Английский язык для студентов университетов. Чтение, письменная и устная практика (стр. 6 из 42)
Paraphrase the italicized part of each sentence choosing the appropriate phrase from the text.
1. Clara, uninvited, thought she might as well come in, and did it.
2. There were plenty of books in the room; and they lay in piles on chairs and on the floor.
3. The man swallowed and nodded.
4. There were so many pictures on the walls that it was hard to tell whether or how they were papered.
5. It was separated from the pavement by a high, ornamented, wrought iron fence.
6. The door of the Denhams' house was covered with wooden panels.
7. The floor was covered with squares of marble.
8. It was such a large, high, long room crammed with furniture and mirrors and pictures that the eye could not at first sight evaluate its size.
9. She did not feel that she had to hide her astonishment.
10. Clara, when she looked closely, could just make out a bed, almost hidden, beneath a cover.
11. There was a great quantity of toys, neatly put in order.
12. Clara felt amazed and charmed.
13. She didn't follow the conversation, so absorbed was she by the visual aspect of the scene presented to her.
14. Over the maible mantelpiece was an enormous oval mirror, embellished with an eagle.
15. And help was coming for there was a whole line of books which she somehow knew.
16. The name on the back, she could just discern it, was something like Candida.
17. Most of the floor was covered by a big elaborately ornamented carpet.
18. Clara, seeking for help, directed her excellent vision at the distant titles of books.
19. Mrs Denham herself was a suitable inhabitant for such a room.
20. 'Who was that that opened the door and allowed me to enter' asked Clara.
Exercise 12
Complete the following sentences choosing the appropriate word or phrase from the list. Change the form of the words if necessary. Translate the sentences into Russian.
to be lined to be full of to be covered
to be pinned up to lie in heaps to be concealed
to be lost beneath to stand open to be pasted
to lead to be arranged to be tiled
to be separated to be painted to be papered
1. If the floor ... ... one can easily hear footsteps on it.
2. Other walls ... ... with white bookshelves from which books overflow to the floor.
3. The door between the office and a small dark room at the back always ... ... .
4. The floors downstairs ... ... with Indian carpets.
5. The walls ...... with pictures of aircrafts.
6. A staircase ... from the ground floor to the first floor.
7. The notice ... ... ... and became the centre of attention.
8. A typewriter, some writing paper, pens and pencils — everything ... carefully ... on top of the bookcase.
9. The walls in the sitting-room ... ... but not painted, which made the room look a lot cosier.
10. The room ... ... ... dark expensive furniture. Oriental car pets, smart lamps, everything first-class.
11. The incident...... and nobody ever learned anything.
12. A sick child ... nearly ... ... the heap of blankets.
13. Books, papers, manuscripts, stacks of letters ... ... ... all around the study.
14. The dining room ... ... from the rest of the house by a narrow passage.
15. As the tiny house ...... green, it was almost lost on the green background of the garden.
Exercise 13
Remember a situation when you came to somebody's place and experienced strong emotions. Tell the class about it, ending the story with one of the sentences given below.
1. I vaguely noted.
2. I said it with pride and display.
3. I did not feel at all obliged to conceal the amazement.
4. I was staggered and bewitched.
5. I was engrossed in the visual aspect of the scene presented to me.
6. I did not betray the novelty of my discovery.
Exercise 14
Speak of Clara's visit to the Denhams' house.
1. in the third person;
2. in the person of Clara;
3. in the person of Clelia;
4. in the person of Mrs Denham.
Exercise 15
Discussion points.
1. What impression does the description of the Denhams' house produce on you?
2. What can you say about the people who inhabit it?
3. What do you think of Clara?
4. Have you ever experienced anything like that in your life?
5. Do you believe that homes reflect their owners' mode of life, occupation, character?
Exercise 16
Translate into English.
1. Мы хотели купить собственный отдельный дом, хотели, чтобы был большой сад и озеро, но денег нам хватило только на половину дома.
2. Газон перед домом — гордость всех англичан. Газон тщательно стригут и высаживают по дорожкам розы.
3. Прихожая была тёмная и мрачная, и я решила, что нужно переклеить обои — подобрать более светлые.
4. Длинный коридор заканчивался лестницей, ведущей на второй этаж.
5. В Европе мало кто живёт в многоквартирных домах. Большинство людей являются собственниками домов в пригородах.
6. В английских домах количество комнат может быть разным, но традиционно всегда есть небольшая прихожая, кухня, столовая, гостиная, ванная, туалет, пара кладовок, одна или несколько спален.
7. В домах, где есть дети, желательно сделать детскую. Там должна быть особая мебель и хорошее освещение.
8. К гостиной примыкает столовая, которая, в свою очередь, соединена с кухней.
9. Нужно покрыть кафелем не только стены в ванной и туалете, но и ту стену на кухне, где расположена раковина, а то будет видна вся грязь. С краски её смыть не так легко, как с кафеля.
10. Я предпочитаю электрическую плиту газовой — её гораздо легче мыть, да и вытяжка не очень нужна.
11. На полках я храню фаянсовую посуду, а в этих ящичках — столовые приборы. Запоминай, что куда класть.
12. Комната так заставлена мебелью, что трудно подойти к окну.
13. У Гаррисонов очень просторная четырёхкомнатная квартира в центре города. Она прекрасно отделана и обставлена.
14. Надо бы сделать ремонт — подновить потолки, настелить паркет вместо линолеума и поклеить моющиеся обои.
15. Такие яркие цветастые занавески не годятся для спальни. Нужно выбрать расцветку поспокойней.
16. Это комнатное растение у окна загораживает свет. Переставь его в угол.
17. Мы живём в этом девятиэтажном доме. Район нам не нравится, хотелось бы куда-нибудь переехать.
18. Я не смогла бы жить в деревне, так как не могу обходиться без удобств — водопровода, горячей воды, мусоропровода, центрального отопления, телефона.
19. Все гостиные в наших квартирах похожи одна на другую — стенка, журнальный столик, диван и кресла, телевизор и стереосистема.
20. В Англии никогда не вешают ковры на стены, их кладут только на пол.
Exercise 17
Look at the picture. It depicts the living-room of a large family. Look at it for two minutes, then hide it and agree or disagree with the following statements. Test your perception and memory.
►Pattern: The living-room is rather small. — No, I don’t think so, it is rather spacious.
1. In the middle of the room there is a big table.
2. The table is laid for dinner.
3. At the table there are two armchairs.
4. The armchairs are very comfortable with tall backs.
5. On the right there is a fireplace.
6. On the mantelpiece there is a clock.
7. Just opposite the fireplace there is a sofa.
8. There are four cushions on the sofa.
9. The sofa is small and comfortable.
10. In the foreground we can see a desk.
11. In the far left comer there is a standard lamp.
12. The walls are covered with beautiful carpets.
Exercise 18
Look at the picture. Describe this picture in detail. What would you bring in or take away to make it look cosier? How would you furnish it to your taste?
Exercise 19
Read and translate the text.
The Randolf sisters, Sadie and Esther, live just a block away from each other. Sadie constantly complains that the people in town are cold and unfriendly, while Esther finds them warm and pleasant.
Although Sadie can't see it, the difference is in the way they approach those people. Sadie and her husband have a lovely house. It's filled with beautiful antique furniture and glassware that is so fragile it could easily be broken by a careless guest or adventurous child. Whenever someone is visiting, Sadie and her husband are constantly "straightening up". Their behaviour seems to indicate that they put more of an emphasis on the looks of their house than on the comfort of their guests. As a result, their nervous guests behave with excessive care — and they leave as soon as possible.
In contrast, Esther's house is not fancy at all. In fact, it's almost shabby. But she and her husband have a relaxed, friendly attitude toward visitors, who don't have to worry about an accident occurring with an expensive piece of furniture or vase. Esther's house is a place where people can drop in, put their feet up on the coffee table, and feel at home.
(from "Grammar Dimensions")
I. Answer the questions.
1. Whose house, Sadie's or Esther's, appeals to you? Why?
2. Which one would you drop in? Why?
3. In what houses do you feel at home? Why?
4. What do you think of those hosts who put more of an emphasis on the looks of their house than on the comfort of their guests?
5. What house would you call lovely?
6. What house would you call shabby?
7. What does home mean to you?
II. Make up dialogues:
1) between Sadie, her husband and their guests;
2) between Esther, her husband and their guests.
Exercise 20
Have a look at Picture A and B. Answer the questions. Make use of the phrases and words below:
Picture A
Picture В
It needs cleaning; to scatter; to throw around; to tidy up; to be piled with something; to lack; to be in disorder; untidy; in a mess.
Picture A
1. What can you see in Picture A?
2. Could you describe it in detail?
3. What attracts your attention in particular?
4. What's your impression of this room?
5. Do you like it?
6. What do you think of its occupant?
Picture В
1. What can you see in it?
2. Do you like the room now?
3. Could you describe Picture В in detail?
4. What changes have been made? Why?
5. What is missing in Picture B?
6. Could you compare these two pictures?
7. Which picture do you like better and why?
8. What would you add to make it look cosier?
○ Exercise 21
Read the telephone conversation and draw a plan of the house and the garden. Tell other students how you would furnish the house and use the rooms.
Martin: Hello, Linda!
Linda: Hi!
Martin: Well, good news at last. After looking at about two hundred houses, I've found just the place for us. It's in Blackwood, which is an outer suburb about twenty five minutes drive from the city. I think you'll love it. It's got a lovely big garden and lots of trees.
Linda: Yes, fantastic. Now tell me all about it.
Martin: Well, it's basically a three bedroom house. Very individual in style. There's no front door at all. You come into the hall from a side door. As you walk down the hall, there are two bedrooms on the left. On the right there is a door leading into a huge lounge.
Linda: What about the third bedroom?
Martin: Well, if you keep going down the hall, it is on the right, past the lounge room. The room on the left would make a useful study or family room. The one on the right, which has a wine cellar by the way, would be a very good store room or junk room.
Linda: I see.
Martin: What sold me on the house was the kitchen. It leads off the lounge and is huge. We can eat in there when we don't feel like having a formal meal in the dining room.
Linda: What about outside?
Martin: Well, there's a big wide verandah running across the front of the house. The two main bedrooms look out onto this. It also continues down the left-hand side of the house. Part of it, on the western side acts as a passage to the bathroom and toilet.
Linda: And the garden? You said something about a garden.
Martin: Yes, it is one of the nicest things about the place. A driveway runs down the left-hand side of the house to the garden. On the right of the house there is an orchard with apple, plum and orange trees. At the rear there is a large grassed area surrounded by a border of trees and shrubs. In the middle of the lawn there is an old clothes line.
Linda: That'll have to go!
Martin: Well, it is usefiil.
Linda: I don't care, it is ugly.
Martin: OK, the clothes line goes.
Linda: Well, then, when can I see it?
Martin: As soon as you arrive tomorrow..
Linda: Great. I'll see you then. Bye.
Martin: Bye.
Exercise 22
Speak about the room where you live. Make use of the topical vocabulary.
Exercise 23
Speak about the flat where you live. Make use of the following questions and topical vocabulary.
1. Where do you live? How many floors does the house have? Is it a block of flats or not?
2. What modern facilities does your flat offer? Do you have electricity, running water, gas, a telephone, a radio?
3. What kind of flooring do you have in your flat?
4. How are the walls of your flat finished? Are they whitewashed, tiled or wallpapered? Do you like to adorn the walls?
5. How is your flat lighted?
6. What kind of curtains (hangings, blinds) do you have? Do they go well with the wallpaper?
7. Is your flat crammed with things?
8. What makes your flat look cosy?
9. Do you have a convenient working space or a desk at home? Where do you keep your books?
Exercise 24
Find a photograph or a picture of an interior in which you recognize a taste that is radically different from your personal style. Tell your classmates what you like or dislike about it.
Exercise 25
If you have travelled abroad, speak about the difference in interior decorations which one may observe in foreign (British, American, German, etc.) and Russian homes.
Exercise 26
Ask your partner the following questions and fill in his or her answers. Then summarize what his/her answers suggest about his or her ideas about home.
Do you think a home is somewhere Yes No Don't Know
you are secure and warm? ____________________
you can be alone? __________________________
