Limba engleză curs practic - nivel mediu

Horace was very proud of his cousin, Mike Aspen, Hollywood’s brightest young star.

Whenever his cousin appeared on the screen, Horace would say, “Isn’t he wonderful? He’s my

cousin, you know ”.

What was worse, Horace was always cutting pictures of his cousin out of movie

magazines and putting them on the kitchen wall. His wife would say, “We used to have a nice

clean wall. Now all I can see is Mike, Mike, Mike!” Then she would walk angrily out of the

kitchen and slam the door behind her.

When Mike’s face used to appear on posters or billboards, Horace would proudly brag

about his cousin’s successful career. “He used to go to Midville High School, you know. We

would always play in the schoolyard together, and we were always getting into trouble together.

I remember how he was always stealing apples from the corner grocery store. He used to be like

a brother to me. We were always missing classes together. What a great guy, a truly great guy.

He was my favorite cousin.”

One day, though, everyone woke up to find the daily newspapers covered with the

headlines, MIKE ASPEN INVOLVED IN GANGLAND KILLING. Reporters went to Horace’s house to

interview him. “Did you and Mike Aspen really use to be like brothers? Is it true you were both

getting in trouble all the time? What kind of trouble? Did you really play in the school yard

together?”

“Mike Aspen . . . Mike Aspen . . . . , “ he said in a puzzled voice.

“Oh, yes! The actor.” Horace shook his head, “No relation to me. Never met the guy.”

• COMPREHENSION

Answer the following questions according to your understanding of the text:

1. Who was Mike Aspen?

2. Why was Horace proud of him?

3. What was Horace always doing?

4. Why was Horace’s wife angry?

5. What school did Horace and his cousin go to?

6. What were they always doing together?

7. What happened one day?

8. What did Horace tell the reporters?

9. Did he tell the truth?

10. What do you think about Horace’s attitude?

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• GRAMMAR

HABIT IN THE PAST (Exprimarea unei acţiuni obişnuite în trecut)

O acţiune care a avut loc în mod obişnuit în trecut se redă în limba engleză prin una

dintre următoarele trei construcţii gramaticale:

1. Used to

Used + infinitivul lung al verbului se foloseşte în următoarele situaţii:

a. Pentru a reda o acţiune cu caracter de rutină în trecut:

Exemplu: When I worked on the farm I used to get up at five in the

morning, and I used to eat an enormous breakfast before going out to work.

b. Un obicei din trecut care nu mai există în prezent:

Exemplu: I used to smoke a lot, but I don’t any more.

I used to visit my parents every weekend, but now I see them very