Текст книги "On the Way to Success. На пути к успеху"

Автор книги: Елена Карневская

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My brother works in a large garage in Brighton.

Mary has always wanted to be a scientist.

Cars and buses are a major source of pollution in

cities.

Did you enjoy the party you went to on Saturday?

You ought not to waste money on smoking.

The choice of the article depends, first of all, on the type and the form of the noun: countable/uncountable, singular/ plural (see the table below).

Table 14*

type of nouns

a/an

the

no article (zero article)

countable singular

a map

the map

–

countable plural

–

the maps

maps

uncountable

(nouns of material,

–

the water

water

abstract nouns)

the music

music

* The table is taken from: Michael Swan. «Practical English Usage», Moscow. 1984. p. 66.

A. The Indefinite Article

The original meaning of a/an – one – explains why it is used only with countable nouns in the singular.

Here's a hundred pounds.

Don’t me the plate as an ashtray.

The main function of the indefinite article is generally defined as classifying, i.e. referring a person, an animal, an object or a thing to a class of similar objects, things, etc.

This is a journal and that is a magazine.

A lawyer is a person who helps people with legal problems.

The classifying function is closely connected with the meaning of indefiniteness (any representative of a class, not a particular one) and novelty (this person, object, etc., is introduced in the context for the first time).

Last Sunday we found a small puppy in the park and brought it home.

I saw a pretty girl of about 20 in the corner of the room. Her face was unusually pale.

Somebody threw a large snowball at me as I was walking along the road.

As is seen from the given examples, a noun with the indefinite article often has one or more descriptive attributes preceding or sometimes following it. It must be pointed out that the 'zero article' also has the meaning of indefiniteness and novelty, so whenever the situation requires the use of 'о/ал', but the type or the form of the noun (uncountable, countable plural) does not permit it, the zero article is used.

This car doesn Y use petrol, it's battery-powered. Intelligence is something you are born with, not something you learn.

The typical uses of the indefinite and the zero articles are demonstrated by the following sentence-patterns:

1. a predicative noun

Mr younger sister is a first-year

student.

Is it tea or coffee, waiter?

They are experienced engineers.

2. a noun-object not

mentioned in the

context (after 'have',

'have got', 'see',

'buy', 'eat', etc.)

I've got an envelope, but I

haven 't got a stamp.

We went to the market to buy

tomatoes and cucumbers.

I never eat garlic.

Are you interested in science?

3. a singular or plural

noun after 'there is

(are) '

There is a bedroom to the right.

There are apples and pears

in the basket.

Wliile there is life – there is hope.

4. exclamatory sentences

beginning with 'what'

What a lovely day!

What juicy oranges!

What tender meat!

5. after 'such ' as an

intensifying adjective

He is such a wise man!

You shouldn 't say such words!

B. The Definite Article

The article 'the'derives from the Old English demonstrative pronoun 'se' (that), which accounts for deflniteness as its basic meaning: both the speaker and the hearer know what is being talked about.

The definiteness of the thing, object, etc. arises from a) an earlier mention of the noun in the context.

Sue and Frank have got two children: a girl and a boy. The girl is a student and the boy is still at school.

A man came up to a policeman and asked him a question. The policeman didn 't understand the question and so he asked the man to repeat it.

I've recently bought new jeans. The jeans cost me a pretty penny.

I found cheese and yogurt in the fridge. The cheese was absolutely stale.

b) the presence of a specifying (particularizing) modifier

(a prepositional phrase, an attributive clause, etc).

Who was the woman you were talking to just now? The house beyond the church was for sale.

c) the uniqueness of the object or group of objects denoted by the noun: the sun, the moon, the earth, the world, the horizon, the equator; the Queen (of this country), the kitchen (of this house), the children (belonging to a particular family), etc.

Shut the door! (there is only one open)

I had some trouble with the car. (I own one car only)

The definite article is not restricted in its usage: it can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns.

Wow, the sand is really hot! (an uncountable nounof material)

The film wasn 't good but we liked the music, (an uncountable abstract noun)

Come and look at the horses! (a countable noun, plural)

The definite article can also precede a proper noun. It is used, in particular, with nouns denoting the name of the whole family (the Browns) or geographical names such as waterways (the Indian Ocean, the Volga, the Naroch, but Lake Naroch), mountain ranges (the Alps, the Urals, but Everest), and the name of cardinal points (the South, the North}. It must be remembered, however, that no article is used with the names of the continents (Asia, Europe), countries (Russia. Belarus, France), mountain peaks and towns.* There are a great number of set expressions and phrases in English in which the use of the indefinite, definite or zero article does not depend on the context. Memorizing some of them will help the learner to cope with the difficulties of using the article. Below is a list of such phrases.

1) with the indefinite article

as a result as a rule as a matter of fact at a glance at a gulp at a distance in a hurry in a loud/low voice in a sense

in a whisper in a mess in a good humour in a way in a while in a rush it is a shame it is a pity it is a pleasure once a year/week to have a bath to have a shower to have a wash to have a meal to have a cold to have a row to a certain degree to have a swim to have a smoke to have a rest to have a good time to have a headache (a toothache, etc.) to go for a walk to tell a lie to be at a loss to do smb a favour to make a mistake to give a hand to a certain extent

2) with the definite article

all the same at the latest at the time at the moment by the way for the time being in the afternoon/ evening/morning in the singular in the plural in (the) winter/ summer/spring in the day-time in the past/present in the centre in the middle in the distance in the doorway in the original in the shade on the whole on the spot on the one hand on the other hand on the safe side out of the question the other day the day after tomorrow the wrong side the right route most of the time the only place (but an only child) the same opinion

the poor/the rich the sick the wounded the unemployed the needy the handicapped to tell the truth to tell the time to keep the house to make the bed under the influence (of) to lay the table to make the most (best) of smth

to do the washing up

3) with the zero article

arm in arm at dawn at dusk at daybreak at twilight at night at midnight at sunrise (sunset) at noon at first sight

at night at home at present at dinner beyond recognition by phone/by radio by mistake by chance by name

by accident from beginning to end from east to west at work from side to side for sale hand in hand in charge

in future in service in demand in spite of in (on) time in search (of) in secret in sight in (for) fun in fact

in debt in detail in person it's time on board the ship on fire on sale on leave on hand/at hand/off hand on account (of) on condition (that) out of control out of date out of order out of sight out of place from head to foot

step by step to be/to stay in bed to get out of bed/town to be at home/school/college to be in hospital to go to hospital/school/ college/university/prison/church to go home/down-town to leave school/home to travel/go/come/get by bus/car to stay/invite for lunch/tea/dinner to have breakfast/lunch/tea to do research

to be in trouble to get into trouble to lose control to be in despair to pay attention (to) to take care (of) to make fun (of) to have great fun to shake hands (with) to keep time to ask for permission to study mathematics, physics, history, but the history of Art to speak English, but the English language to play football, tennis, etc., but to play the piano/violin, etc. a kind/sort of place (book, house, etc.)

Compare the use the article in these sentences.

1.A cat often purrs when it is contented. 2' The cat sleeping on the porch belongs next door.

3 My father bought a shirt and a pair of shoes for himself. The shoes were very expensive.

4 The price of petrol is going up. The petrol I bought yesterday was the cheapest in the area.

5. Happiness is often the product of honesty and hard work.

6. They would like to stay at a hotel, but the hotels here are very expensive.

1. We'll go for a walk if the sun comes out.

8. This is the last time I do you a favour.

9. Thank you for the favour you 've done for me.

10. Peter has a charming wife and two children. The two children are twins.

11. It's high time for the children to be in bed.

12. I didn 't see the dog when I walked into the room because it was under the bed.

Practise the use of articles.

'a/an' or 'the' A.

1. ... student must use his ID card to be admitted to ... library.

2. If... person expects to play ... guitar well, he must be willing to practise often.

3. Ann looked everywhere for... badminton net. It was in ... attic.

4. Who do you suppose was at... meeting?

5. ... woman who is giving ... speech is ... university teacher.

6. Do you know ... white-haired man who is feeding ... pigeons?

7. What do you think of ... discussion that followed ... meeting?

8. ... melon is ripe, juicy and has ... sweet taste.

9. Unless ... rain stops ... picnic will be held under pavillion.

10. Can you hold ... lid down so I can lock ... suitcase?

11. My sister works in ... large hospital in London. She is ... doctor.

12. ...weather was lovely when I woke up yesterday morning:... sun was shining and there was... beautiful blue sky.

13. My car has broken down and I'll have to check ... engine.

14. ... government plans to help ... poor and ... unemployed.

15. ... ambulance took ... poor woman to hospital only at 7 p.m.

16. Who is ... person who borrowed my umbrella?

17. It was ... lovely house but... stairs were too steep for ... old people.

18. They gave Anna ... guitar for Christmas. She is very good at playing ... guitar,... piano and ... violin. On ... whole, she is ... very gifted girl.

19. These jeans are cheap. I bought them at a small shop somewhere near ... General post-office.

20. If you give me ... hand with ... dishes, we can go out together.

21. Ann went to ... best dressmaker to ensure that her wedding dress fitted her like ... glove.

22. There has been ... dramatic rise of unemployment in ... past ten years.

23. Everything he has said is ... lie. He made up ... whole story.

24. ... boutique opposite my house is having ... sale.

25. Isn't he ... man who plays ... violin in your orchestra?

26 ... village of Baydon where he lived as ... child, has now become part of... town.

27 Are you ... person who telephoned here ... hour ago?

28. If I'm accepted for ... job, I'll have to start at ... beginning of September.

29. Since I had ... bad headache last night, I couldn't go out.

30. Will you send me ... report as soon as it's finished?

31 You shouldn't be taking ... shower now. ... taxi's coming in twenty minutes.

32. ... temperature will drop significantly during ... afternoon.

33. Every morning I had to sort out... mail and distribute ... faxes, before I could have ... cup of coffee.

34. ... drought this year has been less severe than last year.

35. We spent... wonderful evening with ... Stones.

36. ... gentle wind was blowing through ... trees.

37. As soon as he had saved enough money he bought... new computer.

38. It was ... very stormy night. ... wind was howling and ... rain was beating against... windows.

39. There was ... accident which held up all ... traffic coming into town.

40. Obviously we aren't going for ... walk in ... rain.

41. It's pleasant to play ... game of tennis on ... warm summer afternoon.

42. ... student at... back of... class was reading ... newspaper.

43. ... elephant's trunk is very strong, it can hold ... log of wood.

44. You eat too little; that amount wouldn't keep ... sparrow alive.

B. Once upon a time, there was ... cat and ... dog who lived in ... small house. One day ... cat said to ... dog, This place is too small for us we need ... bigger house'. ... dog

agreed. 'We could even have ... garden where I could bury my bones'. 'Well, I'm not sure ... garden is a good idea", said ... cat. 'Who would cut ... grass?' 'We could employ ... cat to do it', said ... dog. 'Why not... dog?" said ... cat. And so they never left... small house because they couldn't agree.

C. Last summer we went to ... seaside for two weeks. Unfortunately, we hadn't booked ... accommodation before we went, and we had ... awful time finding ... room to stay in. ... only room we could find was very small, but it had ... lovely view of ... sea and was only two minutes from ... beach. ... weather was very hot, and on ... first day I stayed out too long. I got... terrible sunburn and had to stay in bed ... next day. After that, however, everything went well and we had ... wonderful holiday.

'the' or '-' A.

1. What... lovely weather we are having today!

2. What... charming people your parents are!

3. ... Johnsons are going to visit... USA and ... Canada in ... summer.

4. ... wood is much dearer than it used to be. In fact, ... wood I used to make ... shelves in ... living room cost me a pretty penny.

5. ... pollution is one of ... greatest problems facing ... mankind.

6. ... moon and ... earth both go round ... sun.

7. How delicious ... cake is!

8. They have two holiday homes, one in ... mountains and ... other at... seaside.

9. ... small room was crammed with ... furniture.

10 For ... further information phone ... number below.

11 Many people think that ... bears are ... gentle animals but they can be very aggressive.

12 As far as I know she didn't make ... very impressive progress.

13, Don't eat in this restaurant. ... food is awful there.

14. When I was at... school I was really bad at... History.

15. ... flood did a lot of... damage to ... monuments of... city.

16. ... chopsticks are used a lot in ... Japan.

17. I learnt... French at... school, but when I tried to speak it,... French didn't understand me.

18. It's more difficult to play ... violin than to learn to play ... tennis.

19. ... government has promised to spend more on ... health and... education.

20. ... police showed him lots of photographs but he wasn't able to pick out... man who'd robbed ... bank.

21. They gave me ... incorrect information.

22. ... letter is from ... Browns with whom I stayed ... last summer.

23. ... time is ... money.

24. Oh, look at ... time, we'd better get moving.

25. It was ... only time I had ever seen her lose her temper.

26. It's ... time you were more serious.

27. ... film takes us back to ... time of... American war of ... Independence.

28. We are not going on ... holiday this year – we are trying to save ... money.

29. ... silence was suddenly broken by ... loud scream.

30. ... money he borrowed from his uncle was of little help.

31. ... shirts on ... washing-line must be dry now.

32. ... boiling kettle filled ... kitchen with ... steam.

33. l don't mind staying at ... home and looking after .. children this afternoon.

34. If you went to ... Indonesia for ... summer you would enjoy it there.

35. ... Royal Hotel was almost completely destroyed by ... fire last Saturday.

36. You can't expect... kindness and ... support from your family if you don't give ... same to them.

37. ... guests didn't have to clear up after ... party. ... staff did all ... cleaning ... next day.

38. ... birds can fly high in ... sky.

39. ... room was completely empty so some of us sat down on ... floor while ... others leaned against.. .wall.

40. They managed to arrive on ... time despite ... heavj snowstorm.

41. ... National Gallery is located in ... Trafalgar Square.

42. In spite of... fact that... music was quiet... neighbours complained.

43. We had ... lovely weather last weak.

44. He has just given me ... very helpful advice.

B. Dear Susan,

Well, I've been here in ... New York for two weeks now. I'm having ... time of my life. I am staying with my parents' friends, ... Browns. So far I'm not missing ... home at all. ... Americans are very different from ... English. I noticed this ... moment I arrived at... Kennedy Airport, where ... most people were very friendly. I've done a lot of sightseeing since I arrived. I've seen all... famous sights. ... ones I liked best were ... Statue of Liberty and ... Times Square. We are going to ... Washington ... next week. I'm looking forward to visiting ... President's home, ... White House. Mr Brown won't be able to come with us as planned though, because

he has flue, He was going to drive us there but now we are going by ... bus instead. Give my love to your mother and father and ... family. Ill be ... home for ... Christmas. Love,

Caroline

Miscellaneous Practice

j What is ... capital of India? – Delhi. 2 What do you think of Margaret? – She is... extremely nice person.

3. I had ... cup of... coffee and some toast for breakfast this morning.... coffee was delicious.

4. He is trying to find ... job, but there isn't much work available at... present.

5. Would you like to travel round ... world?

6. It was ... excellent holiday. We had ... great fun.

7. I'd like ... hamburger, please.

8. Could you switch off... TV? Nobody is watching it.

9. Most of... land in this region belongs to ... small farmers.

10. I've got... book about... life of John Kennedy.

11. ... architect designs ... buildings.

12. I enjoy talking to ... old people.

13. I find ... History ... interesting subject.

14. They studied ... history of the Spanish Civil War at... school.

15. ... instruction was so complex that I couldn't understand it.

16. You must contact ... manager and tell him about ... telegram. It is ... urgent telegram.

17. It's ... film about... homeless people.

18. Do you get on with ... neighbours who live next door?

19. Pauline asked me ... question to which I had no reply.

20. Noticing ... door was open, I decided to go in. It turned out to be ... museum.

21. Slamming ... door, Carol drove off in ... car her father had given her as ... present.

22. ... blind people often have ... excellent sense of... smell.

23. When Sally was on ... holiday in ... Alps, she broke her leg and had to stay in ... hospital for two weeks.

24. ... sweets were wrapped in ... silver paper.

25. Could you turn down ... music? It's too loud.

26. She looked at me with ... strange smile.

27. We never eat... white bread at home.

28. No news is ... good news.

29. ... air is very fresh today.

30. ... apple ... day is good for you.

31. I'm ... vegetarian. I don't eat... meat or ... fish.

32. Do you like ... English beer?

33. ... acting was poor, but we enjoyed ... music.

34. There's nothing like ... whipped cream for me.

35. ... vase is ... kind of pot for holding flowers.

36. Don't buy ... artificial silk, we must have ... real silk.

37. Do you have ... sleeping bag by any chance?

38. Being ... man of... fixed views he refused to listen to our arguments.

39. Have you heard ... news?

40. When I came in he was lying on ... bed.

41. ... nail went right through ... wall.

42. What... strange ideas you have!

43. As far as ... mathematics is concerned it was... complete failure.

44. Every Sunday he went to ... church.

45. Either ... Germany or ... Holland will win ... World Cup.

46. I have never seen such ... huge crowd of... people.

47. Many people eat in ... Chinese restaurants in ... London.

48 Several of... passengers were hurt and one of them was taken to ...hospital.

49 Measles, which is ... children's disease is dangerous for adults.

50. Mr Heyman was considered ... excellent music teacher.

51. Did you have ... good time at your dacha?

52. ... Prime Minister is to make ... statement tomorrow.

53. Mike became ... furniture salesman after leaving ... school.

54. They thought that... car was too expensive.

55. There were more people on ... beach than in ... water.

56. It's ... pity he made ... fool of himself.

57. Which do you prefer:... classical or popular music?

58. Amundsen was.. first man to reach ... South Pole.

59. He promised he would never bet on ... horses.

60. He used to tell such ... funny stories.

61. ... family who live opposite our house are French.

62. Wait till... referee blows his whistle.

63. Because he had run out of... money, he had to look for ...job.

64. Tom went hunting in ... afternoon. When he returned,... dinner was on ... table.

65. Her father has been involved in ... automobile accident recently.

66. I dislike ... idle talk. It's... sheer waste of... time.

67. He is having ... financial difficulties now.

68. ... children go to ... school by ... bus.

69. I bought... pound of... bacon and... loaf of brown bread at... grocery.

70. ... festival will be opened ... day after tomorrow.

71. ... children who learn easily should start... school as early as possible.

72. Every dark cloud has ... silver lining.

73. Have you got... few minutes? I'd like to have ... chat with you.

74. Running has been ... very popular sport in ... United States for ... several years now.

75. Browns Ltd is ... large company in ... Manchester. It makes ...soap.

76. Europe and ... America are separated by ... Atlantic Ocean.

77. ... Elbrus is ... highest peak of... Caucasian mountains.

78. ... sonnet is ... poem of... fourteen lines.

79. ... blood is thicker than ... water.

80. ...view from above ... shore was magnificent.

81. ... old woman was cared for by ... nurse from... hospital. 82.1 couldn't explain why my best shoes had ... hole in them.

83. Don't you think that... scissors in ... sewing box need sharpening?

84. Their lives became ... misery after ... disaster.

85. It was ... love at ... first sight that brought... couple together.

86. ... tortoise is ... sort of ... reptile.

87. ... wounded were taken to ... nearest hospital.

88. I live next to ... nursing home for ... very old.

89. Living away from ... home will do him ... enormous amount of good.

90. ... cost of... living in Sweden is higher than in ... other countries of... Europe.

91. ... wrecked liner is still lying on ... sea bottom.

92. Never speak ill of... dead.

93. There are ... shops at ... either end of... street.

94. Most of... people complain about... weather here.

95. I'm warning you! ... next person who does that will be in ... trouble!

96. ... dictionary is ... book in which the words of... language are listed alphabetically.

07. ... bomb is ... weapon which explodes and damages ... large area.

98. I'll send you ... letter. It's best not to talk about such things on ... phone.

99. I can't understand ... text;... language is very difficult.

100. I'd invited five people to ... party. Out of... five people, only John and Mary could come, ... others couldn't.

101. ... doctor who examined ... sick children was very gentle.

102. Ask Paul, he is ... only one who knows ... answer.

103. ... Smith's bookshop is in ... Oxford street opposite ... Barclays Bank.

104. There was.... earthquake in my hometown last year. It was just ... small one, but I could feel ... ground shaking.

105. At ... end of... busy day, ... sleep is ... best tonic.

106. You can lead ... horse to ... water but you can't make him drink.

107. I couldn't make out what... passage said.

108. Linda stopped ... car to let... black cat run across... street.

109. Jack wears ... glasses because he has ... poor eyesight.

110. ... air is full of... smoke,... dust and ... other harmful substances. We must do something to reduce ... air pollution.

111. I like to read ... good literature.

112. ... Japanese have ... long and interesting history.

113. ... dog makes ... good pet if it is properly trained.

114. ... people might think you're ... little crazy, but talking to yourself is ... good way to practise English.

115. He irritates ... people by talking in ... funny voice all ... time.

116. You can really help ... environment by using ... unleaded fuel.

117. It would be more sensible for him to save his money instead of spending it like ... water.

118. Don't drink ... coffee in ... evening if you have trouble sleeping at ... night.

119. I'm not very happy with ... kitchen but it will have to do for ... time being.

120. She's quite ... lively person compared with ... rest of her family.

121. Let's wait till ... wind drops before we put ... tent up.

122. ... discovery of... radium marked ... beginning of... new era of... medicine.

123. ... house in which I grew up no longer exists.

124. ... man was accused of having stolen ... woman's purse.

125. ... teacher reminded ... students of their assignment.

126. ... teacher encouraged us to consult... dictionary whenever we were uncertain of ... spelling of ... word.

127. I tried everything but... baby still wouldn't stop crying.

128. Linda offered to look after my cat when I was out of ... town.

129. ... best part of our trip was ... crossing of ... Sahara Desert.

130. We spent three weeks camping near ... Lake Garda in ... Italy.

131.1 have ... stunning view of... Mount Kilimanjaro from my window.

132. Even if I had ... money, I wouldn't want to live in ... Bahamas.

133. I decorated ... children's bedroom as fast as I could. In ... week it was done.

134. I haven't got... time to phone him at... week-end. I'll do it ... next week.

135.1 went to ... theatre last night and saw ... fabulous play. I thought it was good, anyway, but I read in ... papers this morning that ... critics had slammed it.

136. Your daughter has ... beautiful voice. Her interest in ... singing must be encouraged.

137. ... child can't be given everything he or she wants.

138. ... hospital here is very old and can no longer serve ... needs of... community. ... new hospital should have been built here long ago.

139. When James is feeling ... bit low he usually treats himself to ... meal in ... good restaurant.

140. This is ... first time I've driven ... sports car.

141. If you want to have ... sound sleep try to drink ... glass of... milk before ... bedtime.

142. ... people often have ... very good idea of what colours suit them but they still buy ... wrong colour clothes.

143. He slipped and ... wine spilled all over ... carpet.

144. Brian seems ... ideal person for ... job.

145. After studying ... languages at ... university Steven became ... interpreter at... United Nations.

146. It's very important for ... parents to encourage ... independence in their children.

147. I saw ... woman coming up ... path to .. house. It was ... woman I had seen at... station ... day before.

148. My mother loves ... Italian operas even though she can't understand ... words.

149. ... Neil Armstrong, ... first man on ... moon, used to work for NASA.

150. ... police were called in to deal with ... situation.

151. ... people think ... climate in ... Mediterranean is ... best in ... world.

More practice

1. I find it very difficult to be optimistic. To tell... truth I have applied for 130 jobs in ... last two years and it's always ... same story. Come back when you've got ... bit of experience. I mean, how can I get... experience if nobody wants to give me ... job?

2. Dear Carol,

Just... note to say thank you for ... lovely day yesterday. If was really very hard to get back to work after such ... relaxing time. Delicious food, good company, ... beautiful garden – it really felt like ... mini-holiday. ... kids had... great time too, and are still talking about... dog and... pool. Would you like to come over to us... next weekend? You could come for ... lunch on ...Saturday or... Sunday, and we could go for ... walk in ... hills afterwards if... weather is good. Looking forward to seeing you all next weekend, and with ... lot of thanks again for yesterday.

Love, Jane

3. ... man had ... row with his wife. This made him leave ... home later than usual so he drove to work very fast. While he was going round ... corner, ... dog ran across ... road. ... man stamped on ... brakes,... car skidded (... road was in ... very bad condition),... man lost control of his car and crashed into ... lorry which was parked on ... double yellow line.

4. Portrait of a family;... Bartons

There are three adults and two children in this family. ... children are Ben, aged twelve, and little Stella, who is four. Their parents are Andrew and Marion.... other adult is Leslie, who's Andrew's brother. He is twenty-four. They live in ... Newcastle,... large city in ... north-east of England. On weekday mornings everyone gets up early; Andrew-Barton works for ... company, which manufactures ... computers. He leaves at seven o'clock. He likes to avoid ... rush hour, he says. Marion suspects that really he likes to avoid ... breakfast with ... children, who are very noisy. Ben catches ... school bus at eight-fifteen. Leslie is at ... university, studying ... physics. He lives away from ... home during term-time, so he avoids ... noise, too.

Stella doesn't go to ... school yet, of course. Next year, she will start at... nursery school where Ben used to go. Her mother is looking forward to this as it will mean that she can go back to ... work. Before her marriage, she lived in London, where she worked for ... National Gallery, in ... Trafalgar Square. She is hoping to find ... same sort of job in... Newcastle.

5. Tina wants to buy a car. She has come to see Brian, who is trying to sell his.

T: So, you don't say much in your advertisement. Is this ...old car?

B: Four years old. Come and have ... look at it.

T: Were you ... first owner?

B: No, I got it two years ago.

T: Have you driven it... lot?

B: Well, I drive to my office in ... city centre five days ... week, but I don't use it much at weekends.