Файл: House and flat 105.doc

The notes below describe what is wrong with the building. Read the notes and describe what needs doing before it can be used, and why. Use the constructions from the exercise above: it needs doing, to have smth. done, to do smth.

Most rooms very small, not enough light in them (small windows), but some rooms have a large fireplace. Next to railway, but noise not really noticeable. Some floorboards are missing or rotten, windows are broken, and some ceilings have fallen down. Water comes in through the roof. Large garden but very overgrown, and full of old junk. Faulty electric wiring, dripping pipes. Only one toilet. Inside doors tend to stick. Difficult to open some of them. Some stairs are dangerous. There are no carpets, of course. Most walls have wallpaper but it’s all filthy, and there are too many dark colours. The whole place is in generally dirty condition.

♦ Listening

House for Sale

I. Pre-listening tasks

1.1. Look at the advertisement “House for Sale”. This house is old and in very bad condition. But there are people who are interested in buying it. Can you guess why? Notice that terraced houses are several houses, usually two-storey, joined together in a row or terrace.

TERRACED house. Built 1872. 3 bedrooms. Needs some attention. Ideal for keen do-it-yourself enthusiast. Very reasonable price. Gatsby & Stahr., Estate Agents.

1.2. Make sure you understand who is the doer of the action in the sentences in each pair.

a. I’ll do the ceiling myself.

b. We’ll have to have the ceiling done.

a. We’ll put more power points in.

b. We’d need to have more power points put in.

a. I can do most of the things in the house.

b. We’d have to get most things done for us.

II. Listening and comprehension tasks

2.1. Listen to the conversation between an estate agent (агент по недвижимости) and Robin and Jean Harvey, who are looking at the house and answer the questions below.

Where is the owner of the house staying at the moment?
What rooms are there in the house?
What does the estate agent say about the price?
How many storeys are there in the old house?
Do you think Robin will buy the house?
What saying did you hear on the tape?

2.2. When Robin and Jean are talking about the house, they mention several things they can do themselves and some other things that they will have done. Listen to the conversation again, and complete the chart.

Do it themselves

Have it done by someone else

Put in kitchen units

Do kitchen ceiling

Paint kitchen

Rewire house

Put in more power points

Redecorate lounge

Convert small bedroom into bathroom

Put toilet in bathroom

Repair roof

Put in central heating

Double-glaze windows

III. Follow up activity

What would you like to change in the house you live in?

Speaking

1. You and your husband have bought a house which is in poor condition. Say what is wrong with it and what jobs you’ll be able to do by yourselves and whether you’ll need any professional help.

2. You and your husband can’t afford buying a new house, so you have chosen one which has been rather neglected and needs a lot of repairing and redecorating. But as your husband is a Do-It-Yourself enthusiast your final decision is to buy it as you’re satisfied with the price.

3. You are newly-weds. You are moving into a new house. You have come to see it before you move in. You discuss what furniture you want to buy, how you are going to decorate and equip the house.

Self Check

Exercise 1. Fill in the prepositions where necessary.

Does John live … his relatives?
They would like to call you and ask … more information.
Have you got a room … yourself?
It’s hard to find lodgings … a low price nowadays.
When is he moving … a new flat?
It takes Nora 20 minutes to get … the office.
Who do you take the room … ?
The flat faced … the yard.
I hope you’ll drop … some day, won’t you?
They are pleased … their new wall-unit.
These windows look … … the garden.
We saw an advertisement … the room.
She has to pay … the telephone.
There are some particular house rules they’ve got to keep … .
Have a look … this drawing!
Sue lives apart … her parents.
He prefers to pay … advance.
We have a lovely view … the kitchen window.
… the right of the table there is a bookcase.
Fred is looking … a new flat.

Exercise 2. Choose the correct variant in each of the following sentences.

1. … It faces west.	a) How does your house face? b) What does your house face?
2. They have got a … flat.	a) two-rooms b) two-room
3. Have you got a room … yourself?	a) of b) to
4. I am … about my new washing-machine.	a) satisfied b) happy
5. She would like to … her flat in the coming month.	a) let b) rent
6. It is a … room.	a) good-sized b) good-size
7. It’s very … to have a balcony in your flat.	a) comfortable b) convenient
8. There … much furniture in the living room.	a) isn’t b) aren’t
9. The desk is standing … the window.	a) beside b) besides
10. … the sides of the window there are beautiful curtains.	a) on b) at

Exercise 3. Paraphrase the following using your active vocabulary:

to be expensive
the pay for a flat
a many / multi storey building with flats
a clean room
to face the garden
to rent a flat
to live in a hostel
to have a single room
a person you share a room with
a piece of furniture
to be dirty
to clean a carpet with a vacuum cleaner
to pay a rent every month
a new unit of furniture
to share a room with another person
to call on at a place
to switch on the light
to wash the dishes
to have a large room
to have a comfortable room

Exercise 4. Give the opposite of the following:

to be convenient
to pay a high rent
to live on the ground floor
to have modern furniture
to clean a room
to feel comfortable
to go upstairs
a quiet street
to turn on a tape recorder
to have a single room
a furnished flat
to take much room
to be satisfied with the living conditions
to have a lot of advantages
to let a room

Exercise 5. Fill in the missing words.

Mikes rents a flat from his distant … .
What does your window … ? It looks down on a public garden.
– Have you got a room of your own? – No, I … it with my brother.
It’s hard to buy a flat at a low … nowadays.
– How do you find my new cupboard? – It looks beautiful and it doesn’t seem to take much … .
– Is there much furniture in your sitting-room? – No, only the most necessary … .
The flat I live in … much to desire.
I’m not satisfied with the room I live in, the … is high and it is a long way from the University.
The flat needs decorating, the floor is … and the roof is leaking.
The wall looks quite … . Why not place the bookcase there?
Is there a supermarket on your … home?
Fred can spend up to $15 a week but he can’t … to spend any on heating.
I hear they are … for a house to buy.
She … all the dust off the floor with a large broom.
The child always leaves the toys in a … on the floor.
They got a new flat and are lucky now to have friendly … .
It’s very stuffy here. They should have the air-conditioning … .
He has a lovely … from the window.
Our house is … in a very busy street in town centre.
I don’t think we are going to buy this sofa. It’s too big and will take much … .

Unit 5 Your Ideal Home

Read what Kate, Nick, Melinda, Richard and Karen think about their present homes in Britain and about places they would like to live in.

Richard

I like my present home because it’s in the country to start with and surrounded by fields and because it’s sort of the end of a no-through-road so very few people drive past, it’s on an old dirt track. Mind you, you hear them when they do. And because it’s an old cottage and it’s got an open fire and things like that and I’m a bit of a romantic.

If I had a lot of money I’d keep the house I’ve got but I’d get a nice flat in the middle of London, another one in the middle of Cardiff, because I work in those two places, and I think a small chalet in the Alps – that’d do me.

Karen

My ideal living room would contain absolutely everything that you need for everyday life. In fact it would even have the bed in it because I cannot stand having to go upstairs and downstairs having left something that I need upstairs to bring back down. So I’d have all mod cons and every single thing you could imagine that you might need throughout the day there.

Kate

I like my present home because it’s in the suburbs, in that there are a lot of trees around it but it’s only about half an hour’s ride from the centre of town. And it’s got this ridiculous patch at the end of the garden that’s owned by my next-door neighbour that has ducks and chickens and geese who are like guard geese and who quack in the night if there are strangers about. I like that.

Nick

I like my present home because it’s a flat near the City, about ten minutes out of the City and that’s very convenient for getting in, for cycling in, which is what I do. And it’s also got a lot of amenities close to it: there’s a swimming pool, cinema, library, theatres. And some very good markets as well: fruit and vegetables and clothes and that’s why I like the present flat that I’ve got. If I had a lot of money, I’d keep the flat that I’ve got in London and I’d buy one out in the country, probably up North which is where I came from originally. In fact, I could probably buy a house up there if I had a lot of money. So that’s what I’d do, I’d have the two places one for a ‘pied a terre’ in London and one for going up to at the weekends.

Melinda

I wouldn’t mind moving home if I had enough money to move into the country and live in the sort of house I’d really like to live in, something, preferably a beach, to wander on in the mornings. Yes, I’d move home for that!

WORK IN PAIRS

Discuss which of these homes you would like to live in and why. Give your reasons.
Share your opinions about your present home. Speak about the advantages and disadvantages of its location and the things you like and dislike in your home.