Curs limba engleza - home. environment

CURS LIMBA ENGLEZA - HOME. ENVIRONMENT

SECTION I

HOME

A. LEAD IN

1.                What do you think makes a city/ town/ village a good place to live in?

2.                Are cities becoming more or less popular places to live in our country? Why?

3.                If you were asked to choose a photograph to promote your town, city, region, what image would you choose?

4.                What are the first images that come to your mind when you think of the following cities: New York, Paris, London, Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Moscow, Sao Paulo?

5.                In a few words describe your home. Are there any specific reasons why you like/ don’t like it?

6.                How does the ideal home look like for you?

B. READING OBJECTIVE

A FAMOUS PALACE

There are two addresses in London that the whole world knows. One is 10, Downing Street, where the Prime Minister lives. The other is Buckingham Palace. This famous royal residence, first built in 1703, is in the very centre of London.

The palace is two places, not one; it is a family house, where children play and grow up; a place that survived many fires and that King George VI refused to leave during the second World War, even after it had been bombed. It is also an official place where presidents, kings and politicians go to meet the Queen.

Buckingham Palace is like a small town, with a police station, two post offices, a hospital, a bar, two sports clubs, a disco, a cinema and a swimming pool. There are 600 rooms and three miles of red carpet. Two men work full time to look after the 300 clocks. About 700 people work in the Palace.

When the Queen gets up in the morning, seven people look after her. One starts her bath, one prepares her clothes and one feeds the Royal dogs. She has eight or nine dogs and they sleep in their own bedroom near the Queen’s bedroom. Two people bring her breakfast. She usually has coffee from Harrods, toast, ham and eggs. Everyday for fifteen minutes, a piper plays Scottish music outside her room and the Queen reads The Times. Every Tuesday evening, she meets the Prime Minister. They talk about world news and have a drink.

When the Queen invites a lot of people for dinner, it takes three days to prepare the table and three days to do the washing-up. Everybody has five glasses: one for red wine, one for white wine, one for water, one for port and one for liqueur. During the first and second courses, the Queen speaks to the person on her left and then she speaks to the person on her right for the rest of the meal. When the queen finishes her food, everybody finishes, and it is time for the next course.

Reading Comprehension

1.     Why is Buckingham Palace two places, not one?

2.     How old is Buckingham Palace?

3.     Why is it like a small town?

4.     How does the Queen begin her day?

5.     What sort of music does the piper play? Do you happen to know which is the national Scottish clothing?

6.     How long do the employees at the palace work for an official dinner ?

7.     Who does the Queen speak to during a meal?

8.     Are the following sentences true or false ?

The Palace is more than five hundred years old.

It is famous because it is in the centre of London.

The dogs sleep in the Queen’s bedroom.

Every day the Queen listens to a Welsh music concert while she reads the Daily Mirror.

The Queen and the Prime Minister go out for a drink every weekend.

C. VOCABULARY

1. In the following table write down the new words in the text above as well as their meaning (and translation into Romanian, if necessary). Then use these words in sentences of your own.

1.                Not everybody can afford to live in a palace, like Queen Elizabeth. Most people have much smaller dwellings. Try to guess the names of some using the definitions below:

a house not joined to any other house: __ ____ ____ ____ __

a house joined to one other house: __ ____ ____ ____ __

a house joined to several other houses to form a row: __ ____ ____ _____

a small house in the country, in a village: __ ____ ____ _____

a house with only one storey: __ ____ ____ ____ ____

a large house with a big garden: __ ____ ____ ____ ___

a dwelling in a block of flats: __ ____ ____ ____ ____

a dwelling with bedroom and living-room all in one: __ ____ ____ _____

2.                Together with your desk mate draw a bubble (radiant) diagram to write the names of the rooms in a house as well as the name of the objects/ pieces of furniture in each room. You are free to add as many bubbles as you want.

4. Now, as you have become acquainted to a lot of words connected to housing you are able to describe your own home. Or your dream home!

5. A real estate agency is advertising three different houses. Read the descriptions and decide which one you would choose and why.

PARK HOUSE. Built in 1970. Two storeyed building. Three bedrooms, one bathroom, living room, kitchen, big garage. Small garden, 10 m long. 1 mile from the sea. 200 m from the town centre, next to the park. Price: 129,000 euros.

ROSE COTTAGE. Built in 1780. One storeyed building. Two bedrooms, one bathroom, living-room, kitchen. Beautiful garden, 30 m long. 2 miles from the shops and town centre. Price: 185,000 euros

SEAVIEW. Built in 1937. Two storeyed building. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living-room, dining-room, kitchen, study. Garage. Garden, 30 m long. 500 m from the sea, 1.5 miles from the shops and town centre. Price: 235,000 euros.

My choice is __ ____ ____ ____ __ because __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __

6. In a house, where would you find the following:

cutlery __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ___

power-point and plug __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ _____

mop __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

corkscrew __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __

towels __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ _____

attic / loft __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ___

pantry __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ _____

peg __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ _____

D. GRAMMAR

PAST TENSE SIMPLE

1.       Write down three things that you did: a) yesterday; b) last week; c) last year. What grammar tense did you use in your sentences?

2.       Study the following verb forms that you can find in an appendix of a grammar book: WORK – WORKED – WORKED, DEVELOP – DEVELOPED – DEVELOPED, GO – WENT – GONE, BREAK – BROKE – BROKEN. You can notice two different patterns:

a)       verbs that form their Past and past Participle by simply adding __ ___ to the infinitive (See Appendix II for spelling rules!) these are called regular verbs.

b)      Verbs that have __ ____ ____ ___ for the Past and Past Participle and therefore have to be learnt by heart. In fact this is your homework for next week! (See Irregular Verbs Appendix)

3.       Study the following sentences and fill in the blanks:

We went on a trip last weekend. Did you stay at home last weekend? No, actually we went on a trip.

We spent our summer on a Greek island. Where did you spend your summer? Oh, we didn’t spend it in the countryside as we had first planned, we went to a Greek island.

Questions in the Past Simple contain the auxiliary __ ____ followed by the __ ____ and the __ ____ __ form of the main verb.

Negatives are formed by adding __ ____ __ in front of the __ ____ __ form of the main verb.

4. Can you think of some temporal expressions that may logically occur in a sentence with a verb in the Past Simple? Write down as many as you can. __ ___ __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ .

5. Complete these sentences using one of these verbs in the past.

I.        sell, visit, buy, send, see, meet, get, ring, stand, lose, pass

a)     He __ ____ _____ his car last year.

b)     She __ ____ _____ us about a month ago.

c)     The poor widow __ ____ ____ ___ her small house last week.

d)     I __ ____ _____ my answer by e-mail.

e)     My brother __ ____ ____ __ you at the doctor’s yesterday.

f)      She __ ____ ____ ___ him on the bus.

g)     They __ ____ ____ ____ off the bus ten minutes ago.

h)     He __ ____ ____ __ the bell and __ ____ ____ __ in front of the door.

i)       When (you) __ ____ ____ ___ your pencil?

j)      (Helen) __ ____ ____ ___ her exam?

II.                sell, pay, eat, fly, go, wear, have, think, throw, write

k)     They __ ____ ____ ___ their house last year.

l)       He __ ____ ____ ____ all his debts last week.

m)   John __ ____ ____ ___a big breakfast this morning.

n)     She __ ____ ____ ___ two letters this morning.

o)     The airplane __ ____ ____ ____ over our house.

p)     Harry __ ____ ____ ___ to school by bus yesterday.

q)     She __ ____ ____ ____ her new dress last Sunday.

r)      He __ ____ ____ ___ about it for ten minutes.

s)     Tom __ ____ _____ the stone at the bird.

t)      (you) __ ____ ____ __ a big breakfast this morning?

6. A friend has just come back from England after attending an English summer course. Ask him questions using the following prompts.

a)     where exactly / go?

b)     travel by plane?

c)     how long / stay there?

d)     stay with a family?

e)     how many hours a day / have classes?

f)      meet a lot of people?

g)     rain a lot?

h)     how / spend your free time?

i)       learn a lot?

j)      enjoy it?

PAST PROGRESSIVE

7. Study the following sentences:

Last week at this time I was studying the Future Progressive.I was climbing on a mountain when I fell and I broke my leg. They were lying on the beach while the children were swimming.

__ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ _____ are all verbs in the Past Progressive. They refer to __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __ __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __ .

8. Say what you were doing: a) today at 9 a.m.; b) yesterday at this time; c) on Sunday between 9 and 11 p.m.

9. Here is a list of what Stephanie did yesterday.

7.30 – 08.00     had breakfast

8.00 – 08.30     read the newspaper

8.30 – 12.00     studied

12.00 – 13.00   did some shopping

13.00 – 13.45   had lunch

14.00 – 15.00   had a nap

16.30 – 17.30   watched television

ESEU: Harap-Alb Caracterizare ESEU: REVEDERE - comentariu

20.00 – 21.30   had dinner with some friends

Now write sentences saying what she was doing at these times.

a)     At 7.45 __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __

b)     At 8.15 __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __

c)     At 11 o’clock __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __

d)     At 12.30 __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __

e)     At 13.30 __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __

f)      At 14.30 __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __

g)     At 17.00 __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __

h)     At 21.00 __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __

10. Complete the following sentences using the verbs in the Past Progressive.

Clean, do, go (2), have, play, rain, sleep, stand, study, wear, work (2), write

a)     They __ ____ ____ ____ when I arrived.

b)     They __ ____ ____ ____when I telephoned.

c)     We met him while we __ ____ ____ ____ to school.

d)     When I arrived he still __ ____ ____ ____ .

e)     He __ ____ ____ ____ breakfast when Mary came.

f)      John __ ____ ____ _____ a letter when Tom called him.

g)     When Tom telephoned I __ ____ ____ ____ ___ .

h)     We __ ____ ____ _____ in London when the second war began.

i)       It __ ____ ____ ____ __ when I got up this morning.

j)      What the teacher __ ____ ____ ____ __ when you entered the room?

k)     She __ ____ ____ _____ a red hat when I met her.

l)       Where (you) __ ____ ____ _____ when I saw you?

m)   He __ ____ ____ ____ ____ in the garden when Tom came.

n)     I __ ____ ____ ____ __ in front of the theatre when he came out.

o)     When we arrived they (still) __ ____ ____ ____ __ the room.

11. Past Habits: used to / would. Underline the correct form.

a)     When he lived here, he (was driving / used to drive) a red Ford.

b)     Peter (was talking / used to talk) to Mary just now.

c)     They (were calling / used to call) us every day when they were in Athens.

d)     It (wasn’t raining / didn’t use to rain) while I was driving home.

e)     We (were being / used to be) good friends at school but we hardly see each other now.

f)      Harry (was trying / used to try) to help me repair the car when he cut his finger.

g)     She (used to buy / was buying) a lot of clothes when she was a millionaires.

h)     When he was younger, he (used to go / was going) hunting with his friends.

i)       We (were having / used to have) breakfast when the phone rang.

j)      She (used to spend / was spending) her holidays in Greece every summer.

k)     When you called, I (was getting / used to get) ready to leave.

12. Supply used to or Simple Past to complete these sentences.

a)     George __ ____ _____at the University for four years and __ ____ ____ __ a degree in Physics. (study, get)

b)     When he __ ____ ____ ___ with us he __ ____ ____ ___ us stories about the war but we __ ____ ____ ___ them. (live, tell, not-believe)

c)     Every day he __ ____ ____ __ up early and __ ____ ____ ____ the piano for hours. Then he __ ____ ____ ____ out for a walk. That __ ____ ____ ___ every day for twenty years until his death. (get, practice, go, happen)

d)     She __ ____ ____ ____ to be back at 6.00 but I don’t expect her to keep her promise. (promise)

e)     They __ ____ ____ ____ unable to answer any questions as they __ ____ ____ ___ anything. (be, not-know)

f)      Father __ ____ ____ ___ in these mountains when he was young. (hunt)

g)     He __ ____ ____ _____ TV commercials ten years ago. Now he owns a furniture factory. (make)

h)     Julia __ ____ ____ _____ glasses but she __ ____ ____ ___ contact lenses a month ago. (wear, get)

13.        Restate the following sentences. Use either would or used to. Remember that in comparison to would, used to refers to a past habit which is different from what is happening in the present ( used to expresses a contrast with the present).

a)     He often ate out when he was single.

He __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __

b)     Germany was once divided into two countries.

Germany __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ _____

c)     It was typical of him to wait for her outside the office when she used to work as a secretary.

He __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ___

d)     It was characteristic of her to stay home most of the time when she was a student.

She __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ___

A.         LANGUAGE IN USE

Asking for / giving directions. Checking understanding.

If you go to a foreign country you may need to ask people for directions if you are not sure how to get somewhere. The opposite situation is also possible: you may be stopped in the street by a foreigner and asked for directions. In both cases understanding and using phrases such as: go straight, turn right / left, take the second street right, take bus 90 for three stops, take tram 21 for five stops, get on / off the bus, etc is very useful.

Now read the following conversation between a stranger and a resident and underline with a simple line the sentences used to ask for directions and information and with a double line the sentences used to give directions / information.

Stranger:            Excuse me.

Resident: Yes?

Stranger: I … I was wondering if you could help me.

Resident: Well, I’ll try.

Stranger: I need to find out where the town centre is. Now I see there’s a sign up there that points to the left.

Resident: Ah well, let me see … er … it all depends if you’re on foot or going by car.

Stranger: Ah no, I’m walking.

Resident: Well, you turn to the right and then carry straight on.

Stranger: Ah, right, thanks! Er … I wonder if you could tell me if there’s a good hotel in town that I can use.

Resident: Oh, let me think a moment … um … yes, there are two hotels – they’re in the High Street one on each side of the road.

Stranger: Right, well, I expect I’ll manage to find one of those. I wonder if you could tell me anything about the castle in town, where it is, I mean

Resident: Um, well, it’s actually further on … er … down the High Street and then you cross over the bridge and it’s on the other side of the river.

Stranger: I see, I see. Could you tell me a bit more about it? Is it interesting? Is it old?

Resident: I’m not really sure. I’ve never actually been there myself. It … yes, I think it’s quite old, I think it’s about … um … 500 years old – something like that.

Stranger: Worth … worth visiting, you think?

Resident: Well, it’s one of the tourist attractions of the town .

Stranger: I see, I see.

Resident: I’ve no idea, I’m afraid. As I say, I’ve never been there.

Stranger: I see. Do you happen to know when it’s open?

Resident: I’m not really sure. I think it depends on what time of year you go.

Stranger: Well, right, thank you, thank you.

Resident: Er, excuse me, I hope you don’t mind my asking, but where you come from? Your English is very good.

Stranger: Oh, I come from Romania.

Resident: What a coincidence! I and my family are visiting your country next month!

Question techniques

A conversation often depends on question to keep it going in the direction you want it to go. The one who asks the questions in a conversation usually controls the conversation. Various techniques may be necessary to get different sorts of information from different people. Most people are very polite in the way they ask a stranger about something – if you are more direct, you may appear to be very rude!

Anyway, personal questions have to be expressed tactfully. Here are some useful opening expressions you can use to lead up to questions:

I was wondering if you could help me. I’d like to know …

I wonder if you could tell me …

This may sound a stupid question, but I’d like to know …

Excuse me, do you happen to know …

Would you mind telling me …

I hope you don’t mind my asking, but I’d like to know …

Something else I’d like to know is …

Decide when such expression might be appropriate. They are also useful as ‘hesitation devices’ to give you time to prepare your thoughts!

Answering techniques

You may often need to delay answering a question while you think for a moment or check on your facts. Here are some useful techniques for delaying your answer in order to think of the best answer:

Well, let me see …

Well now …

Oh, let me think for a moment …

I’m not sure, I’ll just have to find out …

That’s very interesting question …

Or you may want to avoid answering altogether, using expressions like these:

I’m not really sure.

I can’t tell you off-hand, I’m afraid.

I’m terribly sorry, I really don’t know.

I’ve no idea, I’m afraid.

I can’t answer that one, but I’ll tell you where you can find out.

I’d rather not answer that, if you don’t mind.

Decide when you might use these expressions. Think of some situations when they would be appropriate.

Tasks.

1. You are in Revolutiei Square. A foreigner stops you in the street and asks you: a) how to get to the Village museum; b) how to reach the Marriott Hotel; c) how to reach the Palace of Parliament. For each situation imagine a possible dialogue using the questions and answers techniques presented above. Work in pairs.

2. You are the protocol assistant of a small company and you have to welcome a foreign visitor at the airport and then see him /her off to the hotel. You travel together from Henri Coanda Airport to The Hilton by a company car. On the way tell your guest about the city (with focus on the areas / buildings you pass by).

SECTION II

ENVIRONMENT

A. LEAD IN

1.                When was the last time you went on a trip? Where did you go?

2.                Do you have a favourite holiday destination?

3.                What makes a perfect holiday destination?

4.                If you won a trip at a contest would you rather choose to visit to visit a large city or a desert island?

5.                What specific points would you include in a sightseeing tour of Romania for foreigners?

B. READING OBJECTIVE

THE DANUBE DELTA – A PERFECT HOLIDAY LOCATION

Pack up your boots, mosquito spray, fishing rod and worms and come to see the wetland paradise of the Danube Delta.

Get off the beaten track and spend a dream holiday in Europe’s most spectacular nature destination, the Danube Delta.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, a delight for fishing and bird-watching passionates, the Danube Delta comprises 5,640 sq.km of marshland, forests, lakes, channels and rivers and is one of the richest and most diverse wildlife sanctuaries in the world. A home for hundreds of species of birds, fish and plants, the Danube Delta was designated “Man and Biosphere Reserve” and its unspoiled beauty, coupled with its rich bird, animal and plant life makes it ideal for nature lovers and ecotourists; The area is also an ideal for travellers who want to escape from city life to a calm and remote natural environment.

The Danube Delta is probably the first location in Europe for ornithologists. For anglers, the lakes and channels of the delta offer year round sport with more than 150 species of fish including carp, pike, zander, cat-fish and the royal sturgeon.

Trip Tips. Don’t forget to take rubber boots, rain hat and coat, warm clothes, blankets (in autumn), flash light, knife, first-aid kit and mineral water. Don’t try to spend the night outdoors, especially in summer, when mosquitoes proliferate. Don’t drink the Danube water – if you have no choice, then decant and boil it. Don’t venture on marshes and channels unless someone who knows the places well escorts you.

Cuisine. The Delta restaurants prepare food using classical, local and international recipes. Try specific menus: spiced carp, fish grill, fried fish with garlic sauce, plachie (fish cooked with onion and oil), frog legs. Local people also use minced fish meat to cook meat balls, stuffed green peppers and sarmale (cabbage rolls). Fishing in the Danube Delta Reserve is allowed only for holders of a Fishing Permit, issued by the local authorities in Tulcea.

Don’t miss Niculitel. Located in the northern part of the Tulcea county, the Niculitel Vineyard is famous for its grapes; the white ones, and the white wine as well, are considered to be the best in the country.

Paleochristian monument Niculitel martyricon (open Tuesday to Sunday, summer 8.00 to 16.00 hrs; winter 9.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs, Monday closed) is in the northern part of the locality, at the foot of the Piatra Rosie hill. Within this area are vestiges of “villae rusticate” and a crematorium from the Roman era of the second century.

A suggested journey

Day 1: Bucharest to Niculitel (Paleochristian basilica, wine testing) to Tulcea (The Ethnographic Museum, The Natural History Museum and Aquarium, The Danube Delta Museum. Accomodation;

Day 2: Tulcea to Murighiol , “the violet lake”, to Uzlina (accommodation at Cormoran Hotel or Pensiunea Tamarin)

Day 3: Lake Uzlina and Lake Isac (home to large pelican colonies) to Murighiol and on to Ivancea (one of the Delta’s largest geese nesting areas). Accomodation in Sfantu Gheorghe.

Day 4: Sfantu Gheorghe to Tulcea and then to Maliuc. Accommodation.

Day 5: Maliuc to Mila 23 and to Crisan and then to Sulina. Accommodation.

Day 6: Sulina to Bucharest.

Reading Comprehension

1.     According to the text why is the Danube Delta such a great touristic attraction?

2.     What useful items should tourists never forget taking when going to the Danube Delta?

3.     What is the Danube Delta cuisine famous for?

C. VOCABULARY

1. In the following table write down the new words in the text above as well as their meaning (and translation into Romanian, if necessary). Then use these words in sentences of your own.

2. Look over the text again and find synonyms for the following words and expressions:

get off the beaten track __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

to be at their busiest __ ____ ____ ____ ___

comprise __ ____ ____ ___

pygmy __ ____ ____ _____

renowned __ ____ ____ _____

escort __ ____ ____ ____ ___

remote __ ____ ____ ____ ____

spectacular __ ____ ____ _____

3. a) Work with a partner and rank the following environmental problems according to how important you feel they are. Comment on your choice.

Urban smog ___

Waste dumping ___

Overuse of fertilizers and pesticides __ __

Ozone layer depletion ___

Acid rain ___

b) Now match the problems to the possible solutions below, and talk about them as in the example:

encourage people not to use products containing CFC gases

alternative methods of growing crops

improving public transport

obligatory use of alternative energy sources

stricter legislation regarding waste disposal

Example: Urban smog is a serious problem in cities. It could be dealt with by improving public transport so fewer people use private cars.

4. Match the following words to form collocations and use them in sentences:

a) acid risks

nuclear fuels

fossil rains

healthpower

b) wind / solar   power

natural / man-madespecies

noise / air   disaster

industrial / nuclear fumes

wildlife / water waste

extinct / endangered   pollution

noxious / toxic   conservation

5. Find out the meaning of these words and use them to complete the sentences below: greenhouse effect, biodegradable, wetlands, deforestation, dumpling, toxic waste, renewable, energy, emissions, biodiversity, global warming, ozone layer, desertification, smog, habitats, depletion.

a)     Scientists first became aware of the effects of certain gases on the environment when the found a hole in the __ ____ ____ ____ __ over Antarctica.

b)     Despite attempts to persuade people to conserve water, the __ ____ ____ ____ ____ of water supplies continues.

c)     There are still scientists who dispute the existence of __ ____ ____ ____ _____ and say there has been no real change in temperature.

d)     Lack of rain means that large areas of previously fertile land in Africa are threatened with __ ____ ____ ____ ____ .

e)     The formation of a layer of gases trapped in the earth’s atmosphere which prevents heat from escaping is known as the __ ____ ____ ____ _____ .

f)      The draining of __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ___ to build factories has enraged envionmentalists.

g)     On some days in summer the __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ is so bad that people with breathing problems are advised to stay at home.

h)     Carbon dioxide __ ____ ____ _____ must be cut off if we want to stop polluting the air.

i)       __ ____ ____ ____ ____ of waste at sea is forbidden by international law.

j)      We must develop __ ____ ____ ____ ___ sources and not depend on oil.

k)     The problem with most plastics is that they are not __ ____ ____ ____ ___ and cannot be reabsorbed by earth.

l)       Steady __ ____ ____ ____ ____ in the Himalayas has resulted in catastrophic floods in countries at sea level.

m)   As cities expand, many animals are being driven from their natural __ ____ ____ _____ .

n)     Plants and animal species dying out means the loss of the __ ____ ____ ____ _____ of the planet.

o)     Since __ ____ ____ _____ continues to be dangerous for a long time it is difficult to be handled safely.

6. Unscramble the words below and place them under the following categories:

a)                words connected with mountains: __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ _____

b)                words connected with rivers:__ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ _____

c)                words connected to land meeting water:__ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ _____ __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ___

Words: foot, tributary, bank, cliff, peak, waterfall, cape, coast, source, summit, mouth, beach, ridge, estuary, bay, valley, glacier, gulf, shore.

7. Talking about the weather. Match the two columns:

chilly rain and snow mixed

hurricane snow blown by strong wind

drought mixture of fog and pollution

blizzard strong destructive wind

short rain cold, but not very

smoglack of rain

sleet shower

8. Unscramble the following words and place them under the following categories:

a)                cold weather __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ___

b)                warm / hot weather __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ _____

c)                wet weather __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

d)                foggy weather __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __

e)                windy weather __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __

Words: gale, drizzle, frost, stifling, slush, breeze, hail, mist, mild, damp, snowdrift, downpour, lightning, heatwave, thunder.

9.                Now as you have become acquainted with a lot of words connected with weather, can you describe a typical day for each of the four seasons?

SPRING: __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __

SUMMER: __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

AUTUMN: __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

WINTER: __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ _____

D. GRAMMAR

1. Past Simple or Past Progressive? Underline the correct alternative.

a)     She (was breaking / broke) her leg while she was playing.

b)     You were sleeping when they (were leaving / left).

c)     He (was smoking / smoked) a lot three years ago.

d)     Betty got angry because we (were making / made) a lot of mistakes.

e)     They (were spending / spent) their holidays in Malta when she was born.

f)      As he (was trying / tired) to fix the antenna he hurt his head.

g)     (Did she stop / Was she stopping) crying when you told her the news?

h)     We (were lying / lay) on the beach while she was swimming.

2. Simple or Progressive? Write the verbs in brackets in the correct form:

a)     He __ ____ _____ (step) over the mat while he __ ____ _____ (cross) the room.

b)     He __ ____ _____(lose) the key while he __ ____ ____ ___ (walk) in the park.

c)     She __ ____ _____(not hear) the phone because she __ ____ ____ ___ (listen) to the radio.

d)     He __ ____ ____ __ (burn) his hand while he __ ____ ____ ____ (cook) the dinner.

e)     I __ ____ ____ ___ (dress) when they __ ____ ____ ___ (rush) into the room.

f)      The dog __ ____ _____ (start) to bark because someone __ ____ ____ ____ (try) to get into the house.

g)     She __ ____ ____ ____ (iron) when her husband __ ____ ____ _____ (come) in.

h)     They __ ____ ____ ___ (dig) the garden when it __ ____ ____ _____(begin) to rain.

i)       The driver __ ____ ____ ____ (sleep) when the car __ ____ ____ ____ (crash) into the wall.

j)      I __ ____ _____ (look) the other way when they __ ____ ____ ____ (steal) my bag.

k)     She __ ____ ____ ___(meet) them while she __ ____ ____ ____ (shop).

l)       He __ ____ ____ ___(tell) us to be quiet because Susan __ ____ ____ ____ (study) for an exam.

m)   It __ ____ _____ (get) dark when we __ ____ ____ ____ (get) to the town.

n)     Joan __ ____ ____ ____ (wash) up the dishes while I __ ____ ____ ___ (sleep).

o)     What __ ____ ____ ____ (you-do) in the library when I __ ____ ____ ____ ___ (see) you?

3.                Join the following sentences using when or while. Do not change the order of the two sentences.

a)     I saw Carol. She was walking to school.

b)     He was working in the garage. He hurt his leg.

c)     He fell asleep. He was watching television.

d)     We were sleeping. The thief broke into the house.

e)     She fell off the ladder. She was cleaning the windows.

f)      I lost my keys. I was shopping.

g)     He was trying to repair the roof. It started snowing.

h)     She was doing the washing-up. She broke a cup.

i)       The fire started. He was painting the car.

j)      We were having breakfast. Somebody knocked at the door.

THE ARTICLE

4. How do you call the underlined words in the following sentences? What about the blanks indicated in the final two sentences?

a) She’s the girl I was telling you about. The chimpanzee is a species of monkey.

b) There’s a man waiting for you outside. Let’s have a rest.

c) __Love and __ hatred are opposite feelings. ___ Humans are mortal.

THE DEFINITE ARTICLE

5. Can you write the underlined articles phonetically? What do you notice?

The boy __ ____ __; the hour __ _____; the idea__ ____ .

6. The following examples will help you discover when you are supposed to use a definite article:

a) Close the door, please! The teacher has got into the classroom.

b) We shall have dinner with the Jonsons.

c) He always wants to be the first. This is the fifth year when I study English.

d) He is the best friend I’ve ever had. Bill Gates is the richest person in the world.

e) There are 20 students in the classroom. I’ll be waiting for you in front of the faculty.

BUT: He was sent to __ prison. / The prison was visited by some officials.

Pupils go to __ school every day./ There’s a fir tree in front of the school.

I go to __ church every Sunday. / The church we visited is very old.

The injured man was taken __ to hospital. / They live close to the hospital.

It’s time to go to __ bed. The cat is under the bed.

f) The English are a proud people. The old should be treated with respect by the young. The poor benefit from many social security programmes in this country.

g) A compass always indicates the North.

h) The Alps, the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Lake, the Thames, the United Kingdom are all geographical names.

i) By the way, how old are you? On the one hand I know smoking is a bad habit but on the other hand it is so difficult to give it up.

Other expressions containing the definite article: __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ __ __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ .

7.                Supply the definite article the where necessary.

a)     __ __ Monday is __ __ first day of __ __ week.

b)     __ __ fresh air is very good for young children.

c)     __ __ air on __ __ mountains is good.

d)     Many students don’t find __ __ mathematics interesting.

e)     I’m going to study __ __ history of England next year.

f)      __ __ history is always interesting.

g)     A classroom must have __ __ good light, but __ __ light in this room is very poor.

h)     __ __ water in my glass in not cold.

i)       I always drink __ __ cold water.

j)      We obtain __ __ coal from __ __ mines and __ __ oil from __ __ oil-fields.

k)     We generally spend __ __ summer holiday in __ __ Europe.

l)       Both my friends live on __ __ River street.

m)   __ __ Mississippi River is __ __ longest river in __ __ world.

n)     Many ships cross __ __ Atlantic Ocean.

o)     They go from __ __ France to __ __ United States.

p)     __ __ air in large cities is polluted.

q)     For many people __ __ breakfast is __ __ most important meal of __ __ day.

r)      I always have __ __ eggs for __ __ breakfast.

s)     We drink __ __ coffee out of __ __ cups.

t)      __ __ coffee in this cup is too sweet for me.

E.      LANGUAGE IN USE

Narrating. When coming back from holiday people usually share their experience with friends and relatives. This activity of talking about past events is called narrating.

You can start narrating by using expressions such as:

Did I ever tell you about …

You’ll never guess what happened to me ……

That reminds me of the time I ……

Funny you should mention that because something similar happened to me once …….

If you want to stop a digression   you can say:

As I was saying….

To get back to the story ……

And when you want to speed up the end of a story you may say:

To cut a long story short …….

Anyway, what happened in the end was …….

Remembering. Different sorts of questions can help people remember things that happened. If you want specific information you need to use questions like these:

What happened next?

Had you already …?

Were you going to …?

What were you doing while …?

Then what did you do?

Why didn’t you …?

How did you feel when …?

Did you think of …?

Here are also some expressions that are often used to answer specific questions:

As far as I can remember …

I remember quite clearly that …

After that …

Before that …

While that was happening …

The next thing I did was to …

REMEMBER that in a narrative text you should use The Past Tense.

Tasks.

1. Work in small groups. Help each other to remember as much as possible about these topics:

Your last holiday

The last time you were interviewed

The most exciting sporting event you’ve seen

Your earliest memory

Report the most amusing or interesting details back to the rest of the class.

2.Tell the rest of the class about a) a dream you remember; b) an embarrassing experience; c) an experience which made you laugh; d) a frightening experience. Use the expressions presented above.

Talking about the weather. This kind of conversation is what the Britons call ‘small talk’. You can start talking to someone by using weather as a topic. You can use questions such as:   What’s the weather like today?

What do you think about this cold / hot weather?

Or you can put in remarks such as:

I really hope that this terrible downpour will end soon.

Let’s hope that this hot weather won’t last forever.

Task.

1. Imagine your desk mate / your teacher is a stranger. Try to start a conversation with him / her by using weather as a topic.

2. A relative from another city / another country is coming to spend a week in Bucharest and before leaving he / she calls to ask about the weather. Answer him / her while imagining that the date is: a) 20 December; b) 8 October; c) 1 May;d) 15 August.

Remark: for both tasks use the weather adjectives in the Vocabulary Section of this unit.

F.      WRITING. DISCUSSION

Write a short essay about your best or your worst holiday. Start by telling what you are going to write about, then in a paragraph or two describe the holiday, then mention why you liked it so much / why you didn’t like it at all. In the end you can state your intentions for the future: what you are going to do to repeat a marvelous experience or, on the contrary, to avoid a nightmare holiday.