American houses

Many families in America live in apart­ments, but most people live in their own houses. They say: "There is no place like home".

Americans like to live in large houses. Most Ameri­can houses are of two storeyed. They are comfortable and well-planned.

Downstairs there is a dining-room, a sitting-room, a kitchen and a hall. Upstairs there are bed­rooms, a nursery for the children and a bathroom. There are often two doors in a house: a front door and a back door.

In the American houses next to the kitchen there is a laundry room. This is where Americans wash and dry clothes. They like to have a recre­ation room and a work-out room in the basement.

Americans like grass lawns at the back and in front of the houses. In front of the houses they like to grow flow­ers: roses, tulips, and so on.

At the side of the house there is a ga­rage, where they keep their cars.

Though Americans often move from place to place, from state to state, they value their home and keep saying “Home sweet home”

AN ENGLISHMAN'S HOME IS HIS CASTLE

Everyone in Britain dreams of living in a detached house, which means a separate building. It is usually built of brick and slate. A de­tached house is of "non-classical" shape with a lot of little corners, which make the house very cosy. In front of the house there's always a beautiful garden with smooth lawn. The garage is hidden away so it doesn't spoil the rural feeling.

Every Englishman wants privacy. And a large, detached house not only ensures privacy, but it's also a status symbol. Such a house is a dream for most people. But even a small house with a garden is very dear to the hearts of many people in Britain.

Most people don't like blocks of flats, because they provide the least amount of privacy. Flats are usually much cheaper. (In fact, they're the cheapest kind of home). People who live in them cannot afford to have a house of their own. Their dislike of living in flats is very strong. In 1950s, for example, millions of poor people lived in old, cold, uncomfort­able houses of the 19th century, with no bathroom. But when they were given new blocks of flats to live in, with central heating and bathrooms, more comfortable and cosy they hated their new homes. They felt lonely without their gardens and neighbours.

Flats don't give people enough privacy. People like to choose the colour of their own front door or window frames. Besides, they can have a small garden of their own in front of the house, even if the outside territory is very small. English people usually have flower­beds with paths in between, or just patches of grass to express their in­dividuality.

British houses are thought to be very cold, maybe the coldest in Eu­rope. But it is not so. About 3/4 of houses now have central heating. The most important thing for British people is to feel cosy — that is to create a warm atmosphere (even if it's not warm in the house). In Britain many people have a great desire to have a "real fire". A fireplace is a traditional symbol of warmth. Nowadays, it may be an imitation of open fire with plastic coal. Older houses have two living-rooms. It allows the front room to be used for formal visits while the family spend their time in the back room, hidden from public view. If there is one living-room in the house, then there is a hall into which the front door opens. Private hous­es usually have the back door for family or close friends.

In spite of peoples' great desire to have a house of their own they're not so much attached to the house itself. The house can be easily sold, if necessary and if the price is attractive

? Ex.27. Express your idea of home. What makes a nice home? Is it the furniture? The light? The atmosphere? Write down some ideas.

& Ex.27. Make up dialogues to the following situations.

A. Your flat is in the suburbs of the town. Your friend lives in the centre. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of your two districts.

For ideas: it's a great convenience, to live near the bus-stop, to live in a quiet by-street, to be lined up with trees, a yard, an orchard, it's a long way off, the noise of the traffic, to disturb, fresh air, to take up much/little time, to get, to commute.

B. You're inviting your friend to a house-warming party.

For ideas: to move to a new flat, a multi-storeyed block of flats, take bus N 5 as far as the Garden Street, take the second turn to the left, go as far as the Baker's, lift, fifth floor, a big yard, a children's play-ground, entrance.

C. Interview your friend who's just returned from Great Britain 'about typically British homes.

For ideas: to prefer to live in separate houses; great lovers of nature, to keep pets, comfortable, cosy, garden, to grow flowers, fruit and vegetables, two-storeyed houses, beautiful lawns.

APPENDIX

Дата добавления: 2015-10-24