Most English people live in or near cities. Many own their homes. Brick () houses are common. The houses may be separate or joined together in a row (). Many families have gardens in their yards. City centers are crowded. Some people live in tall apartment buildings. Some English people live in the country. Their homes lie outside towns or in villages. In recent years, the number of people in England who own their own homes has risen dramatically. In the twentieth century, town councils rented apartments or small houses cheaply to those who needed them. In the 1980s, the councils began allowing people to buy these houses. At the same time, many new houses were being built. In 1950, only 4.1 million homes were occupied by their owners. By 1996, that number had increased to 16 million. At the beginning of the 21st century property prices were rising quickly. They have risen so much that many people who dreamed of owning a home find it impossible to buy them. This is especially true in London, one of the most expensive cities in the world.
| Russia | Great Britain | |
| private apartments | + | |
| private houses | + | |
| detached houses | + | |
| semi-detached houses | + | |
| council apartments | + | |
| prices | high |
| Remember! , . . , . , kitchen table , table lamp , room center , apartment price . |
Team-work. Find as many differences and similarities between the two rooms as you can.
1) 
2) 
Example: In the first room there is/are and in the second one there isnt.
Discuss the following question in groups of four.
Which is more comfortable: living in an apartment or in a house?
Give at least five reasons.
Take-home assignment
Translate the following sentences into English.
a) .
b) 3 .
c) .
d) , .
e) .
f) .
g) .
h) .
i) .
j) .
