Have a talk with your partner. Agree or disagree about the statements below.
Model:How did you like the meal we had last night? It was very bad, wasn’t it? - I agree. It was the worst meal I’ve ever tasted.
1. They served us very tough meat.
2. And our waiter was very rude.
3. And the music they played was terrible.
4. And they gave us sour wine.
5. And the chair I was sitting in was very uncomfortable.
6. And the walls in the restaurant were too dark.
7. But the cabaret was very good, wasn’t it?
8. The atmosphere was not friendly.
9. The waiter was slow, wasn’t he?
10. And the drinks in the bar were very expensive.
11. And the bill they gave us was very large.
12. The restaurant and the bar were very noisy. Besides, they were overcrowded.
13. And the man that robbed me near my house was a very dangerous criminal.
14. To sum it up, the last night was horrible.
Activity 27Make comparison using “as ... as”, “not so ... as” and discuss with your partner.
Model:February – March - cold.
Is February as cold as March?
1. Your friend – your – hardworking
2. Health – wealth – important
3. Summer in England – summer on the continent – hot
4. A Toyota – a Ford – powerful
5. Men – women – intelligent
6. The Metropol – The Sheraton – expensive
7. London – Liverpool – big
8. Latin – Greek – difficult to learn
9. Australia – Africa – large
10. Broadway in New-York – Oxford Street in London – well-known
11. The Black Sea – The Caribbean – warm
12. Oxford University – Cambridge University – old
Activity 28Give your own opinion on the following statements. Work in turns.
Model:Roses are beautiful. And orchids?
I think roses are as beautiful as orchids. (or: I guess roses are not as (so) beautiful as orchids.)
1. The weather is still unpleasant today. And two days ago?
2. Oxford is ten miles farther from London than Cambridge.
3. The tuna is large. And the mackerel?
4. The Russian language is quiet difficult. And English?
5. Baikal is a very deep lake. And lake Superior in the USA?
6. Broadway in New-York is well-known all over the world. And Fleet Street in London?
7. The Grand Hotel is popular with tourists. And the Hilton?
8. This term is more successful for you. And the last term?
9. The continent of Australia is large. And Africa?
10. The Caucasus are high. And the Urals?
Activity 29 Guinness book of the group
Find out who in the group:
is the best singer
is the best driver
is the best cook
is the fastest runner
is the earliest bird
is the best commander of English
is the youngest
is the most romantic
is the tallest
is the most friendly person
Activity 30 Match the following common English expressions.
A
1. as strong
2. as thin
3. as mad
4. as blind
5. as quick
6. as bold
7. as quiet
8. as black
9. as hard
10. as stubborn
11. as uncertain
12. as busy
13. as good
14. as dry
15. as red
16. as deaf
B
a) as a hatter
b) as a bat
c) as a mule
d) as a mouse
e) as a post
f) as iron
g) as coal
h) as brass
i) as a rake
j) as a bee
k) as gold
l) as a flash
m) as a bone
n) as a rose
o) as an ox
p) as the weather
Activity 31Fill in the gaps with the phrases from the activity above.
Model:My mother looks tired. She is always ... busy.
My mother looks tired. She is always as busy as a bee.
1. The bed was ... (hard) and I couldn’t sleep.
2. I’ll give this plant some water. The soil’s ... (dry).
3. When I told him this, his face went ... (red).
4. You’ll have to speak up, he’s ... (deaf).
5. My grandmother’s heart is ... (good).
6. She answered the questions ... (quick).
7. She is ... (mad); you wouldn’t believe the crazy things she does.
8. She told him ... (bold) that he was boring.
9. You’re not eating enough; you are ... (thin).
10. She never says a thing; she’s ... (quiet).
11. I’m afraid I can’t read this small print; I am ... (blind) without my glasses.
12. They say women’s character is ... (uncertain).
13. Mary’s hair is ... (black).
14. Muhammed Ali was ... (strong); he became heavyweight champion of the world.
15. My mom says that I am ... (stubborn).
Activity 32Match the sentences in the boxes A and B.
Model:The earlier we leave, the sooner we’ll arrive.
A.
The more money he has
The warmer the weather
The more I got to know him
The more you practise your English
The longer the telephone call
The more goods you sell
The older I get
The more dangerous it is
The longer he waited
The harder you work
B.
the better you pass the exams
the happier I am
the faster you’ll learn
the more you have to pay
the more I like it
the more profit you’ll make
the more impatient he became
the more liked him
the more useless things he buys
the better I feel
Activity 33 More or less?
Make sentences according to the model.
Model:He drives fast; he get nervous.
The faster he drives the more nervous he gets.
1. She ignores him; he loves her.
2. I watched this boring film; I loved it.
3. I live in this city; I like it.
4. I get to know him; I dislike him.
5. He eats biscuits; he gets fit.
6. She travels; she likes it.
7. I miss my classes; I have success.
8. I do English; I improve it.
9. I work hard; I have good results.
10. I become old; I have many friends.
Activity 34Fill in the gaps with “the more” or “the less”.
... we study, ... we know.
... we know, ... we forget.
... we forget, ... we know.
... we know, ... we forget.
... we forget, ... we know.
So, why should we study?
A wise old owl lived in an oak,
... he heard, ... he spoke.
... he spoke, ... he heard –
Oh, if men were all like that wise bird!