Words and expressions

to be proud of something		гордиться чем-либо
these days		в эти дни
may be		может быть
to carry		нести, иметь
roundel		кружок
to sell (sold, sold)		продавать
free		свободный
free time		свободное время
to have free time		иметь свободное время
to decide		решать
square	[skwe@]	площадь
the nearest stop		ближайшая остановка
to cross		пересекать, переходить
to cross over the road		переходить через дорогу
cinema		кино
to go on (went, gone)		продолжаться
therefore	['De@fþ]	поэтому
to get off (got, got)		выходить
pound	[paund]	фунт
pound sterling		фунт стерлингов
2 pounds (sterling)		2 фунта (стерлингов)
10 pounds		10 фунтов (стерлингов)
a 10 pound banknote = a 10 pound note		банкнота достоинством 10 фунтов (стерлингов)

 

Exercises

1. Read the following:

• the buses	• the nearest bus stop
the red roundel	the National Gallery
the numbei of the bus	the cinema
the driver	round the corner
the conductoi	the number
the passengers

 

• The conductor will sell them the tickets.

Cross over the road.

Is this the stop for the Trafalgar Square bus?

That's right.

2. Underline the answers true to the text:

• Are Londoners proud of their buses?	Yes, they are. No, they are not. The text doesn't speak about that.
• Are all the buses red in Eng­land?	Yes, they are. No, they are not. Some of them are, but all the buses carry red roundel.
• How are bus tickets sold?	Only drivers sell them. Only conductors sell them. Either drivers or conductors sell them.
• Are Travelcards valid for bus travels?	Yes, they are. No, they are not. It's not quite clear.
• Where did Ivan and Sergei go by bus one day?	To Piccadilly Circus. To Trafalgar Square. To Downing Street.
• Do both of them speak Eng­lish?	Yes, they do. Only Ivan speaks English. Only Sergei speaks English.
• What tickets did they buy?	Single ones. Return ones. Travelcards.

 

3. Insert articles:

These days some English buses may not be red but they always carry ... red roundel. On many London buses passengers buy tickets from ... driver when they get on. Some buses, however, have ... con­ductor, and ... passengers get on . . and wait for ... conductor to ask them where they are going and sell them ... tickets.

4. Insert prepositions:

Londoners are proud ... their "big red buses". Single and return tickets may be bought either ... drivers or conductors. Travelcards are very popular ... bus travel.

One day Ivan and Sergei decide to go ... the National Galleiy ... Trafalgar Square. They get ... the hotel and go ... the nearest bus stop.

5. Complete the dialogues and act out similar ones:

•

— Excuse me, what bus can take ...?

— I'm sorry, I'm afraid ...

— ... Can you tell me where to get ...?

— Yes. Cross over ... Can ... cinema? The bus stop ...

— Do you know the number ...?

— I think . .

— Thank ..

•

— Is this the stop for ...?

— That's right. It's number . . It stops at ... and goes on to ... Therefore ask the driver ...

•

— Two returns to ...

— One . .

— Can you tell us .. ?

6. Translate into Russian:

In a few minutes they'll be in Trafalgar Square. They will imme­diately see the National Gallery. It's in the centre of the Square. I believe they'll spend an hour or so visiting the Gallery.

Unit twenty four

Changing money

Text

In the evening a few participants went to a bureau de change next to the hotel to change some dollars into pounds.

In London money can be changed either at banks, at bureaux de change or at customers' services desks in big department stores.

Banks are usually open from 9.30 a. m. until 3.30 p. m. Some are open on Saturday, but never on Sunday. They accept plastic cards Visa, Access as well as Eurocheques, traveller's cheques and, of course, cash. Many banks have cash dispensing machine services.

Bureaux de change are usually open for longer hours and every day. They often charge a bigger commission than banks.

The exchange rates are often shown in the running lines placed in the windows or on the walls of the bureaux de change for everybody to see.

Now Sergei comes up to the counter of the bureau de change:

Sergei: Good evening.

Cashier: Good evening, sir. Can I help you?

Sergei: Could I change two hundred dollars into pounds, please?

Cashier: Yes, certainly.

Sergei: How much will it be?

Cashier: About one hundred and twenty pounds.

Sergei: Good. Here you are.

Cashier: Thank you. And how would you like it, in twenties, tens or smaller notes?

Sergei: In tens, please.

Cashier: Fine. Here is the money and your receipt, please.

Sergei: Thanks. Excuse me, will you be open tomorrow, on Sun­day?

Cashier: Yes. But we work shorter hours on Sundays. We'll close at 7 p. m.

Sergei: Thank you. And one more thing. Can I change these coins of fifty cents each.

Cashier: I'm afraid 1 can't take small change. We change only notes.

Sergei: Do you believe I can change them somewhere else?

Cashier: I'm afraid you can't. This is a rule with banks and bureaux de change.

Sergei: I see. Thank you. Cashier: You are welcome.