in logical order. Reproduce the original text using the key words below.

1..to ask for the morning off, to get a bus, to set off for, to put an adver-tisement, to sit down examining the form.

2 to speak good English, to come from, to shake hands, a furnished room, five pounds a week, to be quite near here.

3 a room of her own, at the moment, not to get on well together, the journey to her office, for a reasonable rent.

4 opposite her, a dark-haired girl, to smile at her, to fill in the form, to say smth, in English, not to be quite sure, to rent a room, to let a room to someone.

5 to climb the stairs, on the landing, what a lovely room, to walk over to the window, to stay here.

6 She liked the look of it, to walk up a short flight of steps, to follow sob, to be out, to show the room, on the top floor.

7 to leave the office, to cross the bridge, to climb a steep hill, to take the third turning on the left.

8 to cover most of the floor, in front of the gas-fire, of a lighter shade, through the window, beneath the window, next to the gas-stove.

9 to be pleased, to move in, to be in, you’ll like it here, to get a room, a view over the river.

10 to be bigger than she expected, to look behind the curtain, in the corner, turn on the tap, a shelf above, beside the cooker, in a drawer at the top, to pull back the curtain.

Ex. 3 Disagree with the following statements and correct them. Give reasons for your disagreement. Make sure you begin your answer with such commonly accepted phrases as:

I don’t think that’s quite right. I wouldn’t say so.

You are not quite right (there). Oh no, quite on the contrary.

I’m afraid I don’t agree with you. As far as I remember.

That’s not quite right.

1 When Anna asked her manager for the morning off, he refused.

2 Anna is staying at the hotel but she wants a room of her own.

3 Anna doesn’t like Putney.

4 On the morning of April the 15^th Anna set off for shopping.

5 Susan was the first to start the conversation.

6 Anna left the office of the Echo alone and went to her office.

7 When the girls arrived Mrs. Bond was busy in the kitchen.

8 At first Anna didn’t like the house and the room.

9 Anna decided not to change anything in the room.

10 Anna decided to move in the next day.

11 When Mrs.Bond met Anna, she was disappointed

Ex.4 Answer the following questions.

1 What is Anna doing in London? How long is she going to be in

London? 2 Why does Anna want to find a room of her own? 3 Why does she want to find a room in Putney? 4 What makes her difficult to find a room? 5 Why did Anna ask the manager for the morning off? When did she do it? 6 The manager let her have the whole day free, didn’t he? 7 Where and when did Anna meet Susan? What was Susan doing in the ad-vertising department of the local paper? 8 Why did Anna agree to go and see the room? 9 What was the name of the street where Susan lived and how did the girls get there? 10 What did the house look like? 11 Su-san’s mother was out when the girls arrived, wasn’t she? 12 Did Ann like the room? What did she like about the room? 13 What made the room cheerful and comfortable? 14 What did Anna want to change in the room?

15 When was Anna going to move in?16 What is Anna’s address in En-gland now?

SPEECH EXERCISES

Ex.1 Talk about a) Anna’s decision to have a room of her own; b) Anna’s meeting with Susan; c) Susan’s house and the room Anna got.

Ex. 2 Read the text and retell it on the part of Mary.

Mary and Tom are a young married couple. They are looking for a flat. This is quite a problem for them because furnished flats in London are not only difficult to find but they are nearly always very expensive.

Flats are usually advertised in the local paper and in the London evening papers. Mary and Tom are looking under “Furnished Flats to Let”. There are advertisements about several flats in today’s newspaper. But Mary and Tom are looking for a self-contained flat with its own entrance, one bedroom, one living-room and a kitchen and bathroom. Their flat must be in a house (detached, semidetached or terrace) close to a shopping centre and a tube station; besides it must not be too far from Tom’s office as fares in London are very expensive, especially for students and people with low-paid jobs. Here is one of the advertisements they are reading now: “Flat over shop to Let. Fully furn. Incl. Fridge, cooker, 1 room, kit. & bath. No children or pets. 40 pounds pw. 23 Rosewood st.” Mary is going to see that flat today. It is in quite a good neighbourhood, not far from Tom’s office, so it may suit them…

Ex. 3 You want to let a room. Make up an advertisement to a local newspaper.

UNIT VI THE HOUSE OF THE FUTURE

PRETEXT EXERCISES

Ex 1 Study the topical vocabulary.

air-conditioner get in touch

automated high-tech

automatic lazy

automation light switch

break in operate

button program

call up put in

check run

console sensor

convenient set up

exhibit smoke alarm

fire alarm spot

gas leak system

Ex. 2 Answer the questions.

Automation is the use of automatic equipment and machines to do work previously done by people.

1. How much automation is there in your home?

2. What would you expect to find in a fully automated house?

Ex.3 Read the text and do the exercises after it.

TEXT A THE HOUSE THAT THINKS FOR ITSELF

Home automation is big business in Japan. The Ozakis had a dream house which was built a few months ago. In the kitchen, they have put in a 128-button computer console that allows them to control every light switch in the house, start the bath or shower running at precisely the temperature that they choose, look all the doors and program the air-conditioners. The doors open and shut automatically as they approach. If they are out, they can call up and check that they have locked all the doors and if somebody breaks in, the security system will get in touch with them and the police. Smoke and fire alarms, gas leak sensors and panic buttons are also wired in. Mrs. Ozaki says home automation has great advantages.

Automation has changed our lives. We don't have to waste our energy. The more rooms you have, the more convenient it is. You can operate everything from one spot.

Does it make you lazy?

I think it's convenient. That's a bit different from being lazy. Even with home automation you can't do everything lying down.

However fantastic the house may seem, the fact is that Japanese scientists are already setting up systems that make the Ozakis home seem old-fashioned by comparison, and if all goes well, by the and of this decade they will have developed not only a thinking house but intelligent home appliances as well.

EXERCISES ON THE TEXT

Ex. 1 Replace the words in italics with the correct form of a phrasal verb from the text.

1. The thieves entered without permission.

2. They can telephone the computer and order it to lock the doors.

3. The couple installed a computer.

4. The system can contact the police.

5. Scientists are establishing new systems.

Ex.2 Find in the text expressions in which the following words (attributes) are used and translate them.

Dream, button, light, air, security, smoke, fire, panic, gas.

Ex. 3 Answer the following questions on the text.

1. What is the function of the computer console in the Ozakis Kitchen?

2. What is the security system for?

3. What reasons does Mrs. Ozaki give for an automated house.

SPEECH EXERCISES

Ex. 1 Discuss with you friend if you would like to have something similar in you house. Give your reasons for and against automation in our houses.

Ex.2 Read the dialogue and remember the appliances, furniture and parts of the home that are mentioned.

JE. Home automation is big business in Japan. By the end of this decade, it will be worth at least 4 billion a year in Japan alone. So what can we hope to see? Earlier this week our correspondent spoke to Dr. Nakamura, an expert on home automation.

13. Well, I have been working on a thinking house for five years now. I've completed the initial plans and if all goes well we will have built and completed three in the Tokyo area by the year 2010.

JE. What will the houses be like?

13. Well, from the outside they will look like ordinary houses but each house will be governed by 1,000 computers, sensors, and electronic switches.

JE. What will they do?

14. Well, basically, they will control the house for the owner. For example, the windows will open and close themselves depending on the weather. When it gets dark, the curtains will close automatically and the lights will come on, and if you decide to play the drums late at night, the central computer will shut all the doors and windows to avoid disturbing the neighbours. We'll also have other features like an intelligent kitchen which will show you how to cook and measure the ingredients, and a central cleaning system that sucks up dust as soon as it lands. We're still working on the design but I expect we'll have thought of most things by the time we finish.

LE. I'm sure Dr. Nakamura will. Naturally, the intelligent house requires a new generation of home appliances, and a group of Japanese companies hope that by the end of the century they will have perfected and put on the market 'intelligent' home appliances which crudely imitate human thinking. For example, they already have a prototype of an intelligent washing-machine which adjusts the temperature, length, and soapiness of the wash, depending on the fabrics and how dirty it thinks the laundry is, and if all goes well, it won't be long before we can buy a television set that raises or lowers its volume when it senses the viewer moving from or towards the set. The revolution goes beyond convenience and in five years' time the same group of companies will have introduced an intelligent super-bed with sensors which will monitor you heart rate, weight, body temperature, and blood pressure. Another sensor will perform analysis and tell you if anything is wrong, and in ten years' time they will have perfected a system to transmit all this information to a computer in a medical centre for further analysis. If the success of other Japanese products is anything to go by, home automation will affect us all in the near future – or will it? I rather like being in control – don't you?

Ex. 3 Complete the phrases with the necessary words.

In the automated house:

- the windows will … depending on the weather ;

- the curtains will … and the lights will … when it gets dark;

- the windows and doors will … not to disturb the neighbors if you want to play the drums at night;

- the intelligent kitchen will show you how to … ;

- a cleaning system will … ;

- an intelligent washing machine will adjust … of the water and the … of the wash;

- a television set will raise or lower the … when the viewer … to or from the set.

- a super bed will sensor your … , perform … and … all the information to the computer in the medical centre for further analysis.

Ex.4 Answer the following questions.

1. How long has Dr. Nakamura been working on his thinking house?

2. When will he have completed the first three?

3. How will the house be controlled?

4. Give two examples of what his house will be able to do.

5. When will Japanese companies have perfected and marketed:

- an intelligent washing-machine?

- a super-bed?

Ex. 5 Write a composition (200-300 words) on the topic: My attitude to home automation.

PART 3 SHOPPING

UNIT I TOPICAL VOCABULARY

Types of shops: grocer’s, baker’s, butcher’s, greengrocer's, dry goods store, dairy products, chemist’s, newsagent’s, florist’s etc.

Central Department Store: linen and underwear, stationery, haberdashery, hosiery, leather-wear, furs, knitwear, ready-made clothes, perfumery, household goods, crockery, china, electric appliances, gift and souvenir department, hats, millinery, textiles, glassware, jewellery, toys, deli, men's outfitter's, record shop, florist's.

In the shop: purchase, to buy on hire purchase, a counter, a check-out counter, foodstuffs, a shop-window, to be on sale, to be (of) the latest fa-shion, a shop-assistant, salesman, a water-colour, to suit, to fit, to become, a price, to buy at a certain price, a cash-desk, a till, a cashier, a receipt, a sales slip, a queue, consumer goods, a customer, a supervisor, a label, a tag – ярлык, a trolley cart, loose (too wide), tight, smooth, cut, style, to try on, to run out of, to stand in the line, to be on the list, to cover the expenses, cash (наличные), currency, currency exchange, change – мелочь, сдача, coin, expensive, dear, cheap, to display, to haggle over the price, bargain deal – выгодная сделка, retail price – цена в розницу,wholesale price –цена при покупке оптом, reduction – скидка, shopping mall – крытый торговый центр, chain store – один из филиалов, rag fair, boot fair – "толкучка", show-case, case – витрина-прилавок, shopping spree – "про-гулка" по магазинам с совершением многочисленных покупок и тра-той больших сумм денег, impulse buying – незапланированная покуп-ка, to be in (full) stock – быть в продаже, to be out of stock – не иметься в продаже, sales tax – налог на продажу, mark-down –уценка, boutique.

Textiles: cotton, printed cotton, satin, silk (natural, artificial), baize,

wool, cambric, all-wool (pure wool), cloth, cotton velvet – вельвет,tweed,

worsted ['wustid] – тонкая шерсть, nylon, linen – полотно, velvet – бар-

хат, suede [sweid], chamois – velour, to stretch, to shrink, to be shrink

proof (colour-fast, fade-proof, crease-resistant) – быть из несадящейся

(нелиняющей, немнущейся) ткани.

Perfumery: eye shadow, mascara, lipstick, powder, gel, face (hand) cream, hair dye, lotion, beauty kit, make-up, toothpaste, perfume, cologne, shampoo, soap, scented soap, nail polish (varnish), polish remover, hair spray, deodorant (deospray).

Haberdashery: electric shaver (razor), wallet, purse, pin, needles, thread (reel), umbrella, tie, hair dryer, watch-band, tape measure, buttons,

gloves, mittens, nail file, muffler – теплый шарф, knitting-needle – спица (вязальная), ribbon – лента.

Baby Clothes (до 2-х лет): sleeveless – майка, playsuit – ползунки, two-piece suit – костюмчик из 2х предметов, hood – шапочка, капю-шон, jersey dress – вязаное платье.

Teenagers' Clothes: Blouse, overblouse (блуза поверх брюк, юбки), trousers, jeans, denims, coat, shirt, knee-length socks, belt, quilted suit – куртка-комбинезон, socks, pyjamas, wind-jacket, wind-cheater - ветров-ка, raincoat.

Women's Clothes: trouser suit, suede jacket замшевая куртка, fur

jacket – полушубок, fur coat, sheepskin – дубленка, leather jacket, winter

coat, overcoat – пальто, two-piece dress – платье-костюм, jumper, swe-

ater, pullover, pleated skirt, tights, bathing suit, shirt, denim suit, apron,

house-frock (dress) – домашний халат (платье), a dressing gown, vest –

майка, pantie briefs (pants, knickers) – трусы, night gown – ночная ру-

башка, underwear, outwear, panty-hose, bra, cardigan.

Men's Clothes: cardigan – джемпер на пуговицах, suit, dinner dress (evening suit) – вечерний костюм, tails, tracksuit – спортивный костюм, lounge suit – (повседневный) пиджачный костюм, long (short) – sleeved jacket (shirt), single (double) – breasted suit, shorts, swimming trunks, corduroy trousers (corduroys) – вельветовые брюки.

Footwear: high (low) heeled shoes, sandals – босоножки, trainers (sneakers), ladies' boots – сапоги, platform shoes – туфли на платформе, slippers, pattern shoes – модельные, pumps – "лодочки, leather-soled – на кожаной подошве, laced shoes, casual shoes – повседневные туфли,

hiking boots – туристические ботинки,shoelaces, shoe polish – крем,

high fur lined boots – сапоги на меху , overshoes – галоши, Wellingtons

– резиновые сапоги (до колена), shoe + horn – рожок для обуви.

Hats: hat, straw hat, beret ['berei], cap, fur hat, scarf, kerchief, shawl.

Jewellery: bracelet, brooch, ring, necklace, engagement ring – кольцо в знак помолвки (с драгоценным камнем) ear-rings, chain, cuff links, pendant – кулон, silver ware – посуда и столовые приборы из серебра .