Unit 8
Раздел 8
Аудирование. Пассивный залог
Lesson 8
Listening Practice
A. Listen to the dialogue and remember the notes below
Аудирование (скрипт)
- Sorry, I’m late David but the car’s been playing up again.
- Surprise, surprise. I’ve told you you want to get rid of that heap of scrap. It’s been on its last legs for years and
it’s a death trap.
- What do you mean? I’ve just had a new radiator put in it and it passed its MOT last year with flying colours. I
reckon it’s got a few more years in it yet.
- Oh come on, get real! I’ll give you a rundown of why in my opinion it should have been condemned to the
scrap heap years ago.
- Why should I get rid of a perfectly roadworthy car?
- Well, firstly it’s a rust bucket, it’s bad for the environment, and I’ve seen it kangarooing down the high street
pumping out clouds of toxic exhaust fumes like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, leaving the unfortunate shoppers who
happen to be in the vicinity coughing and spluttering in its wake and besides that, your work is suffering as a
result. You’re late again.
- Oh, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.
Notes:
1. "the car’s been playing up.." (phrasal verb: to
play up = to not work properly or to behave badly)
again = the car has not been working very well
again
2. "Surprise, surprise.." (here the speaker is using
sarcasm – he means that it is not a surprise at all.) =
What a surprise!
3. to get rid of (phrasal verb) = to dispose of (more
formal)
14. "..it should have been condemned to the scrap heap
years ago.." (stronger) = it should have been taken to
the scrap yard years ago
15. the scrap heap = (place were cars are broken up
after they are no longer useful) scrap yard
16. "Why should I get rid of.." (phrasal verb) = Why
should I dispose of (more formal)
17. a perfectly roadworthy car = a car that is in good
enough condition to be used on the road
4. heap of scrap (idiom) = old car that is very bad
condition
18. a rust bucket (idiom) = a rusty old car
5. "It’s been on its last legs for years.." (idiom: to
be on its last legs = to be ready to die) = It has been
ready to be replaced for years
19. kangarooing down the high street (idiom) = moving
down the high street with very erratic jumping
movements (like a kangaroo)
6. a death trap (idiom) = a very dangerous thing
that could cause a fatality
20. pumping out (phrasal verb) = emitting (more
formal)
7. "I’ve just had a new radiator put in it.." = I got
the mechanic to replace the old radiator
21. toxic exhaust fumes = poisonous waste products
(the waste products of a petrol engine)
8. radiator = water storage container (in the cooling
system of a car)
22. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (note: this expression is
onomatopoeic, in other words, it sounds like its
meaning. If you say ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’, it is a
bit like the sound of a car with its engine backfiring!) =
a famous flying car (from the children’s film of the
same name, based on the novel written by Ian Fleming)
9. MOT = Ministry of Transport compulsory
annual test (to prove the roadworthiness of a
vehicle)
Ефремов А.А.
I
I
www.izenglish.ru – 2012 Сайт учителя английского языка
10. ".. it passed its MOT last year with flying
colours.." (idiom) = it passed its MOT with good
marks
11. "I reckon it’s got a few more years in (phrasal
verb) it yet.." = I think it will work for a few more
years still
12. get real (informal and strong. Be careful with
this expression as it could cause offence. It is fine
between friends, or in strong arguments) = you
need to face reality
23. "who happen to be in the vicinity.." = who are by
chance in the area
24. coughing and spluttering = making erratic engine
noises
25. in its wake = after it has gone past (note: the white
water left in the sea after a ship has passed is called ‘the
ship’s wake’.)
13. "I’ll give you a rundown of why.." (more
emphatic) = I’ll explain to you a series of reasons
why
Examination Practice
B. Complete the sentences. Use the Passive Voice of the verbs in the box.
invent
win
kill
ruin
steal
feed
invite
create
follow
speak
1. Those guys ran with all their might. They were followed by the police dogs.
2. Where is English spoken?
3. Last night the picture was stolen from the museum.
4. The buildings were ruined by the fire.
5. John Lennon was killed in 1980.
6. The game of tennis was won by Andre Agassi, the famous tennis player.
7. The bear cub was fed by the children.
8. St Paul’s Cathedral was created by Sir Christopher Wren.
9. Jane was invited to the party. But really she didn't like the idea.
10. Television was invented by Baird, wasn’t it?
C. Change the following sentences into the Passive.
1. They found the rare manuscript in the basement. - The rare manuscript was found in the basement.
2. Do they include the service charge? - Is the service charge included?
3. I bought a book a week ago. - The book was bought a week ago.
4. The scientists are examining the new bacterium. - A new bacterium is being examined by the scientists.
5. An old lady found a box of jewellery last week. - The box of jewellery was found by the old lady last
week.
6. People often ask for this book. - The book is often asked for.
7. A distinguished surgeon will operate on my sister. - My sister will be operated on by a distinguished
surgeon.
8. Tom has just told me a good story. - A good story has just been told me by Tom.
9. She has tidied the room thoroughly. - The room has been tidied thoroughly.
10. Bob and Jack were carrying our bags. - Our bags were being carried by Tom and Jack.
Ефремов А.А.
I
I
www.izenglish.ru – 2012 Сайт учителя английского языка