4. A New House

I had a letter from my sister yesterday. She lives in Nigeria. In her letter, she said that she would come to England next year. If she comes, she will get a surprise. We are now living in a beautiful new house in the country. Work on it had begun before my sister left. The house was completed five months ago. In my letter, I told her that she could stay with us. The house has many large rooms and there is a lovely garden. It is a very modern house, so it looks strange to some people. It must be the only modern house in this district.

Key Structures:

If she comes, she will get a surprise.

When she comes, she will get a surprise.

Before she comes she will send us a telegram.

Work on the house had begun before she left.

I said to my friends I had received a letter from my sister.

Comprehension questions:

1. What did the girl from Nigeria say in her letter?

2. What will happen when she comes?

3. When did work on the house begin?

4. When was the house completed?

5. Is there a lovely garden or a nice lawn near the house?

5. Not For Jazz

We have an old musical instrument. It is called a clavichord. It was made in Germany in 1681. Our clavichord is kept in the living room. It has belonged to our family for a long time. The instrument was bought by my grandfather many years ago. Recently it was damaged by a visitor. She tried to play jazz on it! She struck the keys too hard and two of the strings were broken. My father was shocked. Now we are not allowed to touch it. It is being repaired by a friend of my father.

Key Structures:

It is called a clavichord.

It was made in 1691.

It has belonged to our family for a long time.

He was shocked.

Recently it has been damaged by a visitor.

It is being repaired now.

Comprehension questions:

1. What is their old musical instrument called?

2. Where and when was it made?

3. Where is it kept?

4. When was it bought?

5. What has happened to it recently?

6. Why was their father shocked?

7. How many strings were broken?

8. Are the strings being replaced now?

9. What aren’t they allowed to do?

10. What is being done to the clavichord?

6. Quick Work

Ted Robinson has been worried all the week. Last Tuesday he received a letter from the local police. In the letter he was asked to call at the station. Ted wondered why he was wanted by the police, but he went to the station yesterday and now he is not worried any more. At the station, he was told by a smiling policeman that his bicycle had been found. Five days ago, the policeman told him, the bicycle was picked up in a small village four hundred miles away. It is now being sent to him by train. Ted was most surprised when he heard the news. He was amused too because he had never expected the bicycle to be found. It was stolen twenty years ago when Ted was a boy of fifteen.

Key Structures:

He was asked to call at the station.

He was told by a policeman that his bicycle had been found.

Change the form of the phrases in italics using the Passive Voice:

1. Something has worried Ted all the week.

2. In the letter they asked him to call at the station.

3. Ted wondered why the police wanted him.

4. At the station a smiling policeman told him that they had found his bicycle.

5. They picked up the bicycle in a small village.

6. They are sending it to his home by train.

7. This amused him because he never expected them to find the bicycle.

8. Someone stole it twenty years ago.

Comprehension questions:

1. Who has been worried all the week?

2. What was Ted asked to do?

3. What did Ted wonder?

4. What was Ted told at the station?

5. Where was Ted's bicycle picked up?

6. Where is the bicycle being sent?

7. What did Ted feel when he heard the news?

8. Why was Ted amused?

9. How long ago was the bicycle stolen?

10. For how long has Tom been without his bicycle?