Task 1. Fill in the gaps with where, when, why, who or which

Martin Foster, (1) … is 50, is a gardener. 1964 was the year (2) … he got his first job. He looked after the gardens of a huge house (3) … a very rich family lived. He loves his job and that’s the reason (4) … he doesn’t mind getting up very early in the morning to water the plants and flowers. His favourite time of year is spring (5) … all the flowers begin to open and leaves grow on the trees. The part of the garden he likes most is the kitchen garden (6) … the vegetables grow, because it has flowers blooming all year round. Martin says flowers and plants make our world beautiful. “That’s (7) … you must protect the environment around you – it’s something (8) … can not be replaced.

Task 2. Choose the correct variant.

1. A: Did you do / Have you done your homework yet?

    B: Yes. I was doing / did it last night.

2. A: Did you paint the house?

B: Yes. I did it all by me / myself.

3. A: Can you get the sugar from the shelf?

B: No, I’m not tall too / enough to reach it.

4. A: Do I have to go to shops today?

B: No, you needn’t / mustn’t. I’ll go instead.

5. A: Why are your clothes all wet?

B: I was washing / have been washing the dog!

6. A: Have you read this book?

B: Of course. It was written / is written by my aunt!

7. A: Who’s that woman over there?

B: It’s the woman whose / who’s son is in my class at school.

8. A: Shall / Must we go out tonight?

B: Yes. Let’s go to the cinema.

A: Ok. I have to / will meet you there at 8 o’clock.

9. A: I need some paper.

B: There is some in the drawer who / which is on your right.

10. A: Nicola’s hair is short now.

B: Really? It used to / didn’t use to be really long.

 

Task 3. Read rule 12 and comment on the use of the Past Perfect Tense in the sentences.

 

1. We had already built this plant by the end of 1997.

2. I had already written my exercise by 5 o’clock

3. At 9 o’clock he had already left.

4. I had written my exercise before he came.

5. They had returned home long before I rang them up.

6. I had worked at this ministry for 2 years and then I left it.

7. He had eaten his breakfast before she came.

8. Tom had been a student for 5 years before she went to the Army.

9. The dog had eaten the meat before we took it away.

10. Nick had told the whole story by 6 o’clock.

11. Tom had done his lessons before he went outside.

12. He had called the managers before he was fired.

13. He had bought a newspaper before this accident happened.

14. He had got a job offer before he was fired.

15. When we came she had already sent the children away.

 

Task 4. Repeat rule 12, open the brackets and comment on the use of the Past Perfect Tense

1. When they came back home it was rather late. Everybody (go) to bed.

2. By the time the police arrived everybody (gather) in the dining room.

3. When we approach the house we saw them.

4. He said that he (make) a new film at that time.

5. When I came into the bar (feel) very thirsty.

6. We left after it (stop) snowing.

7. The children spent the whole day indoors because it (rain) heavily.

8. Jim’s father was really angry when he knew that Jim (leave) the University.

9. I met him first when he (publish) already his second novel.

10. Hanna (live) on the farm before she moved to the village.

11. I remembered that on my way home I (drop in) at the chemist’s.

12. By the time I got to the bank most of the staff (go away).

13. By the time I arrived the manager (make) presentation already.

14. Only after I (take) two aspirins my headache disappeared.

15. “He went on honeymoon with his second wife.” – “Really? I didn’t know he (be) married before”

 

Task 5. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct past tense.

Last weekend Cathy (hire)¹ a car and (drive)² to the seaside. When she (arrived)³ the wind (blow)⁴ and the sky (be)⁵ cloudy. She (get out)⁶ of the car and (take)⁷ a walk along the seafront. Then she (decide)⁸ to go for fish and chips at a nearby restaurant that she (see)⁹ earlier and liked the look of. By the time she (leave)¹⁰ the restaurant, it (already/grow)¹¹ dark. As she (walk)¹² to her car it (begin)¹³ to rain. However, Cathy (not/mind)¹⁴ because she (have)¹⁵ a wonderful day.

Task 6. Try your hand at translation, please.

1. Мы посмотрели пьесу до того, как обсудили ее. 2. Мы посмотрели пьесу, а затем обсудили ее. 3. Я был в Лондоне в прошлом году. Раньше я там не бывал. 4. Когда мы пришли, он уже вер­нулся и что-то писал в своем кабинете (study). 6. Он окончил свою работу в саду и сидел на террасе (terrace). Вечер был теплый, и солнце только что зашло. 7. Шел очень сильный снег, и я не смог разобрать (make out) номера трамвая. Когда я уже проехал (cover) несколько остановок (tram stops), я понял что ехал в неправильном направлении.

Retelling tasks

Let’s see how well you know the content of the story.

Task 1. Say whether it is true or false. If it’s false, give the correct variant.

1. They were driving from Switzerland toward the lovely old Spanish city of Verona.

2. Two small boys were selling cherries and strawberries that looked delicious.

3. The driver told them not to buy strawberries because he didn’t like the boys’ appearance.

4. Those two boys were brothers, Nicolo and Jacopo.

5. In the week which followed, the narrator didn’t meet Nicolo and Jacopo.

6. The boys worked very hard, and they were always dependable and efficient.

7. The narrator wanted to thank the boys and bought them a lot of toys.

8. Every Sunday Nicolo and Jacopo go to a village not far from Verona to visit their sister in the hospital.

9. Lucia worked their as a nurse.

10. All the money the boys earn they spend on their sister’s treatment.

 

Task 2. Answer the questions on the text.

1. Where were they driving?

2. Why did the driver tell them not to buy strawberries?

3. What kind of work did the boys do?

4. Where do the boys go every Sunday?

5. Why did the narrator take the boys to the village himself?

6. How did the gentleman guess that Lucia was their sister?

7. What was she sick with?

8. What did the boys do during the occupation?

9. Why do the brothers have to pay for their sister?

10. Why do you think the narrator called them two gentlemen of Verona?

 

Task 3. In your point of view how many logical parts there are in the story? What are they?

Task 4. Right now try to retell the story to your partner or to your teacher. We believe that some phrases will be of great help to you. You can find them at the end of the grammar reference at p.117

Now enjoy reading the next story!

Story 11. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO UNCLE OSCAR?

                  (by George P. McCallum)

Before reading the story be sure you know how to pronounce these proper names:

Uncle Oscar

Elizabeth

North Avenue

Aunt Agatha

Julian

Leightons