UNIT 4.
GRAMMAR.
Study the Language Summary (G4.1) on p. 121 in your Student’s
Book.
I. Past Simple vs. Past Continuous.
1. Complete the text with the verbs in the box (there is one verb too many). You
will need five past progressives and three simple pasts.
ask
come
dance
order
play throw
grin
hold
not dance
On the dance floor half a dozen couples (1) themselves around. Most of
them (2) cheek to cheek, if dancing is the word. The men wore white tuxedos and
the girls wore bright eyes, ruby lips, and tennis or golf muscles. One couple (3)
cheek to cheek. Mitchell's mouth was open, he (4), his face was red and shiny,
and his eyes had that glazed look. Betty (5) her head as far as she could get away
from him without breaking her neck. It was very obvious that she had had about
all of Mr Larry Mitchell that she could take.
A Mexican waiter in a short green jacket and white pants with a green
stripe down the side (6) up and I (7) a double Gibson and (8) if I could have a
club sandwich. Raymond Chandler: Playback
2. Complete each paragraph with one set of verbs, using the past simple or past
continuous.
miss /not get / wonder break / see / steal / teach
come / listen / make / say
explain / talk / understand
1. We (1) ......................to music when one of the neighbours (2) ...... to the door
and (3) .......................... she couldn't sleep because we (4) ........ too much noise.
2. Someone (5)…..….into Barbara's office and (6).................... her computer
yesterday afternoon while she (7)………her history class. No one
(8)............................. the thief.
3. Because he never (9)……..anything very clearly, none of us (10)……..
what the science teacher (11) ................ about most of the time.
4. I'm sorry. I (12) .................. here on time and I (13) ............. the beginning of
your presentation, but I (14) .................. if you might have an extra handout left.
NB. Other uses of the Past Continuous.
- We use the Past Continuous to emphasise the temporary character of the action:
e.g. When I learned to drive, I was living with my parents.
- We use the Past Continuous with verbs describing change and development:
e.g. She was feeling much better after the surgery.
- We use the Past Continuous to speak about something that happens surprisingly
often and to complain about annoying habits (See Unit 2):
e.g. When the builders were here I was making them cups of tea all the time.
He was always making snide remarks about my cooking. (other possible adverbs
are constantly, continually, forever).
- We can use either the Past Continuous or the Past Simple to talk about things we
intended to do but didn’t:
e.g. We were meaning/ meant to call in and see you, but Jane wasn’t feeling well.
3. Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the past simple in one
space and the past continuous in the other.
come - show
get—go
hope - give
live - spend
look - see
start - check in
1. Just as I was............... into the bath all the lights ……...... off.
2. I ……….to go away this weekend, but my boss ................ me some work that I
have to finish by Monday.
3. When I ..................... in Paris, I .............. three hours a day travelling to and
from work.
4. A friendly American couple ..............chatting to him as he ........... at the hotel
reception.
5. I bumped into Mary last week. She ........... a lot better than when I last ........ her.
6. My boss...................... into the office just as I .......... everyone my holiday
photos.
This time, use the same tense in both spaces.
add - taste
go off - light
not listen - explain
push - run
not watch - dream
8. The smoke alarm .................. when he............... a cigarette underneath it.
9. I can't remember how to answer this question. I must confess that
I………while the teacher ......... it to us.
10. She .................... more salt to the soup, and then it ....... much better.
11. Although the television was on, I ........... it. Instead I .............. about my
holidays.
12. She .................... open the door and ............. into the room.
5. Complete this text with either the past simple or the past continuous form of
the verbs in brackets. Where alternatives are possible, think about any
difference in meaning.
I (1) (buy) a new alarm clock the other day in Taylor's the jewellers, when I
actually (2) (see) somebody shoplifting. I'd just finished paying for my clock and
as I (3) (turn) round, an elderly woman (4) (slowly put) a silver plate into a bag
that she (5) (carry). Then she (6) (walk) over to another part of the shop and (7)
(pick up) an expensive-looking watch a number of times. When she (8) (think)
that nobody (9) (look), she (10) (drop) it into the bag. Before I (11) (have) a
chance to tell the staff in the shop, she (12) (notice) that I (13) (watch) her and
(14) (hurry) out.
Unfortunately for her, two police officers (15) (walk) past just at that
moment and she (16) (run) straight into them.
II Past Simple vs. Past Perfect.
NB. If the order of past events is clear from the context (for example, if time
expressions make the order clear) we can use either the Past Perfect or the Past
Simple:
e.g. After John had finished/ finished reading, he put out the light.
However, when we report what was originally said or thought in the Present
Perfect only the Past Perfect is used:
e.g. “I have met him before” → I was sure that I had met him before (NOT
…I met …).
1. Underline the correct answers. In some cases only one is correct, and in
others both are correct.
1 As Geoff was introduced to Mrs Snape, he realised that he had met/ met her
before.
2 During the previous week, I had been/ went to the gym every evening.
3 He denied that he had taken/ took the money from the office.
4 I didn't know the marking would take so long until I had read/ read the first
couple of essays.
5 The boy told me that he had lost/ lost his train ticket and didn't know how he
would get home.
6 At the conference, scientists reported that they had found/ found a cure for
malaria.
7 The teacher guessed that some of the children had cheated/ cheated in the
exam.
8 Thomas explained that he had gone/ went home early because he felt ill.
9 The waiter took my plate away before I had finished/ finished eating. 10 Jane
didn't want any dinner. She had eaten/ ate already.
2. Use the Past Simple or the Past Perfect to complete the sentences:
When I (1 go) to Paris last spring for a job interview, I (2 not be) there for five
years. I (3 arrive) the evening before the interview, and (4 spend) a happy hour
walking round thinking about the good times I (5 have) there as a student.
As I was strolling by the Seine, I suddenly (6 see) a familiar face - it was
Nedjma, the woman I (7 share) a flat with when I was a student, and whose
address I (8 lose) after leaving Paris. I could tell she (9 not see) me, so I (10
call) her name and she (11 look) up. As she (12 turn) towards me, I (13 realise)
that she (14 have) an ugly scar on the side of her face. She (15 see) the shock in
my eyes, and her hand (16 go) up to touch the scar; she (17 explain) that she
(18 get) it when she was a journalist reporting on a war in Africa.
She (19 not be) uncomfortable telling me this; we (20 feel) as if the years (21
not pass), as if we (22 say) goodbye the week before. She (23 arrive) in Paris
that morning, and she (24 have) a hospital appointment the next day. The
doctors (25 think) that they could remove the scar, but she would have to stay
in Paris for several months. Both of us (26 have) the idea at the same time: if I
(27 get) the job, we could share a flat again. And we could start by having a
coffee while we (28 begin) to tell one another everything that (29 happen) to us
in the past five years.
3. Choose an ending (a-d) for each beginning (1-4) and add these verbs in
the past perfect or past simple.
come
give
need
not finish
say
1 He.............. the money last week,
2 You............. during the meeting
3 When he ........... back later,
4 Ashley could have done much better
A. that you ………about that already.
B. so I............ it to him then.
C. if she............... harder.
talk
work
D. they still………..writing their reports.
4. Complete this text with these verbs.
was (x2)
explained
eaten were
didn't eat
went
have gone
didn't lock
had cooked
have heard
hadn't
had reached
hadn't locked
One of the four-year-olds in the reading group suddenly said, 'This is the
silliest story I (l)…..ever……!' I (2)……in the middle of reading Goldilocks
and the Three Bears to the group. We (3)……just the part in the story where
Goldilocks goes into the bears' house and eats some of the food from bowls on
the table.
'Where (4) .................... the bears?' he asked.
'Maybe outside or playing in the woods,' I suggested.
'And their house was wide open? They (5) ....... even……….the door before
going out?'
'Well, in the old days, people (6)........... their doors.'
'And their food was on the table, but they (7) ....... it before they (8)………
outside?'
'Maybe they (9) ................... it because it (10) ...............too hot.'
'If you (11) .................... that meal, you wouldn't (12) .......... out and left it,
would you?'
'Probably not, but it's just a story,' I (13).........rather weakly.
III Past Perfect vs. Past Perfect Continuous.
1. Complete the sentences with one of these verbs, using the same verb for
each sentence in the pair. Use the past perfect continuous if possible; if not,
use the past perfect.
apply
carry
fly
smoke
work
1. a She ..................... for the company since she left school, so I wasn't
surprised when she took a new job in London.
b She ......................... finally ................her way up from trainee to a
management position, and she celebrated her promotion with a big party.
2. a The avalanche .................. them 500 metres down the mountain but no-one
was hurt.
b She took a bottle from the bag she ............... …..all the way from home.
3. a Michael .................... all his cigarettes and had to borrow some from Kate.
b
By the smell in the room and his guilty expression I could tell that
Alex………..
4.
a We .................for visas early, but still hadn't got them by the week
before the holiday.
b
5.
She ................ for jobs, without success, since leaving university.
a He ................ all the way from New York to be at yesterday's meeting.
b When the plane was diverted, shortly after take-off, it ………… from
London to Frankfurt.
NB. Remember that we don’t describe states with continuous tenses, and we
use the Past Perfect, not the Past Perfect Continuous, even when we focus on
the length of a situation up to a particular past time.
2. Choose the past perfect continuous form of the verb if appropriate; if not,
use the past perfect.
1. Mrs Bishop ....................to have children for years; then she finally became
pregnant at the age of 45. (try)
2 This was the first time we had been to the castle, even though we ………
Edinburgh a few times before, (visit)
3 She bought her first watch at the age of 8. It ……… two pounds. (cost)
4 Meg James ..................... children's stories for 10 years when she got her first
book published. (write)
5. For some time Mark ……….. about passing the exams and eventually
decided to change the course he was taking, (worry)
6. My teacher was really annoyed with me. It was the third time I …………
late for school that week, (arrive)
7. I
always ....... it would be easy to get a job, and was disappointed to be
rejected, (believe)
8. We about Sue when, to our amazement, she walked through the door, (talk)
3. Study this conversation extract. If the underlined verbs are correct, write
“V”. If they are wrong, correct them using either the past perfect (active or
passive) or past perfect continuous.
A: How was your weekend?
B: Not great, actually. I (1) 'd really been looking forward to a relaxing couple
of days. But early on Saturday morning Mum phoned to say that Dad (2) had
been taking ill.
A: Oh, no! What (3) had happened?
B: She (4) had just been hearing that he (5) had been flown by helicopter to
hospital in Edinburgh from a village called Contin where he (6) had fished with
my Uncle Mark.
A: And is he okay? What's wrong with him?
B: Well, Uncle Mark said that Dad (7) had been complaining of a bad
headache most of yesterday, but he (8) hadn't been wanting to go back to the
hotel and spoil the day. But then in the evening, just as they (9) had stopped
fishing for the day, he (10) had been collapsing...
4. Complete this text with these verbs in the past perfect or past perfect
continuous.
Be
catch
live
plan
take break
have
make
remove
worry
The telephone call from the police was a shock, but not a complete surprise.
Molly (1)
constantly about the old house lying empty during the two months
since her mother went into hospital. She (2) to go round and check the empty
place, but she (3) extra busy at work recently.
According to the police, a homeless man (4) into the house. They (5) him one
morning as he was leaving the building with one of her mother's large
paintings. When Molly walked into the house, it was obvious that the man (6)
there for quite a while. He (7) food from the cupboards and throwing empty
tins and packages all over the floor. He (8) quite a mess. He (9) also several
paintings from the walls. Molly decided not to tell her mother because she (10)
already enough pain in recent weeks and really didn't need any more bad news.
IV Tense Revision.
1. Choose the right tenses:
The Little Girl and the Wolf
One afternoon a big wolf (1 wait) in a dark forest for a little girl to come along
carrying a basket of food to her grandmother. Finally a little girl did come along
and she (2 carry) a basket of food. 'Are you carrying that basket to your
grandmother?' asked the wolf. The little girl said yes, she was. So the wolf (3 ask)
her where her grandmother lived and the little girl (4 tell) him and he (5
disappear) into the wood.
When the little girl (6 open) the door of her grandmother's house she (7 see) that
there was somebody in bed with a nightcap and nightgown on. She (8 approach)
no nearer than twenty-five feet from the bed when she (9 see) that it was not her
grandmother but the wolf, for even in a nightcap a wolf does not look in the least
like anybody's grandmother. So the little girl (10 take) an automatic pistol out of her
basket and (11 shoot) the wolf dead.
Moral: It is not so easy to fool little girls nowadays as it used to be.
James Thurber: Fables for Our Time
Rioting students battle against police
May 7 (1968). In the last two days, Paris (12 see) the worst street-fighting since
the Liberation in 1944. Up to 30,000 students, locked out of their own campus
yesterday by the Sorbonne rector, Jean Roche, (13 fight) the tear gas of the riot
police with barricades, bricks, paving stones and Molotov cocktails.
The trouble (14 ferment) for some time. On March 20, six students (15 arrest) after
an anti-American demonstration; the next day, a mass sit-in at the Nanterre
campus (16 begin). Last Friday, the police – whose alleged brutality is said to
have sparked off the violence - forcibly evicted the students, who (17 lead) by
Daniel Cohn-Bendit.
All day yesterday, the Latin Quarter (17 be) the arena for running street fights
centred on the Boulevard St Germain. Chronicle of the 20th Century
2. Complete the two texts about World War I with the correct form of the verb in
brackets.
The condition of Britain in 1917
The government also (1) (need) to ensure that Britain was fed. Under the
Defence of the Realm Act it was able to take over land and turn it over to food
production. In February 1917 it (2) (set up) the Women's Land Army to recruit
women as farm workers. By then, however, the food supply in Britain (3) (became)
desperate. German U-boats (4) (sink) one in every four British merchant ships and
Britain had only six weeks' supply of wheat left. As food supplies (5) (run) short, so
prices (6) (rise).Wages (7) (hardly rise) during the war because people were mostly
prepared to sacrifice better pay to support the war effort, but prices were now almost
double what they (8) (be) in 1914. Poorer people could not even afford basic supplies
such as bread. Shops (9) (close) early each afternoon as they (10) (run out) of goods
to sell.
German reactions to the Treaty of Versailles 1919
The overall reaction of Germans was horror and outrage. They certainly (11)
(not believe) they (12) (start) the war. They (13) (not even think) they (14) (lose) the
war. In 1919 many Germans (15) (not really understand) how bad Germany's military
situation (16) (be) at the end of the war in 1918. They believed that the German
government (17) (simply agree) to a ceasefire, and that therefore Germany should
have been at the Paris Peace Conference to negotiate peace. They were angry that
their government was not represented at the talks and that the Allies (18) (force) them
to accept a harsh treaty without any choice or even a comment. At first, the new
government (19) (refuse) to sign the treaty and at one point it (20) (look) as though
war might break out again. However, Ebert, the new German leader, was in an
impossible position. Reluctantly, he (21) (agree) to accept the terms of the treaty and
it (22) (sign) on 28 June 1919.
3. Underline the correct form.
a When Dora went / had gone to pay for the petrol she was putting / had put in
her car, she realized / was realizing that she lost/had lost her credit card.
b While I was waiting / had waited for my meal to arrive, I saw /was seeing that
the two men who had followed me into the restaurant were staring/ had been staring
at me from a nearby table.
c When I heard / was hearing the noise at the window, I knew / had known that
someone tried / was trying to break into the house.
d Maria didn't remember / wasn't remembering anything about the accident,
except that she didn't drive / had not been driving too fast and in fact had almost
stopped / was almost stopping before she reached the crossroads.
e By the time the fire engines arrived / was arriving at the cottage, Tom and
his neighbours already put out / had already put out the fire and were carrying / had
been carrying furniture out of the blackened building.
f 'What did you do / were you doing in the High Street at that time of night,
and why did you run away / had you run away when the officer told / was telling you
to stop?' asked the lawyer.
g While Sally painted / was painting the ceiling, she fell off / was falling off the
ladder but luckily she didn't break / wasn't breaking any bones.
h Our taxi to the airport didn't turn up / wasn't turning up on time, and so by the
time we got / were getting to the check-in desk, the flight already closed / had already
closed.
i Marlowe walked slowly into the room. He didn't forget / hadn't forgotten his
last visit to the house, when Miss LaPorte had fired / was firing two shots at him, so
he had taken / was taking no chances this time.
j Alice could see that the tall boy had / was having difficulty making himself
understood, but she decided / was deciding not to help him. After all, nobody had
helped /was helping her during her first days in this country!
Choose a novel or story, and select one or two pages. Make a list of the past
tenses used on these pages. Are these the only tenses possible, or are others also
acceptable?
4. Supply the correct form of the verbs given in brackets. (Past Simple/Continuous,
Past Perfect, Past Perfect Continuous, etc.).
A.
1. We were dead tired. We (to tramp) through the woods for hours.
2. The BBC reported there (to be) a train crash near Manchester. Emergency services
(to work) through the night. By morning they (to rescue) 50 people.
3. The police were forced to close the case. Though they (to carry on) extensive
inquiries for weeks they (not to find) any proof of the man’s quilt.
4. Yesterday Jill and Jack got married at last. They (to go out) together for 10 years.
5. I was worn out. I (to mend) my car the whole day.
6. Mr. Jones retired last month. He (to work) for the company for 30 years.
7. When I met Mary she looked really bad. She (to sleep) badly for the last month.
8. He couldn’t get a job. He (to write) applications for months but (not to have) a
single reply.
B.
I (1) (to see) that I (2) (to reach) the little harbour. The water (3) (to be) clear and
green. The sun (4) (to shine) clear through it. Someone (5) (to write) ‘Mary was here’
on the wall and someone else (6) (to try) to scratch it out. A boy (7) (to work) in a
small boat. He (8) (to paint) it. It was the boy who (9) (to watch) the tennis players. I
(10) (not to want) to go back to the hotel before I (11) (to speak) to him.
C.
He (1) (to make) no reply. I (2) (to realize) that he (3) (not to hear), that he (4) (not
to listen). Everything (5) (to be said) already. They (6) (to make up) their minds. They
(7) (not to want) me. That’s why Sofia’s eyes (8) (to be red). She (9) (to cry).
D.
When I (1) (to approach) the house I (2) (to hear) a scream. I (3) (to ring) several
times. When the woman at last (4) (to open) the door I (5) (to understand) that
something unusual (6) (to happen). She (7) (to tremble). She said that the boys (8) (to
fight) again. I (9) (to run) upstairs. The room (10) (to be) in disorder. There evidently
(11) (to be) a severe struggle. The younger boy (12) (to lie) on the floor. He (13) (to
faint).
E.
The Case Against Katawa
Seventeen-year-old Andy Thomas (1) (to attack) by a gang of boys as he (2) (to
walk) home from a disco one night. He (3) (to practice) Katawa for about a year, and
he (4) (to be) sure that his ‘inner force’ would protect him. He (5) (to take) to hospital,
but luckily his injuries (6) (not to be) serious.
Mary Williams (7) (to be worried) that her daughter (8) (not to get) enough exercise
so she (9) (to delight) when Fiona (10) (to decide) to go to martial arts classes. The
thirteen-year-old (11) (to go) to Katawa classes for less than three months when her
mother (12) (to become concerned) at the repeated bruising on her daughter’s stomach
and back. The bruises (13) (to sustain) during tests on her ‘inner force’, which Fiona
(14) (to argue) (15) (to protect) her. When the mother (16) (to approach) the Katawa
tutor with her concerns, she (17) (to dismiss) as a skeptic. Eventually, Fiona (18) (to
persuade) to leave by her family.
One of the features of Katawa is that its followers can progress very rapidly. One
person we (19) (to meet) (20) (to do) Katawa for less than a year and he already (21)
(to have) a black belt!
When we (22) (to suggest) that Katawa can damage your health, the instructor,
Leonard Ching, (23) (to claim) that he could cure any injuries through ‘mental
healing’. However, following a police investigation into complaints about Katawa, he
(24) (to leave) Britain earlier this year.
F.
Queen of Comedy
Margaret Cho was born in San Francisco on December 5, 1968. Her parents (1) (to
leave) Korea and (2) (to immigrate) to the Unites States four years before. Cho (3) (to
grow up) in San Francisco, where she (4) (to attend) the High School of Performing
Arts. By the time she (5) (to win) her first comedy contest, she (6) (to perform)
regularly at a comedy club located above her parents’ bookstore.
In 1992, Cho moved to Los Angeles. There she (7) (to win) the American Comedy
Award for Top Female Comedians. By that time she (8) (to entertain) students for two
years with her stand-up comedy, which she performed on college campuses. Cho (9)
(to become) increasingly popular.
When she (10) (to get) her own TV comedy series, ‘All-American Girl,’ she
already (11) (to appear) on Arsenio Hall’s late-night talk show. Cho (12) (to count on)
a long and successful show, but her series (13) (to cancel) after only six months. Cho
was very disappointed but she (14) (to learn) a lot from the experience. Since then she
(15) (to perform) at clubs and theatres and on college campuses, and she (16) (to
appear) on all major late-night talk shows. When asked about her goals, Cho says,
‘There’s a great lack of different faces out there. I think one of my aims is to illustrate
my experience.’
5. Supply the correct form of the verbs (Past Perfect, Past Simple, Past Continuous
etc.)
A.
An Account of a Road Accident
Well, you see, Officer, I (1) (to drive) down this road when this huge lorry (2) (to
overtake) me. I (3) (to travel) at 70 miles an hour, so I’ve no idea what speed the lorry
(4) (to go). I (5) (never to see) a lorry travel so fast.
Two miles further down the road I (6) (to see) flames and smoke rising. The idiot
(7) (to crash) into the roundabout. Obviously he (8) (to swerve) to avoid this boy on
his bicycle. You (9) (to speak) to the boy yet? I think he is all right. When you (10)
(to arrive), I (11) (to try) to free the lorry driver. I could smell alcohol on his breath. I
think he (12) (to drink) too much. He (13) (to break) one of his legs, but apart from
that he’s not too bad.
B.
Entertainment on wheels
Why do so many amusing incidents occur during train journeys? I remember the
day when a ticket inspector (1) (to enter) the compartment where six or eight
commuters (2) (to sit). Everyone quickly (3) (to find) their ticket – except for the man
sitting next to me. His hand (4) (to dive) urgently into his pockets, and then he (5) (to
begin) to search through his briefcase. Everyone else could see exactly where his
ticket (6) (to be) – he (7) (to grip) it between his teeth.
The ticket inspector calmly (8) (to deal) with all the other passengers. Then,
equally calmly (9) (to draw) the ticket from between the man’s teeth, (10) (to
examine) it with a frown and (11) (to pop) it back again.
Once the inspector (12) (to leave) the compartment, most of the passengers (13)
(to settle down) and (14) (to carry on) reading their morning papers. As for the
passenger who (15) (to have) his ticket in his mouth, he (16) (to pop) it into his
pocket, looking very relieved.
He was generally quite a friendly person, so I (17) (to say) to him, ‘You must have
felt very foolish – searching in all your pockets when it (18) (to be) in your mouth’.
‘Foolish?’ he whispered. ‘Not at all. – I (19) (to chew) the date off.’
C.
Scuba Hero Rescues Drowning Motorist
Mother-of-two Mrs Chorpa (1) (to try) to help her father-in-law to start his car with
some jump leads* from the engine of her own car. While she (2) (to sit) in her car, she
accidentally (3) (to put) it in gear and the car suddenly (4) (to leap) forward over the
edge of the marina**. It (5) (to fall) into the water.
Two boat repairers, Jim Fry and Rob Jenkins, who (6) (to stand) nearby, (7) (to see)
the accident. They immediately (8) (to dive) in and (9) (to try) to free the woman from
the car. Mr Jenkins said: ‘The car slowly (10) (to sink). We (11) (to try) to get Mrs
Chorpa to open the car door but she couldn’t.’
Fortunately, yachtsman Stuart Davies, an experienced scuba diver, (12) (to see) the
accident and (13) (to jump) into the water with his scuba gear. ‘I (14) (to get) ready to
go on a dive, when suddenly I (15) (to see) what (16) (to happen).’ Stuart (17) (to
swim) towards the car, which (18) (to sink) fast, (19) (to get) to the woman through an
open window and (20) (to give) her some air from his scuba tank. ‘As she (21) (to
breathe) in some air, I (22) (to manage) to pull her out through the window and up to
the surface. My main worry was that we (23) (to be) too late.
Mrs Chorpa now (24) (to recover) in hospital.
*a jump lead – провод (для пуска двигателя от постороннего источника энергии)
**a marina – марина (пристань для яхт)
D.
A Shopper’s Nightmare
The jumper a friend of mine (1) (to give) me for my birthday was too small for me
and I wanted to change it for a larger one. One day some friends with a car (2) (to
come) to visit me. They suggested dropping me off near the department store where
the jumper originally (3) (to buy). It seemed like an excellent idea. I (4) (to jump) out
of the car and they (5) (to drive) off, saying they (6) (to be) back in ten minutes.
The girl I (7) (to speak) to at the counter was extremely helpful. Unfortunately,
however, they (8) (to have) no other jumpers in my size and I (9) (to decide) to leave
with the original gift. Without thinking, I put it and the receipt back into my bag, and
dashed outside. I (10) (to stand) there, looking for my friends’ car, when someone
suddenly (11) (to grab) one of my arms from behind.
I (12) (to try) to turn round to see who it (13) (to be). I (14) (to catch) a glimpse of a
man with a moustache behind me. As I (15) (to turn), the jumper (16) (to fall) out of
my bag. Then a woman suddenly (17) (to appear) in front of me and told me she and
the man (18) (to be) store detectives. She picked up the jumper. ‘Do you admit that
you (19) (to have) this in your bag when you (20) (to leave) the shop?’ she asked
accusingly. I so (21) (to shock) I could hardly concentrate.
Just at that moment, my astonished friends (22) (to arrive) in their car. One of them
jumped out and asked the woman what (23) (to go on). She ignored him.
‘You’d better come with us,’ she told me. They took me up some stairs and into an
office.
‘Why don’t you admit what you (24) (to do)?’ asked the woman. I (25) (to realize)
by that time that they thought I (26) (to steal) the jumper, so I began to explain that it
(27) (to be) a gift. Luckily, or so I thought, the friend who (28) (to give) me the
jumper also (29) (to give) me the receipt for it, and I (30) (to have) it with me. The
woman smiled again when I (31) (to show) it to her.
‘Why you (32) (to try) to throw the jumper away if you (33) (not to steal) it?’ she
asked.
‘I (34) (not to try) to throw it away. It (35) (to fall) out of my bag when your friend
here (36) (to grab) me,’ I protested. I insisted that they should go and find the shop
assistant I (37) (to speak) to earlier. Eventually, they reluctantly agreed to do so.
‘Keep an eye on her,’ the woman said to the man with the moustache as she (38) (to
leave). The woman came back a few minutes later, looking very embarrassed. Then
the manager of the store arrived, and apologized for what (39) (to happen). I told him
that nothing he could say (40) (to compensate) for the rudeness of his employees.
My friends later urged me to sue the store. I knew if I (41) (to do) so I (42) (to
receive) a lot of money. But I never (43) (to do). I just didn’t want (44) (to remind) of
what (45) (to happen).
6. Read the synopsis of a famous short story. Some parts of the text are in the socalled Historical Present. Render the story into English using only past tenses.
Последний лист
Две молодые художницы, Сью и Джонси, снимают квартирку на верхнем этаже дома в ньюйоркском квартале Гринвич-Виллидж, где издавна селятся люди искусства. В ноябре Джонси
заболевает пневмонией. Вердикт врача неутешителен: «У нее один шанс из десяти. И то, если
она сама захочет жить». Но Джонси как раз потеряла интерес к жизни. Она лежит в постели,
смотрит в окно и считает, сколько листьев осталось на старом плюще, который обвил своими
побегами стену напротив. Джонси убеждена: когда упадет последний лист, она умрет.
Сью рассказывает о мрачных мыслях подруги старому художнику Берману, который живет
внизу. Он давно собирается создать шедевр, но пока у него что-то не клеится. Услышав про
Джонси, старик Берман страшно расстроился.
На следующее утро оказывается, что на плюще остался один-единственный лист. Джонси
следит за тем, как он сопротивляется порывам ветра. Стемнело, пошел дождь, еще сильнее
задул ветер, и Джонси не сомневается, что наутро она уже не увидит этот лист. Но она
ошибается: к её великому удивлению, лист-храбрец продолжает сражаться с ненастьем. Это
производит на Джонси сильное впечатление. Ей становится стыдно своего малодушия, и она
обретает желание жить. Посетивший её доктор отмечает улучшение. По его мнению, шансы
выжить и умереть уже равны. Он добавляет, что сосед снизу тоже подхватил воспаление
легких, но у бедняги шансов на выздоровление нет. Еще через день доктор заявляет, что
теперь жизнь Джонси вне опасности. Вечером Сью сообщает подруге грустную весть:
в больнице скончался старик Берман. Он простудился в ту ненастную ночь, когда плющ
потерял последний лист и художник нарисовал новый и под проливным дождем и ледяным
ветром прикрепил его к ветке. Берман все-таки создал свой шедевр.
VOCAB & SPEAKING
1. Idioms
a turn-up for the book
a surprising situation Well, there’s a turn-up for the book- I never thought he’d get a
girlfriend.
be a closed book
to be something that you know or understand nothing about (usually + to ) I'm afraid
physics will always be a closed book to me.
be an open book
1. if a person's life is an open book, you can discover everything about it because
none of the details are kept secret Like many film stars, he wants to keep his private
life private - he doesn't want it becoming an open book.
2. if someone is an open book, it is easy to know what they are thinking and feeling
Sarah's an open book, so you'll know right away if she doesn't like the present you've
bought her.
be in somebody's good books (informal)
if you are in someone's good books, they are pleased with you I cleaned the bathroom
yesterday so I'm in Mum's good books. (informal)
close the books on someone or something
Fig. to declare that a matter concerning someone or something is finished. (The books
here originally referred to financial accounting records.) It's time to close the books on
Fred. He's had enough time to apologize to us.
crack a book
Fig. to open a book to study. (Usually used with a negative.) I never cracked a book
and still passed the course. Sally didn't crack a book all semester.
cuddle up with a (good) book and curl up (with a (good) book)
to snuggle into a chair or bed comfortably to read a book. I want to go home and
cuddle up with a good book. She went home and curled up with a good book.
hit the books and pound the books
Inf. Fig. to study hard. I spent the weekend pounding the books. I gotta go home and
hit the books. I have finals next week.
not judge a book by its cover
to not be able to really know about someone or something by simply looking at them
She doesn't look very bright, but you can't judge a book by its cover.
one for the (record) books
a record-breaking or very remarkable act. What a dive! That's one for the record
books. I've never heard such a funny joke. That's really one for the books.
take a leaf out of someone's book and take a page from someone's book
Fig. to behave or to do something in a way that someone else would. When you act
like that, you're taking a leaf out of your sister's book, and I don't like it! You had
better do it your way. Don't take a leaf out of my book. I don't do it well.
the oldest trick in the book
a way of tricking someone which is still effective although it has been used a lot
before It was the oldest trick in the book - one man distracted me while another stole
my wallet.
throw the book at someone
Fig. to charge or convict someone with as many crimes as is possible. I made the
police officer angry, so he took me to the station and threw the book at me. The judge
threatened to throw the book at me if I didn't stop insulting the police officer.
wrote the book on something
Fig. to be very authoritative about something; to know enough about something to
write the definitive book on it. (Always in past tense.) Ted wrote the book on
unemployment. He's been looking for work in three states for two years. Do I know
about misery? I wrote the book on misery!
Now use the idioms in your own sentences.
2. LIFE WITHOUT PHRASAL VERBS
This text was deliberately written without any phrasal verbs. What is your
impression of it? Rewrite the text trying to use phrasal verbs wherever possible (you
can find a possible solution at the end of the unit).
I awakened when my alarm clock rang at 7.15. I didn't in fact arise until 7.30. I
dressed myself in my dressing gown, descended the stairs and allowed the cat to enter
the house. Then I raised the receiver of the telephone and called work. I asked the
switchboard operator to pass me my boss. She asked me to wait a minute as the line was busy.
When I was connected, I told my boss that I wouldn't be going to work as I wasn't well
She told me not to come to work for a few days.
3. Which sentence is the explanation of these OUT phrasal verbs?
1. We ate out.
a) We had a picnic.
b) We went to a restaurant.
2. We’ve fallen out.
a) We’ve had an argument.
b) We’ve decided to leave.
3. I hope nobody finds out about it.
a) I hope nobody discovers what has happened.
b) I hope nobody says anything.
4. I must sort out my papers.
a) I must throw away all my papers.
b) I must arrange my papers properly.
5. All the girls in the office walked out.
a) All the girls went on strike.
b) All the girls went out for a walk.
6. This cassette is worn out.
a) It is old and almost unusable.
b) It is old-fashioned.
7. He really stands out in a crowd.
a) He never agrees.
b) He is very distinguishable.
8. Bill is going out with Mary.
a) Bill and Mary have a romantic friendship.
b) They are leaving together.
4. Say whether the following sentences are true or false. Correct the false
ones:
1 If you look after a person, you try to find him or her.
2 It is not advisable to drink milk that has gone off.
.
3 Another way of saying 'He finished third in the race' is to say 'He came in
third in the race.'
4 If you have run out of coffee, there is not much left.
5 It is difficult to be friendly with people you get on with.
6 One of the first things you usually do when you arrive at a hotel is to check
in.
7 Another way of saying 'Would you wait a moment?' is to say 'Would you
hang up a moment?'
8 You should feel very happy if someone told you that he or she looked down
on you.
9 If you go along with something, you agree with what has been suggested or
proposed.
10 Another way of saying 'l hope the weather gets better7 is to say 'I hope it
clears up.'
11 A good car often breaks down.
12 The car pulled out. This means it came to a stop.
13 Schools in England usually break up for the summer at the end of July.
14 We were excellent pupils, so our teacher kept us in.
15 You wouldn't be very happy if you got through an exam.
16 My television set is new. This is the first time I've tried it on.
17 The dog went for me. It was a really friendly dog.
18 They wouldn't let us in. They turned us back.
19 I can't get the cork off the bottle. It's stuck.
20 You might shout “Look up!” to warn someone that a car was coming.
5. Complete the sentences with the corresponding prepositions.
1.
2.
3.
4.
My dad was always really good at making ___ stories.
The black lettering really stands ___ on that orange background.
I'm afraid we've just run a rabbit ___.
Investigators needed several months to work ___ that a fraud had been
committed.
5. She hasn't come ____ from the anaesthetic yet.
6. She'd fallen ___ ___ her boyfriend over his ex-girlfriend.
7. Passengers are requested to check ___ two hours before the flight.
8. She thinks they look ____ ____ her because she didn't go to university.
9. I hope it clears ___ in time for the picnic.
10.Moving parts in engines wear ___ much more quickly than stationary parts.
11.Kate's already agreed, but it's going to be harder persuading Mike to go ___
___ it.
12.Their dog had to be put to sleep after it went ___ the postwoman.
13.A car pulled right ___ in front of me.
14.My patience is beginning to run ___.
15.This bacon smells a bit funny - do you think it's gone ___?
16.We're getting ___ much better now that we don't live together.
17.Workers are threatening to walk ___.
18.We broke ___ ___ the holidays in June.
19.What a lovely dress - why don't you try it ___ for size?
20.I can get ___ a lot more work when I'm on my own.
21.Sort ___ any clothes you want to throw away and give them to me.
6. Nationality adjectives.
In this unit you will have come across a few nationality adjectives
(Colombian, Chilean, Brazilian). Names of nationalities and related nouns do not
always comply with one regular pattern, which is why it is particularly important to
try and memorize them. Complete the chart. Use a dictionary if necessary. Add other
countries of your choice.
Country
adjective
Person
People
Language(s)
Britain
British
a Brit (infml)
the British
English,
Welsh, Gaelic
Scotland
France
Belgium
The
Netherlands/
Holland
Denmark
Sweden
Poland
Turkey
Spain
Switzerland
Argentina
Peru
Iceland
New Zealand
Afghanistan
READING & SPEAKING
Pre-reading 1
1. What kind of thing do you enjoy reading most?
2. Make a short list of five before you read the article below.
Pre-reading 2
Look at the following lists (which are not in the right order!). One is the top
ten favourites of young British teenagers; the other is the kind of thing they hate
reading most. Which do you think is which?
Facebook
The Beano1
Magazine articles about skinny celebrities
Music (scores) / the Harry Potter series / maps/directions
Shakespeare
Encyclopedias and dictionaries
Financial Times / anything in another language
Books of over 100 pages
Books assigned by school/teachers
Homework
Books by Anthony Horowitz2
1
a British children's comic
Film scripts
My own blog or fan fiction
Bliss magazine3 / online song lyrics
Online computer game cheats
The Harry Potter series
BBC Online / the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson books by Louise Rennison4
Anne Frank’s diary5
Heat magazine6
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by CS Lewis7
Pre-reading 3
Well, the second list shows the top ten favourites. Which order do you think
they came in?
2
an English author and screenwriter. He has written many children's novels, including The Power of Five, Alex Rider
and The Diamond Brothers series and has written over fifty books. He has also written extensively for television,
adapting many of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot novels for the ITV series. He is the creator and writer of the ITV
series Foyle's War, Midsomer Murders and Collision.
3
a monthly British magazine aimed at teenage girls which currently retails at £2.50 and often comes with a gift such as
make-up or a bag. The content covers candid celebrity gossip, latest fashions, hair and make-up looks, a problem page
on puberty, boyfriends, friends and sex, interview with the female celebrity cover girl, entertainment reviews, romance
advice, psychology for friendships and real life stories.
4
an English author and comedienne. She is the author of the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series for teenage girls.
This series records the exploits of a teenage girl, Georgia Nicolson, and her best friends, the Ace Gang.
Annelies Marie "Anne" Frank (12 June 1929 in Frankfurt am Main – early March 1945 in Bergen Belsen) was one
of the most renowned and most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Acknowledged for the quality of her writing,
her diary has become one of the world's most widely read books, and has been the basis for several plays and films.
5
6
a British entertainment magazine published by German company Bauer Media Group. As of 2004 it is one of the
biggest selling magazines in the UK, with a regular circulation over half a million. Its mix of celebrity news, gossip and
fashion is primarily aimed at women, although not as directly as in other women's magazines. It also features movie and
music reviews, TV listings and major celebrity interviews.
7
Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963), commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis, was an Irishborn British novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist. He is also
known for his fiction, especially The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Space Trilogy.
Now read the text and see if you were right.
Celebrity scandal and Anne Frank: the reading diary of British
teenagers
Shakespeare and homework lose out as Internet competes with books and
magazines for attention of young readers
It may not make all parents leap for joy but a report published today shows the
favourite reading material of young teenagers is Heat magazine. Parents may be more
pleased to note that Anne Frank’s diary, books by Anthony Horowitz and CS Lewis’
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe are also in the top ten.
The celebrity gossip and news magazine comes top when 11 to 14-year-olds are
asked to name their favourite read, followed by teenage girls’ magazine Bliss, which
comes joint second with reading song lyrics online. They are followed by reading
computer game cheats advice online, and then reading your own blog or fan fiction.
The first books in the list are the Harry Potter series at number five. Proving
what a contrary lot teenagers are, Harry Potter is also number eight in the most
loathed reading material top ten.
The results are contained in a report called Read Up, Fed Up: Exploring
Teenage Reading Habits in the UK Today, which was commissioned by organizers of
the National Year of Reading, which Gordon Brown launched in January.
Other books on the favourites list are Anne Frank’s diary at number six,
Anthony Horowitz novels at eight, the CS Lewis classic at number nine and books by
Louise Rennison – author of the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series – in joint
tenth place with BBC Online.
Honor Wilson-Fletcher, director of the National Year of Reading, said she was
more interested in the shape of the list than the rankings. “I think the diversity of the
list is really encouraging. I read everything from Jane Austen to Grazia magazine and
if you asked adults the same question we’ve asked teenagers you wouldn’t expect
James Joyce and Dostoevsky to be there.”
Predictably, the most loathed read is homework. It is followed by Shakespeare,
books of over 100 pages and stories about skinny celebrities in magazines – although
the cover and pages six to 12 of this week’s favourite read Heat are devoted to the
subject.
Evidence that the Facebook phenomenon may be over is perhaps reflected by it
being the ninth most hated read, although the report shows a big rise in online
reading.
It also reveals that 45% of young teenagers have been told off by parents for
reading something considered improper. Wilson-Fletcher said: “One of the
fundamental problems we’ve got is that we end up being pejorative about certain
kinds of reading. Parents should realize reading is not just about books.”
She said the amount of online reading should be celebrated. “Young people are
web natives – exposed to a wider variety of reading material than any previous
generation through the explosion of digital media. It seems not all adults are
comfortable with this shift and are often discouraging teens from taking advantage of
this new reading landscape.”
The schools minister, Jim Knight, said: “It is vital that young people have the
opportunity to read widely. It is wonderful that 80% of the teenagers surveyed write
their own stories and keep up-to-date with current affairs by using sites like BBC
Online.”
Also revealed is a gender divide. Among boys, 41% listed online computer
game cheats as their favourite read, while online song lyrics came second. Nearly a
third of boys said they loved reading because it helped them get better at hobbies.
Girls took a different approach, with 39% saying they loved reading because it
provided an escape, or quiet time to enjoy on their own.
The survey was compiled by using focus groups from which the 20 most loved
and 20 most loathed reads were assembled. From this, a ‘national conversation about
reading’ was launched, with teenagers logging on to the teen website Pizco to have
their say. A total of 1,340 teenagers were surveyed.
© Guardian News & Media
Most loved reads
Heat magazine
Bliss magazine / online song lyrics
Online computer game cheats
My own blog or fan fiction
The Harry Potter series
Anne Frank’s diary
Film scripts
Books by Anthony Horowitz
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by CS Lewis
BBC Online / the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson books by Louise Rennison
Most loathed reads
Homework
Shakespeare
Books of over 100 pages
Magazine articles about skinny celebrities
Books set by school/teachers
Encyclopedias and dictionaries
The Beano
Music (scores) / the Harry Potter series / maps/directions
Facebook
Financial Times / anything in another language
Vocabulary development 1: Word search
Find words in the text that mean the following. The paragraph numbers are
given to help you.
1. ______________________: jump (1)
2. ______________________: inconsistent and difficult to please (3)
3. ______________________: hated (3)
4. ______________________: order in which they are placed (6)
5. ______________________: variety (6)
6. ______________________: very thin (7)
7. ______________________: surprising thing that happens (8)
8. ______________________: unsuitable (9)
9. ______________________: very critical (9)
10. ______________________: move, change (10)
General understanding
Are the following statements True (T) or False (F)? If they are false, say why.
1. The writer thinks most parents would approve of the writer CS Lewis.
2. The teenagers questioned prefer books to magazines.
3. Harry Potter books are both loved and hated.
4. Honor Wilson-Fletcher is not surprised by the results.
5. She thinks reading something is better than reading nothing.
6. Jim Knight is discouraged by the results.
7. Boys and girls read for the same reasons.
8. The survey was conducted online.
Retell the article. Use at least 15 active vocabulary units.
Collocations A
Some words are often found together. Match the words on the left with their
collocations on the right.
1. reading
a. problems
2. joint
b. fiction
3. song
c. game
4. computer
d. approach
5. fan
e. divide
6. fundamental
f. second
7. current
g. groups
8. gender
h. lyrics
9. different
i. affairs
10. focus
j. material
Collocations B
Now match nine of the collocations with their meaning.
a. ____________________: several people brought together to find out their
opinions
b. ____________________: important things that are happening now
c. ____________________: basic difficulties
d. ____________________: stories made up about popular stars
e. ____________________: the big difference between boys and girls
f. ____________________: the words of songs
g. ____________________: shared second place
h. ____________________: things you can read
i. ____________________: another attitude
Discussion
1. Do the results of the survey surprise you?
2. How similar is the situation in your country?
3. What do you think explains the situation?
4. How much does it matter what young people read? Why?
6. What would you do to change the situation?
Comment on the following quotes on books and reading. Use the active vocabulary:
A book is a mirror: If an ass peers into it, you can't expect an apostle to look out.
Georg C. Lichtenberg
A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.
Mark Twain
A dose of poison can do its work but once. A bad book can go on poisoning minds for
generations.
William Murray
A man ought to read just as his inclination leads him; for what he reads as a task will
do him little good.
Samuel Johnson
A real book is not one that we read, but one that reads us.
W. H. Auden
A person who publishes a book appears willfully in public with his pants down.
Edna St. Vincent Millay
All the known world, excepting only savage nations, is governed by books.
Voltaire
Be as careful of the books you read, as of the company you keep; for your habits and
character will be as much influenced by the former as by the latter.
Paxton Hood
Books are divided into two classes, the books of the hour and the books of all time.
John Ruskin
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and
digested.
Francis Bacon
The only books that influence us are those for which we are ready, and which have
gone a little farther down our particular path than we have yet got ourselves.
E.M. Forster
The smallest bookstore still contains more ideas of worth than have been presented in
the entire history of television.
Andrew Ross
I find television to be very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in
the other room and read a book.
Groucho Marx
TEST YOURSELF.
1. It is very important that everyone knows how (вызывать скорую).
2. Now the sights and sounds of this ceremony are (транслируются)
instantaneously to billions around the world.
3. Pirate DVDs, fake designer clothing and counterfeit computer games were all
found on market stalls in Hounslow, and trading standards officers warned
consumers to (остерегаться) merchandise at cheap prices.
4. We wanted to (избавиться от него), but he was very much attached to us, and
wouldn't go.
5. The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it (стоило целое состояние).
6. We (пошли искупаться) in the in-house hot bath before setting off to Nagano
City.
7. General Motors Co. generated $1 billion (наличными) last year after leaving
bankruptcy in July as Chief Executive Officer Ed Whitacre cut half of the U.S.
brands and shuffled management to push for a profit in 2010
8. Those who know each other well are often the best candidates to be participants
in (розыгрышах).
9. (Документальное кино) is a broad category of visual expression that is based
on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to document reality.
10.Sons who have fond (детские воспоминания) of their fathers are more likely
to be emotionally stable in the face of day-to-day stresses.
11.White had a habit of playing his trumpet (с самого утра), which really irritated
his neighbors
12.I want more for my son than a career running a photocopying machine, and
(представляешь?) - so does my son.
13.I worked hard to (заработать деньги) for college, and then decided not to go
14.For the first time Martin's glorious sleep was interrupted by (бессонницей),
and he tossed through long, restless nights.
15.There's been a (переворот) in one of the African republics.
16.Not only were they exceeding the speed limit but their purpose in exceeding
that speed limit was to (ехать наперегонки).
17.Five countries today signed a number of international conventions (связанных
с) human rights on the sidelines of the General Assembly’s annual high-level
debate.
18.If you (будете фотографировать) of the Sun at the same time each day, would
it remain in the same position?
19.The European Union makes a big effort to (поддерживать связь с) its citizens
and to keep them informed.
20.(Ты слышал анекдот про) the 'Responsible Lenders'?
21.Can you recall the last time you had to (иметь дело с) a negative or difficult
person?
ACTIVE VOCABULARY.
p. 30 (learn the phrasal verbs in exercise 1), Have you heard the one about...?
R4.1 yacht, go for a drive (a walk, a dip, a ride etc.), lean smth against smth, take a
picture, in cash, crew, sail in calm waters, eventually, bug, spread (insecticide) over,
(…$) worth of damage, get rid of
p. 31 call an ambulance, help smb to their feet
p. 32 (learn the words and expressions to speak about books and reading), Where is
the story set?, supernatural, insomnia, dozens of, be related to, childhood memories,
landowner, deal with, battle for (control of the country), a bloody coup ([ku:])
p. 33 shepherd, turn (lead) into (gold)
p. play practical jokes on smb, beware of, do one’s best, fool smb, an ad, rotate, drip,
a supermarket chain, genetically engineered, whistle, hoax, documentary, harvest, on
the news, broadcast
p. 35 convert, call off
R4.4 raise money, race each other (down the street), a flatmate, do smth first thing in
the morning, a payphone, a stunt, the local council, hilarious, I bet…, be in touch with
smb
p. 36 (study the informal sentences for exaggerating in ex. 1)
R4.5 turn up, cancel (the order), cost a fortune, on the Internet, install software, drive
smb crazy, stay out of trouble, ask smb round, Guess what?
Life without phrasal verbs (a possible answer).
I woke up when my alarm clock went off at 7.15. I didn't in fact get up until
7.30. I got dressed in my dressing gown, went down the stairs and let the cat in.
Then I picked up the telephone and called work. I asked the switchboard operator to put
me through to my boss. She asked me to hang on as the line was busy. When I got
through, I told my boss that I wouldn't be coming in as I wasn't well. She told me to
rest up for a few days.