Dan: Oh yeah … I remember … it runs directly off London Road. So, where’s the house?
Jenny: It’s a little way up on the left … not far from the house with the party.
Dan: So, what’s good about it then? Jenny: Well, there’s quite a lot really. It needs work, but work we could definitely do … or that wouldn’t cost too much to get done. The price reflects the condition.
Dan: So, are they all semis around there? Jenny: No, no … it’s detached. There’s quite a decent- sized garden. It isn’t huge, but it’s definitely a possibility.
Dan: Four bedrooms? Jenny: Yeah, but the loft could easily be converted into a fifth. I looked up there. It’s big enough for a bedroom with a shower room. One of the two bigger bedrooms has a nice balcony overlooking the garden too, big enough to walk out onto and maybe put a couple of chairs.
Dan: That sounds nice. Jenny: It’s got a good-size cellar too. It’s been left unloved and it’s a bit dark and damp, but I reckon we could dry it out and make a really useful space out of it.
Dan: That’s good too. What about the state of the plumbing and the heating and so on?
Jenny: Not good. That would need a complete overhaul. The central heating system’s had its day. The radiators are old and I’d say the water tank needs replacing too.
Dan: That’d be quite a big expense then. Jenny: It would … but we’ll talk about it. The whole place needs rewiring too. The electrics look quite dodgy, frankly. Plumbing and electrics would be the biggest jobs.
Dan: OK, I guess anywhere we buy will need rewiring. What about the walls and so on … you know, general upkeep?
Jenny: Not too bad. There’s plaster coming away from the walls in places. It’s worst in the hall. I’d say some rooms need replastering, but not necessarily from scratch.
Dan: Mm … you know what’s it’s like. It’s often easier to just take it all off and start again.
Jenny: Yeah, I guess so. Some floorboards need replacing too. There are a few gaps. The floors will all need to be stripped and treated, but a few boards will definitely need replacing.
Dan: OK, what about …? Jenny: Oh … sorry, I interrupted … but the roof’ll need a bit of work too.
Dan: Tiles coming off? Jenny: No, not that so much …, though I didn’t really check. It’s more the chimney and guttering. The estate agent warned me that the chimney had been a bit damaged and since there’s an open fire in the living room, we’d have to look at it carefully. The guttering’s coming away from the roof all along the front elevation … the drainpipe down is pretty rickety too. I think that’ll all need to go.
218 Pathway to IELTS 6.0
Dan: Well, that’s not a huge job. Anything we go for will probably need that sort of thing doing. I’m guessing the kitchen’s pretty old too.
Jenny: Oh yeah … well, that goes without saying. We’ll need to fit a new kitchen and probably replaster it first. There are some really gross grey tiles all over the kitchen. They’ll have to come off and I doubt what’s underneath is very pleasant!
Dan: OK … well, you can fill me in on anything else when I get back this evening. I guess I’d better get back and do some work now. Remind me of the price again.
Jenny: It’s on for 420,000, but I’m pretty sure they’d come down. The estate agent wouldn’t say it directly, but I think he knows they won’t get the asking price.
Dan: Yeah, 420’s a bit steep. Anyway, thanks for going and seeing it. Would it be a good idea for you to get back onto the agent again to arrange for both of us to go …
084
Unit 8 Listening 2
C Listen again and answer the questions. [Play
083 again] 085 Unit 8 Consolidation – Speaking
A Look at the exchanges between an examiner and some students. Listen to the students answering the questions. What do you think about the students’ answers? 1
Examiner: So, tell me about a part of your city that you like.
Student: I don’t like any part of my city. It’s a horrible city. 2
Examiner: So, Paris must be a lovely to place to study. You’re very lucky.
Student: No, it’s overrated. Everything’s too expensive for a student like me.
3
Examiner: What do you think of that amazing new museum they’ve just built?
Student: I hate it. It’s a blot on the landscape. 086 Unit 8 Consolidation – Speaking
B Listen to the students answering the questions again. How are their answers better? 1
Examiner: So, tell me about a part of your city that you like. Student: Actually, there are not many parts of my city that I really like. To tell you the truth, I’m getting bored of it and I’ll be glad to move away next year.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227
