52. Post Title: Blank

51. Is This the End?

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A language workshop, which is what this blog had as a declared characteristic, necessarily implies an exchange of ideas (and whatever else I stated in the initial                                                                 description).

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Let’s be realistic: If there is no feedback on what the posts convey as ideas, thoughts, concerns, suggestions, what's the use of posting?

Of course there is something not quite right about the meaning of sharing where there is only one voice and - alas! - too few responses to so many problems. 

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This may be the end of a phase, and the beginning of a new one. For now, I thank all of you who did participate in the discussions by expressing your opinions on the topics proposed.

It could have been better, that's for sure, but that's what there is to it.

50. Keeping a Watchful Eye

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[adapted from New Success at First Certificate Workbook by  Michael Duckworth and Kathy Gude]

 

The ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ scheme all started a few years ago in the village of Mollington after a number of burglaries in the village and surrounding area. The residents in the village came up with the idea that maybe they themselves could keep an eye on their neighbours’ property while they were away on holiday. Since then, and with the support of the government and police, more than 50,000 ‘Neigh­bourhood Watch’ schemes have been set up all over the country.

The object of each ‘Watch’ group is to reduce the opportunities that criminals have in any particular street or area. Each resident who is a member of the scheme agrees to call the police whenever they see something suspicious. Everything is done calmly and discreetly – it is the police who actually check out each report and investigate what is happening. Residents who are part of the watch are not supposed to act as police or put themselves in any danger.

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When a new neighbourhood watch scheme is set up in an area, the first thing people notice is the large, brightly coloured ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ sign. This is a great deterrent to any burglars or vandals, because very few of them will take a chance of breaking into a house if they know that there is a high risk of being seen by caring neighbours keeping a lookout. Burglars also know that people who are part of ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ schemes are probably more likely to have fitted good locks to their doors and windows.

There’s another benefit too. In the comparatively short time ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ schemes have been in existence, there is growing evidence of a new community spirit. It is bringing people together as never before, and encouraging people to care for one another. New friendships are made, and contact is often established with old people living on their own, who are often the most frightened and the most at risk.

Find a word or phrase in the passage which means:

1.      strange, not quite right                 

2.    carefully and without people noticing

3.    people who live in a place

4.    something which stops you doing something

5.     people who destroy or damage things for no reason

6.    watching carefully                                  

Read the passage again and choose the best answer.

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1                     The ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ scheme in Mollington was started

 A because the police could not protect people.

 B before any others in the country.

 C after 50,000 burglaries in the area.

 D because some residents wanted to go away for holidays.

2                    When members of a ‘Watch’ group see suspicious individuals, they

A try and frighten them away.

B contact the police.

C try and arrest them.

D call the other members of the ‘Watch’ group.

3                    When a ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ group starts in an area,

A people fit new locks to their door and windows.

B the police send fewer officers to the area.

C burglars are less likely to break into houses.

D residents put signs on their doors.

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4                   One other benefit of ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ schemes is that

A people get to know each other better.

B members of the ‘Watch’ look after old people.

C different kinds of people are attracted to live in the area.

D old people are no longer frightened of crime.

Reported Speech: Questions

Peter Jackson has been stopped by a customs officer at the airport. Complete the dialogue by writing the customs officer's questions.

Officer: Good afternoon, sir. (1)...?

Peter: Jackson, Peter Jackson. It's on the passport, if you'd care to look.

Officer: No need to be like that, sir. Now, (2)...?

Peter: From Switzerland

Officer: (3)...?

Peter: I'm British. Actually, it says that on the passport, too.

Officer: (4)...?

Peter: No, nothing to declare. Just the 200 cigarettes and a bottle of gin.

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Officer: (5)...?

Peter: Yes, I packed everything myself.

Officer: (6)...?

Peter: Yes, of course you can, but you won't find anything.

Officer: (7)...?

Peter: In those bottles? Um ... er... I think those six bottles have got er ... a little bit of brandy in them. Sorry.

Officer: (8)...?

Peter: I didn't declare them because I'd completely forgotten about them. I really am most terribly sorry.

Now write out the customs officer's questions in reported speech. The first one has been done for you.

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Remember: the word order usually changes, use if or whether when there is no question word

a The officer asked him what his name was.

b He wanted to know...       

c Then he asked...       

d He asked...      

e He wondered...         

f He asked...                

g He wanted to know...        

h He demanded...

49. Nosy Snoopers

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It’s time we found out a bit more about Alison’s neighbour and his dog: we left them in Alison’s sitting room, both breathing heavily and ready to let some bodily fluids loose on Alison’s sofa (that is, of course, if and only if you know what a bulldog is like, and how easily it is for its saliva to dribble with every breath it takes – yuck!).

   

I. But first some practice:

Ways of asking for permission

A. The following examples are all ways of asking for permission. In what situation might you hear each one?

1. Is smoking permitted here?

2. Do you mind if I smoke?

3. Would you mind if I smoked?

4. You don't mind if I smoke, do you?.

5. Do you object to me smoking?

6. All right if I smoke?

Which of the examples above suggest that the speaker

a. knows the person very well?

b. expects permission to be given?

c. doesn't know the other person too well?

d. is speaking to an official?

e. is in a formal, business situation (for example, an interview)?

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B Finish the second sentence in each pair without changing the meaning of the first.

Example: May I use your telephone?

► Is it all right if I use your telephone?

1. Can I sit here?

Do you…?

2. Could I ask you a few personal questions?

Do you…?

3. Do they allow people to park here?

Is…?

4. Is it all right with everybody if I close this window?

Would anybody…?

5. Can dogs come in here?

Are…?

6. Would you mind if I copied these documents?

Do you object…?

7. I'm going to borrow this chair. All right?

You don't…?

8. Do you mind if I come late tomorrow?

Would it…?

C How would you ask for permission in the following situations?

A. You work in a large office. Ask your boss for permission to take tomorrow off in order to see your mother, who is in hospital.

B. You are a guest in a restaurant. Some friends are coming in a minute. You want to put two tables together. Ask the waiter if it is all right.

C. You are in the middle of an examination. You feel very ill. You want to go outside for a few minutes to get some fresh air.

D. You are staying with an English family. You want to invite some other students over to have a small party.

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II. Now let me introduce you to Leonard Platchett, Alison’s neighbour.

First of all, time has come for a disclaimer.

I think I’m not revealing any secrets if I say that – contrary to some recent re-interpretation of human rights amendments – writers have always used the way names sound when pronounced as evocative of image-schemata. Of course, if you say John Smith, or Alicia Pérez, or else François Dupont you readily step into stereotypes, and rightly so: they are very frequent names in the geographical spaces they allude to, so you can get an idea of what kind of knowledge you may infer from the name. But this will be another topic; for the time being, just imagine being named at birth with such weird phonetic combinations as Publius Nigidius Figulus (the name of a scholar living in the late Roman Republic, a friend of Cicero’s, and remembered for his interest in Pythagorean philosophical topics – also a magician, diviner, and occultist): by any standards, and – again – unlike what Shakespeare urged us to consider, is not a name to feel comfortable with.

It happens to be the case that in English Platchett does sound a bit odd, vaguely suggesting through phonology an uncultured person – how unfair, how embarrassing! If you only think of Sir David Terence (Terry) Pratchett, the great English author of fantasy novels, you will see what I mean: I’ll stick to Shakespeare’s wisdom with all my might!

Use of English

[adapted from New Success at First Certificate by Robert O’Neill, Michael Duckworth and Kathy Gude]

Alison’s neighbour is sitting in her living-room. Study this part of the conversation. What is Alison saying? The first sentence is done for you as an example.

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Alison= A; Leonard Platchett = P

A: Excuse me, but (1) I’m afraid I don’t know your name.

P: Oh, it’s Platchett. Leonard Platchett.

A: Oh, well, Mr Platchett, (2) ...

P: Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know it bothered you. I’ll put it out.

A: (3) ...

P: Well, it’s about the music you play in the evenings.

A: (4) ...

P: Yes, it does, to be frank.

A: (5) ... I’m very careful about that.

P: Well, you may not think it is. But I can still hear it downstairs. The ceiling isn’t very thick, you know. I can hear almost every note. Really! I’m not exaggerating.

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A: (7) ...I’m glad you told me.

P: Good. I wouldn’t complain about it if it were only me. But it disturbs Bruno, too. It really seems to upset him.

A: (8) ...

P: My dog, of course. Who did you think I meant?

Listen to the conversation:

Platchett

48. Next-Door Neighbours

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The long, hot summer is over – for some, let’s not forget to take everything with a pinch of salt – well, that is, if by ‘summer’ we understand holidays. Time for a new start. But wait, the previous topic was left unfinished: some practice is needed, and you are all welcome to it (and to comments!)

Next-door Neighbours

[adapted from New Success at First Certificate by Robert O’Neill, Michael Duckworth and Kathy Gude]

Alison closed the door of her small flat and put down her briefcase. As usual, she had brought some work home from the travel agency. She wanted to have a quick bite to eat and then, after spending a few hours working, she was looking forward to watching television or listening to some music.

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She was just about to start preparing her dinner when there was a knock at the door. ‘Oh, no! Who on earth could that be?’ she muttered to herself. She went to the door and opened it just wide enough to see who it was. A man of about sixty was standing there. It took her a moment before she realized who he was. He lived in the flat below. They had passed each other on the stairs once or twice, and had nodded to each other but never really spoken.

‘Uh, sorry to bother you, but... uh ... there's something I'd like to talk to you about’ he mumbled. He had a long, thin face and two big front teeth that made him look rather like a rabbit. Alison hesitated, but then, opening the door wider, asked him to come in. It was then that she noticed the dog. She hated dogs - particularly big ones. This one was a very old, very fat bulldog. The man had already gone into her small living-room and, without being asked, had sat down on the sofa. The dog followed him in and climbed up on the sofa next to him, breathing heavily. She stared at it. It stared back

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The man coughed. ‘Uh, do you mind if I smoke?’ he asked. Before she could ask him not to, he had taken out a cigarette and lit it.

‘I’ll tell you why I’ve come. I... I hope you won't be offended but, well...’ he began and then stopped. Suddenly his face went red. His whole body began to shake. Then another cough exploded from somewhere deep inside him. Still coughing, he took out a grey, dirty-looking handkerchief and spat into it. Afterwards he put the cigarette back into his mouth and inhaled deeply. As he did so, some ash fell on the carpet.

The man looked around the room. He seemed to have forgotten what he wanted to say. Alison glanced at her watch and wondered when he would get to the point. She waited.

‘Nice place you've got here’ he said at last.

I. Choose the best answer.

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1. How do you think Alison felt when she heard the knock at the door?

A Afraid.    B Irritated. C Pleased. D Curious.

2. Who was the man at the door?

A Someone from work.

B A friend who needed advice.

C A complete stranger.

D A neighbour she hardly knew.

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3. What do you think Alison said to herself when she saw the dog?

A 'I wish he wouldn't bring that dog in here.'

B ‘Oh, what a nice dog!’

C ‘What’s wrong with that poor dog?’

D ‘I’m sure I’ve seen that dog somewhere before.’

4. What happened after the man asked if he could smoke?

A Alison offended him by asking him not to.

B He went ahead without waiting for an answer.

C He began to smoke but then put the cigarette out. D He took out his cigarettes but did not light one.

5. Why did he want to talk to her?

A We are not told.

B He wanted to tell her how nice her flat was.

C He wanted to introduce himself.

D She had done something to offend him.

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Try to imagine

(a) what Alison looks like.

(b) her typical day at work.

(c )what she likes doing when she isn't at work.

Can you do the same for the man? Try to imagine

(a) the clothes he is wearing.

(b) a typical day in his life.

(c)some of the possible reasons why he wants to talk to Alison.

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