Exercise 1: Vocabulary

Exercise 2: City Life vs Country Life

Exercise 3: City Life vs Country Life Fun Translation

The Farmer and the City Slicker (dörzsölt f ickó)

The driver, a young man in a Bryony suit (öltöny), Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and YSL tie (nyakkendő), leans out (kihajol) the window and asks the cowboy, "If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves (borjú) you have in your herd (csorda), will you give me a calf?"

The farmer looks at the man, obviously (nyilvánvalóan) a city slicker, then looks at his peacefully grazing (legel) herd and calmly answers, "Sure, Why not?"  The farmer thinks it over, it's a huge herd so he accepts the bet (fogadás).

The city slicker parks his car, whips out (előránt) his Dell notebook computer, connects (csatlakoztat) it to his cell phone (mobil), and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite navigation system to get an exact (pontos) fix on his location.  From there he feeds (tölt) the data to another NASA satellite that scans (átkutat) the area in an ultra-high-resolution (felbontás) photo.

Within seconds he receives an email on his Smart phone that the image has been processed (feldolgoz) and the data stored (tárol). He then accesses (hozzáfér) a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet (adatbáziskezelő) with email on his phone and, after a few minutes, receives a response (válasz).  Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report (jelentés) on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the farmer and says, 'You have exactly 1,423 cows'.

The farmer is astonished (meglepett) because the city slicker's figure is exactly correct.  He says, 'OK, I'm a man of my word, take a cow.'  The investment (befektetés) city slicker selects one of the animals and begins to walk away.

'Wait,' yells (kiált) the farmer, 'Let me have a chance to get even (döntetlen).  Double or nothing that I can guess your exact occupation.' The city slicker agrees readily.

'You are a Congressman (képviselő) for the U.S. Government,' says the farmer.

'Good grief!' splutters (köpköd) the city slicker, 'You are exactly right, tell me, how did you deduce (következtet) that?'

'Easy,' says the farmer, 'give me back my dog, and I will tell you.'

"No guessing required.' answered the farmer. 'You showed up (felbukkan) here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter (okos) than me you are; and you don't know a thing about cows.

Exercise 4: SMART City

A smart city is an urban area that uses different types of electronic methods and sensors to collect data. Insights gained from that data are used to manage assets, resources and services efficiently; in return, that data is used to improve the operations across the city. This includes data collected from citizens, devices, buildings and assets that is then processed and analyzed to monitor and manage traffic and transportation systems, power plants, utilities, water supply networks, waste, crime detection, information systems, schools, libraries, hospitals, and other community services.

The smart city concept integrates information and communication technology (ICT), and various physical devices connected to the IoT network to optimize the efficiency of city operations and services and connect to citizens. Smart city technology allows city officials to interact directly with both community and city infrastructure and to monitor what is happening in the city and how the city is evolving. ICT is used to enhance quality, performance and interactivity of urban services, to reduce costs and resource consumption and to increase contact between citizens and government. Smart city applications are developed to manage urban flows and allow for real-time responses. A smart city may therefore be more prepared to respond to challenges than one with a simple "transactional" relationship with its citizens.

Exercise 5: Housing in the UK

Exercise 6: Eco-house

House of the Future

Predictions of the features of a future house

• House makes beds
• Lighting creates artificial sunrise
• Computer suggests clothing based on your taste, weather, etc.
• Self washing, drying, and folding clothes
• All surfaces are disinfecting and cleansing
• Self-cleaning tabletop and dishes
• Intelligent/adaptable fabrics and clothing
• Earthquake proof homes
• Windows and walls will allow adjustable amounts of sunlight, warmth or cold in.
• Soundproof rooms and windows. Soundproof energy fields that you can walk through
• Hidden computers, sensors, microphones and electronics throughout the house.
• Central computer accepts voice commands, distinguishes between occupants for personalized responses and actions
• Computer tracks movements, turns on/off lights, adjusts temperature, etc.
• Computers, appliances, all electronics are networked and connected to the internet.
• Monitor and control home appliances, computer, security from anywhere.
• Interactive mirrors display the latest news, weather and traffic information
• Wall size video and audio
• See-through electronics, screens, touch panels, haptic displays
• Computer lets you know when appliances need maintenance, can request repair dispatch.
• Television, computer and phone merge into one device
• All devices are connected
• Walls, ceilings, (all other room surfaces) are digital screens. Can turn room into any environment with sounds and smells
• House keeps record of things that come in to and go out of the house. Thus things are never lost in the house
• Computer recognizes footsteps or other biosigns for personalization
• Window tint adjusts from opaque/dark at night to shades lighter as needed during the day, with voice command overrides as needed
• Shape-shifting furniture
• Movable furniture hides when not being used
• Walls and fabrics that change color
• Generates its own energy
• Vehicle refueling station, electric, hydrogen
• Wireless recharging of mobile devices when at home
• Recycled waste water
• Green (plants) roofs
• Roof of smart house uses artificial chlorophyll as an oxygen generator
• Fast cooking - boil water in seconds, turkey in an hour
• Instant inventory of food, medications, supplies
• House creates personalized diets
• House can replenish your groceries by ordering online. Auto-restocking
• Prepared food will be instantly teleported to the home and a universal credit card will be charged. The homeowner will simply specify with voice commands the specific food items requested
• Virtual medicine. Doctors can treat you at home, from their office.
• Home computer monitors your health through tiny, invisible, wireless wearable computing devices.

Exercise 7: The most Unusual Houses in the World

CULTURE

Exercise 8: Buckingham Palace

 Exercise 9: Canada

Exercise 10: Sweet Home Alabama - Trailer

EXAM

Exercise 11: Exchanging personal information:

1. How would you describe your hometown/ village?

2. What do you most / least like about living there?

3. Is your home in a good location? Why? Why not?

4. What changes have you / your family made to your home since you moved in? Why?

5. Would you rather buy or rent a flat? What would be the advantages and disadvantages?

6. Can you imagine renting out the flat you live in? Why? Why not?

 

Exercise 12: Pictures

Exercise 13: Situation 1 - Sample

 

Exercise 14: Situation 2 

Flat share (offering a solution, describing a place?

Candidate's copy 

Your fellow student (the examiner) is looking for accommodation for the next term. As your flatmate hast just moved out of the flat you rent, offer to share it with him / her.

Tell him / her your idea and give details of:

• the flat (e.g. arrangement of rooms)
• the room he / she could use (e.g. view)
• the rent and the bills

Say how you could both benefit from this (e.g. live in company)

You start the conversation.

Examiner's copy

You're looking for accommodation for the next term. You fellow student offers to share the flat she/ he rents with you. You need to know the details. 

The candidate starts the conversation.

• Sounds great. Ask about: e.g. the location, public transport and shops nearby
• You hope the flat is fully furnished.
• You could occasionally cook a nice meal. You hate washing the dishes, though.
• By the way, why did C's flatmate leave?
• You'd like to see the flat anyway before making a decision. 

Finish the conversation.  

Exercise 15: Sample letter

Exercise 16: Writing a blog

While browsing the internet, you have found an English forum where several people share their opinions about living in the countryside. 

You would like to take part in the discussion, too.

Give your opinion in about 120-140 words writing about

• the reasons
• the costs
• the disadvantages
• the children.

 Exercise 17: Listen to the song about the homeless! 

 Exercise 18: Sing the song! 

Dire Straits: Money For Nothing

Now look at them yo-yo's that's the way you do it
You play the guitar on the MTV
That ain't workin' that's the way you do it
Money for nothin' and chicks for free
Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it
Lemme tell ya them guys ain't dumb 
Maybe get a blister on your little finger
Maybe get a blister on your thumb 

We gotta install microwave ovens
Custom kitchen deliveries
We gotta move these refrigerators
We gotta move these color TV's

See the little faggot with the earring and the make-up
Yeah buddy that's his own hair
That little faggot got his own jet airplane
That little faggot he's millionaire 

We gotta install microwave ovens
Custom kitchen deliveries
We gotta move these refrigerators
We gotta move these color TV's

I shoulda' learned to play the guitar
I shoulda' learned to play them drums
Look at that mama, she got it stickin' in the camera
Man we could have some fun
And he's up there, what's that ? Hawaiian noises ?
Bangin' on the bongos like a chimpanzee
That ain't workin' that's the way you do it
Get your money for nothin' get your chicks for free

We gotta install ovens
Custom kitchen deliveries
We gotta move these refrigerators
We gotta move these color TV's, Lord

Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it
You play the guitar on the MTV
That ain't workin' that's the way you do it
Money for nothin' get your chicks for free
Money for nothin' get chicks for free.