Vocabulary Exercises.

1. Discuss the following.

a. Where do you belong below? Which of the above adjectives and phrases would suit a student in your class or a member of your family?

he's a giant (of a man) medium build

she's an Amazon he's / she's got a good figure

extremely tall he's / she's well-built

tallish above average height

below average height on the short side

short tiny

a midget knee-high to a grasshopper / an ant

stocky petite

plump thin

corpulent skinny

built like a barrel like a pipe cleaner

he’s as square / big round as he's tall there's nothing of her

obese like a lamp-post

overweight puny-looking

squat slight and slender

muscular slim

b. Do you think your build sometimes determines your character? If so, how?

с. Which word in each pair of words would you prefer people to use about you? Why?

1. skinny/ slim 5 plump / stocky

2. well- built / corpulent 6 short / below average height

3. overweight / obese 7 a midget / knee-high to an ant

4.all skin and bones / there's

more fat on a chip

d. What are the necessary physical attributes of the following types of athlete? Use the phrases: You have to be / have…; You need…; You can’t… without …..

• a swimmer

• a skier

• a tennis player

• a footballer

• a sprinter

e. How important do you think physical appearance is for a happy or successful life?

2. From these jumbled words, find combinations for describing people, as in the example.

Example: good-looking

Looking stocky long round faced

Middle over- haired good well

Mixed complexion aged build red Dressed weight race legged tanned

3. Look at the list of adjectives below and guess what they mean. Then read sentences 1-10. Complete them with the appropriate adjective(s).

Left-handed Big-headed Sour-faced Light-fingered Dark-skinned

Slim-hipped Pot-bellied Cross-eyed Strong-willed Fair-haired

Narrow-waisted Red-faced Knock-kneed Bow-legged Broad-minded

Cold-blooded Round-shouldered Empty-handed Right-footed Double-breasted

1. My boss is terribly …, walking around as if he were holding his salary cheque between his knees. His wife’s quite the opposite: …, as if she had just got of a horse.

2. I used to wear … suits until I decided that one button was far more suitable for … people such as myself.

3. My sister is so … and … she reminds me of one of those long thin wine bottles.

4. He’s Scandinavian, so he’s … and …, and looks far better in jeans than I do.

5. It looked as if United were going to return home... until Bradfield scored with an incredibly powerful … shot from outside the penalty area.

6. Hoskins, if you go on staring at that magazine any longer, you’ll go … Now either be …, dear boy, and put it away or give it to me until the end of the lesson.

7. Most … tennis players seem to win more easily against right-handers. Talking of tennis players, aren’t those professionals a … bunch, shouting all the time about how great they are?

8. A lot of liberal, … people find it difficult to accept that there is such a thing as … murder.

9. My boss is so …, always looking as if he knew tomorrow was going to be the end of the world. And his wife is so …; I have to keep a careful eye on my things when they come round to the house, or they just disappear.

10. Off we go on holiday with visions of returning … and beautiful, forgetting that we always come back … and with peeling backs.

4. Look at facial features. Study the words and see if you can tell which part is meant in each case.

1. high, lined

2. rosy, hollow

3. double, pointed

4. false, long

5. bushy, pencil-thin

6. snub, hook (or Roman)

7. cauliflower, pierced

8. piercing, hazel

9. square, upper

10. thick, cherry

11. wide, mean

5. On the left are some definitions of facial features. Find the appropriate word on the right.

1. openings in the nose the tongue

2. the soft lower parts of the ears eyelids

6. flat parts on the side of the face above the cheek-bones a moustache

7. hair that grows on the chin and jaw the complexion

8. the bony case that protects the brain nostrils

9. the tissue our teeth are in the brow

10. the passage from the mouth towards the stomach a beard

11. the semi-poetic name for the forehead gums

12. the colour and state of the skin on the face lobes

13. hair that grows above the upper lip temples

14. the movable skin which opens and closes the eyes the throat

15. the organ used for tasting, swallowing and speech the skull

6. Describe the face that comes to mind when you imagine a typical:

1. headmaster/headmistress

2. boxer

3. second-hand car salesman

4. air-force officer

5. English king

6. Chinese girl

7. pop drummer.

7. Translate into Russian:

“Her hair, light golden-brown, streaked with sun, was worn in a simple page boy; her wide-set eyes were amber shaded to green, the delicate peach tones of her skin gave her face a subtle glow. She was dressed in a cream-beige two-piece dress with a small turquoise and diamond pin near the shoulder. A pair of gold bangles made an enchanting sound as she moved her hand. Her shoes were brown alligator, matching her handbag, and she wore discreetly an expensive perfume”.

“She was still a lovely-looking woman who defied her age. The face-lift she had had three years ago had helped, of course. But she was naturally well preserved. No one would have guessed that this slender, long-legged beauty with the pellucid hazel eyes, high cheekbones, and the most perfect complexion, wrinkleless, in fact, was actually a woman approaching her sixty-second birthday.”

_____________________________________________________________

“Despite his brilliance and his standing I soon came to realize that he was not in the least bit egotistical. Quite the opposite, in fact. He was unassuming, even modest for a man of his considerable talents; also he had a great sense of fun and a dry humor which was often rather self-deprecating.

To me he was a dashing and sophisticated figure, and his very Englishness, as well as his mellifluous, cultivated voice set him apart. Medium of height and build, he had pleasant, clean-cut looks, dark brown hair, and candid eyes set wide apart. In fact, his eyes were his most arresting feature, of the brightest blue and thickly lashed. . ________________________________________________________________

“But whereas the girl was as dark-eyed and dark-haired that she seemed to receive a deeper and more lustrous color from the sun when it shone upon her, the boy was so light-eyed and light-haired that the selfsame rays appeared to draw out of him what little color he ever possessed. His cold eyes would hardly have been eyes but for the short ends of lashed which, by bringing them into immediate contrast with something paler than themselves, expressed their form. His short-cropped hair might have been a mere continuation of the sandy freckles on his forehead and face. His skin was so unwholesomely deficient in the natural tinge, that he looked as though if he were cut, he would bleed white”.

“His face, close-shaven, thin and sallow, was shaded by a great quantity of dark hair, brushed into a roll all round his head, and parted up the center. His legs were very robust, but shorter than legs of good proportions should have been. His chest and back were as much too broad as his legs were too short. He was dressed in a Newmarket coat and tight-fitting trousers, wore a shawl round his neck”.

8. Complete the sentences with one world only. All the missing words are parts of the body.

1. That girl wraps her father round her little … and he does anything she asks of him.

2. I have my … on a really nice jumper I saw in Benetton last week.

3. Sally didn’t lift a … to help when we were clearing up after the party.

4. Unfortunately Jake and I got off on the wrong … from his first day in the company, and our working relationship has been difficult since then.

5. Tom seems to have a chip on his … about his lack of education.

6. There was something familiar about that man on the bus but I can’t put my … on where I know him from.

7. The Smiths have been living a … to mouth existence since he lost his job.

8. Would you mind casting your … over this report before I submit it to the committee?

9. It was marvelous how everyone put their … to the wheel and helped to repair the damage after the storm.

10. When it comes to letting the children go out during the week, their mother always puts her … down.

11. I don’t have a pen to … at the moment, so I ‘ll call you back later from the office to get the address.

12. My manager usually turns a blind … if I’m a bit unpunctual in the mornings, as she knows I often stay late at the end of the day.

13. I really put my … in it when I let slip we’d been to the cinema together before, didn’t I?

14. Belinda never speaks to me now that she’s back with her boyfriend and doesn’t need a … to cry on any more.

15. He no longer competes in tournaments, but he keeps his … in by playing regular games with friends.

Describe yourself.

You are at a job interview. Answer the interviewer’s questions. Remember, at an interview, you want to mention your positive characteristics.

• How would you describe yourself?

• I’m a reliable person. I consider myself hardworking and creative. I enjoy responsibility and I handle pressure well.

Describe someone else.

You have interviewed three people for one of the jobs in the box below. Using the information in your notes, describe the job candidates to your partner.

Model:

• I interviewed Bob Morgan yesterday to be our new physical education teacher.

• Oh, I've seen his resume. What did you think of him?

• He really didn't impress me. To tell you the truth, I can't see him working with kids. He seems too indecisive.

• Have you heard anything about him?

• Nothing very positive. His coworkers consider him unreliable, and I've heard he doesn't handle responsibility too well.

Some Jobs

A physical education teacher

A sales manager for a computer company

A social director for a large resort hotel

A flight attendant for a major international airline

A nontechnical worker to assist a research team in the Sahara desert

An art director for the new magazine, The Great Outdoors

Some descriptions

Positive

I'm a reliable person.

I consider myself hardworking.

I enjoy responsibility / a challenge.

I handle pressure well.

Negative

I can't see / imagine him working with kids.

Kids make her nervous.

His coworkers consider him unreliable. .

She seems like someone who wouldn’t be a good teacher.

Some personal characteristics

Positive Negative

ambitious unambitious

cooperative uncooperative

creative unimaginative

hardworking lazy

independent indecisive

modest conceited

outgoing, friendly unfriendly

patient impatient

reliable, responsible unreliable, irresponsible

self-confident insecure

honest, sincere insincere

Describe something.

Rewrite the description of each movie, reducing the relative clauses. Then have conversations like this one:

• I’ve never seen Chariots of Fire. What’s it about?

• It’s the true story of two athletes… .

Some movies.

Chariots of Fire is the true story of two athletes who were competing to win the same track events in the 1924 Olympics.

The Return of Martin Guerre is about a man who is posing as another man in 16^th century France, The events that are in the movie are based on historical fact.

Das Boot is a movie about German sailors who are trapped in a submarine. The men that are in the submarine eventually get out alive, but the fate that is awaiting them is just as bad.

Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior is about a petty criminal who is put in the role of a great leader.

Recall something.

Ask your partner what comes to mind when he or she hears one of the words in the box. Your partner will describe a person or an experience.

• What comes to mind when you hear the word mean?

• It reminds me of a teacher I had in high school. I’ll never forget her. She used to sit at her desk the whole day, waiting for us to do something wrong or make a mistake. She wouldn’t put up with anything. We were scared to death of her.

Some words	Some recollections
Mean Funny Strict Sad Obnoxious Kind Lonely	A teacher you had A movie you saw Your father A terrible thing you once saw Someone you used to work with A wonderful woman you once knew Your years at school

Stereotypes.

1. What is the stereotype of English (American) man and woman? Think of their clothes, behaviour, attitudes and interests.

2. Now do the same for your nationality. What are the positive and negative qualities of the stereotype of your nationality?

These words might help you:

Hard-working / lazy / hospitable

Don’t welcome foreigners

Have a good sense of humor / have no sense of humour

Honest

Talk a lot / reserved

Polite / rude

Sociable

Like food and drink (too much)

4.How much do you think you conform to this stereotype of your own nationality? How do you differ from it?

A Letter of Reference (p. 53) Model version

Dear Ms Watson,

I have known Michael Sharp in a professional and social capacity for 10 years and in all that time he has shown himself to be reliable.

His outgoing and friendly nature, allied to his organizational skills and his efficiency, mean that welcome parties would go with a swing. These qualities too would come into play when meeting clients at, and escorting them from and to the airport. He will take an imaginative approach to organizing and escorting coach excursions and would fulfil these areas of his duties with enthusiasm.

I have invariably found him to be discreet and tactful when dealing with others. His approachability and competence make him an ideal colleague as well as rep, so contact with head office should be a pleasure.

As far as I know he is not fluent in any foreign language, but as a resourceful young man he will make light work of language difficulties and will be able to offer assistance to those clients having problems with the local language.

He is practical and level-headed and should cope well with emergences occurring at any time of the day or night.

I have no hesitation in recommending Michael Sharp to you as a local resort representative for Utopia Holidays.

Extra Activity. Verbs and Collocations. Make and Do.

1. Which of these things or activities are MADE and which are DONE?

The most/best of a situation the shopping your best some painting a cake a mistake a plan a habit of arrangements an effort good an excuse an exam a decision the washing-up your bed a suggestion improvements some cooking a favour

2. Replace the phrases in italics with suitable expressions from the list below.

MAKE

1. Hundreds of homes will be destroyed to provide space for a new motorway.

2. I could only just understand what he was trying to say.

3. In section 6.1 we had to invent our own examples.

4. They had a big row, but later they became reconciled.

5. If there aren’t enough pillows, you’ll have to manage with cushions.

6. As he’s colour blind he can’t discern the difference between red and green.

7. Thanks for doing me a favour, I’ll return the favour another time.

8. She pretends that she’s the only member of staff who does any work.

9. They’ve got a brand new car, but I’m not sure what brand it is.

10. They’re so well off that people are always trying to gain favour with them.

DO

11. One of the most popular adult hobbies nowadays is home improvement.

12. I’ll be glad when this affair is completely finished.

13. When looking for a flat there are a number of rules you should be aware of.

14. You don’t need to have a sofa to sit on, you can manage without one.

15. It’s high time the government abolished nuclear weapons.

16. This newspaper cutting is partly concerned with modern architecture.

17. What he told us was irrelevant to the subject we were discussing.

18. He’s put on such a lot of weight that he can’t fasten his trousers any more.

Make; make do with; make out; make out; make out; make room/way; make up; make up; make up to someone; make up to someone.

Do away with; do up; do without; do-it-yourself; dos and don’ts; over and done with; have something to do with; have nothing to do with.