1 Read the text below. Translate the highlighted words and expressions in the given context.

• Dave: I read yesterday in the papers that three new state universities are opening soon.
• Brian: Apparently, the government wants to increase the number of young people going to university. What do you think about that?
• Dave: Personally, I think it’s a good idea. People should have a chance to go to university.
• Brian: Maybe, but it seems to me that we need more people with manual skills, not more academics. And why haven’t we got those people? It’s the government’s fault.
• Dave: You think that the government is to blame for everything. But isn’t it a good idea, in principle, for more young people to have a better education?
• Brian: Yes, I think education is an incredibly important issue, but the point is, what kind of education do we want young people to have?
• Dave: If you ask me, that’s a wonderful thing. The youngsters will choose what to study based on their interests.
• Brian: As far as I’m concerned, the university is not the only place where you can learn things. You can learn a lot without formal education if you know what I mean.
• Dave: I believe that having new universities is opening new possibilities for personal improvement, and other ways of education are in the second place.

PRACTICE

1 Rewrite the opinions using the words in brackets. The meaning must be the same.

• a) I think it will be difficult. (EASY) I don’t think it will be easy.
• b) I think we should do something. (SEEMS)
• c) What do you think about that? (FEEL)
• d) I think we should help them. (OPINION)
• e) It’s my fault. (BLAME)

2 Complete the sentences using the mentioned phrases.

• a) As far as I am _________________, the most important thing is to find the right university.
• b) We both agree on that, but the ____________ is, what are we going to do with the unemployed?
• c) I think that climate change is one of the most important ______________ of the 21^st century.
• d) The manager is responsible for the delivery delay, so it is his ______________.
• e) ______________, nobody wants to invest in education nowadays.

3 Give your opinion on the given issues using the mentioned phrases.

• a) There will be more wars in future.
• b) It is more expensive to live in a village than in the city.
• c) Pop music is for kids.
• d) CDs are not needed any more – you can download whatever you need.
• e) Italian food is tasteless.

4 Circle the right word or phrase.

• a) What do you think of/about my new car?
• b) It is not your blame/fault.
• c) It looks/seems to me that we need this.
• d) Apparently/Personally, they made the wrong choice.
• e) It is an important issue/opinion, but some talks are yet to be done.

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets:

1. London (1) _________ (consist) of two ancient cities which (2) _______ (be) now joined together. They ______ (be) the City of London, or ‘the City‘ and the City of Westminster. Together they all _______ (make) up a region known as Greater London.
2. London ______ (be) the biggest city in Britain and in Europe. It ________ (occupy) over 620 square miles.
3. London _______ (have) a population of 8 million people.
4. There ________ (be) over 100 theatres in London and 105 cinemas.
5. The new Wembley Stadium _______ (be) the largest football stadium in the world.
6. It _______ (take) 61 seconds to open Tower Bridge, which ________ (open) about 1,000 times a year.
7. Big Ben ______ (have) the 13-ton bell inside the clock.
8. London’s 395 public libraries _________ (stock) 17 million books.
9. The Brits _______ (lose) about 80,000 umbrellas every year on the London Underground.
10. There _____ (be) over 30,000 John Smiths in Britain.
11. The River Thames, which ________ (flow) through London, has over 200 bridges and 20 tunnels. It ________ (be) a combination of four rivers.
12. You _______ (can) hear more than 300 languages in the streets of London.
13. The English _____ (be) tea addicts: an Englishman __________ (drink) more tea than any person of any other nation (over twenty times more than Americans).

2 Put the verbs in brackets into gerund or infinitive:

1. He left the room without (close) ___________ the door.
2. I promised (call) _________ you, but I was busy (sort) __________ the letters.
3. Silvia enjoys (listen) _________ to music in her room.
4. Forgive me for (talk) _________ like this.
5. My father doesn’t let me (go) __________ to the pubs late at night.
6. It’s no use (cry) _________ over spilt milk.
7. I really like (sleep) __________ in my sister’s bed.
8. Let me be the first (tell) ____________ you the news.
9. He decided (visit) ____________ his relatives in Japan.
10. Was he interested in (study) ____________ languages?
11. All books are worth (read) ____________.
12. Please, let me (do) _________ that for you!
13. He started (drink) __________ again.
14. He said he would prefer (drive) __________ a car to (be) __________ driven.
15. She goes (swim) ___________ with her brother twice a week.
16. I would be very happy (receive) ___________any information that could help me.
17. The exercise is too difficult for me (do) _________ it.
18. You can’t help (eat) ___________ so many sweets.
19. Women enjoy (gossip) ____________.
20. (smoke) ___________ is not allowed here.
21. I wanted (ask) __________ you (come) _________ with me to the party next week.
22. My friends taught me how (write) __________ a CV.
23. You may (take) __________ my coat if you like.
24. It was nice of you (invite) __________ Tina to the meeting.
25. He is always looking forward to (meet) ___________ and (talk) ___________ to us.

KEY

1. He left the room without closing the door.
2. I promised to call you, but I was busy sorting the letters.
3. Silvia enjoys listening to music in her room.
4. Forgive me for talking like this.
5. My father doesn’t let me go to the pubs late at night.
6. It’s no use crying over spilt milk.
7. I really like sleeping in my sister’s bed.
8. Let me be the first to tell you the news.
9. He decided to visit his relatives in Japan.
10. Was he interested in studying languages?
11. All books are worth reading.
12. Please, let me do that for you!
13. He started drinking again.
14. He said he would prefer driving a car to being driven.
15. She goes swimming with her brother twice a week.
16. I would be very happy to receive any information that could help me.
17. The exercise is too difficult for me to do it.
18. You can’t help eating so many sweets.
19. Women enjoy gossiping.
20. Smoking is not allowed here.
21. I wanted to ask you to come with me to the party next week.
22. My friends taught me how to write a CV.
23. You may take my coat if you like.
24. It was nice of you to invite Tina to the meeting.
25. He is always looking forward to meeting and talking to us.

Rewrite the sentences in indirect speech using the verb given! Add prepositions where needed.

• “Milli Vanilli lip-synched all the time,” the manager said. ADMITTED

• “I will call you back” she said. OFFERED

• “You lied to me” he shouted. ACCUSED

• “You should see that play,” Peter said. RECOMMENDED

• “We are the best team in the championship,” the player said. BOASTED

• “Don’t believe him,” my mother said. WARNED

• “Let’s go swimming,” he said. SUGGESTED

• “Shall I help you?” the gentleman said. OFFERED

• “I’m sorry I’m late,” the student said. APOLOGIZED

• “You let him fall,” she said. BLAMED

• “Stop talking at once!” the teacher said. ORDERED

• “Your essay is not good enough.” she said. COMPLAINED/ABOUT

• “You should try harder” my teacher advised. SUGGESTED

• “You mustn’t talk during the exam!” the examiner said. FORBADE

• “Please, don’t play the drums while your sister is sleeping.” my mother said. ASKED

• “It’s a very delicate case.” the detective said. EXPLAINED

• “Please, please, don’t kill me.” the hostage said. BEGGED

• “Stop the car or I’ll start screaming.” she said. THREATENED

• “I didn’t sell you car.” George said. DENIED

• “You never listen to me.” Susan said. COMPLAINED

• “I’ll be more careful next time.” Simon said. PROMISED

• “You shouldn’t try it once more.” my friend said. DISCOURAGED

• “No, I won’t tell you the answer.” he said. REFUSED

KEY

• ADMITTED The manager admitted that Milli Vanilli lip-synched all the time. /The manager admitted (to) Milli Vanilli’s lip-synching all the time
• OFFERED She offered to call me back.
• ACCUSED He accused me of lying to him.
• RECOMMENDED He recommended seeing that play.
• BOASTED The player boasted about being/playing in the best team in the championship.
• WARNED My mother warned me not to believe him.
• SUGGESTED He suggested going swimming./He suggested that we go swimming.
• OFFERED The gentleman offered to help me.
• APOLOGIZED The student apologized for being late.
• BLAMED She blamed him/her for letting him fall.
• ORDERED The teacher ordered me/us to stop talking at once.
• COMPLAINED/ABOUT She complained to me about my essay not being good enough.
• SUGGESTED My teacher suggested my trying harder./ The teacher suggested that I try harder.
• FORBADE The examiner forbade us to talk during the exam.
• ASKED My mother asked me not to play the drums while my sister was sleeping.
• EXPLAINED The detective explained that it was a very delicate case.
• BEGGED The hostage begged me not to kill him/her.
• THREATENED She threatened to start screaming if I didn’t stop the car.
• DENIED George denied selling/having sold my car.
• COMPLAINED Susan complained that I never listen to her. OR
• Susan complained to me about my never/not listening to her.
• PROMISED Simon promised to be more careful next time.
• DISCOURAGED My friend discouraged me from trying it/that once more/another time.

1. A: What is the _______ of the Big Ben? (HIGH)
2. B: I am not sure but perhaps it is more than fifty meters.
3. My grandparents have great experience and life _______. (WISE)
4. Don’t go there if you are _______ of mice. There are thousands of mice there. (FEAR)
5. Don’t be too _______ of her decision. She hates it! (CRITICISE)
6. My boyfriend is a very _______ person. He will never give up and keep on fighting to win. (PERSIST)
7. The ______ of all flights was due to the bad weather. (CANCEL)
8. Joe has great _______ in himself. That is why he never gives up easily. (CONFIDE)
9. Out of our sheer _______, we started making up silly stories. (BORING)
10. She is just _______ of mine. I don’t know her well. (ACQUAINT)
11. It has been snowing all night so there is a great ______ that there all tomorrow’s flights will be cancelled. (LIKE)
12. You may use this computer and this mobile phone whenever you want. It is at your _______. (DISPOSE)
13. The negotiations have proven more _______ than any of us expected. (TROUBLE)
14. Marlene Dietrich was _______ through her roles in films like ‘The Blue Angel’.(MORTAL)
15. He was _______ in 1965 for attempted murder.(PRISON)
16. I can’t get the _______car to start! (BLEED)
17. He stopped at a bar for a little _______.(FRESH)
18. Although they said nothing, she could sense their _______ of her suggestion. (APPROVE)
19. I love spending time in a _______ regions. (MOUNTAIN)
20. It was _______ not to phone and say you’d be late. (THINK)

KEY:

• 1.HEIGHT
• 2.WISDOM
• 3. FEARFUL-AFRAID
• 4. CRITICAL
• 5.PERSISTENT
• 6.CANCELLATION
• 7.CONFIDENCE
• 8.BOREDOM
• 9.ACQUAINTANCE
• 10.LIKELIHOOD
• 11.DISPOSAL
• 12.TROUBLESOME
• 13. immortalized
• 16. bloody
• 17. refreshment
• 18. disapproval
• 19. mountainous
• 20. thoughtless

VI Fill in using IN, ON, AT, FOR, WITH, TO, ABOUT, OF, FROM:

1. I am so fond _________ the picture __________ the wall. It’s amazing.
2. We were born ___________ the same day but we are still very different _________ each other.
3. He is talking ________ the phone _______ his best friend who lives ______ Madrid.
4. They celebrate their wedding anniversary ________ 5^th May.
5. This juice is rich ________ vitamins.
6. All kids are capable _________ creativity.
7. I was looking _______the picture ________ the wall and thinking ________ my hometown.
8. Maria and Dave are opposed _______ the new dorm rules. They are keen ________ having no rules at all.
9. We left for Barselona ________ the afternoon. We arrived ________ the airport ______ midnight.
10. Brian is much different _________ his sister who lives _________ Germany.
11. The text I was telling you ________ is _________ the page 54.
12. He is famous _________ his songs and he has become very popular ________ younger audience. He is the best singer I have ever heard _______.
13. She told me that she is ________ the train and that she will come ________ time, but I am very doubtful _________ it.
14. We had our wedding reception _______ 25^th August _______ the Royal hotel.
15. Nobody is interested _________ good news; it is only bad news that we read ______ the newspapers.
16. The kid is sitting ________ the writing table. He is reading a book ________ sport.
17. We had a meeting ________ 10 o’clock ________ the morning _______ Friday.
18. I am so proud ________ my son – he is good ______ almost every subject at school.
19. The book which is ________ the shelf is very rich ________ design.
20. Brian was talking ________ Sue ________ their prom night. They plan ______ choose their outfits _______ a famous shop _______ their town.
21. We left for England _______ 2005 and we started living ________ a small farm ______ Manchester.
22. I am very pleased _______ your answers. Wait _______ me outside the office, please.