Unit 1: Complaints, Complaints

Quick Check

B. Comprehension. Answer the questions about the complaints on page 34.

1. What’s wrong with the apartment?

The walls are filthy. They need to be repainted.

2. What does the mechanic say he’s going to do?

He'll have the engine checked.

3. What’s wrong with the jacket?

The sleeve is torn.

4. What’s wrong with the computer?

The computer crashed.

3. Grammar

A. Say what is wrong with the following items. Then say how the things should be fixed.
Use the words in the box to help you.

1. The air conditioner isn't working. It needs to be repaired.
2. The pants are torn. They need to be sewn.
3. The knife doesn't cut. It needs to be sharpened.
4. The car is crashed. It needs to be repaired.
5. The shirt Butten is messing. It needs to be sewn back on.
6. The shoe's heel is broken. It needs to be replaced.
7. The tire is worn. It needs to be replaced.

D. Complete the conversation. Use the correct form of the verbs in parentheses. Then practice the conversation with a partner.

Khaled: I have had (1. have) this car for six months, and it gives me all kinds of problems.
Joe: What is it this time?
Khaled: It doesn't start (2. not start) in the mornings.
Joe: Maybe it’s because of the cold, or the battery might be (3. might/be) low.
It probably needs to be recharged (4. recharge).
Khaled: It isn’t that. I just had (5. have/put in) a new battery put in, and it still won’t start.
I think the starter needs be repaired (6. repair).
Joe: Is there anything else wrong with the car?
Khaled: Yes, the exhaust pipe is falling (7. fall) off, and the radiator is leaking.
They both need to be fixed (8. fix).
Joe: Is your car under warranty?
Khaled: Yes, it is.
Joe: Then you shouldn’t worry. We’ll have everything fixed (9. have/fix) for you.
Khaled: That’s what you said (10. say) the last time.

5. Listening

Listen to the guest’s complaints. Complete the chart with his problems.

8. Conversation

About the Conversation

In pairs, ask and answer the questions.
Then switch roles.

1. Was the salesperson helpful?

No, she wasn't helpful because she couldn't understand the problem.

2. What is Milo’s latest style?

It is loose-fitting clothes and faded colours.

3. What was the problem with the jeans according to the mother?

The mother thinks the fabric is flimsy and the jeans are torn and material is falling apart.

9. Reading

After Reading

Answer the questions about the reading.

1. What does the example of the NBA game illustrate?

It illustrates that bad things happen in wrong time.

2. What does Murphy’s Law state?

If anything can go wrong, it might go wrong.

3. According to Robert Matthews, how does the law of probability work against us in the supermarket line?

The chances are high for example five lines, 80% to get slow lane.

4. Why did Matthews do the buttered bread experiment? What did it show?

To show that things happen and there are possibility of good and bad.

10. Writing

3. Now read the letter again. Circle the paragraph(s) that do the following:

Please note that some of the paragraphs can serve more than one purpose.

• The cables of earphone had not been connected.
• He called the customer service and he was advised to return the item as soon as possible.
• He expected that the item to be fully refund and discount voucher for future purchases. Because of the promotional material of the store.
• He feels very angry. The expression used in the last two paragraphs.

11. Form, Meaning and Function

A. Work with a partner. Ask and answer about the pictures.

Have you cleaned your room yet?

Yes, I have already cleaned it.

Have you had your dinner yet?

Yes, I have already had it.

B. Make sentences with the words. Use gerunds.

1. she / clean / can’t stand / the house

She can’t stand cleaning the house.

2. live / our grandparents / enjoy / in the country

Our grandparents enjoyed living in the country.

3. the children / hate / their ice cream / share

The children hated sharing their ice cream.

4. eat / Mom’s food / we / miss

We missed eating Mom’s food.

5. my sister / my toothpaste / use / stop / have to

My sister has to stop using my toothpaste.

6. the workers / paint / the house / finished

The workers have finished painting the house.

C. Complete the sentences. Use the correct object pronoun: me, you, him, her, it, us, or them. The object pronouns can be used once, more than once or not at all.

1. He doesn’t like the shoes we bought for him. He’s going to return them to the store.
2. Sandra is never on time. She’s going to tell her to be more punctual.
3. This computer keeps crashing. I’m going to return it and ask for a refund.
4. Excuse me, we can’t find what we are looking for. Could you help me?
5. The car windscreen is cracked. Please can you fix it.

D. Rewrite each sentence with a two-word verb in two ways.

1. Put away those toys. Put those toys away. Put them away.
2. Clean up this mess. Clean this mess up. Clean it up.
3. Turn on the cooker. Turn the cooker on. Turn it on.
4. Please turn off the light. Please turn the light off.
5. Please pick up your jacket. Please pick your jacket up. Please pick it up.
6. Turn down the radio. Turn the radio down. Turn it down.
7. Turn up the news. Turn the news up. Turn it up.