Different types of houses

1. Let’s talk about different types of houses. Describe your place. There are many types of housing: detached houses, semi-detached houses, terraced houses and flats. Some of the detached houses are cottages and bungalows. A flat or an apartment is a part of a larger building. Such building is called an apartment building or a block of flats. A flat can be a studio unit, a one-bedroom, two-bedroom or three-bedroom unit.

We have a nice flat in a new block of flats. Our flat is on the fourth floor. It has all modern conveniences: central heating, gas, electricity, cold and hot running water, a lift and a chute to carry rubbish down. There are three rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a hall in our flat. The living-room is the largest and most comfortable room in the flat.

The bedroom is smaller than the living-room and not so light as there is only one window in it. In this room there are two beds with a bedside-table between them.

It’s really wonderful to have a room for yourself. My room is not large but very cosy. There isn’t much furniture in it, only the most necessary. In my opinion, the study is the best room in our flat. But the warmest place in our flat is the kitchen, I think — the place where the whole family gathers every evening not only to have supper together, but also to speak and rest. I like the English proverb: “My home is my castle” because my flat is, indeed, my castle.

2. Does the place where a person lives reflect his/her personality? Why (not)? In my view to live comfortably doesn’t mean to live in luxury in a detached house with all modern conveniences and appliances, which is well furnished and nicely decorated. Good housing conditions are very important for creating a good quality of life. But I’m convinced that all these things are not so important as the relaxing friendly atmosphere at home.

3. Ask me what my flat/house looks like. How many rooms are there in your flat? Do you have all modern facilities and appliances in your flat? Would you like to move to the house somewhere in the country?

4. Your friend doesn’t know what to choose: to live in a city or in the country. Give him/her some advice. Living in the countryside has a lot of advantages. As the advantage we can consider the fact that the country is less polluted and the traffic isn't so heavy. In the countryside the air and water are so clean. There aren't any huge blocks of flats, modern skyscrapers or bothersome traffic jams. You can enjoy walking in the forest and picking mushrooms or hunting.

5. How do you see an ideal flat/house? My ideal house would be situated in the countryside, well away from any large cities, maybe even away from roads if possible. I don't like living in the city. The air in the city is a problem. I like trees very much too. That's why I'd like to live near a forest. I'm a good swimmer, so I'd like to have a river, a sea or a lake nearby. I'd like to live in a stone farmhouse and to have a good view of the sun going down in the evening.