I N eed Some Information
A: Hello?
B: Oh, hello. I need some information. What currency is used
in Japan? A: Where? B: In Japan.
A: I'm not sure. Isn't it the yen? B: Oh, yes. And do they drive on the left or the right? A: I think the left, but I'm not sure. B: Oh. Well, is English spoken much there? A: I really have no idea. B: Uh? Well, what about credit cards? Are American Express
cards used there? A: How would I know? B: Well, you're a travel agent, aren't you? A: What? A travel agent? This is Linda's Hair Saloon. B: Oh, sorry, wrong number.
A. Study and practise the conversation.
B. Complete these sentences using the passive and suitable verbs below.
eat grow make up manufacture speak teach wear
1. Both cars and computers... in Korea. 2. English... in many schools in Russia. 3. A great deal of cotton... in Egypt. 4. Frogs
and snails... in France. 5. Canada... of ten provinces and two territories. 6. Kimonos... sometimes... in Japan. 7. French... not widely...in Great Britain.
Now use the verbs above and write sentences like these about your country. Use the passive. Then compare with a partner.
Recycling
Nick: Jenny, listen to this. Over 8 million tons of paper are used in Britain every year, but only some of it is recycled. One ton of rubbish is thrown away every year by the average British family of four like us!
Jenny: I know. Only a little waste glass is recycled. Plastic isn't recycled at all. And last year over 7 billion drink cans were thrown away.
A. Use the present passive of the verb in brackets.
1. 70 billion cups of tea (drink) in Britain every year. 2. A billion litres of fruit juice (buy) by the British every year. 3.20 million litres of milk (drink) every day. 4. 9 million chickens and turkeys (kill) every week. 5. Not everybody eats meat. Meat (not eat) by three per cent of British people. 6. 3,500 litres of water (use) by the average British family every week. 7. In Britain over 15 million newspapers (read) every day. 8. Over 30 million television sets (own) by British families. 9. Every day enough rubbish (produce) to fill Trafalgar Square up to the top of Nelson's Column!
B. Nick is doing a project on rainforests. He has made notes. Put his notes into sentences like this'
eg rainforests find along the equator Rainforests are found along the equator.
1. thousands of square kilometres of rainforest destroy every year 2. 6,000 trees cut down every hour 3. wood sell to many countries 4. wood make into furniture 5. rainforests burn downby farmers 6. animalskillby the fires 7. houses destroy by the fires 8. many kinds of animals and plants lose when the rainforests disappear 9. some medicines make from rainforest plants 10. weather change by the destruction of the rainforests
Isn't This Country Incredible!
Victor: What a nice camera!
Roberto: Thanks. It's Japanese.
Victor: Isn't this country incredible? It seems like everything
is imported.
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Roberto: Yeah, TVs, stereos, and cameras are often made in Japan. You can get running shoes from Korea. Clothes are made in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Watches are imported from France and Switzerland. Victor: Even fruit and vegetables are imported from Mexico
and Chile during the winter.
Roberto: Yes. And a lot of cars are imported, too. I think Americans are fascinated by foreign products. Victor: Well, sometimes they're designed better. And sometimes they're a lot cheaper, too.
Roberto: Say, have you got the time? I want to take some pictures before class tonight. Victor: It's 3:00.
Roberto: Oh, I'd better go. It's getting late. Victor: Yeah. I'd better go, too. I haven't done my homework yet.
A. Correct the statements that are wrong. Say "That's right" or "That's wrong."
1. Americans often buy foreign cameras, TVs, stereos, and cars.
2. Koreans sometimes buy American running shoes.
3. American clothes sometimes come from Hong Kong and Taiwan.
4. Americans never import watches from Europe.
5. Americans import onions and potatoes from Mexico.
6. Other countries often make cheaper cars, stereos, and clothes than the United States.
1'. Roberto thinks he should go so he'll have enough time to
take some pictures before class.
8. Victor thinks he should go so he can take a shower before, class.
Finding a Job
If you have left school and haven't got a job, don't despair. Jobs are advertised in the local papers under "Situations Vacant". Go to your local Job Centre or Employment Office. If they haven't got a suitable job for you, at least good advice is given there. Also, remember to read notices. Job vacancies are posted up on notice boards outside firms and factories. Local jobs are displayed on cards in shop windows and at post offices. When you have found a job that interests you, make an appointment for an interview. Sometimes, an interview is arranged by telephone, but often a written application is required. Application forms are provided for this purpose by the firms. Sometimes, the applicant is tested at the interview. Don't be nervous, do your best.
Don't feel that you have to take the first job that is offered to you. Go to the Careers Office and ask about the Youth Training Scheme. Many on-the-job courses and schemes are organized by the Youth Training Scheme and they pay you during the training.
A. How can you find a job in your country?
They where surprised
Jewellery and coins were stolen last night from the home of Mr and Mrs G. Sinclair of Clark Street, Bristol. At about 1.30 a.m., a young man was seen in the Sinclairs' garden by a neighbour. The police were informed immediately by the neighbour's wife. Ten minutes later, the man was caught as he was leaving the garden and was taken to the police station for questioning. His pockets were searched. Rings and gold coins worth over £3000 were found. When the man was questioned about the theft, he said, "It was easy. A window was open and the safe wasn't locked."
The jewellery and coins were returned to the Sinclairs the next morning. A policeman said, "They were surprised. They hadn't noticed the theft."
A. Do you know a story about a theft?
'Where was this Taken?
Olga: You know, we've never seen the pictures you took of New York.
Roberto: No? Didn't I show them to you after I got back?
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Victor: No.
Roberto: Well, I have them with me.... This is the Empire State Building. It's probably the most famous building in New York. It was built in less than two years. It was begun in 1929 and finished in 1931.
Susan: Isn't that incredible?
Roberto: This is the United Nations.
Olga: It was built sometime after World War I ended, wasn't it?
Victor: After World War II.
Olga: I mean World War II. Where was this taken?
Roberto: From the top of the World Trade Center. Did you know the Statue of Liberty was designed by a Frenchman?
Victor: Uh-huh. Bartholdi. It was given to the United States by France on the 100th birthday of U.S. independence.
Susan: You know a lot about history.
Victor: History was my favourite subject in school after music, that is!
I Note: center . = centre
A. Correct these statements.
1. Roberto hasn't been to New York. 2. The Empire State Building isn't very famous. 3. The Empire State Building was built in less than a year. 4. The UN was built after World War I. 5. The Statue of Liberty was given to the United States by England.
B. Bring to class a picture of your favourite building, painting, or sculpture or a copy of your favourite book. Work with a group. Your classmates will ask you questions about your picture or book.
What's this called? Where was it done?
When was it done? Who was it done by?
Youth Hit by Van
At 5.05 p.m. on Saturday 19 July, there was an accident at the junction of Euston Road and St. Pancras Road when a boy of 16 was knocked off his bicycle by a delivery van. Luckily, he was not seriously injured. Patrick Kay, the 1 6-year-old boy, was taken to St. Pancras Hospital where he was treated for shock and a broken arm. The accident was witnessed by several people, and it was reported minutes later by the driver of the van, Mr Ralph Ripley, 45, of Wimbledon. Both the youth and the driver of the van were questioned afterwards by the police, who took the names and addresses of three witnesses.
A. Have you ever witnessed an accident? What was it like?
An interview
Joe Burns is a famous racing-driver. He is being interviewed on a sports programme.
Reporter: You've had a very dangerous life, haven't you, Joe? I mean, you've almost been killed several times, haven't you?
Joe: Yes. I suppose that's right.
Reporter: When was your worst accident?
Joe: d say last year. It was during the British Grand Prix.
I smashed into a wall. The car was completely ruined and my left leg was broken. Luckily, nobody was killed.
Reporter: Is that the only time you've been... er...close to death?
Joe: No. Once, during the Mexican Grand Prix, two cars in front of me had a bad accident. One of them ran into the other. I swerved to avoid them and hit a fence My car was badly damaged but luckily I wasn't even hurt.
Reporter: You must enjoy danger. I mean, you wouldn't be a racing-driver if you didn't, would you?
Joe: I don't know about that. I had a very frightening ex-
perience quite recently. I was frightened to death! I thought I was going to be killed at any moment.
Reporter: Really? When was that? During your last race? Joe: No. It was on my way to this studio. I had to drive
through London during the lunch hour. A. Questions
1. What has almost happened to Joe several times? 2. When was his worst accident? Describe it 3. What happened during the Mexican Grand Prix? 4. What did Joe think was going to happen to him very recently? 5. When did his last experience take place?
B. Discuss your personal experiences using the present perfect passive and the past simple passive of the verbs in the phrases below.
eg A: Have you ever been stopped by the police? B: No, I haven't but my brother has. A: Really? Why? B: He was stopped for speeding on the motorway.
1. stop by the police 2. interview on television 3. give a surprise party 4. fine for parking 5. search by customs 6. ask to give a speech 7. involve in a road accident
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Let Me Quiz You
A: Have you studied for the test tomorrow?
B: Yes, I have.
A: OK. Let me quiz you on the Panama Canal.
B: All right. Go ahead.
A: Who was the canal built by?
B: It was started by the French and completed by the Americans.
A: Right! And when was it completed?
B: It was completed in 1911.
A: No! It was completed in 1914.
B: Oh, that's right.
A. Complete the phrases in column A with suitable information in column B.
a) The novel 1984
b) The pyramids
...was designed by Bartholdi....was written by George Orwell.
c) The Statue of Liberty... were built by the ancient Egyp-
tians.
d) The mural in the Sistine... was written by Margaret Mit-Chapel in Vatican City chel.
e) The novel Gone With... was painted by Michelangelo.
the Wind
B. Now change these active sentences into passive sentences with by.
a) Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mono Lisa.
b) Marie Curie discovered radium.
c) Mildred and Patty Hill wrote the song "Happy Birthday to You."
d) Mark Twain wrote the American novel Huckleberry Finn.
e) Thomas Edison invented the phonograph and the light bulb.
C. Think of six questions about famous buildings, paintings, boob, or musical compositions.
eg Who was Starry Night painted by? Who was War and Peace written by? Who was Carmen composed by?
Take turns asking your questions. Who got the most correct answers?
A very exciting
In January Martha was hired by the Fernwood Company as a secretary. In March she was sent to school by the company to study statistics and accounting. In April she was given her first raise. Just two months later, she was promoted to the position of supervisor of her department. In August she was chosen "Employee of the Month." In October she was given another raise. In November she was invited to apply for a position in the company's overseas office in England. And in December she was given the new job and was flown to London to begin work.
Martha certainly has had a very exciting year. She can't believe all the wonderful things that have happened to her since she was hired just twelve months ago.
A. Ask and answer questions on the text.
B. Speak about your career history.
Can I help y?
Mrs Jones: Is this Joe's Auto Repair Shop?
Man: Yes, it is. Can I help you?
Mrs Jones: Yes, please. This is Mrs Jones. I'm calling about
my car. Has it been repaired yet? Man: Not yet. It's being repaired right now.
Mrs Jones: I see. Tell me, when can I pick it up? Man: Come by at four o'clock. I'm sure it'll be ready by
then.
A. Respond to the following.
eg Has the lamp been fixed? No, it is still being fixed.
1. Have the floors been painted? 2. Have the things been packed? 3. Has the table been laid? 4. Have the dogs been fed? 5. Has the letter been typed? Has the radio-set been repaired? 7. Has the furniture been removed?
Make up your own sentences using this model.
A b urglary
Tom: The newsagent's has been broken into. About £ 850 has been taken.
Nick: Has the thief been found?
Tom: No, not yet. The theft was only discovered an hour ago. There's a room at the back of the shop where the money is kept in a safe. This morning the cleaner noticed that the window had been broken, so she told the owner. A few people have been questioned by the police, but nobody knows much. An officer said that any information will be welcomed.
Nick: Will there be a reward?
A. Make up short dialogues using the words prompted. Prompt: dust/the furniture
Has the furniture been dusted yet?
Not yet.
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1. hang up/the picture 2. cut/the grass 3. fix/the brakes 4. mend/ the shoes 5. type/the documents 6. photo-copy/the letters 7. find/ the book 8. clean/the room 9. iron/the suit
B. When the pupils went back to school after the summer holidays, a lot of things had been changed.
eg New desks (buy).
New desks had been bought.
1. A lot of trees (plant). 2. New lights (put in). 3. The classrooms (paint). 4. A tennis court (build). 5. The fence (take down). 6. Five new classrooms (add). 7. New equipment (buy) for the chemistry lab. 8. Showers (install) in the changing rooms. 9. New blackboards (put up) in the classrooms. 10. The whole school (modernize).
She Only Wanted a Haircut
Alan: Have you always been interested in photography?
Carla: Oh, yes! I was given a camera for my eighth birthday.
Alan: So you became a photographer immediately after school, I imagine.
Carla: Oh, no. I did lots of different things.
Alan: What kind of things?
Carla: Well, I went to college and studied design. Oh, and once I was given a job at a hairdresser's.
Alan: How long did you do that for?
Carla:Not long. I was sacked after three weeks.
Alan: Sacked? Why?
Carla:! dyed a lady's hair green.
Alan: What was wrong with that?
Carla: She only wanted a haircut.
A. Study and practise the conversation.
Qoing by fube
Laura usually leaves the office at about five o'clock, but last Monday she left at half past five. She wanted to get home by 6.30 and she ran to the bus stop but she couldn't get on a bus. There
were too many people and not enough buses. Laura was desperate to get home so she decided to go by tube.
In the station she went to one of the automatic ticket machines but she didn't have enough change, so she had to join the queue at the ticket window. She bought her ticket and ran to the escalator. Laura went to the platform and waited for the tube. It arrived and the crowd moved forward. Laura was pushed into the train. It was almost full but she was given a seat by a man with a moustache. Laura thanked him and sat down. She started to read her newspaper. In the tunnel the train stopped suddenly and Laura was thrown to the floor together with the man with the moustache. Somebody screamed. The lights went out. It was quarter past six on a cold wet December evening.
A. Ask and answer questions on the text. Retell the text.
Fishermen Found Safe and Sound
Three Taiwanese fishermen were rescued yesterday from a small uninhabited island in the South Pacific. The men had been lost for more than three months.
They had left Taiwan in a small fishing boat and planned to be gone for only a week. But on the fifth day they ran into a typhoon, and it badly damaged their boat. Fortunately, none of the men was hurt. After the storm passed, however, they found that the engine wouldn't start. So their boat just drifted at sea for a month. During this time, the fishermen caught fish to eat and drank rainwater to stay alive.
Finally, the boat drifted toward a small island. When it got close enough, the men jumped overboard and swam to the shore. On the island, they found fresh fruit and vegetables to eat, and they continued to live off any fish they could catch.
The fishermen lived on the island for another two months before they were rescued by a passing ship. Although the three men had lost a lot of weight, they were still in fairly good health after their long ordeal. Their families were very happy to hear that the men had been found "safe and sound" and that they would soon be home.
A. Ask and answer questions on the text. Retell the text.
An Earthquake
An earthquake was reported in San Francisco at 7:18 this evening. Most of the damage was felt in the downtown area. Electric lines were cut but telephone service was not interrupted in most areas. It appears that no damage was done to the new earthquake-proof buildings, but, unfortunately, windows were shattered in some of the older buildings and the famous old clock in Union Square was destroyed. The clock, which is 100 years old, was popular with tourists. No injuries were reported so the Red Cross was not called to help. Also, no damage was reported in the suburbs.
A. Choose the correct answer.
1. The earthquake was reported
a. at night.
b. during the day.
2. Electric lines
a. were cut.
b. weren't cut.
3. Telephone service in most areas
a. was interrupted.
b. wasn't interrupted.
4. Windows were shattered in some of the
a. old buildings.
b. new buildings.
5. The old clock
a. was almost destroyed.
b. was destroyed.
6. How many injuries were reported?
a. No injuries were reported.
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b, A lot of injuries were reported.
B. Put the verbs in brackets into the past simple passive. Retell the text.
Did you know that the greatest explosion in the world (cause) by a volcano? Krakatoa, an island in Indonesia, erupted in 1883. More than half the island (destroy). The explosion (hear) in India and Australia. Rocks (throw) more than 55 kilometres high into the air. Surprisingly, only a few people (kill), but a huge wave, 35 metres high, (create) by the explosion. Several small islands
(cover) by the wave. 163 villages (destroy) and 36,000 people (drown). Dust (carry) all round the world, and the weather everywhere (affect) for many years afterwards.
Computers:
Now and in the Future
A computer is an electronic device. It makes calculations and processes information. Complicated problems can be solved very quickly. Millions of pieces of information can be processed in seconds. Nowadys, computers are used for many different purposes. Businesses use their computers not only to bill their customers, but also to send information to customers and to communicate with other businesses. In industry, many complicated machines are controlled by computers. Machines that produce chemicals, steel, and hundreds of other products are connected to computers. In transportation, airplanes, ships, and even spacecraft are guided by computers. In science, complicated problems and scientific data are almost always analyzed by computers. Even earthquakes and hurricanes can be predicted by computers. In education, computers are used as teaching machines. In the home, people are buying computers to help them manage their households more efficiently. People can shop, make travel arrangements, and pay their bills using computers right in their own homes.
In the future, computers will be even more widely used in our offices, our homes, and our cars. Developments are being made every day that allow computers to solve more and more complex problems. It has been said by many experts that someday computers will be able to "think" creatively like human beings. For example, someday computers may be able to understand human language and to respond to it. In the near future, sophisticated forms of art and music may also be created by computers. Indeed, some forms of "computer art" and "computer music" have already been produced.
Note: someday = some day (-, )
A. ask and answer questions on the text.
B. Speak about the use of computers.
Dr Lin, the author of "Computers: Now and in the Future", is talking to his wife.
Dr Lin: I have such a busy day today I don't know when I'll be home.
Mrs Lin: Oh, that's right. You have to speak at the High School of Science and Technology today.
Dr Lin: That will be finished by three o'clock. But then I have to go to the office and prepare my notes for my speech at the Computer Society's annual dinner tonight.
Mrs Lin: Well, at least your magazine article has already been written and submitted to your editor. It was due today, wasn't it?
Dr Lin: Yes, at least that's done. In fact, it should be published sometime next month.
Mrs Lin: Do you think you will be given time to eat tonight or will you have to spend the entire evening answering questions?
Dr Lin: I might be asked to speak as soon as everyone sits down for dinner. In that case, I guess I'll be pretty hungry when I get home.
Mrs Lin: Do you have any idea what time you'll be finished?
Dr Lin: None.
Mrs Lin: Well, I'll have something ready for you to eat when you get here. What about transportation?
Dr Lin: That's already been taken care of. The Computer Society is sending a car for me. It's picking me up at the office at six and will bring me home after the meeting.
Note: sometime = some time (-)
A. Ask and answer questions on the text.
B. Give a brief account of the conversation.
C. Roleplay the conversation.
