English DMW VWO 2 Swapping Houses

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Tekst

The Keanes

The Millers

Tekstneighbours have swimming pool

enormous

1 bathroom

security system

few trees in the garden

USA

cosy

garden with flowers and plants

UK

carpets

terraced house

Helen and Daniël

Bethany, Charles,

Joe

5 bedrooms

checking facts and knowledge

Swapping Homes

Our “Home Swap” this month concentrates on the Keane family from England, and the Millers from South Carolina. As usual, our families had a two-week holiday in each other’s houses, and we interviewed them after their stay.

The Millers

George and Sandy Miller and their children, Helen (17) and Daniel (8) had a shock when they first saw the Keanes’ three-bedroom

terraced house in Gloucester. “Everything is so small” said Sandy. “Where are we going to

sleep?” But 1 ,__________ the house was more welcoming. “It’s bigger than it looks from the

 2 __________ and we were pleased to find that there were three bedrooms”, said George. But the kids were not

3 ._____________ “Mum and Dad’s room was OK, but our bedrooms were really small” complained Daniel. The Millers found it 4 ________________to live in a house with only one bathroom. At home they have two bathrooms and three toilets! “And we have a study , where we keep the computer, and a playroom in the basement,” said Helen. “ In Gloucester we had to all 5______________  in the living room together or go to our bedrooms.” So was there anything positive about the experience ? “The house was beautifully 6 _____________”, said Sandy, “ and it was very cosy. It was April when we stayed in the house, but the weather was 7______________ . We were very grateful for the carpets, the central heating and a real

 8________________  in the living room.” Another good point for George was the garden. “We were very 9 ___________________by the large, long garden at the back of the house. We couldn't really enjoy it because of the weather, but it was obvious that the Keanes had put a lot of work into it. It was well 10 ________________and full of beautiful plants and flowers. Actually, I think British people have a bit of an obsession with houses and gardens - there are so many TV shows about them !”

The Keanes

 

Tim and Katy Keane and their children Bethany (8), Charles (9) and Joe (16), couldn’t believe their 11 when they arrived at Washington Drive, Greenville. “The houses were all enormous,” said Tim. “I expected to see film stars coming out of them!”

The Miller’s house has five bedrooms and an extra downstairs toilet. “ Our bedroom was 12____________ and it was lovely having our own bathroom , said Katy. “ It was

like staying in a hotel! We didn’t see much of the children for two weeks!” says Tim. “They were

 13 _______________in the computer room, in the basement or outdoors.” The weather was fine for the Keanes’ visit to South Carolina, so they made good use of the

Millers’ yard. The MIllers had sports equipment and a permanent 14____________ in their yard”, said Joe. “And their neighbours had a swimming pool, which we used once. It was great !” “The children really enjoyed the yard”, said Katy, “but I found it a bit 15 __________________ . I like nice English gardens with lots of flowers. All the Millers had were a few trees.” And Katy didn’t think much of the decor either. “It was very smart and clean, but it wasn’t very colourful”, she said. “It’s 16 _________________ that Americans spend more time outdoors than the British! We had good weather, but luckily we didn’t need to use the air-conditioning system. The Millers had lots of security systems and 17 _______________that we had to check on every night and morning - that was complicated enough.

George and Sandy Miller and their children, Helen (17) and Daniel (8) had a shock when they first saw the Keanes’ three-bedroom terraced house in Gloucester. “Everything is so small” said Sandy. “Where are we going

to sleep?”

But inside, the house was more welcoming. “It’s bigger than it looks from the outside, and we were pleased to find that there were three

bedrooms”, said George. But the kids were not impressed. “Mum and Dad’s room was OK, but our bedrooms were really small” complained

Daniel. The Millers found it difficult to live in a house with only one bathroom. At home they have two bathrooms and three toilets! “And we have a study , where we keep the computer, and a playroom in the basement,” said Helen. “ In Gloucester we had to all stay in the living room together or go to our bedrooms.” So was there anything positive about

the experience ? “The house was beautifully decorated”, said Sandy, “ and it was very cosy. It was April when we stayed in the house, but the weather was terrible. We were very grateful for the carpets, the central heating and a real fire in the living room.” Another good point for George was the garden. “We were very surprised by the large, long garden at the back of the house. We couldn't really enjoy it because of the weather, but it was obvious that the Keanes had put a lot of work into it. It was well designed and full of beautiful plants and flowers. Actually, I think British people have a bit of an obsession with houses and gardens - there are so many TV shows about them !”

Tim and Katy Keane and their children Bethany (8), Charles (9) and Joe (16), couldn’t believe their luck when they arrived at Washington Drive, Greenville. “The houses were all enormous,” said Tim. “I expected to see film stars coming out of them!”

 

The Miller’s house has five bedrooms and an extra downstairs toilet. “ Our bedroom was huge and it was lovely having our own bathroom , said Katy. “ It was like staying in a hotel! We didn’t see much of the children for two weeks!” says Tim. “They were either in the computer room, in the basement or outdoors.” The weather was fine for the Keanes’ visit to South Carolina, so they made good use of the Millers’ yard. The MIllers had sports equipment and a permanent barbecue in their yard”, said Joe. “And their neighbours had a swimming pool, which we used once. It was great !” “The children really enjoyed the yard”, said Katy, “but I found it a bit dull. I like nice English gardens with lots of flowers. All the Millers had were a few trees.” And Katy didn’t think much of the decor either. “It was very smart and clean, but it wasn’t very colourful”, she said. “It’s obvious that Americans spend more time outdoors than the British! We had good weather, but luckily we didn’t need to use the air-conditioning system. The Millers had lots of security systems and alarms that we had to check on every night and morning - that was complicated enough.

What is a synonym for 'clear'?

1. dull
2. smart
3. hazy
4. obvious

What is not a synonym for 'huge'?

1. vast
2. big
3. giant
4. enormous

what is the correct spelling of
'speciaal'

1. specially
2. especially
3. especialy
4. espescially

Which word is not a synonym of
'designed'

1. produced
2. decorated
3. made
4. drawn

What is the opposite of
'luck'

1. bad
2. loss
3. misfortune
4. unhappiness

Which word cannot be put in the blank?
The house was.................decorated.

1. beautiful
2. nicely
3. creatively
4. terribly