1. She always says that we _____ go and see her more often. would should ought need
2. He took a shower and _____ went to bed. after then thereby than
3. Living here at the top of the mountain must be very _____. sole only alone lonely
4. Please ask _____ come and see me. to Bill to Bill to to Bill Bill
5. _____ is often made of wood. Furniture Furnitures Items of furniture A piece of furnitures
6. I'll have to buy _____ trousers. one a a couple a pair of
7. I _____ in the garden when I suddenly felt a pain. have worked was working had been working worked
8. Which sentence is correct? I waited for at the airport long eight hours. I waited for at the airport eight long hours. At the airport for eight long hours I waited. I waited at the airport for eight long hours.
9. She said she wouldn't refuse him if he _____ her out again. would ask asked has asked would have asked
10. _____ did you say ____ called? What // you were How // you were What // how were you What // what were you
11. One of our lawyers _____ the case. has studying has been studying had studying was studied
12. If you had left me a note, I _____ where you were. would be known would have known had known had been known
13. The tailor made him a new _____. dress clothes suit wear
14. Don't you remember that we _____ to the cinema tonight? will be gone would go are going go
15. It was past midnight, so there were _____ people in the street. a few few any less
16. When _____ give us your final decision? you going to are you going out to will you
17. Ask him how much _____. it costed it cost did it cost cost it
18. It was Friday afternoon and the shops were full _____ customers. in of with by
19. The driver _____ to read a newspaper while he ____ for the lights to change. had started // waited has started // has been waiting was starting // has waited OK started // was waiting
20. This young man can get along not only with girls, but also with _____ parents. theirs their their's they're
How to be British
Beds
Like the food and the weather, the sleep you get (or don't get) is an important part of your experience of another country.
For an essential British sleep you should prepare yourself properly. Before bedtime slip a hotwater bottle into the hollow in the middle of the bed (this bottle should have a knitted woollen 'cosy' around it for extra comfort). Make yourself a hot cup of cocoa, or malted bedtime drink (please note: a True Brit does not drink herbal tea!) Dress correctly in striped winceyette pajamas or a brushed nylon nightie (ankle length). Check that you have a bedside table with a lamp, and a suitable English book, such as the Shorter English Dictionary in two volumes or the Works of William Shakespeare.
Make sure the cat is comfortable at the foot of the bed. Pull back the sheets of your four poster/ king size /double/ single/sofa or camp bed (under no circumstances accept a futon) and with a deep sigh of relief, collapse into bed.
Expressions to learn
Night, night, sleep tight.
Sweet dreams.
Avoid saying
My legs stick out of the end of the bed!
I couldn't sleep a wink last night!
The Bathroom
Other countries marvel at our advanced sanitary arrangements. Where other nationalities have to manage with a single mixer tap over the sink or washbasin, we British have two - one for washing and the other for drinking from. Keeping them separate is both sensible and hygienic. And for those who wish to mix the two to a temperature of their own liking, we invented the plug, which fits securely into the basin, conveniently attached to a chain.
Shower attachments can be found in many British bathrooms nowadays, but this is only done out of consideration for the foreign visitor. Showering is not a British activity. The true Brit takes a weekly bath. This should be a slow, leisurely and solitary activity involving lots of steam, melting bars of soap, toy boats, plastic ducks and broad philosophical reflections. To increase the feeling of cosiness, British bathrooms have carpets and curtains, pictures and plants, in contrast to the cold tiles to be found in most foreign bathrooms.
Expressions to learn
I'm just going to spend a penny.
How long are you going to be in there? I'm desperate!
Avoid saying
Excuse me, the shower doesn't work.
Real English
The advantage for a language learner of lodging with a real British host family is that he or she will effortlessly acquire what is sometimes called real English, a colourful repertoire of idioms, slang, colloquial expressions, and even the occasional taboo word, as used by flesh and blood native speakers. It comes as a surprise to learn that Mrs. Jones is "her indoors", Mr. Jones is her "other half'” and their children are the "nippers"; that the woman next door is "a pain in the neck", her son sells "dodgy" mobile phones, while her daughter is "as nice as pie"; that Mr. Jones likes to go "down the boozer" whenever he has a chance, which is not very often as Mrs. J. "keeps tabs on him" all the time, maybe because he was a bit of a "Jack the Lad" when he was younger, though he's "knuckled down" now and they "muddle along pretty well together"; that they're a bit "hard up" at the moment, which is why the "bit of extra" from the foreign students will "come in handy"...
Expressions to learn
'E nicked it off a lorry and now the coppers 'ave done 'im for it.
Avoid saying
"That's not correct English, Mrs. Jones - it says so in my Grammar book.
Test Your English
Choose the best answer to each question.
1 How do you do?
a) I'm a lap dancer. And you?
b) How do I do what?
c) Oh, don't be so formal!
2 What can I get you?
a) A freshly-squeezed pineapple juice.
b) A Christmas pudding, please.
c) Excited.
3 Are you married?
a) Hold on, I'll ask my husband.
b) I can't remember.
c) Not in Britain.
4 Would you like to come back to my flat for English conversation practice?
a) What is your hourly rate, and does it include photocopied worksheets?
b) First let me see your diplomas.
c) All right, but just a quick one.
Meeting and Greeting
When greeting a British person it is wise to keep your distance. Don't be over-familiar, don't assume intimacies you are not prepared to pay for. Some nationalities greet one another by kissing twice or even three times and embracing noisily. Avoid this in Britain: it may be mistaken for amorous advances or for attempted robbery.
The way to greet a Briton for the first time is to offer them your hand - the ends of three fingers is quite sufficient. There should be no more than three shakes up and down. Don't hang on or start squeezing the person's upper arm and patting them on the back - this is not British. The good thing here is that you need never shake hands with that person again or indeed touch any part of them until the time comes for them to leave (providing that they are leaving forever). In that case you may shake the hand again, this time adding a few extra ups and downs to express the deep bond of friendship you have formed.
Kissing is not normally permitted except in the case of elderly ladies. These will incline their heads slightly to signal that such a greeting is expected; you should respond by leaning towards their left side and kissing the air an inch or so above the cheek. Do not actually TOUCH the cheek with your lips.
Pubs
Few experiences can compare with the thrill of a night out at the pub - with bitter beer, ready- salted crisps, pickled onions, a raffle, a quiz, several trips to the loo and an 'argy-bargy' on the pavement afterwards. Unfortunately, with the profusion of continental-style cafe-bars these days, it is becoming harder to find an authentic, traditional British pub.
Visitors are advised to look for the following signs:
Low doors and ceilings, yellowish brown in colour.
Segregation of the social classes (saloon bar and lounge).
Hand pumps on the bar for 'real ale' (at least one of these pumps should be 'off').
Pictures on the walls of 18th century gentlemen smoking clay pipes.
A middle-aged lady with dyed blonde hair and a deep voice sitting at the bar.
No children.
Enthusiastic ringing of the bell to signal 'Time'.