Practice this conversation between a husband and wife.

A: I can't do all the housework and all the cooking. You've got to do more.

B: You don't do all the housework and all the cooking. I cook the breakfast.

A: And I clean the kitchen.

B: I take the dog for a walk.

A: I take the kids to school.

B: I do the gardening.

A: No, you don't. I cut the grass.

B: I dig the garden.

A: Once a year, in August.

B: I make you a cup of coffee every evening.

A: I cook the supper.

B: I clean the car.

A: I pick up your things.

B: OK. Let's change over. I'll pick up my own things. And you can clean the car.

A: You can cook supper.

B: You can make the coffee.

A: You can cut the grass.

B: You can dig the garden.

A: Once a year, in August. You can take the kids to school.

B: You can take the dog for a walk.

A: You can clean the kitchen.

B: And we'll give up cooked breakfasts.

Do you do the household tasks mentioned in the conversation, or others? Which tasks do you like, or dislike? Then tell other students. Try to find your ideal partner - someone who likes the jobs you dislike.

UNIT 38

[θ] - [ð], [f] - [v]

For each sentence, write the word you hear.

1. Did you say 'thin'/'fin'?

2. They had problems with the thaw/four.

3. We thought/fought about that for a long time.

4. There are three/free gifts for you.

Practice this conversation.

A: Everything went wrong on Thursday.

B: What happened?

A: I woke up with toothache. I rang the dentist three times, but there was no reply. The fourth time, I got through. He gave me an appointment at three thirty. I thought it would be soothing to have a bath. But I tripped getting out of the bath. I hit my mouth on the tap, and broke three teeth.

B: Did that cure your toothache?

A: No, I had three broken teeth and toothache.

[ð]

Practice this conversation.

A: Did you have good weather on holiday?

B: The weather was OK, but everything else was awful.

A: What was the matter?

B: My younger brother was ill. My mother stayed in all the time, to look after him. My father wouldn't leave my mother. So neither my mother nor my father went out at all. I went out with my elder brother, but we got tired of being together all the time?

A: Is your younger brother all right now?

B: Yes, my brother is all right, but my mother is very tired.

4. Repeat the questions and answers below. Notice Bs voice falls and rises in the part of the sentence. He is partly saying 'Yes', but is going to continue, 'but…..'

A: Did you have good weather on holiday?

B: The weather was OK,but everything else was awful.

A: Is your younger brother all right now?

B: Yes, my brother is all right, but my motheris very tired.

With a partner, take the part of B. Answer these questions.

A: Was you brother ill?

A: Did you all look after your brother?

A: Did your father and brother stay with your mother?

[ð] - [v] - [w]

Practice this conversation.

A: Which vase would you like?

B: That one over there, please.

A: This one?

B: No, that very small one, over there in the corner.

Make similar conversation using the phrases below.

that lovely one the other one

this one in the corner the one over in the other corner

that valuable one the five-pound one

Practice these conversations.

A: I've got a job with the BBC.

B: The British Broadcasting Corporation?

A: No, the Brighton Brush Company.

A: I didn't sleep very well last night.

B: Was your brain full of brilliant ideas?

A: No, there were breadcrumbs in the blankets.

UNIT 39

CLUSTERS

Say clusters beginning with [s]

Practice describing these problems.

I was stung on the wrist by a wasp. I screamed.

I slipped down the steps and sprained my ankle.

We had a puncture, and our spare wheel was flat.

I stretched up to shut a window, and strained myself.

A thief snatched my bag in the street.

Quiz. Which English words beginning with 's' are defined like this?

1. a place where children go to study

2. to slide over ice, wearing a blade under your foot

3. to slide over snow, wearing a long strip of metal under your foot

4. frozen water vapour

5. to rest, unconscious, with the eyes closed

6. a thin, flat piece of e.g. bread

7. a country situated to the north of England

Say clusters with [f ], [θ] and [ʃ]

Practice this conversation.

A: Why did the Fire Brigade come on Friday?

B: I was cooking fritters.

A: What are the fritters?

B: Pieces of fruit, rolled in flour, and deep fried.

A: And did the firemen come to lunch?

B: No,. As I was frying the fritters, suddenly there was a flash, and flames from the frying pan. So I shrieked, and threw fritters on the floor, and rang for the Fire Brigade.