My flat

We live in a new 16-storeyed block of flats in Strogino. It's situated in a very picturesque place not far from the Moskva River. There's a big supermarket on the ground floor and it's very convenient to do everyday shopping.

Our flat is on the fifth floor. It's very comfortable and well-planned. We have all modern conveniences, such as central heating, electricity, gas, cold and hot running water and a telephone. There are three rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a hall in our flat. There's also a balcony and we can enjoy a lovely view of the river.

The largest room in our flat is the living room and we use it as a dining room and as a sitting room. In the middle of the room there's a big table and six chairs round it. Opposite the window there's a wall unit with lots of books, a TV-set and a video cassette recorder. There are two comfortable armchairs and a small coffee table in the right-hand comer. There is also a sofa and an electric fire in our living room. We like the living room best of all, because in the evenings we gather there to have tea, watch TV, talk and rest.

My room is the smallest room in our flat, but it's very cosy and light. There's a bed, a wardrobe, a desk, an armchair and several bookshelves in my room. There's a thick carpet on the floor. The walls in my room are light-brown and there are some big posters on them. I like my room very much, but from time to time I change it round. I quite often move the bed and change the posters on the wall.

Our kitchen is large and light. It's very well-equipped. We've got a refrigerator, a freezer, a microwave oven, a coffeemaker and a toaster. We haven't got a dishwasher yet, because it's very expensive. But I'm sure we'll buy it in the near future.

Questions

1. Do you live in a house or in a block of flats?

2. Which floor is your flat on?

3. Is your flat well-planned? Is it comfortable?

4. How many rooms are there in your flat?

5. Have you got a dining room (a sitting room, a study)?

6. Where do you usually have your meals?

7. Is there much furniture in your flat? Do you change it round from time to time?

8. What is there in your room?

9. Are there any pictures on the walls of your flat?

10. What colour are the walls in your room?

11. What is your kitchen like?

12. How often do you redecorate the rooms?

LESSON FOUR (4)

FOURTH (4th) LESSON

The newsagent's

Part I

Assistant. I'm working in a newsagent's. I'm helping my father. This is hisshop. He's a newsagent. I'm a student. Today's Saturday. I'm working today. Our shop's open every day. It's open on Sunday mornings, too. I don't like Sundays. We're busy at the moment. I'm selling cigarettes. My father's selling some sweets.

A boy's buying a postcard. His girl-friend's looking at the newspapers. She's gotsome postcards, too. Some people are looking at the paperbacks. There's a chemist's next door. Four people are waiting for their prescriptions. The chemist's preparing their medicine. A man’s buying a film. A woman’s looking at the cosmetics.

PART 2

Money

Simon I’d like fifty pence (50p), Dad.
Mr. Hunt Why?

Simon Because we want some things from the shops. I want some postcards. Sheila wants a film for her camera. She'd like a magazine, too.
Mr. Hunt Has she got her English money?
Simon Yes, she has.

Mr. Hunt It's five o'clock (5.00) now. Dinner's at six o'clock (6.00). Are the shops near here?
Simon Yes, they are. They're two streets from here.
Mr. Hunt All right. Here's fifty pence (5Op). Hurry!

Simon Yes, Dad. Thanks for the money. Good-bye.
Mt. Hunt Oh Simon.... I'd like a newspaper.
Simon All right, Dad.