FOCUS ON FUNCTION. ’Knowing and understanding’

’Knowing and understanding’

1. Study the idioms useful to say that you know or don’t know something or make conclusion.

A. Knowing and not knowing

В. Coming to conclusions

I didn't actually know where you were staying, but Mark said you were with a relative. So I put two and two together and guessed it was that aunt of yours, [concluded from the facts I knew]

I'm sorry, I got (hold of) the wrong end of the stick. I thought you were complaining about something, [came to the wrong conclusion]

‘I think he's got hold of the wrong end of the stick.'

2. Correct mistakes in these idioms.

1) I don't have even a faint idea where he is today; you'll have to ask somebody else.

2) The title of the CD has familiar rings to it, but I don't think I've ever heard it.

3) My cousin knows the tax laws outside and in, so if you want advice on your tax, he'll help you.

4) I can't for life think what it was I came into the kitchen for.

5) I saw Tom and Lily together in a restaurant looking adoringly into each other's eyes. I added up two and two, and decided they must be madly in love.

3. Use the corrected idioms from exercise 2 to rewrite the underlined parts of this paragraph. Use each idiom once only.

I always thought I knew my computer in every detail, but the other day it started to crash every time I opened a certain program. I could not in any way understand why it was doing this, and I didn't have any idea at all about what to do to fix it. I rang the helpline which I had used in the past, and after about 20 minutes I spoke to someone who said his name was Patrick, and that he was there to help me. He gave me some advice which sounded quite familiar to me from previous calls I had made to the same helpline. I thought about all this, put the facts together, and concluded that they give the same advice to everybody, and that it's just a way of getting rid of you. The computer still crashes every time I open the program.

4. Write sentences that mean the opposite of these sentences. Use appropriate idioms and make any other necessary changes.

1) Yes, that name is very familiar to me. I think I've met her several times.

2) I'm really up to date with TV soap operas these days. I watch them every day.

3) She knows absolutely nothing when it comes to the history of this area.

4) I correctly interpreted what she was trying to tell me and it solved a big problem.

5) No, sorry, her name means nothing to me. I may have met her, I just can't remember.

5. Complete each sentence with a different idiom which refers to 'not knowing'.

1) I.............................how to use the photocopier. Do you think you could help me? (weakest of the three)

2) I...........................where I left that letter I brought for you. I'm really sorry, (stronger than 1)

3) I..............................what she's talking about. She's crazy! (even stronger than 2)

SPEAKING

1. Imagine a friend is going away to University. Give him or her some advice by completing these sentences. The first one has been done as an example:

1) In the first week, go to all the meetings to … (get to know other students).

2) When you meet the staff, ask lots of questions to …

3) Go for a walk around the university campus, so …

4) Find out what your timetable is, so as not to …

5) Make lots of notes in every lecture, so that …

6) Do as much work as you can now in case …

7) Buy all the recommended books straight away in case …

2. a) Read the dialogue. Make up 10 questions and answer them.

A college instructor from abroad is interested in the training and employment of Belarusian school leavers.

College instructor. How do you cope with the army of young people who leave your secondary schools?

Correspondent: Thousands of higher, special secondary and vocational schools, plants, construction sites, collective farms in all parts of the country are always eager to receive the young people. There is a suitable place for every school leaver.

College instructor: Are there any changes in the admittance rules and the programme of entrance examinations in connection with the increased number of school leavers wishing to attend higher school?

Correspondent: There are no particular changes. The only crite­rion for admittance to higher and special secondary schools is knowledge and ability. The majority of students receive a monthly state scholarship. If the student comes from another town or from a village, he is given a place in a hostel. There are many opportunities for every leaver to find work or continue to study.

b) Dramatize the dialogue with a partner. Make up your own dialogue about your University.

3. Suggested topics for conversation:

1) Education in Belarus. BSEU. (A dialogue between a Russian and an English student)

2) Your first day at the University.

3) The examination you have failed at.

4) Your favourite lecturer.

WRITING

1. You are members of the University Council. You’ve worked out new University Rules for students and for teachers. Suggest and write down a set of sensible rules. These modal expressions are sure to help you:

Should (not)…, be (not) allowed to …, be (not) supposed to …

Do & Don’t Do & Don’t