©) PERSPECTIVES Woutd you mind... A. © Listen to the requests people make of their neighbors. Have you ever made a similar request? ‘Has anyone ever asked you to do these things? we you please tell me the next time you have a party? ) make sure I'm not at home.” ’ “Can you turn the stereo off, please? The walls are really thin, so “the sound goes through to my apartment.” ‘a “Would you mind closing the door behind you and making s __ itlocks? We don’t want any strangers to enter the building,” “Would you please tell your guests to use the visitor parking spaces? A lot of cars have been using my space recently.” fould you mind not putting your garbag} 's not very pleasant to see it in the hallway front of your B Look at the requests again. Which are reasonable? Which are unreasonable? ©) Grammar Focus Modal + simple form of verb Would you mind... + gerund Can you turn the stereo off? Would you mind turning the stereo down? Could you close the door, please? Would you mind elosing the door, please? Would you please take your garbage out? Would you mind net putting your garbage here? A Match the requests with the appropriate responses. Then compare with a partner and practice them. (More than one answer may be possible.) Could you lend me twenty dollars? Can you get me a sandwich? Can you help me move to my new house? Would you mind not sitting here? 5. Could you move your ear from my space? 6. Would you mind not talking so loudly? We're sorry. We'll talk more quietly. Tm sorry. TWL do it right away. Sorry, I didn't realize this seat: was taken. Are you kidding? I don't have any cash. Ym really sorry, but I'm busy. Sure, no problem. I'd be glad to. ARNE mepegp B Pair work ‘Take turns making the requests in part A. Give your own responses. © Class activity Think of five unusual requests. Go around the class and make your requests. How many people accept? How many refuse? ‘ould you lend me your toothbrush? ih, I'm sorry. 1 don't have it with me. OK. No problem! © 38©) SPEAKING Apologies A Think of three complaints you have about your neighbors. Write three requests you want to make. Choose from these topics or use ideas of your own, garbage guests noise parking pets security B Pair work ‘Take turns making your requests. ‘The “neighbor” should apologize by giving an excuse, admitting a mistake, or making an offer or promise. ‘A; Would you mind not putting your garbage in the hallway? B: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn’t realize it bothered you. Manne give an excuse “I'm sorry. 1 didn’t realize .. admit a mistake “I forgot | left it there.” make an offer “I'll take it out right now.” make a promise “I promise I'll. . ./|'ll make sure to... INTERCHANGE 6 That's no excuse! How good are you at apologizing? Go to Interchange 6. © =) WRITING A set of guidelines A Pair work Tmagine that you live in a large apartment building. Use complaints from Exercise 9 and your own ideas to write a set, of eight guidelines. The Riverview Apartments Please read the following tenant association guidelines. Feel free to contact Joseph (#205) or Tina (#634) if you have any questions. 1. The pool summer hours are 8 AM. to 9 PM. Please clear the area by 9 PM. 2. Can everyone make an effort to keep the laundry room dean? Please pick up after yourself! 3. Would you mind not picking the flowers in the garden? They're for everyone's enjoyment. B Group work Take turns reading your guidelines aloud. What is the best new guideline? the worst one? 90 © Unit 6READING Neighbor +s. Neighbor Gerro fuations in the list below. +The womanin the apartment upstairs playsher piano after midnight. +The family auossthestret never deans up their yard. The garbage blows into, your yard. «The guy next door always parstis car in front of your driveway. Have things ike this ever happened t0 ‘you? Ifso, you may ask yourself, "Who are these people? Why are they doing these things to me?” ‘These days, many people don’t know their neighbors, Sometimes we share a friendly wave or say hello, but a lot of peopte don’t even know their neighbors’ names! When you don’t know someone, it’s easy to build up frustration and resentment. You think, “Maybe they like to annoy me,” or “Maybe they do it deliberately.” 2 Enea re Pia Believe itor not, your neighbors probably | don'tmean 10 inritate you. Often, they don’'teven know that they're getting on yout nerves. So before you take extreme ‘measures to fixthe problem, you should discuss it with them first. When you approach your neighbors, you should talk to them in a friendly manner. Compliment their children or do something else to make them feel good. Then explain the situation. Andit you can think ofa simple solution, suggest it, Iftalking doesn’t work, ask another person to help. ‘This person can listen to both sides ofthe story and help you and your neighbat resolve the situation. Finally, sometimes it's a good idea to avoid the problem, Depending on the issue, it might be best to just stay out of your neighbor's way. A Read the article, Find the words in italics in the article. ‘Then match each word with its meaning. 1, resentment a. away of behaving 2. deliberately b. anger that grows over time 3. irritate c. end a problem or difficulty 4. measure d. on purpose 5. manner e. astep taken in order to achieve something 6. resolve £. bother or annoy B Check (/) the questions that the article answers. ‘Then find sentences in the article that support your answers. 1. Why don’t many people know their neighbors? 2. Why do we become angry at neighbors? 3. What are some extreme measures you can take to solve a problem? 4. How should you approach a neighbor about a problem? 5. What can you do when discussion doesn't work? (C Pair work Have you ever had a problem with a neighbor, classmate, or co-worker? How did you resolve it? QK. No problem! ° 41