UNIT 7 : HOUSING

I. Vocabulary

- Apartment (noun) : Housing that people usually rent and pay for each month. (same as
flat)
- Apartment complex (noun) : Several buildings that have many apartments and are
located beside of one another. These buildings are owned by the same company or person.
- Attic (noun) : A storage space located under the roof of a house. - Back door: A door
located at the back part of a house.
- Balcony (noun): A small space located in the air that connects to a house.
- Basement(noun) : A room under a house. (noun)
- Ceiling (noun) : The top or highest part of a room that connects to all of the walls.
- Chandelier (noun) : A fancy light that hangs from the ceiling. It often has crystals.
- Closet (noun) : A storage place found in bedrooms and hallways. People hang their
clothing inside of it. (noun)
- Corridor (noun) : A narrow path between rooms in a house or apartment (same as
hallway).
- Doorbell (noun) : A small button that you push to ring a bell inside of a house.
- Fireplace (noun) : A place where people can make a fire in the house. It is built into the
wall of a room.
- Floor (noun) : The different levels in a house or building, e.g., first floor.
- Garage (noun) : A covered space attached to a house where people keep their cars.
- Garden (noun): The area of ground around a house. It often has grass and flowers.
(same as yard)
- Laundry room (noun) : A room where people wash and dry their clothing. It has a
washing machine and a dryer.
- Roof (noun) : The top or covering on the outside of a house.
- Sink (noun) : An item usually found in kitchens and bathrooms for washing hands or
dishes. It is shaped like a bowl and can hold water.
- Spacious ( adjective) : very big and with a lot of space.
- Staircase (noun) : A set of steps (one after the other) that are used to go up or down a
floor in a house.
-Wallpaper (noun) : Special paper that has a pattern for decoration and is used to cover the
walls in a house or apartment.
II. Using vocabulary

A. Fill in each blank with an appropriate word from the box

idea better reasons never opinion neighbors

hand quiet example larger relaxed

Some people think it’s a good (1)............... to live in an apertment building while other
people think it’s (2)................ to live in a house. In my (3)............, it’s much better to live
in a house. I have three great (4)...................... for my opinion. To begin, many apartments
are very noisy. You might have (5)............. upstairs who keep you awake all night with
their TV. However, most houses are very (6)............... My family and I live in a house, for
example, and we (7)................ hear our neighbors. Second, you can’t enjoy a yard if you
live in an apartment. On the other (8)................ , most houses have a yard where you can
enjoy your free time. For (9)..............., last weekend, I played soccer with my little brother
in our yard. Finally, most houses are much (10)...............than apartment homes. When you
have a larger home, you feel more (11)............... For all these reasons, I really think it’s
much better to live in a house.

B. Complete the conversations with the word from the box

 Conversation 1
Situation: Lucy calls Jeff about his flat rental

address price come and see downtown

to show apartment complex owner bedroom
flat rental available carpet bathroom

Lucy: Hello. My name is Lucy Smith, and I’m calling about the (1)........... you have
advertised in the newspaper. Is it still (2)......................?
Jeff: Hi, Lucy. My name is Jeff, and I am the (3).............Yes, the apartment is still
available.
Lucy: Great! Would you mind telling me a little about it?
Jeff: Sure. It has one (4)............. and one (5)................. Every room has (6)..............except
for the kitchen and bathroom which have hardwood floors.
Lucy: Okay. Is it a newer building or an older one?
Jeff: It is located in an (7)....................... and the building is about six years old, so it’s
quite modern.
Lucy: That sounds lovely. How far away is it from (8)........................ London?
Jeff: Well, it is about a thirty minute drive from the city center.

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Lucy: Wonderful. What about the (9)....................?. I didn’t see one listed in the
advertisement.
Jeff: It’s a thousand pounds a month not including utilities.
Lucy: Alright. That’s in my price range, so I’m very interested in looking at it.
Jeff: Excellent! I’d be happy (10).............. you the flat. I’m sure you will love it. Would
you be able to (11).................. it tomorrow?
Lucy: Absolutely! I could come right after work. Is six o’clock okay with you?
Jeff: Yes. That’s fine. Do you need me to give you the (12)...................?
Lucy: No, thank you. I see it here in the advertisement.
Jeff: Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow then, Lucy.
Lucy: Sure. See you then!

Conversation 2
Situation: Andrew takes a tour of Emma’s house for sale.

give you a tour cabinets excellent condition master

house for sale how much spacious laundry room

Emma: Good afternoon. Are you Andrew?

Andrew: Good afternoon. Yes, I am. I’m here to see your (1)...................
Emma: Yes. Please come in.
Andrew: Thank you.
Emma: Please follow me, and I’ll (2).......................
Andrew: Great. Thanks.
Emma: This is the kitchen, and as you can see, it has tile flooring and new (3)................
Andrew: Yes. It’s beautiful!
Emma: Thank you. This is the (4).................. bedroom. The carpet in here is about two
years old, so it’s fairly new.
Andrew: Right.
Emma: You can see that there is a master bathroom that is attached to the bedroom. The
toilet and shower are a little older, but they’re in (5).........................
Andrew: Yes, they look almost new.
Emma: Here is the family room.
Andrew: I like it! It’s very (6).............................
Emma: Yes, it has a lot of room. Here is the other bedroom and bathroom. They are a little
small, but they’re fine for guests or young children.
Andrew: Sure. What about the (7).........................?
Emma: Right. I almost forgot. It’s beside of the master bedroom. It has a large closet, so

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you can hang your clean clothes after washing.
Andrew: Nice! (8).......................... are you asking for the house?
Emma: It’s two-hundred thousand pounds.
Andrew: Okay. Thank you for showing me your home and telling me about the price. I’ll
call you if I am interested.
Emma: Sure. It was my pleasure! Have a great day.
Andrew: You too. Bye.
Emma: Bye.

C. Practices the conversation with a partner. Then switch roles and practice it again.

III. Develop Speaking Skill

With your partner, discuss the questions below:

Group A

Group B

IV. Explore Speaking Skill

A. Spot the differences

Students work in pair and find all eight differences in the pictures

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B. Problems about apartments and houses
 Read the problems below and discuss possible solutions
 Compare your solutions with different classmates. Do you agree or disagree
with their ideas.