Fluency Happy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is this week and several of our relatives from out of town will be staying with us during the long holiday weekend.
Uncle Frank will be staying for a few days. He'll be sleeping on the couch in the living-room.
My wife's parents will be staying until next Monday. They'll be sleeping in the guest room over the garage.
And Cousin Bertha will be staying for a week or more. She'll be sleeping on a cot in the children's bedroom.
My wife and I will be busy for the next few days. She'll be preparing Thanksgiving dinner and I'll be cleaning the house from top to bottom.
We're looking forward to the holiday but we know we'll be happy when it's over. Happy Thanksgiving.
/. Listen to the text "Happy Thanksgiving", ask and answer questions on the text.
II. Retell the text.
Food and Talk
Last week at a dinner-party, the hostess asked me to sit next to Mrs Rumbold. Mrs Rumbold was a large, unsmiling lady in a tight black dress. She did not even look up when I took my seat beside her. Her eyes were fixed on her plate and in a short time she was busy eating. I tried to make conversation.
"A new play is coming to "The Globe" soon", I said. "Will you be seeing it?" "No", she answered.
"Will you be spending your holidays abroad this year?" I asked.
"No", she answered.
In despair, I asked her whether she was enjoying her dinner.
"Young man", she answered, "if you ate more and talked less we would both enjoy our dinner".
/. Listen to the text "Food and Drink" and answer the questions:
Where did the writer sit at the dinner-party? How did the writer try to make conversation? What questions did he ask Mrs Rum-bold? What did she answer?
//. Retell the text.
The Greenwood Boys
The Greenwood Boys are a group of popular singers. At present they are visiting all parts of the country. They will be arriving here tomorrow They will be coming by train and most of the young people in the town will be meeting them at the station. Tomorrow evening they will be singing at the Workers' Club. The Greenwood boys will be staying for five days. During this time they will give live performances. As usual, the police will have a difficult time. They will be trying to keep order. It is always the same on those occasions.
/. Listen to the text "The Greenwood Boys". Ask and answer questions on the text.
II. Retell the text.
III. Situation: You are going to the South for your summer holidays. Say what you will be doing there.
IV. What are some of the things you will be doing at these times:
1. 7.30 tomorrow morning
2. 7.15 tomorrow evening
3. 10.30 next Sunday morning
4. 8.00 this evening
5. this time next week
Across the Channel
Erna Hart is going to swim across the English Channel tomorrow. She is going to set out from the French Coast at five o'clock in the morning. Erna is only fourteen years old and hopes to set up a new world record. She is a strong swimmer and many-people think that she will succeed. Erna's father will set out with her in a small boat. Mr Hart has trained his daughter for years. Tomorrow he will be watching her anxiously as she swims the long distance to England. Erna intends to take short rests every two hours. She will have something to drink but she will not eat any solid food. Most of Erna's school triends will be waiting for her on the English coast. Among them will be Erna's mother, who swam the Channel herself when she was a girl.
/. Listen to the text and answer the questions: What is Erna Hart going to do? Who will be watching her anxiously?
//. Read the text.
III. Ask and answer questions on the text.
IV. Retell the text.
V. What are your plans for the future holidays?
Self check
/. Use the proper tense forms:
Terry: I hear you're off to Italy, Steve.
Steve: Yes, I (work) in Rome for a few months.
Terry: When you (set) off?
Steve: On Monday morning. But I (take) two weeks' holiday before starting work. I (spend) a few days in Germany and a week in the Alps with a friend. We (do) some skiing together.
Terry: You (travel) by air?
Steve: No, I (take) the car. I (stay) Sunday night in London and I (leave) Monday morning on the Dover-Ostend ferry.
Terry: And at that time on Monday I (sit) here in Birmingham sorting out the correspondence — and it probably (pour) with rain, too.
Steve: Never mind, Terry, your turn will come!
Terry: I hope so. Anyway, I must be off It's five o'clock and my girl-friend (wait) for me outside — and she (wait, not) long.
Steve: Now it's my turn to envy you. I (do) overtime until 8 o'clock tonight.
Terry: Don't work too hard! Have a good trip and don't drive too fast!
Steve: I won't! Cheerio, Terry.
//. Translate into English:
1. Приходи сегодня вечером. Мой приятель будет рассказывать о своей поездке в Англию. 2. — Когда он летит в Париж? — На следующей неделе. 3. Никуда не уходи. Поезд прибывает через несколько минут. 4. Давай поторопимся. Через минуту начнется дождь. 5. Я не буду писать ему. Он приезжает на следующей неделе. 6. — Летом вы опять будете путешествовать? — Да, мы поедем на Кавказ. 7. — Что ты будешь делать завтра? — С 10 до 2 я буду работать в библиотеке. С 3 до 7 у меня занятия в институте.