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In the 1930's a large number of semis were built. They share a central wall. Typically, a semi has a small garden in front of it and a fence divides a larger garden at the back. Semis are still built where land is expensive.

A detached house has land round it. More and more modern homes are detached, although in areas where building land is expensive, the houses may be very close to each other.

Country cottages are often old stone buildings, which were part of a farm. Some country cottages are very old and they may have a thatched roof. Today many people who work in the cities buy cottages so that they have a place to go for the weekend.

A bungalow is a house where all the rooms are on the ground floor. As there are no stairs, many older people dream of going to live in a bungalow when they retire.

A block of flats. In the 1950s and the 1960s local councils cleared a lot of slums in the inner city areas and knocked down terraced houses in very poor areas. Block of flats or tower blocks can vary from 3-5 storeys high up to 10-20 storeys. But people don't like to live in them because there are many social problems.

The country mansion. Very few of the British live in country mansions. Today many mansions are used as restaurants, hotels, old people's homes, etc.

Many British people are lucky enough to live in their own homes, and the great majority of these have a small garden. However, housing is a problem in many cities. Many young people have to live in, or share, small one-room flats called bedsitters, and the homeless are still a problem.

Where Americans Live

In the Unites States, many people once lived in large two-and-three-story homes. Today many people would like to live in such dwellings, but most people can't. They don't have enough money to buy them or even to make the first downpayment. So, many people rent from month to month.

But some Americans really want to live in a house of their own, so they build their own home or they buy a house that is situated in a vicinity where homes are cheaper. It is better to reside in a bad part of town, they think, than not to live in a house at all. Or they buy an old house and remove it. Then they decorate it with antique furnishings. Sometimes, they can make an old house look more beautiful than a new one. Usually, it is not difficult for people to find an old home to buy. Many older people decide that they don't need a spacious

home after their children leave, so they sell their house and move to a cosy apartment.

But when people move into a house, they sometimes have problems. Homeowners have to do their own maintenance. For example, if there is a problem with the plumbing, one can't ask the landlord or landlady to fix it. On the other hand, people can remodel their homes in any way they want without having to be afraid of being evicted by the owner. Overall, most Americans would probably prefer to live in a house rather than in an apartment.

Ex. 3. Match the words and word combinations in A to their definitions in B. Make full sentences.

Model: A detached house is a kind of house which is not joined to any other house.

Ex. 4. Where in a typical house would you look for the following things?

Ex. 5. Place in the order of priority three most essential items you cannot live without. Explain why.

Ex. 6. Test your word power completing the following sentences.

9.When you own a house you have to pay a local tax on property called ...

10.These taxes are used on ...

Ex. 7. Play a guessing game. What article of furniture is being described?

Model: It's very convenient. It has a lot of drawers on the right and on the left. It doesn't take much room. I usually do my homework sitting at it

(a writing-table).

Ex. 8. Think of some words which may go with the following adjectives.

Build-in, gaily-coloured, two-storied, thatched/tiled, lovely, two-roomed, papered, painted, convenient/inconvenient, comfortable/uncomfortable, cosy/uncosy, well-planned, well-furnished, reasonable/unreasonable, tidy/untidy, favourable/unfavourable.

Ex. 9. Translate the sentences into Russian paying attention to the use of the words convenient, comfortable, cosy,

Will it be convenient for you to start work tomorrow? This is a convenient tool for the job. Will the 4.30 train be convenient for you? We must arrange a convenient time and place for the meeting. My brother has a very comfortable car. Are you comfortable? I never feel comfortable with him. Make yourself comfortable. Your little room is very cosy. The flat is comfortable and cosy. The whole atmosphere was cosy. They are having a cosy chat.

Ex. 10. Insert the necessary prepositions.

a)A friend of mine got a very comfortable flat ... last month. It is ... the second floor ... a new block .... flats. I got a letter ... my friend ... several pictures

... her flat. ... one of the pictures you can see her family sitting ... the table ... the living-room. Ann is sitting ... her husband and two sons. They are watching TV. It is ... the corner ... the window. There is piano ... the left... the table and a small table ... a telephone ... it ... the right. Ann is going to speak ... me ... the telephone tonight. You can see a lovely carpet ... the middle ... the room and some pictures ... the wall ... the piano. My friend's sons learn to play ... the piano. Besides they are fond ... reading books and have plenty ... them ... the bookcase and ... the shelves.

b)I have got a room ... my own. I have rent it ... my acquaintances. I share the room ... a friend ... mine. We pay ... the room $30 a month. It's hard to find a lodging ... a lower price. I'm pleased ... my flat. It is close ... the center and the bus stop is handy. As a rule we pay our landlady ... advance. We also have to pay a deposit ... the front-door key and to keep ... particular house-rules. I dream

... the times when I'll have a flat ... my own.

Ex. 11. Talk about your flat making various substitutions.

-What kind of flat have you got?

-It's actually a two-room flat with all modern conveniences in a new block of flats.

-Do you live together with your parents or in a flat of your own / private house / hostel / hall of residence / the digs, etc.?

-I rent / take a room from my mother's acquaintances in a three-room flat.

-What kind of room have you got there?

-Actually, it's a separate room with all modern conveniences / well-planned / spacious / good-sized / four metres by four, etc.

-How / what does your room / window / house face / overlook / look on?

-Well, it faces the Gorky park / south. We have a lovely / wonderful view from the window.

-Do you have a single room in the hall of residence?

-No, I've to share it/the room together with my friend/fellow-student/ groupmate.

-Do you have to pay a high rent for your room?

-Yes, the rent is very high / awful, but it can't be helped.

-No, the rent is quite reasonable / fairly cheap.

-Do you find it convenient to live in this flat?

-Not at all. It's on the sixth floor / level and the lift / elevator / escalator is often out of order. Apart from that the house is located in a very busy street and there is a great deal of noise from outside. There's a children's playground just opposite my window. I'd like to find something better and not so far from the University.

-How do you find my new suite of furniture?

-Oh, it's absolutely lovely / modern-looking / comfortable.

Ex. 12. Develop the following situations making use of the words and phrases in brackets.

1.You've got a comfortable well-planned flat (a spacious kitchen, modern conveniences, a lift, a chute to carry rubbish down, a toilet / loo, a bathroom, tiled walls, papered walls, the floor is parquet ['pa:kei, 'pa:kit]).

2.Your living-room is the cosiest room in the flat (to look attractive, to receive guests, to make the room cosy, a good-sized room, a well-furnished room, a new suite of furniture, a fluffy carpet on the floor).

3.The kitchen is small but cosy and warm (build-in cupboards, to face southwest, a lot of sunshine, a lovely view from the window, an electric cooker, convenient, gaily-coloured curtains, to be covered with linoleum, a kitchen suite).

Ex. 13. Describe your room / house, etc. to the partner who would make a sketch of what you are describing. Encourage / stimulate him by asking questions to mention as many details as possible.

Ex. 14. Imagine that you can design your ideal house. Draw a plan and label the parts. Tell the others in the group what furniture and equipment you'd like to have in each room. What about the garden?