general communication topics

8/10/2019 General Communication Topics

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READY FOR EXAMS - GENERAL COMMUNICATION TOPICS

GENERAL COMMUNICATION TOPICS

TRAVELLING

a) Useful Vocabulary

1. General Terms:

trip, voyage, cruise, desk clerk, departure (= plecare), arrival, customs (= vama), passport office,

reservation, registration card, transit, passport control, tent, chalet, cabana, motel

. Terms and !hrases "eferring to #eans of Transport:

by bus$car$plane, etc., bus coach, rail%ay, tube, train, throughtrain (= tren direct), fast train (=

accelerat), 1 st class train, platform (= peron), luggage van (vagon pentru baga&e), sleeper (= vagon de

dormit), seat, a seat facing the engine, a seat back to the engine, berth (= cuseta)

ship, vessel, liner, porthole (= hublou), boat, to embark, to sail, sailor$mariner, seaman, carriage (=

compartiment), seasick

airplane, airport, to take off( = a decola),to land (=a ateri'a), to fasten one s belt (= a si prinde centura

de siguranta), non stop flight, ste%ardess$(air)hostess, sick bag, airsick, parachute, cabin

car, limousine, automobile, petrol, oil, radiator, engine, puncture (= pana), tyre (= cauciuc), spare %heel

(= roata de re'erva), spark plug (= bu&ie), battery, petrol station, lights (= faruri), one %ay street, speed

limit, driving licence, to slo% do%n, speed, parking, engine, ta*i$cab, ta*i rank (=statie de ta*iuri), fare

(= ta*a), dispatcher (= dispecer la ta*iuri)

+on t lean out of the %indo%-

hat /uai does the boat lie0 (= a ce chei este acostat vasul0)

b) Language functions

1. 2sking for 3nformation and Giving +irections:

4an you tell me the %ay to .......0

5o% much is the fare0

1




hat is the route of ..........0

here can 3 embark for .........0

hat does a ticket cost0

2t %hat time do %e reach ..........0

6*cuse me, 3 %onder if you could tell me if there s an airport near here, please.6*cuse me, could you tell me %here the cinema is, please0

3 m sorry, 3 m afraid 3 m a stranger here myself.

Go straight along. Go do%n$up.

Turn left$right.

Take the first$second$third on your left$right.

3t s on the left$right beside$ne*t to$opposite$bet%een$across from$on the comer.

. 6*pressing !reference7

3 prefer going by car to going by bus.

3t is more comfortable going by$plane than by train.

c) Situational Topics

1. hat %ould you do if you %ere a foreign tourist %ho %anted to get to 8t. !aul s 4athedral0

. hat %ould you ask if you %ere at the airport in 9ucharest and you had to arrive in ondon the

follo%ing day0

. ;ive foreigners, an 6nglishman, a <apanese, an 2merican, an 3talian and a "ussian %ho speak 6nglish have to spend a four hour train &ourney in the same rail%ay compartment. ho do you think

%ould start speaking first0 ho %ould give the most$the least information about himself0 hat do you

think each %ould do if a young lady came into the compartment %ith t%o large heavy suitcases0 5o%

do you think each %ould react if they found they could not open the door of the compartment at the end

of the &ourney0

. >ou are standing at the crossroads bet%een ?icholson 8treet and 5ill !lace. >ou %ant to kno% ho%

to get to 6dinburgh 4astle. hat do you say0 3n addition to asking for directions to get to the 4astle,

ho% %ould you ask about the follo%ing:

distance..............................

means of transport ..............................

entry charge ..............................

@. >ou are at a bus stop near your house. There are several people %aiting. 2 number A is coming. >ou




%ant to kno% if the bus takes you to the centre of the city. hat do you say 0

B. 3 hear you travelled to ondon last %eek. Tell me about it.

C. 3 kno% you ve been to D82. hat have you visited there0

E. >ou have to meet an ac/uaintance %ho %ill arrive at 5eathro% 2irport in ondon to ne*t Tuesday

but you don t kno% the flight number and the arrival time. Telephone the airport and make in/uiries.A. >ou are at a rail%ay station. >ou go to the 9ooking Fffice and ask ho% long it takes you to travel to

?e%castle and %hat the fare is.

1 . >ou are travelling by train but %hen you arrive, you reali'e you have lost your rucksack. >ou go to

the ost !roperty Fffice, e*plain %hat has happened and describe the contents of the rucksack.

11. #ake a dialogue bet%een a train conductor and a passenger %ho has lost his ticket.

1 . 3magine you and your friends are in the ake +istrict and you have lost the %ay. 2fter an hour of

unsuccessful attempts, you finally meet another group of tourists %ho have been there several limes.

2sk them to sho% you the %ay.

HOBBIES


1. 5obbies:

acting7 ballet (going to)7 bird %atching7 building models7 car racing (%atching)7 chess (playing)7cinema (going to)7 computer (playing computer games)7 concerts (going to)7 cooking7 cycling7 dancing7

driving7 films (%atching)7 fishing7 football7 gardening7 hang gliding7 hiking7 hunting7 &ogging7 knitting7

model making7 mountaineering7 movies (going to)7 opera (going to the)7 painting7 parachuting7 pets

(looking after)7 photography (taking photos)7 poetry (%riting)7 reading7 records (listening to)7 riding7

skiing7 surfing7 tennis (playing)7 theatre(going to)T video (making$ %atching)7 %alking7 %ater skiing7

yoga

. 4ollections:

badges7 maga'ines7 posters7 coins7 models7 records7 coke cans7 match bo*es7 shells7 flags7 model cars7

stickers7 photos7 stamps

. 4haracterising 5obbies

rela*ing7 healthy7 e*citing7 e*pensive7 dangerous7 boring7 interesting7 involving the mind7 a means of

escaping routine7 helping you to keep fit




. +escribing Things:

H shape: circular7 oval7 rectangular7 round7 s/uare7 triangular

H te*ture:, smooth7 rough7 flat7 bumpy

H measurement: heavy7 long, short7 narro%7 %ide7 solid material: brass7 concrete7 cotton7 leather7

porcelain7 rubber7 steel7 velvet7 %oodenH properties: hard7 rigid7 light7 soft7 fle*ible7 brittle (= casant)7 transparent7 unbreakable7 opa/ue7 solid7

hollo% (gol in interior)

b) Language Functions

1. 6*pressing ikes7

3 like$en&oy$love$adore ... 3 m very keen on ...

3 m very fond of...

hat 3 particularly$most$greatly en&oy isI

...is %onderful$very en&oyable

...is a lovely %ay to pass the time

...is a lovely %ay of spending an evening$afternoon$a day off

There is nothing 3 like$en&oy more thanI

...is one of my favourite pastimes

. 6*pressing +islikes:

... is not one of my favourite ... 3 really hate ...3 think ... is pretty a%ful$really unpleasant

3 m not really keen on ...

There s nothing 3 like less than ...

3 can t bear$stand ...

(;ormal:)

3 m not over enthusiastic aboutI

3 must say 3 m not too fond ofI

3 have to admit 3 rather dislike ...

. 2sking about +islikes:

+o you like...0

+o you en&oy...0

2re you keen on...0

...is nice$pleasant, isn t it0




3sn t ... great$fantastic0

+on t you love...0

+on t you find ... very e*citing$en&oyable0

c) Situational Topics:

1. hat is the difference bet%een a &ob and a hobby0. hich are the advantages of having a hobby 0

. hat %ould you like to collect if you had enough money0 +escribe the ob&ects you %ould like to

have in your collection (refer to their shape, te*ture, measures, material, colours).

. +escribe an ob&ect %hich you treasure. 8peak about its story.

@. 8peak about your hobby or a hobby you %ould like to take up if you had enough time$money.

6*plain its advantages and disadvantages.

B. 8peak about teenagers free time activities.

C. 2 friend tries to persuade you to take up a sport like parachuting or hang gliding. hat do you say0

E. Think about a game$sport you like. 6*plain its rules.

A. +escribe a person %hom you kno% %ell: physical appearance, &ob, hobbies, style of clothes.

1 . >ou have lost your gloves and your umbrella in a ta*i. >ou go to the ost !roperty Fffice. Give the

necessary information about you (name, address, phone number), describe the ob&ects and e*plain the

circumstances in %hich you lost them.

11. hat %ould you say in the follo%ing situation:

8tudent 2: >ou are intervie%ing student 9 %ho %ants to get a &ob at your travelling agency. >ou haveto find out %hat his /ualifications, abilities, hobbies and interests are.

8tudent 9: >ou have applied for the &ob and no% you are at a formal intervie%. 2ns%er student 2 s

/uestions, giving information about yourself.

@




MUSIC


1. #usical 3nstruments and 2ccessories:

to play an instrument, orchestra, piano, fiddle (= vioara), violin, viola, trumpet, guitar, clarinet, flute (=flaut), %histle (= fluier), tuba, tape recorder, cassette recorder, keyboards (= clape), sound, tune, 4.+.

. #usic and +ancing 8tyles7 !rofessions7 #usic ;ans:

Hmusician, conductor (= diri&or), singer, band, melody, light music, vocal music, choral music, music

hall, &a'', pop music, rock music, disco music, electronic music, rap music, hip hop music, soul music,

techno music, funky music, heavy metal, rhythm, minuet, %alt', tango, rock n roll, blues, bossanova,

conga, samba, rumba, lambada, break dance, rocker, raper, hippy, hit, top, album, single

a) Language Functions

6*pressing ikes$+islikes:

3 prefer rock music to pop music.

#y favourite band$singer is ...

3 don t like ... (a band, a singer)


1. >ou are having a noisy party at home %hen your neighbours telephone to complain. 2pologi'e and

e*plain.. ho are your favourite singers or bands0 hat is your favourite music0 "efer to the music style, the

clothes they %ear, their hits, etc.

. hat %ould you do if you %ere a pop$a rock star and you %anted to get rid of a group of cra'y fans0

. 5o% %ould you define music in one or t%o sentences 0

@. >ou meet your favourite pop$rock singer$band. hat do you ask him0

B. >ou like disco music and your friend likes techno music. 3n a dialogue, give for and against

arguments.

C. 3 hear you ve been to a concert. 3magine you re a TJ or a radio reporter and describe it.

E. >ou like the music of the A s, %hereas your father likes the music of the B s. Give for and against

arguments.

A. >our aged neighbour complains about your noisy music. #ake a dialogue on this idea.

1 . 3s there any connection bet%een the music and the spirit of a %hole generation0 Give arguments.

11. 3 hear you had a party at home %hen your parents %ere absent, but your neighbours informed them.

B




hat happened0

C




OO!


1. 9ars, !ubs and "estaurants Jocabulary :

public house (pub), cafB, snack bar, order, %aiter$%aitress, cook, chef (= bucatar sef), menu, tabled hote$regular meal (= bucataria casei), a la carte (= meniu la alegere), recipe (= reteta), reserved

table$table cloth (= fata de masa), counter (= te&ghea).

. Terms and !hrases about #eals and 4ooking:

breakfast, lunch, brunch (breakfast K lunch), tea, dinner, supper

bacon and eggs, porridge, fruit yoghurt, entree (= aperitiv), sand%ich, fried eggs, omelette, boiled eggs,

fruit salad, toast (bread), pi''a

&am, marmalade, %hite coffee, black coffee, Turkish coffee, filter coffee, instant coffee, 4appuccino,

biscuits, bun (= chifla), muffin (=briosa), do(ugh)nuts, mulberry pie, apple pie, stra%berry pie

cream soup, tomato soup, celery soup (= supa de telina), noodle soup (= supa de taitei), mushroom

soup, pea soup (= supa de ma'are), chicken soup, course (= fel de mancare)

mutton chops, pork, beef, chicken, turkey, hamburger, mincemeat balls, hot dog, mustard, barbecue (=

gratar), haggis, fish and chips, crisps, 3rish ste% (= ghiveci), seasoning (= condimente), vegetables,

oysters (= stridii), octopus (= caracatita),lobster (= homar), smoked salmon, trout (= pastrav), pickles

(= muraturi), curry, tomato &uice, gravy (= sos de carne), mashed potatoes (= piure), dressings (= sosurisi condimente), salt and pepper

to bring to the boil, to pour, to stir (= a agita), to chop, to cut into slices, to garnish, to peel (= a co&i), to

%hisk (= a bate cu telul), to grind (= a macina), to melt, to thicken (= a ingrosa)

drinks, alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, %hisk(e)y, beer, a pint of beer, mug (= halba), ale (= bere

alcooli'ata), lager (= bere slab alcooli'ata), guinness (= bere neagra irlande'a), cider (= cidru), brandy,

sparkling %ine$champagne

9on appetit-

5elp yourself to it- (= 8erveste te-)

5ave another glass of ... -

4heers-

to /uench one s thirst (= a si potoli setea)

to cater for all tastes (= a satisface toate gusturile)

E





1. 6*pressing ikes$+islikes:

3 like spaghetti$3 dislike pi''a.

3 don t care much for ...3 feel like eating ...

3 prefer pork to chicken.

. #aking 3n/uiries sho%ing that you are annoyed (in a restaurant):

3 m sorry, 3 did ask for ...

3 m sorry, 3 have been %aiting for 1@ minutes.

3 %ould like ... no%.

3 m sorry, this isn t good enough.

This has gone a little too far.

4ould 3 speak to the manager, please0

#ay 3 have the menu, please0

3 don t like the food. 3 %ant to talk to the chef-


1. rite your o%n recipe and e*plain it to your classmates.. >ou are in a restaurant having breakfast %hen you discover you have left your %allet at home. 4all

the %aiter and e*plain the situation.

. >ou drink in a tavern. hen you receive the bill you find that you have been overcharged. 2sk for

e*planations.

. #ake a dialogue bet%een an airplane passenger %ho is dissatisfied %ith the food and a ste%ardess

%ho is trying to meet his$her re/uirements.

@. 5o% %ould you ask a shop assistant to help you %ith some information and to serve you0 B. hat

%ould you say if you %ere at a restaurant %here they don t have your favourite dish and they don t

kno% ho% to cook it0

C. hat %ould you say if you %ere invited to a party %here the food is horrible in your opinion0

E. 3 hear you ve been to an 3talian "estaurant. hat have you eaten there0

A. 3 have never eaten such a delicious pi''a before. Tell me ho% you prepared it.

1 . 3 kno% you have a favourite curry recipe. hat is the secret0

A




11. e all kno% you have a favourite dish. hat is it 0 5o% do you cook it0

1




CINEMA


1. !eople:

director$film directory producer7 cameraman7 sound technician7 lighting engineer7 play%right7 star7

guest star7 actor$actress7 audience7 stunt artist. Types of films:

cartoon7 comedy7 documentary7 horror film7 tnusical7 soap opera7 thriller7 %estern7 serial

. 3nteriors and e/uipment:

aisle7 bo*7 cinema studio7 film sets (= decoruri)7 footlights7 spotlight (= reflector)7 ro%7 scenery7 stage7

%ings

. Jerbs:

to release a picture7 to prepare the script7 to star7 to cast7 to build sets7 to make costumes7 to shoot a

picture7 to add the soundtrack (= a adauga coloana sonora)7 to dub (= a titra)7 to play a part7 to perform7

to rehearse


6*pressing ikes$+islikes

3 prefer documentaries to cartoons.

#y favourite actor$actress is...

3 don t like... (an actor$an actress).

c) Situational Topics1. atching TJ has become one of the most popular pastimes. 8peak about its

advantages and disadvantages.

. hat makes for a good movie0 Give e*amples of such movies, pointing to their strengths.

. +escribe your favourite actor$actress, refer to his$her physical appearance, /ualities and career.

. 3s it possible that films %ill replace books in the future0 6*plain %hy or %hy not.

@. hich is your favourite type of films0 8peak about its characteristics (typical heroes, situations, sets,

effect on the vie%ers).

B. 5o% important is television to you0 +escribe your television %atching habits.

C. 6*press your opinion about advertisements on TJ. +escribe your favourite advertisement or imagine

one.

E. 3f you %ere %riting the script for a horror film$soap opera, %here %ould you set it0 +escribe the film

sets, the costumes, the special effects.

A. 3magine you are a famous actor$actress. +escribe a typical day in your life.

11




1 . >ou and your friend have decided to go to the cinema, but you can not agree on the film you %ould

like to see.

8tudent 2: >ou prefer thrillers. 3nvite your friend to come %ith you to see one of your favourite films.

8tudent 9: >ou %ould rather see a comedy. "efuse your friend s invitation politely.

11. 5o% does television influence the %ay people (especially children and teenagers) behave or think0

1




ASHION


1. 4lothes

H General: anorak7 pullover7 belt7 py&amas7 blouse7 raincoat7 braces7 scarf7 cardigan7 shirt7 collar7 s%eat

shirt7 dress7 T shirt7 gloves7 shorts7 &acket7 socks7 &eans7 suit7 &umper7 s%eater7 mackintosh7 uniform7overalls7 overcoat

H5eadgear: beret7 cap7 hat7 hood

H;oot%ear: boots7 sandals7 slippers7 shoes7 trainers

H 8ports %ear and s%im %ear: bikini7 s%imming costume (s%im suit for %omen)7

s%imming trunks (men)7 &ogging suit7 tracksuit

. #aterials: cotton7 silk7 denim7 %ool7 leather7 %oolen7 nylon

. !atterns:check (n$ad&)7 plain (ad&)7 checked (ad&)7 spot (n)7 flo%ery (ad&)7 spotted (ad&)7 patterned

(ad&)7 stripe (n)7 striped (ad&)

. General 2d&ectives: cheap7 ready made7 conservative7 tailor made7 elegant7 short sleeved7

long sleeved7 e*pensive7 e*travagant7 casual %ear7 fashionable7 old fashioned7 in fashion7 ne% fangled7

out of fashion7 smashing7 smart


1. !aying$4ompliments:

That s a (very) nice$smart coat-That dress suits you very %ell-

>ou look (very) nice$smart-

>ou re looking good-

>ou look great$fantastic$terrific-

3t s a pleasure looking at you-

. 6*pressing !reference:

3 d rather take that blue shirt.

3 d prefer the blue shirt to the redone.

3 like the anorak more$better than the &acket.

3 think 3 like the blue one better.

. 2sking about !reference:

+o you prefer the red one or the blue one0

hich do you prefer: the hat or the cap0

1




hat s your favourite0

ould you rather ...0

+o you like the silk blouse better0

. Giving 2dvice:

3f 3 %ere you, 3 d take the green one.3 think you should$ought to buy it.

hy don t you...0

Take my advice and ...

ell, my advice %ould be to ...

3 don t think you ought to ...

>ou d better not ...

3t s up to you but 3 %ouldn t...

3 %ouldn t ... if 3 %ere in your shoes$you.

>ou shouldn t ...


1. +escribe the type of clothes your favourite singer %ears.

. 8peak about a fashion designer or a top model you admire.

. 8peak about your tastes and preferences in clothes.

. +escribe the ideal clothes for a party$a trip in the mountains$a holiday at the

seaside.@. +o clothes reveal one s personality, mood, attitude to%ards the others0

B. 8peak about the special restrictions that govern the life of a top model.

C. hat %ould you say in the follo%ing situations:

8tudent 2: >ou are invited at a party ne*t %eek. >ou do not kno% ho% to dress for the occasion. 2sk

for your friend s advice.

8tudent 9: Give advice, helping your friend to choose the right clothes for the party.

E. 8tudent 2: >ou meet your former classmate at a %edding party. 6*press your admiration, paying

compliments on her looks.

8tudent 9: Thank for your friend s compliments and congratulate her on the %ay she looks.

A. ?arrate an unusual or funny incident that happened to you %hile shopping for clothes.

1 . 4ompare the tastes in clothes of t%o generations yours and your parents .

11. hat %ould you say in the follo%ing situations:

8tudent 2: >ou are the shop assistant. 2sk your customer about his$her preferences. Give advice and try

1




BOO"S


1. Types of 9ooks:

anthology7 adas7 booklet7 brochure7 children s books7 picture books7 nursery rhymes7 comics)7 cookery

book7 dictionary7 directory7 encyclopedia7 manual7 reference book . Types of fiction:

adventure story7 comedy7 detective story7 drama7 diary7 essay7 fairytale7 novel7 poem$heroic

poem$mock heroic poem7 poetry7 romance, story7 sonnet7 science fiction7 sketch7 short story7 tragedy

. ?on fiction:

autobiography7 biography7 travel books7 history books7, geography books

. !eople:

author7 bookseller7 book%orm7 critic7 dramatist7 editor7 librarian7 novelist7 short story %riter7 poet7

printer7 publisher7 play%right7 %riter

@. !arts of a book:

binding (= legatura)7 blurb (= pre'entare, reclama) 7 bibliography7 book mark (= semn de carte)7

chapter7 contents7 cover7 &acket7 introduction7 fore%ord, preface7 motto7 spine (= cotorul cartii)7 title

B. iterary terms:

allegory7 satire7 character7 message7 hero$heroine7 point of vie%7 description$ descriptive7 setting7

narration$narrative style7 dialogue7 theme7 monologue7 plot7 narrator7 stan'a7 humour7 symbol7 irony.7

tone7 parado*C. Jerbs:

to bro%se through sth (= a rasfoi)7 to flick through sth7 to read aloud$out loud7 to read silently7 to scan7

to skim7 to print7 to publish7 to type7 to %rite

E. ords related to the value of a book:

bestseller$block buster7 pulp fiction7 coffee table book7 masterpiece


6*pressing ikes$+islikes

5e prefers adventure books to psychological books.

#y favourite novel$%riter is...

The best book 3 have recently read is...


1B




1. hat kind of books do you prefer0 6*plain your choice.

. +escribe your favourite character.

. 8peak about a book %hich impressed and influenced you a lot.

. 6*plain the difference bet%een a masterpiece and a best seller. Give e*amples.

@. +o you think that books influence the %ay you behave or think0 Give arguments to support youropinion.

B. hy do you read0 +o you have different purposes in reading different types of books0 6*plain

%hich these purposes are.

C. +escribe a perfect place for reading. +o you have a special place %here you read books0

E. hich are the chances of books in a competition %ith television and computers in the 1 st century0

+o people still read books0 6*plain %hy$%hy not.

A. +o you prefer reading a book or seeing a film based oh the book0 !resent the advantages and

disadvantages of each of them.

1 . hat kind of books do people read at different ages0 +o children, teenagers, adults have different

reasons for reading0 hat are these reasons0

1C




SPORTS


1. 8ports and 8port !layers

football (soccer), footballer, baseball, handball, volley ball, rugby, basketball, ro%ing, canoeing,

canoeist, bo*ing, bo*er, cycling, cyclist, fencing, fencer, &udo, &udoka, %restling, %restler, s%imming,s%immer, riding, rider, gymnastics, gymnast, car racing, car racer, (%ater) polo, poloist, chess, cricket,

golf, angling (= pescuit), angler (= pescar), %eight lifting, athletics, athlete, long &ump (= saritura in

lungime), high &ump (= saritura in inaltime), discus, &avelin thro%ing (=aruncarea sulitei), hammer

thro%ing (= aruncarea ciocanului), pole vault (= saritura cu pra&ina), putting the shot (= aruncarea

greutatii), marathon, hurdling, hurdler, diving, diver, la%n tennis, table tennis, yachting, (ice) hockey,

skiing, skating, skater, sleigh (= sanie), bobsleigh (= bob)

. Terms and !hrases about 8ports

tennis court, racket, net (=f ileu), stadium, medal, gold medal, silver medal, bron'e medal, trainer $

coach (= antrenor), (s%imming) pool, running track (= pista de alergari), skating rink (= patinoar),

match, indoor (= in sala), outdoor (= in aer liber), champion, chess board (= tabla de sah), referee (=

arbitru), start, finish, dra% (= meci terminat la egalitate), home team (= echipa ga'da), visiting team (=

echipa oaspete), friendly match (= meci amical), %orld record, %orld champion, Flympic champion,

championship, goal keeper (= portar), centre for%ard (= inaintas), back (= fundas), half back (=

mi&iocas), free kick (= lovitura libera), penalty, yello% card, red card, to break a record (= a dobori unrecord), to set a record (= a stabili un record), to %in a medal, to score a goal (= a marca un gol, a

inscrie)

hat is your personal best0 (= 4are este recordul tau personal0)

hich team do you support 0 (= 4u care echipatii0)

ho came in first$second 0

hat time is the kick off0 (= a ce ora incepe meciul 0)

+o you belong to a sports club 0


6*pressing ikes and +islikes

#y favourite player is...

3 prefer ... to ... (a sport$a game$a player).

1E

general communication topics

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