Read the text and fill in the gaps in it with a suitable word the first and the last letters of which are given.

I live in a new nine-storeyed block of f_____ s in Shevchenko Street. In front of the h_____e there is a children’s p_______d and a small garden. We like to spend our time there. Our f_____t is on the fourth floor. It is very comfortable. We have all modern conveniences, such as central h_____g, electricity, gas, clod and hot running w_____r and a telephone.

There are three r _____s in our flat: a living room and two bedrooms. Our living room is the largest in the flat. It is nicely furnished. Against the wall you can see a nice cupboard. There is a colourT___t in the corner. In the opposite corner there is a s_____a and two armchairs. The piano is on the r_____t. There are two pictures above the piano. And there is a bookcase near it. We are fond of books and have plenty of them at h_____e. On the floor we have a nice thick carpet. The curtains on the w_____w match the wallpaper. All these makes the r_____mcosy.

Our bedrooms are also very n_____e and cosy. The parent’s bedroom is larger than the children’s. There are two beds, a bedside table, some c_____s and a wardrobe in it. There is a lovely carpet on the floor between the beds. The children’s bedroom is just across the c_____r on the right. Here you can see two sofa-beds where my sister and I sleep at n_____t and have a rest in the day-time. There is also a writing-table, two chairs and some bookshelves here. We use our bedroom as a study where we do our homework. In the corner of the r_____m there is a small t______e with a computer on it. We all enjoy listening to music and playing games.

Our kitchen is rather large. There is a gas-stove, a refrigerator and a c_____d in which we keep cups, plates and all our dishes. The kitchen serves us as a dining-room. But when we receive guests or have our family celebrations we have the meals in the l_____g-room.

We are h_____y to have such a nice flat and try to keep it clean.

Grammar

1. Write questions with “how much…“ or “how many…“.

e.g. I took some photographs.                   How many photographs did you take?

1. I bought some stamps.

2. I lost some money.

3. I drank some water.

4. I made some mistakes.

5. I wrote some letters.

6. I bought some food.

7. I invited some people.

2. Insert much, many or a lot in the blank spaces.

1. The book is a best-seller. _____ thousands of copies have been sold. It appeals to _____ people. I personally don’t think _____ of it. 2. There is _____ truth in what you say. _____ of your arguments are very sound, but _____ could also be said for the other side. 3. You have risked much. Not _____ people would have done that. 4. When you were in London, did you see _____ plays? Did you meet _____ interesting people? 5. She spends _____ money on clothes. 6. What _____ time you take to dress! 7. I haven’t got _____ interest in cooking.

3. Connect these sentences with “although“. Make one sentence.

1. He didn’t eat. He was hungry.

2. Mary played piano well. She was sick.

3. I want to go to Spain. I don’t speak Spanish.

4. I bought a blouse and two dresses. I didn’t have much money.

5. They won’t take a taxi. They are in a hurry.

4. Match a line in A with a line in B and a line in C.

Topic 6. Shops and Shopping

Shops and Shopping in London

Most of London’s big department stores and rich shops are in the West End.

One of the most popular shopping centres in the West End as well as in London is Oxford Street. Its nice shops and department stores attract people from all over the country and foreigners too. It is always crowded with shoppers especially at sales times, in January and July.

Shops and department stores are open every day till 6 o’clock except on Sundays. If you can’t go shopping during the day you can make a purchase on Thursday after office hours, at the shops close at 8 o’clock in Oxford Street on that day.

One of the largest department stores in Oxford Street is Selfridge’s. It has about 235 different departments:

Men’s and Women’s Wear, Ready-Made Children’s Clothes, Bedding, Confectionary, Stationery, Hardware, Electrical Goods and many others.

Selfridge’s is a very expensive department store that is why most Londoners prefer to go to cheaper shops: Marks & Spencer’s for clothes and supermarkets for food.

Marks & Spencer’s is a self-service chain store. It sells quality goods at reasonable prices, therefore it is very popular.

Supermarkets, many of which are chain stores too, sell not only food but household goods too.

Hypermarkets have become especially popular recently. They are very big supermarkets (usually) outside London with parking lots for customers, who come shopping in their cars and buy food for a whole week.

Grammar

Form the degrees of comparison.

Dirty, clean, near, bad famous, little, much, clever, good, expensive, cheap, important, pale, hot, beautiful, large, practical, fat, early, pretty, happy, bright, dark, dry, flat, fresh, quick, late, rich, sad, thick, thin, wet, easy, lazy.

2. Answer the questions.

1. Which is better, to go in for basketball or tennis?

2. Who is the strongest sportsman in our country?

3. Where is the most beautiful country-side in your place?

4. Which takes more time, to travel by car or by train?

5. Where is the warmest climate in our country?

6. Which are the most popular sports in our country?

7. Is Physics more interesting than Biology?

8. What is your most favourite subject?

3. Complete the following conversations by supplying the comparative form of the adjective in brackets in A and its opposite in B.

1. A: The country is ________ ____ the city. (quiet)

B: Yes, that's true. the city is much ________ .

2. A: New York is ________ ____ London. (safe)

B: No, it isn't . New York is much ________ .

3. A: The streets of New York are ________ ____ the streets of Paris. (clean)

B: No, they aren't. They are much ________ .

4. A: Paris is ________ ____ Madrid. (big)

B: No, it isn't. It's much ________ .

5. A: Madrid is ________ ____ Rome. (expensive)

B: No, it isn't. Madrid is much ________ .

6. A: The buildings in Rome are ________ ____ the buildings in New York. (modern)

B: No, they aren't. They're much ________ .

7. A: Life in the country is ________ ____ city life. (slow)

B: Yes, the city life is much ________ .

4. Complete the sentences using the superlative form of the adjective.

1. That house is very old.

Yes, it's __ _____ _____ in the village.

2. Ritz is a very expensive hotel.

Yes, it's __ _____ _____ _____in London.

3. Everest is a very high mountain.

Yes, it's __ _____ _____ in the world.

4. Kate Winslet is a very popular actress.

Yes , she's __ _____ _____ _____ in America.

5. Mr. Clark is a very funny teacher.

Yes, he's __ ______ ______ in our technical school.

6. Marina is a very intelligent student.

Yes, she's __ ______ ______ ______ in our group.

7. This is a very easy exercise.

Yes, it's __ ______ ______ in this book.

5. Translate the sentences with comparative structures.

1. Don't buy this suit. It's much more expensive. 2. You're driving too fast. Can you drive a bit (a little) more slowly? 3. His car is far better than yours. 4. Her knowledge of English became better and better. 5. The more you have, the more you want. 6. The more we study, the less we know. 7. Eat as much as you like. 8. Your eyes are the same colour as his. 9. This system is not so good as that one. 10. Their house is three times as big as that one.