1

UNIT THREE Topic: People and relationships Grammar: Gerund Talking points: 1. How do you get on with new people? What if you have to live or work together? 2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of sharing a flat with other people? 3. What are friends for? 4. Do different personalities and different beliefs make friendship impossible? 5. How far do you think developments such as e-mail and mobile phones are affecting personal relationships? 6. What makes families different? 7. Express your point of view on the say parents should have in such matters as marriage of their grown-up children. 8. Do you think that there will always be a generation gap? 9. Do you believe in love at first sight? 10. Comment on the statement that true love wins in spite of all difficulties. 11. What are weddings like in different countries? Ex. 1. Replace the verbs in italics with the following phrasal verbs: build up carry on fall off give up keep to keep up take on

Between the ages of 3 and 5, a child is unlikely to sacrifice anything for a friend. After the age of 5 children co-operate more but they expect their friends to follow certain rules. This stage will usually continue until the child is aged between 8 and 10. In adolescence, friendships with the same sex acquire great importance. Young adults may initially maintain close relations with their friends. Later on, the number of friendships begins to decline and after middle age, people develop new friendships less easily. Ex. 2. Choose the correct word to fill the gap in each sentence. adoption; ancestors; bachelor (2); best man; elderly; fiance; great-grandparents; in-laws; orphans; relation; step-brothers; single; toddler; widow 1. Richard was a ________ until his marriage at the age of forty-two. 2. Mary changed her job in order to be closer to her __________ parents. 3. ________ agencies changed the rules regarding children from overseas. 4. Let me introduce you to my _________. We are getting married next month. 5. Our ________ are all buried in the local churchyard. 6. When Johns mother remarried, he found he had three ________. 7. The war left many children _________. 8. When Harry married Sally he didnt realise what an important part his new _________ would play in his life. 9. Peter is fifty and unmarried and his friends call him an eligible _________. 10. The bridegroom was handed the ring by the _________ .11. All the family are long-lived, in fact three of my ____________ are now in their nineties. 12. Frances has two children, a _________of three and a baby of six months. 13. We call her Auntie Flo, though she is not really any __________ to us. 14 At the age of twenty-five Jennys husband died and she was left a ________ with two small children. 15. Barbara remained _________ until the age of thirty-two.

Ex. 3. Complete the text with a word or phrase from the list:

depended home wedding close support work out bringing up plan benefit

introduced fianc engaged running pregnant give up intention split up independent career nanny

Granddaughters often have good relations with their grandmothers. Sandy has always been ___________ to her grandmother, Nancy, whos now in her eighties. Nancy was thrilled when Sandy got _________ to her boyfriend Paul and the two of them talked about the differences in their attitude to marriage. Nancy was twenty when she got married in 1935. Her ________, David, was an engineer and they had been _________ at a party given by members of Davids family. They were engaged for two years before the actual ___________. Nancy was working in a dress shop when they met and she had to __________ her job when she got married. She stayed at __________ in the house she and David rented. She had no money of her own and so she ___________ on her husband for necessities. Soon she was ___________, and her first child, Sandys mother, was born in 1937. Nancy had her second child a year later. Her life revolved around __________ the house and __________ their two children. David was busy with his job and worked long hours to ___________ the family. Sandy doesnt see her married life being like this. Shes got a good job and has no __________ of giving it up. Shes told her grandmother that her ___________ is as important to her as being Pauls wife. She is twenty-seven now, and she and Paul dont _________ to have any children until she is in her thirties. Even then she intends to continue working. She will be able to pay for a _________ to look after the children. She thinks that her children will ____________ from having a mother who has her own interests and career, and who is financially ___________. Looking on the dark side, if things dont ___________ in the marriage, both she and Paul agree that its better to ___________ than to stay together unhappily for the sake of the children. Nancy says, It was all so different in my day. Ex. 4. Match the following words with a suitable definition. Use each word once. adult colleague nephew toddler neighbour sister-in-law widow best man fianc niece twin bride

a) The son of your brother or sister ................... b) A woman on the day of her marriage ................ c) A young child who is learning to walk ................ d) What a woman calls the man she is engaged to .................. e) One of the two children born at the same time .................... f) A person who lives near you ....................... g) The daughter of your brother or sister ...................... h) A person who is fully grown ....................... i) A woman whose husband has died ........................ j) At a wedding, the friend of the bridegroom ...................... k) The sister of the person you marry ...................... l) A person you work with .....................

READING

Text one THE PERFECT FLATMATE When I was 21, I came to live in London. I shared a damp basement flat with a beautiful ex-art student from Briton. Her name was Sam. She had long brown hair and a slim figure that I was madly jealous of. She ate three chocolate bars for breakfast every morning. I used to lie in bed looking at her eating and getting dressed, wondering how she could possibly consume so much sugar without losing her teeth, her figure or her complexion. Shed put on her make-up in under a minute, throw on whatever clothes happened to be lying around the room, and rush off looking like a model on the cover of a fashion magazine. Like me, she was just an art teacher in a secondary school. I, on the other hand, used to put on weight if I even smiled at a bar of chocolate. Id already lost several upper teeth, my face was spotty and I looked like a heavyweight boxer whatever I wore. My morning reaction to Sam was always the same. Id shut my eyes, pull the blankets over my head and force myself back to sleep. I knew that I really ought to get up too, and make use of the early start to have a shower, iron my blouse, polish my shoes, paint my nails and eat something for breakfast. But I have never been what youd call a morning person. The teaching job I was doing at the time was the only period of my life, thank goodness, that Ive had to be anywhere by 8.30 a.m. Anyway, I needed a few extra comforting dreams after the shock of seeing Sam looking so beautiful. Going back to sleep to shut everything out, and using my bed as a favourite means of retreat, became an addiction - my worst habit. Of course, I overslept and was late every single day of the week. Eventually I was told if things didnt improve I might be given the sack. So I gave up my job and got married instead. I blame it all on Sam and her beauty. Vocabulary share (n) 1. [C] - , Please, let me have a share in the expenses. 2. [U] , You are not taking much share in the conversation. 3. [C] - , He has 500 shares in a shipping company. share-holder - share (v) - 1. - , Share the sweets between you. He would share his last pound with me. 2. , ( ), ( ) He hated to share a hotel room with a stranger. 3. - , I will share (in) the cost with you. consume (vt.,vi.) 1. - , He consumed everything that was put before him. 2. - , The fire quickly consumed the wooden huts. He was consumed with envy. consumer (n) - consumption - The consumption of beer didnt go down when the tax was raised. shut (vt,vi) [pt, pp shut] - , Shut the doors and windows, the wind is very strong. The door wont shut. He shut his eyes to her faults. They shut the door in her face. shut down - () The workshop has shut down and the workers are unemployed. comfort (n) 1. [U] - , People become fond of comfort as they grow old. She is used to living in great comfort. 2. [U] - , The words brought comfort to all of us.3. [C] - , , (pl) Your letters have been a great comfort to me. The hotel has all modern comforts. comfort (vt) - , The child ran to his mother to be comforted. comfortable (adj) - , ; (.) , Please, make yourself comfortable. They are comfortably off - means (n) pl (often treated as sing.) - , There is (are) no means of learning what is happening. by means of - , Thoughts are expressed by means of words by all means - , , ; by no means - , (), These goods are by no means satisfactory. give up - , , , I cant answer that puzzle, I give up. She was so late that we had given her up. I wish I could give up smoking. The escaped prisoner gave himself up. ()

blame (vt) - , , He blamed the teacher for his failure. I have nothing to blame myself for. Who is to blame for starting the fire? blame (n) - , , ; take the blame for sth - ; put the blame on sb for sth - - Ex. 5. Answer the questions about the text. 1. Where did the writer of the passage live in London? 2. What did she do for a living at that time? 3. What was the girls attitude to her flatmate, Sam? 4. How fast was Sam, getting ready for work in the morning? 5. Why did the writer of the passage go back to sleep in the morning. 6. What kind of a girl was she? 7. Why did she give up her job? Ex. 6. Find the English for the following words: -. ; ; () ; ; ; ( ); ; ; ( ); (); ; ; ; - -. Ex. 7. Phrasal verb put put aside /by - save (, ) put away - store (, ) put down -write down, take down () put down to - attribute to ( -.) put forward - propose () put off -1.- postpone (), 2. - discourage from liking () put on -1.- dress oneself in (); 2. - increase (in weight)(); 3. - cause to take place (show/performance) ( ) put out - extinguish (fire) (, () put through - connect by phone ( ( ) put up - offer hospitality , () put up with - tolerate (, -.)

a)

Complete the sentences with the proper preposition. 1. When you are in town, Ill put you ....... in my flat. 2. He has put ...... weight since he stopped smoking. 3. The firefighters put ...... the fire quickly. 4. I wont put ..... ....... such rude behaviour any longer. 5. Can you put me ........ to Mr Jones, please? 6. Put ...... your coat and come with me. 7. The meeting was put ...... due to the presidents illness. 8. They are putting ...... My Fair Lady on Broadway next month. 9. He put ....... 50 a month for his summer holidays. 10. Make sure you put ...... everything said at the meeting. 11. He put ...... a new plan to help decrease unemployment. 12. Put the toys ...... in the cupboard. Were expecting guests. 13. She puts her recent success ...... ...... hard work and dedication. 14. I cant put ....... ........ that noise. They decided to put ....... a theatre visit for a while.

b)

Translate into English. 1. . 2. - , . 3. . 4. , , . 5. . . 6. , , .. . 7. . 8. , . 9. , , .. . 10. , . Ex. 8. Translate the sentences, using give up or refuse according to the sense.

refuse - say no to (request or offer), show unwillingness to accept (sth offered), to do (sth one is asked to do) - a gift, - ones consent, - to help give up - abandon the attempt to do sth, stop doing sth - ones seat to sb, - an idea, - smoking 1. . 2. , .. . 3. , .. 4 . 4. , . 5. , . 6. , .. - . 7. ? . 8. . . , , . Ex. 9. Fill in the blanks with prepositions. 1. She shut her eyes .......... his faults. 2. She is used ........living ..........comfort. 3. He tried to express his thought ......... means .........gestures. 4. The plant has shut ............ and the workers are unemployed. 5. He tried to put the blame .......... the failure ......... his colleagues. 6. We are to complete the project ....... all means next month. 7. I have nothing to blame myself ........ . 8. They decided to put ........ a visit to the Zoo ....... a while as the little boy didnt feel quite well. 9. After a few days they realised they were ...... love. 10. He was consumed ...... envy. 11. I am sorry, but I just cant put ........ ........ with your behaviour. 12. What if I drop ........ ......... Monday? -......... all means. 13. The new secretary hasnt had time yet to get used ...... your awful handwriting, and she is as much to blame ......... the mistakes she made ....... your report as you are. 14. Dont all go ........ a hotel. We can easily put .........some of you here. 15. You can do almost everything ....... means ........ hard work. Ex. 10. Translate into English. 1. . 2. , .. -. 3. , () , . 4. . . 5. . 6. , , , . 7. . 8. , . 9. , .. . 10. . , , . 11. , . 12. , , . 13. .

Text two MR KNOW-ALL I was prepared to dislike Max Kelada even before I knew him. The war had just finished and the passenger traffic in the ocean-going liners was heavy. Accommodation was very hard to get and you had to put up with whatever the agents chose to offer you. You could not hope for a cabin to yourself and I was thankful to be given one in which there were only two berths. But when I was told the name of my companion my heart sank. It was bad enough to share a cabin for fourteen

days with anyone (I was going from San Francisco to Yokohama), but I should have looked upon it with less dismay if my fellow-passengers name had been Smith or Brown. When I went on board I made my way into the smoking-room. I called for a pack of cards and began to play patience. I had scarcely started before a man came up to me and asked me if he was right in thinking my name was so-and-so. I am Mr Kelada, he added, with a smile and sat down. Oh, yes, were sharing a cabin, I think. Bit of luck, I call it. You never know who youre going to be put in with. I was jolly glad when I heard you were English. Im all for us English sticking together when were abroad, if you understand what I mean. Are you English? I asked, perhaps tactlessly. Rather. You dont think I look American, do you? British to the backbone, thats what I am. To prove it, Mr Kelada took out of his pocket a passport and airily waved it under my nose. King George has many strange subjects. Mr Kelada was short and of a sturdy build, cleanshaven and dark-skinned, with a fleshy, hooked nose and very large lustrous and liquid eyes. His long black hair was sleek and curly. He spoke with a fluency in which there was nothing English and his gestures were exuberant. I felt pretty sure that a closer inspection of that British passport would have betrayed the fact that Mr Kelada was born under a bluer sky than is generally seen in England. Mr Kelada was chatty. He talked of New York and of San Francisco. His discussed plays, pictures, and politics. He was patriotic. The Union Jack is an impressive piece of drapery, but when it is flourished by a gentleman from Alexandria or Beirut, I cannot but feel that it loses somewhat in dignity. Mr Kelada was familiar. I do not wish to put on airs, but I cannot help feeling that it is seemly in a total stranger to put mister before my name when he addresses me. Mr Kelada, doubtless to set me at my ease, used not such formality. I not only shared a cabin with him and ate three meals a day at the same table, but I could not walk round the deck without his joining me. It was impossible to snub him. It never occurred to him that he was not wanted. He was a good mixer, and in three days knew everyone on board. He ran everything. He conducted the auctions, collected money for prizes at the sports, organized the concert, and arranged the fancy-dress ball. He was everywhere and always. He was certainly the best-hated man in the ship. We called him Mr Know-All, even to his face. He took it as a compliment. But it was at meal times that he was most intolerable. For the better part of an hour then he had us at his mercy. He knew everything better than anybody else, and it was an affront to his vanity that you should disagree with him. He would not drop a subject however unimportant, till he had brought you round to his way of thinking. The possibility that he could be mistaken never occurred to him. He was the chap who knew. We sat at the doctors table. Mr Kelada would certainly have had it all his own way, for the doctor was lazy and I was frigidly indifferent, except for a man called Ramsay who sat there also. He was as dogmatic as Mr Kelada and resented bitterly the Levantines cocksureness. Ramsay was in the American Consular Service, and was stationed at Kobe. He was a great fellow from the Middle West, with loose fat under a tight skin, and he bulged out of his readymade clothes. He was on his way back to resume his post, having been on a flying visit to New York to fetch his wife, who had been spending a year at home. Mrs Ramsay was a very pretty little thing, with pleasant manners and a sense of humour. The Consular Service is ill paid, and she was dressed always very simply; but she knew how to wear her clothes. You could not look at her without being struck by her modesty. It shone in her like a flower on a coat. One evening at dinner the conversation by chance drifted to the subject of pearls. There had been in the papers a good deal of talk about the culture pearls which the cunning Japanese were making, and the doctor remarked that they must inevitably diminish the value of real ones. Mr Kelada, as was his habit, rushed the new topic. He told us all that was to be known about pearls. I do not believe Ramsay knew anything about them at all, but he could not resist the opportunity to have a fling at the Levantine, and in five minutes we were in the middle of a heated argument. At last something that Ramsay said stung him, for he thumped the table and shouted:

Well, I ought to know what I am talking about. Im going to Japan just to look into this Japanese pearl business. Im in the trade and theres not a man in it who wont tell you that what I say about pears goes. I know all the best pearls in the world, and what I dont know about pearls isnt worth knowing. Theyll never be able to get a culture pearl that an expert like me cant tell with half an eye. He pointed to a chain that Mrs Ramsay wore. You take my word for it, Mrs Ramsay, that chain youre wearing will never be worth a cent less than it is now. Mrs Ramsay in her modest way flushed a little and slipped the chain inside her dress. Ramsay leaned forward. He gave us all a look and a smile flickered in his eyes. I didnt buy it myself, of course. Id be interested to know how much you think it cost. Oh, in the trade somewhere round fifteen thousand dollars. But if it was bought on Fifth Avenue I shouldnt be surprised to hear anything up to thirty thousand was paid for it. Ramsay smiled grimly. Youll be surprised to hear that Mrs Ramsay bought that string at a department store the day before we left New York, for eighteen dollars. Mr Kelada flushed. Rot. Its not only real, but its as fine a string for its size as Ive ever seen. Will you bet on it? Ill bet you a hundred dollars its imitation. Done. Let me look at the chain, and if its imitation Ill tell you quickly enough. I can afford to lose a hundred dollars, said Mr Kelada. Take it off, dear. Let the gentleman look at it as much as he wants. Mrs Ramsay hesitated a moment. She put her hands to the clasp. I cant undo it, she said. Mr Kelada will just have to take my word for it. I had a sudden suspicion that something unfortunate was about to occur, but I could think of nothing to say. Ramsay jumped up. Ill undo it. He handed the chain to Mr Kelada. The Levantine took a magnifying glass from his pocket and closely examined it. A smile of triumphs spread over his smooth and swarthy face. He handed back the chain. He was about to speak. Suddenly he caught sight of Mrs Ramsay face. It was so white that she looked as though she were about to faint. She was staring at him with wide and terrified eyes. They held a desperate appeal; it was so clear that I wondered why her husband did not see it. Mr Kelada stopped with his mouth open. He flushed deeply. You could almost see the effort he was making over himself. I was mistaken, he said. It is a very good imitation, but of course as soon as I looked through my glass I saw that it wasnt real. I think eighteen dollars is just about as much as the damned things worth. He took out his pocket-book and from it a hundred-dollar note. He handed it to Ramsay without a word. Perhaps thatll teach you not to be so cocksure another time, my young friend, said Ramsay as he took the note. I noticed that Mr Keladas hands were shaking. Next morning I got up and began to shave. Mr Kelada lay on his bed smoking a cigarette. Suddenly there was a small scraping sound and I saw a letter pushed under the door. I opened the door and looked out. There was nobody there. I picked the letter and saw it was addressed to Max Kelada. The name was written in block letters. I handed it to him. He took out of the envelope, not a letter, but a hundred-dollar note. He looked at me and again he reddened. No one likes being made to look a perfect damned fool, he said. Were the pearls real? If I had a pretty little wife I shouldnt let her spend a year in New York while I stayed at Kobe, said he. At that moment I did not entirely dislike Mr Kelada. He reached out for his pocket-book and carefully put in it the hundred-dollar note. (abridged from Mr Know-All by S. Maugham) Notes

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

King George - George V, king of England (1865-1936) The Union Jack - national flag of Great Britain Levantine - a native or an inhabitant of the Levant (region on the East Mediterranean, including all countries bordering the sea between Greece and Egypt. Kobe - a city in Japan Fifth Avenue - a street in New York with many stores (shops) frequented by very rich people cocksure - (.) -;

Vocabulary add (vt,vi)- , , If you add 5 and/to 5 you get 10. Phr add sth up - add up a column of figures And I hope youll come early, he added. - addition (n) - , , He will be a useful addition to the staff of the school; Phr in addition to - -.; additional (adj) - additional charges prove (vt,vi) 1.- , His guilt was clearly proved. I shall prove to you that the witness is unreliable. 2. - The new secretary proved to be useless. Lets hope that the new secretary wont prove as inefficient as her predecessor.- proof (n) [U] , Is there any proof that the accused man was at the scene of the accident? Can you give proof that you are British? betray (vt) - , ; () He betrayed his principles. The boys face betrayed the fact that he had been eating jam. His accent at once betrayed the fact that he was a foreigner. - betrayal (n) - , familiar (adj) - , ; I am not very familiar with botanical names; facts that are familiar to every schoolboy; the familiar voices of the friends. Are you on familiar terms with Mr Green. Do you address him as Tom or Mr Green? Dont be too familiar with him, he is a dishonest man occur (vi) - , ; , When did this accident occur? An idea has just occurred to me.- occurrence (n) - , an everyday occurrence; an unfortunate occurrence intolerable (adj) - , intolerable heat; Is the world becoming an intolerable place to live in? resent (vt) - , , resent criticism; Does he resent my being here? - resentful (adj) - , ; resentment (n) - , feel no resentment against anyone; resume (vt) - , ; resume ones work/ ones story; resume ones seat sense (n) 1. - (sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch); sixth sense; 2. (pl) , He must be out of his senses to say such things. 3. - , a sense of duty; a sense of humour; a sense of direction; a sense of ones own importance; a sense of responsibility; 4 [U] - , There is a lot of sense in what he says. There is no sense in doing that. Whats the sense of doing that? Now you are talking sense.( , ) common sense - ; make sense - It doesnt make sense. sense (vt) - , He sensed that his proposals were unwelcome. trade (n) - 1. - Trade was good last year. 2. - , , He is a tailor by trade. The school teachers many useful trades. trade-mark - ; trade-union - ; trade (vi,vt) - 1. - Britain trades with many European countries. 2. - The boy traded his knife for a cricket bat. t rade sth in - He traded in his 1995 car for a new model afford (vt) - , - We cant afford a holiday this summer. She cant afford to displease her boss. appeal (vt) 1. - , The prisoner appealed to the judge for mercy. At Christmas people appeal to us to help the poor. 2. - , (legal) The prisoner appealed against the decision. 3. - , , These paintings do not appeal to me. appeal (for) (n) - , ; , ;

Word combinations put up with - cannot but do sth - - cannot help doing sth (laughing/ crying)- (, ) set (put) sb at ease - - , take it as a compliment - - be at sbs mercy - -, - You take my word for it - make an effort - Ex. 11. Answer questions about the text. 1. Why was the narrator prepared to dislike Mr Kelada even before he saw him? 2. Why did he have to share the cabin with Mr Kelada? 3. What was the narrators first impression of Mr Kelada? 4. What kind of man was Mr Kelada? 5. What was the narrators opinion of Mr Kelada? 6. What was the attitude of other passengers to Mr Kelada? Why? 7. Who did the narrator share the table with? 8. Why were there heated arguments at every meal? 9. Why did Mr Kelada lose his temper while discussing the pearl business? 10. What did Mr Kelada and Mr Ramsay bet on? 11. Why didnt Mr Kelada tell the truth about Mrs Ramsays pearls? 12. Why did the narrator change his opinion of Mr Kelada? Ex. 12. Find in the text the English for the following words and use them in discussing the text: ( ); -.; -.; ; -.( ); ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; - ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; - ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 100 ; ; ; -; ; ; ; . Ex. 13. Fill in the blanks with prepositions. 1. The child cant add ........ a column .........figures. 2. Im sure that these facts are familiar ......... every schoolchild. 3. Its amazing that such brilliant idea occurred ........ a small boy. 4. There is little sense ......... what he is saying. 5. There is no sense ........... discussing the issue now. We can resume the discussion ........ soon ......... we get the necessary information. 6. He traded ........ his old Ford ........ a new model. 7. This dress doesnt appeal ............ me. I wont buy it. 8. Her calm words set everybody ......... ease. 9. Some women told him that he looked boyish but he didnt take it ........ a complement. 10. He couldnt put ....... ....... the criticism. He felt resentment ......... his friends. 11. The idea of marriage doesnt appeal ........ me. 12. There isnt much sense ....... warning him ....... the dangers ....... the trip. He knows it himself. 13. Without a gun he was ......... their mercy. 14. Perhaps, this book will prove to be ....... some use ........ you ........your study. Ex. 14. Complete the sentences with the following words: afford blame betrayed familiar sense (2) sensible proved nonsense additional gave up sharing (2) occurred resumed mercy appeal

1. I cant make any ________ of this letter from the council at all. Its all ___________ . 2. Our local round-the-city 10 kilometre fun run is not the kind of race which normally ________ to me. 3. I didnt want to end up in a tiny place, so I answered an ad for house- __________ . Although it meant _________ the kitchen and the living room, I did have my own bathroom. 4. Harry finally ________ teaching me Portuguese. 5. At the time his words made little _______ to me, I was to understand their full meaning much later. 6. The suggestions he had made were quite ________ ,

10

and we saw no reason whey they shouldnt be accepted. 7. A seemingly unimportant incident ___________ but he wouldnt let it pass unnoticed. 8. We ________ our journey after a short rest. 9. I cant _________ three weeks away from work. 10. They were lost at sea, at the __________ of wind and weather. 11. Her red face _________ her nervousness. 12. On the long journey he __________ himself to be an amusing companion. 13. The mans unpleasant ___________ behaviour angered the girl. 14. I thought he was too good to __________ his friends. 15. We need some ___________help, we cant do it alone. Ex. 15. Translate into English. 1. , . . . 2. , , . 3. , , . . 4. , , .. . 5. , . 6. . , . 7. . 8. . 9. 12 . 10. , . . 11. , . 12. . 13. , . 14. , . 15. , . , .

Grammar exercises GERUND Forms of the Gerund Active Voice Present cutting Perfect having cut Passive Voice being cut having been cut

Note: There is a tendency at present to avoid using the Perfect forms of the Gerund. The Gerund is used as a noun. Collecting stamps is his favourite hobby. His being so slow is very annoying after certain verbs: admit (to), appreciate, avoid, delay, deny, detest, dislike, enjoy, excuse, fancy, forgive, give up, imagine, keep, look forward to, mind, object to, postpone, put off, prevent, risk, resent, stand, suggest etc. She doesnt mind working long hours. He admitted (to) stealing the old womans jewels. He suggested getting in touch with them as soon as possible. . after its no use/good; its (not) worth; theres no point (in); feel like, cant stand; cant help; be/get used to; be/get accustomed to; have difficulty (in); in favour of . I dont feel like going out tonight. Tom had difficulty (in) driving on the left when he first came here. as a prepositional object (after prepositions): think of; suspect sb of; accuse sb of; be afraid of; complain of; be tired of; be sure of; be aware of; object to; succeed in; be engaged in; insist on; depend on; apologize for; be responsible for; thank sb for; blame sb for; be good at; He apologized for being late. I am sure of his being innocent . I insist on being treated with respect. as an adverbial modifier (after prepositions: on, after, before, in, without, by, in spite of, despite, for, for fear of) He left without being seen. She locked the door before going to bed.

11

One side of the gallery was used for dancing. On seeing me on the other side of the street he waved to me. I upset their plans by refusing to come. as an attribute (after prepositions): ( intention of; plan of; idea of; habit of, chance of, opportunity of, way of, purpose of, reason for, doubt about, etc.) I dont like his habit of interrupting people. I dont like her way of doing it. I dont see the reason for his complaining about it. after begin, cease, continue, commence, start. (These verbs can be also be followed by an infinitive with no difference in meaning.) He continued listening / to listen to the radio. Verbs taking Infinitive or Gerund without a change in meaning 1. begin, start, continue, cease, commence, omit 2. advise, allow, encourage, permit, recommend, require, intend ( + object + to-inf.) followed by an object take a full infinitive whereas they take a gerund when not followed by an object (+ -ing form). (intend can also take a gerund whether the object is mentioned or not) He recommended us to take plenty of exercise. He recommended taking plenty of exercise. 3. it needs / requires / wants can be followed by a gerund or a by a passive infinitive. The car needs servicing / to be serviced. Ex. 16. Paraphrase the following sentences, using gerundial phrases, mind the prepositions. 1. That she is so fussy is not a little unpleasant. 2. What surprised everybody was that he was able to do it alone. 3. The doctor insists that she should put off the trip. 4. I dont mind if we go there by train. 5. He suspected that I knew the truth. 6. There is no doubt that he is intelligent. 7. He suggests that we should go to the stadium instead of watching the football match on TV. 8. Why waste time on such things? There is no sense in that. 9. He solves cross-word puzzles very well. He is good at it. 10. He is a hard-working student. There is no doubt about it. 11. He likes to listen to music. He gets pleasure out of it. 12. The child usually drinks milk before going to bed. He is used to it. 13. He has an annoying habit. He mispronounces names. 14. You were running a risk. You might have caught cold. 15. You shouldnt talk to him about it. Its no use. Ex. 17. Translate into English. 1. . 2. , . 3. , . 4. 5. - . . 6. . 7. . 8. , . 9. , . 10. , . 11. , ? 12. . 13. . 14. . Verbs taking Infinitive or Gerund with a change in meaning

1. forget + to-infinitive (= fail to remember to do sth) - He forgot to turn off the radio.
forget + gerund (= not to recall a past event) - Ill never forget seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time.

2. remember + to-infinitive ( = not forget to do sth) - Remember to lock the door before you
leave the house. remember + gerund (= recall a past event) - I dont remember seeing him at a party last night.

3. mean + to-infinitive (= intend to) She means to study art in Paris this summer.
mean + gerund (= involve) - I wont go if it means taking the train during rush hour.

4. go on + infinitive ( = finish doing sth and start doing sth else; then; afterwards) - They first
discussed the items on the agenda and went on to discuss the budget.

12

go on + gerund (= continue) - He went on playing the piano in spite of the neighbours complaints.

5. stop + to-infinitive (= stop temporarily, pause) - They stopped to admire the view as they
drove along the mountain road. stop + gerund ( = finish, stop permanently) - They stopped talking when the teacher came into the class.

6. regret + to-infinitive ( = to be sorry to ) - I regret to inform you that your application has
been rejected. regret + gerund ( = have second thoughts about sth done) - I regret buying this car because it is always breaking down.

7. try + to-infinitive ( = attempt) - We tried to persuade him not to go there but he wouldnt
listen. try + gerund ( = do as an experiment) - They tried advertising their business in the local newspaper.

8. like + to-infinitive ( = find sth good to do) - I like to go to the market early in the morning so
that I can pick out the best vegetables. like + gerund ( = enjoy) - I like swimming; its my favourite pastime . would like to + infinitive ( = want to) - I would like to meet your friend; he sounds interesting.

9. hate + to-infinitive ( = not like what one is about to do) - I hate to interrupt you but I need
some help. hate + gerund (= feel sorry for what one is doing) - I hate bothering you at such a late hour.

10. 11. 12. 13.

dread + to-infinitive ( = be afraid (specific) - I dread to think how much he may suffer. dread + gerund (= fear greatly (general) - I dread going to the doctor. propose + to-infinitive (= intend) - I propose to complain about his behaviour. propose + gerund (= suggest) - I propose trying this new Chinese restaurant. be sorry + to-infinitive (= regret) - I am sorry to hear of his illness . be sorry for + gerund (= apologize) - I am sorry for shouting at you.

be afraid to + infinitive (= be too frightened to do sth, hesitate) - She was afraid to jump into the pool. be afraid of + gerund (= be afraid that is referred to by the gerund may happen) - When driving in the rain, Im afraid of skidding on the wet road .

14.

be ashamed to + infinitive (the infinitive refers to a subsequent action) - She was ashamed to admit that she had lied. be ashamed of + gerund (the gerund refers to a present or previous action) - She is ashamed of lying and swears shell never do it again.

15.

would prefer + to-infinitive (specific action) - I would prefer to be left alone just now prefer + gerund (in general) - I prefer reading spy stories.

Ex. 18. Paraphrase using the Gerund. 1. He doesnt like it when he is treated like this. 2. Everybody hates it when he is interrupted. 3. Weve made a lot of trouble. We are very sorry for it. 4. That she is so fussy is not a little unpleasant. 5. We dont mind if we go there by train. 6. He suggests that we should put off the board meeting till Tuesday. 7. George hates it when somebody disturbs him when he is watching

13

TV. 8. Why do I have to remind you all the time? Why dont you do your work properly without it? 9. I think about her. I cant help it. 10. Time is wasted on unnecessary argument and I cant understand it. 11. If I was all alone on a desert island, I couldnt stand it. 12. I spend half my life on housework and I hate it. 13. You cant treat him like that, its no use. 14. The child usually drinks milk before going to bed. He is used to it. Ex. 19. Answer the questions using the Gerund.

1. Miss Jones was anxious to play the main role in the new play. What was Miss Jones looking
forward to?

2. James won the competition and everybody congratulated him. What did everybody congratulate
him on? 3. Alice wanted to stay at the Astor Hotel but James was against it. What did James object to? 4. His name has been mentioned in the press lately. He isnt used to it. What isnt he used to? 5. She was asked if she had signed the paper but she says she doesnt remember it. What does she say she doesnt remember? 6. We wanted to elect Mr Hale president of the club but they objected to it. What did they object to? 7. Helen never plays the piano when a lot of people are listening to her. What does she avoid? 8. Mr Harter was appointed manager and everybody congratulated him. What did everybody congratulate him on? 9. He was taken to Paris as a child and remembers it. What does he remember? 10. She didnt want to be recognized and had to wear dark glasses. What did she want to avoid? 11. They offered to examine George at once and he didnt mind. What didnt George mind? 12. Mrs Parker wants her son to be admitted to college. What does Mrs Parker dream of? 13. Some people call Miss Simpson Hellen. Does she object? 14. The Browns often leave little Nelly alone. Is she used to it? 15. The people always ask the clerk so many questions. Is he tired of it? 16. The money was spent on drinks. Does she admit it. 17. All his colleagues are underpaid. Do they complain of it. Ex. 20. Rewrite these sentences using the Gerund after a preposition. 1. He suspected that I knew the truth. 2. There is no doubt that he is innocent. 3. The professor insists that she should postpone the experiment. 4. Nobody was surprised that he was able to do it all by himself. 5. Why waste time on the arguments. There is no sense in it. 6.He likes to discuss politics with his friends. He gets pleasure out of it. 7. I dislike his annoying habit. He always interrupts people. 8. You were running a risk. You might have met with an accident. 9. Were you surprised that you caught so much fish? 10. We must cross this field and not make a noise. 11. I listen to her complaints and Im tired of it. 12. You are so rude. You ought to be ashamed. 13. John has suddenly started to take an interest in music and Im astonished at it. 14. James behaved so rudely I was thoroughly ashamed. 15. Jane must qualify as a doctor before she gets married; thats what Im keen on. Ex. 21. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form of the gerund adding a preposition where necessary. 1. I suggest ................ (call) the cinema to find out what time the film begins. 2. Its no use .................(try) to make excuses. She wont believe you. 3. Its raining. There is no point ................. (go) out now. 4. The children were annoyed ..................(tell) to leave. 5. Its difficult to get used .................(eat) with chopsticks.6. They escaped ..................... (slide) down ropes made of blankets. 7. She managed to leave the house ................... (see) by anybody. 8. She is a wonderful dancer. I couldnt help ................... (impress). 9. If you cant turn the key try ..................(put) some oil in the lock. 10. She looked upset. We suspected him .................(tell) her the sad news. 11. At first I enjoyed ............... (listen) to him but after a while I got

14

tired ...................(hear) the same story again and again. 12. If you go on .............(let) your dog chase cars hell end ...............(run) over. Ex. 22. Replace time clauses by gerundial phrases. 1. After we had walked for three hours we stopped to let the others catch up with us. 2. Before you give evidence you must swear to speak the truth. 3. After I heard the conditions I decided not to enter for the competitions. 4. When he arrived at the airport he went to the left-luggage office first thing. 5. She hesitated before she entered the room. 6. When he was looking through the documents he came across a very interesting photograph. 7. After they settled down they started to enjoy the island. 8. When I was passing their house I noticed that all the windows were dark. 9. Before she rose from the table she made me a sign to follow her. 10. You had better make inquiries before you take action. 11. After the committee had discussed the matter for an hour they adjourned without having reached any decision. Ex. 23. Answer the following questions using the gerund after prepositions without or by. 1. How did the committee accept the terms? (not argue) 2. How did she learn to play the piano so well? (practise a lot). 3. How did he tell you about the accident? (not go into details) 4. How did he manage to calm the child? (promise to return soon) 5. How did they listen to the journalist? (not interrupt) 6. How did the teacher find the way to the childs heart? (treat kindly) 7. How did the visitor leave? (not say good-bye) 8. How did he remain unrecognised? (dress as a woman) 9. How did they manage to get such excellent results? (use a new method) 10. How did he manage to get there so quickly? (take a helicopter) Ex. 24. Translate the sentences into English using the Gerund as an adverbial modifier. 1. , . 2. , , . 3. , , . 4. , . 5. , .6. , , . 7. , . 9. , , , . 10. , . 11. , . 12. , . 13. , . 14. , . 15. , . 16. , . 17. , . Ex. 25. Translate into English using the Gerund. 1. , . 2. . 3. . . 4. , ? 5. , . 6. . 7. . 8. . . 9. , .. . 10. , (add-on). 11. , . 12. . 13. . . 14. . 15. . 16. , . 17. , ( ). 18. . 19. , . 20. , . . 21. , . 22. , . 23.

15

, . 24. . 25. , . 26. , . 27. , . 28. , . 29. . 30. , . Ex. 26. Paraphrase the following using either not + Participle I or without + gerund 1. As I didnt know the answer, I kept silent. 2. He passed by and didnt even greet me. 3. I refused to be in charge of the work, because I didnt feel quite well. 4. As we didnt know the time of the departure, we decided to make inquiries. 5. He left and didnt say a word as to his intentions. 6. As she didnt find me in she left a message for me. 7. She went on talking and didnt pay attention to his remarks. 8. She didnt ask for help only because she didnt know where to find you. 9. He listened to her and didnt interrupt her. 10. You cant become a good pianist if you dont practise every day. 11. As he didnt know the details he couldnt answer my questions. 12. She solved the problem at once, she didnt make a fuss about it. 13. As he didnt know the schedule of the trains he arrived very early. 14. He was talking calmly; he didnt shout or lose his temper. Ex. 26. Fill in the blanks with not or without thus using Participle I or Gerund. 1. ......... knowing the answer, she continued to puzzle over the problem. 2. He looked at me ............recognizing me. 3. ........... recognizing me she passed by. 4. He received the news calmly ............ making a fuss about it. 5. I kept silent ...........wishing to attract attention. 6. ............ having noticed the mistake he could not understand why they were laughing at him. 7. She left ........... turning her head. 8. She felt lonely ............having any friends there. 9. He left the house ............ waking anyone. 10. I hung up the phone .............waiting for her answer. Ex. 27. Translate the following into English. 1. , , . 2. , , . 3. , . 4. , . 5. , . 6. , ? 7. , . 8. , . 9. , . 10. , . 11. , . 12. , , . 13. , . 14. , . Ex. 28. Complete the sentences with the correct form of get used to , be used to or used to. 1. This is a new machine and I ............. not ........... it yet. 2. When you are in a foreign country, its often difficult to ................ the food. 3. In his childhood he .................. live in Scotland. 4. John had been a soldier for twenty years and he found it hard to ................ life outside the army. 5. She became a big star but never ................. living in the limelight. 6. He ............. arrange exhibitions of amateur artists in his native town. 7. My grandmother didnt mind being alone - after being a widow for twenty years she ............. it. 8. The children ............not yet ............... their new school. 9. He ............... enjoy great success as a writer. 10. It took me hours of practise to ................ my new computer. 11. I sometimes think I ............never................ living away from the city. 12. Robin made a big effort to ................ his new life in another country. 13. When she was young she ............... play this role in the musical. 14. The candidates made lots of mistakes in the exam because they ................ not .............. the type of questions. Ex. 29. Translate the following, using to be used to doing sth or used to do sth. 1. - . 2. . 3. , , . 4. . 5.

16

. 6. - . 7. - . 8. , . 9. , . 10. . 11. , . Ex. 30. Paraphrase the following sentences, using forget or remember followed by either an infinitive or a Gerund. 1. She remembered that she had to drop in at the institute some time during the day to collect some books. 2. I did mention her departure to you! I remember it very well. 3. He forgot that he had postponed the meeting. 4. I didnt set the alarm clock yesterday, I forgot about it. 5. I remember that last year I received an occasional letter from him. 6. She didnt pay off the debt to him, she forgot about it. 7. I remember I phoned the station about the changes in the time-table. 8. She remembered that she should include him in the list of those invited to the conference. 9. I remember that I refused to accept their offer. 10. He didnt attend the opening ceremony, he forgot about it. 11. Did I really sign the paper? I dont remember. 12. Do you remember you borrowed a book from her? 13. Please, remember that you have to reserve a table for tonight in the restaurant for our guests. 14. She forgot that she had given him her telephone number and was surprised to hear his voice on the phone. 15. She said that she remembered that she had had a talk with him on the subject. 16. Please, remember that you should give him a ring on Friday and tell him about the changes. 17. I didnt return the book I borrowed from her, I quite forgot. 18. Did she remember that she was to get in touch with him? 19. I remember I enjoyed the film immensely. 20. She quite forgot that she had postponed the appointment. Ex. 31. Translate the following, using a gerund or an infinitive after the verbs remember and forget. 1. . 2. , . 3. , . 4. . 5. , . 6. , . 7. , . 8. . 9. , , . 10. , . 11. , . , . 12. , . 13. , . 14. , , . Ex. 32. Put the verbs in brackets into the gerund or the infinitive. 1.Dont forget ...............(lock) the door before ..............(go) to bed. 2. The boys like .............. (play) games but hate ...............(do) lessons. 3. I regret .................. (inform) you that your application has been refused. 4. Would you mind .................(shut) the window? I hate ................. (sit) in a draught. 5. Do stop .............(talk); I am trying ..............(finish) a letter. 6. My watch keeps ...............(stop). - Thats because you keep ..............(forget) .............(wind) it. 7. Ill never forget .............(travel) across America. - But you forgot ..............(send) me a postcard, didnt you? 8. I hate ............(ask) you, but can you help me with the housework? - Sure, but remember I hate ................(do) the vacuuming. 9. He hates ...............(answer) the phone, and very often just let it ..............(ring). 9. I prefer ...............(drive) to ................ (be driven). 10. Would you mind ............ (lend) me 5? I forgot ............ (cash) a cheque. 11. I tried ............. (explain) to him but he refused ............... (listen) and went on .............(grumble). 12. Try .............(forget) it; it isnt worth .............. (worry) about. 13. I distinctly remember ................(pay) him. I gave him 2. 14. Did you remember ...............(give) the key of the safe? - No, I didnt. Ill go and do it now. 15. Did you remember .............(lock) the door? - No, I didnt. Id better ..............(go) back and ..............(do) it now. 16. I keep .............(try) ..............(make) mayonnaise but I never succeed. - Try ................ (add) the yolk of a hard-boiled egg. 17. Youll never regret ................. (do) a kind action. 18. Did he go on .............(talk) about the same boring topics all night? - No, he went on .............(show) us his holiday photos. 19. Dont be afraid ...............(talk) to her in French.

17

- I cant. Im afraid of ...............(make) mistakes. 20. I meant ...............(tell) you theres a job vacancy at the chemists. - Well, I wont apply if it means ...........(work) at the weekend. 21. Why dont you try .............(take) a different medicine if you are still ill? - I think Ill just try .............. (get) some more sleep. 22. Lets stop .............(have) something to eat. - Again? I wish youd stop ............. (eat) so much! 23. The notice says the gallery regrets .............(inform) us that the Manet exhibition has finished. Oh, no! Now I regret ............(not go) last week. 24. When you finish this exercise go on ............(do) the composition on page 19. Why dont we try ............(eat) some Chinese food for a change? 25. They stopped .............(run) .............(have) a rest. 26. I really regret .............(spend) so much money at the weekend. 27. In general I prefer ...............(watch) films on the big screen rather than on TV. 28. As we were driving along we saw a good restaurant so we stopped ............(have) dinner and my friend stopped ............(say) he was hungry. 29. She was ashamed ..............(tell) her parents that she had used up all the money in her account. 30. She dressed very warmly as she was afraid ............(catch) a cold. Ex. 33. Translate the following into English, using the Gerund or the Infinitive. 1. . 2. . 3. . 4. , . 5. , . 6. . 7. , , . 8. , , . 9. , . 10. , . Ex. 34. Put the verbs in brackets into the infinitive or the gerund. Scotland was the perfect place .............(grow up). My parents had spent years .............. (save up) because they wanted ............(buy) a small farmhouse in the Scottish Highlands. Shortly after I was born their dream came true and our new life in the country began. To begin with, I was probably too young ................(appreciate) the fresh air and breathtaking views, but as I grew up I began ............(enjoy) ...........(explore) the unspoilt countryside. I soon got used to ..............(have) to walk miles to the shops, and since it was too far .............(travel) to the nearest primary school, my parents did their best ............(educate) me at home. However, I never felt lonely and was usually too busy ............(help) my father on the land to worry about .............(not have) any friends. My brothers and sisters also were starting ................(grow up) fast and we had no difficulty ..........(amuse) ourselves for hours on end. When I reached the age of eleven, my parents decided it was time ............(send) me to secondary school as they didnt feel they were capable of ..............(provide) me with the range of skills I would need for my future life. This would involve ..............(travel) twenty miles to the nearest town and twenty miles back. I was sorry ..........(say) good-bye to my old way of life, but at the same time I looked forward to .......... (mix) with new people. After .............(finish) school I was forced ...............(move) to Edinburgh ............(look) for work and I have now made the city my home. Although I love the cosmopolitan lifestyle, I sometimes cant help .................(wish) I was back in the Highlands. Ex. 35. Open the brackets using the Gerund or the Infinitive. Wife I hope you didnt forget ............(go) to the post office. Husband - Of course not. I remember ............(ask) about the new stamps. Wife You remembered ..............(post) my letter? Husband - Im trying .............(think). I cant remember ............(put) it into the box. Wife Do you mean ..............(tell) me you didnt post it? Husband - Id very much prefer ...............(tell) you I did. Wife If you didnt, itll mean ................(wait) till tomorrow. Husband - Try ................(look) in the shopping-basket. If its not there, it must have been posted. Wife I never like ...........(send) you shopping. I prefer .............(go) myself. Husband - Stop .............(grumble). I remembered .........(do) everything else. Wife Yes, but I always hate ................ (miss) the post. And I hate

18

................. (think) of this particular letter lying about in the road. Where are the stamps? Husband - In my wallet. Oh dear! Heres the letter too. Its funny, Id quite forgotten .................. (put) it there. Wife Give it to me. Id like ..............(post) it myself next time. Mixed Bag Ex. 36. Translate into English, using the Gerund and words from the vocabulary list. 1. . . 2. , . . 3. . 4. , , . 5. . 6. , , .. - . 7. . , . 8. , . 9. , , .. . 10. . , . 11. . 12. , . 13. , . 14. . 15. , .. . 16. , . 17. , .. . 18. , , .. . 19. , , . 20. , . 21. , . . 22. . . 23. , ? Ex. 37. Complete the sentences, using Infinitive, Gerund or Present Participle. 1. When the painter felt the ladder ............(begin) ............ (slip) he grabbed the gutter ........... (save) himself from ............(fall). 2. The snow kept ............ (fall) and the workmen grew tired of ................(try) ...............(keep) the roads clear. 3. He offered ..............(lend) me money. I didnt like ........... (take) it but I had no alternative. 4. What was in the letter? - I dont know. I didnt like .......... (open) it as it wasnt addressed to me. 5. Do you remember ...............(hear) the bombs ...............(drop)? - No, in the last war I was too young ............(realize) what was happening. 6.Did you remember ............ (book) seats for the theatre tomorrow? - Yes, I have the tickets here. Would you like ........... (keep) them? I am inclined ............... (lose) theatre tickets. 7. Try ..............(avoid) ............ (be) late. He hates ............(be) kept .............. (wait). 8. I didnt know how ..............(get) to your house so I stopped ............ (ask) the way. 9. I wish my refrigerator would stop ...............(make) that horrible noise. You cant hear anyone ..............(speak). 10. This book tells you how .............(win) at games without actually ...............(cheat). 11. He heard the clock ............(strike) six and knew that it was time for him ...........(get) up. 12. I can hear the bell ............. (ring) but nobody seems ............... (come) ................(open) the door. 13. Did you advise him ............. (go) to the police? - No, I didnt like ............(give) any advice on such a difficult matter. 14. I caught him ............. (climb) over my wall. I asked him .............. (explain) but he refused ..............(say) anything, so in the end I had .............(let) him ............ (go). 15. When at last I succeeded in ................ (convince) him that I wanted .............(get) home quickly he put his foot on the accelerator and I felt the car ............(leap) forward. 16. Im not used to ........... (drive) on the left. - When you see everyone else ............. (do) it youll find it easy .............. (do) it yourself. 17. Its pleasant ............... (sit) by the fire at night and .............. (hear) the wind ........... (howl) outside. 18. There was no way of ............ (get) out of the building except by .............

19

(climb) down a rope and Ann was terrified ............... (do) this. 19. Its no good ............... (write) to him; he cant read. The only thing .........(do) is ............ (go) and ............ (see) him. 20. Ask him ........... (come) in, dont keep him ............(stand) at the door. 21. Her small son used ............. (like) ............. (sit) beside the railway line and ............. (watch) the trains ............. (go) by. He got very good at ............. (know) the different types of engine. 22. I wasnt the first ............ (arrive), for I saw smoke .................(rise) from the chimney. 23. There are people who cant help ............ (laugh) when they see someone .............. (slip) on a banana skin. Ex. 38. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the infinitive, the gerund or the participle. Whatever else Christmas may ________ (stand for), one thing it still means is _______ (eat). Christmas has traditionally been a time of the year when people have tried ________ (cheer) themselves up during the cold months of winter. Last year more than 10 million turkeys were bought in Britain alone during the festive season _________(satisfy) the nations appetite. Heath experts may continue __________(complain) about all this self-indulgence, but they fail __________(realise) that there is nothing new about celebratory feasting, particularly at this time of year. The Roman Saturnalia, which was supposedly a festival __________ (honour) the god of agriculture, started on 19 December. Among other things, the Saturnalia involved _________ (light) candles and _________ (give) gifts. People who had spent the whole year _________ (save) money suddenly became extravagant. In addition to ___________(exchange) gifts, this time of year was also an occasion for masters and slaves alike ________ (eat) excessively. At the Saturnalia feast an emperor is reported _________ (spend) the equivalent of 600,000 on a dinner for twelve guests which consisted of twenty courses and lasted all day. So, when mealtime comes round on 25 December, theres no point in ________ (have) a guilty conscience. In fact the occasional seasonal feast may promote good health and stop year-round __________ (overeat). Ex. 39. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the infinitive, the gerund or the participle Marketing Interview After _________ (search) the jobs page of The Times I came across an advertisement that really excited me. It was for a trainee marketing assistant with a large food company. After ________ (apply), I was invited for an interview almost straightaway. Following a brief private interview, I was led into a room _________ (contain) twenty or so candidates. We were put into groups of four and given three new products ________ (launch): a soft drink, an ice cream and some chocolates. We had two hours _______ (discuss) and _________ (choose) names, _________ (package) and __________ (advertise) plans before _________ (present) our ideas to the other groups. I really enjoyed it and forgot I was in an interview. Fortunately, the interviewers must have thought I had something as they asked me back for a second interview after which I was offered _________ (work) with them. Ex. 40. Put the verbs in brackets into the infinitive, the gerund or the participle. When Gilbert decided _________(give up) his job and _________(sell) all his possessions, everyone thought he was mad. But, as it turned out, he was just the first of many of my friends ________ (do) this. In fact, _________ (escape) the pressures of everyday _________(work) life has become a priority for many people these days. They cant stand the idea of _________ (work) until they are 65, only _________ (retire) to some ________ (bore) country village and _________(waste) their time ________ (dig) the garden or _________(gossip) with the neighbours. They would rather __________ (live) life to the full now, before they are too old _______ (enjoy) it. __________(buy) a motorcycle and _________(tour) the world is a popular option. Other, less adventurous types might prefer _________ (buy) a small farmhouse and ________ (live) off the land. Personally, I fancy __________ (sail) around the world in a yacht. As for Gilbert, he bought a house in a little country village and spends his time _________ (walk) around the village and ________ (talk) with the neighbours. Ex. 41. Fill in the correct form of the infinitive, the gerund or the participle. Eli Bilson always enjoyed _______ (tell) us about his life, and we were always afraid _________(interrupt) him because he had a very hot temper. He had left school at thirteen, and he had managed ________(avoid) ________(look for) a real job by _______ (work) for his father in

20

the family scrapyard. He was supposed _________ (check) the weight of scrap metal ________ (leave) the yard, but he always preferred _______ (sit) around and _________(make) cups of tea for the other workers instead. You wont be surprised _______(hear) that eventually Elis father noticed him _________ (waste) time _________(do) nothing, and asked him _________(find) another job. Eli never regretted _________ (have) ________ (leave) the scrapyard, because his next job was even easier! He was employed at Dudley Zoo as a nightwatchman, where he found it a pleasure just _______(sit) and _________(watch) the monkeys _________(play) in their cages. His only duty was ________(feed) the jaguars at dawn - something which he claims he only forgot ________(do) once in his time there. He said that he would never forget _______ (see) the zookeepers face after the poor man had tried ________(give) them their lunch - they had nearly eaten him alive! After ________(work) in the zoo for six years, war broke out in Europe and Eli went on _________(join) the army in hope of finding some adventure. Speech exercises Ex. 42. Read the text and say how easy it is to understand another persons character. My friend Jack, was once a rather annoying person . He was always getting into trouble at school because he was so disobedient. In class he was very talkative and never stopped making jokes. The teachers all told him he was impolite because he interrupted them. When I met him he was very unfriendly and didnt want to talk to me at all. People told me that he stole things, and that he was dishonest. His school work was terrible. He didnt take any pride in his writing, he never spent enough time doing his homework, and he was not at all conscientious. One day he saw a gang of boys attacking an old man. Jack hated violence and he fought them all until they ran away. He was awarded a medal for bravery. After that, people changed their minds about him. Ex. 43. Read the text and say how easy it is to share a room with other students. When thrown together, what can roommates become - the best friends or enemies? Living with a stranger The roommate situation is the first challenge students face. Learning to tolerate a strangers idiosyncrasies may teach flexibility and the art of compromise. But the learning process is often painful. At Ithaca College in Upstate New York, Julie Noel and her roommate were uncommunicative and uncomfortable throughout the year. I kept my stereo up once for a whole day just to test her because she was so timid, says Noel. It took her until dinnertime to finally turn it off. Near years end, the two ended up in a screaming fight. Looking back, I wish I had talked to her more about how I was feeling, says Noel. Most roommate conflicts spring from such small, irritating differences. Suzie Orr, director of housing at Indianas St Marys College, says that the matching process is complicated: Do you put together people who are similar or different, so they can learn about each other? Alan Sussman at the University of Maryland says: I think they must have known each of our personalities and picked the opposite. While Sussman was neat and a compulsive studier, his roommate was messy and liked to party into the early hours. Sussman considered moving out at the end of the semester, but decided to stay and fight it out. Against all odd, the two ended up being friends. Says Sussman: We taught each other a lot. There are many stories of college roommates becoming lifelong friends. Singers Jean Norris and Renee Neufville of the soul duo Zhane started writing songs while rooming together at Temple University in Philadelphia. After breaking up with their boyfriends within 24 hours of each other, they managed to compose their way out of the blues. Find a word or phrase in the text which in context is similar in meaning too: somebodys individual qualities/ habits being happy to change; easy with other people half way between two points of view disagreement, fight come from/originate from putting two suitable compatible people together doing something all the time; unable to stop

21

tidy although it was very improbable avoid sadness by writing songs Ex. 44. Complete the text with the infinitive or the gerund. Discuss the relations between brothers and sisters. Brothers and sisters When I was young I argued with my brothers and sisters all the time. I used to ______(share) most of my toys with my brother, but he specialised in ______ (keep) them for himself. When I asked him for anything he simply used to ________(refuse) ______ (give) it to me, and then I became very angry with him. Our sisters blamed everything on us when our parents accused us of _________ (quarrel) all the time. My brother and I got annoyed about this, but only succeeded in _________(make) matters worse. Our parents didnt approve of our _______(quarrel) so much, and insisted on ________(not take) sides. They either laughed about it, or told us ________(forgive) each other for everything. Soon we became ashamed of _________(quarrel), and became good at _________(get) on well with each other. Ex. 45. Read the text about a millionaire businesswoman talking about her family. Anita Roddick My mother, Gilda Perella, came to Britain from a village in Italy when she was fifteen to be a nanny. She still lives in the terraced house in Littlehampton, Sussex, where I was born in 1942. It is called Atina after her village and has bright red window frames. It was always understood that when she reached England, she would marry a boy from her home village called Donny. My mother made us, my two sisters, my brother and me, understand that love and work are the only important things in life. She also made me feel special, which gave me great confidence. She loved my sisters, but they were no trouble to her, whereas I was maddening but entertaining. As a teenager, she allowed me extraordinary freedom. But because she trusted me, I developed a strong sense of responsibility. The greatest thing she gave me was my work ethic. After my father died, she ran our caf and we had to help. I dont remember playtimes from my childhood; it was always summer and we were always working. Sometimes wed complain about never getting to the beach, and then shed rush us down there for an hour - she was always one for the big gesture. Then it was back to work. Not that shes perfect: my mother has the greatest capacity to embarrass anyone Ive ever met. When she came to collect me from college while I was training to be a teacher, Id ask her to arrive after everyone had left, because she was so dreadful. She does have the most appalling taste; shed win any bad taste award going. The presents she buys are legendary in our family. She only once bought me something nice - copper frying pan - I was so excited I rang to thank her immediately. She said: What do you mean? Its a clock. And I turned it over, and it was. A clock. Hideous. I taught for a bit, then went off travelling for a couple of years. I got back to find my mother too excited to listen to my stories. She couldnt wait to tell me about this man who came to the nightclub she was running then. His name was Gordon Roddick. The minute I set eyes on him, I knew this was the man I wanted to be the father of my children. He says when he saw me he knew instantly that I was his fate. I think I just felt an immense relief.

a)

Find the English for the following words and use them in discussing the text: / / () , -

22

- ,

b) 1.

Choose the best answer, according to the information in the text: When Gilda Perella came to Britain she A) was already married. B) was hoping to find a husband. C) was in love with someone in her village in Italy. D) was planning to marry Donny. 2. How does Anita think she developed a sense of responsibility? A) She was given a job to do. B) She had to look after her sisters and brothers. C) She was free to do what she wanted. D) She wanted to copy her mother. 3. Anita admired her mother most for A) her hard work. B) her romantic spirit. C) her loyalty to the family. D) her ability to be alone. 4. One negative aspect about Anitas mother, according to the text is that: A) She interferes in her childrens lives. B) She deliberately tries to embarrass her children. C) She never relaxes. D) She does things that shame her children in public. 5. When Anita met her future husband she A) was looking for a partner for her travels. B) was in a nightclub. C) was planning another trip. D) knew her mothers feelings were correct. c) Translate into English. 1. . , , . 2. , . 3. , . 4. . 5. , , , , . 6. , , . Ex. 46. Complete the text with the following words and discuss the relations between parents and children. encouraged backgrounds live up to sheltered upbringing follow spoilt domineering pressure immature trial interests pushy I guess I was what one might call a _______ child, for I was the only child of Mary and David Bettleman and I got whatever I wanted. I had a rather weak-minded mother and by contrast a very ___________ father who had exceedingly high expectations of me, expectations I couldnt __________ You see, my father was quite an eminent lawyer and wanted nothing more than for me

23

to __________ in his footsteps. He ___________ me to win at everything and to be ultracompetitive. He just couldnt see that he was being far too ________ and putting too much ___________ on me. He simply thought that he was acting in my best __________ Not surprisingly, perhaps, I rebelled against my _____________ by becoming thoroughly apathetic at school. As soon as I turned 18, I struck out on my own and went off on a trip to India. It was there that I met Ingrid, a fellow traveller. It became clear that we came from very similar ____________. She too was running away from something: in her case a very over-protective parents. We hit it off immediately, and I plucked up courage and asked her to be my girlfriend. But I was young and I needed space, and I guess I was too __________ to handle the give and take of a relationship. Or perhaps I was just afraid of commitment. Anyway, we went through a very bad patch and had a ________ separation for a couple of months. Ex. 47. Look at the different way these people decided to get married. Do people have a choice about where and how to get married? WEDDINGS A Church of England Wedding When Jonathan and Sarah Gibbs were married, the couple never considered anything other than a church wedding. Getting married in a register office just wouldnt have had the same sense of occasion. Neither is a regular church-goer. Sarah, who wore a lace and silk dress, agrees that pleasing her parents was a big factor in opting for a traditional do. The 20-minute ceremony at the church was followed by champagne on the lawn of an Elizabethan manor, a receiving line, and a three-course sit-down meal for 100, followed by dancing into the night. The couple were waved off to a honeymoon on safari in Kenya and Tanzania. Most of the cost was borne by Sarahs father. It was an awful lot of money but worth it, she says. I mean, you only get one chance to have a really big do like that, dont you? A Muslim Wedding Five hundred guests and four days of festivities marked the marriage of Naila and Rizwan Minhas. Theirs was a winter wedding, last December: Naila veiled in the traditional Punjabi wedding outfit of beaded red lace, remembers shivering in the snow as she was taken from one venue to the next. An Asian wedding is a really big deal and people travel miles to go to them - we had guests from Hong Kong, Pakistan and the United States at ours, says Naila. Naila and Rizwan both grew up in Glasgow where their parents have been friends for years. It wasnt exactly an arranged marriage, says Rizwan, but you could say there was a fair amount of parental persuasion. We wouldnt have done it if we hadnt both been very happy with one another, though. The wedding celebrations started when 250 guests gathered to welcome Naila and mark her hands with henna, the traditional greeting for a bride. The following evening there was a similar ceremony for Rizwan. The actual marriage took place at Eastwood Hall in Glasgow and the couple arrived separately to the serenade of a kilted piper. I feel very Scottish as well as Asian, explains Rizwan. During the ceremony itself, the couple were in different rooms - the priest went first to the bridegroom and then to the bride to ask whether they had consented to the marriage. A ring ceremony followed, in which Rizwans mother placed a gold ring on Nailas finger and Nailas mother placed one on Rizwans. Wearing rings is a western custom which weve started following too, says Rizwan. A sit-down meal of traditional Pakistani dishes was followed by speeches. Naila, now officially part of Rizwans family, left with him for his family home where music and dancing continued into the night. The newly-weds stayed with Rizwans parents for a few days before leaving for a honeymoon in Tunisia. A Modern Wedding in Las Vegas Bryony Mander married Jake Peck in Las Vegas last January part-way through a touring holiday of the States. On arrival in Vegas the couple spent an afternoon checking out numerous wedding chapels and eventually decided on the Little White Chapel. Bryony had brought her own dress with her, emerald green and shocking pink taffeta, but Jake hired a western-style tuxedo with flared nylon trousers. They were collected from their hotel in the complementary limo and driven to the County Court House to obtain their licence, then on to the chapel itself. The ceremony was actually quite pleasant, said Bryony. We had a female minister and we chose to have the civil

24

ceremony. After the ceremony, the real business started. The lady behind the counter tried to sell us the video that wed said we didnt want in the first place, a cassette recording of our vows and a white leather-bound photo album. Under pressure we gave way on the latter. There were more extras to come. Bryony and Jake were handed an envelope which read Ministers donation: between $40 and $100 and in the limo a sign stated that the driver worked only for gratuities and would accept tips over $25. Looking back, it was a great laugh, says Bryony. A big church wedding seemed too much and a register office not enough, so this was the perfect alternative. A Humanist Wedding Wed been coming to Lulworth Cove for years and thought it would be a brilliant place to get married, says Debbie. Neither of us had been brought up with any formal religious belief and we felt it would be hypocritical to go to church just to get married. A friend told us about humanist ceremonies. Humanist ceremonies have no standing in law, so Debbie and Nick had to go along to Hammersmith register office the previous day to be legally wed. For the ceremony at Lulworth, the bride wore an ankle-length white dress and a veil and walked the quarter of a mile up the hill from the car park on her fathers arm. A hundred friends had gathered on top of the hill to hear Nick and Debbie recite vows they had written themselves, in which they promised to recognise each other as equals and to love, honour and tenderly care for each other in the years ahead. After the formalities, everyone walked the mile back into the village for an afternoon of festivities, followed by dancing to the sound of a Cajun band. Hiring the hall cost just 6 and the overall costs were split between both sets of parents and the bridal couple themselves. We were a bit worried about whether our parents would approve, says Debbie. But they loved it. I think they were quite proud of us for being creative and doing something else.

a) Find in the texts the English for the following and use these words in the discussion:
() , b) Translate into English: 1. . 2. , . 3. , , .. . . 4. , .. . 5. , . 6. , . 7. . 8. , , , . 9. (solicitor). . Ex. 48. Read the text below and decide which word A,B,C or D best fits each space. Diamonds are Forever It has been (1) .............. practice in recent years for a man to buy his fiance a diamond to (2).............. their engagement. Diamond rings have been bought by aristocracy since the (3)....................of the century, but until the 1950s they were considered an expensive and (4) .................accessory for a working-class wedding. (5).................., it was around this time that De Beers, the biggest producers of diamonds in the world, decided that they needed to (6) ............... their market. As a (7) ................... they launched an advertising campaign which was (8) ................... at couples with a slightly smaller budget. It was one of the most successful campaigns in the companys (9) ................ . For this campaign, the advertisers wanted to sell the

25

idea that, (10) ..................diamonds are an expensive luxury, they are also the (11) ....................of everlasting love. Thus a diamond engagement ring was supposed to signify the husbands lifelong (12) .............. to his wife. The idea was expressed in the (13) ..................... which was first conceived by De Beers advertisers: Diamonds are Forever. This (14) .................... to be highly profitable because the public bought the idea and (15) ................. bought diamond rings by the thousands. De Beers, who now have almost total (16) .................. over diamond production worldwide, have never looked back. 1 A 2 A 3 A 4 A 5 A 6 A 7 A 8 A 9 A 10 A 11 A 12 A 13 A 14 A 15 A 16 A usual B common prove B notice beginning B first unwanted B unnecessary Although B However stretch B grow fact B result aimed B pointed history B past even B but post B signal devotion B trust word B phrase turned B proved after B though force B check C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C average D regular show D mark origin D front invaluable D needless While D When continue D extend conclusion D reaction guided D led story D tale although D nevertheless fact D symbol relationship D faith part D remark ended D confirmed consequently D following control D strength

Ex. 49. Read the text. Seven sentences have been removed and placed below the text with three additional phrases. Select the appropriate phrase for each gap in the text. Ways to Wedded Bliss For many people their wedding day is the most important planned date in their lives and there are a whole range of symbols and customs associated with it. (1) .............. is the custom of throwing confetti - a colourful mix of small pieces of paper, sometimes in the form of horseshoes, slippers and hearts. (2) ............ and the practice comes from the Roman tradition of throwing almonds and nuts as fertility symbols. In many countries the wedding guests throw grain - often rice - although increasingly they use a paper substitute. (3) ........... from which future generations will grow, and the scattering of seeds encourages a fruitful marriage. However in some parts of the world there are other reasons for throwing sweet things. (4) ........... raisins, figs and dates are scattered to sweeten the general proceedings. And then again, the Inuit people of North America dont throw sweet things at all, but old shoes as an aid to fertility. (5) ...........associated with weddings were originally designed to protect the bridal couple from evil influences. Probably the most universal talisman still in use is the veil. (6) .......... to hide the bride from evil spirits. The Chinese are particularly wary of evil presences during what they see as the limbo period, the time from when the bride leaves her house until her arrival at the ceremony, so she travels inside a closed sedan chair. (7) ......... in some Russian ceremonies in which all the doors, windows and chimneys are sealed to prevent witches entering the wedding.

A. It was used as a disguise, B. In Morocco, for example, C. The idea of the wedding ring D. The word confetti is derived from the Italian for sweetmeats, E. Evil spirits are also literally shut out F. It is hardly surprising that G. Many of the rites and customs H. The journey to the wedding I. The wedding pair represent a new field

26

J.

One of the most common

Ex. 50. Complete the following, using the correct form of a verbal (Gerund, Participle or Infinitive) and discuss the text. Dora got into the train. It was now very full indeed and people were sitting four a side. Before ..........(sit) down she inspected herself quickly in the mirror. She looked good in spite of not ........... (sleep). She turned towards her seat. A large elderly lady moved a little ........... (make) room. It was a devilish hot day. She thought that she was lucky ........... (have ) a seat and with a certain satisfaction watched the corridor .............(fill) with people who had no seats. Another elderly lady, ............. (make) her way through the crowd reached the door of Doras carriage and addressed her neighbour, Ah, there you are, dear, I thought you were nearer the front. They looked at each other rather sadly. The ............. (stand) lady had her feet .............. (catch) in the luggage. They began a conversation about how they had never seen the train so full. Dora stopped ............. (listen), .............(strike) by a terrible thought. She ought to give up her seat. She refused .............(believe) the thought but it came back. There was no doubt about it. The elderly lady who was standing looked very weak indeed, and it was only proper that Dora, who was young and healthy, should give her seat to the lady who could then sit next to her friend. Dora felt the blood ............(rush) to her face. She sat still ........... (think) over the matter. There was no point in ............ (be) hasty. It was possible of course that while clearly ................(understand) that she ought to give up her seat she might nevertheless simply not do so out of pure selfishness. One the other side of the .............. (stand) lady a man was sitting. He was reading his newspaper and didnt seem ............. (think) about his duty. There was another aspect to the matter. She had taken the trouble of ............... (arrive) early, and surely ought .............(reward) for this. Though perhaps the two ladies had arrived as early as they could? There was no ............ (know). But in any case there was an elementary justice in the first comers ............. (have) their seats. She thought of her state of mind as neurotic. She decided not ............ (give up) her seat. She got up and said to the lady. Do sit down here, please. Im not going far, and Id much rather ............. (stand). How very kind of you! said the lady. Now I can sit next to my friend. I have a seat of my own further down, you know. Perhaps we can just exchange seats? Do let me ............(help) you ............ (move) your luggage. The train began .............(move). On .............. (reach) the other carriage Dora at once saw an empty corner seat by the window. The elderly lady departed and Dora settled down. (from The Bell by Iris Murdoch, adapted) Ex. 51. Read and discuss the text. ON TIME Laura was the first person to take a seat in the Pullman. It was always that way with Laura. Whether for a train, a dentist appointment, the theatre, a dinner-party, Laura was always punctual. In her home town, her friends would look out of their windows and seeing Laura on her way to a luncheon or other meeting, they would say, We have plenty of time. Lauras just leaving. Her punctuality meant that she often had to wait for people. In fact, some time ago, she had been kept waiting a very long time. And now here was the man who had made her wait, taking his seat at the other end of the car. After ten years, she still knew him before she saw his face. She was annoyed with herself because the sight of him made her realise that she still cared. Just in time she pretended to shade her eyes with her hand as he turned around before sitting down. The train started. Frank was deep in his paper and a dozen Pullman chairs away from him Laura was left with her memory of an afternoon a decade ago, an afternoon when she had waited, and waited alone. He had arranged to meet her at Luigis. He had chosen the place with great care, it was a place where no one knew her. Ill telephone them to expect you, and you go straight through the bar to the last booth. You wont know anybody, but just in case. When she went into the place, the owner seemed to recognize her. Yes, lady, you are meeting Mr Hillman. Right this way, please. He lead her to the booth, took her order for the first drink. She had left her bags in the front of the restaurant, and there was not the slightest doubt in her mind that the owner knew what was going on. He was very polite, very attentive as though

27

every afternoon at four he greeted young women who were walking out on their husbands because they had fallen madly in love with someone else. There was admiration but no disrespect in his eyes as he brought her the first drink. The admiration gave way to pity after she had waited two hours and had taken her sixth drink. Then she went home. Frank had tried to get in touch with her, but all his attempts were unsuccessful because she had never replied. Would you like to have lunch with me in the dining car? Frank was standing over her with his easy charming smile. Why, Frank, she said, pleased she did not sound as frightened as she felt. Why, yes, thanks. She got up and they went to the diner. They did not speak until they had ordered. She hoped that the years had changed her as little as they had him. He was still very handsome. Im very pleased, he said. Why? At what? That you speak to me. For ten years Ive wanted to tell you about that awful day. I know you think I should at least have telephoned, but you never gave me a chance to tell you what happened. Do you know what happened? What happened, Frank? I met with an accident on my way to Luigis, I was run down be a taxi. When I woke up in the hospital it was too late to call you even if I could have got out of bed, which I didnt for nearly three months. Really? she said. And of course there was no one I could ask to phone you. No one else knew. All at once she saw a way to wipe out the humiliation of those ten years and that one afternoon. Frank, Ive got to tell you something. I wasnt there. She looked at him and, she knew, convincingly. What? I never went to the place. I did come to New York. I was going to meet you, but at the last minute I was afraid. But, Laura, he said, when I got out of the hospital, I asked Luigi. He said, yes, he remembered a lady waiting for me. It wasnt I. I just couldnt do it. I couldnt walk out on Bob that way. Then when I went home I was ashamed for being such a coward. Thats why I never returned your calls. I was too cowardly. You werent there, he said in a flat voice. I cant believe it. I cant believe it. It worked out better this way, she said. She was heartless, cruel, but she got some comfort out of what she had said. Well, I suppose so, he said. He was taking it very well. He couldnt have her see what a hard blow it was for him. Punctual Laura, on the occasion when you really should have been on time, you didnt turn up at all. Well, better never than late, as they say, she said sweetly. (by John OHara, adapted) Ex. 52. The following extracts are all on the topic of friendship. Read the extracts to get a general idea of style and content. Then match them to the following sources: a novel or an autobiography a specialist journal or an academic reference book a popular magazine Now read the extracts again and choose the answer (A,B,C or D) which you think fits best according to the text. OURSELVES AND OUR FRIENDS Most of us have friends as close as family, who, at a pinch, wed call at 3 a.m. for consolation or congratulations because we know they wont resent us. Theyre almost part of us, and we regale them confidently with our troubles and triumphs. But while I love these Pour Your

28

Heart Out friends, I also need the energy of my Lets Party friends. These friends care on a different level - less intense, less deep - but they still care. And such friendships are important. With some friends, you want to be playful rather than deeply disclosing, says psychotherapist Susie Orbach. Its not just a relief to them that you wont give chapter and verse, its a relief to you. Its healthy to have lots of different friends at different levels of intimacy because not only is it impossible to be close to everyone, its also undesirable. You need the full spectrum. This is the only way you can experiment with different parts of yourself. Of course, its exasperating to feel stranded with friends who cant - or wont - allow you to open up when theres opening up to be done. But if we accept our lite friends for what they do want to offer us - fun, laughter, full stop - then we enrich our lives immeasurably. I The writer feels her relationships with her lite friends A are valuable but not fully satisfying B can be relied on in difficult times C offer more than laughter and enjoyment D are often frustrating II In this extract, the writer is A opposing an argument B describing a problem C justifying an opinion D reporting on research TALKING TO HELENA You know what you said to Neale about underestimating friendship? I said. Yes? I was just thinking Ive never experienced it. Now youre being silly again, said Helena. Im sure you have. Im sure youre a very warm-hearted person. No. Ive been in love, or acquainted with people because I wanted to use them in some way. I reckon you were impatient with people, she said. You wanted them to give you something, always. Still, its natural to be impatient when youre young. I once told Neale I could stand anything but a status quo. And now, said Helena, one would give anything for a status quo. If only it would last. What were you and Neal really looking for? A moment, I said, that should be immortal. A moment to set up against those moments when you wake up in the night and realize - oh, that Venice will crumble into the sea one day, and that even before that youll be dead yourself. Helena nodded. Oh, those moments in the night, she said. When they come on me now, I just say to myself: Well, you know now. Youre going to die. Thats all there is to it. I looked at her, smiling. Oh Helena, I do like you. Thats a good thing. She gathered herself robustly in her chair. Because I like you. I What does Helena mean by saying If only it would last.? A She would like to have more power over her life B She would like her friendship with the narrator to survive C She would like her situation to remain unchanged D She would like to stay young for ever II The two main themes of their discussion are friendship and A love B patience C death D fear.

29

STUDYING FRIENDSHIP Although friendship is a common term in modern cultures, it has not been studied much by social scientists. The word is loosely applied in Anglophone society, although there seems to be general agreement that it has a deeper meaning in Europe than in North America. Arguably, in nonWestern cultures it has a more explicit meaning and is used as the basis of structured social relationships. The word friendship is not used in any context to describe a family relationship, but it does imply some type of reciprocity and obligation between otherwise unrelated individuals, although this varies according to situation and context. Friendships can range from the relatively casual, depending on shared activity or setting (such as a sports club), to deep and enduring relationships of mutual support. The systematic study of friendship has two main strands. The social-psychological study of the ways in which children develop friendships usually focuses on the correlation between type of friendship chronological age in childhood. Studies of friendship among adults, however, concentrate on patterns of sociability and tend to focus on class differences. Graham Allen claims that workingclass friendship choices are dominated by kin link, although neighbours and work-mates also feature. The middle classes, on the other hand, have a wider, more conscious choice of friends. I Compared with English-speaking countries, friendship in other parts of the world A has a deeper meaning B is less vaguely defined C has been little studied D is more closely linked to family ties. II What are the two main strands in the study of friendship? A social patterns and psychology B patterns of friendship for children and adults C working-class and middle-class friendships D childrens friendships and chronological age Ex. 53. Read the text and see how this couple, now married, got to know each other. Seven sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from sentences A-H the one which fits each gap. There is one extra sentence that you do not need. HOW WE MET The Right Honourable William Waldegrave, a government minister, won a scholarship to Eton, gained an excellent degree at Oxford, became President of the University Union and Fellow of all Souls College. His wife, Caroline, a professional cook, is the co-principal and managing director of Leiths School of Food and Wine. She has written and collaborated on seven books. They live in Kensington, and at their small house on the Waldegrave estate near Bristol, with their four children, aged between three and eleven. William Waldegrave I was living in a flat in London and my first memory of Caroline is of seeing her dressed exactly as she is now, in T-shirt and jeans, sitting in somebody elses flat. I was 29 and Caroline was six years younger. It was difficult not to be struck by her quality of straightness and openness. Like most pretty girls, she didnt think she was pretty; now she is even prettier, she has bloomed wonderfully with children. I was already a parliamentary candidate when Caroline and I met. It never occurred to me to ask her to give up her work. Youd go mad as a political wife if you didnt have some sort of other activity, though four children is enough activity for most people. (1).............. Its all right now Im a government minister, but when I was just an ordinary Member of Parliament, Caroline was earning more than I was. She works incredibly hard, runs an efficient business, writes books, is a political wife and has four small children. (2).................. Anything she undertakes she does properly, like her tennis. She plays serious tennis, is very good at it and wins prizes. We both have a very strong feeling that happy relationships dont happen by luck. (3) ............... She has an absolutely unclouded clear sense of the right actions, both in terms of right and wrong and the necessity of doing things: she always manages to make space for things that really matter.

30

We never have rows, but I do tend to get depressed - Im a total pessimist. (4) ................... Caroline, in contrast, always looks on the bright side and is optimistic about everything. Caroline Waldegrave My best friend from school ended up being Williams secretary, but Id have met him anyway; we both had the same crowd of friends. I knew quite quickly I was going to marry William. I was so busy that I only took Friday and Monday off to get married, and I was back at work on Tuesday. (5) .................... I started doing only three mornings a week when I had Harriet, because I felt tired and had faint feelings of guilt. Now Ive worked out that if you feel guilty you shouldnt be working at all. I enjoy my children when Im with them, if one of them is ill I go off work, but without my job Id go mad. I have someone I like and trust to look after the children in London; I couldnt manage without her, but we dont have any help at all at weekends. Last thing at night I write down, in order, exactly what Im going to do the next day. You have to be organised with small children. We do have people to dinner, I do the food and wine and William sets the table and makes the house look nice and glamorous; hes tremendously interested in style. (6) .................. I think shopping is absolutely ghastly; my poor children wear hand-me-downs because I hate going into a shop. William buys things for me; he has terribly good taste. People say: Gosh, thats a nice dress, and Ive never heard of the designer, which must be quite depressing for him. If something goes wrong in any of my three lives, it affects the rest. But on the whole Im a natural optimist. And William is always, always there at the right time. In fact, William is terribly dependent. (7) ................... We have become, apart from anything else, real best friends.

A. B. C. D.

I always assume the worst and am pleasantly surprised when it doesnt happen Im totally uninterested in clothes. I dont know how she does it all. We admire each others qualities, and although we do not always share the same opinions, we respect the others right to hold them. E. He does like to talk things over with me, he needs a real friend he can trust. F. Besides, the money is useful. G. I wanted to have children straight away. H. There are skills about living happily together which Caroline has much more than me. Ex. 54. Read the text, fill in the blanks with prepositions and discuss the text. All their friends thought Elizabeth and James made a perfect couple. They were both lively and attractive and got a lot ......... ........... life. They shared many interests and managed to keep ........ touch ........ a wide circle ........... friends. They had met when they were students ......... Manchester - Elisabeth was .......... her second year studying music and James was enrolled ........... a computer course. ............ graduation they moved .......... London and their friends expected them to get married. But things started to go wrong. Elizabeth was a talented pianist, and she was asked to do a number ......... concerts. These usually took place .......... the evening. James had found a good job, which he enjoyed very much though it was tiring. He worked long hours but when he wanted to relax ........ the evening he found that Elizabeth was often .........., giving a concert. Elizabeth had to practise ............ the day and accept work whenever it was offered ......... her. They didnt seem to have any time to be together. James was the one who was most upset. Elizabeth thought it was natural that they would have to make sacrifices if they both wanted to get on. James wanted Elizabeth to be there when he was free. They tried to talk things ........ Elizabeth said she couldnt refuse offers ........ this stage ........ her career and James thought she was being unreasonable. ........... a particularly unpleasant row, Elizabeth said she had had enough. She thought they should split .......... Reluctantly, James agreed. It was a sad ending ........ a happy relationship. The people who were most surprised were their friends.

31

Ex. 55. Here is part of a letter you have just received from your close friend, Elizabeth. Write to your friend giving advice. Use some of these ways of expressing an opinion: I believe / I think / I consider ............... Its my view / my opinion that ............. In my opinion, .................. I agree with the idea that ................... I dont believe that .................. I cant / dont agree that ................ I disagree with the idea that ................. I advise you to ................ If I were you I would .................. I suggest that you should ..................... Well, you know that Tony and I have been seeing each other for five months - and its been just wonderful. We were making lots of plans and I thought everything was going so well. Anyway, last week a girl at college told me she had seen Tony at a disco with someone else. At first I didnt believe her, and then I talked to Tony, and he said, yes, it was quite right, he took this girl, Mariella, her name is, to the disco. But he says he still wants to go on seeing me. I just dont know what to do. I mean, Im really angry, and part of me wants to tell him to go. But I love him. In a way, cant he have some freedom to see other people? I mean, I meet people at college all the time, though I dont go out with them. I am confused. What do you think about this? And what should I do? Ex. 56. Read the letters and say which of the letters describe the most serious problem. Which writer do you think is the most sensible? Do you think any of the letters is silly? Give advice to the writers of these letters, using the following expressions: Why dont you...............? Why not ............? (e.g. Why not try to forget him?) What/How about ...........ing: I think you should ............ You could/might .............. If I were you, I would ............... A good way to ............... is to ................ The best way to................ is to .............. I think its a mistake to ................... Stop ...........ing and start .................ing. I. For ten years of my marriage, my husband has gone after other women, sometimes merely flirting but sometimes sleeping with them. I left him twice and went back when he begged me to. But you can imagine how unhappy and humiliated I have been. You may wonder why Ive stuck to him. Well, I love him and I believe that in his own peculiar way, he loves me, too. He has improved since I left the last time, about six months ago. But theres no feeling of security for me and Im always on tenterhooks. Some time ago I met a very nice man who would like me to live with him. I know Id have peace with him and Im very tempted though I dont love him. Which should I choose - a man like my husband or the one whod never give a woman a moments worry? The Daily Mirror II. I am married to a superman - very kind and considerate and loving to me and our two children. He would do anything in the world for us, until he gets behind the wheel of his car. Then he becomes a totally different man.

32

Hes aggressive, bad tempered and drives too fast. Were on tenterhooks when were in the car and thankful to get out of it. What makes otherwise lovely men like him turn into beasts on the road? The Daily Mirror III. When I was a teenager I slept around, as they say. Then I got married to a good man and have had 16 years of happiness and two fine sons. But all the time I dread meeting any boyfriends from the past, in case my husband gets to know. The Sun IV. Ive been going out with Peter for eight months. A few weeks ago, he packed me in for another girl, even though he said he loved me and wed never part. Then, a week later, he asked me out again. Of course, I said yes. But he still keeps talking about her and making excuses to see her. Hes been very moody and snaps at me when I ask him about her. Im so miserable, what should I do? Oh, Boy V. I dont remember the last time I had a conversation with a girl. I am in my twenties, and other people my age seem able to talk to girls. Sometimes I wonder if I ever will. The Sun VI. Dear Cathy & Claire - I hope you can help me. I cant seem to make friends. If I speak to anyone in my class, they just say, bye, or ignore me. I have one friend in the year above me, but thats it. I do have quite a lot of penfriends, but no-one I can go out with. I have talked to my form teacher, but she said she couldnt do anything and that I should have a word with my mum. I did that, but she said, Dont be silly.

Jackie