Comment on the phonetic phenomena to be observed in the following exercises. Practise reading them.

 

a.

My red pencil Your weak point Her short coat His great trouble Their old clock

Glad to see you. I want to ask you. He hasn’t got it. He doesn’t teach her.

Let me see. I don’t know. We don’t like it. He doesn’t learn it.

Not now Right now Stop Mary Late at night

 

b.

What nasty weather. What wonderful roses. What lovely violets you’ve got. What valuable pearls she has.

How pretty she is. How clever of you. How nice of you to come to see me. How strange this old man is.

 

 

c.

dear – dare- doer tear – tear – tour mere – mare - moor

a rear corner a spare minute a poor animal

bottle double simple riddle

model idle button beaten

rotten pattern hidden forbidden

 

d.

Oh dear, it’s quite clear.

There are tears in her eyes.

There isn’t much time.

It isn’t quite right.

She hasn’t got a piano.

 

e.

trial triumph quiet tyrant admire desire

a famous scientist a cruel pirate a fragrant violet a cold shower a clean towel a front vowel

 

Intonation Exercises

 

Read each of the phrases below three times: with the falling, rising and falling-rising intonation.

a/ Satisfactory. b/ Impossible. c/ Finally. d/ On Saturday. e/ Mr. Robinson. f/ In Moscow. g/ To New York. h/ Next Year. i/ To the North. j/ All right.

k/ Thank you. l/ Again. m/ At night. n/ Today. o/ Now. p/ She is here. q/ Mind the step. r/ Enjoy the music. s/ Don’t be late. t/ Come to my place, please.

 

Read the questions with the intonation appropriate for each question type.

a/ - Is his child’s eye-sight as poor as his own?

- How can you tell that the Queen is in the palace?

- When you don’t understand something, do you ask your teacher to explain it to you or do you do your best to find it out yourself?

- Timothy believes in UFOs and ghosts, doesn’t he?

 

b/ - Do you know the story about Robin Hood, a hero of English ballads?

- How many people come to the museum every day?

- Does he really play the guitar or is it only a joke?

- They’ve got a rich collection of paintings started by their great-grandfather, haven’t they?

 

c/ - Can you tell me the latest news?

- How long do you plan to stay in this job?

- Do you usually have a light or a heavy breakfast?

- Peter and Mary work with Tom’s group in the laboratory as a rule, don’t they?

 

d/ - Can you touch your nose with your left hand and pull your left ear with your

right hand at the same time?

- Why are you so upset about the whole thing?

- Do you want to buy a bicycle or a pair of roller-skates as a present for your son?

- For all I know there isn’t a nursery I your house, is there?

e/ - Does it mean that you refuse to take part in the play?

- How long does it take you to accomplish this kind of work?

- Does he prefer to stay in a hotel or with his friends?

- Bill lets you drive his car sometimes, doesn’t he?

 

f/ - Shall I telephone John and tell him about the incident right now?

- Why must you stay at home while everyone else is going out?

- Does she stay in town or does she go to the country for her weekends?

- It often rains in this part of the country in winter, doesn’t it?

 

g/ - Do you invite your friends to your birthday parties every year?

- How much time a day do you spend with your children?

- Does Mr. Nimble usually travel by train or by plane?

- You aren’t afraid to stay in a dark room, are you?

 

h/ - Do you do anything to develop your memory?

- When do you hope to finish your research on wild flowers?

- Is Rio de Janeiro the capital of Brazil or of Argentina?

- Peter isn’t as good at physics as he is at literature, is he?

 

i/ - Are there any facts that can prove your supposition?

- What interests you most of all in Russian history, Mr. Black?

- Is your brother the tall boy with black hair or the short one with red hair and freckles?

- Madonna isn’t as popular as Britney Spears, is she?

 

j/ - Do Japanese children have as much time to play as children in other countries

do?

- Who takes care of your garden while you are away?

- Do you prefer to spend the evening in the company of your friends or at home with your television?

- You haven’t got any problems or serious disagreements with your parents, have you?