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Procopie P. ClonŃea Cristina Nicolae Valentina Georgescu Amalia Mărăşescu A Practical English Course Editor: Călin Vlasie Redactor: Valentina Georgescu Tehnoredactare: Carmen Rădulescu Coperta colecŃiei: Adrian Mănescu Prepress: Viorel Mihart Descrierea CIP a Bibliotecii NaŃionale a României A Practical English Course / Procopie ClonŃea, Cristina Nicolae, Valentina Georgescu, Amalia Mărăşescu. – Piteşti : Paralela 45, 2007 ISBN 978-973-47-0188-9 I. ClonŃea, Procopie II. Nicolae, Cristina III. Georgescu, Valentina IV. Mărăşescu, Amalia 811.111'36(075.8)  Copyright Editura Paralela 45, 2007 Procopie P. ClonŃea Cristina Nicolae Valentina Georgescu Amalia Mărăşescu A Practical English Course FOREWORD This book is intended for the Romanian university students of English as a first or second subject, but it can also be a useful tool for any person willing to learn or improve their oral and written English. Its main purpose is to develop the four basic skills of English language usage by means of a wide variety of everyday topics in dialogue form, original or adapted literary and scientific texts, as well as vocabulary building exercises. Each of the twelve units of the book is divided into two sections. The first focuses on the conversational level of English, including an extended thematic dialogue followed by several speaking activities built around a series of language functions, and an informative text on several key facts of British culture and civilization. The second section begins with a narrative text related to the topic of the whole unit and continues with explanatory vocabulary notes. Four types of exercises encompassing the general purpose of the course are further included: writing and comprehension exercises (meant to check the understanding of the text), vocabulary building exercises, essay writing and, respectively, reading exercises. At the end of the book is listed a two-thousand-word vocabulary whose thematically grouped lexical items illustrating the twelve topics of the units are adequately explained in English and Romanian. A final brief theoretical presentation of the main aspects of essay writing provides the necessary tools for elaborating a coherent and well-structured essay. All in all, A Practical English Course has been mainly conceived as an instrument for class activities meant to bring variety in the English acquisition process, but it may prove equally useful for individual study. Finally, special credit is due to Dr. Andrew J. Blake, Associate Head at School of Social Sciences, Media and Cultural Studies, University of East London, who has kindly proofread all the dialogues and suggested quite a few necessary changes to make them more idiomatic and realistic. Our thanks also go to our colleagues at the English Department of Piteşti University, Dr. Alina Miu and Drd. Cristina Arsene-Onu, for their useful pieces of advice and steady support. The Authors CONTENTS FOREWORD / 5 VOCABULARY NOTES / 53 COMPREHENSION / 54 VOCABULARY PRACTICE / 55 UNIT 1 GREETINGS / 9 ESSAY WRITING / 59 READING EXERCISES / 59 TEXT A GREETINGS / 9 UNIT 5 AT THE CINEMA / 61 SPEAKING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES / 10 THE BRITISH CORNER / 10 TEXT A AT THE CINEMA / 61 SPEAKING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES / 62 TEXT B NON-VERBAL GREETINGS / 11 THE BRITISH CORNER / 63 VOCABULARY NOTES / 12 COMPREHENSION / 13 TEXT B MAKING A FILM / 64 VOCABULARY PRACTICE / 14 VOCABULARY NOTES / 66 ESSAY WRITING / 17 COMPREHENSION / 67 READING EXERCISES / 18 VOCABULARY PRACTICE / 67 SUPPLEMENTARY READING / 20 ESSAY WRITING / 70 READING EXERCISES / 70 UNIT 2 FAMILY / 22 SUPPLEMENTARY READING / 72 TEXT A FAMILY / 22 UNIT 6 AT THE HAIRSTYLIST’S / 74 VOCABULARY NOTES / 24 SPEAKING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES / 24 TEXT A AT THE HAIRSTYLIST’S / 74 THE BRITISH CORNER / 25 VOCABULARY NOTES / 75 SPEAKING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES / 76 TEXT B ENGLISH WEDDING THE BRITISH CORNER / 77 TRADITIONS / 26 VOCABULARY NOTES / 27 TEXT B MY HAIR IS SO CRAZY / 78 COMPREHENSION / 29 VOCABULARY NOTES / 80 VOCABULARY PRACTICE / 29 COMPREHENSION / 80 ESSAY WRITING / 34 VOCABULARY PRACTICE / 81 READING EXERCISES / 34 ESSAY WRITING / 84 READING EXERCISE / 84 UNIT 3 HOUSES / 37 UNIT 7 AT THE DOCTOR’S / 86 TEXT A HOUSES / 37 VOCABULARY NOTES / 38 TEXT A AT THE DOCTOR’S / 86 SPEAKING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES / 38 SPEAKING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES / 87 THE BRITISH CORNER / 39 THE BRITISH CORNER / 88 TEXT B THE OLD HOUSE / 40 TEXT B HOMEOPATHY / 89 VOCABULARY NOTES / 41 VOCABULARY NOTES / 90 COMPREHENSION / 42 COMPREHENSION / 91 VOCABULARY PRACTICE / 42 VOCABULARY PRACTICE / 91 ESSAY WRITING / 45 ESSAY WRITING / 96 READING EXERCISE / 46 READING EXERCISE / 96 UNIT 4 AT THE RESTAURANT / 47 UNIT 8 A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION / 98 TEXT A AT THE RESTAURANT / 47 TEXT A A TELEPHONE SPEAKING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES / 48 CONVERSATION / 98 THE BRITISH CORNER / 50 VOCABULARY NOTES / 99 SPEAKING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES / 99 TEXT B THE LUNCHEON / 51 THE BRITISH CORNER / 101 TEXT B THE BIRTH OF THE TEXT A JOBS / 131 TELEPHONE / 102 VOCABULARY NOTES / 132 VOCABULARY NOTES / 102 SPEAKING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES / 132 COMPREHENSION / 103 THE BRITISH CORNER / 133 VOCABULARY PRACTICE / 103 TEXT B HOW TO HANDLE A JOB ESSAY WRITING / 107 READING EXERCISES / 107 INTERVIEW / 134 SUPPLEMENTARY READING / 109 VOCABULARY NOTES / 135 COMPREHENSION / 135 UNIT 9 A PLEASANT JOURNEY / 110 VOCABULARY PRACTICE / 135 ESSAY WRITING / 139 TEXT A A PLEASANT JOURNEY / 110 READING EXERCISES / 139 VOCABULARY NOTES / 111 SPEAKING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES / 111 UNIT 12 SHOPPING / 141 THE BRITISH CORNER / 112 TEXT A GOING SHOPPING / 141 TEXT B THE ORIENT EXPRESS / 113 SPEAKING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES / 143 VOCABULARY NOTES / 114 THE BRITISH CORNER / 144 COMPREHENSION / 115 VOCABULARY PRACTICE / 115 TEXT B SMART SHOPPING TIPS / 145 ESSAY WRITING / 117 VOCABULARY NOTES / 146 READING EXERCISES / 117 COMPREHENSION / 147 SUPPLEMENTARY READING / 119 VOCABULARY PRACTICE / 147 ESSAY WRITING / 150 UNIT 10 FASHION / 121 READING EXERCISES / 151 SUPPLEMENTARY READING / 151 TEXT A FASHION / 121 VOCABULARY NOTES / 122 THEMATIC VOCABULARY / 154 SPEAKING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES / 122 ESSAY WRITING IN A NUTSHELL / 182 THE BRITISH CORNER / 123 TEXT B FASHION FROM THE I. THE PROCESS OF WRITING / 182 ANTIQUITY TO THE II. THE FOUR STEPS IN ESSAY RENAISSANCE / 124 WRITING / 183 VOCABULARY NOTES / 125 COMPREHENSION / 126 III. THE FOUR BASES FOR VOCABULARY PRACTICE / 126 EVALUATING ESSAY WRITING / ESSAY WRITING / 129 185 READING EXERCISES / 129 SUPPLEMENTARY READING / 130 LIST OF PHONETIC SYMBOLS / 186 UNIT 11 JOBS / 131 BIBLIOGRAPHY / 188 UNIT 1 GREETINGS Text A GREETINGS Diana Oprea arrives at London Heathrow Airport where she is to meet her friend Sarah Cooper. Diana is going to spend her summer holiday in London and she is eager to become acquainted with the British culture and way of life. Sarah Cooper: Hello, Diana! Diana Oprea: Hello, Sarah! Sarah Cooper: How was your journey? You must be exhausted! Diana Oprea: Well, not quite! I’ve been so anxious to see you again that I’ve hardly even noticed time flying! Anyway I’m late, aren’t I? Sarah Cooper: Never mind. I’m glad to see you here safe and sound! There’ve been so many unfortunate incidents lately that I’ve imagined all kinds of things. Diana Oprea: You needn’t have, it was all right. We had some problems at take-off because of the fog. Sarah Cooper: It’s so nice to have you here at last! But where’s your luggage? Diana Oprea: Sorry, but I didn’t quite catch what you said last. It is so noisy in here! Sarah Cooper: I was asking about your luggage! Did you get it? Diana Oprea: You wouldn’t believe what I had to go through. I was about to take somebody else’s luggage when I read the tag on the suitcase and saw it wasn’t mine. Then I had to find the real owner of the luggage I held in my hand and switch suitcases. And here I am! Sarah Cooper: My brother will help you. (She motions to a young man who was waiting nearby.) Allow me to introduce him to you! Paul Cooper: Hello! My name is Paul and I’m glad to meet you finally! Diana Oprea: Hello! The pleasure is all mine! Sarah Cooper: Well, now, let’s go to our place! You must be really hungry. I think food is the last thing one would want in a plane! Diana Oprea: As a matter of fact, I’m not that hungry. I did have lunch on the plane, but I’m anxious to meet your family. Paul Cooper: Taxi! The three of them get into the taxi and Paul gives the driver the directions. 10 A Practical English Course SPEAKING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES Exercise 1. Render in Indirect Speech the first 14-16 lines of the dialogue in text A (in oral or/and in written form). Language Functions Introducing Oneself and Giving Personal Information Speaker A Speaker B Formal (Allow me to) introduce myself. My name is X. I’m + information Pleased to meet you. (I’d like) to introduce myself. (I am from X. How do you do? May I introduce myself? I work in X. How do you do? I live in X etc.) Informal Hello! I’m X. Hello! Hi! I’m + information Hi! Exercise 2. Use the language functions presented in the box above to introduce yourself to each of the people below and suggest an appropriate response. (cid:1) A new fellow student (cid:1) A small group of people at a friend’s party. (cid:1) A famous person you are going to interview for a TV programme. (cid:1) A teacher who has just delivered a lecture you enjoyed very much. Exercise 3. You are invited to meet your best friend’s parents. Imagine a dialogue in this situation using formulas from the language functions box and from the thematic vocabulary boxes. THE BRITISH CORNER The British (cid:1) Four distinct countries make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and People Northern Ireland – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The residents of any of these countries may be called “British.” Use “English”, “Scot” or “Scotsman”, “Welsh” and “Irish” or “Northern Irish” only when you are certain of a person’s heritage. While the four countries share many customs, each has its own set of cultural nuances. (cid:1) In England, politeness, reserve, and restraint are admired. The English are courteous, unassuming and unabrasive and are very proud of their long and rich history. (cid:1) The Scots are passionate about their country, guarding its uniqueness and refusing to go along with English ideas. While cool and aloof externally, they are extremely sentimental about their family and their country. Overall Scots are free of class consciousness and social elitism, except in religion. (cid:1) Wales has been part of the United Kingdom for more than 400 years, but has kept its own language, literature and traditions. Most Welshmen are of Welsh or English heritage. Many immigrants have come from former British colonies and other parts of the U.K. The Welsh take great pride in their country and their heritage and they love to sing and talk and spend much of their free time at home with their families. (cid:1) Two-thirds of the Northern Irish have Scottish or English roots. The other third are of Irish descent. The Irish value friendliness, sincerity and nature. They dislike pretentious behaviour and possess a strong work ethic. Family ties are very important in Northern Ireland.