Acquiring communicaiton skills

1.

A: What’s your idea of the perfect flat?

B: What a question! My perfect flat would be impossible.

A: Tell me anyway.

B: Okay. My perfect flat would be big, with high ceilings. It would have a round living room. The living room would be almost all windows and there would be a round balcony outside. But of course, nobody could look into my flat.

A: Why not?

B: Because this is a dream. The kitchen would be very big, with a big table in the middle. There would also be a sofa in the kitchen, and maybe some comfortable chairs, so that you can hang out there. In the bathroom there would be both a shower and a bathtub. The bathtub would be deep enough to sit in up to your neck.

A: What else?

B: Bedrooms. One for me, one for my best friend, one for my boyfriends, and one for visitors.

A: That sounds wonderful, one for my best friends, one for my boyfriends, and one for visitors. But it probably is impossible.

2. A Real Bargain

Mr. Palmer is looking for a new house. He's tired of living in the city and he wants to live in a quiet village. He's with the estate agent now.

Estate Agent: Well, Mr. Palmer. This is the semi-detached house that I told you about... Number 26, Richmond Road. The owners are away, but I've got a key.

Mr. Palmer: Hmm... when was it built?

A.: It was built in 1928.

P.: Who built it?

A.: I'm not really sure. Is it important?

P.: No, not really. Is that a new roof? It looks new.

A.: It is really new. It was put on last year. You can see that it's in very good condition. The previous owner was a builder.

P.: It's quite an old house. I'm worried about the electrical wiring. Has it been rewired?

A.: Yes, it has.

P.: Oh, when was it done?

A.: Five years ago. Also, it's been redecorated. Central heating has been put in, and a new garage has been built.

P.: Oh, when was it done?

A.: Last year... I think. It's a very solid house. It's built with a tiled roof...

P.: It's a long way from a big town. What are the services like?

A: Hold on... I've got the details here. Yes... let me see... the dustbins are emptied every Thursday.

P.: It's important for me to see the post before I go to work. When is it delivered?

A.: It's usually delivered at about 7.30. The milk is delivered about six o'clock... so you'll have fresh milk for breakfast.

P.: It's certainly very cheap. I've seen a lot of similar houses... and they're more expensive.

A: Ah, yes... it's a real bargain.

P.: Are there any plans for the area?

A.: Pardon? Plans... well, a new school is going to be built in the village next year...

P.: Anything else?

A:... and a new road, a motorway actually, will be built next year, too. You'll be able to get to London easily.

P.: Where exactly will the motorway be built?

A.: Well, actually, it'll be built behind the house. A bridge will be constructed over the house. It'll be very interesting. You'll be able to watch the traffic...

3.

Marylin: Where should we look for a house, Mrs. Martinelli?

Virginia: Well, we have an office in Mount Kisko. It's a lovely area, and it's only about an hour's drive from here. (She takes out a book of photos). Here I have a book with photos of some homes in that area. Now, let's see here. This is a lovely two-bedroom house in your price range.

M.: It's pretty, but I prefer a two-storey home.

Richard: I do, too. I don't care for a ranch type.

V.: OK. (She turns the pages of the real-estate book.) Oh, this is a wonderful house. I know it well. I sold it to the present owners.

R.: It looks wonderful.

V.: This is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom house. It has a full basement, and it is on a half-acre lot. You can probably afford this one.

M.: I like this house.

R.: So do I.

V.: And the price is right. Would you like to go to see it?

R.: Yes. We're planning to talk to someone at the bank next week. Perhaps we could see the house this weekend.

V.: If someone doesn't buy it before then. But let's keep looking, just to get an idea of some other possibilities.

R.: This is very helpful, Mrs. Martinelli.

V.: Here. This is a wonderful exampleof Spanish-style architecture.

R.: Oh, I love the roof tiles on a Spanish-style house.

M.: It looks like the houses in Hollywood.

V.: It's interesting. A house like this in Riverdale costs double the price. (She turns the pages of the book.) Oh, my! Here's a real buy. It's a bargain. This house just came on the market.

M.: It's quite lovely. Is it a two-bedroom house?

V.: No, it has three bedrooms and three baths. I know the house. It has a brand new kitchen. And a living room with a 12-foot ceiling. And there's a 2-car garage.

R.: Then why don't we go to look at the house, too?

V.: It's a good investment.

R.: Thank you, Mrs. Martinelli.

M.: Thanks so much.

V.: My pleasure. Give my best regards to your parents.

4.

A: I hear you have moved to a new apartment, Steve. Is it true?

B: Yes, it is. One of these days we'll arrange a housewarming party. And I want you and your wife Carol to be present.

A: Thank you for the invitation. How do you like your new apartment?

B: It is very comfortable. It is a three-bedroom apartment with modern conveniences: electric stove and a lot of built-in cupboards.

A: On what floor is it?

B: Our apartment is on the tenth floor of a high-rise dwelling house. We've got two elevators which work round o'clock.

A: Is it far from the centre of the city?

B: Rather. It takes me about an hour to get to the centre by bus and by underground. If I drive a car, it takes me thirty minutes.

A: I see. Have you bought any new furniture?

B: We've bought wall units, two armchairs and a new ice-box. We are planning to buy two carpets and a dining-set these days.

A: Good luck!

B: Thanks. Are you going to move to a new apartment?

A: No, we are not. We have been living in our two-room apartment for about eight years and we don't want to move anymore.

B: Your apartment is comfortable, isn't it?

A: Yes, quite. My wife arranged everything very nicely and I like it very much. We don't have much furniture, but we have got everything we need.

B: I'm glad to hear it. See you at the party then.

A: See you. Bye.

___ It must face South.

___ It must have a lot of natural light.

___ It must have nice views/ nice location.

___ It must be near the countryside.

___ I prefer a house to a flat.

___ It must have amenities nearby (parks, mountains, culture or sports centres,

etc.).

___ I want my privacy.

___ I would not live in a tough area (=with a high level of criminal activities).

___ My flat has to be in the city centre.

1) Inside the house, the most important thing for me is... because …

2) The main thing I hate/ love about my house/ flat is … because …

3) My favoutite gadget is … because …

4) Home is …

5) The amenities I cannot imagine my life without are … because …

6) We mostly need a house to …

7) The things I would do at home and not elsewhere are …

8) My favourite place at home is … because …

1. Where do you live?

2. Do you live in a detached house or in a block of flats? If you live in a block of flats – is it made of brick, panel, or cast?

3. Is there a garden in front of your house?

4. What is there next to your house?

5. Is your house far from a bus stop/ underground?

6. What floor is your flat on?

7. What modern conveniences are there in your flat/ house?

8. Is your flat/ house large or small?

9. How many rooms are there in your flat/ house? What are they?

10. Which is the biggest room in your flat/ house?

11. How is your living room furnished?

12. Do you often get together in your living-room?

13. In what room do you receive guests?

14. Where do you keep your clothes?

15. Where do you keep your books?

16. Where do you usually have meals?

17. Are you happy with your flat/ house?

I live in a new nine-storeyed block of flats in Pushkin Street. Our house is of modern design. There's a big grocery on the ground floor and it's very convenient to do everyday shopping. In front of the house there is a children's playground and a small garden. We like to spend time there.

Our flat is on the third floor. It is very comfortable. We have all modern conveniences, such as central heating, air conditioning, electricity, gas, cold and hot running water and a telephone. There are three rooms in our flat: a living room and two bedrooms. We also have a kitchen, a bathroom, a small entrance hall and two balconies (the second floor hasn't got any).

Our living room is the largest in the flat. It is nicely furnished. Against the wall you can see a nice sideboard. In the corner there is a colour TV set. In the opposite corner there is a sofa and two armchairs. The piano is on the right. There are two pictures above the piano. Near it there is a bookcase. We are fond of books and have plenty of them at home. On the floor we have a nice thick carpet. The curtains on the window match the walls. All this makes the room cosy.

Our bedrooms are also very nice and cosy. The parents' bedroom is larger than the children's. There are two beds, a bedside table, some chairs and a wardrobe in it. There is a lovely carpet on the floor between the beds.

The children's bedroom is just across the corridor on the right. Here you can see two sofa-beds where my sister and I sleep at night and have a rest in the day-time. There is also a writing-table, two chairs and some bookshelves here. We use our bedroom as a study where we do our homework. In the corner of the room there is a small table with a tape-recorder on it. We all enjoy listening to music.

Our kitchen is rather large. There is a gas-stove, a microwave oven, four stools, a refrigerator and a cupboard in which we keep cups, plates and all our dishes. The kitchen serves us as a dining-room. But when we receive guests or have our family celebrations we have the meals in the living-room.

The bathroom is near the kitchen. Here we keep our toilet articles, have a bath and a shower.

The entrance hall is small. There is a hall-stand and a mirror on the wall. A telephone is on a special table under the mirror.

We are happy to have such a nice flat and try to keep it clean.

---

Дата добавления: 2015-10-26