Reading: Going down!

1  Answer the questions. Speak for no longer than one minute. Do you share a bedroom? Do you live in a house or a flat? Do you want more space in your home?  Select Record Audio to record yourself.  If you want to add a note to your teacher, write it in the Comments box.  Select Submit to dropbox to send the recording to your teacher.

2Match the summary sentences in the box to paragraphs 1–4. There is one summary sentence that you do not need. 

MOVE
• One family explains their problem.
• People need more space!
• Using the cellar isn't a new idea.
• Rooms under houses are also possible.
• There are now three more rooms.

1  

Eight million people live in London and a lot of them want more space to live in. Walk around the suburbs of London and what can you see? Streets and streets of houses and flats. Many buildings have got windows in their roofs because people often create an extra room under the roof. For lots of families, there's a bedroom and sometimes an extra bathroom in the attic of their house.

2  

But people don't only go up, they also go down. Some old houses in London have a cellar. A cellar isn't usually a very nice room – it's under the house and it can be cold and damp. However, builders can convert cellars into nice, warm rooms. The new room is often a kitchen or dining room. This isn't a very new idea, but having a room under your garden is!

3  

Underground living is one answer to space problems in London. Mr and Mrs Dunsmore in South London explain: 'Our house has got three bedrooms and we've got three children – Matt (17), Sophie (15) and Ben (10). The boys share a room, but it's very cramped. Matt has got important exams next year, so he needs a peaceful place to study. He doesn't want a 10-year-old with him.'

4  

Whose idea is it to build under the garden? 'Mine!' smiles Mrs Dunsmore. 'The new rooms are nearly finished. There's a bedroom, a toilet and a small kitchen with a sink, a cooker and a fridge.' And, how does Matt feel? 'I'm happy. It's cool!'

3Choose the correct options to complete the sentences. 

1 _______________________

Eight million people live in London and a lot of them want more space to live in. Walk around the suburbs of London and what can you see? Streets and streets of houses and flats. Many buildings have got windows in their roofs because people often create an extra room under the roof. For lots of families, there's a bedroom and sometimes an extra bathroom in the attic of their house.

2 _______________________

But people don't only go up, they also go down. Some old houses in London have a cellar. A cellar isn't usually a very nice room – it's under the house and it can be cold and damp. However, builders can convert cellars into nice, warm rooms. The new room is often a kitchen or dining room. This isn't a very new idea, but having a room under your garden is!

3 _______________________

Underground living is one answer to space problems in London. Mr and Mrs Dunsmore in South London explain: 'Our house has got three bedrooms and we've got three children – Matt (17), Sophie (15) and Ben (10). The boys share a room, but it's very cramped. Matt has got important exams next year, so he needs a peaceful place to study. He doesn't want a 10-year-old with him.'

4 _______________________

Whose idea is it to build under the garden? 'Mine!' smiles Mrs Dunsmore. 'The new rooms are nearly finished. There's a bedroom, a toilet and a small kitchen with a sink, a cooker and a fridge.' And, how does Matt feel? 'I'm happy. It's cool!'

• 1Many people in London want a new housea big familyto live in a different citymore space.

• 2A cellar is next to the housebehind the houseunder the houseon the house.

• 3Who doesn't share a room in the Dunsmore family? MattBenMrs DunsmoreSophie

• 4Matt wants a place to listen to musicto spend time with friendsto do homeworkto share with his brother.

• 5The Dunsmore family's new rooms are in the gardenbehind the gardennext to the gardenunder the garden.

• 6In Matt's new rooms, he can't cook mealshave a showersleepstudy.

4Match the highlighted words in the text to definitions 1–6. 

1 _______________________

Eight million people live in London and a lot of them want more space to live in. Walk around the suburbs of London and what can you see? Streets and streets of houses and flats. Many buildings have got windows in their roofs because people often create an extra room under the roof. For lots of families, there's a bedroom and sometimes an extra bathroom in the attic of their house.

2 _______________________

But people don't only go up, they also go down. Some old houses in London have a cellar. A cellar isn't usually a very nice room – it's under the house and it can be cold and damp. However, builders can convert cellars into nice, warm rooms. The new room is often a kitchen or dining room. This isn't a very new idea, but having a room under your garden is!

3 _______________________

Underground living is one answer to space problems in London. Mr and Mrs Dunsmore in South London explain: 'Our house has got three bedrooms and we've got three children – Matt (17), Sophie (15) and Ben (10). The boys share a room, but it's very cramped. Matt has got important exams next year, so he needs a peaceful place to study. He doesn't want a 10-year-old with him.'

4 _______________________

Whose idea is it to build under the garden? 'Mine!' smiles Mrs Dunsmore. 'The new rooms are nearly finished. There's a bedroom, a toilet and a small kitchen with a sink, a cooker and a fridge.' And, how does Matt feel? 'I'm happy. It's cool!'

• 1(verb) to use something with another person 

• 2(adjective) wet and cold 

• 3(adjective) quiet 

• 4(verb) make 

• 5(adjective) very small and uncomfortable 

• 6(verb) change, transform 

• 
  

 

5Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in the box. 

MOVE
• create
• damp
• convert
• share
• cramped
• peaceful

• 1I work in the library because it's very  and I don't like noise.

• 2There's only one cola in the fridge – let's  it.

• 3Our bathroom is very . It makes me feel cold!

• 4My aunt is a designer. She  beautiful clothes.

• 5This children's robot  into a car!

• 6There isn't a lot of space in my bedroom. It's very .

6  Imagine you and your family live in this underground house. Write a description of the house. Use prepositions of place and furniture words. Use the questions to help you plan your description. 

• Where are the rooms?
• What is in the rooms?
• Who sleeps in each room?
• What is your favourite room? Why?

Write your task in another program (e.g. Word).  Save the file to your computer.  Upload your file.  If you want to add a note to your teacher, write it in the Comments box.  Select Submit to Dropbox to send your work to your teacher.

2Match the summary sentences in the box to paragraphs 1–4. There is one summary sentence that you do not need. 

• Using the cellar isn't a new idea.
• Rooms under houses are also possible.
• One family explains their problem.
• There are now three more rooms.
• People need more space!

1 People need more space!

Eight million people live in London and a lot of them want more space to live in. Walk around the suburbs of London and what can you see? Streets and streets of houses and flats. Many buildings have got windows in their roofs because people often create an extra room under the roof. For lots of families, there's a bedroom and sometimes an extra bathroom in the attic of their house.

2 Rooms under houses are also possible.

But people don't only go up, they also go down. Some old houses in London have a cellar. A cellar isn't usually a very nice room – it's under the house and it can be cold and damp. However, builders can convert cellars into nice, warm rooms. The new room is often a kitchen or dining room. This isn't a very new idea, but having a room under your garden is!

3 One family explains their problem.

Underground living is one answer to space problems in London. Mr and Mrs Dunsmore in South London explain: 'Our house has got three bedrooms and we've got three children – Matt (17), Sophie (15) and Ben (10). The boys share a room, but it's very cramped. Matt has got important exams next year, so he needs a peaceful place to study. He doesn't want a 10-year-old with him.'

4 There are now three more rooms.

Whose idea is it to build under the garden? 'Mine!' smiles Mrs Dunsmore. 'The new rooms are nearly finished. There's a bedroom, a toilet and a small kitchen with a sink, a cooker and a fridge.' And, how does Matt feel? 'I'm happy. It's cool!'

3Choose the correct options to complete the sentences. 

1 _______________________

Eight million people live in London and a lot of them want more space to live in. Walk around the suburbs of London and what can you see? Streets and streets of houses and flats. Many buildings have got windows in their roofs because people often create an extra room under the roof. For lots of families, there's a bedroom and sometimes an extra bathroom in the attic of their house.

2 _______________________

But people don't only go up, they also go down. Some old houses in London have a cellar. A cellar isn't usually a very nice room – it's under the house and it can be cold and damp. However, builders can convert cellars into nice, warm rooms. The new room is often a kitchen or dining room. This isn't a very new idea, but having a room under your garden is!

3 _______________________

Underground living is one answer to space problems in London. Mr and Mrs Dunsmore in South London explain: 'Our house has got three bedrooms and we've got three children – Matt (17), Sophie (15) and Ben (10). The boys share a room, but it's very cramped. Matt has got important exams next year, so he needs a peaceful place to study. He doesn't want a 10-year-old with him.'

4 _______________________

Whose idea is it to build under the garden? 'Mine!' smiles Mrs Dunsmore. 'The new rooms are nearly finished. There's a bedroom, a toilet and a small kitchen with a sink, a cooker and a fridge.' And, how does Matt feel? 'I'm happy. It's cool!'

• 1Many people in London want more space.

• 2A cellar is under the house.

• 3Who doesn't share a room in the Dunsmore family? Sophie

• 4Matt wants a place to do homework.

• 5The Dunsmore family's new rooms are under the garden.

• 6In Matt's new rooms, he can't have a shower.

4Match the highlighted words in the text to definitions 1–6. 

1 _______________________

Eight million people live in London and a lot of them want more space to live in. Walk around the suburbs of London and what can you see? Streets and streets of houses and flats. Many buildings have got windows in their roofs because people often create an extra room under the roof. For lots of families, there's a bedroom and sometimes an extra bathroom in the attic of their house.

2 _______________________

But people don't only go up, they also go down. Some old houses in London have a cellar. A cellar isn't usually a very nice room – it's under the house and it can be cold and damp. However, builders can convert cellars into nice, warm rooms. The new room is often a kitchen or dining room. This isn't a very new idea, but having a room under your garden is!

3 _______________________

Underground living is one answer to space problems in London. Mr and Mrs Dunsmore in South London explain: 'Our house has got three bedrooms and we've got three children – Matt (17), Sophie (15) and Ben (10). The boys share a room, but it's very cramped. Matt has got important exams next year, so he needs a peaceful place to study. He doesn't want a 10-year-old with him.'

4 _______________________

Whose idea is it to build under the garden? 'Mine!' smiles Mrs Dunsmore. 'The new rooms are nearly finished. There's a bedroom, a toilet and a small kitchen with a sink, a cooker and a fridge.' And, how does Matt feel? 'I'm happy. It's cool!'

• 1(verb) to use something with another person 

• 2(adjective) wet and cold damp

• 3(adjective) quiet peaceful

• 4(verb) make create

• 5(adjective) very small and uncomfortable cramped

• 6(verb) change, transform convert

• 
  

5Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in the box. 

• create
• damp
• convert
• share
• cramped
• peaceful

• 1I work in the library because it's very  and I don't like noise.

• 2There's only one cola in the fridge – let's share it.

• 3Our bathroom is very damp. It makes me feel cold!

• 4My aunt is a designer. She creates beautiful clothes.

• 5This children's robot converts into a car!

• 6There isn't a lot of space in my bedroom. It's very cramped.