Grammar exercises

I. Read and translate.

1. The Snowdons live in a very beautiful cottage. Mrs Snowdon is looking out of the sitting-room window. Mr Snowdon is going through the front door into the cottage. Outside the cottage there is a garden. There are some children playing in the garden. Dan is climbing up the tree and Jane is sliding down the slide. Inside the kennel there is their dog. Next to the kennel Ann is climbing onto the swing. Grandpa is standing at the shed door. The cat is walking along by the wall towards the garden shed.

2. There are many combinations of different rhythms in nature. In this wonderful world there are rhythms that men can see, like those of sea waves. There are unseen (невидимые) rhythms that we cannot see, but which we can measure by scientific instruments. There are different rhythms in trees from the straight pine-tree to the curve of a palm. In each leaf there is rhythm.

There are rhythms in verses even without music. Rhythm is a part of poetry.

II. Put in the right preposition if necessary.

1. It’s so difficult to wake him up … the morning. 2. Would you like to study … university? 3. ‘Where’s Tom?’ ‘He’s … the kitchen making some coffee.’4. Don’t forget to put a stamp … the postcard before you post it. 5. What time are you going … home? 6. How do you get … work? 7. Are you coming to classes … Monday? 8. The girls are … the bus stop. 9. Would you like to live … another country? 10. Water freezes … 0 degrees Celsius. 11 In Britain it’s expensive to travel … train.12. ‘Do you usually walk … work?’ ‘No, I go by bicycle.’ 13. The train leaves … five minutes. 14. Can you play tennis … next Sunday?

III. Correct the prepositions if necessary.

1. My parents come from Scarborough, a town in the east coast of England but I live and work in Leeds. I’m a secretary and I work for an international company. My office is quite near the centre in the city. I live on a flat with three friends. My boy-friend, Tom, is a student in the Polytechnic. The Polytechnic is not far from my flat.

2. I’m starting my new job in 3 June. 3. What do you usually do at the weekend? 4. They’re going away tomorrow. They’ll be away until Friday. 5. My house is in the end of the street. 6. My brother is studying mathematics in London University.

IV. Translate into English.

1. Классная доска на стене. 3. В портфеле ученика много тетрадей и учебников. 3. Возьмите учебник из сумки и положите на стол. 4. Между столом и шкафом находится кресло. 6. Ты идешь на вечеринку в субботу вечером? 7. Ты когда идешь спать? 8. Сейчас 7.30. Поезд отправляется в 8.00. 9. Масло на полке в холодильнике. 10. Многие люди проводят отпуск на юге нашей страны, на берегу моря. 11. Идите к доске, возьмите мел и пишите. 12. Каждое утро мои родители идут на работу, я – в университет, сестра – в школу.

Pre-text exercises

I. Look at the following international words, guess their meaning and practice the pronunciation:

department, administration, local, general, private, course, certificate, examination, polytechnics, result, finals, Bachelor, Master, Doctor, philosophy, authority.