Dialogue 2

- Excuse me, can you tell me the way to Trafalgar square?

- Certainly. Go down Regent Street to Picadilly Circus and then go down the Haymarket. Turn to the left at the bottom and in less than a minute you'll be in Trafalgar square.

- Thank you very much. How far is it from here?

- If you walk, it'll take you ten minutes or a quarter of an hour.

- Is there a bus?

- There's sure to be. But you'd better ask the policeman over there. He'll give you all the information you want.

-Thank you.

* * *

- Excise me, officer, is there a bus from here to Trafalgar square?

- Yes, sir, any bus'll take you. There's a bus stop just over there. Ask the conductor to put you down at Trafalgar square.

(From the "Linguaphone Conversation Course")

Exercises

Exercise 1. Answer the following questions.

1. What is the name of your home town? 2. What are the most interesting sights of your home town? 3. Have you ever been to St.Petersburg? 4. What sights of St.Petersburg do you know? 5. What is your favourite place of interest in St.Petersburg? 6. What do you know about the Hermitage? 7. What is your favourite museum? theatre? cinema? 8. Have you ever been to London? 9. Do you know any place of interest in London? 10. What place of interest hi London would you like to see?

Exercise 2. Read the text below. Pick out all the words referring to getting about town.

People use various means of communication to get from one place to another. When getting about town one can go by bus, by tram, by trolley-bus or by the underground. The underground in St.Petersburg is very popular with the citizens. It's the fastest and most convenient way of going about town. If you have to travel a short distance you may take a bus, a tram, a trolley-bus or go on foot. If there is no direct bus to your destination you'll have to change on to another bus (trolley-bus, tram). When we travel on buses (trams, etc.) we have to pay fare. It's ... roubles and it doesn't depend on the distance you go. If there are many cars, buses and trolley-buses in the town we say that the traffic is heavy. If the vehicles are few we say that the traffic is light. The traffic is especially heavy in the rush hour, that is in the morning when people are hurrying to work and in the evening when people are coming back home. At this time the public transport is overcrowded (packed to the full).

Exercise 3. Read and memorize the words. Consult the dictionary.

a) avenue, boulevard, bystreet, canal, crossroad, embankment, garden, highway, park, prospect, pavement, sidewalk;

b) block of flats, mansion, palace, hostel, boarding house, countiy house (cottage);

c) capital, centre, suburbs, district, region, area.

Exercise 4. Read and translate the following street signs and inscriptions.

Department Store, Supermarket, Shop, Post office, Cinema-house, Soft drinks, Savings Bank, Bank, Philarmonic Society, Snack Bar, Bakeiy, Grocery, Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall, Penny-in-the slot Cafe, Mince Pies, Research Institute, Ice cream Cafe, Canteen, Cafeteria, Restaurant, Periodicals, Show Sale, Stalls, Chemist's, First Aid, Picture Gallery, Fine Arts Museum, Drama and Comedy Theatre, Greengrocery, Florist's, Library, Art Saloon, Dressmaker's Shop, Hairdresser's, Public Gardren.

Exercise 5. Make up short dialogues according to the example. Use the words from ex.4.

Example: - Can you tell me the way to the nearest...

- Yes, of course. Go down... (Sony, I can't. I'm new here).

Exercise 6. Read the public notices given below. Say in what place (the right hand column) you can see them.

1. No Smoking.
2. Please, Do Not Feed the Animals, As Unsuitable Food Will Make Them Ill.	Zoo
3. Passengers Are Requested Not To Alight Whilst the Vehicle Is In Motion	bus
4. Meals, Snacks 24 Hours Service	cafe park
5. Used Cars	shop
6. Walking On the Grass Is Forbidden	hotel
7. Red Horse	private garden
8. Works Of Art are Seriously Damaged By Repeated Touching	museum the gates of
9. Mind Your Head When Rising From Seat	the house
10. Ticket Box	theatre
11. Please Make Use Of The Litter Bins
12. These Animals Are Dangerous
13. Please Do Not Feed Animals. It is Unkind And Unnecessary	street
14. Beware Of The Dog
15. Cloak Room (Articles May Be Left There Only At The Owner's Risk)	cinema
16. Books And Mags
17. Please Do Not Invite Crime By Placing Handbags Or Any Other Objects On The Floor
18. Cross Here
19 Taxi Stand	street-crossing
20. Bus Stop
21. Say Thank You By Our Flowers.

Exercise 7. Read the sentences below. Find their equivalents in the right-hand column.