Shopping Day

Hello, dear 8th Formers! 

Learn to speak about shops and your shopping day!

How I Went Shopping 

    One day my friend Jack and I decided to go shopping. I took a large sum of money and Jack took his father's salary. Jack needed some new clothes badly. There are a lot of shops, supermarkets and department stores in the centre of the city, so we decided to go through some of them.

The first shop on our way was a large supermarket. The choice of goods was very impressive. It seemed to us that on the counters and shelves there was everything one could want. We could see sausages of different kinds, fish, meat, poultry. At the bakery there was bread, rolls, biscuits. At the dairy department there was milk, cream, cheese, butter. Everything was nicely packed and when we came to the cashier our baskets were full.

Then we went to the department store which was right across the street. Jack and I are fond of computers and hi-fi equipment, so we couldn't go past our favourite department. There were a lot of various smart gadgets there. Jack bought a new MP 3 - player and I bought a laptop. And then, at last, we found the men's clothing department. There were a lot of suits, trousers, shirts and many other things. Jack needed a suit because he was going to the theatre with his girl friend and her parents. A moment later, a shop assistant came up to us and asked what we were looking for. We said we were looking for a suit for Jack who was rather tall and slim. The shop assistant asked Jack's size and offered him a nice suit. But when jack tried it on we saw the suit didn't fit him. It was a bit too big for him. So, we asked the shop assistant to bring us another suit of a smaller size. Some time later Jack looked like a real gentleman. The suit, which was of black colour, suited him perfectly. The shop assistant also showed Jack a wonderful tie and Jack agreed to buy it.

We had to go home by taxi because our bags were so huge that we could hardly lift them. We came home completely broke but happy.

The new words:

1. salary - зарплата, жалованье

2. needed badly  - сильно был нужен

3. impressive - впечатляющий

4. counter - прилавок  

 5. shelf (shelves) - полка (полки)

6.  poultry - мясо птицы

7. rolls - булочки

8. cashier -  кассир 

customer

cashier

aisle 

basket

trolley

scales

fitting room or changing room 

escalator

cheque

barcode

cash

wallet or purse 

a shelf - shelves 

sale 

purchase 

Don't forget that your level is Upper-Intermediate!

Dear 11th formers! Happy New Year to you and all your dearest and nearest! 

When writing an essay or speaking don't forget that your grammar level should be upper-intermediate! 

Show that you know how to use not only Present Simple and Past Simple,

but also Present Perfect, Modal Verbs, Passive Voice

(Present Simple Passive, Present Perfect Passive, Present Continuous Passive, Past Simple Passive, Past perfect Passive, Past Continuous Passive,

Future Simple Passive, Future Perfect Passive,

for example:  

1. The road is known to have been built some years ago.

2. They say, the information has been introduced by the president.),

Conditionals,  etc.!  

Грамматика уровня Upper-Intermediate из Кодификатора ЕГЭ

 3.3.   Грамматическая сторона речи 

3.3.1 Употреблять в речи различные коммуникативные типы предложений: утвердительные, вопросительные(общий, специальный. альтернативный, разделительный вопросы в Present, Future, Past Simple, Present Perfect, Present Continuous), отрицательные, побудительные.(в утвердительной и отрицательной форме).

3.3.2 Употреблять в речи распространённые и нераспространённые простые предложения , в том числе с несколькими обстоятельствами, следующими в определённом порядке (We moved to a new house last year.)

3.3.3 Употреблять в речи предложения с начальным It 

(It's cold. It's five o'clock. It's interesting. It's winter.)

3.3.4  Употреблять в речи предложения с начальным  There + to be

( There are a lot of trees in the park . There has been a tremendous increase in prices recently.)

 3.3.5 Употреблять в речи сложносочинённые предложения  с сочинительными союзами and, but, or.

3.3.6 Употреблять в речи сложноподчинённые предложения с с союзами и союзными словами what, when, why, which, that, who, if, because, that's why, than, so, for, since, during, so that, unless.

3.3.7  Употреблять в речи условные предложения реального (Conditional I - 

If I see Jim, I'll invite him to our school party.) и нереального (Conditional II -  If I were you, I would start learning French.) характера.

3.3.8 Употреблять в речи предложения с конструкцией I wish  (I wish I had my own room.) 

3.3.9  Употреблять в речи предложения с конструкцией  so/such

(I was so busy that I forgot to phone my parents.)

3.3.10 Употреблять в речи эмфатические конструкции типа

It's him who... It's time you did something.

3.3.11 Употреблять в речи предложения с конструкциями as...as; not so...as; either...or; neither...nor.

3.3.12  Употреблять в речи конструкции с глаголами на -ing:

to love/hate doing sth; Stop talking.

3.3.13 употреблять в речи конструкции

It takes me...to do sth.   to look/feel/be happy.

3.3.14 Использовать косвенную речь в утвердительных и вопросительных предложениях в настоящем и прошедшем времени. 

 

 

Go on with your essay writing practice

Dear students! 

Don't give up practicing your essay writing!

Here are some more topics:

 1. Some people spend their entire lives at one place. Others move a number of times throughout their lives, looking for a better job, house, community, or even climate. What idea do you prefer: staying in one place or moving in search of another place?

 2. Is it better to enjoy your money when you earn it or is it better to save your money for some time in the future?

3.Some people think that to be a good friend is great responsibility. Others think that to be a good friend is enough to like the person.  

4.  There is an opinion that a healthy diet is enough to make one fit. however, some people insist that to be fit one should lead a healthy way of life.

5. Some people think that visiting the biggest cities of Europe is more interesting than traveling in Russia.  

6. Some people hate advertisements and commercials, while others think them to be very useful.

7. Mobile phones have become an inseparable part of our every day life. However, some people think that children shouldn't  have them.

 8. Some people think that to look fashionable is of no importance, while others  can't imagine their life without fashionable clothes and accessories.

9. Religious holidays have become very popular lately. However, there is an opinion that they should be celebrated  only by believers.

10. Some people think that ecological problems can be solved only by the governments, while others are sure that ordinary people can improve the situation. 

Some more topics for an opinion essay

Dear students, 

Go on with your essay writing practice! 

Here are some more statements you are supposed to express your opinion about: 

1. Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which place do you prefer to live in?

2.  Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people prefer to prepare and eat food at home. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

3. Some people think that university students should be required to attend classes. Others believe that going to classes should be optional for students. Which point of view do you agree with?

4. Some people think that they can learn better by themselves than with a teacher. Others think that it is always better to have a teacher. Which do you prefer?

 5. In some countries teenagers have jobs while they are still students. However, some people believe that first of all students should finish their education. What do you think?

6.  Some people believe that the Earth is being harmed by (damaged) by human activity. Others feel that human activity  makes the earth a better place to live. What is your opinion? 

Opinion Essays

Dear Students! 

Here are some topics for RNE:

1. We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers. They are used in businesses, hospitals, crime detection and even to fly planes. Is this dependence on computers a good thing or should we be more suspicious  of their benefits?

2. Some people think that zoos are sometimes seen as necessary but not poor alternatives to a natural environment while others are against zoos. What is your opinion about keeping animals in zoos?

  3. Some people think that damage of the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide improvements in the standard of of living while others consider it a natural process. What is your opinion?

4. Some people think that education is the most important single factor in the development of a country; while others pay much attention to the economic needs of the society.

5. Some people think that children should never be educated at home by their parents while others think it is the only way to get a brilliant education.

 6. Should wealthy nations be required to share their wealth among poorer nations by providing such things as food and education or is it a responsibility of governments of poorer nations to look after their citizens themselves?

7. In some countries an average worker is obliged to retire at the age of 50 while in others people have to work until they are 65 or 70. Until what age do you think people should be encouraged to remain in paid employment?

 8. In your opinion should the government intervene in the rights of the individual with regard to family planning?

9. Many people believe that women make better parents than men and that this is why they have a greater role in raising children in most societies. Others claim that men are just as good as women at parenting. What is your point of view?

10. Some people think that the threat of nuclear weapons maintains  world peace. Others believe that the disadvantages of nuclear technology far over weigh its benefits. What is your point of view?

11. Television has destroyed communication among friends and family. However, other people spend too much time watching it. What do you think about this statement? 

Should School Uniforms Be Abolished?

Dear 11th Formers! 

Will you, please, look at the recent sample opinion essay? 

It is placed in the rubric "Ger ready for your Russian National Exam - RNE".

8th Form Exam Topics (to be changed)

Dear 8th formers!

Here are finally the exam topics of the previous years. Do keep in mind that there can be changes and improvements in the coming spring!  Look at them in the rubric "Exam topics for 8th Formers"!