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Lesson 6 - House
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This page: Read a letter from a tenant sent to the owner of their apartment describing the problems they are having with their apartment.

letter

"Letter to the Landlord"
Reading Lesson

Key Words

Below you will find a list of key vocabulary you need to know to understand the lesson. Click on each word to hear it and practice its pronunciation.

complain
to say that something is wrong or not acceptable
withhold
to keep something and not give or pay it
item
one thing on a list
several
more than two but not many
patch
to fix a small damaged area
seal
to close something so nothing can get in or out
roof
the outside top of a building
replace
to put a new thing in place of an old or broken one
electrician
a person who fixes electrical problems
notify
to tell someone officially or clearly

 

Exercise - Key Words

Read the definition and select the word that was defined.

1. one thing on a list
   

2. to say that something is wrong or not acceptable
   

3. to close something so nothing can get in or out
   

4. to keep something and not give or pay it
   

5. to fix a small damaged area
   

6. more than two but not many
   

7. to tell someone officially or clearly
   

8. the outside top of a building
   

9. a person who fixes electrical problems
   

10. to put a new thing in place of an old or broken one
   

 

Reading

Letter to the Landlord

Dear Mr. Evans:

I have repeatedly called you to complain about problems in my apartment and have received no response. You always promise to fix things "when you have time." It has been three months now! I'm withholding the rent until you fix the items listed below.

  1. The ceiling is cracked in several places. The cracks need to be patched and sealed. You should also consider having the entire roof of the building checked out to see if it needs to be replaced.
  2. There are cockroaches in the apartment. I would like you to fumigate the apartment as soon as possible.
  3. The stove doesn't work. I would like you to send someone to fix it and if it can't be fixed, replace it.
  4. The kitchen light doesn't work. Please send an electrician to come and take a look at it.

If you have not done anything about these problems by the end of next week, I will notify the housing authority.

Sincerely,

Fran Becker
Apartment 6

► Listen to the reading

 

Questions

Instructions
Match the problem with the solution to the problem.

Click on the problem Then click on the solution.
The ceiling is cracked. He must fumigate.
There are cockroaches. He must patch and seal it.
The stove is broken. Send someone to fix it or replace it.
The kitchen light isn't working. An electrician must fix it.

 

Writing

Write a paragraph describing the problems in your apartment or house.

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Next
Expressions

 

Advanced English - Lesson 6 - House
Vocabulary - Grammar - Listening - Dialogue - Reading - Expressions - Dictation - Game

 

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