Comprehension Practice

Exercise 1. Comment on the statements based on the conversation. Decide whether the statements are true, partly true, or false. Explain your decision.

1. Mr. Stock booked a room with the hotel well in advance.

2. He booked a double room with bath.

3. The receptionist could not offer him any accommodation.

4. Mr. Stock wanted to change the room because it faced the street and was too noisy.

5. Mr. Stock had informed the hotel about the change well in advance.

6. The hotel receptionist was not very pleased with the sudden change of booking.

7. The hotel was full because it was very popular with tourists.

8. Mr. Stock wanted a quiet room in the back of the hotel.

9. Single rooms were not available at the hotel at the moment.

10. There were quite a few vacant double rooms at the hotel.

11. A double room was provided with a bath, a TV set and a radio, but had no shower or telephone.

12. Meals at the hotel restaurant were included into the bill.

13. Mr. Stock took a double room overlooking the courtyard.

14. Mr. Stock was going to stay at the hotel for a fortnight.

15. Mr. Stock checked in at the hotel that very night.

16. The receptionist asked Mr. Stock just to sign the register.

17. Mr. Stock paid his hotel bill during checking in.

18. Mr. Stock had dinner at the hotel restaurant.

19. Mr. Stock’s room was located on the ground floor.

20. The receptionist was always ready to help Mr. Stock.

Exercise 2.Answer the following questions about conversation.

1. What kind of reservation did Mr. Stock make with the hotel?

2. Why did the receptionist ask him to wait for a moment?

3. Why did Mr. Stock want to change the accommodation?

4. Why did the receptionist sound so uncertain about the possible change?

5. What kind of room did Mr. Stock want to have?

6. What rooms were available at the moment?

7. What kind of rooms were the doubles?

8. How much did the hotel charge for a double room?

9. Where could Mr. Stock have his meals?

10. What room did Mr. Stock take after all?

11. How long was Mr. Stock going to stay at the hotel?

12. When did he want to check in?

13. What was the procedure of checking in?

14. Why did the receptionist request Mr. Stock to warn the hotel about his departure?

15. Where was Mr. Stock going to have dinner?

16. How did he get to his room?

17. How could Mr. Stock settle his problems?

Exercise 3.Explain the difference between the following words and phrases.

to make a reservation/to confirm a reservation

a suite/a double room

to check in/to check out

to be available/ to be engaged

an arrival card/a hotel card

a register/a guest list

Exercise 4.Find the following words and phrases in the conversation, supply their contexts and paraphrase the sentences in which they are used.

to extend one’s stay	to be full
to book	to charge
the front of the hotel	a single room
to overlook	Room Service
a bill	to face
to fill in	a bell-man

Vocabulary Practice

Exercise 1.Fill the gaps in these sentences with words from the list.

1. Mr. Milton … his accommodation with the Savoy well in advance because he knew form experience that hotels were … during week-ends.

2. Would you mind entering your name into the …, please?

3. Make out my …, please. I’m … early tomorrow morning.

4. I don’t mind having a … without a bath if you’ve got nothing else to offer me.

5. Make sure that our room doesn’t … the street. I can’t stand any noise at night.

6. The guest must answer all the questions when he … the … .

7. All single room at the hotel were …, and we couldn’t afford a …, so we had to put up at a motel.

8. The placed my suit-case on a special rack, showed me the room, checked whether everything was in order and asked me if there was anything else he could do for me.

9. Our names were not on the … because had not our reservation.

10. It might be useful for travelling businessmen and tourists to know that shoe repair shops, laundry and dry cleaning services are … for guests 24 hours a day.

arrival card	overlook	full
checking out	register	suite
confirmed	booked	bill
engaged	fills in	bell-man
guest list	available	single room

Exercise 2.Give a brief summary of the conversation “Booking a Room at a Hotel”.

Exercise 3.Act out the conversation “Booking a Room at a Hotel”.

Exercise 4.Choose appropriate utterances out of sets of choices for your short dialogues in accordance with imaginary situations.

A: – I wonder whether you have any vacancies for tonight.

• Have you a single room for two nights?

• Can I book a double room from now until Friday?

• have you got a twin-bedded room for one night?

B: – Yes, I can offer you Room 24 on the first floor.

• Yes, but only on the top floor.

• You can have Room 33, overlooking the sea.

• I can let you have a room at the back.

A: - How much is it?

• What price is it?

• What’s the price?

• How much do you charge for it?

B: - £2.90 a night excluding service.

• £4.50 with service and TV.

• £4.20 not counting the service.

• With a private bath, £5.25, service included.

A: - Can I see it, please?

• Fair enough. Can you show me the room, please?

• Can I have a look at it, please?

• Can you show me something a little cheaper?

B: - Certainly. Would you take a seat for a moment?

• Of course. Would you like to follow me?

• Yes, of course. Come this way.

• Yes, of course. I won’t keep you a moment.

Exercise 5.Supply the missing remarks.

Characters: Receptionist (R)

Mr Campbell (C)

C: Good morning! I’d like to have a single room with bath.

R: …

C: Yes, I have. My name is Campbell. I sent you a telegram to reserve a room.

R: …

C: Is it a front room facing the street?

R: …

C: I’d rather have a back room overlooking the park. You see, I can’t stand the noise.

R: …

C: Well, if that’s the only room you can offer, I’ll take it. What do you charge a night for this room?

R: …

C: Why, that’s a lot! I’m sure my boss is not going to like it. When must I pay the bill?

R: …

C: I expect to stay at least a week, most probably until the twenty-fifth.

R: …

C: I’ll be sure to let you know.

Exercise 6.Keep these conversations going:

1. – Good morning! Have you two rooms reserved for Brown, please? Two adjoining rooms with baths.

• Brown, did you say, sir? I’m afraid we have no room reserved for Mr Brown here.

• …

2. – I booked a suite with a view of the lake a week ago. John Green is the name.

• I’m sorry, Mr Green, but your reservation came at very short notice. We’re practically full up. The only thing we can offer you is a single room with shower and no view on the top floor.

• …

3. – Excuse me, could I extend my stay here, please. You see, I need at least two more days to finish my work.

• Well, let me see … Oh, I’m sorry, but we can’t let you stay in your present room. It has been booked for another guest already.

• …

Exercise 7.Read these flashes of conversation and act them out.

1. Chambermaid: Did you ring, sir?

Guest: Yes. I have some laundry here. Will you please take it?

Chambermaid: Certainly, sir.

Guest: When can I have it back?

Chambermaid: How many things do you have?

Guest: There are two shirts, four collars, three pairs of socks, and some handkerchiefs. I think that’s all that’s urgent.

Chambermaid: Then we can manage it by tomorrow morning.

Guest: Thank you. I’d like to have it before Wednesday.

Chambermaid: Very well, sir.

Guest: And one thing more. I’d like to have my suit brushed and pressed.

Chambermaid: Certainly, sir. Could you let me have it straight away?

Guest: Yes. Here you are. When will it be ready?

Chambermaid: In an hour’s time.

Guest: Fine.

2. Clerk: Ah, good morning, Mr Scott. What can I do for you?

Scott: Good morning. I’ve got a suit I’d like to have cleaned by tomorrow. Could you see to that?

Clerk: Yes, the hotel has a laundry and cleaning service. There’s a laundry and cleaning slip in the room for you to fill out. Just leave the suit in your closet with the laundry slip where the maid can see it. Or you can give it to her if you see her. Your suit should be back to you in the morning.

Scott: Wonderful! Thank you.

3.Clerk: Yes, may I help you?

Man: Yes, my name’s Lund, room 1522. I’d like to have a meeting room scheduled for me this afternoon at 2:00. Can you take care of that?

Clerk: Yes, sir, I’m the one to see. How many people will there be?

Man: Let’s see … there’ll be six of us.

Clerk: Okay, Mr Lund, Room B, down the hall behind you, second room on the right.

Man: Thank you.

Exercise 8.You need several things to have done for you. You press the button marked “Chambermaid”. Make up a short dialogue with the chambermaid using the following phrases:

Did you ring, sir? What can I do for you? Yes, may I be of any help?	Could I have my suit pressed? I have some laundry here. Where can I have it done? I’m afraid there are no towels in the bathroom. I’m afraid there’s something wrong with the bath. It doesn’t hold water. Could you bring another blanket for me, please? The TV set in the room doesn’t work. I want this book to be sent by post.
Certainly, sir. I can take it over to the post-office. Don’t worry. I’ll send the repairman at once. Our hotel runs an overnight laundry service. I’ll fetch them in a jiffy. There’s a two-hour pressing service here.
	When can I have it back? How soon can I have it done? When can you put it right?
It’ll be ready by the evening. I think we can manage by tomorrow morning. You’re sure to have it back in an hour. We’ll do it right now. Anything else, sir?
	I’d like my breakfast served in the room. Will you see to it that I’m not disturbed in the morning until I ring. I want you to call me at 7 tomorrow morning. I want you to call a taxi for me for 5 o’clock.
Certainly, sir. Very good, sir. O.K. Don’t worry.
	That’s great. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you very much indeed.

Exercise 9. Translate into English.

I.

• Здравствуйте. Чем я могу быть вам полезен?

• Мне нужна комната на одного с ванной, на двое суток.

• А вы заказывали комнату?

• Да, я сделал заказ по телефону два дня тому назад. Моя фамилия Фрок.

• Одну минуточку, господин Фрок, я посмотрю в списке гостей. Да, все правильно, мы оставили вам комнату на четвертом этаже с ванной и телевизором.

• Благодарю вас. Мне можно сейчас зарегистрироваться?

• Да, конечно. Пожалуйста, заполните карточку прибытия.

II.

• Добрый вечер. Я заказывал двухместный номер на имя Блейк.

• Как вы сказали, Блейк? Сейчас посмотрю … Да, для мистера Блейка забронирован номер. Я могу предложить вам номер на втором или на восьмом этаже. Какой хотите?

• Даже не знаю. А куда выходят окна?

• На площадь. Советую взять номер наверху. Окна выходят на Кремль. Прекрасный вид.

• Вы меня уговорили.

• Думаю, что комната вам понравится. На сколько дней вы у нас остановитесь?

• Дней на десять.

• Прошу вас заполнить этот бланк.

• Так … Фамилия, имя, откуда приехал, на какой срок, адрес … кажется все.

• Извините, но вы забыли расписаться. Напишите вашу фамилию вот здесь, внизу. Теперь все в порядке. Вот ключи от номера. Когда будете уезжать, предупредите, пожалуйста, администратора. Лифт по коридору налево. Если вам что-нибудь понадобится, обратитесь к горничной.

III.

• Вы звонили?

• Да. Мне нужно постирать белье.

• Пожалуйста. Много у вас белья?

• Здесь две рубашки и свитер.

• Хорошо. Завтра утром все будет готово.

• И еще одно. Мне бы нужно почистить и отутюжить костюм.

• Пожалуйста. Вы позволите мне взять его сейчас?

• Да. Вот, пожалуйста. Когда он будет готов?

• Через час.

Exercise 10. Disagree with the following statements. Correct them.

1. There’s a rule at hotels requiring that guests should pay in advance. 2. It is advisable to book accommodation at a hotel on the day of one’s arrival. 3. If one travels with a large family, one usually takes a single room. 4. The rates for those who stay at a hotel longer are higher than for those who stop for a night or two. 5. One goes to the reception desk to buy cigarettes. 6. If the gust wants his breakfast in his room, the desk-clerk or manager will bring it to him. 7. Suites are usually the cheapest rooms in hotels. 8. The clerk who is in charge of rooms helps the guests with their luggage. 9. Guests of hotels cannot receive letters or postcards. 10. Telex and fax machines are found in every room of a hotel. 11. Guests are recommended to leave the hotel without notifying the management. 12. Nobody expects guests at hotels to tip the servants. 13. There are sport facilities at all hotels. 14. It is much more expensive to stay at a motel. 15. All the guests must be back in the hotel before midnight.

Exercise 11. Say what you would do if

• the chambermaid refused to have the laundry done for you

• the page told you that your tip was inadequate

• you happened to have very noisy neighbours

• you discovered that your things had been tempered with during your absence

• the person you share the room with was snoring awfully at night

• the receptionist woke you up at 4 a.m. instead of 7 a.m.

• the water stopped running when you were having a bath

• a stranger entered your room by mistake in the middle of the night

• your shirt was returned to you from the laundry faded and shrunk