Minister Unsympathetic Towards Teachers

In a television interview last night, the Minister of Education (1) said (that) he had little sympathy for the teachers.

(2) He said ______________________________________________________________________

(3) ____________________________________________________________________________

(4) ____________________________________________________________________________

(5) ____________________________________________________________________________

When asked to comment on the Minister’s remarks, Tom Bolland, leader of the

Teachers’ Union, said (6) __________________________________________________________

(7) ____________________________________________________________________________

(8) ____________________________________________________________________________

(9) ____________________________________________________________________________

(10) ___________________________________________________________________________

Exercise 77. Wh-questions and yes/no questions. What do these tourists want to know at the Tourist Information Centre?

Example: German student: What are the most interesting sights?

A German student wants to know what the most interesting sights are.

Young man: Have you got a town plan?

A young man wants to know if the Centre has got a town plan.

1. Young woman: How can I find out about the town?

A young woman wants to know _________________________________________________

2. Woman: Are there guided tours?

A woman wants to know ______________________________________________________

3. French couple: Where can we stay?

A French couple wants to know _________________________________________________

4. Tourist: Which way is the castle?

A tourist ____________________________________________________________________

5. Japanese man: What shows are there?

A Japanese man ______________________________________________________________

6. Two young men: When does the festival start?

Two young men _____________________________________________________________

Exercise 78. Asking for information. Ask for information using could you tell me …? or do you know…?

Example: ‘Where are the toilets?’ (tell) Could you tell me where the toilets are?

1. Can I park here? (know) _______________________________________________________

2. How long does the film last? (tell) _______________________________________________

3. How often do the buses go? (know) ______________________________________________

4. Are we allowed to smoke? (know) _______________________________________________

5. What time is the flight? (tell) ___________________________________________________

6. How much does a ticket cost? (tell) ______________________________________________

Exercise 79. is - was etc. Gavin has worked for Brisco Supermarkets for thirty years. He can still remember his job interview after leaving school, and he can remember the questions that the interviewer asked him.

Example: ‘Where do you live?’ She asked him where he lived.

‘Have you worked before?’ She asked him if he had worked before.

1. “Why do you want the job?” She asked him _______________________________________

2. “How did you hear about it?” She asked him ______________________________________

3. “Are you fit?” She asked him __________________________________________________

4. “Can you work on Saturdays?” She asked him _____________________________________

5. “How will you travel to work?” She asked him _____________________________________

6. “Have you got a bicycle?” She asked him _________________________________________

7. “How much do you expect to earn?” She asked him _________________________________

8. “When can you start?” She asked him ____________________________________________

Exercise 80. Put the following into indirect (reported) speech.

1. ‘Where did you live in Wales?’ she enquired.

_________________________________________________________________________

2. ‘Who is your favourite film star?’ I asked her.

_________________________________________________________________________

3. ‘Have you ever seen the Phantom of the Opera?’ she asked me.

_________________________________________________________________________

4. ‘Did she like living here?’ he wondered.

_________________________________________________________________________

5. ‘Would he support our claim for higher wages?’ I asked them.

_________________________________________________________________________

6. ‘Are you going to the IBS Gala on Thursday week?’ he asked me.

_________________________________________________________________________

7. ‘Had she visited Singapore before?’ I asked him.

_________________________________________________________________________

8. ‘Am I on time?’ my colleague asked me.

_________________________________________________________________________

9. ‘Do you know who is meeting our Hungarian agent at the airport?’ asked our Sales Manager.

_________________________________________________________________________

Exercise 81. Tim is very unhappy with his landlady. Read what the landlady says and then complete the dialogue below.

1. Stay in your room after dinner!

2. Eat your meals in the kitchen, not the dining-room!

3. Don’t bring your friends to the house!

4. Don’t use telephone!

5. Take your shoes off when you come indoors!

6. Don’t make noise after nine o’clock!

7. Don’t use the bathroom after 8.00 p.m.!

8. Smoke in the garden, not the house!

Example: ‘Take your washing to the launderette!’

She told me to take my washing to the launderette.

or She told me (that) I should/must take my washing to the launderette.

‘Don’t use my washing machine!’

She told me not to use her washing machine.

or She told me (that) I shouldn’t/couldn’t use her washing machine.

Tim: I must find somewhere else to live. My landlady’s impossible!

Bob: Why?

Tim: She’s so unfriendly. You know, she told me (1) __________________________________

Bob: Really?

Tim: Yes, and she (2) ___________________________________________________________

Bob: You mean, by yourself?

Tim: Yes. But that’s not all. (3) ___________________________________________________

Bob: She sounds awful!

Tim: She is. The day I arrived, (4) _________________________________________________

Bob: Oh, dear!

Tim: And (5) __________________________________________________________________

Bob: Your shoes!

Tim: Yes! Then (6) _____________________________________________________________

Bob: Incredible!

Tim: But listen to this! (7) ________________________________________________________

Bob: I don’t believe it!

Tim: It’s true! And, finally, (8) ____________________________________________________

Bob: Well, I’m not surprised you want to move!

Exercise 81. Read the following extract from a board meeting of Discoverer Lines, a shipping company. Then complete the minutes of the meeting below. The first one has been done for you.

Director: Right. (1) There are two ship we have to discuss this morning: the Magellan and the Columbus. (2) Mr McManus, is there any more news about the Columbus?

Mr McManus: (3) I had another telex from the captain yesterday. (4) The ship’s still in Sydney Harbor and can’t be unloaded because of the docker’s strike.

Mr Wates: (5) Could the crew on the Columbus unload the ship themselves?

Mr McManus: No, (6) it’s out if the question. (7) The Union would stop every ship in the company!

Director: Well, (8) let me know as soon as you have any news, Mr McManus. Now, (9) I understand there is a problem with the Magellan. (10) What do you know about it, Mr Greaves?

Mr Greaves: (11) The Magellan broke down in the Mediterranean two days ago. (12) We’re going to take the ship into Malta for repairs.

Director: (13) How long will the repairs take?

Mr Greaves: (14) They shouldn’t take longer than two or three days, but we may have to wait for spare parts.

Director: (15) How much will the repairs cost, Mr Wates?

Mr Wates: (16) I’ve got an estimate for $20,000, but that doesn’t include the port charges.

Director: (17) Are you going to supervise the repairs yourself, Mr Greaves?

Mr Greaves: (18) Yes. My flight to Malta leaves tomorrow morning.