PRE-TEXT EXERCISES. 1. Look at the following international words, guess their meaning and check the pronunciation:

1. Look at the following international words, guess their meaning and check the pronunciation:

Civilization, territory, monarch, economic, political, system, social, geographic, modern, nationality, continental, zone, climate, nation, industry, electric, medical, instrument, financial, crisis, international, natural, problem, investor, corruption, administrative, federation, president, vandalism, association, elegant

2. Here are some expressions with the preposition by. Translate and learn them:

3. Fill in the gaps with the preposition by or the expressions above in the appropriate form:

1. They arrived in time and entered the ball room ___ .

2. We met ___ yesterday and went to the concert.

3. I do not like to learn ___ but I must learn a lot.

4. He called the boy ___ and gave him his documents.

5. What is she ___? Oh, she is an engineer.

6.We went there ___ and saw a lot out of the window of the carriage.

7. He led her slowly ___ and looked into her eyes.

8. Ann took somebody’s umbrella ___.

9. He had to visit the police ___.

10. She took her daughter ___ and led her to the car.

11. Can you ___ nine ___ three?

12. The rain caught her ___.

13. What do you ___ that?

14. We took their copy books ___.

15. Walter appeared in this town ___.

16. I prefer to travel ___ because I like to watch dolphins and sea-gulls.

17. Kevin tamed his lion cub quietly, slowly, ___.

18. What did he ___ that?

19. We never ___ people ___ appearances.

20. Mona is an architect ___.

21. ___ can you give me your umbrella? I have left mine.

4. Fill in the gaps with the prepositions of place: at, in or on:

1. What did you learn ___ the institute today?

2. We wanted to live and work ___ a farm.

3. We stopped ___ the traffic lights.

4. They built a new factory ___ the west of England.

5. There is nothing ___ my pocket.

6. There is nothing interesting ___ TV tonight.

7. There is an interesting picture ___ page seven.

8. There is a large black cloud ___ the sky.

9. Someone stopped ___ front of the house.

10. Someone stood ___ the door.

11. Peter sent me to buy some pills ___ the chemist’s.

12. My sister does not like city life. She wants to go to live ___ the country.

13. My father was working ___ home when I got home.

14. Mount Everest is the highest mountain ___ the world.

15. He lived ___ the third floor.

16. He is not in the office. He is ___ a business trip.

5. Choose the correct word and fill in the gaps:

1. We were caught ___ the storm.

a) in; b) on; c) by; d) at; e) with.

2. We arrived ___ the station too early.

a) in; b) on; c) by; d) at; e) with.

3. The sofa is very convenient ___ me.

a) in; b) on; c) by; d) for; e) to.

4. It makes no difference ___ me.

a) in; b) on; c) to; d) for; e) with.

5. Game was always very cruel ___ his family.

a) in; b) on; c) to; d) for; e) with.

6. It is necessary ___ him to take this exam.

a) to; b) in; c) on; d) for; e) with.

7. Daniel was always laughing ___ me when we were children.

a) on; b) at; c) in; d) with; e) for.

6. Arrange the words to make affirmative sentences:

Example: like / I / you = I like you

1. English / I / speak

2. hates / pigeons / he

3. they / song / a / sing

4. sell / flowers / we

5. you / see / me / can

6. buy / milk / he / wants to

7. feed / you / my / cat / can

8. sister / has / my / got / a dog

9. must / the book / read / you

7. BRAINSTORMING: Read the paragraph below and then choose the main idea for it:

It was a backward day at school. The students had to do things backward. Some of them wore their T-shirts backward. They took a test before they studied the lesson! Dessert was served first instead of last. They tried to walk home backward, but they bumped into each other and fell down.

8. Explain the meaning of the following phrases in English: