It’s expensive

Sam: Let’s go to the seaside on Saturday.

Alice: Yes! Let’s go sailing and water-skiing. That’s exciting.

Sam: It’s expensive too. Let’s just sit in the sun and go swimming instead.

Alice: Let’s stay in the Six Star Hotel and spend Sunday there too.

Sam: Be sensible, Alice. It’s expensive. Let’s sleep outside instead.

Alice: Yes. Let’s sleep on the sand. That’s more exciting.

// focused

Surprises in the post office

Mrs. Smith: This parcel smells, Mrs. Jones.

Mrs. Jones: Something’s written on it.

Mrs. Smith: What does it say?

Mrs. Jones: It says: This parcel contains six mice.

Mrs. Smith: Pooh!

Mrs. Jones: Listen! What’s in this sack?

Mrs. Smith: It’s making a strange hissing noise.

Sack: (hisses) Sssssssssssssss!

Mrs. Jones: Mrs. Smith! It’s a sack of snakes!

Mrs. Smith: So it is! And what’s in this box, Mrs. Jones?

Mrs. Jones: It’s making a buzzing sound.

Box: (buzzes) Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Mrs. Smith: These are bees!

Mrs. Jones: A parcel of mice! And a sack of snakes! And a box of bees! This is very surprising!

Mrs. Smith: It’s amazing. This isn’t a post office, Mrs. Jones. It’s a zoo!

// focused

A special washing machine

Mrs. Marsh: Does this shop sell washing machines?

Mr. Shaw: Yes. This is the newest washing machine, madam.

Mrs. Marsh: Is it Swedish?

Mr. Shaw: No, madam. It’s English.

Mrs. Marsh: Please show me how it washes.

Mr. Shaw: Shall I give you a demonstration? Here are some sheets and shirts. You put them in the machine. You shut the door. And you push this button.

Mrs. Marsh: The machine shouldn’t shake like that, should it?

Mr. Shaw: Washing machines always shake, madam. Ah! It’s finished now.

Mrs. Marsh: But the sheets have shrunk, and so have the shirts.

Mr. Shaw: Do you wish to buy this machine, madam?

Mrs. Marsh: I’m not sure.

// focused

Television programmes: Channel O

7.00 --- Children’s film: “Treasure Island”

7.15 --- News comment: An Unusual Collision

7.30 --- Fashion: Casual Clothes

7.45 --- Travel film: Across Asia in a Peugeot

8.15 --- Do-it-yourself: How to Measure a New Garage

8.30 --- Variety show: It’s a Pleasure

// focused

A horrible accident

Helen: Hello, Ellen.

Ellen: Hello, Helen. Have you read? There’s been a horrible accident.

Helen: Oh, dear! What’s happened?

Ellen: Hilda Higgin’s husband has had an accident on his horse.

Helen: How awful! Is he injured?

Ellen: Yes. An ambulance has taken him to hospital.

Helen: How did it happen?

Ellen: He was hit by an express train. It was on the crossing just behind his house.

Helen: How horrible!

Ellen: He’s having an important operation in hospital now. Poor Hilda! She’s so unhappy.

Helen: Perhaps he’ll be all right.

Ellen: I hope so.

Work in pairs.

Situation: A and B are talking about B’s vocation in Arizona. B is describing the Grand Canyon to A. Try to speak fluently and naturally.

Sample dialogue:

A: Hi, Mary. Did you have a good vacation in Arizona?

B: Wonderful!

A: Did you go to the Grand Canyon?

B: We sure did! What an experience! We went right down to the bottom.

A: Did you walk down?

B: Oh, no! It’s too far. We went on mules.

A: How deep is the canyon?

B: It’s about 5, 000 feet deep.

A: Really? How long is it?

B: I think it’s about 220 miles.

A: How long is that in kilometers?

B: Well … It’s about 350 kilometers.

A: What a canyon! Did you take any pictures?

B: Yes, I did. I have them with me. Would you like to see them?

Unit 8 Affricate Consonants

Tick the words you recognize in the sentences you hear.

Test 1

1. a. shop b. chop

2. a. sherry b. cherry

3. a. washing b. watching

4. a. ships b. chips

5. a. shin b. chin

6. a. shoes b. choose

Test 2

1. a. choking b. joking

2. a. larch b. large

3. a. cheap b. jeep

4. a. chain b. Jane

5. a. chilly b. Jinny

6. a. cheered b. jeered

Listen and repeat the following words.

chips cheap cherry chop catch

watch choose cheese chilli church

jeep joke gin large age

jeer orange juice jail gentleman

Listen and repeat the following sentences.

1. Jane had chicken and French fries for lunch.

2. John urged Jane to buy a digital watch.

3. Jack enjoyed the strawberry jam very much.

4. Jim has to read the book page after page.

5. In just a few hours, we’ll do the next part of the journey by plane.

6. How are the children doing in your class, Jane?

7. Let me show you some of my pictures.

8. What a large child!

9. All my children are agile.

10. Joanna hopes to go to college.

Listen to the following dialogues and try to imitate them.

// focused

At the butcher’s shop

Butcher: Good morning, Mrs. Church.

Mrs. Church: Good morning, Mr. Cheshire. I’d like some chops for the children’s lunch.

Butcher: Chump chops or shoulder chops, Mrs. Church?

Mrs. Church: I’ll have four shoulder chops, and I want a small chicken.

Butcher: Would you like to choose a chicken, Mrs. Church?

Mrs. Church: Which one is cheaper?

Butcher: This one’s the cheapest. It’s a delicious chicken.

Mrs. Church: Of course, Mrs. Church.

// focused

George Churchill

Jerry: Just outside this village there’s a very dangerous bridge.

John: Yes. Charles told me two jeeps crashed on it in January. What happened?

Jerry: Well George Churchill was the driver of the larger jeep, and he was driving very dangerously. He’d been drinking gin.

John: George Churchill? Do I know George Churchill?

Jerry: Yes. That ginger-haired chap. He’s the manager of the travel agency in Chester.

John: Oh, yes. I remember George. He’s always telling jokes. Well, was anybody injured?

Jerry: Oh, yes. The other jeep went over the edge of the bridge, and two children and another passenger were badly injured.

John: Were both the jeeps damaged?

Jerry: Oh, yes.

John: And what happened to George?

Jerry: George? He’s telling jokes in jail now, I suppose!

Work in pairs.

Situation: A and B are talking about the films of Ang Lee, the famous Chinese movie director. Try to speak fluently and naturally.

Sample dialogue:

A: Do you think you can set aside some time to go to the movies, Tina?

B: I think so, Ron. What do you want to see?

A: The newest Ang Lee film.

B: Who’s Ang Lee?

A: He’s a Chinese movie director. His movies are outstanding.

B: And why are his movies so good? I’ve never seen one.

A: Because the action and costumes in them are always great.

B: I hope the story is good, too. It’s so annoying when it isn’t.

A: I agree. The mark of a good movie is a good story. And Ang Lee’s are always good.

Unit 9 Nasal Consonants

Tick the words you recognize in the sentences you hear.

Test 1

1. a. combs b. cones

2. a. mine b. nine

3. a. name b. mane

4. a. some b. sun

5. a. warm b. warn

6. a. money b. mummy

Test 2

1. a. Ron b. wrong

2. a. ran b. rang

3. a. sinks b. sings

4. a. win b. wink

5. a. ban b. bank

6. a. sinners b. sinkers c. singers

Listen and repeat the following words.

me mile mine Tim comb

name knee Nile nine tin

cone mane win thin wing

thing bang rang rung wrong

Listen and repeat the following sentences.

1. Any good news from the Olympic Games?

2. It’s the biggest watermelon I’ve ever seen.

3. He’s sitting in a sofa together with his wife and daughter watching TV.

4. What are the man and woman eating?

5. Do you like singing and dancing?

6. I like swimming, but I’m only a beginner.

7. Tom is leaving now.

8. Brian is fond of ham and jam.

9. Brahms is the name of a German composer.

10. From morning till evening Sam sings the same song again and again.

Listen to the following dialogues and try to imitate them.

// focused

Mum’s crumpets

Jim: Mum, may Tom Mitcham come home with me for tea tomorrow?

Mrs. Smith: Of course, Jim. Have I met Tom before?

Jim: You met him in the summer. He’s very small and smart.

Mrs. Smith: Oh, yes. I remember Tom. Does his family come from Cambridge?

Jim: Yes. Oh, Mum! Will you make some home-made crumpets tomorrow?

Mrs. Smith: Mm … maybe. If I have time.

Jim: I told Tom about your crumpets, Mum. That’s why he’s coming for tea tomorrow.

// focused

At an accommodation agency

Mr. Mason: Good morning. I want an apartment in central London.

Manager: Certainly, sir. How much rent did you want to pay?

Mr. Mason: No more than ₤27 a month.

Manager: ₤27 a month? We don’t often have apartments as inexpensive as that. We have one apartment for ₤29 a month in Northend Avenue. It’s down near the station.

Mr. Mason: Is it furnished?

Manager: No. It’s unfurnished. The kitchen has no oven. It’s forbidden to use the garden. No friends in the apartment after eleven in the evening. No noise and no television after 11.15. No …

Mr. Mason: No thank you! I want an apartment, not a prison!

// focused

Noisy neighbours

Mr. Pring: (angrily). Bang! Bang! Bang! What are the Kings doing at seven o’clock on Sunday morning?

Mrs. Pring: Well, Mr. King is singing.

Mr. Pring: Yes, but what’s the banging noise?

Mrs. Pring: (looking out of the window) He’s standing on a ladder and banging some nails into the wall with a hammer. Now he’s hanging some strong string on the nails.

Mr. Pring: And what’s Mrs. King doing?

Mrs. Pring: She’s bringing something pink for Mr. King to drink. Now she’s putting it under the ladder, and … Ohh!

Mr. Pring: What’s happening?

Mrs. Pring: The ladder’s falling.

Mr. Pring: What’s Mr. King doing?

Mrs. Pring: He’s hanging from the string. He’s holding the string in his fingers and he’s shouting to Mrs. King.

Mr. Pring: And is she helping him?

Mrs. Pring: No. She’s running to our house. Now she’s ringing our bell.

Mr. Pring: I’m not going to answer it. I’m sleeping.

Work in pairs.

Situation: A and B are arguing about doing the errands. A is stating the reasons why she doesn’t like to do errands in the morning and work in the afternoon. Try to speak fluently and naturally.

Sample dialogue:

A: I can’t do errands in the morning and work in the afternoon.

B: Why not?

A: Three reasons. First, I don’t know how long I need to work. I should start in the morning. I don’t want to have to work on Sunday. Second, we have a long list of errands. I don’t think they can all be done in the morning.

B: And the third reason?

A: Why should I do everything? If you don’t do errands on Saturday morning, what will you do?

B: Sleep in.

A: And let me do all the work? Thanks a lot.

B: Well, it is the weekend. I worked hard all week.

A: Oh, and I didn’t?

B: I didn’t say that.

A: Yes, you did.

B: I’m sorry. Let’s not argue. (signing) Yes, I’ll do the errands. I just hope they don’t take all day.

Unit 10 Lateral Consonants

Tick the words you recognize in the sentences you hear.

Test 1

1. a. night b. light

2. a. no b. low

3. a. Jenny b. jelly

4. a. knot b. lot

5. a. snow b. slow

6. a. snacks b. slacks

Listen and repeat the following words.

low light line lunch look

leave late leg lamb black

jelly only bill tall gentleman

needle candle apple miserable wonderful

Listen and repeat the following sentences.

1. I like tea.

2. I don’t like pop music at all.

3. I prefer classical music.

4. Live and learn.

5. Live and let live.

6. Look before you leap.

7. Like father, like son.

8. Let sleeping dogs lie.

9. A little pill may well cure a great ill.

10. The love of money is the root of all evil.

Listen to the following dialogues and try to imitate them.

// focused

Early for lunch

Mr. Allen: Hello, Lily. You’re looking lovely today.

Waitress: Hello, Mr. Allen. You’re early for lunch. It’s only eleven o’clock.

Mr. Allen: When I come later there’s usually nothing left.

Waitress: What would you like?

Mr. Allen: Leg of lamb, please.

Waitress: And would you like a plate of salad? It’s lettuce with black olives.

Mr. Allen: Marvellous! I love olives.

Waitress: And would you like a glass of lemonade?

Mr. Allen: Yes please, Lily. And a slice of melon and some yellow jelly.

A spoilt little boy in a bicycle shop

Paul: What a beautiful bicycle!

Uncle Bill: Paul! Be careful!

Salesman: Excuse me, sir. This child is too small to ride this bicycle. It’s a very difficult bicycle to …

Uncle Bill: Be careful, Paul!

Paul: You always tell me to be careful. Don’t help me. I won’t fall.

Salesman: But, sir. This is a very special bicycle. It’s …

Paul: Don’t pull the bicycle, Uncle Bill. I’ll do it myself.

Uncle Bill: Be sensible, Paul. This gentleman says it’s a … (Paul falls)

Paul: It was Uncle Bill’s fault. He was holding the bicycle.

Work in pairs.

Situation: A is asking B, an officer the way to a bank and bookstores. Try to speak fluently and naturally.

Sample dialogue:

A: Excuse me, officer. Is there a bank near here?

B: Yes, there’s a bank on Park Road. Go one block north on Main Street. Turn left at the corner of Main Street and Park. Walk a block and a half, and there’s a bank on your left. Did you get there?

A: I think so. Let’s see … I walk one block north on Main Street to Park Road. I turn left and walk a block and a half. The bank is on my left.

B: That’s right!

A: Thank you, officer. Just one more question. Are there any bookstores in Winfield?

B: Yes, there are two. There’s a general bookstore and a college bookstore.

A: Can you tell me how to get to them?

B: Sure. The general bookstore is just up this street on the left between the drugstore and the train station. Now, the college bookstore is pretty far. It’s at the corner of Church Street and Ocean Avenue.

A: At the corner of Church Street and Ocean Avenue? Oh, yes! I know that bookstore. Thanks for all your help, officer.

B: You’re welcome. Don’t get lost!

Unit 11 Approximants

Tick the words you recognize in the sentences you hear:

Test 1

1. a. vine b. wine

2. a. V b. we

3. a. veal b. wheel

4. a. verse b. worse

5. a. veils b. whales

6. a. viper b. wiper

Test 2

1. a. joke b. yolk

2. a. jam b. yam

3. a. Jess b. yes

4. a. jeers b. years

5. a. juice b. use

6. a. jet b. yet

Test 3

1. a. long b. wrong

2. a. jelly b. Jerry

3. a. glass b. grass

4. a. collect b. correct

5. a. lane b. rain

6. a. flea b. free

Listen and repeat the following words.

we wheel west wet wine

whale worse yolk yak yam

yes years you yellow wrong

right road fry grass correct

Listen and repeat the following sentences.

1. No sweet without sweat.

2. The White House is in Washington D. C.

3. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

4. Yale is the name of a large university.

5. California is larger than New York.

6. You will soon get used to the new youngster.

7. Do you usually get up as early as you did yesterday?

8. Sorry, I’m in a hurry.

9. Little Rose is eager to learn to read and write.

10. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Listen to the following dialogues and try to imitate them.

// focused

A walk in the woods

Gwen: Did you see Victor on Wednesday, Wendy?

Wendy: Yes. We went for a walk in the woods near the railway.

Gwen: Wasn’t it cold on Wednesday?

Wendy: Yes. It was very cold and wet. We wore warm clothes and walked quickly to keep warm.

Gwen: It’s lovely and quiet in the woods.

Wendy: Yes. Further away from the railway it was very quiet, and there were wild squirrels everywhere. We counted twenty squirrels.

Gwen: How wonderful! Twenty squirrels! And did you take lunch with you?

Wendy: Yes. About twelve we had veal sandwiches and sweet white wine, and we watched the squirrels. It was a very nice walk.

// focused

A stupid student

Jim: Excuse me. Did you use to live in York?

Jack: Yes.

Jim: Did you use to be a tutor at the University?

Jack: Yes. For a few years.

Jim: Do you remember Hugh Young? He was a music student.

Jack: Hugh Young? Did he use to have a huge yellow jeep?

Jim: Yes. And he used to play beautiful tunes on the tuba.

Jack: Yes, I knew Hugh. He used to be a very stupid student. Do you have any news of Hugh?

Jim: Yes. He’s a millionaire now in New York.

Jack: A millionaire? Playing the tuba?

Jim: Oh, no. He produces jam in tubes, and tins of sausages and onion stew, and sells them in Europe. I read about Hugh in the newspaper yesterday.

Jack: Oh! We, he wasn’t so stupid.

// focused

A proud parent

Mrs. Randal: Are all the children grown up now, Ruth?

Mrs. Reed: Oh, yes. Laura is the cleverest one. She’s a librarian in the public library.

Mrs. Randal: Very interesting. And what about Rita?

Mrs. Reed: She’s a secretary at the railway station.

Mrs. Randal: And what about Rosemary? She was always a very pretty child.

Mrs. Reed: Rosemary is a waitress in a restaurant in Paris. She’s married to an electrician.

Mrs. Randal: And what about Jerry and Roland?

Mrs. Reed: Jerry drives a lorry. He drives everywhere in Europe.

Mrs. Randal: Really? Which countries does he drive to?

Mrs. Reed: France and Austria and Greece and Russia.

Mrs. Randal: And does Roland drive a lorry too?

Mrs. Reed: Oh, no. Roland is a pilot.

Mrs. Randal: Really? Which countries does he fly to?

Mrs. Reed: Australia and America.

// focused

A proud parent

Announcer: The 2.30 plane to New York will depart later this afternoon at four forty-four. Passengers on this flight are forbidden to leave the airport.

Dr. Darling: Wonderful! I’m going to the bar to order some more German beer.

Mr. Martin: Where’s the bar?

Dr. Darling: It’s upstairs. There’s a bookshop too. And a supermarket. This is a marvelous airport!

Mr. Martin: Oh dear! I wanted to get to New York earlier. Ah! Here’s an air hostess. Excuse me. I don’t understand. Has there been an emergency?

Air hostess: Oh, no, sir. There’s just a storm, and the weather forecast says it will get worse. So the plane will leave a little later this afternoon.

Mr. Martin: Are you sure?

Air hostess: Oh, yes, sir. Our departure time is at four forty-four.

Work in pairs.

Situation: A is a salesman. B is a customer who wants to buy a watch for himself. Try to speak fluently and naturally.

Sample dialogue:

A: Can I help you?

B: Yes, I’m looking for a watch. It’s for me.

A: I see. What price are you interested in?

B: The price doesn’t matter. But it must be a gold watch, and automatic. I must have an automatic watch!

A: Hmm … something like this, perhaps. It’s one of our best watches. Made in Switzerland. Fully automatic. With a calendar and …

B: It’s nice … but haven’t you got anything better?

A: Better? Better than this? Well, we have some Orly de luxe watches … probably the best watch in the world. But I’m afraid they’re far more expensive than this one. They cost …

B: Would you show me one, please?

A: Yes, of course. Would you wait here for a moment, please?

Unit 12 Stressed Syllables and Unstressed Syllables

Test 1

Underline the stressed syllable in each word.

Example: some tiresome

1. reason resent

2. fish selfish

3. less careless

4. land island

5. refer reference

6. tune fortune

7. full careful

8. parent parental

9. digest(n.) digest(v.)

10. object(n.) object(v.)

Test 2

Listen to the following groups of words. Count the number of syllables. Mark the primary, secondary and weak stress.

Example: inform ( 2 ) ( • — )

information ( 4 ) ( –• —• )

1. operate ( ) ( ) operation ( ) ( )

2. person ( ) ( ) personality ( ) ( )

3. national ( ) ( ) nationality ( ) ( )

4. subject ( ) ( ) subjective ( ) ( )

5. industry ( ) ( ) industrial ( ) ( )

6. major ( ) ( ) majority ( ) ( )

7. incident ( ) ( ) incidental ( ) ( )

8. occupy ( ) ( ) occupation ( ) ( )

9. product ( ) ( ) production ( ) ( )

10. converse( ) ( ) conversation ( ) ( )

Listen and repeat the following words. Pay attention to the stressed syllables.

words stressed at the beginning:

CAMera HANDbag PICtures CRICKet bat FAMily

SANDwich WAITing AERoplane APPle PRACtice

AIRport HIjacker JACKet PASSenger WOMan

words stressed in the middle:

beGINNing converSATion

words stressed at the end:

perHAPs beLOW aBOUT

Listen and repeat the following sentences.

What a FAST CAR!

What a FUNNY DANcer!

What a MARvelous PHOtograph!

What a fanTAStic guiTAR!

Listen to the following dialogue and try to imitate it. Make the stressed syllables louder.

Gloria: Hello, John. When did you get back?

John: Last night.

Gloria: Where did you go?

John: We went all over the place.

Gloria: What do you mean “all over the place”?

John: I mean Guilin, Xishuangbanna, Zhangjiajie, Huangshan and Huashan.

Gloria: You people sure covered a lot of places.

John: You’re not kidding. Five provinces in fifteen days.

Gloria: How many miles did you travel?

John: Almost four thousand miles.

Gloria: You must be exhausted.

John: No. We’re fit as a fiddle and ready to go back to work.

Work in pairs.

Situation: A is a student. B is a teacher from England. The teacher is just back from a trip to several places. Talk about the tour. Try to speak fluently and naturally.

Unit 13 Stressed Words and Unstressed Words in a Sentence

Test 1

Listen to the following short dialogues. Underline the sentence stress in each of the question according to the answer.

Example: A: What are you going with the blackboard?

B: Writing on with a chalk.

1. A: What is a freeway?

B: It’s a fast highway.

2. A: What is a free way?

B: There’s no charge.

3. A: What are you doing with that hotdog?

B: Eating it for lunch.

4. A: What are you doing with that hot dog?

B: Giving him a drink.

5. A: What is he doing in the darkroom?

B: He is developing films.

6. A: What is he doing in the dark room?

B: He is sleeping.

7. A: Tell us about the head hunter.

B: He is a very good foxhunter.

8. A: Tell us about the headhunter.

B: He is always interested in capable young people.

9. A: Who is living in the Whitehouse?

B: The president of U.S.A., of course.

10. A: Who is living in the white house?

B: I don’t know, but a big family, I can see.

Listen and repeat the following sentences. Pay attention to the sentence stress.

1. There is an old saying.

2. Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today.

3. Teach a man to fish, and you have fed him for a lifetime.

4. This saying may no longer be true today.

5. Around the world, the number of fishermen is growing.

6. The total has more than doubled in the past 25 years.

7. Too many people fish.

8. Too many fish are caught.

9. New solutions to this problem must be found.

10. There are no more fish to eat.

Listen to the following dialogue and try to imitate it. Make the stressed words louder.

A: ExCUSE ME.

B: YES?

A: COULD you TELL me WHERE I can GET some GOOD SHOElaces?

B: YES. There’s a SHOP NEXT to the SUPermarket that SELLS VERy GOOD SHOElaces. I’M GOing THERE TOO.

Practise in pairs. Use the words below.

A: ExCUSE ME.

B: YES?

A: COULD you TELL me WHERE I can GET some GOOD 1 ?

B: YES. There’s a SHOP NEXT to the 2 that SELLS VERy GOOD 1 . I’M GOing THERE TOO.

1 SHOElaces 2 SUPermarket

TOOTHpaste SWIMMing pool

FOOTball boots FRUIT shop

CHEWing gum TOOL shop

FRUIT juice WOOL shop

COOKery books NEWSpaper stand

Work in pairs.

Situation: A is a new comer of the place. B is a local man. A wants to know where he can get the stuff he uses in his daily life. Try to speak fluently and naturally.

Unit 14 Strong Forms and Weak Forms

Test 1

Listen to the following sentences. Underline the unstressed function word in each of the sentence.

Example: We’ve got a dog.

1. Take an apple.

2. What’s her name?

3. John had his haircut.

4. We can do it on our own.

5. Give me some water.

6. Take your time.

7. What did he do?

8. Let me have a look.

9. Did she come?

10. He told us a story.

Listen and repeat the following phrases.

We use the sound // in words and syllables that are not important. In the words on the right the spelling has been changed to show you when to make the sound //.

a photograph of Barbara  photgraph f Barbr

a glass of water  glass f wat

a pair of binoculars  pair f binoculs

a photograph of her mother and father  photgraph f h mothr nd fath

a book about South America  book bout South meric

look at it look t it

full of it full of it

talk to them talk t thm

the pool th pool

a cord  cord

an hour or two n hour  two