LESSON 5

The Present Continuous Tense. Степени сравнения прилагательных.

Text 1

Read the text. Mind the use of the Present Continuous Tense.

It is eight o’clock. The children go to school on foot every day, but today they are going to school by car.

It is ten o’clock. Mrs Smith usually stays at home in the morning, but this morning she is going to the shops.

It is four o’clock. In the afternoon Mrs Smith usually drinks tea in the living-room. But this afternoon she is drinking tea in the garden.

It is six o’clock. In the evening the children usually do their homework, but this evening they are not doing their homework. At the moment they are playing in the garden.

It is nine o’clock. Mr Smith usually reads his newspaper at night. But he is not reading his newspaper tonight. At the moment he’s reading an interesting book.

Text 2

Read the text and make up all possible types of questions a) general b) alternative c) disjunctive d) special e) questions to the subject.

The Brights at Home

Let’s have a look at the Brights at home. They are in the sitting room now. There stands a round table in the middle of the room. Mr. Bright is sitting at the table. He is writing a business letter to a firm abroad. On his right Mrs. Bright is sitting in an armchair. She is knitting a warm scarf. On his left on the sofa Irene and William are playing chess. The dog Recks is lying on the carpet. The cat Thomas is playing with his tail. All of them are listening to the music. Mary is watching TV. The Brights are keeping some hamsters and two parrots in cages. These animals are sleeping now.

Text 3

Read the text. Who is the young man waiting for?

A bunch of Red Roses

It is autumn. It is October. The weather is bad. It is raining. I am standing at a bus-stop and waiting. I am not waiting for a bus. People are looking at me. What am I waiting for? Who am I waiting for? I have a bunch of red roses in my hand. Red roses are symbols of love. I am cold. My hands are cold. I’m waiting, but she isn’t coming. Perhaps she doesn’t like me and she doesn’t want to come.

НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	45
МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

Text 4

Professor Smirnov

Professor Smirnov has no time this month. He is working very hard. He is doing some research work. He is reading very old books in the library and making notes. He is preparing a paper for the conference. The paper is nearly ready. Its name is The History of the Zulu People (зулусский народ).

ORAL PRACTICE

Read the dialogue and learn it by heart.

-Is that you, Peter?

-Yes, who is (it) speaking?

-Hello, it’s me, Tom.

-Oh, good. How are things?

-Fine, thanks. Are you coming to my little party tonight?

-It’s a pity but I am very busy. I’m reading for my examination. And I’m not feeling well.

-I’m sorry to hear you’re unwell. Goodbye!

-Goodbye, Tom!

GRAMMAR EXERCISES Exercise 1. Translate the sentences into English.

1. Что вы сейчас делаете? – Читаю. 2. Кто стоит у доски? – Преподаватель. 3. Студенты сидят за столами и пишут контрол˝ьную работу. 4. По вечерам я обычно читаю, но сегодня я смотрю телевизор. 5.˝ Кто сейчас отвечает на вопрос? – Я. 6. Вы идете в институт? – Нет. Ку˝да вы идете? – Я иду в библиотеку.

Exercise 2. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Continuous Tense.

1.She (not work), she (swim) in the river. 2. He (teach) his son to ride.

3.Why Ann (not wear) her new dress? 4. The aeroplane (fly) at 2,000 metres. 5. What Tom (do) now? – He (clean) his shoes. 6. This fire (go) out. Somebody (bring) more coal? 7. It (rain)? – Yes, it (rain) very hard. You can’t go out yet. 8. You (not tell) the truth. – How do you know that I (not tell) the truth? 9. Who (move) the furniture about upstairs? – It’s Tom. He (paint) the front room. 10. Mrs. Jones (sweep) the steps outside her house. II. What you (read) now? – I (read) “Crime and Punishment”. 12. It’s a lovely day. The sun (shine) and the birds (sing). 13. Someone (knock) at the door. You (not go) to answer it? – I (go) in a minute. I just (get) out of my bath. 14. My mother doesn’t usually make cakes on Mondays, but she (make) one today as my aunt (come) to tea tomorrow. 15. Where is Tom? – He (lie)

НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	46
МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

under the car. 16. Can I borrow your pen or you (use) it at the moment? 17. Why you (type) so fast? You (make) a lot of mistakes. 18. You can’t see Ann because she (rest). She always rests after lunch. 19. What (make) that terrible noise? – It’s the pneumatic drill. They (repair) the road. 20. The children are very quiet. Go and see what they (do). 21. I can’t hear what you (say), the traffic (make) too much noise.

Exercise 3. Insert articles if necessary.

1.This … story is about … young girl. 2. John bought … pair of trousers.

3.Ivan is … musician. 4. What … nice day! 5. What … bad mood! 6. He always gives me … interesting books. 7. It’s … nice weather. 8. I’m studying … English language. 9. I don’t have … pen. Take … pen from … box and give it to me.10. When did Nick go into … bathroom? 11. Sveta is sitting at … table and writing … letter. 12. He has never been to … South. 13. She is sleeping. She has … flu. 14. … weather is bad today. There are so many … clouds in … sky and it’s going to rain. 15. … cat is sitting under … sofa. 16. My son has … good computer. 17. It costs … hundred roubles. 18. It takes me half … hour to get to the station. 19. I was at … bedroom reading … book.

20.During …’ 70s he was a professor at … Moscow State University. 21. …only city he likes in … USA is … New York. 22. She has … good memory.

23.How’s … wife?

Exercise 4. Mix and match.

Divide the apples … … between two of us

Remember, it’s just …	… among the children on the playground
She couldn’t find the picture …		… between two mountains

It was difficult to find Pete … … among the presents There was a pretty doll… … between the parents

There were no quarrels … … to sit between his mother and father The boy was proud …… among us

There is no tractor … … between two beds

There is a valley … … among the pages of the book There is a small table … … among all the children

Exercise 5. Form the comparative and the superlative degrees of the adjectives in the following sentences. Use the definite article before the superlative degree of the adjectives.

Hot, long, short, clever, silly, great, red, black, white, thin, thick, fat, nice, warm, cold, merry, small, tall, high, weak, strong, heavy, light, green, dry, clean, dirty, wide, deep, brave.

НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	47
МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

Exercise 6. Translate the words into English.

Старый, старше, самый старый, самый старший, мой старший бра˝т, мой старый друг, дальше, самый дальний, самый длинный, короч˝е, счастливый, счастливее, самый счастливый, самый лучший, самый черный, длиннее, хуже, лучше, теплее, ее лучший друг, ее младший сын, е˝го старший сын.

Exercise 7. Translate these sentences into English.

1. Этот дом выше того. 2. Сегодня вода в реке холоднее, чем вчер˝а. 3. Папа умнее тебя. 4. Китай больше Индии. 5. Его бабушка моложе д˝едушки. 6. Груши вкуснее яблок. 7. Наша кошка меньше нашей собаки. 8. Мой˝ брат моложе меня. 9. В прошлом году февраль был холоднее янв˝аря. 10. Днепр короче Волги. 11. Эрмитаж богаче Русского музея.

Exercise 8. Put in the right form of the adjective.

1. Which is (large): the United States or Canada? 2. What is the name of the (big) port in the United States? 3. Moscow is the (large) city in Russia. 4. London underground is the (old) in he world. 5. There is a (great) number of cars and buses in the streets of Moscow than in any other city of Russia. 6. St. Petersburg is one of the (beautiful) cities in the world. 7. The rivers in America are much (big) than in England. 8. The British Isles are (small) than Greenland. 9. What is the name of the (high) mountain in Asia? 10. The English Channel is (wide) than the Straits of Gibraltar. 11. Russia is a very (large) country.

Exercise 9. Fill in the blanks with “as … as” or “so … as”.

1. Mike is … tall … Pete. 2. Kate is not … nice … Ann. 3. My room is … light … this one. 4. This book is not … thin … that one. 5. Sergei is … old … Michael. 6. She is … young … Tom’s brother. 7. This woman is … good … that one. 8. Nick’s English is not … good … his friend’s. 9. I am not … tall … Pete. 10. This woman is … young … that one. 12. I am … thin … you. 13. Kate is … lazy … her brother. 14. This child s not … small … that one.

Exercise 10. Translate these sentences into Russian.

1. What is your height? You are taller than me. 2. She felt as strong as her brother. 3. We started earlier than you. 4. He was more careful than I. 5. This student is the most attentive in our group. 6. I need a warmer coat. 7. He is as tired as you. 8. He was one of the most experienced workers at the factory. 9. Better late than never. 10. She was not so attractive as her mother. 11. His work is not so difficult as mine. 12. He was the eldest in the family. 13. It is easier to swim in the sea than in the river. 14. This is the smallest room in our flat.

НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	48
МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

Exercise 11. Fill in the blanks with “as … as”, “so … as” or “than”.

1. Our house is not … big … yours. 2. The new cinema in our district is much bigger … the old one. 3. We are … proud of our district … you are of yours. 4. The house I live in is … old … the one my sister lives in. 5. Exercise No.2 is easier … Exercise No. 3. 6. Nevsky Prospect is more beautiful … our street. 7. My composition is not … long … yours.

Exercise 12. Translate these sentences into English.

1. Здание Московского университета – самое высокое в столи˝це. 2. Наш город не такой большой, как Киев, но он такой же красивы˝й. 3. Невский проспект – одна из самых красивых улиц Санкт-Пете˝рбурга. 4. Кто самый младший ученик в нашей группе? – Петров. Но он сам˝ый высокий. 5. Грамматика английского языка трудная, но англий˝ское произношение труднее. 6. Магазины на нашей улице больше, чем˝ магазины на вашей улице. 7. Наш телевизор такой же хороший, как этот. 8. Э˝та комната светлее той. 9. Погода сегодня хуже, чем вчера. Сегод˝ня холоднее, и идет дождь. 10. Моя комната не такая большая, как комната мое˝й подруги, но она светлее и теплее. 11. Какая из этих книг самая интересн˝ая? 12. Ноябрь не такой холодный месяц, как январь. 13. Мой отец – очен˝ь занятый человек. 14. Крым – одно из самых лучших мест для отдыха. 15. Сего˝дня он чувствует себя гораздо лучше.

Exercise 13. Form the comparative and the superlative degrees of the adjectives in the following sentences. Use the definite article before the superlative degree of the adjectives.

Big, heavy, short, dirt, clean, near, bad, famous, little, much, clever, good, expensive, cheap, important.

Exercise 14. Insert prepositions “at”, “on”, or “in”.

1.I’ll meet you … ten o’clock … Monday.

2.We are taking our holiday … July.

3.I always finish work early … Fridays.

4.I don’t want anything to go wrong … our wedding day.

5.Life is hard for birds … winter.

6.I’ll see you … ten days’ time.

7.They prepared a surprise for me … my birthday.

8.Students have their vacations … summer.

9.… rainy days I stay in the house and read books.

10.… the first of September children go to school.

11.… winter the weather is often cold.

12.My friend’s birthday is … the fourth of April.

13.I will finish my work … half an hour, eight o’clock.

14.It is still warm … September; I often go to the forest.

НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	49
МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

Exercise 15. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Continuous Tense.

1. Where are the children? It’s quiet at home. – They (to lie) on the carpet and (to draw). 2. What you (to do) now? – I (to look) for my key. I can’t open the door. 3. Listen! Somebody (to sing) a lovely song. 4. Why you (to put) the coat? It’s sunny today. 5. Don’t make noise. I (to try) to work. 6. Why you (to cry)? Is something wrong? 7. Why you (not to hurry)? I (to wait) for you. 8. We (to spend) next weekend at home. 9. He (to go) to speak to his parents. 10. They (to live) in a rented house these days. 11. At the moment we (to fly) over the desert. 12. Have some hot tea. It (to get) chilly. 13. I don’t speak any foreign language, but I (to learn) English now. 14. My Dad (to work) overtime this week.

Exercise 16. Translate the sentences into English:

1. Где твой брат? – Он играет на пианино в своей комнате. 2. Беги˝ вниз (Run downstairs). Твоя сестра ждет тебя. 3. Позвоните позднее. Джейн˝ принимает ванну. 4. Бабушка в кухне. Она готовит завтрак. 5. Во˝зьми зонт. Идет сильный дождь. 6. Почему ты сидишь за моим столом? –˝ Я пишу письмо. 7. Что ты делаешь завтра вечером? 8. У меня есть би˝леты, и завтра днем мы идем в театр. 9. На что ты смотришь? – Я смотрю н˝а тот новый дом. Красивое здание. Ты видишь его? 10. Вы слушаете, Пет˝ров?

Exercise 17. Use the verbs in the following sentences in Present Continuous:

1. He (to read) newspapers. 2. I (to work) hard at my English. 3. She (to sit) at the window and (to look) at the sea. 4. I (to prepare) my homework. 5. They all (to work) at the laboratory. 6. I (to write) letters to my cousins. 7. I (to have) breakfast with my family. 8. We (not to go) to the Institute. 9. He (to do) his homework. 10. Mr. Smith (not to give) a lesson.

Exercise 18. a) Answer the question “What are you doing?” imagining that you are:

1. At an English lesson. 2. At a lecture. 3. In the corridor. 4. In the street. 5. In the garden. 6; in the Metro. 7. In the forest. 8. In the diningroom. 9. In the water. 10. In the kitchen. 11. In the bathroom.

b) Answer the same questions about your fellow-student.

ADDITIONAL READING

Charity

Charity, means to give something to a person or persons in need. There are many people who wait for help all over the world. Particularly

in poor countries where there are wars or disasters such as floods, droughts and others.

НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	50
МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

Many famous artists, singers and actors help poor people. They organize festivals, concerts or parties and the money they collect in this way is given to the poor. Also in our country there are many actions to support others in need.

People who help other people feel needed. Probably if they are in need one day somebody will help them, too.

Does Honesty Pay in Life?

There are many different opinions regarding honesty. People generally think they are honest if they do not steal and kill, but sometimes lie. Women are considered to lie more often in small, unimportant matters. For instance, at a party one woman compliments the other one’s dress although she does not like it at all. People lie when they do not want to hurt somebody’s feelings e.g. they do not tell a sick person his illness is terminal.

Lying is often connected with personal benefits e.g. in politics, business and advertising. Men often lie about important matters. What the politicians usually say and what they really think and later do, are two entirely different matters. Future congressmen promise ordinary people lower taxes, social benefits, employment etc. but when they get power and high position in government they forget about their election promises. Their intention was only to further their own career. In business, people sometimes lie to get higher profits or to pay low taxes. In private life men often lie in serious matters for example they promise marriage or to pay alimony.

Sometimes if we know a person very well, we can recognize when he is lying e.g. he covers his mouth, twitches, shrugs, touches his lips, giggles, rubs his nose and makes other characteristic nervous gestures. There are special machines called “Lie detectors” that can detect when a person is lying.

What Makes Two People Friends?

Everyone is looking for a friend. A real friend. As the common proverb says: “A friend in need, is a friend indeed”. What do we expect from real friends? First of all, support, understanding and loyalty. We want them to keep our secret, we want to trust them and rely on them in difficult situations. We are afraid sometimes to be alone and when we feel abandoned and unhappy, a kind and sincere conversation with a friend is a good cure. Having a friend helps us realize our aims and believe in people’s good intentions. We are able to perceive ourselves more easily if we know that there are some people who like us and trust us, too.

To make the friendly ties even stronger we should spend much time together to have a chance to share problems, to understand each other and tolerate different behaviours. Those who have similar interests, hobbies, ideas, views etc., have a better chance to become friends. Sometimes an energetic and quick person finds a close relationship with a shy and slow one, thus creating a kind of balance. Sometimes a man does not believe in friendship at all, treating all the people he knows in a very off hand way. Every man has a different attitude towards friendship, but everyone is lucky and happy if he finds it.

НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	51
МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА