Curs Engleza Incepatori Maria Alexe

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LIMBA ENGLEZĂ

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Curs practic pentru începători
Pre‐Intermediate

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Dr. Maria Alexe
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UNIVERSITATEA DIN BUCUREŞTI
Departamentul ID/IFR Credis
Facultatea de Psihologie şi Ştiințele Educație
Programul de studii: Pedagogie pentru Învățământul Primar şi Preşcolar
Limba engleză

culegere de texte şi exerciții alcătuită de
Dr. Maria Alexe
Bucureşti 2014
2

Table of Contents

Foreward .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Cum se foloseşte .............................................................................................................................. 5
NEEDS ANALYSIS............................................................................................................................... 6
CLASSROOM LANGUAGE .................................................................................................................. 8

PART I. GENERAL ENGLISH USAGE.................................................................................................... 9

UNIT 1.............................................................................................................................................10
INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................11
1. ABOUT ENGLISH LANGUGE ........................................................................................................11
2. SOCIALIZING ............................................................................................................................... 13
3. FAMILIES .....................................................................................................................................18
4. JOBS ‐ OCCUPATIONS .................................................................................................................23
5. DESCRIBING PEOPLE, PLACES AND OBJECTS ..............................................................................27
GRAMMAR......................................................................................................................................36
MAIN VERBS ............................................................................................................................... 36
a. Personal Pronoun ...................................................................................................................36
b. Verb To Be – To Have .............................................................................................................36
c. Present Tense .........................................................................................................................36
PRESENT TENSE ......................................................................................................................40
ARTICLE A/AN, THE.................................................................................................................41
REVISION 1 .....................................................................................................................................43
A.VOCABULARY...........................................................................................................................43
B. GRAMMAR..............................................................................................................................45

UNIT 2.............................................................................................................................................46
EVERYDAY LIFE................................................................................................................................46
1. HOUSING ................................................................................................................................47
ARCHITECTURAL STYLES .............................................................................................................53
2. TRAVELLING................................................................................................................................57
2.1. MEANS OF TRANSPORT ...................................................................................................57
2.2. HOLIDAYS.........................................................................................................................60
2.3. BUSINESS EVENTS............................................................................................................63
GRAMMAR SUPPORT .....................................................................................................................64
PRESENT SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS .....................................................................................64
MODAL VERBS ‐ CAN ..............................................................................................................66
3. FOOD AND DRINK .......................................................................................................................68
EATING OUT............................................................................................................................68
GOING TO A CAFE...................................................................................................................69
CULTURAL ASPECTS ................................................................................................................69
BRITISH FOOD.........................................................................................................................70

BRITISH and AMERICAN Spotlights.................................................................................................74
ABOUT FLAGS .................................................................................................................................75
CULTURAL ASPECTS ........................................................................................................................78
HOLIDAYS........................................................................................................................................82
3

Foreward

Dragi studenți,
Educația la distanță, o șansă extraordinară pentru educația la orice vârstă, este un tip de proces
educativ ce combină utilizarea textelor pe suport clasic, cu cele pe care le pune la dispoziție
tehnologia modernă, adică transmisiile prin mijloace media, internet, forumuri, platforme
electronice, rețele de socializare. Îmbinarea acestora și programele tutoriale prin care se ține
legătura cu studenții permit adaptarea continuă la nevoile fiecărei grupe de studenți, utilizarea
unor materiale diverse și actuale. De aceea am conceput acest volum care prezintă anumite
teme de vocabular(lecții de engleză) adaptate pentru a va ajuta să va pregătiți pentru testul de
limba străină de la sfârşitul anului I. Nu este un manual complet pentru parcurgerea unei etape
care să conducă la un nivel superior de cunoștințe lingvistice 1 , ci o selecție a ceea ce am
considetat că este mai important pentru a putea avea cunoștințe de bază prevăzute de
programa secției dumneavoastră.
Tot pentru a veni în sprijinul studenților am conceput și CD care vine în sprijinul manualului și
ajută la înțelegerea lui. Acesta este un material multimedia care este structurat pe același teme
ca și manualul, preia anumite exerciții, dar are un număr sporit de imagini. Prin imagini urmărim
să diversificăm exercițiile de dezvoltare a vocabularului, să contribuim la o mai bună cunoaștere
a sensurilor cuvântului și nu în ultimul rând să stimulăm imaginația studenților. Cu ajutorul
imaginilor studenții își pot imagina contextul real în care are loc actul de comunicare.
Necesitatae unui astfel de material se justifică datorită cererii studenților de a putea folosi
materiale mai sintetice, adaptate nevoilor lor, manual/suporturi de cursemai accesibile, decât un
manual conceput de o editură britanică şi de a putea beneficia şi de indicații sumare în limba
română.
Această carte este rezultatul discuțiilor purtate cu studenții de a lungul anilor și încearcă să
răspundă întrebărilor puse de aceștia. Chiar la începutul manualului se află un chestionar care
testează nevoile studențilo‐ Need Analysis. Scopul lui este și acela de a îmbunătăți dialogul cu
studenții, procesul de predare și în cele din urmă de a contribui la buna cunoaștere a limbii
engleze.
Au fost introduse câteva texte de civilizație britanică pentru a ajuta studenții să se familiarizeze
cu aceasta. Datorită nivelului de cunoștințe al cursanților și pentru a permite parcurgerea lor de
către fiecare student, aceste texte sunt prezentate și în limba engleză și în limba română. Am
considerat necesară cunoașterea acestor elemente de civilizație, fiindcă acestea contribuie la
înțelegerea unor aspecte lingvistice și la însușirea lor corectă.
Pentru ca studenții să obțină rezultate cât mai bune la exemenul de limbă engleză de la sfârșitul
anului, am considerat necesar ca ei să se familiarizeze cu sistemul de testare. Din această cauză,
ultimul capitol cuprinde un număr de teste, cele care au fost date la examen în anii trecuți și care
pot fi considerate modele.

Maria Alexe

1
Conform paşaportului lingvistic European exista 6 nivele de cunoaştere a limbii- A1. A2, B1, B2, C1, C2.
Acest manual se adresează celor care au cunoştinţe corespunzătoare nivelului A1
4

Cum se foloseşte

Unitățile manualului urmează programa cursului de limba engleză pentru facultatea de
Pedagogie pentru Învățământul Primar şi Preşcolar – Cursuri la distanță. Este structurat în șase
unități de mărimi diferite, grupate la rândul lor în două părți, corespunzătoare celor două
întâlniri tutoriale, câte o întâlnire în fiecare semestru. Conținutul manualului la care se adaugă
un CD, nu poate fi parcurs integral pe întâlnirilor tutoriale. Intenția autoarei a fost să ofere
studenților material pentru studiul individual, pentru a aprofunda cunoștințele ordonate în
cadrul întâlnirilor tutoriale.
Fiecare unitate este însoțită de explicații privind obiectivele şi metodologia de învățare și
prezintă elemente de vocabular corespunzătoare titlului unității. Acolo unde am socotit necesar
să introducem exerciții suplimentare, imagini sau texte auxiliare și aceste materiale se află pe
CD. Acest lucru este menționat în text.
Noțiunile de gramatică reprezintă o selecție a ceea ce am considerat important pentru o
exprimare corectă. Ele nu sunt prezentate conform ordinii unei gramatici clasice, ci potrivit
metodei de predare comunicaționale, în funcție de context. Elementele de gramatică sunt legate
de noțiunile de vocabular, pentru a scoate în evidență aplicativitatea lor, de aceea prezentarea
lor se face sub titlul Grammar Support, gramatica oferint sprijinul necesar pentru o exprimare
corectă și pentru înțelegerea mesajului.
Așa cum am precizat în prefață, la sfârșitul cărții se află un număr de texte despre civilizația
britanică. Aceste sunt scrise în limba engleză și limba engleză (două capitole seprate, pentru a
încuraja lectura direct în engleză) și constituie studiu individual. Rolul lor este acela de a
contribui la înșelegerea unităților de vocabular, a civilizației limbii studiate.
Fiecare unitate de învățare este însoțită de exerciții aplicative și de un test care verifică modul în
care studentul a înțeles și poate folosi cunoștințele prezentate. Este recomandat ca aceste teste
să fie efectuate de studenți individual ca o modalitate de auto‐verificare. Aceștia pot cere
ajutorul tutorilor pe forum, în cazul în care întâpină dificultăți.
La sfârşitul unităților de învățare se află modele de teste finale. Acestea la rândul lor sunt
împărțite în două unități. În prima parte exercițiile sunt structurate tematic pentru a va permite
sa le rezolvați pe măsură ce parcurgeți unitățile de învățare. Partea a doua cuprinde teste model
pentru examenul de sfârșit de an.
Materialele au fost alcătuite de autor care a folosit ca surse bibliografice manuale elaborate de
edituri din Marea Britanie și Departamente de limbi străine și comunicare de la Universitatea
Tehnică de Construcții și Universitatea ”Politehnica” București, precum și dicționare generale și
specializate (conf. lista bibliografică).
Va doresc succes,
Maria Alexe
5
NEEDS ANALYSIS

In order to improve our activity, please answer the following questions? When your answer does
not fit in Yes or No column, you can give a personal answer.
Nr. Question Yes No Personal answer

1 Have you studied English before?
2 Did you study English in school?
Number of years
3 Did you study it privatly?
4 How much time do you want to spend on
learning English?
5 How much time do you want to spend on
learning different language skills?(listening,
speaking, reading, writing)
6 Who do you communicate in English
6
7 Do you have the opportunity to use English
outside the seminar/ learning
environment?
8 Which topics r skills are you interested in?
9 How much grammar have you studied
before?
10 Do you have a special objective/
expectation for this course?
11 Give arguments for your objectives
12 Have you passed any important English
examination? When? Which are your
grades?
7
CLASSROOM LANGUAGE

LOOK
LISTEN
READ
WRITE
CHEK √
WORK IN PAIRS
UNDERLINE
8
PART I

GENERAL ENGLISH USAGE

SOCIALISING
DESCRIBING
HOUSING
TRAVELLING
ENGLISH FOOD
MINIMAL GRAMMAR SUPPORT
9
UNIT 1

This unit consists of
 Introduction (Presentation)
 About different varieties of English – Presenting Englishes
 Socialising
 Family life
 Job‐Occupations
 Describing people, places and objects
 Minimal grammar support
Objectives
 Learning to use vocabulary about, family, surrounding world (housing and travelling)
 Be able to write a short description of a person, building, place, object
 Ask and answer simple questions about family, school life, town/city/village,
professional life.
 To learn basic grammar about TO BE, TO HAVE, SIMPLE PRESENT, PERSONAL PRONOUN;
DEFINITE AND UNDEFINITE ARTICLES
10

INTRODUCTION

The first step in communication – introducing/presenting
Introducing somebody means presenting a person or a group. Sometimes introducing means
presenting an object or a place. In our case introduction should start with introducing English,
the language that we are going to learn to our students. They have to be aware that there is
more then just one variety of English and that lately a new concept emerge from those various
ways of speaking English: the large variety of languages known as Englishes.
1. ABOUT ENGLISH LANGUGE

English is an international language used by 25% of world population, for business, tourism, in
academic circumstances. It is to international communication what Microsoft is to software.
There are different countries on each continent where English is an official language, but its
importance is due to its role in communication.
English is no more a language spoken all over the world, but a large variety of aspects influenced
by different cultural backgrounds and that is why we agree with Tom McArthur who moves away
from the monolithic concept of English to that of ENGLISHES→ “family of language emerged
from the various types of languages. 2 He thinks that this is a reality that can no more be ignored.
Another important theoretician of globalization, David Crystal wrote: There has never been a
language spoken by so many people in so many places (David Crystal‐The Cambridge
Encyclopedia of Language). 3
In your future profession you are going to meet a lot of people from various countries, speaking
all those varieties of Englishes and that is why a future engineer, doctor or economist and even
an artist has to be aware that different from Standard English is not always incorrect.
Understanding the concept of Englishes leads to a multicultural understanding.
Chinese is used by 726 m people, when English is spoken by 427, but the role of English in global
communication is obvious. English is used by science, business and mass media. Business
accelerates the advance of English language. Terms as Internet, e‐mail or brainstorming are used
all over the world inside other languages.
Find out how much you know about ENGLISHES and how aware you are that there are different,
yet similar languages emerging from Basic English, by answering the following questions:

2
Jeremy Harmer – The practice of English Language Teaching, Third Edition, Longman 2001, p 6
3
Ibidem.
11

1. List countries where English is an official language
2. Can you explain the difference between native and official language?
3. Why is English the main vehicle for international communication?
4. Is a basic understanding of the varieties of English important to those who wish to
take full advantages of job opportunities?
5. Can you mention some differences between British and American English?
6. Which of the varieties of English is used on the Net?
Students whose native language is not English often have to take courses in a university's ESP
program (English for specific purposes.) These classes are designed to help these learners
perform well academically and professionally. Other Europeans agree that everybody should
speak English and that English is where money is.
12

2. SOCIALIZING

An important aim when learning a foreign language is to acquire knowledge in order to be able
to sustain a small talk.
A conversation starts with greetings:
1. Friendly greetings Hello, Jim!
Hello Mary! How are you?
Bye Sally. See you tomorrow.
2. Official Good morning Mr. Smith.
Good morning Mrs. Black.
Goodbye Mrs. Black.
Goodbye Mr. Smith. Have a nice evening.
Warm up
 Have you attended an event or conference?
 Have you attended a course for professional reasons?
When you first meet somebody, one needs to use same minimal structures.
These structures are useful during conference breaks, formal or informal meetings,
airports, hotels, restaurants.
Question Answer
What’s your name? My name is …………… (First name &Family name)
How are you I’m fine, thank you
Quite good, thanks
Not so good, I have a terrible head ache
I am going from bad to worth.
Where are you from? I am from Bucharest
I am from Italy. I am Italian
What do you do? I’m a teacher/engineer/journalist/doctor
I work for local newspaper
I work at the local university
13

The conversation goes on.
First sentence Replay
I’d like to introduce you Mr._________ Pleased to meet you
It is nice to meet you
I am happy to meet you
Do you know each other? Yes, we met last year in Canada.
No, but I hoped to meet you at this
conference
No. Pleased to meet you
This is Mr. Smith from Bath. Pleased to met you.

Other useful phrases
Keep in touch and say hi to Tim from me.
Goodbye Jody. Have a good time / Have a nice evening.
I look forward to see you again. Goodbye!

PRACTICE

I. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb TO BE.
A: My name _____ Claire. I ____ from Belfast.
B: Hi! Nice to meet you. I ____Mary and he ____Tom
A: Where _____ you from Mary?
B: I ___ from London and Tom is from Norwich

1. Mach questions a, b, c, d, with answers 1, 2, 3, 4:
a) How are you?
b) Have you met Julia?
c) Where are you from?
d) What do you do?
1. No, but it is great to meet her
2. I’m a student
3. Fine, thank you
4. I’m from Spain. I’m Spanish
2. Mach sentences (a, b, c, d, e, f, ) with sentences 1, 2, 3, 4, 5:
a. Please to meet you
b. What is she/he like?
c. What does he /she look like?
d. I really must go
e. How is she/he like?
f. What is he/she doing?
14
1. She is not well, she has got the flew
2. She is a dancer
3. He is quite tall, well built with a dark hair
4. She is nice and friendly
5. It’s nice to put a face to a name
6. Ok. It was great to meet you

II. Complete the gaps in the following conversations

Conversation 1
A: Excuse me (a)………………………..Mr. Smith?
B: No, I am not. I’m one of the organizers.
A: Oh! I am sorry. I……………………..

Conversation 2
A: Are you ………………….?
B: Yes, but how did you guess?
A: Your badge………….John Smith from PWC. I am…….
B: Pleased………………………..

Conversation 3
A: Good afternoon. I am Tom Lawson from KPMG
B: Are you from Leeds?
A: No I’ not I’m from Brussels. How do you do?
B: ……………………………………………………..

Conversation 4
A: Hello Tom. How……………?
B: I’m fine. And you?
A: I’m ………….too. Are you………….?
B: Yes I am. Can I join you?
A: Yes, ………….

Conversation 5
A: Good Morning
B: …………… Am I in the right …………for British Airways?
A: Yes. Nothing to ………
B: No. Thank you
A: ………………………..
15

WRITE
III. Write five questions that you would like to ask your colleagues.
1___________________________________________________________________
2_____________________________________________________________________
3._____________________________________________________________________
4._____________________________________________________________________
5.___________________________________________________________________

IV. The following answers were given by people during a conference break.
What questions were they asked? Write appropriate questions for each answer.
1. __________________________________________________________________
I am working in an advertising agency
2. __________________________________________________________________
Only about a week
3. ________________________________________________________________
I am from London, now I stay at Hotel Park
4. ________________________________________________________________
Hotel Park. It is in Victoria square – right in the centre of the town
________________________________________________________________
I am a junior manager at PWC

Look at the pictures CD UNIT 1 and imagine what people are saying.
V. Give title for each picture.
1. ____________________
2. ____________________
3. ____________________
4. ____________________

16
VI. Useful language for ice‐breakers. Match 1, 2, 3...with a, b, c
1. Excuse me. Do you … a. … a long way to get here?
2. Hello. My name’s XXX. Is it … b. … for a living?
3. Are you here alone … c. … good presentations today?
4. And what about you? … d. … have a light?
5. It’s cold out … e. … have you tried it?
6. I just came out for some fresh air – f. … here, isn’t it?
7. Sorry, do you … g. … I can find the spoons?
8. Are you giving a … h. … me the milk?
9. This salad’s delicious – … i. … mind if I join you?
10. Do you know many … j. … morning’s lecture?
11. Are you enjoying … k. … OK if I join your group?
12. It’s a great … l. … or with a group?
13. Is this your first … m. … party, isn’t it?
14. Did you attend any … n. … people here tonight?
15. Do you know where … o. … presentation at the conference.
17

3. FAMILIES

1. What words do you think of when you say the word FAMILY? Complete the diagram bellow.
Family

2. Use words as – home, house, love, beautiful, large/small, parents, children, relatives to
make sentences about your family.
a. _______________________________________________
b. _______________________________________________
c. _______________________________________________
d. _______________________________________________
e. _______________________________________________
3. Fill the gaps with different forms of the verb TO BE.
Hello! What________your name?
I________Jenny, and this is Nick.
He_____my brother.
We______brothers and sisters
He________twelve and I ______twenty. We _______from London
This__________Henry. He________our cousin. And this is Chip. It _______our dog.
18
WRITE

4. Use the verb TO BE and write five sentences about you.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
5. Draw Ann’s family tree. Give names to her parents, brothers, sisters, nephew, nice, aunt
and uncle.
Grandparentes Gradparentes
Uncle & Aunt Parents
Mother & Fater
ANN
Sisters Brothers
19
6. Complete Ann’s description of her family by writing the correct name in the gaps. Use your
family tree.
1 __________ and 2 __________, my mother and father, (I call them mum and dad, by the way),

have three children, two daughters, me and 3 __________, and one son, 4__________. My older
sister, 5 __________, is married and has two children, my niece, 6 __________, and my nephew, 7
__________. Her husband’s name is 8 __________. He’s my brother‐in‐law, and he’s very nice. My
younger brother, 9 __________, is still at school. I have two cousins. One of them, 10 __________,
my dad’s brother’s daughter, is a really good friend. The other one, 11 __________, is younger
than me, and I don’t know him very well. He lives in Australia with his parents, Uncle 12
__________ and Aunt 13 __________. I know all my other relatives very well. I visit my
grandfather, 14__________, and my grandmother, 15 __________, every Sunday. I call them
grandad and granny. And my favourite auntie, 16 __________, who is single, is lots of fun.
READ
7. Read the passage again and find all the words that describe people in a family. Put them in
three lists under the following headings.
Male relatives Female relatives Both

Eg. brother Eg. sister Eg. cousin

8. Draw your own family tree. Include parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts
and uncles, and children – if you have any! Prepare to describe your family to a partner. Who is
married and who is single? Who is nice and who isn’t? Who is younger or older than you?
9. Complete the following text. Write about yourself.
Hello! My name is________. I am a___________in 1st. year, Bucharest University.
I ‘m __________years old. I live in___________. I live in a________.I work as a___________. I
have a ___________family, two_______and a ________. I like ______. I have a pet_______, its
name is Tom.
My favourite subjects are_____________

20
10. Speaking about families.
Tell me something about your family Ann.
I have got a large family, a bother Tom and two sisters, one called Beatrice and another Kate. I
have many uncles and aunts and many cousins. My favourite cousin is Nancy. Her mother Mary is
my mother sister. My husband’s name is James and we’ve got two children Robert and Ann.
How old are they?
Robert is ten and Ann is eight.
11. Fill the table below.
1 Man
2 wife
3 father
4 brother
5 aunt
6 grandfather
7 niece
8 girlfriend
9 Father in law
10 God’s daughter
12. Work in pairs. Answer some general questions about yourself and then ask the same
questions to your classmates.
a) What is your full name?
b) What do people usually call you?
c) Where are you from?
d) Do you have a lot of friends?
e) Do you have a large family?
f) Are you married or single
21
READ

DAILY ROUTINE
Robert Priestley always wakes up at 7.00 everyday. After he gets up he has a shower. When he is
in a hurry he just washes his hands and face and brushes his teeth. Then Robert has breakfast.
For breakfast he eats cereals, eggs, toast and drinks a cap of tea or coffee.
At 8.00 he lives his house and go to the office, his day’s work begin. He stays there for almost

nine hours from 9.00 to 18.00. At 12.30 they have a lunch break and Robert lives the office to go
to lunch with his colleagues.
At 18.00 Robert lives his office. Usually he drives, but sometimes, when the weather is fine he
walks. In the evening he has a family diner and then he works on his computer or watches a
football mach or movie. In summer he plays tennis or go to the golf club.
13. Fill the gaps with words from the list below:
Dinner, get up, work, is, bathroom, lunch break.
1. I ______at about 7.30 and it is time for me ______.
2. I put on my slippers and go to the _____________.
3. At 12.30 I have a ___________________________.
4. On Wednesday I _____________in the afternoon.
5. In the evening I have a family _________________.
22

4. JOBS OCCUPATIONS

1. People work in different companies and lines of business.
Find out which is the correct job description for each of the following:
 teacher
 engineer
 sales representative
 accountant
 marketing manager
 consultant
 doctor

2. Here it is a list of different companies. Mach company names from column A with activities
in B.
A B
Coca ‐Cola food
Gucci computers
Apple soft drinks
Renault oil
Shell clothing
Heinz car and trucks

3. Fill the gap using the follwing words: renuable energy, oil, gas, shareholders.
OMV is one of the greatest companies in Romania, having a large number of (1)__________Most
people are familiar with our traditional activities, finding, extracting and selling
(2)_______and_(3)______. But perhaps you did not know that we are making investments in
(4)____________, as well. OMV is committed in taking a leading role in developing cleaner
energy and responsible management of planet’s natural resources.
4. The diagram bellow shows some of the most common uses of WORK. Complete the diagram
using the following words:
piece of work; homework; to be at work; housework; principal, hard work
to be at work; to work long hours; part time job; full time job; worked as a teacher; it doesn’t
work; your idea worked perfectly; office work; deputy manager; my computer isn’t working,
chief department

23
Types of work
(noun)‐
Phrases
Jobs
WORK
Noun &Verb
To function Positions
Machines
Equipment

READ
5. Read the following texts and then answer the questions.
A. Many people think that this is an easy job, but in fact is very demanding and
complex. I spend half of my time in my own office and the other half in court; I
have a lot of clients who come to me with legal problems. I feel responsible for my
clients who rely on my professional experience. It is a job which gives you great
satisfaction as it is a great feeling helping people when they are in trouble.
B. I like my job even if sometimes I find it tiring and lonely. Often I am away from my
home and family for weeks. At the same time I like being abroad, on the road
behind the wheel, looking down on all the cars, meeting new people.
C. People think that I am just playing with a ball. Nowadays sport is not only pleasure
is a real business. Many multinational companies are partners with clubs in making
deals including Coca‐Cola, Siemens, Puma, Samsung. Income from these deals is
over billions of dollars.
24
Questions
a) What is their job?
A._____________________
B._____________________
C._____________________

b) What are the good/bad things about their jobs?
GOOD BAD

c) Would you like to have any of the above described jobs? Give arguments.
Ex. I would like to be a professional football player because I think it is a challenging job.
a. I would like __________________________because___________________
b. I would prefer ________________________because___________________
c. I think it is interesting to be a____________ because___________________
6. Who works
 In an office _______________________________
 In a school ________________________________
 In a hospital _______________________________
 A garage __________________________________
 A supermarket _____________________________

7. Answer to the following questions and then write a paragraph about the job you want to
do.
a) What job do you want to do?
b) Why do you like this job?
c) Are you good for this job?
d) What do you have to do in this job?

8. Read the job advert and complete the letter with the words bellow:
looking forward to, collage, dear, part‐time, please, sincerely, writing.
25
WANTED
Full time personal assistant
Some experience required
Write to James Black, ABB Company
Bristol, 4 Oak Street
(1)________________Mr. Black
I am (2) ________to apply for the job of personal assistant at ABB Company Bristol.
I am 21 years old and I finished (3) ________. At the moment I am a student and I am
working as a (4) ________ personal assistant.
I like working in an office and I am good at using all type of computer programs. I am a hard‐
working and team worker.
(5) ___________send me an application form to fill in. I am (6) ___________hearing from
you.
(7) ___________________
Mary Clark
26

5. DESCRIBING PEOPLE, PLACES AND OBJECTS

There are certain occasions when you have to describe:
 a person ‐ you introduce him/her; first meeting; you are looking for somebody
 a place – in brochure, for a report, give directions
 a building – professional reasons, an advertising material, give directions
 an object – you want to buy/sell it, it is lost
For an accurate description you need a certain vocabulary and you need to follow certain
rules.
5. 1. Describing people

When you describe a person you say something about:
Shape – tall/shot/medium high; fat/slim/thin; in good/bad shape/muscular/skinny/good shape
Age – young/old; teenager, in his late ’30, early ’20/infant
Particular signs – freckle, mole, beard, moustache, bald
General appearance – good looking, handsome, beautiful, shabby, pretty,
Job – teacher, engineer, lawyer, doctor, driver, worker, designer, economist, publisher
Character – lazy, honest, stingy, diligent, generous, un/friendly, grumpy
Personal impression: a nice person, reliable, a difficult person, attractive, funny, gorgeous,
intelligent, devoted
Remember
When you ask about somebody or something the questions are:
 What is he/she like?
That means asking for general description, because you don’t know anything about him/her. If
the question refers to a place or an object the answer gives general information.
 What does she/he look like?
The question asks for description of her appearance, not her/his character

The following list of words and collocations help you to describe a person: have something on
the brain, under someone’s nose, keep an eye on, set foot in, hold your tongue, tidy, well built,
stubborn, well trained, long/short/curly/straight hair, middle aged,

27
1. Match the adjectives in A below to the adjectives in B. Example: middle aged
is closest in meaning to old/young:

A B C
petite short good‐looking
well‐built fat slim
overweight young kind
elderly small of medium height
middle‐aged generous skinny
chubby strong attractive
muscular thin gorgeous
handsome beautiful plain
big
mean
ugly
old
2. Which of the words above have a negative, critical meaning?
Positive Negative

3. Which of the words in list A can be used to describe the people below?
a. a man . b. a woman
c. a person over 50 d. a person over 70
e. a bodybuilder f. a supermodel
28
4. Match the adjectives below to the word which means the opposite:
tall ancient
weak mean
young small
fat short
beautiful thin
generous old
big strong
new ugly
famous unkind
kind unknown
WRITE
5. Using the words of the above exercise describe one of your colleagues
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
29
6. Using the words from the exercises above describe the person/animal in the photo.

30
5. 2. Describing places

When describing places you have in mind different features.
A descriptive composition about a place or a building should consist of:
A) a paragraph in which the building is identify – give the name and location
B) give the reason for choosing it
C) a detailed description in which the main aspects (sights, facilities, free time activities,
architectural style, building materials)
D) mention your feelings/opinion, final thoughts/recommendation
Your description will be more interesting if you use a wide variety of adjectives – enormous,
delightful, rewarding, impressive, well known, exclusive, exceptional.
1. Work in pairs and list words and phrases under the headings.
Geography Climate People Business activity Landmarks
north windy friendly shipping Westminster

Abby
mountains

2. What do you think tourists may like/dislike about your home town?
3. What do people want to visit in a town?
Example: It is a beautiful old town, the most important settlement on the Danube.
31
Open the CD and look at different images.
4. Would you like to visit one of those towns?
READ
5. Read the following text:
Saint Andrews, Scotland became a royal burgh in 1620, but had been a market town for
centuries. It grew from a religious settlement. The legend says that St. Rule, a Greek monk
brought here the relics of Saint Andrew, who became the saint patron of Scotland
The town is known all over the world as a place of learning. The university is the oldest in
Scotland and was founded in 1410‐11. It was here where the first woman enrolled as a student in
Britain (1862). Many of the university buildings have been replaced and many more added, but
three of the old ones survived since Mary, Queen of Scots.
True or false?
1. Saint Andrews is the name of an university
2. In ancient times it had been a market town.
3. Saint Andrew is the saint patron of Scotland
4. The University of Saint Andrews is the oldest in Scotland
5. Many of the buildings that are part of the university date from Mary, Queen of Scots
time.
32
6. Read the text
The Niagara Falls is situated cross the United States and Canadian border. Each year a large
number of tourists come to see the majestic, impressive beauty of the falls. The entire outflow
from the four Great Lakes, Michigan, Huron, Superior, Erie, empties into Niagara River and
cascades over the falls, the water travels 25 km, until it reaches the fifth of the Great lakes,
Ontario. Niagara Falls is the largest waterfall in the world after Victoria Falls in Southern Africa.
The land between the lakes does not descend gradually, but forms a spectacular drop
approximately the same high as a 20th storey building.
The large quantity of water never stops falling, even in winter. When the winter is cold the ice
stretches across the river and forms a kind of “ice bridge”. Until 1912, visitors where allowed to
walk on the ice bridge and view the Falls from below.
Comprehension Check
1. Where is situated Niagara Falls
2. Why is it so famous?
3. Which are the lakes which emptie into Niagara River?
4. What is the ice bridge?
7. Read the dialogue
A : Can you tell me how to get to British Museum?
B: British museum? Of course you go straight ahead along this street, then you turn right and you
see its entrance in front of you.
Use it as model for giving advice concerning three Bucharest’s landmarks.
Open the attached CD
8. Look at the images showing images from different towns. Compare two of them.
Example. Image nr. 2 shows a little town on a lake shore, when image nr 4 shows a city.
In image nr.2 we see a lot of cosy country house. In image nr.4 we see some
skyscrapers.
33

5. 3 Describing objects

When we describe an object we refer to:
 Shape/size – big/small; large/narrow/ rectangular
 Colour – white, blue, black, yellow, green, purple, pink, brown
 Weight ‐ heavy/light, about 1 kg.
 Use – for cutting, shaping
 Materials – It is made of wood, glass, iron, steel, cotton, silk, fabric, stone, plastics,
leather
 Special characteristics – an antique kettle
 Impression – comfortable, nice, useful, interesting, boring
People generally describe objects when they want to sell it or when they lose it. Description can
be found in catalogues, leaflets, advertisements.
The description has to be accurate and give a clear picture. That means that many details have
to be mentioned.
List the words under the correct headings in the table below:
spherical, Chinese, gold, tiny, large, rectangular, paper, remarkable, floral, interesting, cotton,
western, steel, antique, plain, medieval, wooden, French, glass, heavy, oval, English, Oriental,
enormous woolen, jacket, navy blue, picture, modern, car, fancy, medium‐size, stone, vase,
Opinion Size Age Shape Colour Pattern Origin Material Noun Special
Weight characteristics
lovely large old square blue striped Greek leather bag With a metal
decoration

34
WRITE
1. Write a short paragraph (6‐10 lines) in which you describe an object that you use daily.
2. Make a question using each of the following question words, referring to the bellow listed
objects.
 car, train, book, hat, dress, house

When? How many? Why?

Who? Where? What?

35
GRAMMAR
MAIN VERBS
a. Personal Pronoun
b. Verb To Be – To Have
c. Present Tense

Personal verb "to

pronoun be"
I am
She is
He is
It is
We are
You are
They are
1. TO BE
1. Questions with short answers. Make as many sentences as you can.
they happy? YES, We are NO We aren’t
ARE you here? A They are They aren’t
we From Scotland? I am I am not
James and Joe Spanish? N YES They are They aren’t
The girls Sad?
IS he From Russia? S YES he is He isn’t
36
she In the UK? She is She isn’t
it A toothbush? W It is It isn’t
Peter A manger?
Jane A doctor? E
The dog Old?
I Here? R Yes You are NO You aren’t
2. Move the words into the right places to make the correct sentence.
1. John, Susan. Tim, are, they _____________________________
2. he, Fred, is__________________________________________
3. George, I am_________________________________________
4. George, Ann, we, are___________________________________
5. dog is, Rover, it, the____________________________________

He I
She

He is Tim I am Paul She is Susan
It
It is Oskar
37
They We
You

They are John, Tim and We are Janet, George and
Susan Pablo
3. Fill the gaps
His name _______Tom. He _______from________. She _______his_______. They
________married. Their children______Mary and Will. They______students
4. Give short answers to the following questions:
a. Are you her brother?
b. Are you from Paris
c. Is Ann an engineer?
d. Are you a teacher?
e. Are they in the British Museum?
2. TO HAVE
verb
Personal pronoun
to have
I have
She has
He has
38
It Has
We have
You have
They have
Have is used to express possession:
 Do you have any baggage?
I have a suit case and a bag.
 You have a French accent
 Don’t you have anything smaller?
Have is also used in some idiomatic expressions meaning eat, drink, experience, take:
 I have a bath
 Have a sit
 They have a glass of wine
 We have a good time
2.1. HAVE GOT
We use HAVE GOT when:
a. To show that something belongs to somebody – He’s got a car
b. To describe people, animals and to show that they have a feature – She’s got blue eyes
c. With the following expressions
 I’ve got a headache (cough, temperature, toothache)
 I’ve got a problem
1. Complete the following sentences with words and expressions from the list:
Car, a toothache, a backache, her glasses, money, terrace
1. I don’t feel well I_______________________
2. Katy likes animals. She __________________
3. Grandpa can’t read the newspaper. He ___________________
4. We must go to the bank. We____________________________
5. It is a nice flat, it _____________________________________
39

PRESENT TENSE

The Present Simple is used to express:
a) permanent states and general truths, things we often do.
b) repetitive actions
c) things we often do.
1.1. The present simple affirmative
Examples 1st sing. 2nd sing. 3rd sing. 1st plural 2nd plural 3rd plural
Bring I bring you bring he, she, it brings we bring you bring they bring
Do I do you do he, she, it does we do you do they do
Pass I make you make he, she, it makes we make you make they make

1.2. The present simple negative
Examples 1st sing. 2nd sing. 3rd sing. 1st plural 2nd plural 3rd plural
I don't you don't he, she, it we don't you don't they don't
Bring
bring bring doesn't bring bring bring bring
I don't you don't he, she, it we you don't they don't

Speak
make make doesn't make don't make make make
Examples
1. I like apples, but I don’t like bananas
2. I live in Snagov and I work in Bucharest
3. Flowers grow well in sunny climate, cactuses grow in a dry climate
4. He goes to London and I go to Belfast

40
ARTICLE A/AN, THE

A a book, a boy, a girl
a yellow book, a clever boy, a beautiful girl
AN an umbrella, an egg, an elephant
an old man, an yellow umbrella
an important book
a gentle elephant
THE the book
the elephant
1. Put a or an in front of the nouns:
a) ________apple
b) \________book
c) ________classroom
d) ________teacher
e) ________ pen
f) ________glass
g) ________anvelope

2. Put a or an and a nationality adjective. Use American, Egyptian, Greek, English, Italian,
Spanish, French, Turkish, German.
a) It’s ___________________newspaper
b) It’s____________________passport
c) It’s____________________coin
d) It’s________________stamp
e) It’s________________flag
f) It’s________________city
g) It’s________________banknote
h) It’s________________book
i) It’s________________hotel

41
3. Fill the gaps:
He is French, he comes from ___________________
He is American, he comes from ________________
He is Greek, he comes from_____________________
He is English he comes from____________________
She is Italian, she comes from__________________
She is Spanish, she comes from________________

4. Write the plurals in the correct list:
Cup friend dictionary

Class bus city
Road country glass
Box bush watch
Girl tree day
Story boy dog
Match party baby

‐s ‐es ‐ies
cups classes stories

☺ Irregular plurals
Foot ‐ feet
Child – children
Man – men
Woman – women
Person ‐ people
42
REVISION 1

A. VOCABULARY

Answer to the following questions:
1. YOUR JOB
What do you do?
How long have you done it for?
Did you need to study a lot to do it?
Have always wanted to do this job?
Does anybody else in your family do the same job?
What do you most enjoy about that job?
Is there anything else you would like to do?

2. YOUR HOME TOWN
Do think you will ever live your town?
How long have you lived there?
Has your family lived there for generations?
What is your favourite place in town? Why?
At what time of the year the town looks best?
Is it famous for anything?
Can you add something particular about your home town?
What about your home?

Describe your home town/village
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
43
3. TOUR FAMILY
Do you come from a big family?
How many brothers or sisters do you have?
Who do you get on with nest of all?
Are you a close knit family?
What kind of things do you do together?
Do you prefer spending time with your family or with your friends?
Do you go on holiday with your family?
Is there anything else you want to add?
Do you live in a big house/an fancy apartment in down town or in the suburbs?

4. Which of the following items do you think can be associated with men and which with
women?
Uniforms, self‐help books romance sports clothes

Communication gadgets power sensibility spirituality
Roughness emotion understanding

5. Do you identify yourself with some of those aspects? Give arguments.
6. Which are the best /worth qualities for a perfect girl/boy?
7. Speak about your daily routine
8. Do these sentences refer to boys or women?
1. __value power and achievements
2. The issue of competence is very important to _____________
3. ‐________values love, communication, beauty and relationships
4. _______experience fulfilment through sharing and relating
5. ________feel satisfaction when they win a race, achieve a goal or solve a problem.
6. _____take pride in being considerate of needs and feeling of others.
7. _____are always doing things to prove themselves and develop their power and skills

44

B. GRAMMAR

1. Fill the gaps with the following words China, dogs, brown:
This is a mandarin duck . It is from________
My name is Sally. I like_________, they are my favourite animals.
I love horses. I’ve got a__________horse.
WRITE
2. Write sentences about yourself. Use the following verbs
be have go write read
45

UNIT 2
EVERYDAY LIFE

This unit consists of:
Vocabulary Topics
1. HOUSING – type of houses, architectural styles, typical British houses
2. TRAVELLING‐ means of transport, vehicles
3. HOLIDAYS
Grammar Support
1. PRESENT SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS
2. MODAL VERBS: CAN
Objectives

At the end of this second unit students will be able to:
 Speak on everyday life topics
 Describe a house and be aware of the meaning of different words used to name houses
 Use present tense and modal verbs in a correct way
46

1. HOUSING
Warm up
 Has the living way change in the last century? How?
 Describe the house you would like to live in
For a better debate watch the images on cd section HOUSEING.
Definitions
 A house is a home, building or construction the primary function of which is to be
occupied for habitation by humans
 Home
Detached house
A TUDOR HOUSE

MODERN DETACHED HOUSE
The place where you live is your home, whatever type of house it is. British often consider your
home is the place where you belong and feel comfortable. It is more than just a house.
47
If you want to see how typical English houses look like open the attached CD
(Lesson 2‐HOUSING).
READ
Read the following description. Can you make a similar one?
Hi, my name is Erik. I live in a small town in the south east of England.
I live in a detached house. This means that my house is not joined to another
house. My house is made of bricks and tiles.
In my house there are three rooms downstairs and three rooms upstairs. We
have central heating which keeps our house warm. Some houses have an open
fire place but we don't.
The Typical British House.
There are many different kinds of homes in Britain, but some are considered to be characteristic
for British architecture. Some of the most famous British architectural styles are: Tudor,
Georgian, Adam.
Many British people love old houses and these are often more expensive than modern ones. They
also love gardening and you will see gardens everywhere you go. Some gardens are small with
just one tree and a few flowers. Their lawns are carefully designed. They the garden in front of
their house is called “front yard”. Most of the houses have a backyard, where sometimes there is
a swimming pool. British people usually put their postboxes at the end of the driveway.
Two third of the families in Britain own their houses. A typical British house has got two floors:
the ground floor and the first floor (British people say “the ground floor” but the Americans
people say “the first floor”). There is a living room, a dining room and a kitchen on the ground
floor. And there are bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor.
Questions
1. What kinds of homes do British people love best of all?
48
2. Is gardening typical for British people? Why?
3. How many floors are there in the typical British house?
4. What rooms are there on the first floor?
5. What rooms are there on the ground floor?
6. What is a backyard?
Other type of houses
Cottage – an old cozy house with a large garden, especially in a rural aria
Terrace House – is a house which is part of a row of houses joined to each other
Bungalow ‐ a modern house that is all on ground level
Block of flats – a large building divided into separate parts
Boathouse – the whole structure may be used as a temporary or permanent house
– a building especially designed for the storage of boats
– the headquarters of a boat club or rowing club. It may also include a restaurant, bar, and
other leisure facilities, perhaps for members of an associated club

1. Are you aware of the space around you? For example can you:
 Describe two building around you?
 Describe the architectural style and the size of the building you are in now?
 Name some architectural styles that are characteristic for your home town?
 How can you improve the house you are living in?
WRITE
2. Write sentences to mark the difference between:
a) fence‐hedge
_______________________________________________________________________________
b) attic – loft
_______________________________________________________________________________
c) sink – wash‐basin
_______________________________________________________________________________
d) lounge ‐ hall
_________________________________________________________________________
49

3. Complete the following description:
a) A cottage is a house_____________________________________
b) A ground floor is _________________________________________
c) Most of English houses have a front yard and a_________
d) A boathose is_____________________________________________
e) A detached hose is a construction which is not _________________
4. Where in a house would you expect to find the following things?
1. a sofa______________________________________
2. a vacuum cleaner____________________________
3. a dishwasher________________________________
4. a bookcase__________________________________
5. an oven_____________________________________
READ
In Search of the Perfect House
Here you have some short descriptions of different dwelling that one may considered as the
perfect or ideal house.
1. Dan Garner, a tree surgeon thinks that a tree house is the solution when your family becomes
short of space. He built such a house into a tree six metres above the ground. It has one main
room, two bedrooms and a balcony running along two sides. Garner considers that his house is
airy secure and comfortable, the only disadvantage is that they might not be suitable for people
who suffer from hey fever or fear of heights.
a. Why Dan built a house in his garden?
A. He wants to sell it
B. His family wanted to live in a tree house
C. His family needed more room
D. He is a tree surgeon
50
b. According to Dan, which are the disadvantages of a tree house?
A. It is not suitable for children.
B. It is a luxury residence.
C. It is not suitable for people who suffer from hey fever.
D. It is too small.

2. Once upon a time there was a very beautiful doll’s house; it was red brick with white
windows, and it had real muslin curtains and a front door and a chimney. It belonged to two
Dolls called Lucinda and Jane.
One day Lucinda and Jane had gone out for a drive in the doll’s perambulator. There was no one
in the nursery, and it was quit. Presently there was a little scuffling noise in a corner near the
fireplace, where there was a hole under the skirting‐board. Tom Thumb put out his head for a
moment. Tom Thumb was a mouse. A minute afterwards, Hunca Munca his wife, put her head
out, too.
Tom Thumb and Hunca Munca went upstairs and peeped into the dining room. They acquired
with joy. Such a lovely dinner was laid out upon the table. There were tin spoons, and lead knives
and forks, and two doll’s chair‐ all so convenient! (adapted after The Tale of Two Bad mice – by
Beatrix Potter)
a. A doll’s house is
A. a small house
B. A little house in the forest
C. A house made for children to play with
D. A house made of special materials
b. The table in the doll’s house was laid out upon the table and there were
A. tin spoons, and lead knives and forks
B. two small plates knives and forks
C. glasses, plates, tin spoons and cups
D. coffee cups, tin spoons, napkins

3. For Ann Finn the ideal house would be an old castle in the mountain, surrounded by a ditch
full of water. It would be made of stone with narrow windows and wooden balconies. The
architectural style has to be Gothic, because she loves the pointed arch windows. The castle has
to be warmed by a big fireplace in the castle hall of honour. That special room has to be panelled
with dark oak on the wall. Despite the medieval look of the facade and main rooms, she thinks
that the bathrooms and the kitchen should be equipped and decorated according the last trends.
a. Ann Finn’s ideal house has to be:
A. a very modern one
B. an old house in the countryside
C. an old castle with modern kitchen and bathrooms
D. an old castle on the sea shore
51
Look at the images of different houses on your attached CD.
4. You have read the description of three different houses. Can you describe your ideal/perfect
house?

THE HOUSE OF MY DREAMS

INTRODUCTION__________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
MAIN BODY
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
CLOSING REMARKS
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
52
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY
READ
ARCHITECTURAL STYLES

Architectural styles refer to the art and design of a building in a certain period. Each style has
certain specific aspects. For example Romanesque and Gothic architecture are characterised by
a specific type of arch – round for Romanesque, pointed for Gothic. In Ancient time styles are
recognised according to the type of column.

Celtic Architecture
Little is known about their way of building as most of the constructions used materials as clay,
wood or straw, therefore they were not able to resist for centuries.
Most Celts lived in scattered farming communities surrounded by banks with wattle fencing and
a ditch to keep out intruders and wild animals. They used to build group of houses on top of
hills. They gathered in small communities as well as in large settlements as Colchester.
The typical Celtic house was a round one with thatched roofs of straw or heather. The walls
were made of local material. A fire used to be light in the middle of the round house, for both
cooking and heating.

AngloSaxon Architecture
As Celtic architecture, the Anglo‐Saxon’s one did not manage to survive to contemporary times.
It was very simple and functional so it is hard to speak about an Anglo‐Saxon Style.
Today we can imagine how Anglo‐Saxons’ houses look like from excavations which give us some
clues about the way they may have looked about 1500 years ago. After excavations in West
Stow in the east of England, an early Anglo‐Saxon village has been carefully reconstructed.
The main building material was wood and as much of Britain was covered with forest they had
plenty of wood to use. Most of their houses were wooded huts with thatched with straw. They
faced the sun to get as much heat and light as possible. They were very simple buildings with just
one room where everybody ate, cooked, slept.

Classical Ancient Architecture
Under the name of Classical Ancient time architecture people consider the old Greek and Rome
architecture.
The classical ancient Greece architecture flourished in on the Greek mainland, in the south in
Peloponnesus, the Aegean Islands, and in colonies established in the region known as Asia
Minor, for a period from about 900 BC until the 1st century AD. Ancient Greek architecture is
best known from its temples and open air theatres (amphitheatre), many of which are found
throughout the region, mostly as ruins. Among other architectural representation one may
quote: the processional gateway (propylon), the public square (agora) surrounded by storied
53
colonnade (stoa), the town council building (bouleuterion), the public monument, the
monumental tomb (mausoleum) and the stadium. Little is known about their private residences.
It is characteristic for Greek architecture the division of architectural style into three defined
orders: the Doric order, the Ionic order and the Corinthian order, items that are still in use.
The architecture of Ancient Rome grew out of that of Greece and maintained its influence in
Italy unbroken until the present day. From the Renaissance, revivals of Classicism have kept alive
not only the precise forms and ordered details of Greek architecture, but also its concept of
architectural beauty based on balance and proportion. How a Roman house looked like one can
imagine visiting the ancient city of Pompeii. Our imagination is helped by archaeological
remains, giving us superlative insights into various aspects of the architecture of houses,
commercial and public buildings, roads and sewers. The techniques and materials used coupled
with the decorative systems employed are all there frozen in time by the terrible explosion of
the volcano in AD 79. The whole city was buried under ash and pumice and all its treasures were
lost for nearly 1700 years, until it was rediscovered in 1749.
Byzantine Art
In 330 the Emperor Constantine, transferred the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome in the
West to Byzantium in the East and declared Christianity as its official religion. The old Greek city
of Byzantium became Constantinople, the hub of byzantine civilization, which emerged from the
ancient Rome and Greek civilisation and suffered a large oriental influence.
From early Christian adaptations to the late Roman style, a new visual language developed,
expressing the ritual and the dogma of the united Church and state power. Byzantine art and
architecture are mainly religious.
Its main characteristics are:
 representations are hieratic, drawn according rigorous rules
 rigid portraits of saints
 rich decoration – glittering gold, explosion of colours
 mosaics as a main technique of representation
 colourful facades decorated with bricks or marble
 sculpture plays a minimal role
During the 8th. and 9th. century the figurative art was attacked on the grounds that the Bible
condemned the worship of images. Later on the icons were allowed, but not the round
sculpture.
Although the central source of the Byzantine style was extinguished with Turkish conquest of
Constantinople in 1453, its influence continued for centuries in Russia and the Balkans.
The masterpiece of the byzantine architectural style is Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (Istanbul).
In the same city some artefacts as the Constantine’s
Walls or some water installations can be still admired.

Gothic Architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval
period. It is Western European style of pointed arches that succeeded the Romanesque round
arched buildings. It is well known mainly for the beautiful cathedrals such as Canterbury
(England), Notre Dame (Paris) or Koln (Germany), abbeys from which the most famous is
Westminster Abbey, or castles and town halls spread all over Western Europe.
Originating in 12th‐century France, the Gothic style lasted up to the 16th. century. Besides the
the pointed arch, other characteristics are: the ribbed vault and the flying buttress. Although
characteristic for a large part of Europe, gothic some national aspects can be detected. The
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distinctive characteristic of English cathedrals is their extreme length, and their internal
emphasis upon the horizontal, which may be emphasised visually as much or more than the
vertical lines.
Tudor Architecture – 15th and 16th. Century
The period is named after the Tudor Royale family who ruled in England during that time. The
most famous king of this dynasty is Henry VIII.
Many houses built during this period can be seen in England today. A Tudor house can be
recognised because they are half timbered, with dark wooden frames and white spaces which
are filled with small sticks and wet clay called wattle and daub. Roofs were usually thatched
though some well off people had tiles. In London houses had tiles because people’s fear of fire).
Those houses are remarkable due to their windows too. During the 15th century only a small
minority of people could afford glass windows, but their number increased during the 16th
century they became much more common, but they were still expensive. If you moved house
you took your glass windows with you! Tudor windows were made of small pieces of glass held
together by strips of lead. They were called lattice windows.
The houses impress the contemporary visitor by their ‘Black and White” effect.
In this period the first real theatre was built in London. One of the most famous is Shakespeare’s
birthplace in Stratford upon Avon, a town located in the heart of England.
Georgian Architecture – 18th. Century
It is considered to be the beginning of modern architecture in England and Ireland. A typical
Georgian house was elegant and formal, characterised by proportions and balance. The style is
influenced by classical Roman and Greek architecture. The houses were made of brick and stone
and painted in colours like red, tan or white. A particular aspect of that type of house
architecture is the fact that regularity of housefronts along a street was a desirable feature of
Georgian designs usually lay within the Classical orders of architecture and employed a
decorative vocabulary derived from ancient Rome or Greece. There are pillars on each side of
the front door and a fan light above the door.
An interesting fact that should be mentioned when talking about Georgian houses is the fact
that at that there was a heavy tax on windows. Therefore the number of windows one had was a
sign of his financial position. Some people bricked up windows to avoid the taxes. An other way
of reducing window taxes that influenced Georgian architecture are the so called sash windows
or dormer windows in the upper floors, smaller than those in the floor. Those on the roof,
primary used for servants’ quarters are the smallest.
Victorian Architecture – 19th. Century
This is the period when Queen Victoria ruled Great Britain and a huge colonial empire. Many
architectural styles as Neo‐Gothic, or Italianate are included under the general label of Victorian
Architecture. It was associated to Modernism and gained a large popularity very quickly.
The buildings of the period were not erected in a unitary style. What is now called Victorian
architecture often included interpretations and eclectic revivals of historic styes mixed with the
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introduction of Middle East and Asian influences. A famous building, representative for that
period is Royal Albert Hall, in London.
Victorian architecture was deeply influenced by the Industrial revolution. The entire way of
building changed. It was the end of houses made of local stone, timber and straw. The
development of the railway and new manufacturing processes made possible to built a house in
London of bricks produced in a region (for example Bedfordshire), slates from Wales. The new
products were more available and cheaper, they required less maintenance. It is now when
houses have started to be built in raw and back to back, houses that are called terrace houses.
The newly emerging middle class could afford to buy many items for their homes, as the mass
production made them affordable and took immense pride in having a “stylish” home, which
they considered to be a reflection of their status.
This is also the period when many English architects started to work in the colonies. During the
18th century, a few English architects emigrated to the colonies, but as the British Empire was
firmly established during the 19th century some architects emigrated at the start of their
careers. Some chose the United States, and others went to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
They introduced there the architectural styles that were fashionable when they left England.
Comprehension check
1. Which of those styles do you like?
2. Which of the above described architectural styles is still fitted for
contemporary life?
3. Pick up one main characteristic for each style
 Celtic___________________________________________________________________________
 AngloSaxon___________________________________________________________________
 Ancient________________________________________________________________________
 Byzantine Art__________________________________________________________________
 Gothic_________________________________________________________________________
 Tudor_________________________________________________________________________
 Georgian_____________________________________________________________________
 Victorian___________________________________________________________________
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2. TRAVELLING

Warm up
 How many forms of transport can you think of that you have used?
 Which is your favourite means of transport for a holiday?
 Can you ride a bike? When do you use it?
 What do you like to do on holiday? Circle from the listed activity.
Sightseeing Travelling Reading Eating Shopping
 What would you like to visit?
2.1. MEANS OF TRANSPORT

You travel by:
 car, train, bike, coach
 underground (subway), bus, double‐decker, tram, taxi
 boat, ferryboat, ship
 airplane, helicopter
Public transport
1. Which of the following means of transport do you use daily?
tramway, bus, underground, taxi
READ
2. Read the text about London’s public transport. Compare it with that of your home town.
Make a list of advantages and disadvantages.
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London's transport forms the hub of the road, rail and air networks in the United Kingdom.
London also has a number of international airports including one of the world's busiest,
Heathrow, which is also the best known all over the world and a seaport.
London's internal transport system is one of the Mayor of London's four policy areas,
administered by its executive agency Transport for London (TfL). TfL controls the majority of
public transport in the area, including the Underground, London Buses, Tramlink, the Docklands
Light Railway, and London Over ground rail services within Greater London
London Underground Colloquially known as the Tube, London it is the first metro system in the
world, operating since 1863. More than 3 million passengers travel on the Underground every
day, The Underground has 11 lines, most of which connect the suburbs to Central London and
provide a distribution role around the city centre, particularly from major railway terminals.
The Underground serves North London much more extensively than South London. This is the
result of a combination of unfavourable geology, historical competition from surface railways
and the historical geography of London which was focused to the north of the Thames. South
London is served primarily by surface railways (although it should be noted that the majority of
London Underground's route length is actually on the surface rather than in tunnel.).
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is an automated light rail system serving the Docklands area
of east London. It complements the Underground, largely sharing its fares system and having a
number of interchanges with it.
The former tram system in London was the oldest in the world dating back to early Victorian
time and still remains the largest tram network.
3. Complete the following diagram concerning travelling by train. Use words from the list:
season, platform, ticket collector, mechanic, railway station, return, seeping

car, single, compartment, lost‐objects, passenger, buffet car, driver
Places Tickets

Travelling

by train

People

4. Design a similar diagram for travelling by air.
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5. The following sentences describe what you do when you arrive at a bus station to catch a
bus to travel from London to Bristol, but they are in the wrong order. List them in the
right order. The first one is in the right place
 You arrive at the bus station. ____
 You go to the check in desk and take your ticket. ____
 You fasten your seat belts. ____
 You get into the station lounge. ____
 You enjoy your travel. ____
 You get in your bus. ____
 You look at the departure board and see if your bus is boarded. ____
 The lady tells you which platform to go to. ____
 You ask for information about bus time, ticket price, how are you going to pay. ____
 You go to your platform. ____

6. Read the above fragments and then fill the table.

From camels to the space shuttle, from horses jets, since people realised that it is faster to
use different means of transport, instead of walking, amazing numbers of means of transport
developed for our love to travel. In ancient times, boats took people out to fish, then ship
sailed from one continent to another, now submarines float deep beneath the waves with
huge cruise ships. They take people as well as cargo and oil tankers fuel around the world.
Trunks, lorries and vans transport goods on roads and motorways.
Everyday people travel to work by underground, buses or trams, some making their own way
by bicycle or motorbike. We go from one island to another or to mainland by ferries or
hovercrafts.
Even if they are old fashioned, stream trains are still in use in some countries, for people or
goods. Other old fashioned means as donkey or balloon are used for entertainment.
Old means of
Public transport They have a driver They are used on sea
transport
59

2.2. HOLIDAYS

Warm up
 Do you know which is the meaning of the word holiday?
 Which is your ideal type of holiday, for you?
 Which was your best/terrible experience?
1. Explain the meaning of the following words
Anniversary_________________________________________________________
Commemoration_____________________________________________________
Celebration_________________________________________________________
Jubilee_____________________________________________________________
Event______________________________________________________________
Habit ______________________________________________________________
Customs___________________________________________________________
Tradition ___________________________________________________________

2. Find out how much you know about the following holidays by filling the following table.
The first one was partially done.
Which holiday is popular in your hometown?
Specific
Holiday Date Nationality Colour Decoration Significance
food
Christmas 25 dec. global Pork, Red and Mistletoe , Christ birth

turkey green ivy,
Halloween
Thanksgiving

Valentine’s
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Day
Easter
Palm Sunday

Saint
Patick’s Day
3. Which of the following would be considered habits or customs in your country?
 Living a tip in the restaurant
 Wearing a hat in a religious building
 Wearing a white dress as a bride
 Eating pork for Christmas
 Painting eggs for Easter
 Decorating house for Christmas
4. Give personal answers to the following questions:
1. Where do you like going on holiday?
2. What do you like doing on holidays?
3. What don’t you like doing on holiday/
4. Which is your favourite holiday?
5. Do you like to take part in business holidays?
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Travelling to UK
Warm up
 Have you travelled to UK?
 Which is the difference between Great Britain and United Kingdom?
 Can you name the different countries of the United Kingdom? Can you show them on
the map (view the CD)
 Do you know the names of their capital cities?
 What words / phrases or images do you associate with each of these countries? Make a
list below.
Open your CD and watch some images with the most popular holiday places in
UK. Which one would you like to visit? Give arguments.
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2.3. BUSINESS EVENTS

Business events are conferences, training courses, team building, and seminars, workshops
presentations In order to develop your career you have to take part in different events such as
conferences, presentations or workshops. You have to take part in some of them in order to
develop your career.
They are good opportunities for socializing as people value informal contacts. Many people
believe that the social side of these events is as important as the course or the seminar. You
meet people doing similar jobs with similar problems.
Warm up
 Have you taken part in a business event?
 Which is your opinion about their utility?
1. You have to attend an international conference. What are your reasons for attending?
You may choose from the list below:
 to keep up‐to‐date with developments in my activity field
 hoping to meet lots of interesting people – some of them useful for my future career.
 I have a target of 15 people that I want to meet, so I can persuade them to buy our
products or to be our partners in future projects.
 I want to present my opinion on a subject and get support

2. During an international conference, on the first evening, you attend a ‘welcome party’. You
arrive in a large hall filled with about 100 people. They all seem to know each other, having a
good time. There’s nobody that you recognise.
A. What do you do?
 Go up to the less numerous of the groups, introduce yourself and ask if you can join
them.
 Go up to one of the groups and listen to the conversation, maybe the subject is
interesting and you can join in later.
 Find where the food is being served and try to start a conversation with someone in the
queue, or join people at one of the tables
 Helping with some food, waiting for others to ask you a question
 Turn around and go home.

B. Which topics can you use to break the ice?
 How much you like parties like this, where you meet interesting people.
 How interesting the conference is.
 Your work. Which is your connection with the conference topic
 Sport. Maybe referring to a recent event
 The weather.
 Politics. Latest political/economical new
 How good/bad the food is. Cultural aspect
 Conference program
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GRAMMAR SUPPORT
PRESENT SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS

PRESENT SIMPLE
In order to remember what you learned in section 1 let’s do the following exercises
1. Complete
A) We are students. We ________work in an office.
B) I live in London. I don’t _______in Paris
C) They _______________have breakfast at 7. They have breakfast at 8.
D) I __________shopping on Saturday. I _______go shopping on Sunday.
E) I don’t like tennis. I ______________________football.
2. Turn the following interrogative sentences into affirmative ones
a. Is he a doctor?
b. Have you a new car?
c. Do you like running?
d. Where do you go on holiday?
e. Who is your English teacher?
f. Do you know where the library is?

3. Write 5 things that you like doing and 5 things that you don’t like to do in a holiday (general
aspects)
LIKE DON’T LIKE
1
2
3
4
5
64

4. Answer the questions
a) Do you like swimming?
b) Do you work in a school/office/ shop?
c) Are you a doctor?
d) Are you French?
e) Do you live in a house or in a block of flats?
f) Are you married
g) Do you have breakfast every morning?
h) Do you live in a town or in the countryside?

5. Complete the sentences
Esther_________in a flat in Bucharest
She_______in a shop
She ______breakfast at 7 o’clock
She ______+at work at 8a.m.
Her husband _________a teacher.
She ___________ reading in the afternoon.

6. Match the questions and answers
a) Does he like tennis 1) Yes I do
b) Are you a teacher? 2) Yes I do
c) Are you British 3) Yes I am
d) Are you learning English? 4) Yes he does

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

1. Read the following example and underline the meaning of each verbal tense:

a. Every day I go to school by underground, today I am taking a taxi
b. I always have tea for breakfast, now I think of having a coffee.
c. Mary lives in London but now he is visiting his parents in Bath.
d. I am a student, at the moment I am attending a special course in marketing.
65

MODAL VERBS CAN

In order to understand the major part played by modal verbs in English language communication
answerer the following questions
a. Can you give an example of modal verb?
b. Are there modal verbs in Romania?
c. Which is their role in English?
General characteristics
 Modal verbs have the same form for all persons
 Don’t take the auxiliary do in questions and negatives
 They have proper forms just for certain tenses and equivalents for the others.
 They are followed by short infinitive (without to)
Examples
 Can I take your car?
 He can’t speak English.
 They can dance

USE –
 Permission – Can I leave this here? Note that Could I or May I are more formal and
polite then Can I
 Mental Ability – I can speak English fluently
 Physical Ability – I can swim.
 Request ‐ Can I have a sandwich please? Could you help me? Would you help me? Note
that Could you or Would you are more formal and polite then Can you.
1. Choose the right word from the words in brackets
a) Excuse me, _____________________(could/ may/ shall) you tell me how to get to the
University?
b) Are you sure you ________________________(can, may, would) find her house?
c.) __________________(Shall/could/would) I speak to Mr. Smith, please?
66
d.)Do you think we ___________(can/ may/would) eat our sandwiches here?
e) _____________________(couldn’t/can’t/wouldn’t) you read?
2. Make a list with what you can do and what you can’t
1)_____________________________
2)______________________________
3)______________________________
4)______________________________
5)______________________________
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3. FOOD AND DRINK

EATING OUT

1. In pairs discus the following questions
 Which is the most important meal for you?
 Do you ever have business lunch?
 If you go in a foreign country you would try the local cuisine or look for a restaurant with
international menu?

2. Here it is a list of types of restaurants. Which one do you like? Give arguments for your
choice.
 Fast – food
 Cafeteria
 Fish Restaurant
 Fancy Restaurant
 Pizza restaurant

3. Using some of the phrases below make sentences about the restaurants above according to
the diagram:
specialized in sea food; a fantastic view o the city; just round the corner;
does an excellent pizza; you can get fresh fish from the Danube; you might
like to try it; a pleasant atmosphere

just

which
really nice place
There’s a pretty good restaurant Where
great new fast‐food
with

a nice view

68
GOING TO A CAFE
 Do go to cafes or fast food with your friends or for lunch?
 Can you make a list of cafes in the around your faculty?
 Which cafes do they like? Why?
 What to do in a cafe – make a list of activities and order them.
 What are you drinking in a cafe?

CULTURAL ASPECTS
The way in which we eat, we prepare food and we associate it with certain drinks is part of our
national profile. There are different table manners around the world
 In France you say Bon appétit at the start of your meal
 In England Enjoy your meal.
 In Japan you compliment the host/hostess on the artistic arrangements of the food.
What do you say in your country?
Here are some other cultural facts
 In India people eat with their hands
 In Finland people frequently stop for lunch at 11.30 in the morning
 In France cheese is normally served after the dessert
 In Arab countries you must wait for your host to serve you the main dish
 In Brasil it’s common to be two hours late for a party
 At Chinese dinner table it is extremely impolite to say how hungry you are.
 In Spain an 11 o’clock dinner is quite normal

Cross Cultural Quiz
Mach the countries in column 1 with statements in column 2
Finland you compliment the host/hostess on the artistic

arrangements of the food
France people eat with their hands
Spain it’s common to be two hours late for a party
China an 11 o’clock dinner is quite normal
Japan cheese is normally served after the dessert
Brasil people frequently stop for lunch at 11.30 in the morning
India it is extremely impolite to say how hungry you are.
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READ
BRITISH FOOD
When we speak about British food we talk about a set of dishes, ingredients and way of
preparing. Although subject of a lot of jokes and generally considered as tasteless, British cuisine
is quite complex as it has absorbed the cultural influence of those that have settled in Britain,
from Celts to Africans and Indians coming from former colonial countries.
International recognition of British cuisine has traditionally to the full breakfast” known as
English Breakfast, a course ‐fish and chips, and the Christmas dinner, a meal whose popularity is
due to a lot of movies and advertising images.
1. In English sometimes the animal has a name and the meat of the animal has another one.
How do we call the meat of these animals?
a) Calf__________________________________
b) Cattle________________________________
c) Picarrot, celeryg_________________________
d) Sheep ________________________________
e) Lamb_________________________________
f) Deer__________________________________
g) Turkey ________________________________
2. Which of the fruit and vegetables from the list bellow grow in your country? Are there any
not listed here?
Fruit ‐ peach, plumb, grapefruit, grape, nectarine, raspberry, pineapple, kiwi‐fruit,

melon, apple, pear, lime
Vegetable – carrot, celery, , cucumber, asparagus, broccoli, egg plant, avocado, corn‐
cob, beetroot
Complete the list ___________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. Put the words from the list under the headings of the table below:
chicken, pork, trout, tuna, pineapple, beef, eggs, lettuce, grapes, lamb, apple, plumb, tea,
pasta, tomato, rice, veal, cheese, potato, salmon, garlic, melon, mutton, strawberry
70
Meat & Fish Vegetables Fruit Others

4. Which things in the list you like best? Which things don’t you like?
Like Dislike
5. When you choose a kind of food or you recommend it to somebody you have certain
criteria. According to your opinion, which is the importance of the following things.
taste colour texture smell temperature presentation

the place they are coming from (supermarket, farm, catering restaurants, peasant
market, fashionable restaurant, etc)

6. When you prepare food you use different ways of cooking. Give example for each of the way
listed below
a. boil_____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
b. roast____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
c. fry______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
d. grill_____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
e. bake____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
7. In pairs try to find definitions to the following words
a. Diet____________________________________________________
b. Junk food______________________________________________
71
c. Fast food______________________________________________
d. Snack__________________________________________________
e. Processed food________________________________________
f. Homemade food______________________________________
g. National dishes___________________________________________
8. Complete the following sentence with the following words – egg, orange, cheese, tuna,
grapes and chicken
a. Can I have an ________________juice?
b. Do you like _________fish?
c. My favourite meat is_______________
d. I usually have an___________for breakfast.
e. Can I have a sandwich with__________and lettuce
f. I had an apple and some_____________today.
9. Complete the following sentence:
 The Romanians have an unhealthy diet because_______________
 Recent research show___________________________________________
 Junk food is bad for your health because________________________
 Doctors advice___________________________________________________
 Children should not eat_________________________________________
READ
10. Read the following text:
In 1949, Clarance Birdseye found a way to keep the food fresh by frozen it. It was technology
helping people to live and eat better. During the following years frozen foods of all kinds began
to appear in grocery stores. Meat, vegetables, and fruit were quick frozen and tasted fresh and
72
natural. It was now possible to have always fresh vegetable and fruit. But now people prefer
natural food to food in cans and even to frozen food, because it has more nutritional value.
Reading comprehension
a. Check if the folowing statments are true or false
 Appeared in 1959
 Clarance Birdseye was a grocery’s owner
 Frozen food are the result of technology
 Can be found in all grocer ystores
 Frozen food has the same nutritional value as natural food.
A Typical London Restaurant
Read the text and imagine that you are invited at this restaurant. Add a phrase in which you
express your opinion.
As ‘British cuisine’ continues to establish its own identity, it becomes clearer how groundbreaking
Fergus Henderson’s Smithfield restaurant really was. It’s far from faddy, and St John’s
commitment to well‐sourced, simply cooked traditional food has stood the test of time: it’s still
one of the most reliably exciting places to eat in London. Forgotten cuts and obscure ingredients
grace the twice‐daily‐changing menu, and while this stripped‐down luxe doesn’t come cheap, St
John remains a model other restaurants aspire to.
My personal opinion
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
73
BRITISH
and
AMERICAN
Spotlights
74
ABOUT FLAGS

Since Ancient Times communities and individual persons were represented in public by certain
symbols painted on their houses, arms, flags etc. The symbols used for representing UK, England,
Scotland date from Middle Ages. Here are the description of some of them. 4
Union Flag or Union Jack
Everybody is familiar with the red, blue with white crosses flag, that is the image of UK around
the world. Little know about each element signification. The royal banner known as the Union
Flag or Union Jack (despite popular belief, both terms are technically correct) represents UK –
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The current design of the flag, representative for all UK’s presences around the world, dates
from the union of Ireland and Great Britain in 1801. It consists of the red cross of Saint George
(patron saint of England), edged in white, superimposed on the Cross of St Patrick (patron saint
of Ireland), which are superimposed on the Saltireof Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland).
Some aspects should be underlined. The red saltire cross attributed to St. Patrick was added to
represent Ireland however St Patrick was not a martyr and therefore no cross was ever ascribed
to himWales is not represented in the Union Flag by Wales' patron saint, Saint David, as at the
time the flag was designed Wales was part of the Kingdom of England.
There are circumstances (football competition, cultural festivals) when UK flag is replaced by
each country (province) flag. England, Scotland or Northen Ireland flags are sometimes used.
England’s flag is represented on a white background. This cross is known as the St George’s
Cross and has represented England is various forms from as far back as the Middle Ages and the
Crusades. Because of its use since the 16th century, it has come to be one of the most

4
The coloured images of these flags can be seen on the CD

75
prominent and well‐known symbols of England. The red cross was also an emblem of a
knighthood system originating to England’s medieval times, known as the Most Noble Order of
the Garter. St George was the patron saint of the country during the 1200’s. During the
Crusades, the soldiers would wear plain white tunics, thus the birth of a white background.
The Flag of Scotland is also known as Saint Andrew's Cross or the Saltire,. As the national flag,
the Saltire, rather than the Royal Standard of Scotland, is the correct flag for all individuals and
corporate bodies to fly in order to demonstrate both their loyalty and Scottish nationality.
The flag image is accompanied by some legends. According to one of those legends,
the Christian apostle and martyr Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, was crucified on an
X‐shaped cross at Patras, Use of the familiar iconography of his martyrdom, showing the apostle
bound to an X‐shaped cross, first appears in the Kingdom of Scotland in 1180 during the reign
of William I.
According to another legend, in 832 A.D. Óengus II led an army of Picts and Scots into battle
against the Angles, led by Æthelstan, near modern‐day Athelstaneford, East Lothian. The legend
states that whilst engaged in prayer on the eve of battle, Óengus vowed that if granted victory
he would appoint Saint Andrew as the Patron Saint of Scotland; Andrew then appeared to
Óengus that night in a dream and assured him of victory. On the morning of battle white clouds,
forming an X shape in the sky, were said to have appeared. Óengus and his combined force,
emboldened by this apparent divine intervention, took to the field and despite being inferior in
terms of numbers were victorious. Having interpreted the cloud phenomenon as representing
the crux decussata upon which Saint Andrew was crucified, Óengus honoured his pre‐battle
pledge and duly appointed Saint Andrew as the Patron Saint of Scotland. The white saltire set
against a celestial blue background is said to have been adopted on the basis of this legend
The Scottish Government has ruled that the Saltire should fly on all its buildings every day from
8am until sunset, with the exception for United Kingdom "national days", when on buildings
where the Saltire shall be lowered and replaced with the Union Flag

76

The American Flag
The American flag is called “Old Glory’ or Stars and Stripes” It consists of white stars (50 from
July 4, 1960) on a blue background, with a field of 13 alternative stripes, 7 red and 6 white. The
stars stand for the 50 states of the union and the 13 stripes for the original states that signed the
Declaration of independence.
77
CULTURAL ASPECTS

The CELTS

Beside the classical culture of Romans and Greece, Late Ancient Europe was dominated by the
Celts as well. By the start of the middle Ages, the Celts had been struck on two very powerful
cultures, Ancient Rome in the south and the Germans, derived themselves from Celts, from the
north. The period of Celtic dominance in Europe began in the first centuries AD. By the time
Rome fell to Gothic invaders and the Celts had been pushed west and north to England, Wales
and Ireland, later to Scotland and northern Europe. Even if Celtic traditional culture used to be
ignored in many history textbooks, their way of life, institutions and symbols were superimposed
onto German and classical culture and survived up to contemporary times.
Most of what we know about Celtic Life comes from Ireland, Bretons and Welsh mythology or
classical Greeks and Roman writers. The later considered the Celts insane, warfare and
barbarian. Celtic society was hieratical and class‐based. Tribes were lead by kings. According to
both Roman and Irish sources Celtic society was divided into three groups: aristocracy (warriors),
an intellectual class (druids, poets, historians) and everyone else.
The Celts arrived in Britain about the year 500 BC. They were farmers and lived in small villages
groups in the centre of cultivated fields.
Celtic society was a rural one, urbanization did not occur until the Danish and Norwegian
invasion. Trade was poorly developed and as much as it took place was in the form of barter.
The Celts often constructed their settlements on hilltop which could be easily defended. To a
great extend the Celts fashioned their homes and other community buildings with natural
materials such as wood, grass and earth, none of which survived the ravages of time and climate
for long.
From the 19th. century Celtic civilization, mainly their religion has enjoyed a fascination among
modern Europeans, although what it is known about Celtic religion practices comes from Roman
and Greek sources (which undervalued it), or by later Celtic writers in Ireland and Wales who
were writing from Christian perspective. According to Roman sources, their rituals involved no
temples or building structures, being centred on natural environment. The rituals were
performed by druids, who had the function of a priest, but also functions that can be labelled as
education or law.
A famous Celtic queen was Boadicea. She was the queen of Iceni, a tribe of Celts living in eastern
England. After her husband death she leaded her people. She is remembered because she led a
rebellion against the Romans. Boadicea fought against Roman in a chariot and led an army to
attack London in AD60.
78
Stonehenge
More than 5000 years ago Europeans were building spectacular stone monuments. Stonehenge
is one of those Neolithic constructions, a world famous monument, standing as a timeless
testimony to the prehistoric people who built it 4000 years ago. Even older than the Celts is the
unique monument of Stonehenge. Only seventy years after the Norman Conquest the temple
was mentioned as one of the wanders of Britain. The monument is not only famous, bat also
surrounded by mystery as almost every people of antiquity has been claimed as its builders, at
one time or another.
The original ceremonial entrance of Stonehenge was from the north‐east, unlike today when the
modern visitors approach from the west. It is marked by the fallen Slaughter Stone (an original
portal stone) and by the Heel Stone (both generating legends of their own). To the original
entrance a processional way was added and they both aligned so that they make a line with the
direction of midsummer sunrise.
As many monuments Stonehenge was built along centuries. Not all the structures that we see
today are built at the same time. Historians divide the history of Stonehenge into three main
periods covering a span of about fifteen centuries
 First Phase The monument was a circular earthwork, similar to a Neolithic enclosure,
comprised a ditch, bank and counterscarp. Its alignment suggested a ceremonial tribal
meeting and a relationship with midsummer sunrise.
 Second Phase lasted three centuries (2900BC ‐ 2600BC)Timber settings were added to
the interior of the earthwork “ henge”. The ditch filled up naturally.
 The Third (Final) Phase (2900BC ‐ This phase of the monument started with the arrivals
of stones transported over long distances. In their initial setting those stones were
arranged in a double crescent. The period was marked by the spectacular construction
of Sarsen Circle and the processional Avenue. The main entrance was marked by the
Heel Stone and three Portal Stones (today only the fallen Slaughter Stone remains).
Within the perimeter the four Station stones marked alignments with lunar cycles as
well as the midwinter sunset.
Even since the early 18th. century people became aware of the astrological significance of the
stone position at Stonehenge. Recent studies consider that stone alignments were symbolic
rather than scientific in intend, considering that the use of Stonehenge as an astronomical
observatory in prehistoric times is mostly a matter of conjecture, not supported by archeological
record. The construction was highly accurate for the period. The standing stones are up to 22
feet high and weight up to 45 tons each.
Ireland
Known as the Emeralde Isle, Ireland is famous not only for its never ending religious disputes but
mainly for its beautiful countryside, rich old architecture, wanderful music and friendly people.
Ireland is well known for its beer and cosy pubs.
Culturaly Ireland is a famous as home of several great writers such as: James Joyce, Oscar Wilde,
William Butler Yeats, Bernard Shaw and Jonathan Swift. It has also a great musical tradition and
cimema.
79
The Tower of London
It is one of London’s landmarks, considered to be representative for the city image and one of
the country popular tourist attractions.
It is a citadel, named after its oldest part, which is called The White Tower. Established by
William the Conqueror in 1066, the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of
the river Thames in central London.
Always a fortress but, in some periods also a royal palace, a prison and a mint until 1810 an
arsenal and for three hundred years a zoo, The Tower has been the place where English history
was made. A lot of personalities, like Thomas Moor, Ann Boleyn (Henry the 8th. second wife),
were imprisoned and then beheaded there. Successive sovereigns were responsible for the
many additional buildings that comprises the complex we see today. The inner defensive wall
and its thirteen tower were added by Henry III (1216‐1272). King Eduard I (1272‐1307) was
responsible for the construction of outer defenses.
For several centuries the Tower of London was the chief arsenal from which the royal armies and
fleet are equipped.
Today the Crown Jewels are kept in the Tower and all visitors can see them
Connected with the legendary history of the Tower are the London ravens.
The tower of London has played a prominent role in English history.
Westminster Abby
One of the most magnificent medieval monuments in England is Westminster Abby. It is also
one of the oldest as the construction started in the middle of the tenth century, when the
Benedictine monks built there the first church. From that time comes the name Abby, because
at that time the monks erected a Benedictine abbey.
Little has remained from that original building of the 11th. century . The whole monument has a
long history which starts in 1065 and ends in 1745. Here it is list of the most significant stages of
the monument construction
 1245 – Henri III pulled down the eastern part of the 11th century Abbey, which had been
founded by King Edward the Confessor and dedicated in 1065. He began to build the
present church. This is considered today as one of the most important Gothic buildings
in the country, with the medieval shrine of an Anglo‐Saxon saint still at its heart. Earlier
in Henry's reign, on 16 May 1220, he had laid the foundation stone for a new Lady
Chapel at the east end of the Confessor's church, but as the Abbey's own financial
resources were not sufficient to continue the rebuilding of the whole church at this time
no other work was carried out.
 1503‐1519 is the period when the next great addition to the Abbey took place. It was the
construction of a magnificent new Lady Chapel by Henry VII to replace the 13th century
chapel. The Perpendicular architecture here is in total contrast to the rest of the Abbey.
 1745 The last phase of building was the completion in 1745 of the West Towers in
Portland stone, to a design by Nicholas Hawksmoor, the Abbey's Surveyor.
The Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of seventeen
monarchs. The tomb of the unknown hero is also placed in Westminster Abby.
80

Architectural Style
The Gothic architecture of the church was greatly influenced by the new cathedrals at Reims,
Amiens and Chartres. Its architect borrowed the ideas of an apse with radiating chapels and
using the characteristic Gothic features of pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, rose windows and
flying buttresses. The design is based on the continental system of geometrical proportion, but
its shows the characteristics of English Gothic architecture as well. Its features include single
rather than double aisles and a long nave with wide projecting transepts. The Abbey has the
highest Gothic vault in England (nearly 102 feet) and it was made to seem higher by making the
aisles narrow. The Englishness is also apparent in the elaborate mouldings of the main arches,
the lavish use of polished Purbeck marble for the columns and the overall sculptural decoration.
The east‐west axis was determined by the existing position of the Lady Chapel. The old Norman
nave remained attached to the far higher Gothic building for over a century until more money
became available at the end of the fourteenth century. The western section of the nave was
then carried on by Abbot Nicholas Litlyngton. In 1422 Henry V was buried at the eastern end of
St Edward’s Chapel. In accordance with his will a lavishly sculptured chantey chapel was built
over the tomb, with two turret staircases leading to an altar above.

Westminster Abbey is also the place where some of the most significant people in the nation's
history are buried or commemorated. Taken as a whole the tombs and memorials comprise the
most significant single collection of monumental sculpture anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Therefore the abby may be considered as a national memorial.

81
HOLIDAYS
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, public holidays are commonly referred to as bank
holidays, and the two terms are often used interchangeably, although strictly and legally there is a
difference. Bank holidays may be declared in two ways:
 by statute (Statutory holidays) - Holidays specifically listed in the Banking and Financial
Dealings Act 1971, Schedule 1.[7]
 by Royal proclamation - This has been used for annual bank holidays created since
1971, and is also used to move a bank holiday in a given year,[8] and to create extra one-off
bank holidays for special occasions

Special Holidays
 In 2011, there was a special holiday on Friday, 29 April, to celebrate the wedding of
Prince William and Catherine Middleton, thereby making the previous week a four-day week
because ofGood Friday, that week a three-day week because of Easter Monday and the
following week a four-day week because of May Day. Furthermore, the royal bank holiday
falls in the weeks that follow the usual two-week school Easter holiday.
 In 2012, there was a special holiday on Tuesday, 5 June, to celebrate the Diamond
Jubilee of Elizabeth II. Therefore, to make it a four-day weekend, the Spring Bank Holiday
that would usually have occurred at the end of May was pushed back to Monday, 4 June
2012.

Halloween
It is an ancient holiday, which mixes pagan ideas, folklore and religion
Origin – Celtic. It used to mark the celebration of the Celtic Year on November 1st. This day
marked the end of the season of sun, as a consequence the beginning of winter. By lightening
fires and candelas the ancient Celts wanted to keep the light of the sun through the winter
months.
The Roman invasion brought into the Celts life the festival known as Pomona Day, a goddess of
fruit and gardens. That is where the tradition of toffee apples comes from.
The Christian religion turned November the 1th into a church holiday, to honor all the saints‐ All
Saints Day. On the eve of the day, the night between October the 31th. and November the 1st.
people celebrates with big bonfire and parades all the saints, angels but also devils and other
fantastic creatures. The world of the living communicates with the world of the dead.
Halloween has become a popular holiday in America where children and adults have parties,
play games like dunking for apples, decorate their houses with orange pumpkin Children dress
up as witches and ghosts or other scary creatures and go for ”Trick or Treating”
In England there are special foods connected with certain holidays and festivals
82
Shrove Tuesday – the beginning of Lent – pancakes
Good Friday – the day when Jesus Christ was put into his grave – fish and hot cross buns
Easter – Chocolate eggs, roast lamb
Lamb is considered to be the traditional meat for Easter due to its religious connections. In many
icons lamb is a religious symbol. Chicken has been a modern favourite for Easter Sunday dinner,
mainly due to the baby spring chicken being associated with birth and new life.
May Day – It is celebrated on May 1 and it is an ancient Northern Hemisphere spring
festival and usually a public holiday. In many cultures it is also a traditional spring holiday. It is
celebrated in England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and Romania. Due to
European emigrants it is a holiday in Canada and USA.
Its origins are related the Celtic festival of Beltane and German Walpurgis Night. May Day falls

half a year from November 1 – another cross‐quarter day which is also associated with various
northern European paganisms and the year in the Northern Hemisphere – and it has traditionally
been an occasion for popular and often raucous celebrations. As Europe became Christianized,
the pagan holidays lost their religious character and changed into popular secular celebrations.
The day was a traditional summer holiday in many pre‐Christian European pagan cultures. While
February 1 was the first day of Spring, May 1 was the first day of summer; hence, the summer
solstice on June 25 (now June 21) was Midsummer.
In the Roman Catholic tradition, May is observed as Mary's month, and in these circles May Day
is usually a celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In this connection, in works of art, school
skits, and so forth, Mary's head will often be adorned with flowers in a May crowning.
The traditional food in England is Maids of Honour Cake (small round puff pastry cheesecakes
sometimes floured with almonds and rose water.
May Day coincides with Labour Day. It has long been a focal point for demonstrations by various
socialist, communist and anarchist groups commemorating the 1886 Haymarket
affair in Chicago.

Bonfire Night – It is also known as Guy Fawkes Night or Firework Night. It is a holiday which
annual commemorates on 5 November an event that took place in 1605 but it has lost its real
signification. It is now usually just a night of revelry with a bonfire and fireworks.
The traditional food is hot soup, Jacket potatoes, cooked in foil in the fire, Parkin cake (a
traditional sticky cake containing a mix of oatmeal, ginger and syrup)
Christmas Day
Christmas is considered to be one of the most important family holidays; therefore there are
special dishes that are cooked in different countries. In England traditional Christmas dinner
consists of turkey vegetables, stuffing, cranberry sauce, minced pies, Christmas pudding flaming
with brandy.
83

AMERICAN HOLIDAYS

Independence Day
Independence Day is the national holiday of United States of America. It takes place on the 4th.
of July. On this day the Americans commemorates the victory over the British in American Civil
War and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on 4th. July 1776.
Before that date, there were 13 colonies under the rule of King George III. Those colonies
constituted the United States of America and declare themselves independent in 1774. Harsh
trade restriction and high taxes imposed by the English Parliament force the colonies to declare
war. After more than a year of war, the British were defended and the new constituted Congress
signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
The Independence Day, considered being the day when a new nation was born is marked by
great festivities across the whole country. There is a tradition of picnics and parade, which was
established by the early 1800.
Veterans’ Day
Veterans Day is an official holiday, proclaimed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. Now
the holiday is celebrated in United States, Canada, Great Britain and many other countries. It is
a holiday which honors people who have served in armed service also known as veterans. It is
a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. Major hostilities of World War I were
formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice
with Germany became effective. Since then people have marked the event by a moment of
silence.
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day (Jour de l'Action de grâce in Canadian French) is a national holiday celebrated
in the United States and Canada as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest. It is
celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday
of October in Canada. The reason for earlier celebration of Thanksgiving in Canada, compared to
United States has been attributed to the earlier onset of winter in the north, therefore the
harvest season ends earlier.
The holiday has been an annual tradition in the United States since it was proclaimed by
presidential act since 1863 and by state legislation, considering the tradition of the Founding
Fathers of the United States.
84

BRITISH HOLIDAYS
When we talk about British Holidays, we generally refer to England, Scotland and Irish traditional
and religious holidays. According to their origins there are various types of holidays such as:
bank holidays, public holidays, traditional holidays and national events scattered across its
calendar. Some date back hundreds of years, while others are more recent. Some are fun and
festive, encouraging the locals to dress up and join in the festivities, while yet others are more
somber.
Saint Patrick's Day or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, "the Day of the Festival
of Patrick") is a cultural at the same time religious holiday celebrated on 17 March. Saint Patrick
(385–461), is the most commonly recognised as the patron saints of Ireland. It is a public holiday
in The Republic of Ireland, Northen Ireland, Irish Diaspora around the world.
Saint Patrick's Day was made an official holiday in the early seventeenth century and is observed
by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), The day
commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. Celebrations generally
involve public parades and festivals, céilithe, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a traditional holiday on the day following Christmas, when servants
and tradesmen would receive gifts from their bosses or employers, known as a "Christmas box".
The European tradition, which has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were
needy and in service positions, has been dated to the Middle Ages, but its exact origin is
unknown. It is believed to be in reference to the Alms Box placed in places of worship in order to
collect donations to the poor. Today, Boxing Day is better known as a bank or public holiday that
occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on
national or regional laws in many Commonwealth countries.
In South Africa, Boxing Day was renamed to Day of Goodwill in 1994. In Ireland, the day is known
as St. Stephen's Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Stiofáin) or the Day of the Wren (Irish: Lá an Dreoilín).In
Canada, Boxing Day takes place on 26 December and is a federal public holiday.

85

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Nr. Question Yes No Personal answer

GENERAL ENGLISH USAGE

MINIMAL GRAMMAR SUPPORT

1 __________ and 2 __________, my mother and father, (I call them mum and dad, by the way),

Male relatives Female relatives Both

At 8.00 he lives his house and go to the office, his day’s work begin. He stays there for almost

well‐built fat slim

overweight young kind

elderly small of medium height

middle‐aged generous skinny

chubby strong attractive

muscular thin gorgeous

handsome beautiful plain

Geography Climate People Business activity Landmarks

north windy friendly shipping Westminster

 car, train, book, hat, dress, house

they happy? YES, We are NO We aren’t

ARE you here? A They are They aren’t

we From Scotland? I am I am not

James and Joe Spanish? N YES They are They aren’t

IS he From Russia? S YES he is He isn’t

it A toothbush? W It is It isn’t

I Here? R Yes You are NO You aren’t

1.1. The present simple affirmative

Do I do you do he, she, it does we do you do they do

I don't you don't he, she, it we you don't they don't

Cup friend dictionary

‐s ‐es ‐ies

cups classes stories

Uniforms, self‐help books romance sports clothes

be have go write read

Sightseeing Travelling Reading Eating Shopping

season, platform, ticket collector, mechanic, railway station, return, seeping

Christmas 25 dec. global Pork, Red and Mistletoe , Christ birth

Finland you compliment the host/hostess on the artistic

Fruit ‐ peach, plumb, grapefruit, grape, nectarine, raspberry, pineapple, kiwi‐fruit,

taste colour texture smell temperature presentation

Its origins are related the Celtic festival of Beltane and German Walpurgis Night. May Day falls

S-ar putea să vă placă și

1 and 2 , my mother and father, (I call them mum and dad, by the way),