Файл: House and flat 105.doc

which of the facilities in the list you often use;
which ones are important for you;
if there are any other facilities not mentioned which you would like to have in your neighbourhood.

WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD?

Important

Useful

Not Important

launderette

library

cinema

supermarket

bank

post office

swimming pool

tennis courts

newspaper/ bookshop

football pitch

basketball pitch

park

restaurant

clothes shop

museum or art gallery

language school

bus stop

video hire shop

hairdresser

pub

What aspects are the most important to you in a home? With a partner, look at this list, and choose the three factors which you consider most important for a successful home. Add other factors if you think important ones are missing.

It should be situated near friendly neighbours or your family.
It should have personal possessions which mean a lot to you.
It should be in a quiet location.
It should have an efficient kitchen.
It should have an efficient bathroom.
It should have good central heating / a good air conditioning system.
It should be appropriate for its environment.
It should have a comfortable sitting room.
It should be near your work.
It should be near shops.
...

Share your opinions about your parents’ home. Speak about the advantages and disadvantages of its location and the things you would like to have in your neighbourhood.
You are going to buy a house. Which organization will you go? What are its main functions?
You have been saving up and now you’re planning to buy a house. Share your plans with your elder sister. Your decision is to buy a two-storeyed house:

with the help of a building society;
with the help of an estate agency.

Unit 4 Furniture and Furnishing Active Vocabulary

bathroom / washroom (AmE)

bedroom bedsitter (BrE)

hall kitchen

living room lounge

nursery sitting room

study toilet / loo

utility room

air conditioner cassette recorder

CD player (compact disc player) video cassette recorder / VCR

stereo system colour TV set

computer freezer

iron plug

socket record player

refrigerator (fridge) / icebox (AmE)

tumble drier vacuum cleaner (hoover)

armchair article / item of furniture

ashtray build-in furniture

bookshelf bureau

cabinet; display cabinet; liquor cabinet

carpet / fitted carpet chandelier

coffee table cot (BrE) / crib (AmE)

couch / sofa / sofa bed / settee

cupboard curtain

desk desk lamp

dining table drawer

dressing table

dishwasher electric / gas cooker

mirror / hall mirror microwave (oven)

parquet floor plant pot

puff rocking chair

rug sink

standard lamp suit (kitchen suit)

tap (BrE) / faucet (AmE) wall unit

wardrobe / clothes closet (AmE) washbasin

writing table

to decorate to fix

to furnish to install

to paint to repair

to switch off / on to turn off / on

to have smth. installed / repaired / painted, etc.

to whitewash

Around the Home

A. Rooms

The living room or lounge (= where you sit, relax, talk and watch TV); the dining room; the kitchen; the bedroom(s); and the bathroom(s).

Some people also have a study (= room with a desk where you work), a utility room (= a room usually next to the kitchen, where you have a washing machine), a spare room (= a room you don’t use every day. Often this is a room that guests can use), and possibly a playroom for small children.

B. The Lounge

While the cat was asleep in the armchair, I sat on the sofa and had a look at the paper. Then I turned on the TV and went to make a cup of tea.

C. The Kitchen

I put the meat in the oven, put my dirty clothes in the washing machine, made the coffee and put the milk back in the fridge.

D. The Bedroom

I put on my pyjamas, got into bed, set the alarm clock, switched off the light, and went to sleep.

E. The Bathroom

I didn’t have time for a bath, but I had a wash, cleaned my teeth, and then I went to school.

F. Housework

My room is very clean and tidy (= everything in order), but my brother is very untidy; he leaves his clothes all over the floor and never makes his bed. What’s worse, he doesn’t clean his room very often, so most of the time it is quite dirty.

I do the washing-up every evening after dinner, and I normally do the washing and ironing at the weekend when I have a bit more free time. I also hoover the carpets and polish the dining room table once a week.

VOCABULARY EXERCISES

Exercise 1. Using a dictionary if necessary, explain the difference between the following items:

a standard lamp, a lamp and a chandelier

a pillow and a cushion

a stool, a chair and an armchair

a desk, a dining table, a bedside table and a coffee table

a sink and a washbasin

a washing machine and a dishwasher

a bedspread, a sheet, a blanket and a quilt

a sideboard, a wardrobe and a cupboard

an alarm-clock, a clock and a watch

Exercise 2. Complete the following with appropriate words and phrases.

Mary hung_______in the wardrobe.
On her bedside table, there were_______.
After the party, the sink was full of_______.
Before the meal George took________out of the sideboard.
Although the sofa was quite hard, it was comfortable because there were some soft_______on it.
Mary sat at her dressing table in order to_______.
David went into the bathroom and washed his hands in the_______.

Exercise 3.

A. Using a dictionary if necessary, make pairs of opposites using the words in the box.

bright modern neglected well-maintained out-dated gloomy attractive ugly

B. Use appropriate words from the box to complete the following:

The Greens don’t like their new house very much. It is_____ _____because there are so few windows, and it’s quite small.
Although the car is four years old, it’s_____. The owners have serviced and cleaned it regularly.
A: These flats that were built in the 1960s look terribly_____and depressing from the outside, don’t they?

B: Yes, but when they are redecorated, they can be very_____inside.

The town looks lovely and______in the morning sunshine.
She finds her parents’ attitudes very______. In fact, she says they are nineteenth century attitudes.

Exercise 4.

a) Draw a plan of a flat. With a partner, decide what furniture you would need to make it comfortable. List the items in the table below.

b) Describe any of the rooms in the flat.

Sitting room	Bedroom	Kitchen	Bathroom	Entrance hall

Exercise 5. Have you ever decorated a house or a room yourself? Would you like to? What are the advantages and disadvantages of Do-it-yourself (DIY)? Which of the following answers are the advantages and which are the disadvantages? Work with a partner to fill in the table. Add some more to complete the list.

to take a lot of time
to be easy to get it wrong
not to have to rely on other people
to be fun
to be dangerous
to have no one to complain to
to have sense of achievement
to do it when you want

Advantages	Disadvantages
not so expensive

Exercise 6. Which jobs mentioned below can be done by yourself? Which jobs need professional help? Discuss it with your partner (in groups of three or four), use the constructions like these:

e.g. The windows are filthy. They need cleaning.

a. I can clean them myself.

b. I should have them cleaned (if you need professional help).

USE A DICTIONARY IF NECESSARY