Exercise 19

Read and translate the text.

The Randolf sisters, Sadie and Esther, live just a block away from each other. Sadie constantly complains that the people in town are cold and unfriendly, while Esther finds them warm and pleasant.

Although Sadie can't see it, the difference is in the way they approach those people. Sadie and her husband have a lovely house. It's filled with beautiful antique furniture and glassware that is so fragile it could easily be broken by a careless guest or adventurous child. Whenever someone is visiting, Sadie and her husband are constantly "straightening up". Their beha­viour seems to indicate that they put more of an emphasis on the looks of their house than on the comfort of their guests. As a result, their nervous guests behave with excessive care — and they leave as soon as possible.

In contrast, Esther's house is not fancy at all. In fact, it's al­most shabby. But she and her husband have a relaxed, friendly attitude toward visitors, who don't have to worry about an ac­cident occurring with an expensive piece of furniture or vase. Esther's house is a place where people can drop in, put their feet up on the coffee table, and feel at home.

(from "Grammar Dimensions")

I. Answer the questions.

1. Whose house, Sadie's or Esther's, appeals to you? Why?

2. Which one would you drop in? Why?

3. In what houses do you feel at home? Why?

4. What do you think of those hosts who put more of an em­phasis on the looks of their house than on the comfort of their guests?

5. What house would you call lovely?

6. What house would you call shabby?

7. What does home mean to you?

II. Make up dialogues:

1) between Sadie, her husband and their guests;

2) between Esther, her husband and their guests.