The Jones family have nine TV sets, six computers, three cars, and every domestic appliance. What would their life be like without them?
When Malcolm Jones woke up last Monday, he heard the birds singing. Not remarkable, you might think, especially given that he lives near a forest. But birdsong in the Jones household is usually drowned by a tidal wave of electronic music crashing around the house as soon as his four children wake up.
This is a family who have chosen to fill their home with every conceivable gadget. They have nine television sets, including one in each bedroom and in the kitchen. All the children have their own personal computers and CD players. Of course, there are all the usual appliances we all take for granted, such as the washing machine, tumble drier, dishwasher, deep freeze, microwave oven, and video recorder, but they also have an electric trouser press, two power showers, an Olympic-sized spa bath and jacuzzi, three cars, and a music system which plays throughout the whole house. What happens if all the props of modern living are removed?
To help us find out, we asked the Joneses to turn back the clock fifty years and to switch off all their labour-saving gadgets and push-button entertainment for three days. We also wanted them to stop using their cars. The family, comprising Malcolm, 48, Carol, 43, and their four children Emma, 17, Richard, 14, Tamsin, 9, and Tom, 7, were not enthusiastic, but everyone, except for Emma, agreed to try. (She coulnt stand the thought of being without the telephone and her car, which she had only just learnt to drive, so she refused point-blank to join in). The other three children were not allowed to use their computers or watch TV. They were banned from opening the freezer to get out fish fingers and oven chips. Malcolm was forbidden to use his electric razor and mobile phone, but allowed to use his car for work. Carol was encouraged to go everywhere on foot or by bicycle (women rarely drove 50 years ago), told to ignore the washing machine and dishwasher, and she was discouraged from using the telephone.
The much-dreaded three days got under way!
Old-fashioned meals, games, and entertainment were planned for the evenings. After eating together at the kitchen table, they sat playing cards, putting off doing the washing-up because they all hated doing that.
Carol was surprised at how long everything took. By the time I had washed up the breakfast things and got back from walking the children to school, it was nearly lunchtime. Getting to the shops, which normally takes five minutes in the car took at least an hour, so it was impossible just to pop out for a loaf of bread. It was strange having to wait until the washing dried in the garden before getting the ironing done, instead of simply using the drier.
Although Carol found it quite difficult to get used to the length of time it took to do things, she enjoyed having a slower, more relaxed pace of life. Also, the lack of electronic entertainment, particularly the TV, had a dramatic effect on the children. They got on much better together and seemed to enjoy each others company more, although they clearly believed that they were suffering. Tamsin even spent some time gazing at the blank TV screen in her bedroom.
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All sorts of things that we had put off doing got done, said Carol. Bikes got mended, rooms tidied, bookshelves sorted, hamsters cleaned out. Tamsin and Tom started to play games together and even read stories to each other.
What Malcolm liked most was the peace.I usually start the day by watching the business news on TV from bed. Then I press the music button while I shower and get dressed. I didnt miss any of this, I just enjoyed hearing the birds singing and chatting to Carol. I think the whole experience did the children a lot of good. If it were my decision now, Id throw all the televisions away.
The children vigorously denied that any good had been done to them. Richard spoke for them all when he said, It was awful. I missed my music, I missed the computer games, and I missed the TV. We had to read books instead!
Carols feelings were the most ambiguous. I enjoyed doing more things together as a family. But as the housewife, I didnt like my day being so full of household chores. When youve got a dishwasher, you stack it as you go through the day and turn it on at night. But you cant leave dirty dishes in the sink all day, so youve got to keep doing the washing. Also, without a phone and a car, I felt really isolated.
All of this just goes to show that, fascinating as the experiment was, you cannot turn the clock back. This is doubtless a big relief to the Jones children!
Comprehension check
Work in groups of three. Read the article again and answer the following questions.
1. What is the first thing the children usually do when they wake up in the morning?
2. What does this family own which is more than the average family owns?
3. What were some of the rules of the experiment for each member of the family?
4. Who refused to join in the experiment? Why? Who enjoyed the experiment most? Why? Who enjoyed it least? Why? Who had mixed feelings? Why?
5. Choose one member of the Jones family and imagine you are him/her. Describe your typical day to the others in your group. Well, the first thing I usually do when I wake up is
Now describe a day for the same person during the experiment. During the experiment, when I woke up I wasnt allowed to, so
Which member of the family is most likely to have said the following?
Why?
a) Theres no way Im going to give up using my car!
b) Its a beautiful morning, isnt it dear?
c) No, I havent ironed your white shirt yet! I havent had the time.
d) Come on! Stop gazing at the blank screen. Lets have a game of Scrabble.
e) Well, Im not doing it! I did it last night. Anyway, I want to mend the puncture on my bike.
f) Damn! I forgot to buy sugar!
g) If it were up to me, Id throw the lot out!
h) Personally, I think life was much harder fifty years ago.
i) Never again! That was the longest three days of my life!
PART V
HOUSEHUNTING
& Reading
Read the text and think of a title for it. Be ready to discuss it.
No visitors to Britain can help being struck by a big number of building sites and a relatively large number of new houses and flats that he sees in the suburbs of towns and cities all over the country but especially in the South-East and Midlands of England. The overwhelming majority of these dwellings are two-storey houses, built either in rows (terraced houses), in pairs (semi-detached houses), or singly (detached houses), with a small enclosed garden at the front and the back. In recent years a considerably higher proportion of new housing has been in the form of flats and block of flats have now become a common feature of the urban scene. Nevertheless, the traditional British prejudice in favour of houses has only been modified, not fundamentally changed. An increasing number of people, chiefly elderly and childless, prefer to live in bungalows.
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As it was implied above most of the residential areas and housing estates have been built on the outskirts of towns and cities, well away from the industrial estates with their factory buildings, warehouses, power stations and railway sidings, and also at a considerable distance from the town or city centres. In the inner parts of many British industrial towns and cities large areas of slums still continue to exist, however. In addition, almost every older town contains large areas of shabby monotonous and depressing terraced houses which are only slightly better than the official slums themselves.
Despite all the buildings that have taken place since the war, there is still an acute shortage in many parts of Britain, particularly in the expanding centres of the Midlands and the South-East. The housing problem is not simply a matter of the shortage of decent houses, however. The essence of the problem in contemporary Britain is that housing becomes a source of profit for financiers, landowners and builders. Houses and flats are commodities and are bought and sold like other commodities.
Broadly speaking, three main alternatives are open to a family seeking a home in contemporary Britain: they may rent a house or a flat from a private landlord; they may rent a publicly-owned council house or flat; or they may buy a house of their own, usually on a mortgage. Of course, millions of families prefer to buy a house, though the burden of mortgage repayments is very heavy.
A person looking for a place to live is free to choose, but only between several different ways of being exploited. Whichever alternative he chooses, whether he is a private or a council tenant or an owner-occupier, he pays dearly for the privilege of having a roof over his head.
Answer the following questions:
1. What dwellings are the overwhelming majority in Britain? What has become a common feature of the urban scene in recent years?
2. Who prefers to live in bungalows? Why?
3. Where have most of the residential areas and housing estates been built?
4. What continues to exist in the inner parts of British industrial towns?
5. What has become a source of profit for financiers? Why?
6. What alternatives are open to a family seeking a home in Britain?
Exercise 1
Look through the text and find synonyms to the given words and word combinations:
a) in the suburbs f) lack of
b) housing estate g) the bigger part
c) modern h) having no children
d) option i) looking for
e) mainly j) convenience
Exercise 2
Give the English equivalents to the words and phrases below. Be ready to use them in the sentences of your own:
, , , , , , , , .
Exercise 3
Stages in building a house. Put these stages in the right order and then match them with the expressionson the left.
1. First, a. The drains are dug.
2. Then, b. The materials are bought.
3. Meanwhile, c. The house is painted.
4. Subsequently, d. The walls are built.
5. At this stage, e. The site is purchased.
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6. Next, f. The site is levelled.
7. Afterwards, g. The foundations are laid.
8. Then, h. The house is ready to live in.
9. Later, i. The roof is put on.
10. Eventually, j. The doors and windows are put in.
11. Finally, k.The electricity and water systems are installed.
Exercise 4
Buying a house. Put each of the following words or phrases into its correct place in the passage below.
Buyer, document, lawyer, price, purchaser, terms, contract, fixtures, legal, proof of ownership, seller, time, deposit, information, possession, property, signs.
BUYING A HOUSE
When a ____ has chosen the house he wants, he has a ____ draw up a contract. This ____ states the ____ definition of the ____, gives the purchase ____, and demands ____ from the present owner. It also includes other important ____, such as the ____ that are to remain in the house and the ____ when the ____ will take ____.
The buyer pays a ____ when he ____ the ____. The deposit binds the ___ to the ____ of the contract.
Exercise 5
Rewrite the following advertisement in its full form.
Mod. det. hse., immac. cond. 3 gars. 5 beds., 3 receps., 2 fully tiled baths.+sep. wcs; lge. fit. kit.18´9 ft., dble sink; lux. lnge. Gas CH/ chw; dble. glaz. Curts., fit. cpts. included. Landscd. gdn., swim. pool. Few mins., stn., bus, $150,000.
Exercise 6
Choose the correct answer.
1. The best person to approach if you are house-hunting is an estate ...
a) agent b) clerk c) official d) representative
2. The only .. of the flat is that its a bit too small.
a) complaint b) disadvantage c) mistake d) sorry
3. The for the flat is $70 a week.
a) due b) fee c) hire d) rent
4. .. a flat with someone is cheaper than living on your own.
a) Dividing b) Halving c) Parting d) Sharing
5. There are several landladies approved by the university who take in ..
a) inhabitants b) lodgers c) residents d) settlers
6. The landlord requires a $50 . from tenants to cover possible damage.
a) bail b) deposit c) security d) tip
Listening
Listen to the recording and decide which of the following statements are true and which are false.
A NEW HOUSE
1. At first Guys family thought to rent a house in the outlying district.
2. Guy will be doing nothing but working hard while his family is in Scotland.
3. Guy needs a house without any gardens because he doesnt like gardening.
4. Children left at 8 p.m. and they will be back at 9 a.m.
5. They dont want to have a modern house.
6. While Mr Hunt has been shaving, Mrs Hunt has been making a list of things inside the house.
7. Simon thinks that the best way is to buy a farm because he likes animals and their family is rich enough.
8. Jane has been sleeping in her room as she feels bad.
9. They are not able to have an old house built.
10. While children are enjoying their stay in Scotland, Mrs Hunt will be looking after Mr Hunt.
& Reading
Just what were looking for!
I left the hotel today at eight oclock for an early appointment with the agent, who yesterday assured me he has found me just the house were looking for. When I arrived he looked less convinced than I did. Even at that time of the morning, I was already irritable and despondent as I arrived at the first address. At first I walked past the house. Where it should have been a garden was a wilderness of trees and overgrown grass. Then out of the green darkness stepped the agent. Ah, there you are! Its here, he said. I stepped in through the broken-down gate, and walked up the dusty garden path. It immediately felt cooler and calmer. The agent rattled a large bunch of keys, and tried several in the door, talking to himself all the time, before he exclaimed, Ah!
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We let ourselves in and walked into a deliciously cool, but dusty house. I went into a gloomy living room downstairs and switched on the light, but nothing happened. The agent heard me clicking the switch and said, Ah! No good. The switch needs mending. Ill have an electrician repair it immediately. I peered into the darkness and made out the shape of a window on the far side. The agent walked over to the window and threw open the peeling shutters, and the sunlight streamed in. A rather faded sofa and two battered armchairs sat around an open fireplace which hinted at log fires in winter. The curtains were stripy but more or less in shreds. Outside there was a terrace and beyond the trees, the dense undergrowth, the tall grass and wild plants that were once the garden, were the mountains in the distance. I walked through into what must have been a kitchen, but only recognisable because of the antiquated equipment which I last saw during a visit to local museum. I turned on the tap, and once again, nothing happened. The water needs to be reconnected. Well get the plumber to do it. Its no problem, the agent said. Upstairs there were two bedrooms and a bathroom with low ceilings and which were, despite being hidden in the roof, still quite cool. The bathroom had no bath and not much room, but a beautiful view over the garden. The basin was filthy with dirt of the years during which the place had been unoccupied. I sat on the brass bed in the dusty bedroom, and looked round, thinking, not bad, not bad at all. In my mind, I could see the house with new curtains and carpets, our own furniture, which had been in store for several months, books on the shelves, beds made up, lengthy lunches on the terrace, endless summers and warm winters. I could do most of the work myself.
I went downstairs and the agent looked at me hopefully. It was worth the lengthy search, the dusty visits to endless houses, the depressing inspections of grim flats, to see his smile when I said to him, Its just what were looking for.
! Writing
Imagine that you have bought a house. Write a letter to your friend and describe it. Tell him/her about the house, the place it is situated in, the conveniences, etc. Invite him/her to visit your place.
Exercise 7
Some people went to a real-estate agent to find a new home. Read the descriptions from the estate agents brochure. Which of these homes were they interested in? Match the estate agents descriptions with the right person or family.
| a) This is an attractive terraced house with two floors, close to shops and underground station. Children welcome. | c) A detached house with plenty of garage space and a garden this is an opportunity not to be missed. |
| b) A beautifully-situated bungalow which has a garden attached | d) This small flat has its own balcony and is situated on the fourth floor of a residential block |
1. Mr and Mrs Dawson are both retired. Their children are married and have left home. Mr Dawson wants to move to a house that has a garden and Mrs Dawson wants a house without any stairs.
2. Tina has been sharing a house with some friends. She would like to be more independent, but she cant afford a house.
3. Stephanie and Nigel got married in March. Theyre expecting their first baby at the end of the year. They cant afford a big house, but they dont want a flat.
4.The Clifford family have been living in a semi-detached house, but now they need something bigger. They have four children as well as a dog and a cat.
Exercise 8
Read the housing ads and the notices for roommates. Then choose one of the places and write a notice advertising for a roommate to share it with you.
| WEST SIDE. Lrg sunny 1 BR apt. Kitchen, bath. 2 flr walkup. $400+1 mo sec dep. Immediate occ. |
| DOWNTOWN. Furn 2 BR apt w/kitchen, din rm, 1 bath. W/w crpt, frplc, balc. Elevator bldg. Avail Febr. $700+util. 679-9842 eves. |
| BEDFORD. 3 BR, 1 bath apt. Nr transp+shops. Avail immediately. $300 including util. 481-8769. |
| NEAR UNIVERSITY: Small 2-rm apt w/bath. No pets or children. Laun in basement. Quiet. $ 250. 323-1465 anytime. |
| SUNNYSIDE. 2-story, 3 BR house avail for Feb occ. 2 baths, liv rm, din rm, kitchen. Indoor pkng avail. 40 min to centre of town. $900/mo. 524-1773. |
ABBREVIATION KEY
Apt apartment sec dep security deposit
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Avail available lrg - large
Bath bathroom transp - transportation
Bldg building mo - month
BR bedroom nr - near
Util utilities occ - occupancy
Eves evenings pkng - parking
Flr floor w/ - with
Frplc fireplace w/w wall to wall
Furn furnished laun laundry
ROOMMATE WANTED
Responsible professional woman seeks woman to share rent and utilities of
2 bath apt., Fisher St. Area. No pets. Rent $350.
Phone Gloria
(after 5 pm) 784-6321
HOUSE TO SHARE
Male grad student, non-smoker, is looking for 2 rommates to share old East Side house. Modern kitchen and bath. Quiet, residential neighborhood, near bus. $230/mo+util.
Glenn 576-9856 (keep trying)
! Now write your own notice. ____________
Group Discussion: Finding a Flat or House
Discuss these questions with your group.
1. Why are some flats and houses more expensive than others?
2. In most parts of the United States the kitchen is considered a room but the bathroom isnt. A three-room apartment is an apartment with a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room and a bedroom. What is a four-room apartment? How are rooms counted in our country?
3. What is a lease? Have you ever had to sign a lease when you rented a flat? What were the terms?
4. What is a deposit? Have you ever had to put down a deposit when renting a flat? How much? What was it for?
5. How do people find flats and houses in our country?
Community Activity: Looking at Ads in the Newspaper
Bring in the local newspaper and practise reading more ads for flats and houses. How many other abbreviations can you find? What do they mean?
Exercise 9
Renting a flat. Rewrite the advertisement in its full form.
A lux. sgl. furn. flt w/gdn. 1 rm., k. & b. C. H. Cpts., Col. T.V., tel., fridge, ckr., h/c. $180 p.m. Refs. rqd. Avail. mid. Apr. Tel: 01-678-1234 Evgs after 7.
Listening
A man is phoning to find out the information about an apartment for rent. Fill in the answers to his questions on the checklist.
| Call about apt. in Gazette 1. No. bedrooms: 2. Rent: 3. Includes: heat? electricity? 4. What floor: 5. Elevator? 6. Washers/dryers in bld.? 7. Near shopping? 8. Quiet bld.? 9. Address: 10. Who to see: 11. Time: 12. Other info: |
Speaking
Partners Interview: Your Landlord
Ask your partner these questions. Report your interview to the group.
1. Do you know your landlord (landlady)? What is his/her name?
2. Does your landlord live in the same house as you?
3. Does your landlord take good care of the building?
4. Have you ever had any problems with your landlord? What were they? What happened?
5. Does your building have a superintendent? What does he do? Do you know him? Does he help you sometimes?
6. Is your building in good condition? Why or why not?
Group Problem Solving: Problems with Your Landlord
Read these situations. Decide on a solution. Report your solutions to the group.
1. The tenant cant pay his rent in time, but the landlord wants the money to pay utility bills.
2. The tenant wants to nail bookcase shelves to the living room walls. The landlord doesnt want nails in the walls.
3. The tenant hates the neighbours. He wants to break his lease and move. The landlord says No.
4. Its May 25 and its cold. The landlord turned off the heat on May 15. The tenant wants the heat turned on.
5. The landlord is raising the rent again. He says taxes and utilities are more expensive. The tenant says he cannot pay more rent.
6. The stairs are broken. The tenant wants them fixed. The landlord says he cannot find a carpenter.
Exercise 10
Choose the most suitable word for each space.
When I first arrived here to take up my new job, I stayed in a hotel, but I soon started looking for some permanent (1) . The first flat I (2) over was in (3) , and was obviously extremely damp in winter. Quite apart from the fact that the only (4) was of a brick wall. Then I had a look at a small flat in a modern (5) . It had a (6) space and a garden, but the (7) was far too high for me. I didnt want to (8) up in a tiny place, so I answered an ad for house-sharing. The house was in a quiet (9) , and as soon as I saw it I fell in love with it. There was a high overgrown (10) around the front garden, and (11) to park cars in the drive. The room to (12) looked out (13) the back garden, and had a big bay window. Although it meant (14) the kitchen and living room, I did have my own bathroom, really just a shower and washbasin (15) into what must have once been a cupboard.
1. A) home B) accommodation C) house D) landlords
2. A) passed B) viewed C) came D) looked
3. A) an attic B) a basement C) a cave D) a bedsit
4. A) view B) entrance C) distance D) bathroom
5. A) tower B) department C) block D) square
6. A) living B) breathing C) working D) parking
7. A) lift B) roof C) area D) rent
8. A) end B) live C) shut D) pay
9. A) surroundings B) neighbourhood C) context D) premises
10. A) fence B) bush C) hedge D) lawn
11. A) room B) permission C) areas D) place
12. A) let B) myself C) pay D) luckily
13. A) in B) over C) at D) for
14. A) without B) in C) sharing D) having
15. A) poured B) crowded C) cluttered D) crammed
& Reading and! writing
Read the advertisement for a house swap.
| SWAP HOUSES? Our house is free in January. Its next to the beach in Westport. Sleeps 6. All modern conveniences. Write to: Suni and Barry De Millo, Box 61, Palmerstone, New Zealand. |
Here is a letter asking Suni and Barry some questions about their house. Complete the gaps and add one or two questions. Suni and Barry write and give you some information about their house. They also ask questions about your house or flat. Write a letter of reply. Start like this.
| Dear Suni and Barry, Your house next to the beach sounds great! Can I ask a few questions about it? Has it got a large kitchen? Is there a fridge? How many bedrooms has it got? Is there a for the car? Have you got a television? ? ..? Im sorry to ask so many questions! I hope to hear from you soon. Goodbye for now, (your name) |
| Dear Suni and Barry, Thank you for your letter and all the answers about your house. Here is some information about my house to help you .. See you soon, |
PART VI
A HOUSE OF MY DREAM
Are you proud of the house you live in? If the answer is Yes, then you are really a lucky person. But very often it happens so that people dont like the houses they live in. Thats why in their dreams they often have an image of an ideal house, the house of their dreams.
What is the house of your dream?- it is a question that several people were asked and here are their answers.
& Reading
Read the following texts and do the exercises after them.
IRENE: For me, its absolutely easy to say what my idea of a perfect house is. Ive been dreaming about it since my childhood. I was brought up in such a house. This is the house my parents have. My house should be my home, first of all. I mean it should be the place where I feel comfortable and welcome. I dream about a cosy house in a centre of a small quiet town, not very big but large enough for me and my family. I think it should be a house with three bedrooms, a kitchen, a sitting room, and a big dining room with a large table. I like to have guests and to treat them to something tasty thats what I need a big dining room for. I would also like to have a small garden with flowers and fruit trees, with an arbour and some comfortable benches. There should also be a lawn and a playing yard for children. Id also like to have a fireplace in the house to sit around it with my husband and children. Isnt it great?
NATALY: Well, let me think about my ideal house. It should be large, first of all. a mansion. I think, somewhere in an isolated place, two or three-storeyed building with a balcony, columns and the things like that. Its even better if it looks like a castle with towers and gates and high walls. Its so romantic! Plenty of rooms, staircases, attic and basement. It would be great if it was a real old house where ghosts lived, like in fairy-tales. I could feel there a princess. But there should be, of course, all those modern conveniences like central heating, electricity, cold and hot water, gas and telephone. The furniture should be also ancient, expensive and dark. And Ill have two Doberman dogs, of course. Itll add much to the style. There should be something mysterious about it. Yes, I think thats the house of my dream, the place Id like to live in. Isnt it great?
JANE: A house Id like to live in? No, Id better call it a flat. If you have a house of your own you have to take care of it. Its easier to live in a flat, somewhere in the centre of a city, in a skyscraper on the top floor. Well, yes, I think itll be fantastic! It should be very large: a bedroom, a kitchen, a toilet, a bathroom and a large living room. There should be enough place for parties. I like to have parties with dancing, music and snacks. The more people come the better. So Ill need plenty of space for guests. There should also be as much kitchen equipment as possible to save my time and effort. Im not much of a hostess. If I had a flat like that Id be really happy, wouldnt I?
GEORGE: A house of my dream? Well, it would be a farm or rancho, I think. Itll be situated near a forest, a river or a lake. You know, I like nature. The house should be a simple one, not very big, but with a large yard and fields around. I dont need all the modern conveniences, as I wont spend much time in there. Id like to have some cottages or cabins also to have some rest when I get tired. There should be a garden also to grow fruit and vegetables. But the main thing is the cattle-yard, the place I can keep cows, sheep, horses and pigs. I like animals and I like to take care of them. There should also be five or seven dogs to live with me. Dogs are my favourite animals: they are so clever and kind! And thats practically all I want. Nature, animals and serenity these are the only things I long for. Isnt it terrific!
Exercise 1
Now look at the pictures of the houses below and say who wants to live in such houses: Irene, Nataly, Jane or George. Can you explain why you think so?
Exercise 2
Fill in the missing phrases to complete the following ideas about housing.
Irene has been dreaming about _______________.
Irene thinks that her house should be her home where she ____________.
Irene wants to live in ___________ with ____________.
Irene likes to have guests and to _____________.
Irene wants to have a ___________ near her house.
Nataly dreams about a house which looks like a _________with _______.
Nataly wants to live in a house with modern conveniencies like ________.
The furniture in Natalys house should be __________.
Jane doesnt want to live in a ________, but she dreams about a _______ in a _________.
Jane wants to have a large flat: __________.
There should be a lot of place for _________ in Janes flat.
Jane is not very much of a ______, thats why she wants to have as much ________ as possible.
George would like to live in a _________.
George wants his house to be surrounded by ________.
The main thing in Georges house is a ________ with _________.
Georges favourite animals are _________, because they are ________.
Exercise 3
Read the following advertisements of different real estate companies which offer houses and apartments for rent and sale. Which advertisement do you think would be suitable for Irene, Nataly, Jane and George. Tell about it and explain why you think so. Use the following model to tell about it.
I (dont) think that would choose the advertisement , which advertises , because she/ he wants to live in .
Exercise 4
Choose from the advertisements above that will suit you better. And tell why you would use the advertisement to buy or rent a house or flat.
& Reading
Are you interested in the way other people live? Do the puzzle and find it out. These houses belong to famous people. Can you guess whose house each one is?
CHERS house is big and white. Its in a beautiful valley in California and there are lots of palm trees everywhere. Theres a large verandah on one side of the house. This house has a flat roof.
MICK JAGGER has several homes. This is a very grand house in the country somewhere in Oxfordshire. Its called Stargrove. Its a very old stone house and it looks like a castle with all its big towers.
ELVIS PRESLEYS house is called Graceland. His mothers name was Grace. Now its a museum and a place of pilgrimage for Elviss fans. It has white stone lions near the front steps and a very classical facade with white columns and steps up to the front door.
TINA TURNERS house is in London. Its a classical house with four storeys. It has a basement and a small balcony at the front. The windows on the ground floor are in the shape of arches.
MICHAELS house is in London. Its a very modern style. Its an unusual house because the garage is up at the top of the house and the living space is underneath. Many of its windows are in the roof.
GLORIA ESTEFANS house is on an island in Miami called Star Island. It has a red tiled roof. Most of the house is on just two storeys. It has a swimming pool, palm trees, lawns, and a small jetty where she keeps her powerboat.
Speaking
Now say what house is your favourite of all from mentioned above. Explain why you would like to live in such a house.
Chainword
Would you like to get to know the most popular British proverb about houses? Do the chainword and find it out. Remember that in chainwords the last letter of one word is the first letter of the next word. Write out the letters from the darkened boxes and make a word of them to complete the famous English proverb.
1. ѳ 13.
2. 14.
3. 15. ʳ
4. , 16.
5. 17.
6. 18.
7. 19.
8. 20. ,
9. ³ 21.
10. 22.
11. 23.
12. 24. г
Exercise 1
Have you found out the famous English proverb? What is it? Why do you think Englishmen call their homes castles? Is it because:
they want to live there alone?
they let nobody in?
they feel safe in there?
it looks like a castle?
Suggest some more reasons for that. Would you call your house a castle? Why or why not?
Exercise 2
Some people say that its possible to say what kind of person you are if they know what your house looks like. Do you agree with it? Do you think that its really possible? Why or why not?
Exercise 3
What can you say about Irene, Nataly, Jane and George taking into consideration their ideas about the houses of their dreams? Tell your groupmates about it and listen to their ideas. Do you share the same ideas or not? Who do you think is right?
& Reading
Read the article and do the exercises, which follow it.
DOME SWEET DOME!
Weather-proof, solar-powered and no housework to speak of!!!
Just imagine a house which cleaned itself, where robots prepared the meals, where dusting, ironing and vacuum-cleaning were the things of the past. Imagine the house heated and powered by the energy equivalent to just one gas cooker ring, the house in which you could actually go skiing Science fiction? Science fact!
The Home of the Future will be built indoors, for a start. Small groups of houses will nestle under gigantic glass domes surrounded by lush trees and shrubs. Tropical birds may flit across the roof-tops in the constant, computer-controlled warmth.
The house itself will be any style or size you fancy. Being indoors, it will need only a tiny amount of energy to heat. Much power will come from solar panels in the dome the round roof.
Forget front door keys. Your door will be opened as soon as it hears the voice it recognises. Your space-age butler the ultimate computer will oversee security. This discreet electronic servant will control everything, from temperature, humidity and lightning to household gadgets and cleaning chores. Hell pay bills and order food, making sure its delivered to your door. Hell book your holidays, order library books, even help you with the crossword!
Having a party? Make the living room larger by moving the walls. After your guests leave make it smaller again. Push a button and the walls will move backwards or forwards.
Youll be able to see what your guests are wearing before they arrive by calling them up on a video-phone in the hall. And the washing? Simply place it in the integrated laundry until it comes out ready to wear, thanks to the new, easy-care fabrics. What, no electric sockets? Instead each room will have a power wall where you will be able to attach electric appliances.
Gone, too, will be the good old-fashioned duster the air will be filtered and then scented with your favourite perfumes.
There will be plenty of room for fun! The leisure room door will be the entrance to a world full of endless adventure. When you get bored, simulators will provide any experience from canoeing to parachuting and skiing.
The garden will be in the loft. Roof will be made of glass. This will allow flower borders, shrubs and lawns to grow well in that wasted space we normally use for rubbish.
Love them or loathe them, such homes of the future are on their way.
Exercise 4
Find the word in the article which means:
| a) very big b) fly lightly and quickly c) like d) be in control of | e) uninteresting jobs f) space inside the roof g) hate very much |
Speaking
Would you like to live in the house described? Give your reasons.
DESIGNING A DREAM HOME
Part A. Form a group of two or three. You are a team of well-known architects. Sally Star (an actress who makes exercise videotapes) wants you to design a new Hollywood home for her. Draw a plan of the house in the lot below.
Here is some information about Sally.
She hates street noise.
She loves a view of water.
She has many dinner parties.
She likes to exercise.
She is the president of Californians for Clean Air.
She wants a one-storey house.
She has two children, Jill(5) and Bill(9).
Her children like to have friends over.
Her parents live with her.
She has many, many clothes.
Use the following phrases.
Making suggestion
Lets put her bedroom here next to the pond.
Lets make a big closet in her bedroom.
The kitchen should look out on the
street / pond.
Expressing need
She needs a big dining room.
She needs a family room for the kids.
She doesnt need a large kitchen.
Part B. On your own, design and draw a plan of your dream house below. Think about these questions.
How many bedrooms do you want /need?
How many bathrooms do you want /need?
Do you need a big kitchen?
Do you want a family room?
Do you want an extra room for a hobby or sport?
Where will you put each room? Why?
Show your design to a partner when you finish. Explain why this house is perfect for you.
REVISION TOPICS
1. East or West home is best.
The outside of my house.
