Unit 11: Experience

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Aims and Objectives

In this lesson you are going to learn how English speakers talk about experience/experiences and practise present perfect tense.

The grammar focus of this unit is:

Vocabulary

(exist)

Vocabulary Practice

Exercise not available in this language version.

Comprehension

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:
Transcript:
AlbertoHallo Emily! I haven't seen you for ages! How are you?
EmilyHi Alberto! Yes, It's been a very long time since we last met!
AlbertoI've heard, you've just returned from Africa! What was it like?
EmilyWell, it was very interesting, we visited great places, and met people who were so nice!
AlbertoBut it wasn't your first time, was it?
EmilyNo it wasn't, you're right!
AlbertoHow many times have you been there?
EmilyThis was my third time.
AlbertoWow, and you still find it interesting?
EmilyAfrica's really big! And a lot of new countries, cities, and people!
AlbertoAnd were you not afraid there?
EmilyAfraid? To tell the truth, yes, especially as we got lost in the desert!
AlbertoLost in the desert? Goodness! Isn't it nicer to sit safely at home?
EmilyOf course, but if you sit at home, where's the thrill?
AlbertoNo thrill for me! Just cup of tea and a comfortable chair.
  1. Who has been to Africa?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. Who likes thrill?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Emily hasn't seen Alberto for
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. What were people in Africa like?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. Was Emily afraid in Africa?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  6. What happened in desert?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  7. How many times has Emily been to Africa?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  8. Has Emily visited any other country?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  9. From the context we can say that:
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  10. By the way Alberto speaks we can say that:
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 2: Exposed Cloze

Listen to the recording carefully and then fill in the gaps in the text below using the same words.

  • across
  • audience
  • bad
  • been
  • birthday
  • by
  • classical
  • have
  • inspired
  • know
  • life
  • on
  • opera
  • out
  • performance
  • pitiful
  • qualities
  • talking
  • two
  • until
  • was
Recording:
Transcript:
Mrs. MitnickDarling, did you hear that Mrs. and Mr. Goldberg were at the opera last night?
Mr. MitnickWell, I didn't. What was on?
Mrs. MitnickFranco Corelli was there! They said it was his last performance.
Mr. MitnickWho's that?
Mrs. MitnickHow can you not know? Have you never been to music classes? Have you never come across real music?
Mr. MitnickYes, of course Brian Adams, Bill Haley, Dizzy Gillespie.
Mrs. MitnickPlease, Mr. Mitnick, be serious, I mean classical opera music, music that has spirit!
Mr. MitnickI'm sorry, I haven't come across anyone called Francisco Coretti in my life.
Mrs. MitnickFranco Corelli! Such a personality! He has been to all countries. He has had a personal audience with the Queen. He has performed in the Vatican at Pope's birthday... and he has waved at me once...
Mr. MitnickThat was a long time ago, wasn't it.
Mrs. MitnickMy dear husband, stop talking like that. You have non of his qualities, you have never sung me a song, you have never been on stage and you have never inspired any woman's heart to love music.
Mr. MitnickWell, I think I have!
Mrs. MitnickWhat? What do you mean by "I have"?
Mr. MitnickDon't you remember, when Jim came some two years ago and we played guitar until the morning and many women came to wave at us and scream!
Mrs. MitnickPlease, do not mention that pitiful event. Two old, unshaven and drunk men shouted in the garden until Mrs Nowak and her sister came to silence them!
Mr. MitnickOh, it wasn't that bad! We performed well, we sounded just a little out of tune.
Mrs. MitnickDarling, did you hear that Mrs. and Mr. Goldberg were at the ? last night?
Mr. MitnickWell, I didn't. What was ??
Mrs. MitnickFranco Corelli was there! They said it was his last ?.
Mr. MitnickWho's that?
Mrs. MitnickHow can you not ?? Have you never been to music classes? Have you never come ? real music?
Mr. MitnickYes, of course Brian Adams, Bill Haley, Dizzy Gillespie.
Mrs. MitnickPlease, Mr. Mitnick, be serious, I mean ? opera music, music that has spirit!
Mr. MitnickI'm sorry, I haven't come across anyone called Francisco Coretti in my ?.
Mrs. MitnickFranco Corelli! Such a personality! He has ? to all countries. He has had a personal ? with the Queen. He has performed in the Vatican at Pope's ?... and he has waved at me once...
Mr. MitnickThat ? a long time ago, wasn't it?
Mrs. MitnickMy dear husband, stop ? like that. You have non of his ?, you have never sung me a song, you have never been on stage and you have never ? any woman's heart to love music.
Mr. MitnickWell, I think I ?!
Mrs. MitnickWhat? What do you mean ? "I have"?
Mr. MitnickDon't you remember, when Jim came some ? years ago and we played guitar ? the morning and many women came to wave at us and scream!
Mrs. MitnickPlease, do not mention that ? event. Two old, unshaven and drunk men shouted in the garden until Mrs Nowak and her sister came to silence them!
Mr. MitnickOh, it wasn't that ?! We performed well, we sounded just a little ? of tune.

Exercise 3: Gap Filling

Choose the correct option to fill the gaps in the following sentences.

  1. Some people have ____ heard of Franco Corelli.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. Mr. Mitnick has not come accross such a name ____ his life.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Mrs. Mitnick has visited Corelli's performance ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. Franco Corelli has had a personal ____ with the Queen.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. Mr. Mitnick has ____ liked stars of rock, pop and jazz music.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  6. Mrs. Mitnick visited Corelli's performance ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  7. Mrs. Nowak ____ to stop the two men making noise that morning.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  8. Mrs. Goldberg and her husband ____ the Opera yesterday.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Grammar Practice

Exercise 1: Transformation

Using the example as a model, change the structure and make a new sentence.

Example:

sing a song - she
She's never sung a song.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
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    B. ?
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    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?
  8. A.
    B. ?
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    B. ?
  10. A.
    B. ?
  11. A.
    B. ?
  12. A.
    B. ?
  13. A.
    B. ?
  14. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 2: Transformation

Using the example as a model, change the structure and make a new sentence.

Example:

sing a song - they
They've never sung a song.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
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    B. ?
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    B. ?
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    B. ?
  9. A.
    B. ?
  10. A.
    B. ?
  11. A.
    B. ?
  12. A.
    B. ?
  13. A.
    B. ?
  14. A.
    B. ?

Dictation

Exercise 1: Dictation

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the ‘>’ key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Recording:
Transcript:

Have you heard about Charles Dickens? Has any other writer had such life? Has any other writer described so well the life of poor children?

?

Exercise 2: Dictation

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the ‘>’ key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Recording:
Transcript:

Have people forgotten his work today? Have they lost understanding for children in the street? Or has the world changed?

?

Exercise 3: Dictation

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the ‘>’ key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Recording:
Transcript:

Have people lost interest in each other? Have they disposed of humanity? I hope they have not.

?

Checklist

Now, after finishing this lesson you should be able to speak about things you have done or experienced. And you should be familiar with the present perfect tense.

Version 2.0 (2011-12-07 01:23 CET)
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