LIMBA ENGLEZ CURS PRACTIC

Prof. JANETA LUPU

Semestrul II

Objectives
At the end of this course students will be expected to master the linguistic skills relevant
to the advanced level of language acquisition.
The course offers ample practice in the appropriate use of lexical items and in the
effective command of syntactic structures.
The great number of written assignments and conversation topics are meant to activate
the students linguistic knowledge as well as their imagination and cultural background.

INTRODUCTION
The English Practical Course deals with some of the most ardent issues of contemporary
world and it aims at consolidating the students knowledge of the most specific English grammar
issues, providing a variety of interesting and complex exercises.
The main chapters are devoted to topics like: global issues, interpersonal relations,
leisure and entertainment. The texts have been selected from a wide range of publications, to
make the students familiar with the different styles (academic, scientific, journalese,
colloquial) of English. The language used is the language of our contemporaries.
There is also a translation corpus containing fragments from the literary works of the writers
the students study according to the syllabus for modern English literature. I have chosen quite
extensive fragments to stimulate the students curiosity to read the entire work of the respective
writers.
At the end of the workbook students will find a chapter including punctuation rules, lesson
plan specimen and a few games to be used in class by the future teachers of English.

LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT

Lesson 1

BOOK REVIEW

Comprehension
Answer the following questions:
a) Do you enjoy reading?
b) What are your favourite writers?
c) Which do you prefer: prose or poetry?
d) As a philologist, you definitely read more than other students; what are your reading
habits?
e) What do you look for when reading?
f) Do you prefer to use the Internet instead of reading?
g) What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet?
Make sure you understand the words in italics in both texts, and use them in contexts
of your own.
Learn the following idioms by using them in sentences of your own:
to give the go-by to to ignore (a person or thing);
 to give a handle to to provide an enemy/opponent/critic, with an
occasion/argument/excuse/pretext, that can be made use of or taken advantage of;
to give the palm to to admit as best/pre-eminent/winner;
to give a person beans/socks to punish or defeat severely;
to give tongue (or mouth) to to express in speech;
to go into a flat spin to become muddled, to panic;
to go to the country (of a government) to resign and have a general election;
to go to pieces of a thing, to be ruined; of a person, physically/ mentally/morally, to
deteriorate, to break up;
to go under for a person, to fall into a state in his career/business/social position,
where he no longer has the importance/success/prestige, he formerly had;
to go up (or end) in smoke to lead to no effective result, to be a failure.

Grammar
THE INFINITIVE

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT
Comment upon the following:
A book is the product of mind and yearning, spread patiently across long centuries. It is
the sign and symbol of mans culture and understanding. It prevents the loss of good thinking
and it expands mans highest moments of permanency. It is the carrier and distributor of the
germinations of the mind. It will not permit noble visions to wither. It breathes vitality into
the past and brightens the eyes that search the future. (Peabody
Journal of Education)
A man will turn over half a library to make one book.
(Samuel Johnson)
If teachers can accumulate degrees and write books, well and good, but the first
requisite should be their ability to inspire youth.
(Eleanor Roosevelt)

Lesson 2

SCULPTURE

Comprehension
Answer the following questions:
a) Why is the day referred to in the first text called critique day?
b) What is the policy of VCU?
c) Why is it important for the graduates of VCU art school to meet with their professors
and the critics?
d) How are the students dressed on that particular day?
e) What do most art schools in America tend to stress about?
f) What materials do graduate students use in their creations?
g) How would you characterize the works of John Van Alstine?

Match the phrasal verbs on the left with the corresponding explanation on the right:
look after think about the future
look ahead watch out; be careful
look for respect
look down on have a view
look up to rely on somebody
look out take care of
 look onto search for
look up read
look at search for (a word) in a reference book
look to despise
Use the above phrasal verbs in sentences of your own.

Grammar
THE PARTICIPLE
Participial Constructions
The Accusative with the Participle
The Nominative with the Participle
The Absolute Nominative with the Prticiple
Practise the participial constructions mentioned above.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT
Mind the following pieces of wisdom referring to success:
The man who is afraid of making a big mistake will never make a big success; more
opportunities are lost by over-preciseness than through carelessness.
The world is filled with people who have worked hard but have little to show for it.
Something more than hard work is necessary; it is creative thinking and firm belief in your
ability to execute your ideas. The successful people in history have succeeded through their
thinking. Their hands were merely helpers to their brains.
Do you know how to fail? If you do, then you will know also the secret of succeeding,
for the two are forever locked together.
Success is getting what you want out of life without violating the rights of others.
The father of success is work. The mother of success is ambition. The eldest son is
common sense. Some of the other boys are perseverance, honesty, thoroughness, foresight,
enthusiasm and cooperation.
The eldest daughter is character. Some of the other sisters are cheerfulness, loyalty,
courtesy, care, economy, sincerity and harmony.
The baby is opportunity.
Get acquainted with the old man and youll be able to get along pretty well with the
rest of the family.
Women can never be as successful as men; they dont have wives to help them.

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful
woman is one who can find such a man.
(Teachers Treasury of Stories for Every Occasion)

Lesson 3

MUSIC
The first text in the workbook is a short biographical note; the second one is an
interview. Imagine you are a reporter and you are asked by the editor of our university
magazine to interview a famous Romanian musician. Dont forget to put a short biography at
the beginning of your interview.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions:
a) When and where was Sergiu Celibidache born?
b) What did he study and where?
c) What University did he graduate from in Germany?
d) What was his doctoral thesis about?
e) Why was Celibidache so much sought after?
f) What did he incorporate in the art of conducting?
g) How did Celibidache form the young conductors?
h) When did he die?
i) What awards and honours did he receive?
Match the following phrasal verbs on the left with the explanations on the right:

hold back control (oneself/feelings)

hold in delay; prevent development
hold off wait to get sth desired
hold on postpone
hold out keep at a distance; delay
hold out for endure; resist
hold out on wait
hold over delay; rob
hold up keep a secret from sb

Grammar
The Gerund
The Perfect Gerund
Written Assignment
Write an essay starting from the famous idea that music is the real universal language.
Lesson 4
BEAUTY PAGEANTS

The text in the workbook is a commentary upon what beauty pageants may mean and it
is written by a columnist of The Times. Read it attentively and make an outline of the main
ideas.

Comprehension
True or false?
1. All beauty pageant contestants share common features.
2. They have legs shorter than tent poles.
3. They are always bright.
4. They exploit their looks as a way to improve their English.
5. All beauty contestants are pretty.
6. Fashion models are as vilified as the beauty contestants.
7. Some may equally speak six languages.
8. Most people who like watching Miss Universe are men.
9. Beauty contestants match most mens template of a sexy woman.
10.The author always goes to pageant beauty contests.
Invent a little story referring to beauty queens using the following idioms: pull
someones leg; wash your dirty linen in public; sweep sth under the carpet; take someone
under your wing; behind your back; give someone a hand; a white lie; let the cat out of the
bag; below the belt; pull the wool over someones eyes.
 After reading the passage in the workbook answer the questions which follow it.

1. What is suggested by the phrase academic debate?

2. What does it refer to?
3. Give an alternative phrase for quench our insatiable desire.
4. Explain what tit-bits and more substantial chunks refer to.
5. In what sense has the glimpse into the Queens jewel box been long-awaited?
6. In what sense has the Queens jewel box been publicly undressed?
7. What two functions are the jewels described as having?
8. Explain the use of the word colourful.

The last lesson of our practical course is meant to be as the English say in lighter
vein. As we amused ourselves with the efforts of fake queens and the fancies of real
queens, well have a good laugh listening to politicians. If you manage to correct their
English, you wont become better politicians but youll be better specialists in English. Good
luck!
You dont need to be smart to be president.
I think anybody who doesnt think Im smart enough to handle the job is
underestimating.
Rarely is the question asked: is our children learning.
Its clearly a budget. Its got a lot of numbers in it.
Laura and I really dont realize how bright our children is sometime until we get an
objective analysis.
I understand small business growth. I was one.
Ive changed my style somewhat, as you know. Im less, I pontificate less, although it may be
hard to tell it from this show. And Im more interacting with people.
The most important job is not to be governor, or first lady in my case.
The important question is, How many hands have I shaked?
Keep good relations with the Grecians.
I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.
Will the highways in the Internet become more few?
They misunderestimated me.
We have struggle to not proceed but to proceed to the future of a nations child.
The reason we start a war is to fight a war, win a war, thereby causing no more war!
(The first presidential debate)
Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream.
Theres a huge trust. I see it all the time when people come up to me and say, I dont
want you to let me down again.
I think if you know what you believe, it makes it a lot easier to answer questions. I
cant answer your question.
You teach a child to read and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.
If youre sick and tired of the politics of cynicism and polls and principles, come and
join this campaign.
I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family.
There needs to be debates, like were going through. There needs to be townhall
meetings. There needs to be travel. This is a huge country. (Larry King Live, Dec. 16, 1999)
Unless otherwise specified, the quotations were selected from
Home of the George W. Bush quote library, 2000-2001.

CONSOLIDATION EXERCISES
Use the words in brackets in the correct tense.
1. The weather (get) colder since the end of October.
2. The children (look) forward to seeing snow for a long time.
3. Yesterday it (start) to snow and they (get) very excited.
4. After it (snow) for an hour, they (go) outside to play.
5. How long (she, live) in this county?
6. (your family, live) here all their lives?
 7. We (not have) a test yesterday.
8. We (not have) a test for a long time.
9. We (have) a seminar in English literature now.
10. The bell (ring) when the teacher entered the room.
11. Anas (learn) to play the piano when she was three.
12. She (like) to play the piano.
13. I (receive) her invitation last week; I (not see) her for weeks.
14. The professor has just told me he (be) very busy tomorrow.
15. He (be) very tired by the time he (get) back.

Use the appropriate modals.

1. After finishing the exam (go home permission)
1. After passing our exams (go on holiday ability)
2. Since its nearly midnight (stop/study advisability)
3. My friend is going to the doctor this afternoon so (feel/well deduction)
4. The translation isnt finished yet but (be/soon expectation)
5. I have nothing to do tonight so (call on him possibility)
6. Your sister is still sleeping so (make/noise prohibition)
7. They serve five courses in this restaurant but(eat negative obligation)
8. I have plenty of change so (leave/tip willingness)
9. There is trout on the menu (order desire)

Put the verbs in brackets in the subjunctive.

1. Its not likely that they (change) addresses.
2. It was very odd that we (meet) in my friends house.
3. It is doubtful that her behaviour (change) before we return.
4. It seemed necessary that his friends (keep away) from interfering with his work.
5. It is strange that she (say) such a thing; its not like her.
6. It was inevitable that the conversation with George (turn) upon novel writing.
7. It was amazing that this coarse man (be) so worried about a dog.
8. She listened in silence to Alexs explanation why it was essential that he (remain) at
the airport.
9. It is not fair that her daughter (send) to bed so early on a day like this.
10. It was all wrong that someone so young (be) so ill.

Put the appropriate form of the infinitive.

1. He was anxious (win) the first prize.
2. I did not expect (invite) to the party.
3. I am sorry (disappoint) you, but I meant nothing of the kind.
4. They are supposed (experiment) in this field for about a year and are believed
(achieve) good results.
5. He must (read) something funny, I can (hear) him laughing in the next room.
6. They seemed (hear) the news; they look excited.
7. The box is (handle) with care.
8. Dont worry about her, she is sure (have) a good time at the moment.
9. That man must (sit) here for about an hour. Who can he (wait) for?
10. He is happy (award) the Nobel Prize. The ceremony took
place yesterday.

Use the verbs in brackets without changing the meaning of the sentences below.

1. They say that this book was written by two people. (said)
2. There is nothing we can do about it. (done)
3. I hate them to leave me behind. (left)
4. You shouldnt take delight in other peoples failures. (gloat)
5. Could someone answer my question? (there)
6. It is usual for children to ask a lot of questions. (apt)
7. I disapprove of people who lie, he said. (disapproval)
8. Dont talk during the lesson! the teacher said. (forbade)
 9. He flew to New York with no stop-overs. (direct)
10. A speech was delivered and the film was shown. (first/later)
11. Why dont you give all these old clothes away? (rid)
12. He felt that his employers didnt appreciate him. (granted)
13. She said she was worried about the problem of pollution. (concern)
14. Some friends put his name forward to be spokesman. (nominated)
15. He suffers from delusions and hallucinations. (prone)
16. The end of the film was completely unexpected. (taken)
17. A rejection of their offer would have been foolish. (accepted)
18. It obviously wasnt her intention to offend you. (mean)
19. You should do what your tutor advises. (advice)
20. She said she disliked loud music. (expressed)

Make up new sentences as suggested between brackets.

1. She heard the news. She told all her friends.
(On)
2. When you finish your work, you can leave.
(The sooner)
3. The rain stopped. The sun came out.
(Hardly.)
4. Who does this house belong to?
(Who is .)
5. It is known that she took a drug overdose.
(She)
6. Should you hear from him, tell him to ring me.
(If)
7. We left the room and then we started laughing.
(Only)
8. He lost his job and his wife left him as well.
(Not)
9. It is impossible for me to do this again.
(There is..)
10. I had no idea that Sam was a musician.
(Little.)
Choose the most appropriate word to fill in the blanks.
1. The Prime Minister has .. the controversial statement he made about nuclear arms.
(retracted, extracted, pulled out, renounced)
2. NATO has ordered its troops to .. of the area. (pull out, extract, renounce, retract)
3. Following a drink-driving charge, his driving licence was .. by the court. (refused,
denied, revoked, rejected)
4. Alex begged Bussaba to help him but she .. (denied, refused, rejected, revoked)
5. I wasnt .. to see a queue outside the new cinema hall. (taken aback, astounded,
amazed, surprised)
6. She was a little .. by this strange behaviour. (astounded, amazed, surprised, taken
aback)
7. I dont think youre suitably .. for this party. (clothed, clad, wearing, dressed)
8. The knight was .. shining armour. (clad in, clothed in, dressed in, wearing)
9. As a single parent, its difficult for her to .. a family. (support, afford, put up with,
withstand)
10.The building finally fell down, unable to .. the terrible earthquake. (put up with,
withstand, support, afford)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

COMPULSORY
1. Lupu, Janeta, English Practical Course Workbook, advanced level, Editura Fundaiei Romnia
de Mine, Bucureti, 2002.
 2. Evans, Virginia, CPE. Use of English. Grammar Practice, Express Publishing, Swansea, UK.,
1998.
3. Graver, B.D., Advanced English Practice, OUP, 1994.
4. Cobuild, Collins, English Grammar, Harper Collins Publishers, 1990.

SUPPLEMENTARY
1. Swan, Michael, Practical English Usage, 2nd ed., OUP, 1995.
2. Milton, J., B. Blake, V. Evans, A Good Turn of Phrase. Advanced Practice in Phrasal Verbs
and Prepositional Phrases, Express Publishing, Swansea, UK, 2000.
3. Milton, J., V. Evans, A Good Turn of Phrase, Advanced Idiom Practice, Express Publishing,
Swansea, UK, 2000.