a) – Excuse me, please.
– Yes, what can I do for you?
– Could you tell me the way to the agricultural academy?
– Certainly. It’s easy. Take a bus № 9 or a taxi-bus number 9 or 93. It will take you right to the academy.
– How long will it take me to get there?
– Let me see … Maybe half an hour or so, if the traffic is not heavy.
– Thank you very much.
– You’re welcome.
b) – Excuse me.
– Yes? What’s the matter?
– Am I right for the Central Park?
– No, it is in the opposite direction.
– Thanks a lot.
c) – Does this bus go downtown?
– No, it doesn’t. You have to change for number 13. It’ll take you right to the centre.
– Where is the bus stop?
– It is in front of you, across the street.
– I see, thank you.
Student A: Ask the way to a certain place in your town.
Student B: Be ready to give directions.
b) Act out a conversation. You want a taxi to take you to different places. Include different forms of polite requests in your conversation:
I was born in Penza. It is one of the oldest and most beautiful Russian towns. It was founded in 1663 as a fort on the south-eastern border of the state. The place was well-chosen from the strategic point of view: from the north it was reliably defended by Cherkassky fort, in the south there were plenty of saucer-like lakes (now it is called Yuzhnaya Polyana), from the west it was defended by dense forests.
Penza is situated on the Sura river. The word “sur” means “ finger”. Long ago before it became a castle-town this “finger” showed the ancient people a place to settle down.
Penza has a rich history. It is connected with the life and activity of quite a number famous people: M. Lermontov, A. Kuprin, N. Burdenko, V. Belinsky, P. Yablochkov, S. Razin, Y. Pugachov and others. M. Lermontov… His grandmother’s country estate, nowadays, is the state museum Tarkhany, one of the greatest memorial parks in our country, a peculiar cultural corner, which links the previous centuries with the present day.
Now Penza is a big cultural and industrial centre. Its population is over 600 000 people. There are several big plants which produce chemical equipment, electronic equipment, diesel engines, compressors, bicycles, clocks and watches, paper, medicines and other necessary things.
Agriculture in Penza region is on the upsurge now. Our farmers introduce new techniques and machinery, develop high-yielding and disease-resisting varieties, breed highly-productive breeds of farm animals in order to make our farming as profitable as possible.
In Penza there are many educational establishments. The most important institutions of higher education are: Penza Technical University, Penza State Pedagogical University, Penza State Civil Engineering University and Penza State Agricultural Academy.
Whatever the season, Penza is always beautiful. Large squares, green streets, beautiful parks, Fountain square, a spacious zoo – everything attracts visitors’ attention. You can see a great variety of picturesque houses – from old-fashioned buildings of the 19th century to modern constructions of original architecture.
Visitors often go to the circus, to the Drama Theatre, to museums. People are proud of their city and try to make it cleaner and healthier.
Exercise 1. Read and translate the text.
Exercise 2. Answer the questions:
a) What sights of Penza are mentioned in the text? Have you seen all of them?
b) Is there anything you can add?
Exercise 3. Find English equivalents for the following words and word combinations:
родной, родился, юго-восточная граница, палец, древний народ, население, поместье, предприятия, оборудование, лекарства, продукция, на подъёме, высокоурожайные, стойкие к болезням, породы, не зависимо от сезона, живописный.
Exercise 4. Arrange the information of the text and complete the table.
Use the following expressions: – I’ d like to welcome you to …
– Let me start with the history.
– You can see …
– It is dedicated to … ( Он посвящен…)
– It’s interesting to know that …
– Now we are …
– It is worth seeing ( visiting ).
I Name
II Geographical Position
III Population
IV Industry
V Agriculture
VI Education
VII Interesting Places
VIII Famous People
– What is your favourite season?
– As for me, I like autumn best of all.
– But why?!
– I don’t know, but it brings me in a good mood. And what about you?
– …
Task 2. Compare the words. Make up sentences.
Wind – windy It is windy in March.
Frost – frosty It is … in …
Sun – sunny It is … in …
Rain – rainy