Homes and Buildings. English and American Home

Part II. HOUSE. FLAT

UNIT 1

Homes and Buildings. English and American Home

А. Types of Buildings

Active Vocabulary

to dwell

to have a house of one’s own

to have a room to oneself

to have a single room

to inhabit

to live in a hall of residence / in a hostel

to live in digs / to live out

to live in the town centre / downtown (AmE) / in the suburbs / on the outskirts

to lodge

to look down on(to) / overlook/ face

to move house / home (BrE)

to move into a new flat / house

to move out

to reside

to share the room with smb.

to stay at smb’s (place) / with smb.

to take / find (a) lodging(s)

 

apartment (AmE)

flat (BrE)

a three-room(ed) flat / apartment

floor

on the ground floor (BrE)

on the first floor (AmE)

on the upper / top floor

storey (BrE) / story (AmE)

five-storey(ed) building (BrE)

five-storied building (AmE)

apartment building (AmE)

block of flats (BrE)

bungalow

cottage / chalet (Fr)

detached house

semi-detached house (BrE) / duplex (AmE)

terraced house (BrE) / row house (AmE)

villa

farmhouse

hut

mansion

 

amenities

neighbour / in the neighbourhood

convenience(s) / modern conveniences (mod cons)

air conditioning

central heating

chute

electricity

lift

running cold and hot water

telephone

 

above

behind

beside

between

downstairs

in front of

in the middle of

next to

opposite

under

upstairs

VOCABULARY EXERCISES

Exercise 1. Study the descriptions of the following types of house and translate them into Russian:

1) bedsit: bedroom and living room all in one

2) block of flats: residential building consisting of apartments (flats)

3) bungalow: house with only one storey (no upstairs)

4) cottage: small house in the country or in a village

5) detached house: not joined to any other house

6) semi-detached house (informal: semi-): joined to another house

7) terraced house: joined to several houses to form a row

8) time-share: holiday flat or house where you have the right to live one or two weeks a year

9) villa: large house with big gardens or a rented house in a holiday resort / tourist area.

Exercise 2. Look at the drawings of different kinds of accommodation and say which is which:

a) a block of flats

b) a bungalow

c) a cottage

d) a detached house

e) a semi-detached house

f) terraced houses

1___________________

 

 

3___________________

 

5___________________

 

2___________________

 

4___________________

 

 

6___________________

What materials do you think the builder used to build them: brick, concrete or stone?

Where would you choose to live if you were:

a) a young couple with three children?

b) a couple without children?

c) a retired couple?

d) a young person living alone?

e) an old person living alone?

Give reasons for your choice.

Exercise 3. Study the descriptions of the following places you can find in the home.

You probably already know the names of most rooms and locations in a typical home. Here are some less common ones and what they are for:

1) attic: room in the roof space of a house (could be lived in);

2) basement: room below ground level, windows, for living / working;

3) cellar: room below ground level, no windows, used for storage;

4) hall: open area as you come into a house;

5) landing: flat area at the top of a staircase;

6) loft: space in the roof of a house usually used only for storage;

7) pantry or larder: large cupboard (usually big enough to walk into) for storing food;

8) porch: covered area before an entrance-door;

9) shed: small building separated from the house usually for storing garden tools;

10) spare room: a room for guests;

11) study: a room for reading / writing / studying in;

12) terrace or patio: paved area between house and garden for sitting and eating, etc.;

13) utility room: usually just for washing machine, freezer, etc.

Exercise 4. Read the descriptions and guess what rooms and locations they are:

1) a room usually used just for washing-machine, freezer, etc.;

2) room in the roof space of a house (could be lived in); the space below the roof and above the top room;

3) space in the roof of a house usually used only for storage;

4) an underground room below ground level, no windows, used for storage;

5) a room below ground level, windows, for living / working;

6) flat area at the top of a staircase;

7) open area as you come into a house;

8) covered area before an entrance-door;

9) a large cupboard (usually big enough to walk into) for storing food;

10) a room for reading / writing / studying in.

Unusual Types of Houses

I. Pre-listening task

III. Follow up activity

· Would you like to live in a house of the kind you’ve heard in the recording? Why? Give your arguments for or against.

B. American Home

American apartments are usually described as one-bedroom (studio apartments), two-bedroom or three-bedroom apartments. Two- and three-bedroom apartments usually have a connecting living-room; frequently they have two bathrooms. Virtually all apartments have built-in closets with doors, which are used instead of wardrobes. Frequently apartments are without lights but have several outlets for table or floor lamps. The walls are often painted rather than wall-papered. The entrance generally is directly into the living room area; halls are rarely in evidence. Floors are generally covered with wall-to-wall carpeting. Apartment buildings usually have laundry facilities on the ground floor. Almost all apartments have refrigerators, most people now use microwave ovens which provide very convenient and fast cooking. Most apartments and houses have central thermostat which regulates the temperature.

There are two types of apartments: a rented apartment and a condominium, which an individual owns rather than rents. In addition there are town-houses which are joint houses or apartments in a compact planned group in a town. Town-houses can be purchased or rented. Rented apartments can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars per month. The purchase price of condominiums and town-houses can range from thirty thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In the US the historical preference since the 1950’s has been for people to purchase their own houses in the suburbs rather than in central areas of the cities. Private houses are the most expensive. Real estate firms advertise lands, houses and apartments and provide a market for buyers and sellers. The cost of private houses has escalated sharply in recent years and consequently people have sought to buy town houses and condominiums which generally are cheaper.

A mobile home is the cheapest form of housing that can be purchased. Mobile homes can be moved from place to place by trucks. Mobile homes are located in special mobile home parks, which are sometimes called mobile villages. They are usually on the outskirts of cities. Retired people and young people with low income reside in mobile homes which can be purchased or rented.

(from “Life and Issues in the USA”)

Comprehension questions:

1. How can American apartments usually be described?

2. What rooms do they usually have?

3. What is the most typical decoration of the apartments?

4. Where are laundry facilities installed?

5. What is used to regulate the temperature?

6. What are the two types of apartments?

7. Can town-houses be purchased or rented?

8. What is the purchase price of condominiums?

9. What houses are the most expensive?

10. What can you say about mobile homes?

 

Ø Speaking

Self Check

UNIT 2

Sharing a Room

A. Students’ Hostel

Active Vocabulary

alarm-clock

a long way from; a pretty long way from

as a matter of fact

at odd hours

built-in furniture

delighted (= I am delighted) to tell you

fairly

in advance

light and heat are extra

lined with trees

living conditions

on both sides of

payable weekly in advance

price limit

quite enough for the two of us

right away

right opposite

spacious

suit two girls sharing

superficial

there is no place like home

the usual run of things

this can’t be helped

to be anxious

to be in its place

to count on

to cut one’s costs

to get used to

to move away from

to move in

to settle down

to take a bed

to be up to one’s ears in studies

to feel close

to miss smb badly

to feel homesick at times

work conditions

a room to let

A Letter Home

23 Students’ Street,

London, N.W. 4

10^th November, 1992

 

Dear Mum and Dad,

 

Delighted to tell you that now I’ve got a place at the hostel and that’s where I’m writing from. It’s in Students’ Street which is named so because there are a few colleges and a University here. We are lucky it isn’t a long way from our college, either. The street is all green, lined with trees and there are still flowers in the flower-beds though it’s September already.

I share the room with one of my group-mates. Of course, I know very little of her yet but she seems to be sociable and kind. She spent a few years in Paris with her parents, so she speaks French much better than anyone else in the group.

The room is quite enough for the two of us. We moved in a few days ago and everything is in its place now. You are certainly interested to know what our room looks like. Well, it’s a little larger than my room at home, with a big window right opposite the door. In front of the window there is a writing-table with a table-lamp on it. On both sides of the table there are beds. I take one to the left of the table with two shelves above. On one of them I keep some of my books (others are in the drawers of the desk), on the other – a transistor-radio, an alarm-clock, a looking-glass, my favourite teddy-bear and our family photo. In the middle of the room there is a dining-table and near the door – a wardrobe. There are also a few chairs and an armchair in the right-hand corner. It’s a pity we haven’t got any television-set but there is one in the hall on the ground floor. So, we can watch television at odd hours, which are quite rare, though. As a matter of fact we have a lot to do at college. I’m up to my ears in the studies and happy to have good living and work conditions. Here at the hostel there is a laboratory and a reading-room, and a canteen, too. There is also a kitchen next door and we can use a gas-cooker if we like. As you can see I’m settled down quite well here. Yet, I feel homesick at times. Now that I am far away I understand: there is no place like home.

Well, so much for myself. How are you and how is Granny’s health? Is there any news of Lucy and Mike, what about their new flat?

Please, give everyone my fondest love.

Yours,

Mary.

 

Exercise 1. Find the English equivalents for:

место в общежитии; улица названа так; это недалеко от нашего института; обсажена деревьями; я занимаю комнату с одной из студенток моей группы; я ее еще мало знаю; она кажется общительной и доброй; намного лучше, чем любой из студентов группы; комната вполне достаточна для нас двоих; мы переехали несколько дней назад; всё на месте; вам, конечно, интересно знать; к сожалению, у нас нет телевизора; на первом этаже; мы можем смотреть телевизор в свободное время; дело в том, что; у нас много дел; я с головой погружена в учебу; хорошие жилищные условия и условия для занятий; если нам хочется; в соседней с нами комнате расположена кухня; мы можем пользоваться газовой плитой; как видите, я хорошо здесь устроилась; тем не менее я временами скучаю; теперь, когда я нахожусь далеко от дома; нет ничего лучше дома; ну, хватит о себе; как здоровье бабушки; есть ли какие-нибудь новости о Люси и Майке; передавайте всем от меня большой привет; мы по тебе очень соскучились; все идет своим чередом; они волнуются; довольно далеко от центра; на окраине; c этим ничего не поделаешь; просторная прихожая; встроенная мебель; это очень удобно; современные удобства.

 

Exercise 2. Paraphrase the following expressions:

delighted to tell you; lined with trees; she seems to be sociable and kind; interested to know; at odd hours; I’m up to my ears in studies; I am settled down quite well here; I feel homesick at times; there is no place like home; we miss you badly; it’s the usual run of things; it is quite an event for them; they are anxious; a little upset; it’s fairly warm.

 

Exercise 4. Now that you know quite enough about Mary’s life from her letter develop your own opinion. Use the following expressions: “I think”, “I suppose”, “I believe”, “as far as I can judge”, “as far as I can guess”, “as far as I can know”, “as far as I can understand”, “I should say”, “I shouldn’t say so”, “I am afraid not”, “I’d love to”, “I believe so”, “I think so”, “sure”, “there is no doubt about it”, “why, of course”, “as far as I know”.

1. Why is Mary writing her letter in high spirits? 2. Does she like the place where the hostel is located? 3. What does she like about the place? 4. Does she like her room-mate? Why? 5. Why does Mary’s room-mate know French much better than anyone else in the group? 6. Do the girls take care of the room? 7. Have they got all the necessary things in the room? 8. The room looks nice, doesn’t it? 9. Are there good living and work conditions at the hostel? Why do you think so? 10. Is Mary quite happy far away from home? Why do you think so? 11. Has she got any things at the hostel to remind her of home? 12. Is she a loving daughter and granddaughter? Why do you think so?

 

v WORK IN PAIRS

Florence and Sally are discussing their accommodation. Read their conversation and role-play it.

 

Sally: Are you really going to move away from the hostel, Florence?

Florence: Surely. I can’t get used to living there.

S.: What’s wrong? I thought you were quite friendly with your room-mates.

F.: True, they are nice girls. We have coffee together or see a film but … we’re very different, you know.

S.: What is it, I wonder?

F.: Well, the main thing for me is studies but they… they sleep or amuse themselves days and work nights. I can’t work nights. Besides, there’s music and people around all the time. And … and we aren’t real friends, of course. In fact we don’t feel close. You know what I mean?

S.: Why, yeah. Friendship is something for a long, long time when you’re really close and can count on the person. And they’re a little superficial, I guess?

F.: Umm, that’s it. And… and I must have good work conditions, after all.

S.: So, what are you going to do?

F.: I’d like to rent a room. Do you have any idea how to find one?

S.: Oh, it’s very hard now and expensive, I think. What’s your price limit, I wonder?

F.: Not higher than $ 7.

S.: Try to find someone to share with. May be it’ll cut your costs. Well, any time I hear of anything I’ll let you know right away.

F.: Thank you in advance.

S.: Well, do you know what? Look in the local paper for a start.

F.: That’s not a bad idea. Here is today’s paper. Oh, there are a few advertisements, here is one: West Perivale. Suit two girls sharing. One reception, bedroom (2 beds), bathroom, kitchenette. Telephone [phone].

S.: Let’s go and ring up quickly.

* * *

- Hallo! Is that 527-33-65?

- Yes.

- I understand you have a room to let.

- That’s right.

- How much do you charge for the room?

- 7 $ a week, payable weekly in advance. Light and heat are

extra.

- When can I have a look at the flat?

- Tomorrow. Say about 12.

- All right.

- So, I’m expecting you. Thank you.

- Oh, my, I forgot to ask the landlady’s name and address!

- Well, go on, ring again!

 

В. Renting a Room

Active Vocabulary

advertisement (for a room)

a house / flat / room to let

hospitality

host, hostess

landlady, landlord

owner

rent

roommate

tenant

to have privacy

to host smb. / to put smb. up

to keep to house rules

to let a house / flat / room

to live apart from smb.

to live on one’s one

to rent a house / flat / room from smb.

to room together with smb.

to share a room with smb.

to pay a rent monthly

to work on a rota basis

Rules of the House

- You will be issued with your own keys, but these must not be given to anybody else.

- It is forbidden to listen to music or watch television after 10.30.

- You are only allowed one bath a day. This must be taken between 6.00 pm and 8.00 pm.

- The kitchen can only be used before 8.00 am and after 7.30 pm.

- Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the house.

- It is strictly forbidden to have parties in the house.

- Lodgers are expressly forbidden to have friends to stay overnight.

- You may receive incoming calls only.

- You are requested to bring your own sheets and towels. Blankets will be provided.

 

Sharing a Flat

Sharing a flat certainly has some advantages. To begin with, it should be cheaper, and if you are sharing with people that you get on well with, it is nice to have some company at home rather than being alone and on your own. Also the household chores are shared and that is very important. Particularly, when you are younger, and you are living apart from your parents for the first time, it can be very enjoyable to live with people of your own age, whose interests and life-style you share.

However, sharing a flat does have some distinct disadvantages, and the main one is that the flat is not your own. So you cannot do what you want in it. What happens if your flat-mate wants to play music? To a certain extent you have to be unselfish. What is more, there can be little privacy.

I would say that as you get older, it is probably better to live on your own. Having had my own flat for a few years, I would not like to have to share again.

□ WRITING

Use the text as a model to write your personal opinion of sharing a flat.

 

♦ Listening

Phoning a Landlord

I. Pre-listening task

III. Follow up activity

Do you think Angela will rent the room or not? Why?

 

Ø Speaking

1. Pretend you are a landlord / landlady. Think of the rules you want to have in your house. Then ask another student these questions and decide if you think he / she would be a suitable person to have in the house.

2. Imagine you want to rent a room in a house. Make a list of questions you want to ask. Then ask another student these questions and decide if you would like to live in his / her house.

3. You try to persuade a friend of yours that it’s very enjoyable to share a room with people of your age. Your friend is of a different opinion.

4. You are going to move away from the hostel. You see an advertisement in the local paper and come to have a look at the room and ask a few questions. Say whether you find this variant suitable or not. Your final decision may be:

a) you like it and are going to rent it;

b) you don’t like the room, you are going to look for another one.

 

Self Check

Exercise 1. Explain the difference between:

a) a landlord and a lodger;

b) a rent and a deposit;

c) a mortgage and a lease;

d) ground floor and first floor;

e) a cottage and a bungalow;

f) a bedsit and a studio;

g) a villa and a time-share.

 

UNIT 3

Buying a House

Active Vocabulary

an estate agent / estate agency

to charge for one’s services

a giveaway leaflet

to inspect the details of the houses on offer

to make an offer to smb.

a building society

a depositor

to save one’s money with

a savings account

to pay interest

an interest rate

a long-term loan

a mortgage

monthly expenses

the official asking price

the original price of the house

 

Buying a House

There are two types of organizations which are central to the buying of houses and flats.

The first is the estate agent. An estate agency is, essentially, a shop which arranges for the sale of homes.

Let us imagine that Mr and Mrs Smith want to sell their house. First, they ask one or more local estate agents to visit the house and tell them how much they should be able to sell it for. They will also want to know how much the agent will charge for his services (usually between 1% and 2% of the selling price). If the Smiths are happy with his proposals, the agent will publish details of the house in the form of giveaway leaflets and possibly in the local or even national newspapers. The leaflet will describe the house in detail, describing the position, number and sizes of its rooms, the garden and so on.

Mr and Mrs Smith then wait for prospective buyers to arrive.

Imagine that Mr and Mrs Johnson want to buy a house in the same area. They go to the estate agency and inspect the details of the houses on offer. If they are attracted by the description of the Smiths’ house, they will visit the property to look at it. If they are still interested after seeing the house they may make an offer to the Smiths via the estate agent. Often the offer will be slightly less than the official asking price. If the Smiths agree, the house can be sold.

But the Johnsons probably do not have enough money to pay for the house immediately, so what do they do? They go to the second type of institution involved in house buying and selling – the building society.

A building society’s main function is to lend people like the Johnsons enough money to buy a house. Banks also offer a similar service.

Building societies make their money by borrowing money from some members of the public – their “depositors” – and lending it to others. Many British people have building society savings accounts. They save their money with a building society, which pays them interest. The society then lends this money to people who want to buy a house or flat and charges them a higher interest rate on the amount borrowed. This long-term loan is called a “mortgage”.

So Mr and Mrs Johnson go to a local building society where they will be asked a number of questions – what type of jobs do they have? How much do they earn? What are their monthly expenses? And so on. The society will also inspect the house to see if it is worth the money they are being asked to lend. All being well, it will offer to lend the Johnsons up to about 90 per cent of the price of the house, to be paid back with interest over 25 years, or sometimes less. When all is agreed and the papers signed, the money is paid to the Smiths or to their legal representative – usually a solicitor – and the Johnsons can move in.

Over the 25 years, the Johnsons, because of the interest on the loan, will pay far more than the original price of the house – but since they are paying it in fairly small sums once a month they are, at least, able to afford it.

 

Comprehension questions:

1. What is an estate agency?

2. If Mr and Mrs Smith want to sell their house, what will they do first?

3. What will they want to know from an estate agent first?

4. What will the agent start his work with?

5. How can Mr and Mrs Johnson know about the houses on offer?

6. Can the price be negotiated?

7. Where can people get money to buy a property?

8. How do building societies function?

9. What is a mortgage?

10. What questions will Mr and Mrs Johnson be asked at a local building society and why?

11. How will the mortgage be paid back?

12. Why do people want to get mortgages?

 

♦ Listening

Looking for a House to Buy

I. Pre-listening task

III. Follow up activity

Do you think Linda and Jeremy will buy the house or not? Give your grounds.

 

Ø Speaking

1. Imagine you are looking for a house to buy. Is its location important to you? Look through the list below and decide:

- 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

2. 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.

-...

3. 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.

4. You are going to buy a house. Which organization will you go? What are its main functions?

5. 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:

a) with the help of a building society;

b) 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 3.

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:

A. I can clean them myself.

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

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.

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?

 

Ø 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

UNIT 5

Your Ideal Home

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!

 

v WORK IN PAIRS

1. Discuss which of these homes you would like to live in and why. Give your reasons.

2. 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.

v WORK IN TEAMS

1. Work out the project “My Ideal Home”.

2. In groups make a film about the place you live in.

 

Part II. HOUSE. FLAT

UNIT 1

Homes and Buildings. English and American Home

А. Types of Buildings

Active Vocabulary

to dwell

to have a house of one’s own

to have a room to oneself

to have a single room

to inhabit

to live in a hall of residence / in a hostel

to live in digs / to live out

to live in the town centre / downtown (AmE) / in the suburbs / on the outskirts

to lodge

to look down on(to) / overlook/ face

to move house / home (BrE)

to move into a new flat / house

to move out

to reside

to share the room with smb.

to stay at smb’s (place) / with smb.

to take / find (a) lodging(s)

 

apartment (AmE)

flat (BrE)

a three-room(ed) flat / apartment

floor

on the ground floor (BrE)

on the first floor (AmE)

on the upper / top floor

storey (BrE) / story (AmE)

five-storey(ed) building (BrE)

five-storied building (AmE)

apartment building (AmE)

block of flats (BrE)

bungalow

cottage / chalet (Fr)

detached house

semi-detached house (BrE) / duplex (AmE)

terraced house (BrE) / row house (AmE)

villa

farmhouse

hut

mansion

 

amenities

neighbour / in the neighbourhood

convenience(s) / modern conveniences (mod cons)

air conditioning

central heating

chute

electricity

lift

running cold and hot water

telephone

 

above

behind

beside

between

downstairs

in front of

in the middle of

next to

opposite

under

upstairs

VOCABULARY EXERCISES

Exercise 1. Study the descriptions of the following types of house and translate them into Russian:

1) bedsit: bedroom and living room all in one

2) block of flats: residential building consisting of apartments (flats)

3) bungalow: house with only one storey (no upstairs)

4) cottage: small house in the country or in a village

5) detached house: not joined to any other house

6) semi-detached house (informal: semi-): joined to another house

7) terraced house: joined to several houses to form a row

8) time-share: holiday flat or house where you have the right to live one or two weeks a year

9) villa: large house with big gardens or a rented house in a holiday resort / tourist area.

Exercise 2. Look at the drawings of different kinds of accommodation and say which is which:

a) a block of flats

b) a bungalow

c) a cottage

d) a detached house

e) a semi-detached house

f) terraced houses

1___________________

 

 

3___________________

 

5___________________

 

2___________________

 

4___________________

 

 

6___________________

What materials do you think the builder used to build them: brick, concrete or stone?

Where would you choose to live if you were:

a) a young couple with three children?

b) a couple without children?

c) a retired couple?

d) a young person living alone?

e) an old person living alone?

Give reasons for your choice.