TOPIC: HOTEL - TEXT

TOPIC: HOTEL TEXT. LONDON HOTELS

There are plenty of good hotels in London and you're nearly always sure of finding a room in one of them. Still if you don't want to be disappointed, especially during the holiday season, it's better to reserve a room beforehand. You'll find London hotels just the same as in all large cities. You enter a large entrance hall or lounge and go to the reception desk. The reception clerk will tell you which is your room, what floor it is on and will give you the key. You will sign the register and give your luggage to the porter who will take it up in the lift to your room. If you need some help you can call the chambermaid by the room telepho­ne. There is usually a laundry and a dry cleaning service at the hotel. You can have your clothes cleaned, washed, ironed and delivered within 24 hours.

The people in the office will always help you if you don't know your way about the town. They'll tell you where to go and what to see. They'll book seats for you at the theatre and do all they can to make your stay a pleasant one.

If you want a guide to show you round, or an interpreter for a business interv 232w2219c iew, they'll get you one. If you have to write business letters and can type, they'll provide you with a typewriter. If, on the other hand, you prefer to dictate your letter, they will get you a short-hand typist. If your wife is going to be with you she'll find plenty to amuse her. She'll be able to spend her time looking at the shops while you're busy.

Comprehension

/. Listen to the text and answer the questions:

What is registration at a hotel like? What services can you get at London hotels?

//. Read the text, analyse its language peculiarities. Do some exercises in the next section to remember them.

Special Difficulties

/. Make up sentences with the word combination "to be sure of doing smth.":

e.g. She/get a visa

She is sure of getting a visa.

1. He/win the prize 2. She/pass the exam 3. I/book a ticket 4. She/get a rise 5. I/find a room 6. He/marry her 7. She/meet him at the party 8. He/get the money

//. Answer the questions:

e.g. A: Do you clean the windows yourself? B: No, I have them cleaned.

1. Did you paint the house yourself? 2. Do you cut the grass yourself? 3. Does he wash his car himself? 4. Does she polish the floors herself? 5. Are you going to shorten the trousers yourself? 6. Are you going to cut down the tree yourself? 7. Did you repair the clock yourself? 8. Do you sharpen the knives yourself? 9. Does he tune his piano himself? 10. Does she sweep the stairs herself? 11. Did he build the new garage himself? 12. Did he plant the trees himself? 13. Is she translating the book herself? 14. Did she make the suit herself? e.g. A: Did she have the window repaired? B: No, she repaired it herself.

Did she have the coat shortened? 2. Does she have her car­pets cleaned? 3. Does the manager have the accounts checked? 4. Did you have the ceiling whitewashed? 5. Did he have his tooth taken out? 6. Did they have the tree cut down? 7. Did you have your coat cleaned? 8. Are you going to have your house repaired?

///. Ask someone at the hotel to have your laundry done, to have a blouse or shirt ironed, to have your car looked at or repaired, to have a rollaway bed moved into your room, to have a call to Minsk dialled by the hotel switchboard operator and to have a table reserved for dinner. The hotel employees should assure their partners that it will be done immediately.

Text Exercises

I.Ask and answer questions on the text.

2. Speak on the London hotels.

Conversation Practice

/. Listen to the dialogues, read and learn them:

Have You Got Any Vacancies for Tonight?

1. - I wonder whether you have any vacancies for tonight. - Yes, I can offer you room 24 on the first floor.

How much is it?

5.90 a night excluding service.

Can I see it, please?

Certainly. Would you take a seat for a moment?

2. - Have you a single room for two nights?

Yes, but only on the top floor.

What price is it?

6.50 with service and TV.

Fair enough. Can you show me the room, please?

Of course. Would you like to follow me'

3. - Can I book a double room from now until Friday?

You can have room 33 overlooking the sea.

What's the price?

8 pounds not counting the service.

Can I have a look at it, please?

Yes, of course. Come this way.

4. - Have you got a twin-bedded room for one night? - I can let you have a room on the second floor.

What does it cost?

With a private bath, 9.25, service included.

Can you show me something a little cheaper?

Yes, of course. I won't keep you a moment.

5. - Good afternoon. I'd like a room for a few nights.

Single or double?

Single, please.

We've got a nice single room with bath on the second floor.

Is that an inside or an outside room?

It's an inside room facing the park. It's light and comfortab­le and only 9 pounds a night.

All right. I'll take it.

6. Clerk: Caravan Hotel, good evening.

Jim: Hi! I was wondering if you have a double room for

tonight? Clerk: Oh, I'm sorry. I'm afraid we have no vacancies at this

time

Jim: Okay, thanks anyway. Clerk: You might try the Flamingo Motel. It's near the airport

on Sunday Boulevard. Jim:  Okay, thanks. Clerk: Anytime.

7. Clerk: Good evening, Flamingo Motel.

Jim: Yes, I wanted to know if you have a double room for

tonight

Clerk: Yes, we do. Jim: Oh, good! Do you have one with a waterbed?

Clerk: Let me check... yes, we do, for 45 a night

Jim: Yes, that'll be fine. Can you hold it for me? My name's

Goldschmidt. Clerk: Yes, I can hold it for you until 6.00 with no obligations

on your part. Do you know how to get here? Jim: Yes, I do, thanks. It should take us about twenty minutes,

I think.

Clerk: Fine, Mr Goldschmidt. We'll have the room for you. Jim: Thank you.

//. Mr and Mrs Butt are booking in a hotel. Mr Butt is talking to the receptionist. Mrs Butt, who is a little deaf, doesn't hear the conversation clearly and asks her husband afterwards, who re­ports the receptionist's requests.

R: Could you show me your passport, please?

B: She asked me to show her my passport.

1. Please, fill up this form. 2 Would you sign the register, please? 3. Please, write down the number of your car. 4. Please, don't leave anything valuable in the car. 5. Please, don't park outside the hotel. 6. Would you put your car in the hotel garage? 7. Please, don't smoke in the garage. 8. Would you please read the Fire Instructions? 9. Please, don't allow your children to play with the lift. 10. Please, tell me if you'd like an early call. 11. Could you let me know if you are going to be in for dinner? 12. Don't bring your dog into the dining room, please 13. Would you hang your keys on this board when you are going out? 14 Could you vacate your room by noon on the day you are leaving? 15. Ring for room service if you want anything. 16. Would you inform the hall porter if you're going to be out late? 17. Please, don't make too much noise after midnight.

/. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions: Checking in

Mr Hudson- Have you a single room ^for a few nights? Receptionist: We i.ave a cheerful sunny room with private bath

on the sixth floor. Mr Hudson: That would be quite satisfactory if the rate is not too

high. Receptionist: Our rates are very low. The room is spacious and

only 9 pounds a day.

Mr Hudson: I'm afraid that is a little too high. Receptionist: Wf have another room on the twelfth floor. It is

a little smaller, but it is cosy and costs only 7 pounds

a day.

Mr Hudson: Is there a bathroom in the room?

Receptionist: Yes, there is a bathroom with a shower, a TV set and a fridge

Mr Hudson: That's fine. I'll take it. That will save me a little money. Shall I pay in advance?

Receptionist: No, you needn't. How long are you going to stay, Mr Hudson?

Mr Hudson: Not too long, about a week I guess.

Receptionist: Please, sign the register, Mr Hudson.

Mr Hudson: Where do I sign?

Receptionist: Just here, sir - full name, home address and signa­ture.

Mr Hudson: Right - there you are.

Receptionist: Thank you, sir. I think you'll find the room com­fortable. Here's the key.

Mr Hudson: Thanks. Where's the restaurant?

Receptionist: It's over there, across the lounge. Besides, there are coffee-stalls and snack-bars on every floor of the hotel.

Mr Hudson: Can I have breakfast in the room?

Receptionist: No problem. You can order it by phone.

Mr Hudson: Sorry, one more thing - what facilities are there in the hotel?

Receptionist: There's a barber's and a hairdresser's, a foreign currency bank, a post-office, a dry cleaner'» and a laundry. All of them are on the ground floor

Mr Hudson: Thank you You've been very helpful.

Receptionist: I wish you a pleasant stay at our hotel, sir

Questions: What room does Mr Hudson want? Does the room

on the sixth floor suit him? Why not? What is the room on the

12 th floor like? Does it suit Mr Hudson?

//. Ask detailed questions on the conversation. Answer the que­stions.

III. Give a brief account of the conversation.

IV. Role-play the conversation.

V. Situation: You've corne to a hotel to book a room for a few days. The hotel has got some vacancies but still you find it diffirult to choose a room. One of them is too expensive, another is loo noisy, the third is not comfortable enough. Finally you make your choice.

/. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions:

I've got a Reservation

Receptionist: Good afternoon, sir.

Mr Hunt: Good afternoon. Is this the Beardsley Hotel? Receptionist: Yes, this is the Beardsley. Mr Hunt: Good. I'm Mr Hunt. We've got a reservation. Receptionist: Just a minute, please... Yes, you've got a reserva­tion. It's for five people. It's for three weeks. Three

single rooms and one double. Am I right? Mr Hunt: No. You're not right. We'd like two double rooms

and one single room. Receptionist: I'm sorry. Two double rooms, numbers six and seven.

One single room, number nine. Mr Hunt: Where are the rooms? Receptionist: On the second floor.

Please, sign the register, Mr Hunt. Mr Hunt: Here's the register. How much are the rooms,

please? Receptionist: A single room's six pounds. A double room's eight

pounds. Would you like a television in the room? Mrs Hunt: Yes, please. Mr Hunt and I would like a television.

We'd like a telephone, too. Receptionist: Every room's got a telephone. Mrs Hunt: Have the rooms got bathrooms? Receptionist: Yes, every room's got a bathroom. Mr Hunt: Have the bathrooms got showers? Receptionist: Yes, every bathroom's got a shower. Mr Hunt: Good.

Receptionist: Are you going to the rooms now? Mr Hunt: Yes, we're going now. Send two cups of coffee to the

room, please.

Mrs Hunt: And three lemonades.

Mr Hunt: Yes, two cups of coffee and three lemonades. Receptionist: Yes, sir Here are the keys, Mr Hunt. Jim, take

the Hunts to rooms six, seven and nine. Jim: Come this way, please.

Questions: At what hotel are the Hunts going to stay? Have they got a reservation? What rooms have they reserved? Where are the rooms? How much are they? What are the rooms like? What do the Hunts ask the receptionist to do?

//. Give a brief account of the conversation III. Cover the text and say

how Mr Hunt asked about the location of the rooms/how the receptionist answered

how the clerk offered a television/how Mrs Hunt answered

how Mrs Hunt asked about the bathrooms/how the clerk answered

IV. Role-play the conversation.

V. Situation: You are in the lobby of a big hotel speaking to the receptionist. A few days ago you phoned and asked to reserve a single room for you.

/. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions: I'm Unhappy About My Room

Receptionist: Yes, sir! Can I help you?

Antonio: I have a room reservation, er...

Receptionist: What name is it?

Antonio: Antonio Machado.

Receptionist: I see, a double room was it?

Antonio: No, a single room with bath.

Receptionist: Uh Huh! Could you just wait a minute? I'll look

at the reservations book. Ah yes! Here we are!

How long will you be staying? Antonio: I'll be staying for two weeks, er, from today until

the tenth of October. ' Receptionist: Right, sir, if you'll just write your home address and

sign here.

Antonio: Is that all right?

Receptionist: Fine, sir! Here's your key - room 413 - I'll call the

hall porter to take your luggage up. I hope you'll

enjoy your stay.

Antonio: Thank you. The room costs 12 pounds, doesn't it³ Receptionist: That's right, sir, excluding service charges and tax.

(A few minutes later)

Receptionist: Reception.

Antonio: Can I speak to the head receptionist, please?

Receptionist: Speaking.

Antonio: Ah! This is Antonio Machado, room 413.

Receptionist: Yes, sir. What can I do for you?

Antonio: Look, I'm sorry but I'm very unhappy about my roori.

Receptionist: Really, sir? What's the problem?

Antonio: When I booked the room I asked for a single room

with bath. Receptionist: Yes, sir?

Antonio: Well, it's a single room but it's got no bath, just

a shower.

Receptionist: That's strange, sir! Antonio: Yes, it is! What's more, it's very small and I asked

for a quiet room. This room is very noisy, indeed' Receptionist: Noisy, sir? Antonio: Yes, very noisy. I asked for a room facing the park,

not facing the street, and there isn't a TV in the room.

I asked for a room with a TV... Receptionist: Just a minute, sir. I think I've got it. Could you

tell me the number of your room, again? Antonio: My room number?

Receptionist: Yes, sir. Antonio: Er - 413 - why? Receptionist: 413 - ah! That's it. You should be in four-oh-three'

Sorry, sir, it's our mistake. Antonio: What! I'm in the wrong room? I see. Oh! That's

all right then. I'm sorry. Receptionist: No, I'm sorry... It's our fault, I mean, my fault

I really do apologize. I'll send the head porter up

right away.

Questions: Has Antonio got a reservation? What room did he ask for? What room did he get? Why?

//. Give a brief account of the two conversations.

III. Role-play the conversations.

IV. Situation: Not long ago you reserved a double room at the Park Hotel. You asked for an inside room with a fridge and a sho­wer, but you've got an outside room facing a noisy street. The room has got neither a refrigerator nor a shower. You phone the reception and settle the problem.

/. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions: Do You Have a Credit Card?

Clerk: Hi! Can I help you?

Martin: Yes, we had a reservation for this weekend.

Clerk: All right, what was the name, sir?

Martin: Baum, Martin Baum.

Clerk: Baum... Baum... Oh, yes, here it is. A double for two

nights? Martin: Yes, that's right. But we were wondering... would you

happen to have a suite available this weekend, something

with a living area and a kitchenette?

Clerk: Well, the only one that's available this weekend is $ 140

a night.

Martin: I see. That's pretty high... Clerk: You know, sir, this double is more than twenty feet square,

and it has a refrigerator. Martin: Oh, really? That sounds fine, then. What do you say,

Sally?

Sally: Sounds good to me, too.

Clerk: Good, the double then. Do you have a credit card, sir? Martin: No, I'll be paying cash. Clerk: Then I'll have to ask you to pay in advance. Fifty-five

a night, plus $ 8 tax comes to $ 126. And would you

fill out this registration form, please? Here's a pen.

Just your name, address and the make and license number

of your car.

Martin: OK... here you are. And travellers checks for $ 130. Clerk: Fine, Mr Baum. Here's $ 4 change. Check-out time is

12.00 noon. The bellman will take you up... Harvey! Room

615... If you need anything, just let me know. Martin: Thank you. Good night.

//. Ask and answer questions on the conversation.

III. Find in the text appropriate English phrases for the following:

V

IV. Give a brief account of the conversation.

V. Role-play the conversation.

VI. Situation: You are at the reception desk. A few days ago you sent a letter and asked to reserve a single room for you. But there's an international conference in the city and the hotel is full up. The clerk offers you a bed in a double room. You don't like it but there is no way out. You ask the clerk some questions about the room and the services at the hotel.

/. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions:

Isn't the Hotel Enormous!

Mr Gunther: Isn't this hotel enormous!

Mr Black: It is not only very large, but also very popular because it is centrally located. From here you can reach any part of the city by underground or bus

Mr Gunther: How many guests does this hotel accomodate^

Mr Black: I do not know exactly, but 1 believe that there are twenty-five floors, and it must have room for seve­ral hundred guests.

Mr Gunther: Are all the rooms usually occupied?

Mr Black: Yes. Very often I have been unable to obtain acco-modation for my friends.

Mr Gunther: Then we were fortunate enough to get a room for as little as 9 pounds. How are the meals, and are the prices reasonable?

Mr Black: The hotel is known for its excellent cuisine and moderate prices. The dining-room is so beautifully decorated that you will enjoy eating there.

Mr Gunther: Is there music during the meals?

Mr Black: Yes, a famous orchestra plays sweet dinner music and its imported and domestic wines leave unfor­gettable taste. Let's have our first meal this evening at the hotel. You and Mrs Gunther will be our guests

Mr Gunther: We shall be glad to accept your invitation.

Mr Black: We'll meet you at the hotel lobby at 6.30.

Mr Gunther: That's splendid. That will give us an hour to rest

and change our clothes. We'll see you then at 6.30.

Questions: What is the hotel like? Why is the hotel popular?

How many guests does it accomodate? Why does Mr Gunther

think they were fortunate enough to get a room at the hoteP

What is the hotel known for? Where does Mr Black invite his

friends

//. Give a brief account of the conversation. II. Role-play the conversation.

IV. You're on business in London. You are staying at a modern fashionable hotel. You like the hotel and your room. You phone your wife to tell her where you are staying. She asks you some questions about the hotel and your room.

/. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions: Can You Help Me?

Clerk: Front desk.

Martin: Hello. This is Martin Baum. The bathroom light in my

room doesn't work. Could you have somebody come up

and take a look at it, please? Clerk: Oh, of course, Mr Baum. What room number was that,

please

Martin: Room 615.

Clerk. Okay, I'll have a man up there in a minute. Martin: Fine. And another thing - I don't seem to have a room

service menu. Is there one? Clerk: Yes, there is. We have 24-hour room service. I'm sorry

about that. I'll have a room service waiter bring you

a menu up right away. Martin: Thanks.

Clerk: If you need anything else, just let me know Martin: I will. Good night. Clerk: Good night.

Questions: What's wrong with Martin's bathroom? What else does he ask the clerk to do?

//. Cover the conversation. Then tell your partner exactly what Martin said when he

complained about the bathroom light

asked the clerk to have someone look at the light.

said he didn't have a room service menu.

/// Role-play the conversation.

IV. Situation: You are staying at a hotel. There's something wrong with the bath. It doesn't hold water. There is only one blanket on the bed. You want two. Besides you've got some laundry to do. You phone room service for help.

Listening At the Hotel

"We want a room on the first floor", I said. "Certainly, sir," the hotel manager answered. "Have you a room with a private bathroom?" I asked. "Yes, sir," the hotel manager said. "Here are the keys to number twenty one."

I took the keys and my wife and I went upstairs. We unlocked the door of number 21 and went into the loom. We shut the door and put our cases on the floor. "Listen", my wife said. "There's a man in the room. He's singing." "You're rght!" I said. "He's in the bathroom."

I knocked at the door of the bathroom The singing stopped.

"Who is it?" a voice asked. "This is our room", I answered. "What are you doing here'" "Your room!" the voice answered angrily "This is my room. Please, go away! I'm taking a bath."

"I'll call the manager", my wife said. Just then the door opened and the manager came in." I'm very sorry", he said. "I made a mistake. Your room is next door. Here are the keys to number twenty-two."

Questions: On what floor was the writer's room? What was its number? Was the room vacant? What did the manager say^

A Millionaire at the Hotel

This is a story about a well-known millionaire who did not like to spend even small sums of money. One day he went to stay at a hotel in New York. He asked for the cheapest room they had. He said: "What is the price of the room?" The manager told him "And what floor is it on?" He asked the manager again. The ma­nager told him. "Is this the cheapest room you have? I'm staying here by myself and only need a small room." The manager told him that that was the smallest room they had. "But why do you take the cheapest room like that? When your son stays here he always has the most expensive room." "Yes", answered the mil­lionaire, "but his father is a rich man and mine is not."

Questions: Why was the manager of the hotel surprised' What explanation did the millionaire give?

The Power of Imagination

Mr Brown got to a hotel late in the evening after a long journey. He asked the desk-clerk whether there were any vacant rooms in the hotel. At that moment another traveller came to the hotel and asked the desk-clerk for a room too

The only vacant room was a double one. "Do you mind spen­ding the night in that room together?" the desk-clerk asked. At first the travellers didn't like the idea, but just then it began raining hard and they were too tired to go to another hotel, so they changed their minds. Their things were carried in and soon the two men went to sleep.

Suddenly a loud \oice woke Mr Brown up. It was quite dark "What's the matter'" Mr Brown asked in surprise. In a weak voice the second traveller answered: "I'm sorry, but I had to wake you up. I've got astma. I feel very bad. In addition I've got a terrible headache. If you don't want me to die, open the window quickly."

Mr Brown jumped out of bed and began looking for matches,

but he couldn't find them in the dark, and the sick man went on: "Air, air, I want fresh air. I'm dying."

Mr Brown still couldn't find the matches, so he tried to find the window. It took him some time, and at last he thought he had found it But he couldn't open it. As the voice of the traveller became weaker and weaker, Mr Brown took a chair and broke the window with it. The sick man immediately stopped moaning and said he felt much better Then the two of them slept peacefully until morning.

V/hen they woke up next morning they were surprised to see that the only window in the room was closed but the large looking-glass was broken to pieces.

Questions: What woke Mr Brown up? What happened to Mr Brown's neighbour? What did Mr Brown begin to look for? Why did Mr Brown break the window? How did the travellers spend the rest of the night? Why were they surprised in the morning?

Reading Places to Stay

How do you go about finding a place to stay? Well, plenty of hotels advertise at airports. If you arrive by train or car, probably the best thing to do is look in the Yellow Pages under Hotel, Motel or Lodging. You can start by comparing the services offered in their ads. In any case, you'll have to call them and see if they have the kind of room you're looking for.

Places to stay may be called hotels, motels or motor hotels, inns, lodges or resorts. They are all similar. Motels have plenty of parking space and are usually near a freeway or highway. Inns are usually like motels. Lodges and resorts, or resort hotels, are in the mountains, on the coast, or near lakes.

Beds -that's right, beds -also go by many different names. Starting with the smallest, there are single, twin, double, queen and king size ones. "Long boys" are for exceptionally tall people At some hotels, queen beds are the smallest size used, so a double room has two of them Some hotels even offer their guests waterbeds. A roll-away can be moved into a room to sleep an extra person. Hide-a-beds are sofas that fold out to make beds.

People who prefer camping to staying in hotels will have a hard time in American cities, because most of them don't have campgrounds nearby. You can camp in state and national parks, though, which generally have facilities for both tents and trailers.

Here are some more helpful things to know.

Who should you tip at a hotel? The bellman gets $ I per bag for taking your luggage to your room. Maids usually don't expect a tip, but if you stay more than a few days or if your maid does something special for you, a $ 2 tip is a good idea. Room service waiters should get 15 % of a bill.

You may want to avoid some motels that advertise "in-room movies" or "in-house films". These are usually X-rated, or por­nographic, films.

.Lots of hotels have special facilities for conventions - large and small meeting rooms, banquet rooms, PA (public address) systems and so on. They may also offer guests attending the convention special rates on services.

Electricity in North America is 110 volts (60 Herz) - not 220 This means you won't be able to use your hair dryer or your electric razor unless you can change it to 110 volts.

When telephoning from your hotel room, you will often have to go through the hotel switchboard, especially for long distance calls. These calls can be quite expensive, because the hotel usually adds a high service charge to the calls you make. On the other hand, local calls can generally be made from your room by dialling direct. You can also ask the hotel receptionist to give you a wake up call in the morning.

If your hotel does not have a laundry service, maybe you can find a laundromat nearby, which might even be open 24 hours a day. You will need exact change to operate the washing machines and dryers.

You will always find soap, towels and linen in hotel and motel rooms in the US.

Mr Thompson at the Hotel

Mr Thompson had to go to Manchester on business. He had not been there for years. He thought of going by car, but he did not like the idea of driving for several hours on busy roads, so in the end he decided to take a train. As he was unable to catch an early train, it was late in the evening when he arrived in Manchester.

Feeling tired after his journey, he chose a hotel near the station. He went to the reception desk and asked the clerk if there was a single room, with bath. "Certainly, sir", the clerk said "I hope there is plenty of hot water", Mr Thompson said. He was looking forward to a hot bath after his journey. "Of course, sir", the clerk said. "Room forty-nine. I'll get the porter to take up your luggage." Mr Thompson was not a mean man, but he had made his money the hard way, and he did not believe in tipping people

for doing things that he could do himself. "Don't bother", he said. "I've got one suitcase. I can manage myself." "All right, sir. He­re's your key. Your room is on the fourth floor, number forty-nine." "The fourth floor? I'd rather use the lift then." "The lift is out of order, sir, I'm afraid. It has been for the last fortnight." "In that case, 1 shall need the porter after all." The reception clerk looked at his watch. "He's just gone off duty", he said. "He went just now, while we were talking. The night porter hasn't arrived yet."

Mr Thompson's face began to feel hot, which was a sign that he was getting annoyed. Picking up his suitcase he made his way up four flights of stairs to his room, which he found to be extremely small and untidy. He felt like a drink, so he picked up the phone: "Will you send a whisky and soda to room forty-nine?"

Fifteen minutes passed and no drink arrived. He phoned down a second time: "This is room forty-nine again. Where's the whisky I ordered some time ago? I'd like it straightaway." Suddenly feeling suspicious, he went into the bathroom and turned on the hot tap. No hot water came out. In fact, no water came out at all. By this time his face was feeling very hot, so he went to the wash basin in his bedroom and splashed some cold water on it. He waited. Still no drink. Then he noticed that the water was still in the basin It had not drained away. The pipes must be clogged. This was the last straw. He used the phone again. "I demand to see the manager," he said. "At once."

After twenty minutes the manager appeared. "Can I help you, sir?" he said. "I wish to make a complaint about the service and the conditions in this hotel," Mr Thompson said. "There are no porters. The lift is out of order. My room is no bigger than a rabbit-hutch, and it is dirty. I have phoned twice for a drink, but no drink has come. I was assured that there would be hot water, and there isn't any. And now, to crown it all, the wash-basin is blocked."

The manager looked at the wash-basin for some minutes. He smelt strongly of beer. "That is very strange," he said. He put his hand into the water and got out a small object. Mr Thompson heard the sound of water draining away. The manager smiled triumphantly: "You forgot to remove the plug, sir," he said. "You see, there is absolutely nothing wrong with our hotel."

Self check

/. Translate into English:

Здравствуйте. Моя фамилия Кент. На прошлой неделе я заказал одноместный номер в вашей гостинице.

Минуточку. Да, сэр, мы получили ваше письмо. Я могу

предложить вам номер 46 на третьем этаже.

- Есть ли в номере душ?

- Да, душ и ванна.

- Это хорошо. Надеюсь, что в комнате есть и телефон.

- Да, во всех номерах в нашей гостинице есть телефон.

- Это очень удобно. Мне нужно сделать несколько теле­фонных звонков. Сколько стоит номер?

- 50 долларов в сутки.

- Хорошо. Я возьму этот номер.

- Тогда, пожалуйста, заполните регистрационную карточку

- Хорошо. Когда у вас подают завтрак?

- С 7 до 9.30.

Fluency

/. Answer the questions:

Do you like to stay at a hotel? What are visitors required to do first when they arrive at a hotel? What information is required from you when you are signing in at a hotel? What services does a guest get at a modern hotel? What is meant by the term "bed and breakfast"? What is the usual rate for a single (double) room in this country? What are the duties of the reception clerk (cham­bermaid, porter)? What is the best hotel in your city? Why do you think so?

When did you stay at a hotel last? Where? What is the hotel like? Is it difficult to get accomodation in that hotel? Did you reserve a room in advance? How much did it cost? Describe how you registered at the hotel. Did you like your room? What was it like? Did you have your meals at the hotel? How did you find the cooking? Were the prices reasonable? What was the service like? Was there a dry-cleaner's service at the hotel? Have you ever been abroad? Did you put up at a hotel? How did you find the hotel and the service there?

//. Describe one of the hotels you stayed at.

III. What will you say in the following situations:

You are at the reception desk of a hotel. You want a double room for three days. You ask... 2. You want to know the price of the room you are offered. You ask... 3. The desk-clerk wants to offer you a room on the second floor. She/he says... 4. You are a guest at a hotel. You want the receptionist to give you a wake up call in the morning. You ring up the reception desk and say... 5. You want to have your shirt washed and your jacket cleaned

When the chambermaid comes you say... 6. You are leaving the hotel and you want your luggage to be taken down. You phone the reception clerk and say... 7. You want to have a telephone in your room and you ask the clerk... 8. You don't know whether there is a bathroom in your room and you ask... 9. You want to have breakfast at the hotel and you ask...

IV. Act out the following situations:

1. The room the desk clerk gave you is occupied. You've returned to the reception desk to clear up the matter.

2. There are some hotels in Minsk. Your English colleague asks you what hotel you can recommend him. You give him some advice.

3. You've come to Washington on business. Your friend recommen­ded you to stay at the Ramada Hotel. You call the hotel and ask whether it is possible to get accomodation there. They've got some vacancies. They promise to hold a room for you till 2 o'clock.

4. You've come to the only hotel in the town to book a room for a few nights. The hotel is full up, the clerk says. You are in despair. The clerk asks you to come at 12 o'clock. If somebody checks out, they might give you a room.

Writing

I. Write a similar letter on this pattern to a hotel reserving a room in advance:

The Manager, Seascape Hotel, Marine Parade, Brighton, Sussex, England

Dear Sir,

I would like to book two rooms at your hotel for four nights from July 27th to July 3lst. I would like one double room and one single room both with baths.

Yours faithfully, Peter Schnelling

II. You are in London on business. You are staying at a big fashionable hotel. In your letter home you write a lot about the hotel and the services at the hotel.

///. Write a conversation for this situation: 1. Robert Wilson arrives at a hotel late at night. His secretary has booked a room for him there.

2. He apologises for arriving so late (his plane was delayed).

3. The hotel clerk smiles and looks through the guest list (the list of people who are staying at the hotel or who have reserved rooms).

4. The clerk begins to look worried, says that Wilson's name is not on the list and that there are no rooms free that evening.

5. Wilson is sure the clerk is wrong about this.

6. The clerk checks the guest list again and suddenly notices 'that there is a room reserved for "R. Wilton". The clerk says

that someone has spelt Wilson's name wrongly and apologises The clerk calls a porter who takes Wilson's luggage to his room