Harry: Well Sarah, here’s the paper...I was looking at jobs...but you’ll need the “accommodation” page!
Olivia: Hmmm, not very sensitive, Harry...
Harry: Have to go now...see you all!
All: Bye!
Olivia: What’s the problem with your flat, then Sarah?
Sarah: Well, I was renting a room in a shared house, but now the landlord has decided to sell the house, so we all have to move out...
Magda: Oh no...that can be really difficult in London. It’s so expensive here...
Sarah: I know, I’m not sure I’ll be able to afford it...
Olivia: Tell me about it!
Sarah: About what?
Olivia: Sorry...I just mean, I know how expensive life is!
Sarah: Why’s that?
Magda: Olivia wants Harry to set up a website for her, but he’s asked for loads of money!
Fadi: Yeah...me too!
Magda: I think he’s greedy.
Fadi: I’m not sure about that...he’s a professional after all. He’s right to ask a reasonable amount for his work.
Olivia: You’re just like him, I can see...only interested in money!
Magda: Yeah, that’s right...
Fadi: Leave off...I’m not only interested in money. I like football too...
Olivia: I don’t think I can afford it, but I don’t know how to say “no” without offending him now.
Sarah: Do you think he’ll be offended?
Olivia: Perhaps...
Fadi: I shouldn’t worry. He’s not a very sensitive guy, is he?
Olivia: No! I like him, though...
Fadi: Oh yeah?
Olivia: Not in that way...he’s just a friend...
Fadi: “Just a friend”, eh?
Olivia: Are you jealous?
Fadi: Get out of here! Course I’m not. I’ve got lots of girlfriends...
Magda: And they only ever last for two weeks!
Fadi: I like to keep them keen!
Sarah: Oh yeah, sure...
Fadi: Listen, Olivia, if it makes it easier for you, I think I’m going to take Harry up on his offer. I’ll get him to do some work for me, then it won’t matter if you turn him down.
Sarah: I do some work for a website, Olivia. It’s called DimSum.co.uk – it’s for the Chinese community in Britain. I could find out who does their website – they might be cheaper.
Olivia: Could you do that for me? I’d be really grateful.
Sarah: Sure, no problem.
Olivia: And we’ll try and help you find a flat!
Sarah: Thanks!
Magda: How long have you got before you have to move out?
Sarah: Only a month.
Magda: That’s not long.
Fadi: I’ll ask around, see if anyone I know has a room free in their house...
Magda: I’ll do the same thing...
Olivia: Me too!
Magda: Ok everyone...we have a mission!
Fadi: Find Sarah a place to live!
Olivia: And tell Harry he’s greedy!
Sarah: I think this might be difficult....
Magda: What? Finding you a flat, or upsetting Harry?
Sarah: Both!
Glossary
Accommodation (noun) A place to live
He needs to find accommodation for his visitors from Canada.
Sensitive (adjective) Easily affected in an emotional way
Be careful what you say, he’s a very sensitive child
Landlord (noun) A person who owns and rents out a flat, a house, etc.
The landlord wants to increase the rent by 10%
Greedy (adjective) An excessive desire for food, drink, etc.
You’ve eaten all the cakes – that’s greedy!
To offend (verb) To hurt somebody’s feelings
She offended me when she said that my English pronunciation was bad
Keen (adjective) Enthusiastic about something or someone
He’s keen on lots of dangerous sports
Comprehension – write S (Sarah), O (Olivia), H (Harry) F(Fadi) or M (Magda)
Who ………
1…………… is worried about accommodation?
2 …………... complains about life being expensive?
3 …………... thinks Harry is a good worker?
4 …………... is worried about upsetting Harry?
5 …………... makes fun of Fadi’s love life?
6 …………... offers to find another website designer?
Vocabulary 1 – Words related to renting a flat
Fill the gaps in the text with the words in the box
[open box]
flat accommodation to live
landlord shared house room
[close box]
I’m looking for a new place (1)………………………. My (2) ……………….. wants to sell the (3) ………… that my (4) …………. is in. I’d love to find a small (5) ………. in the town centre but it costs a lot of money (6) …………………… a place for one. The (7) ……………….. pages of the newspaper are full of (8) ……….. houses, so I’ll phone a few and see if I am lucky.
Vocabulary 2 – Adjectives / Prefixes
Write the opposites of these adjectives. Use “in”or “un”
1 sensitive
2 expensive
3 reasonable
4 certain
5 clear
6 experienced
Grammar – order the words to make grammatically correct sentences
