Apartment

• I hear you have moved to a new apartment, Steve. Is it true?

• Yes, it is. One of these days we'll arrange a housewarming party And I want you and your wife Carol to be present.

• Thank you for the invitation. How do you like your new apartment?

• It is very comfortable. It is a three-bedroom apartment with modern conveniences, an electric stove and a lot of built-in cupboards.

• What floor is it on?

• Our apartment is on the tenth floor of a high-rise dwelling house. We've got two elevators which work round o'clock.

• Is the garbage chute in the flat?

• No, it’s on the stairs.

• Is it far from the center of the city?

• Rather. It takes me about an hour to get to the center by bus and by subway. If I drive a car, it takes me thirty minutes.

• I see. Have you bought new furniture?

• We've bought wall units, two armchairs and a new ice box. We are planning to buy two carpets and a dining set.

• Good luck!

• Thanks. Are you going to move to a new apartment?

• No, I am not. We have been living in our two-room apartment for about eight years and we don't want to move anywhere.

• Your apartment is comfortable, isn't it?

• Yes, very. My wife arranged everything very nicely and I like it very much. We don't have much furniture, but we have got everything we need.

• I am glad to hear it.

Ex.14 Reading

1. As you read the text, answer the following question: If the couple decided to sell the house next month, which of these features could they say that it had?

1. two bathrooms

2. polished wooden floors

3. a slate roof

4. attractive wallpaper throughout

5. double glazed windows

6. three bedrooms

7. a spacious garden shed

8. an excellent fireplace

9. a vegetable garden

10. a modern kitchen

When my wife and I moved into our present house, it was a little better than a slum, completely unfurnished apart from some pieces of furniture the former owner had either forgotten or – more likely – decided not to take with her: an enormous sideboard, a chest of drawers with its only remaining door hanging off, an ugly bookcase with cracked glass doors, a ghastly tallboy and divan.

The floors then were just bare boards with one or two mats and stripes of lino. We now have fitted carpets in every room except the bathroom (where we have special long-lasting tiles) and a kitchen (where we have polished parquet floor), plus several sheepskin rugs in the dining room. On arrival, we found most of the interior decorated with faded, flowery-patterned wallpaper, peeling in the corners. We have painted throughout in magnolia except in the sitting room. A few tasteful reproductions and a number of old German prints (all expensively framed) are on the walls. In the children’s rooms there are some carefully selected posters.

Numerous structural alterations have been carried out. The old garden shed has been converted into a second bathroom completed with a bath, basin, bidet and W.C. (lambswool-covered lavatory seat and a press-button flush). We’ve extended the green-house and made a sun-lounge with window seats all around it – leading on to a newly-laid patio. The roof has been completely renovated – slates gave way to tiles, double glazing has been fitted on all windows and the old fire-place has been blocked up. In terms of heating, we have gas-fired central heating with an extra large boiler and double radiators, each with its own thermostatic control.

We have also made dramatic improvements in the kitchen. The old installation were ripped out last year and in their place came: a new sink unit with a mixer tap and sewage drain, a line of smart cupboards all along one wall and two rows of shelves along the other, an electric cooker, microwave oven with grill, dishwasher – you name it, I think we’ve got it. Upstairs, the old iron double bed we inherited has been replaced by elegant twin beds with interior-sprung mattresses, duvets and feather pillows. My wife has her own personal dressing table. Our children have recently moved out of their bunk beds and into single beds in separate rooms; these have been specially equipped with a desk, blackboard, and toy chest. All bedrooms have built-in wardrobes.

Our more expensive purchases, apart from the above include: a leather upholstered sitting-room suite with four-seat sofa and two arm-chairs, a solid wood table and a set of matching dining room chairs, new stereo equipment, plasma screen, CD-player, X-box (play station), home computer and cocktail cabinet.

2. What things would you like to have done to improve your room, flat or house?

Ex.15 Look at the advice some people gave about choosing an area to live in. Match the first part of each sentence 1-4 with the second part A-D

1. Being near a hotel isn’t so important…

2. It’s nice to have a friendly restaurant nearby…

3. You should find out…

4. It’s good to be near the shops…

A …if you suddenly realize you need bread.

B …for times when you don’t want to cook.

C …what sports you can do in the area.

D …if you have your own home.

Ex.16 Agree or disagree with the following ideas.

1. In my opinion, living near the academy is the most important thing.

2. If you live in a flat it’s quite important to live close to a park.

3. Personally, I don’t think being near a cinema is very important because you can watch DVDs at home.

4. From my point of view, the most important thing is a bus stop near your house.

5. I think it’s better to live in the suburbs.

6. If you ask me, living near the main road is awful because of the traffic noise and pollution.

7. I’m sure it’s very convenient to have a shopping centre nearby.

8. I’d like to live in the neighbourhood with the people I like a lot.

9. I don’t think it’s very good to have shops and offices on the ground floor of your block because there are always lots of cars and people nearby, but on the other hand it can be convenient.

10. It’s necessary to have a garage or a parking place not far from your block of flats.

11. It’s desirable to have a special area to walk my dog in, so that not to quarrel with my neighbours.

12. To my mind a good yard is of great importance: with benches, flowerbeds and a playground.

Ex.17 Listening

1. Listen to two descriptions of places to live. As you listen complete the information in the table.

   	First house	Second house
   Location
   Type of dwelling
   Kinds and number of rooms
   Facilities
   Transport
   Facilities in the neighbourhood

2. Speak about the advantages and disadvantages of each house.

Ex.18 Read the text and cross out ten extra words.