UNIT 1
Tapescript for Exercise 2c (p. 6)
A:There was a really interesting programme on TV last night about strange houses.
B:Oh yeah? I saw a really unusual house once in Suffolk in England. It was five storeys high and it looked like a house on top of a block of flats.
A:I know which one you mean. It’s called ‘The House in the Clouds’ and it was on that programme. It’s a clapboard building with a pitched roof and big chimney.
B:Yes, that’s the one. And there’s another weird house in
Britain with a shark in the roof, isn’t there?
A:Yeah. It looks just like a normal terraced house – you know – a brick wall around the front garden, a porch and panelled windows and all that and then there’s this great big shark in the roof!
B:Well, there’s no accounting for some people’s taste. So, what other houses were featured on that programme,
then?
A:Well, there was this funny-looking hut on stilts in Zimbabwe that had a thatched roof and was on stilts with steps up to the front door, but my favourite was this really tiny little rock house in Portugal.
B:What was so unusual about it?
A:It had a low roof which was a big rock, stone walls, one small window and a small door. I can’t imagine anyone living there.
B:Like I said, there’s no accounting for some people’s taste.
Tapescript for Exercise 5b (p. 8)
John: How are you settling in to your new home, Ann?
Ann: Fine, thanks John. Now I’ve got the home I’ve always wanted, a traditional cottage in the country.
John: Sounds lovely. How big is it?
Ann: Oh, it’s only small, but it’s really cheap. John: It sounds great.
Ann: It is. And it’s very comfortable, too. John: Does it need a lot of fixing up?
Ann: No, actually it is quite well maintained. The only problem I have is that it’s rather cold. Anyway, how’s your house hunting going? Have you found anywhere yet?
John: I have actually, thanks for asking. I’m moving into my nice new modern flat next month.
Ann: That’s great news! Tell me all about it.
John: Well, it’s part of a 3 storey building in the suburbs. Ann: Is it far from the city?
John: No, not at all. It’s really spacious, too. There’s a huge living room.
Ann: It sounds expensive.
John: Well, it is a bit expensive, but it’s worth it because it’s very luxurious.
Ann: Oooh it sounds very nice. I suppose it comes fully furnished?
John: It certainly does. You’ll have to come round and see it when I’ve moved in.
Ann: I’d love to.
Tapescript for Exercise 11a (p. 9)
What colours are the rooms in your house painted? Would it surprise you to learn that the colours around you can affect how you feel? Well, it’s true, colour can drastically affect your mood. So it makes sense to surround yourself with colours that you like and ones that will put you into a positive frame of mind.
Red, for example, is a strong colour, so too much of it in a room can be overwhelming. But, in small amounts red is energising and can make us feel active and excited. Red is best used outside or in a room where we spend a short amount of time each day.
Orange can make us feel enthusiastic and talkative. Extroverts usually prefer this colour because it makes them feel adventurous. Orange stimulates our appetites too, so it would be perfect for the kitchen or dining room.
Yellow is an uplifting colour and can make us feel cheerful and happy. However, it is a colour that should be used sparingly because too much can make us feel impatient.
Blue is the colour that is the most universally preferred, and blue rooms instil peacefulness so it is a good choice for studies or doctors’ waiting rooms. Blue can also help us feel calm and confident, but it suppressess our appetites so it’s only a good choice for the kitchen if you are on a diet.
Green is often used in hospitals because of its soothing properties. It has the power to make us feel relaxed and refreshed. Therefore, don’t paint a work area green because you won’t get much work done. Green is a good choice for bedrooms.
White is often used in doctors’ offices because it gives us an impression of cleanliness. However, it does nothing to relax us
– we just feel cautious and nervous. It can also make us feel isolated and withdrawn.
Therefore, we should think carefully about our colour schemes when the time comes to redecorate because different colours can affect how we feel in a number of ways. That said, though, we should rely on our own taste and surround ourselves with the colours we like and feel comfortable with. Use your favourite colours to create a colour scheme you know you can live with.