Listen, read and practise. "How old are you?" It's a simple question, and there is usually a simple answer: "sixteen years old," "twenty years old,"

"How old are you?" It's a simple question, and there is usually a simple answer: "sixteen years old," "twenty years old," "fifty-five," etc. But if someone is described as young or middle-aged or old, then how old is that person? It's difficult to know because these are words that have different meanings for different people. Except for the word teenager, which describes someone whose age ends in the syllable "teen" (such as fourteen, fifteen or sixteen), words which describe age are not exact. When, for example, does a baby stop being called a baby and become a young child? When does a boy become a young man and a little girl become a young woman? At what age does middle age begin? When do you call someone elderly and not simply old? At what age does someone become an adult? In some countries, it is when the government says a person is old enough to vote. Is that really the difference between a child and an adult? The answers to these questions partly depend on how old you are. There is a saying that old age is always ten years older than yourself. If you are fifteen, then you think someone of twenty-five is old. At thirty, forty seems old. If you are seventy, then you probably think someone of eighty is old. A recent survey showed that there was some truth in the old saying. People were asked. "What is middle age?" Those in their early twenties usually answered, "Between thirty-five and fifty," and people in their thirties answered, "Between forty-five and sixty."

A. Decide -whether these statements are true (T) or false (F) according to the passage

1. When people are asked their age, they usually answer with a number.

2. If someone tells you that he or she is middle-aged, you know the exact age of that person.

3. It is possible to call someone who is twelve a teenager.

4. There is an exact age when a baby becomes a young child.

5. "Elderly" is similar in meaning to "old".

6. Some governments say that an adult is a person who can vote.

7. According to the saying, if you are twenty-nine, then you think someone of thirty is old.

8. As you get older, your ideas change about when middle age begins.

B. Think about.

1. What are some of the joys and problems of each age?

2. Are you happy with your present age?

3. How do you feel about growing older?

4. How important is age? in marriage? in work?

Beauty

How important is your appearance? Although everyone wants to be good-looking, are beautiful people always happier people? For example, it must be a problem to be a really beautiful woman, because some men may be more interested in looking at you than talking to you. They think of you as a picture rather than a person. There are also some people who think that women who are exceptionally pretty and men who are particularly handsome must be stupid. They believe that only unattractive people can be intelligent.

On the other hand, no one wants to be really ugly, and have a face that even your mother doesn't want to look at; and no one wants to be plain either — that is, to be neither attractive nor unattractive, and have a face that is easily forgotten.

Being attractive is like being rich — it can help you find happiness, but it doesn't always make you happy. So maybe the best thing is not to worry too much about how you look, but simply try to be an interesting person. For interesting people have interesting faces, and interesting faces are almost always attractive.

A. Decide whether these statements are true (T), false (F), or impossible to know (IK) according to the passage.

1. Everyone wants to be attractive.

2. Most beautiful people are unhappy.

3. No one likes to talk to a very pretty woman.

4. Some people think that handsome men are unintelligent.

5. Attractive men and women are usually intelligent.

6. Ugly people are not happy people.

7. A plain face is easily forgotten.

8. Not many interesting people are also attractive.

B. Look at these common English expressions and then decide whether you agree with them

a) Your face is your fortune.

b)-Beauty is in the eye of the beholder (i.e., the person who is looking).

Mr and Mrs Smith were a very average couple. His name was John. Her name was Mary. They lived in an average-sized house and had two average children — one boy and one girl.

Were they tall? Mr and Mrs Smith were neither tall nor short. They were both average height. He was average height for a man and she was average height for a woman.

Were they fat? Mr Smith was certainly not weak or skinny, but he was not strong or well-built either. He was just medium build and his shoulders and chest were neither very broad nor very narrow. His wife, too, could never be described as thin or slim, but then again, she was not overweight or fat either. Her waist was neither too big nor too narrow. It was just... average size.

It was very easy for Mr and Mrs Smith to buy clothes because part of their bodies was average size too. Their feet were neither very big nor very small. Their hips were not too wide. And their legs were neither too short nor too long.

Yes, the Smiths were a very average couple. Except for one thing. They were the only couple in the country who were average in so many ways at the same time. The Smiths were in fact... unique.

A. Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F) according to the passage.

1. Mr and Mrs Smith had two children named John and Mary.

2. Mr Smith was very tall.

3. Mrs Smith was average height.

4. Mr Smith was a skinny man.

5. Mrs Smith probably weighed about 160 pounds.

6. Mrs Smith had a very small waist.

7. Mr Smith had average-sized feet.

8. The Smiths were completely average.

B. Think about

1. What is the average height for men and women in your country? Is it changing?

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being either very tall or very short?

3. Can you think of some good ways of keeping these parts of the body in good condition: heart, lungs, skin, bone, muscle?

4. Describe some ways of losing weight.

1. He saw a tall, handsome woman dressed with careful and expensive informality in a black cashmere sweater with a silk scarf at the throat and fawn trousers... It was a distinguished face with deep-set eyes beneath straight brows, a well-Shaped, rather secretive mouth and strong, greying hair swept upwards and curled into a chignon.

Note: chignon — a type of hairstyle popular with older women. The hair is twisted into a kind of knot at the back of the head.

2. She wore a pale blue sweater and a gray flannel skirt, schoolgirl's clothes, which made her seem younger than her age. She was about twenty-five. Her face was framed by thick hair, in a colour midway between blonde and brown, and held back by a black velvet band. The skin was fine and she had large, rather beautiful dark blue eyes, with long colourless lashes.

3. Temple was a small stocky man in his early forties. His jaw line had long ago disappeared into one of his chins. His pepper and salt hair was cut short with a parting in the middle and he had

a dark bushy drooping moustache that grew well over his top lip. His nose was small, almost snub, and his eyes were pale.

Note: pepper and salt hair — hair which has both black and gray mixed in it.

A. Write a paragraph giving a detailed description of a friend, a relative or a film or TV star.

Here is a newspaper article: "Sports personality of the year".

I would like to name Gary Lineker as Sports Personality of the Year. I think he is not only a good footballer, he is also a very nice person and very different from other football stars. First of all, in spite of being intelligent, talented and good-looking, he is actually very modest. He never boasts about what he's done or pretends to be somebody he isn't. Even though he obviously earns a lot of money and lives in a nice house in London, he doesn't throw his money around like others do.

Secondly, he is much more open-minded than other football stars. Many footballers work and live abroad but not many try to become part of the culture of the country. When Lineker lived in Barcelona, he made Spanish friends, lived a Spanish way of life and made a point of learning to speak Spanish.

Another thing that makes him different from other footballers is his sense of fair play on the field. Since he started his career, he has never been reported in the newspapers for bad behaviour and he has never been sent off for fouling or swearing.

Finally, you get the impression that Lineker is a human being with human emotions like anybody else. When his baby developed a life-threatening illness, he and his wife went through a very difficult time. He showed that he is not only capable of strong emotion, he is also prepared to show it in public.

For all these reasons, I think he deserves the title of "Sports Personality of the Year".

A. Questions

1. What aspects of Gary Lineker's personality are mentioned?

2. What details, if any, do you learn about:

— his football career?

— his family?

— his lifestyle?

B. Write in 250 words about the person who you think deserves the title of "Personality of the Year ". They can be from the world of politics, entertainment, sport, the arts or business — or they may be somebody completely unknown.

1. She's absolutely adorable. I think she's very pretty, she makes me laugh a lot, um... she tells terrible jokes but I like the way she tells them. She's a bit naughty sometimes and I curse her when she gets me up at six o'clock in the morning, but when I hear her singing in the morning, well, all is forgiven. She can twist me round her little finger, of course.

2. He was very boring and predictable. The kind of person who remembered birthdays and anniversaries, but who made you angry because there was absolutely nothing spontaneous about him. His ideas of fun were so unadventurous. Well, the first few years were OK, but after that I'd just had enough. Reliable, stable, dependable, and boring.

3. Well, he's quite well-dressed and punctual. Sometimes he's cheerful and tells us jokes, but other times we have to do a lot of work. We don't really know him very well. Oh, I know he's married, but I've never met him socially or anything like that. He seems very professional.

A. Write a description of a person that you know.

Some doctors believe there are two main types of personalities: "Type A" and "Type B". Type A people are ambitious, aggressive, hard-working, and competitive; they are sometimes impatient and are often in a hurry. Type В people are more relaxed and don't get bothered easily. Doctors say that because they are so hard driving, Type A personalities often suffer from stress and high blood pressure.

Pair work. Take turns asking your partner these questions. Is your partner a Type A or Type В personality? How about you?

Yes No

a) Are you always in a hurry to finish things?

b) Are you ambitious and always looking for new challenges?

c) Are you often impatient with other people?

d) Do you get upset when people are late for appointments?

e) Do you often do two things at once, such as watching TV while eating?

f) Do you get upset easily when things go wrong¹?

g) Do you sometimes stop listening when people are talking to you?

h) Do you expect to be the best at everything

you do? i) Do you often interrupt people while they are

speaking? j) Do you think the best way to get a job

done is to do it yourself?

To score: Six or more Yes answers = Type A; six or more No answers = type B.

This is a letter from Dave. Dave is an American exchange student in Great Britain, who is living in Frank's home, while Frank is staying in the U.S. with Dave's family.

Dear Frank,

Hi! How are you getting along in the States? I'm having a wonderful time here in England with your family and friends. Everyone is so friendly, and hospitable. They all welcome me into their homes and treat me as one of the family.

I've been very surprised by English people. I thought they would all be very conservative and traditional. Instead I've found them very open to new ideas. I also thought English people would be

rather shy. But most people seem very outgoing and self-confident, almost as much as Americans. I find the English very tolerant too. Nobody here seems to mind very much how you dress or what you say. Of course, there are some narrow-minded people too. But I don't think there are as many as there are back home in the States. I often think of you in my home and what you must be thinking about Americans. I imagine you think we're too hard-working and too materialistic. I never realised how much Americans talk about money, until I came to Britain. And you probably also think that Americans are very rude compared with the British. I don't think \ we're really so rude, it's just that we sometimes forget to use all ^; those polite phrases like "do you mind" and "could I" and "may I". One difference I have noticed is that the British don't seem as optimistic as Americans. In America we always think we can i change things and make them better. But I get the feeling that the i British have a rather pessimistic view of life.

I'm feeling lazy, so that's all I'm going to write now. I look forward to hearing your impressions of the US.

Yours, Dave

' A. According to Dave, do these words best describe British people (B) or American people (A)?

1. rude______ 2. materialistic_____ 3. hard-working_____

4. tolerant_____5. self-confident_____ 6 optimistic_____

B. Think about

1. What characteristics do people from other countries think people from your country have?

2. Do you sometimes feel shy? In what situations?

3. In what ways do you think your parents' generation is dif­ferent from your generation?

4. Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future? Why?

5. Have you ever been to a foreign country? What do you think of the people in that country?

Howard Watson has applied for a job at International Business Equipment, Inc. The personnel director there has contacted

Barbara Long, one of Mr Watson's colleagues, and asked for a letter of reference. Here is Mrs Long's letter.

February 19, 19____

Ms Erica Garcia, Director of Personnel

IBE, Inc.

390 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10018

Dear Ms Garcia,

Regarding your request, I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Howard Watson. I have known Mr Watson for almost six years. After meeting at the University of Chicago, where we were both studying economics, we became very close friends. I have always been impressed by Mr Watson's remarkable success at school and by his subsequent success in his career.

Mr Watson is sincere and reliable, and has a true facility for getting things done. Although he can be impatient with others, he is never deliberately unkind or thoughtless.

Even though Mr Watson is a serious and dedicated worker, he is also involved in many outside activities. He enjoys swimming, gardening and cooking. Regarding your request, he entertains and travels often. He is well liked by his colleagues at work, and he has many friends.

I hope you will consider Mr Watson seriously for the position with your company when making your final decision. I feel certain that he will be an asset to your staff.

Sincerely, Barbara Long

A. Read the letter. Then choose the best meaning for each oftht words below.

1. Regarding means

a. referring to

b. looking at

2. A letter of recommendation gives

a. positive facts and information.

b. negative facts and information.

3. Close friends

a. live near each other.

b. like each other very much.

4. Remarkable means

a. very noticeable

b. not very noticeable.

5. Subsequent means

a. coming before something else.

b. coming after something else.

6. Facility means

a. ability to do things easily.

b. inability to do things easily.

7. Deliberately means

a. on purpose.

b. by accident.

8. Be involved in means

a. dislike.

b. participate in.

9. Outside activities are

a. things you do in a garden or park.

b. things you do besides work.

10. An asset is

a. something that is valuable.

b. something that isn't valuable.

B. What is, according to Barbara Ling, Mr Watson like?

C. Imagine that someone you know has applied for a job and has asked you to write a letter of reference. Using some of the words in the list below or in the letter above, give reasons why you think the person would or would not be good for the job.

Notice the use of the prefixes im-, in-, un-, ir-, anti-,and dis-.When you add these prefixes to a word, you add the meaning of | "not".

He is not very sincere. = He is very insincere.

aggressive/easygoing (un)kind (anti)social

(im)patient (un)selfish (in)sensitive

(in)dependent (in)sincere optimistic/pessimistic

serious/not serious confident/insecure (dis)honest

(un)reliable argumentative thoughtful/thoughtless

(irresponsible

Mr Simms never smiled. He lived in a small town where everyone was always in a good mood — everyone except him. He always seemed to be miserable and liked to make other people miserable too.

One day, while Mr Simms was on his way to the bank, he met Mrs Toogood. It was a beautiful sunny day and Mrs Toogood felt great.

"Well, good morning Mr Simms. What's the matter? You look so depressed. Did you get some bad news?" she asked him. "No, I'm fine, thank you, Mrs Toogood," he said. "Well, you shouldn't look so miserable, Mr Simms, on such a lovely sunny day."

"It's sunny now," said Mr Simms, "but it will probably rain later." "Nonsense," said Mrs Toogood and she walked on.

Next Mr Simms walked past the flower shop where Miss Lightheart was putting out some lovely fresh flowers. "Good morning, Mr Simms. Is everything all right? You look so sad. No deaths in the family, I hope."

"No. Everything's fine, thank you, Miss Lightheart." "Well then, you shouldn't be looking so unhappy on such a beautiful day, Mr Simms."

"It could rain later, you know," said Mr Simms. "It could rain." "I don't think so Mr Simms. Goodbye, sir." Mr Simms went to the bank where the bank manager, Mr Free-body, gave him a large friendly smile. "Did you lose some money. Mr Simms? You look so upset."

"There's nothing wrong with me," said Mr Simms, "but tell me, why are you in such a good mood? You look very cheerful and pleased with life."

"Look outside," said Mr Freebody. "It's such a nice day today." "Hm. I wouldn't be surprised if it rained later," said Mr Simms. "I wouldn't be surprised at all."

"Not today, Mr Simms. Not today. And how much money would you like?"

Mr Simms took his money and went home. As usual, he didn't look at all happy. He took his newspaper, sat down, and started to read. He read for about an hour, when suddenly he noticed that the room was a little dark. There was a noise at

the window and Mr Simms looked out. He couldn't believe it. He was absolutely delighted and a big smile appeared on his face.

A. Questions

1. Where was Mr Simms going? 2. Why was Mrs Toogood in such a good mood? 3. Why did Mrs Toogood ask Mr Simms if he had gotten bad news? 4. Where did Miss Lightheart work? 5. What sort of weather did Mr Simms expect later in the day? 6. Why did Mr Freebody think Mr Simms was upset? 7. Why did Mr Simms finally smile?

B. Think about

\. What puts you in a good mood? 2. What makes you cry? 3, What makes people laugh? 4.Can you tell a joke in English? 5. Do you sometimes feel depressed? 6. What do you do to make yourself feel better?

C. Special difficulties

Possibility: may, might, could

We use may, might and could to talk about present or future possibility.

"There's someone at the door." "It may be Sarah." (= Per­haps it is Sarah.)

We aren't sure what we are going to do tomorrow. We might go to the beach. (= Perhaps we will go to the beach.) "Where's Simon?" "He could be in the living room." (= Per­haps he is in the living room.)

Mightis normally a little less sure thanmoy. Couldis normally less sure than may or might.

+++ may ++ might + could

I. Rephrase these sentences using the modal verbs in brackets. eg Perhaps she is ill. (may) She may be ill.

1. Perhaps you're right, (could) 2. Perhaps she'll win the ^race. (might) 3. Perhaps they're asleep, (may) 4. Perhaps he knows the address, (could) 5. Perhaps I'll see you tomorrow.

(may) 6. Perhaps she will come. (might) 7. Perhaps it will snow today, (could)

II. You are giving advice to a friend. Use shouldor shouldn't.

eg Your friend is always coughing because he smokes too much. Advise him to stop smoking.

You should stop smoking.

1. Your friend has a bad toothache. Advise him to go to the dentist. You... 2. Your friend rides his bicycle at night without lights. You think this is dangerous. Advise him not to do it. 3. Your friend is going to visit Greece. Advise him to learn a few words of Greek before he goes. 4. Your friend has a bad cold. Advise him to stay at home this evening. 5. Your friend eats too many sweets. Advise her not to do it. 6. Your friend works too hard. Advise him not to do it. 7. Your friend misses too many classes. Advise him not to do it.

III. Complete the sentences using soor such.

It was such a good film. I really enjoyed it.

1. She's ... shy. She always gets very nervous when she meets people. 2. You shouldn't eat... quickly; you'll give yourself indi­gestion. 3. It's ... an interesting town; there really is ... much to do there. 4.1 was ... disappointed when I failed my driving test. 5. He felt... tired that he decided not to go out. 6. It was ... a hot day that they had to open all the windows. 7. I've made ... many mistakes in this letter. I think I'll type it again. 8. He had... much luggage that we couldn't get it all into the car. 9. It was ... a boring film that I fell asleep during the show. 10.1 was... excited that I could hardly speak.

Conversation PracticeListen, read and practise.

Describing People

a) Woman: What do you think of the new French teacher? Man: Well, she's kind of strange and she seems to

be pretty moody.

b) First man: Everyone says Kathy is hardworking and

always very careful in her job.

Second man: Yes, and she's very enthusiastic about her work, too.

c) First man: Hey! Look at what the teacher said about

me on my report: I'm "creative, reliable, and intelligent." Second man: Oh, that's great!

d) Man: Hey, what's wrong?

Woman: I'm fed up with my brother! He's so hot-tem­pered. He always gets angry with me.

Man: Really?

Woman: Yeah. He gets upset so easily. I don't know what's the matter with him.

e) Man: Look what Mary gave me! Isn't this a nice

book?

Woman: Yes. It's great! That's Mary, she's so gene­rous — she always likes to treat people and give presents to her friends.

f) Woman: How do you like your new boss? Man: Oh, she's too serious. Woman: Really? Why?

Man: Oh, she never enjoys a joke. She never laughs.

It's hard to even get a smile out of her.

g) First woman: How's your new secretary?

Second woman: Well, he's OK, but he's pretty slow. He can't type very fast. And the mistakes...! I have to send everything back at least twice for re­typing.

h) First man: What is Paul's wife like? Second man: I can't stand her. She's everything I don't like in a woman. She's bossy, she's superior, and she thinks she can do everything better than other people.

0 First man: What does Mike's sister look like? Second man: Very plain. Long straight hair, high forehead and prominent cheek bones.

j) Man: What's George like?

Woman: A bit like you, actually. Same build, same height, and similar colour eyes.

k) First man: What is Mary like?

Second man: She's quite good-looking. The kind of girl you go for. But she's a bit too serious for me. You know, politics, literature, human rights, things like that.

1) Paul: Anna, what was your first boyfriend like?

Anna: Goodness! Why do you want to know that?

Paul: I'm just interested.

Anna: Well, he was very good-looking, with dark

hair and big, brown eyes. He was very ro­mantic. He was always buying me flowers and presents. Of course, he wasn't as nice as you.

m) Old lady: Help me somebody please! Oh policeman, stop that man!

Policeman: I...

Old lady: He stole my handbag!

Policeman: I think it's too late, madam.

Old lady: But...

Policeman: He's escaped. Now tell me...

Old lady: Yes...

Policeman: What did he look like?

Old lady: Ah well... He... He was medium height and

err... quite well built and he had short dark hair. Oh I know he looked like that actor man, that David Starr, but he was taller than that.

Police officer: Police Department. May I help you ?

Woman: I'd like to report a missing person—my grand-

mother.

Police Officer: Your grandmother? OK.

Woman: Yes, she went out at three o'clock this

afternoon. It's already past midnight and she hasn't come back.

Police officer: Uh-huh. What's her name, please?

Woman: Mrs Rose Baker.

Police officer: And... how old is she?

Woman: She's seventy-eight.

Police officer: OK. Now can you describe her?

Woman: Yes, she's about five feet tall.

Police officer: Five feet, uh-huh.

Woman: She has curly gray hair and she wears glasses.

Police officer: And what is she wearing?

Woman: Let me see. A red dress and a white jacket.

Police officer: A red dress and a white jacket.

Woman: Oh, and a little hat with flowers on it.

Police officer: All right. Now, just a few more questions...

A. Questions

1. Who is missing? 2. What does the person look like? 3. What is the person wearing? 4. What do you think has happened to the missing person?

B. Now listen to the rest of the conversation.

Woman: (Clock strikes three) Oh, Grandma, it's you! I was so worried about you. It's three o'clock in the mor­ning.

Grandma: Why were you worried? I was out on a date.

Woman: A date? With who?

Grandma: Mr Franklin — my new boyfriend. He's only eighty-three!

C. Think of someone in the class. Give a clue like this:

I'm thinking of a woman. Now your classmates try to guess who it is.

How old is she? What is she wearing?

How tall is she? Is she wearing a red

sweater? What kind of hair does she have? Is it... (name)?

D. Cut out pictures of people from magazines. Two people write their own descriptions of the same picture. For example:

The man is in his early 20 s. He's tall, and he has brown hair. He's wearing a red sweater and dark blue pants, and he's carrying a black jacket. He's also wearing a watch.

Now compare your description with the other person 's. E. Situation:

You lose your child at the supermarket. You are very worried. You go to the man in charge and ask him to help you find your child.

A: Have you met the new sales manager?

B: Yes, I have.

A: What do you think of him?

B: Well, he seems very nice. He's very friendly, and he's

always helpful. A: Oh, do you think so? В : Yes, but I think he's kind of forgetful. He never remembers

my name.

A: Yeah, you're right. He's very forgetful. B: Oh, do you know him? A: Yes, he's my husband!

A. Match these adjectives with definitions. Then compare with a partner.

a) easygoing is very intelligent

b) forgetful has good manners

c) funny always keeps a promise

d) generous thinks deeply about things a) polite doesn't worry about things

f) reliable likes giving things to people

g) serious doesn't remember things h) shy likes to be around people i) smart likes making people laugh

j) sociable doesn't say much in front of other people

B. Can you give definitions for these words!

bad-tempered • creative • patient • moody • talkative

C. Use the words in parentheses to complete the sentences.

1. My boss is pretty... and he's... generous, (very, easygoing)

2. My next-door neighbour is not a very ... person. He's kind of... and ... very sociable, (not, friendly, shy)

3. My sister is ... smart and she's very... But she's some­times ... (creative, really, forgetful)

4. My best friend is a ... sociable person, and she's ... too. But she is very ... (funny, impatient, pretty)

D. Describe three of your classmates. Does your partner agree?

Did you go to the athletics club last night, Karen?

Yes I did. It was great!

Oh yes? Why?

Well, I met a boy called Steven.

Ooh! What about Rod Smith?

Oh, I'm not really interested in him.

Really? I quite like Rod.

But Steven is much nicer.

What's he like?

He's very good-looking.

Is he?

He's tall and slim, and he's got short brown hair.

Where does he live?

In Willesden.

Where does he go to school?

Cricklewood College.

So he's older than you.

Yes, he's seventeen.

A. Show a picture of someone for about 5 seconds to the class and then ask "What's he/she like? "

(A = Annie; G = Grandmother) A: Grannie? G: Yes, my dear?

A: How many brothers and sisters did you have?

G: I had... now let me see... there was... me, Alice, James, then Henry — that's four, isn't it? Then Robert and Emily, the twins — so that makes two sisters and three brothers.

A: What were they all like? Did they look like you?

G: Well, some did and some didn't. My sister Alice and I were very similar. People used to think we were the twins, but she was two years older than me. We both had fair hair, and when we were young, we used to have lovely ribbons in it. People said I was the pretty one — my sister Alice was so moody, she always looked miserable.

A: Who were you closest to?

G: Ah, my brother James. He was such a kind boy, always smiling, and so gentle. We were inseparable, we went everywhere together.

A: What did he look like?

G: Well, people said James had my mother's features; same nose, same mouth, while Henry, who was older, was more like Father. Henry had thick, dark hair, but James had fair hair like me, and he used to have a parting down the middle. Henry was quite a plump boy, not fat but he was always well-built, like Father.

A: What about the twins?

G: They were very plain, I seem to remember. When they were babies, no one could tell them apart, they were so similar. They both had long faces with high fore­heads... Robert was very severe and serious — I was quite afraid of him -— but then he was so much older than me, we didn't have much to do with each other. Robert looked middle-aged before he was twenty.

A: What about your Mummy and Daddy?

G: Mother was a darling. She used to have her hair in a tight bun, and she looked quite fierce, but she wasn't really. She had smiling eyes and a heart of gold. Father was a very quiet man, he always looked distant as though he were lost in his own thoughts.

A: What were their names?

G: Daniel and Clare.

A. Read the conversation. Ask and answer questions.

B. Speak about the family described in the conversation.

C. Roleplay the conversation.

D. Describe the members, of your family. How similar or different are they?

Exchange papers and compare у our families.

E. Match each word with a definition.

a) easygoing people who don't do what they say they will

b) emotional apersonwhodoesn'toftenaskforotherpeople'shelporadvice

c) generous a person who waits calmly for things and doesn 't worry if things

are not on time

d) independent someone who likes giving things to other people

e) moody a person who doesn't usually worry or get angry

f) patient someone who is often gloomy or depressed

g) proud a person who enjoys being with other people

h) sociable people who have a high opinion of their own importance i) unreliable people who show their feelings easily

Now give definitions for these words: ambitious, punctual, selfish, confident, outgoing, careful, careless, impatient

Sue: Who's your best friend, Tom? Tom: Well, I guess Harry Taylor is my best friend. We've been

going to baseball games together for the past ten years. Sue: Oh? And how did you meet? Tom: Well, it was really funny. See, Harry's a police officer.

And one day I was late getting to a baseball game, and,

well, I was in a real hurry... and he stopped me for

speeding. Sue: Uh-oh!

Tom: Yeah! Well, I explained why I was in such a hurry, and I

found out he was a big baseball fan, too. Sue: Uh! You're kidding? Tom: No, no... so we arranged to go to a game together the

next weekend. But I still had to pay for the speeding

ticket.

Sue: Well, what's Han у like?

Tom: Well, you know, he's a ... he's a really interesting guy. You know, he's got this great sense of humour and he loves meeting people. He's very sociable. Sue: Oh?

Tom: Hey, what about you, Sue? Who's your best friend? Sue: Oh, my best friend is Ann Thomas. We met in France

one summer about five years ago... Tom: Really?

Sue: We were both studying French at the same school and then we travelled together in Europe for about a month when classes finished. Tom: What's Ann like? Sue: What's she like? Well, she's really a creative person.

She writes short stories. Tom: No kidding? Sue: And she's very generous. She's always helping people

out.

Tom: Huh! You know, I'd like to meet her sometime. Sue: You would? Well, I'm planning to see her next Satur­day. Maybe you could bring your friend Harry and we could go on a double date. How about that? Tom: Yeah, it sounds great!

A. Questions

1. Who is Tom's best friend? 2. How did they meet? 3. What does Harry do? 4. What is Harry like? 4. Who is Sue's best friend? 5. How did they meet? 6. What is Ann like?

B. Give a brief account of the conversation.

C. Roleplay the conversation. Make up a similar conversation.

D. What qualities should a friend have? Think of five adjectives.

E. Speak about your best friend. What do you like most about him/her? How is your friend similar to or different from you?

F. What sort of person are you?

Put [Y] for Yes, [NJfor No, and [S] for Sometimes.

a. Are you generally aware of other people's feelings?

b. Do you find it difficult to meet new people?

c. Do you frequently make people laugh?

d. Does your mood change often and suddenly?

e. When decisions have to be made, do you think first of yourself?

f. Can your friends trust you and depend on you?

g. Do you generally like other people's company?

h. Are there lots of things you want to do in your profes­sional life?

i. Can you usually understand other people's point of view?

j. Do you worry and think too much about detail?

k. Are you usually quite a happy, smiling person?

1. Are you interested in other people and their business?

m. Do you sometimes not tell the truth because you don't want to hurt someone's feelings?

Match these adjectives with the questions above. Example [b] shy

tolerant witty

sociable selfish ₄

reliable ambitious

sensitive moody

tactful inquisitive

fussy cheerful

Scott and Ashley Moreton are at Scott's office party.

Ashley: Scott, who's the man who's talking so loudly?

Scott: Which one? Everybody's talking loudly.

Ashley: The bald man with the moustache.

Scott: Oh, him! That's Harrison. He's the company's presi­dent.

Ashley: And that woman who's standing next to him? Is she his wife?

Scott: The one with the grey hair? Why do you think she's his wife?

Ashley: She's the only one who isn't laughing at his jokes!

Scott: But everyone else has to! Same again, honey?

Ashley: No, thanks. I'll just have a mineral water.

Man: Hello, I haven't seen you before.

Ashley: That's because I don't work here. My husband does

Man: Oh, what's his name?

Ashley: Scott. Scott Moreton. Do you know him?

Man: No, I don't work here either — my girlfriend does. I

suppose she knows him. Ashley: Where is she? Man: She's over there. That attractive, blonde girl who's

talking to that funny-looking man with the beard and

glasses. I wonder who he is. Ashley: That "funny-looking man" is my husband.

A. Study and practise the conversation. Make up a similar conversation.

B. Here are some English proverbs. Learn and comment on them

Appearances are deceitful. The face is the index of the mind. A fair face may hide a foul heart. Beauty lies in lover's eyes. Handsome is as handsome does.

C. Sum up the specific vocabulary on the topic "Appearance. Personality ".

1. Name the parts of the body using as many nouns as you know; eg mouth, tongue, etc.

2. Name as many adjectives as you know to describe ap­pearance and personality. Do it in alphabetical order. Ma­ke a list of the specific vocabulary on the topic.

Reading

This is an extract from Somerset Maugham's story "The Lotus Eater". The writer describes his first impressions of a man called Thomas Wilson.

"Though his teeth were not very good his smile was attractive. It was gentle and kindly. He was dressed in a blue cotton shirt and a pair of grey trousers, much creased and none too clean, of

thin canvas, and on his feet he wore a pair of very old espadrilles. The get-up was picturesque, and very suitable to the place and the weather but it did not at all go with his face. It was a lined, Jong face deeply sunburned, thin-lipped, with small grey eyes rather close together and tight, neat features. The grey hair was carefully brushed. It was not a plain face, indeed in his youth Wilson might have been good-looking. He wore the blue shirt, open at the neck, and the grey canvas trousers, not as though they belonged to him, but as though, shipwrecked in his pyjamas, he had been fitted out with odd garments by compassionate strangers. Notwithstanding this careless attire he looked like the manager of a branch office in an insurance company, who should by rights be wearing a black coat with pepper-and-salt trousers, a white collar and an unobjectionable tie.

When in the evening Mr Towers Chandler appeared in the streets of New York people took him for a rich young man. He was handsome, well dressed and sure of himself. In a word, he looked like a typical clubman going out to have a good time. No one knew that he was not rich. He was in fact quite poor.

Chandler was twenty-two years old. He worked in the office of an architect and got eighteen dollars a week. At the end of each week he put aside one dollar out of his salary. At the end of each ten weeks he ironed his evening suit and went out to have a good time. He usually dined at' a fashionable restaurant where there was wine and music. It took him ten weeks to accumulate his capital of ten dollars and it took him only a few hours to spend it, playing the role of a rich idler.

One night he went out, dressed in his evening clothes, and started for the restaurant where he dined one evening out of seventy.

He was just going to turn round the corner when a young girl м front of him slipped on the snow and fell down. Chandler ran ^UP and helped her to her feet.

"Thank you," said the girl. "I think I have twisted my ankle." "Does it hurt very much?" asked Chandler. "Yes, it does," she answered, "but I think I shall be able to ^Walk in a few minutes."

Chandler looked at the girl. She was very young. Her face was both beautiful and kind. She was dressed in a cheap black dress that looked like a uniform that sales-girls wear. A cheap black hat was on her shining dark-brown hair. She looked like a working girl of the best type.

A sudden idea came to his mind. He decided to ask the girl to dine with him. He was sure she was a nice girl. Her speech and manners showed it. And in spite of her simple clothes he felt he would be happy to sit at table with her. He thought: This poor girl has never been to a fashionable restaurant. She will remember the pleasure for a long time.

"I think," he said to her, "that your foot must rest for some time. Now, I am going to tell you something. I am on my way to dine. Come with me. We'll have a nice dinner and a pleasant talk together. And when our dinner is over your foot will be better, I am sure."

The girl looked up into Chandler's clear, blue eyes. Then she smiled. "We don't know each other. I'm afraid it is not right."

she said.

' "Why not?" asked the young man. "I'll introduce myself. My name is Towers Chandler. I will try to make our dinner as pleasant as possible. And after dinner I will say good-bye to you, or will take you to your door as you wish."

"But how can I go to the restaurant in this old dress and hat?" said the girl looking at Chandler's evening suit.

"Never mind that," said Chandler. "I'm sure you will look better in them than any one we shall see there in the richest evening dress."

"I think I will go with you, Mr Chandler," said the girl, "because my ankle still hurts me. You may call me... Miss Marian."

"All right, Miss Marian," said the young architect, "you will not have to walk far. There is a very good restaurant a little way from here."

The two young people came to the restaurant and sat down at a table. Chandler ordered a good dinner. He felt quite happy.

The restaurant was full of richly-dressed people. There was a good orchestra playing beautiful music. The food was excellent. His companion, even in her cheap hat and dress, looked more beautiful than some ladies in evening dresses.

And then... some kind of madness came upon Chandler. He began to play the role of a rich idler before the girl. He spoke of clubs and teas, of playing golf and riding horses and tours in Europe. He could see that the girl was listening to him with attention, so he told her more and more lies. The longer he talked the more lies he told her about his life.

At last she said, "Do you like living such an idle life? Have you no work to do? Have you no other interests?"

"My dear Miss Marian," he explained, "work! I am too busy to work. It takes so much time to dress every day for dinner, to make a dozen visits in an afternoon... I have no time for work."

The dinner was over. The two young people walked out to the corner where they had met. Miss Marian walked very well now, her ankle was much better.

"Thank you for a nice time," she said to Chandler. "I must run home now. I liked the dinner very much, Mr Chandler."

He shook hands with her, smiling, and said that he also had to hurry. He was going to his club to play bridge.

In his cheap cold room Chandler put away his evening suit to rest for sixty nine days.

"That was a fine girl," he said to himself. "I should like to meet her again. I have made a mistake in playing the role of a rich idler before a poor working girl. Why did I lie to her? All because of my evening suit, I think... I'm sorry it's all over!"

After she had left Chandler the girl came to a rich and handsome house facing a beautiful avenue. She entered a room where a young lady was looking out of the window.

"Oh, Marian!" she exclaimed when the other entered. "When will you stop frightening us? Two hours ago you ran out in this old dress and Helen's hat. Mother is so worried. She sent the chauffeur in the automobile to look for you. You are a bad, bad girl, Marian!"

Then she pressed a button. A servant came in and she said, "Helen, tell Mother that Miss Marian has returned."

"Don't be angry with me, Sister," said Marian. "I only ran down to my dressmaker to tell her to use blue buttons instead of white for my new dress. My old dress and Helen's hat were just what I needed. Every one thought I was a sales-girl, I am sure."

"Dinner is over, dear, you were away so long," said Marian's sister.

"I know," said Marian. "I slipped in the street and twisted my

ankle. So I walked to a restaurant with great difficulty and sat there until my ankle was better. That's why I was so long."

The two girls sat down at the window, looking out. Then Marian said, "We shall have to marry one day, both of us. Shall I tell you the kind of man I can love?"

"Go on, dear," said her sister smiling.

"The man I can love must have clear blue eyes, he must be handsome and good and he mustn't try to flirt. But I shall love a. man like that only if he is not lazy; if he has some work to do in the world. No matter how poor he is I shall love him. But, Sister, dear, what kind of men do we meet every day? They live an idle life between visits to their friends and visits to their clubs. No, I can't love a man like that, even if his eyes are blue and he is handsome; even if he is kind to poor girls whom he meets in the street."

Self check

1. Translate from Russian into English.

А. Сара: У нас гостит моя двоюродная сестра Мария, и она скучает. Я сегодня должна была пойти с ней в кино, но мой начальник просит меня поработать сверхурочно. Мы договорились с Марией встретиться около "Одеона" в 8 часов. Фильм начинается в 8.30. Ты не мог бы сводить ее в кино?

Ник: Я не уверен. А сколько ей лет?

Сара: 14. Пожалуйста, Ник. Она очень милая.

Ник: Но как я ее узнаю?

Сара: Она высокая, у нее длинные каштановые волосы.

Ник: Понятно. А как она одета?

Сара: На ней темно-голубой плащ.

Ник: На ней сапоги или туфли?

Сара: Извини, я не помню.

Ник: Неважно. Я думаю, что узнаю ее.

Б.Джейн: Мой брат недавно женился. Виктор: Что представляет собой его жена? Джейн: Она миловидная, стройная девушка со светлы­ми волосами и большими голубыми глазами.

Унее правильные черты лица, а также хороший цвет лица. Кроме того, она умна и добра. Мне она очень нравится.

Виктор: Я никогда не встречал твоего брата. Как выгля­дит он?

Джейн: Он хорош собой, среднего роста, хорошо сложен. У него каштановые волосы и черные глаза. У не­го хороший характер. Он открытый и добродуш­ный. Кроме того, он очень трудолюбив и всегда готов помочь, на него можно положиться.

В. — Что вы думаете о новом инженере?

— Я считаю, что он умен и талантлив.

— Я согласен с вами. Кроме того, он очень тактичен и вежлив.

Г. — Что представляет собой жена Рона?

— Она довольно простенькая, низкого роста и несколь­ко застенчива.

Д. — Мама, посмотри на ту девушку вон там. Это но­вая девушка Ника.

— Которая девушка? Как она выглядит?

— Вон та девушка с черными вьющимися волосами.

— Черные вьющиеся волосы... А как она одета?

— Девушка в красном пиджаке и голубом платье.

— Это Рита Смит, не так ли?

Е. — Как вам понравилась сестра Дика?

— Она очень привлекательная девушка. Она привет­лива, у нее хорошее чувство юмора.

— Да, согласен с вами. Она не похожа на своего бра­та. Он несколько грубоват и скучноват.

Ж. У моей сестры трое детей: два мальчика и одна девоч­ка. Ее старшего сына зовут Робертом. Ему 18 лет. Это высокий молодой человек с серыми глазами и светлы­ми волосами. Роберт очень приветлив. Он веселый, об­щительный человек, но несколько рассеян. Ее младше­го сына зовут Виктором. Ему 10 лет. Он учится в на­чальной школе. Он способный мальчик, но несколь­ко ленив. Виктор, в отличие от Роберта, не очень общи-

телен. Он спокойный ребенок и любит проводить вре­мя дома. Дочь сестры зовут Катей. Кате 16 лет. Она сту­дентка. Катя очень миленькая, стройная девушка. Она честная и открытая. Катя очень трудолюбива и серьезна.

— Как вам нравится ваш зять?

— Он совсем мне не нравится. У него плохой ха­рактер, он эгоистичен и честолюбив.

UNIT3 GRAMMAR: CONDITIONALSENTENCES

English tense usage can be divided into two categories: tenses used to refer to fact, and those used to refer to non-fact. Fact is what is considered to be real or quite possible; non-fact is what is supposed or wished for, which is either unreal or improbable.

Fact: I work in a restaurant, but I don't earn much. If I find a better job, I'll take it.

Non-fact: I wish I had a lot of money.

If I had a lot of money, I would open my own res­taurant.

Tenses used to refer to fact are related to real time. For example, a past verb form refers to the past.

I had a lovely holiday in Spain last year.

Tenses used to refer to non-fact are not related to real time. Generally speaking, this unreality is expressed by shifting the verb form "backwards" (for example, from present to past).

If I had a car, I could visit my parents.

Here the past verb form does not refer to the real past, but to the "wished for" present and future. It has the effect of distancing the meaning from reality. It is important to understand this difference between fact and non-fact when discussing conditional sentences.

There are three types of conditional sentences.

Type I

(If + present tense; simple future simple present)

Type I conditional sentences are based on fact in real time. They are used to:

— talk about certain or probable situations, eg: If you go now, you'll catch the train. If you don't go now, you'll miss the train.

— talk about general truths or habitual activities

If you mix yellow and blue, you get green.(= When­ever you mix yellow and blue...) If I have a big lunch, it makes me sleepy.

Type 2

(If + simple past;... would + simple form) Type 2 conditional sentences are not based on fact. They are used to talk about unreal present or future situations.

If I had a lot of money, I'd travel round the world. (But I do not have a lot of money.)

If I didn't feel so tired, I'd come out with you. (But I feel very tired.)

If the weather was nice, I'd go to the beach. (But the weather is not nice.)

We also use this structure to talk about unlikely present or future situations.

If she really loved you, she wouldn't be so horrible to you If I won a lot of money, I'd take a long holiday.

The past form eg had, loved does not have a past meaning in sentences like these; it has a hypothetical present or future meaning. We often use were instead of was after if, especially in a more formal style.

If the weather were nice, I'd go to the beach.

I'd come out for a walk with you if I weren't so busy.

That watch wouldn't be so cheap if it were really made of gold

We often use if I were you to give advice andifyou were me to ask for advice.

If I were you, I'd apply for the job. What would you do if you were me?

We can use the modal verbs might or could instead of would in the main clause to imply a possible rather than a definite consequence.

If I won a lot of money, I might stop working. (= I would perhaps stop working.)

I could repair the car, if I had the right tools. (= I would be able to repair the car...)

ТуреЗ

(If + past perfect; ... would have + past participle) Type 3 conditional sentences are not based on fact. They are used to talk about unreal past situations.

If the weather had been nice yesterday, I would have gone

to the beach. (But the weather was not nice.)

If I'd studied hard, I would have passed the exam. (But I

did not study hard.)

If you hadn't missed your bus, you wouldn't have been

late for school. (But you missed your bus.)

We can use the modal verbs might and could instead of would in the main clause.

If you had taken the exam, you might have passed it. (= ... you would perhaps have passed it.) I could have repaired the car, if I'd had the right tools. (= I would have been able to repair the car...)

Type 2 and Type 3 mixed

It is possible for each of the two clauses in a conditional sentence to have a different time reference, and the result is a mixed conditional.

If I had eaten breakfast several hours ago, I would not be

hungry now. (= I did not eat breakfast several hours ago,

so I am hungry now.)

If he were a good student, he would have studied for the j». test. (He is not a good student. He did not study for the test t yesterday.)