Unit 20. Тексты и диалоги для

ДОПОЛНИТЕЛЬНОГО ЧТЕНИЯ

Level 1

Text 1

Mike’s Cap

It is Saturday. Little Mike and his father are in the train. Mike often puts his head out of the window.

“Father, look! How nice the forest is!” he says.

“Yes, the forest is very nice, but you must not put your head out of the window when you are in the train,” his father answers.

But Mike does not want to do what his father says. He puts his head out of the window again and again. His father takes off Mike’s cap and puts it under the bench.

“You don’t do what I say, you put your head out of the window. And now your cap is gone.”

Now Mike’s father wants to give the cap to the boy again. He says, “ Do you want your cap? Close your eyes.”

Mike closes his eyes. His father puts the cap on Mike’s head and says, “Here’s your cap.” Mike opens his eyes and laughs. “Oh, what a nice game! Now, Father, you close your eyes.”

Mike’s father closes his eyes. Mike takes his father’s cap and throws it out of the window.

Text 2

Does the Dog Know It?

“Lucy,” said her father, “ put on your coat and let’s go for a walk.”

Lucy put on her coat. She liked to go for a walk with her father.

“Father, I am ready,” she said.

Lucy and her father went out into the street. Suddenly they saw a big black dog in front of them. The dog saw them too and began to bark.

Lucy was afraid of the dog and wanted to run back home. But her father stopped her.

“Don’t run, Lucy, and give me your hand. Don’t you know that people say: “a barking dog doesn’t bite.”

“Oh, yes,” said Lucy, “I know it very well. You know it, too. But does the dog know it?'

Text 3

That Was Bad!

Nick and Tom were in the street. They saw a little cat near one of the houses. Then a dog came and ran after the little cat. The cat ran and ran, then stopped near the wall of a house and looked at the big dog. The dog barked and the cat was afraid.

A man looked out of the window and saw it all. He came out and told the dog to go home. The dog ran away. The man took the cat in his hands.

“Poor little cat,” he said. “Are you not ashamed, you boys?”

“Why?” they said. “We did not do anything.”

“No, you didn’t do anything, and that was bad. Why didn’t you help the poor little cat?”

Text 4

A New House

A man was tired of living in his old house in the country and wanted to sell it and buy a better one. He tried to sell it for a long time, but was not successful, so at last he decided to solve the problem by using an estate agent.

The agent advertised the house, and a few days later, the owner saw a very attractive photograph of it, with a wonderful description of its gardens, in an expensive magazine.

After the house owner had read the advertisement, he hastened to phone the estate agent and said to him, ”I’m sorry, Mr. Jones, but I’ve decided not to sell the house after all. After reading your advertisement in that magazine, I can see it’s just the kind of house I’ve wanted to live in all my life.”

Text 5

She Wanted to Buy the Zoo

A rich woman came to London one day. She had three children – two boys and a girl. They ran and jumped and shouted all day. They never did what their mother wanted them to do.

The children asked their mother to take them to the Zoo. She took them to the Zoo. They looked at the animals, and they had a nice time. In the evening they said to their mother, “You are very rich, buy the Zoo for us.”

The woman agreed. In the morning they all went to the Zoo again and the mother asked the Zoo people, ”How much does the Zoo cost? My children like it. I want to buy it for them.”

The Zoo people did not like the woman and her naughty children.

And they said, “We can’t sell the Zoo. We can’t sell the animals. But we can buy your children for the Zoo.”

Text 6

A Good Lesson

It was Sunday. There were many men, women and children in the train. Jim Jackson came in and looked for a place to sit down. He saw a bench with only one man on it, and on the bench near the man there was a little bag.

“May I sit down here?” Jim said to the man who sat on the bench.

“This is my friend’s place,” the man answered. “Here is his bag. “

Jim sat down on the bench. “I’ll get up when your friend comes,” he said.

The man’s friend didn’t come and the train started.

“Your friend is late,” Jim Jackson said. “He can’t come on this train now. But here is his bag. We must throw it to him.”

With these words he got up, took the bag and threw it out of the window.

“Oh, my bag!” the man shouted and jumped up from the bench. But it was too late.

Text 7

The Best Jumper

A man liked to see other cities and other countries, so he went to many places in the world. When he came back home, he told his friends many stories. This is one of them.

“I went to many places, and I was in a big city. That is the city where the best jumpers in the world live,” he said. “But I jumped better than all of them. I could jump from one house to another across the street.”

His friends did not say a word.

“Ah, you think it was not so!” he said. “Then go to the city and the people there will tell you about me.”

“Why,” said one of his friends, “why must we go to that city? You try to think that you are in that city now. You can jump from one house to another across the street and show us how you can jump. Then we will see that you are the best jumper in the world.”

Text 8

Monday Morning

Monday morning is the worst time of the week for a lot of people, because it is the end of the weekend and the beginning of another week of work. More things seem to go wrong on Monday morning than on other days.

Jane, a friend of mine, has two children, a boy and a girl, who often make her life very difficult, especially on Monday morning.

One Monday morning was worse than usual. She wanted to do some baking, so she sent the children into the garden to play. She made her husband’s favourite cake and put it into the oven. When she had finished, she looked out into the garden and saw David climbing a tree. She was not

worried because he had never fallen before.

Then she went upstairs to make the beds. When she was upstairs she suddenly heard a branch break. She looked out quickly and saw David on the ground. His arm was in a funny position and she thought he had broken it. Her neighbor came to help. Jane asked her to phone the doctor.

In half an hour the doctor came and took David to hospital. Jane sent her daughter to play next door. As she went into the house she smelt something burning. “Oh, no! The cake!” she cried. It was burnt black. She sat down to have a rest.

When John came home for lunch, he saw his wife sitting there and felt that something was wrong. He also smelt something burning.

“Tell me the worst,” he said. “Well, I’ll tell you the good news first,” Jane replied. “I’ve made your favourite cake this morning, the house isn’t on the fire and our daughter hasn’t broken her arms.”

Text 9

Paul’s Family

There are five people in our family – Father, Mother, my two sisters and I.

My elder brother Peter does not live with us. He is married and lives with his own family, so that now we do not see much of him. Mother says she misses him. Father does not say he misses Peter but I know he does. My elder sister Ann does not like Peter very much because he likes to laugh at her. For example Peter says that boys are not fond of girls who are too short or too tall. Ann is tall and very beautiful.

My brother Peter and his young wife live in a new house. There are two rooms in their flat.

Our old flat is larger and more comfortable than Peter’s. There are four rooms in it – a living-room, a study, a bedroom and a nursery. The house we live in is in the centre of the city, while Peter lives in the outskirts. Well, he is pleased, he says that to live in the outskirts is better – there are many trees and much fresh air there. Father agrees with him but I don’t. I like the centre of the city.

We are great friends and everybody in the family does his bit. Our parents work at a big enterprise. Father is an engineer and Mother is an accountant. The girls go to school and I study at the University. I attend the lectures with pleasure. We study a lot of interesting subjects. As I want to become an economist, I study mathematics, economics and English of course. I am in my first year.

Now a few words about our relations. My grandparents are pensioners and they live not far from us. My aunt and uncle live in Moscow. They have two children, a son and a daughter, my cousins.

Text 10

My Day Off

I usually get up at seven o’clock in the morning. It is pleasant to get up early. I air my room, do my morning exercises and make my bed. Then I clean my teeth, wash or take a shower and dress. At half past seven I am ready to have breakfast. I have breakfast by myself; my mother and my two sisters are still asleep. At a quarter to eight I wake them up and leave. The lectures at our Institute begin at half past eight, while their lessons begin at nine. Our working day lasts till three o’clock. At that time all of us come home.

On Sundays my sisters and I usually go to the country. How lovely it is to walk in the forest, to lie in the sun, or to bathe in the lake!

We get to the country by an early morning train. There are many people in it, all holiday-makers. While the train moves on we chat with each other, we often get acquainted with our fellow-passengers and the talk becomes general.

On our way we usually discuss plans of how to spend the day. Mary wants to have a cup of tea as soon as we come to our place of destination, Helen votes for a walk and I suggest a swim. Finally we all agree to begin with a light breakfast in the open.

The fresh air and the clear sky welcome us to the country-side.

After breakfast we walk to the lake. Our way there lies through a thick forest. Helen, who is only seven years old, usually walks close at my side. She says she is afraid of getting lost. We stay at the beach for a few hours when the weather is fine. Then we have dinner at the restaurant, rest for an hour in the shade of tall trees and then walk back to the station.

At nine we come home. Mother always waits for us. Supper is ready. The girls have a hearty appetite. So have I. Mother asks how we feel after the trip. Helen answers, “Splendid”, and at once falls asleep. She is very tired. Mary and I are not sleepy. Neither is mother. So we talk for some time and then go to bed.

Level 2

Text 1

I Want to See the World

(after Th. Mayne Reid)

Just back from college I was not happy at home. I wanted to see the parts of the world known to me only from books. I wanted to see mountains, seas, rivers. I wanted to see strange countries, states, people. My dreams came true. I left my native land and started on a voyage across the Atlantic to the New World.

I crossed the Atlantic ocean and on January 18^th I arrived in New Orleans. An hour after my arrival I was already walking about the streets of the city. I was staring at the new scenes around me. But soon my thoughts turned to other things.

As I walked about the streets of the city, I began to understand my own uselessness. I had been one of the best pupils in college. But could I use the dry knowledge I had received? I had learned the classic languages and logic. Now, in real life, they seemed useless to me. In England I had

thought: “ By this time next year I shall have graduated from college and shall be an educated man. I shall know everything.” But now I understood that I really knew nothing.

The first six months I spent in New Orleans were a good school for me. I learned more of life than I had learned during many years of study at

college. By the end of those six months I had very little money. After

paying for my room I had only twenty-five dollars in my pocket.

I wanted to get a job, but my classic education had not prepared me for any kind of useful work. Friendless and troubled about my future, I walked about the streets. It was the middle of June. The weather was hot and becoming hotter every day. I decided to go to St. Louis. I had enough money for the passage, though I did not know what to do afterwards. I packed up my luggage and stepped on board the Beauty of the West, the steamer in which I was going to make my trip to St. Louis.

Text 2

National Emblems of the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is the political name of the country which consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (sometimes known as Ulster).

In everyday speech “Britain” is used to mean the United Kingdom.

The flag of the United Kingdom, known as the Union Jack, is made up of three crosses. The upright red cross on a white background is the cross of the 1^st George, the patron saint of England. The white diagonal cross on a blue background is the cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The red diagonal cross on a white background is the cross of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

The Welsh flag, called the Welsh dragon, represents a red dragon on a white and green background.

St. George’s Day falls on 23 April and is regarded as England’s national day. On this day some patriotic Englishmen wear a rose pinned to their jackets. A red rose is the national emblem of England from the time of the Wars of the Roses (the 15^th century).

St. Andrew’s Day (the 30^th of November) is regarded as Scotland’s national day. On this day some Scotsmen wear a thistle in their buttonhole. As a national emblem of Scotland, thistle was apparently first used in the 15^th century as a symbol of defense. The Order of the Thistle is one of the highest orders of knighthood. It was founded in 1687, and is mainly given to Scottish noblemen (limited to 16 in number).

St. Patrick’s Day (the 17^th of March) is considered as a national day in Northern Ireland and an official bank holiday there. The national emblem of Ireland is shamrock. According to legend, it was the plant chosen by St. Patrick to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Irish.

St. David’s Day (the 1^st of March) is the church festival of St. David, a 6^th-century monk and bishop, the patron saint of Wales. It is the national holiday of Wales, although it is not an official bank holiday. On this day, however, many Welshmen wear either a yellow daffodil or a leek pinned to their jackets, as both plants are traditionally regarded as national emblems of Wales.

In the Royal Arms three lions symbolize England, a lion rampant – Scotland, and a harp – Ireland. The whole is encircled and supported by a lion and a unicorn. The lion has been used as a symbol of national strength and of British Monarchy for many centuries. The unicorn, the mythical animal that looks like a horse with a long straight horn, has appeared on the

Scottish and British royal coats of arms for many centuries, and is a symbol of parity.

Text 3

American Symbols

The American flag is often called “The Stars and Stripes”, and it is also called “Old Glory”. It represents the growth of the nation. It has 13

horizontal stripes, 7 red and 6 white which stand for the original 13 states. In the top left hand corner there are 50 white stars on a blue background: one star for each state. The national anthem of the United States is “The Star Sprangled Banner”. The words were written during the Anglo-American war of 1812 – 1814 and set to the music of an old song. Every state has its own flag, its own emblem and its own anthem too.

The eagle became the national emblem of the country in 1782. It has an olive branch (a symbol of peace) and arrows (a symbol of strength).

The Statue of Liberty is the symbol of American democracy. It stands on an island in New York. It is one of the first things people see when they arrive in New York by sea. This National Monument was a present from France to the USA. France gave the statue to America in 1884 as a symbol of friendship. Liberty carries the torch of freedom – in her right hand. In her left hand she is holding a tablet with the inscription “July 4, 1776” – American Independence Day.

Text 4

Two Separate Languages

Traditionally the most prestigious accent has been the accent of South-East England and this has become the BBC accent. However, this is changing. People are increasingly proud of their regional accent and we now hear far more regional accents on television and radio. If you are learning English as a foreign language, then the important thing is to make sure that your pronunciation is clear and easily understood. A slight regional accent does not matter.

If you are going to speak mostly to Americans, then standard American English will be more useful. Certainly at present speakers of standard American English have no real problems communicating with people who speak British English clearly. The important thing to remember is that they are not two separate languages, they are one language with some differences. If you can speak one form quite well, then you will not have problems understanding the other.

Text 5

The Monarchy

Britain is a parliamentary democracy in which the country is governed by elected representatives of people. The powers of the monarch are not defined precisely. For the British people the Queen is head of the nation and the living symbol of its unity. She is the head of the system of justice and of the armed forces. The Queen does not take part in politics but the country is governed in her name. Every letter sent out by a government department is marked “On Her Majesty’s Service”. The queen appoints all the Ministers, including the Prime Minister. In reality, everything is done on the advice of the elected Government, and the monarch takes no part in the decision-making process.

Text 6

Visiting a British at Home

To really understand Britain and British, you have to live with them for a while.

If you are going to stay with a British family, it is a good idea to take a present. Take something that is typical of your country, like a record of traditional music, or handicraft objects.

If you visit someone for just an evening, it’s a good idea to take some flowers. Present them as soon as you arrive, and don’t take off the wrapping paper before you give them.

If someone offers you a cup of coffee, they’ll usually ask you if you want it black (without milk) or white (with milk). They will also ask you whether you want sugar or not. But if they offer you tea, it will normally come with milk. If you don’t want milk, you should say so.

In Britain, you will probably get used to drinking lots of tea. You can practise how to make good tea by following the instructions on the packet.

Level 3

Text 1

Boating Down the River

(After Jerome K Jerome)

Then I began to get nervous. I looked again at the map. There was Wallingford lock clearly marked, a mile and a half before Benson’s. It was a good, reliable map; and besides I recollected the lock myself. I had been through it twice. Where were we? What had happened to us? I began to think it was all a dream, and that I was really asleep in bed, and should wake up in a minute.

I asked my cousin if she thought it could be a dream, and she replied that she was just about to ask the same question; then we both wondered if we were both asleep, and if so, who was the one that was really dreaming and who was the one that was only in a dream; it got quite interesting.

I still went on pulling, however, and still no lock came in sight, and the river grew more and more gloomy and mysterious under the gathering shadows of night, and things seemed to be getting uncanny.

Soon a boat came alongside us. It contained a party of provincial people out for a moonlight sail. I never saw more attractive, lovable people in all my life. I hailed them, and asked if they could tell me the way to Wallingford lock; and I explained that I had been looking for it the last two hours.

“Wallingford lock!” they answered. “ Lor’ bless you, sir, they have done away with it for over a year. There ain’t no Wallingford lock now, sir. You’re close to Cleeve now.”

I had never thought of that. I wanted to fall upon all their necks and bless them; but the stream was running too strong just there to allow of this, so I had to content myself with mere cold-sounding words of gratitude.

We thanked them over and over again and we said it was a lovely night, and we wished them a pleasant trip, and, I think, I invited them all to come and spend a week with me, and my cousin said her mother would be so pleased to see them. And we got home in time for supper after all.

Text 2

Jane Eyre Arrives in Lowood

Led by Miss Miller I passed from compartment to compartment, from passage to passage, of a large and irregular building, till we came upon the hum of many voices, and presently entered a wide, long room, with great tables, two at each end, on each of which burnt a pair of candles; all round on benches there were girls of every age, from nine or ten to twenty. Their number appeared to me countless, though in reality it did not exceed eighty; they wore brown uniforms of strange fashion and long pinafores. It was the hour of study, they were engaged in conning over their tomorrow task, and the hum was being produced by their whispered repetitions. No word could be heard because of the humming. Miss Miller signed to me to sit on a bench near the door, then walking up to the other end of the long room, she cried out, “Monitors, collect the lesson-books and put them away!”

Four tall girls arouse from the different tables, and going round,

gathered the books and removed them. Miss Miller again gave the word of command, “Monitors, fetch the supper- trays!”

The tall girls went out and returned presently, each carrying a tray, with portions of something and a pitcher of water and mug in the middle of each tray. The portions were handed round; those who liked took a draught of the water; the mug was common to all. When it came to my turn, I drank, for I was thirsty, but did not touch the food; excitement and fatigue made me incapable of eating, I now saw, however, that it was a thin oaten cake, shared into fragments.

The meal over, prayers were read by Miss Miller, and the classes filed off – two and two upstairs. I scarcely noticed what sort of a place the bed-room was; except that, like the school-room, I saw it was very long. To-night I was to be Miss Miller’s bed-fellow; she helped me to undress; when I had been laid down I glanced at the long rows of beds, each of which was quickly filled with two occupants; in ten minutes the single light was extinguished; amidst silence and complete darkness, I fell asleep.

Text 3

The Land of Blue Mountains

The Great Barrier Reef on the coast of Queensland is a garden under the sea. There are 1,400 different kinds of fish, and more than 300 kinds of coral. Tropical fruit and flowers grow on the beautiful islands. It is not

surprising that more holiday-makers come to Queensland every year.

Tasmania, the island south of Australia, is rather small. It is the same size as England. It is also very different from the other states. There are no deserts in Tasmania. It often rains, both in winter and summer.

Only a half of million people live in Tasmania, and a large part of the

island is still covered with wild beautiful forests. The forests are full of wonderful flowers and interesting animals.

In the Northern Territory you will find the red heart of Australia. It is really red, with red rocks, red sand, and red sky in the evening. Every year, thousands of tourists visit Ayers Rock and a strange group of huge red stones called “the Oglas”. But these places are also holy to the aboriginals. They believe that the land itself has life.

Sydney is the best known place in New South Wales. In fact, it’s the best known place in Australia. There are the Blue Mountains here. They are covered with forests of blue coloured eucalyptus trees. The air above the forest contains millions of microscopic drops of eucalyptus oil.

Less than a hundred years ago, there was nothing except sheep in

Canberra. But Australians decided to build a capital city, and the work began in 1913. Now Canberra is an international city, full of governmental offices and diplomats. It’s a beautiful place with parks, lakes, big open streets and fine buildings.

Australia is sometimes called “the lucky country”. One reason is the mineral resources under the earth: gold, silver, iron, coal and many precious metals. The Bass Straight on the coast of Victoria has been one of the country’s biggest oil fields for many years.

South Australia is the driest of all the states, but it has the Murray River. The river brings greenness and life to the south-east corner. Many years ago the Murray was South Australian’s main road. Before real roads and railways came, the river carried people and goods. Some towns on the Murray still keep the old river boats.

Text 4

New Zealand Way of Life

New Zealand has a high standard of living. New Zealanders eat more butter and meat per person than do the people of any other country. The government’s medical programme provides excellent health care. About 70% New Zealand people own their houses. Almost every family has a car.

Most New Zealanders live in single-family houses with small vegetable gardens. In the larger cities some people live in high-rise apartment buildings. Almost in every New Zealand home there are refrigerators, washing machines, and other modern household appliances. But air conditioning and central heating are rare because the weather rarely becomes extremely hot or extremely cold. The people prefer to keep windows open. In winter fireplaces or electric heaters keep the homes warm.

Although the four-fifths of the population live in urban areas, cities are not crowded. Traffic jams seldom occur, even in downtown areas. Large cities have excellent restaurants, milk bars, theatres, concert halls, and other places of entertainment. City life tends to be rather quiet. However, it is changing in larger cities, where international tourism develops rapidly.

Near a fifth of New Zealand’s people live in rural areas – in some of them small settlements are linked by good roads. But in other areas ranchers’ nearest neighbours may live kilometres away. Some ranchers live almost in isolation. Nevertheless, most farms and ranches have electricity. Many farm families run their farms with little or no hired help.

Text 5

Canadian English

Canada is officially a by-lingual country: about a third of its inhabitants are French speaking, direct descendents of the settlers in New France. Canadian French is a stable and well-defined language as, say, Yorkshire English, and it has a strong and well-defined literary tradition.

The rest of Canada offers nothing so simple. There is a jocular definition of the Canadian as one who is always mistaken for an Englishman in the United States and for an American in England.

To understand the Canadian language in the XX century we shall have to go back to the XVIII.

Who brought the English language to Canada?

The first considerable influx of English-speaking settlers was from the revolting American colonies who formed the original population of Ontario and New Brunswick. There was a settlement of Highlanders started in Prince Edward Island by Lord Selkirk. This provided a precedent for a number of Scottish colonies in Ontario and Manitoba and marked the beginning of that pervasive Caledonian influence which is such a noticeable feature of Canadian life.

In Alberta one could have visited towns, where nearly everyone seemed to come from Lancashire, others where English, if spoken at all, had to work its way through a thick accent, which might be Ukrainian, German, Estonian, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, or Czech.

The most surprising thing about the English currently used now in Canada is its homogeneity. Regional differences exist, but they are subtle.

Almost any American can detect a Canadian in a few minutes’ talk; and a Canadian can recognize most Americans.

Canadian speech has tended to preserve a national identity. The Canadians listen to the American radio stations, see mainly American films, read American magazines and fiction. But strong as the American influence is it has its limits. The most important limit is, perhaps, set by growing national self-confidence in Canada.

Anyone wishing to know what Canadian English like when purged of individual peculiarities and accidentals would be well advised to listen to the best C.B.C. announcers and to C.B.C. drama. These offer something which is not a copy of British English; not yet of American English.

The motion pictures of course, and the American radio, have a strong influence in Canada, as in England; and the type of youth in both countries which takes the Hollywood gangster as his ideal will naturally become as un-Canadian and un-English in appearance, manner and language as his circumstances permit.

Text 6

To End Up With

Everything seems to be going up these days. Prices are going up, and that makes the cost of living go up. Those people whose wages and salaries go up are fortunate, they can manage, perhaps, to keep up with rising costs.

Populations are going up, too, and if the world becomes overcrowded, there may be more wars. Then, when the atomic bombs drop, everything will go up in smoke and fire, and it will be all up with civilization.

We must not give up hope, however. Let us cheer up, and not look only on the dark side. Even though troubles pile up, good fortune will turn up occasionally. Servants may leave so that we have to wash up after our meals, but we may still, when the work is done, be able to put our feet up for a few minutes. We may, when we go out in the car, find the roads up or so bad that our tyres go flat and have to be pumped up. Yet, when we get home, we may enjoy, if we sit up late, a wonderful broadcast of opera from Milan or Rome.

Things do look up sometimes.

Life is full of ups and downs. We may feel depressed and fed up now, but good luck will turn up again soon. So, once again, cheer up.

Text 7

As one grows older one becomes more silent. In one’s youth one is ready to pour oneself out to the world; one feels an intense fellowship with other people, one wants to throw oneself in their arms and one feels that they will receive one; one wants to open oneself to them so that they may take one, one wants to penetrate into them; one’s life seems to overflow into the lives of others and become one with their as the waters of rivers become one in the sea. But gradually the power of one leaves one; a barrier rises up between oneself and one’s fellows and one realizes that they are strangers to one …

(S. Maugham, A Writer’s Book)

Dialogue 1

A. Would you like to take a walk?

B. With pleasure.

A. Then join us, will you?

Dialogue 2

A. How about coming to the cafe with us?

B. I’d love to.

A. Agreed.

Dialogue 3

A. How about a cup of tea?

B. Sorry, I have no time.

Dialogue 4

А. Would you like a glass of mineral water?

В. With pleasure, thank you.

Dialogue 5

A. This way, please. The manager is waiting for you.

B. Thank you. What is his name?

А. Mr. Rochester.

Dialogue 6

A. I can drive you home.

В. That’s very kind of you.

Dialogue 7

A. May I use your telephone, please?

B. Yes, surely.

Dialogue 8

A. I think I must go now.

B. Can you stay a little longer?

А. I’m afraid I can’t.

В. It’s a pity. Good-bye.

Dialogue 9

A. Kate is going to see us.

B. When?

А. This afternoon.

Dialogue 10

A. Where’s Alice? I want to take her to a dance.

B. I’m sorry, I don’t know.

Dialogue 11

A. I am Bill Aldington.

B. How do you do, Mr. Aldington? I am Betty Burns.

A. Miss or Mrs. Burns?

B. Miss Burns, but call me Betty.

А. Glad to meet you, Betty.

В. Glad to meet you, Bill.

Dialogue 12

А. Hello, Henry! Are your parents at home?

В. Yes, they are.

А. What are they doing? Are they very busy?

В. I don’t think so. Mum is cooking and Dad is reading.

А. Your father is very clever, isn’t he?

В. Oh yes, he is. And he is writing a book on History.

Dialogue 13

A. What is your new flat like?

B. It is large and nice with all modern conveniences.

А. What is the sitting-room like?

В. It’s light and comfortable.

А. What about the kitchen? Is it comfortable?

В. Well, it’s rather small but clean and cosy.

Dialogue 14

A. What are you going to do with this vase?

B. I am going to put it on the TV set.

A. Don’t do that. Give it to me.

B. What are you going to do with it?

A. I am going to put it here, in front of the window.

В. Be careful! Don’t drop it!

Dialogue 15

A. What are you doing, Helen?

B. I am doing my English exercises.

A. Have you got a good dictionary?

B. Yes, of course.

А. Are you translating the exercise from English into

Russian?

B. Yes, I am.

Dialogue 16

A. Alice, what’s the time?

B. It’s two minutes to nine.

A. So, it’s two minutes before our favourite TV programme.

B. Yes, it’s time to finish the housework and have a rest.

Dialogue 17

A. What day is it today?

B. Today is Monday.

A. What day was it yesterday?

B. Yesterday was Sunday.

A. What day is it tomorrow?

B. Tomorrow is Tuesday.

Dialogue 18

A. What date is it today?

B. Today is the tenth of December.

A. What date was it yesterday?

B. It was the ninth of December.

A. What date is it tomorrow?

B. Tomorrow is the eleventh of December.

Dialogue 19

A. When do you usually get up?

B. On week-days I get up at six o’clock.

A. Why so early?

B. It takes me an hour to get to the Institute.

A. How do you get there?

B. I go to the Institute by bus.

Dialogue 20

A. What do you usually do after classes?

B. As a rule I spend the evening at home with my family.

Sometimes I go to the theatre with my friends. And you?

What do you do after classes?

А. You know, my hobby is dancing. Three times a week I go

to a dance. And what is your hobby?

B. Reading books. I read a lot and I have many books in

Russian and in English.

A. Are you good at foreign languages?

B. Yes, rather.

Dialogue 21

A. How did you spend your winter holiday?

В. It was a very good winter I should say. There was a lot of

snow and I skied every day in the park not far from the

house.

A. As far as I remember the weather was cold.

B. Well, it was cold but it was not windy. And what do you

prefer – skiing or skating?

А. I am fond of skating. There is an excellent skating-rink

near our house and I often go there.

Dialogue 22

A. What nasty weather we are having today!

B. Yes, the weather is awful, isn’t it?

A. I don’t like rain.

B. Neither do I. Yesterday it rained all day long.

A. There is no change for better. It’s cold, rainy and windy.

B. It’s too bad. We can’t go for a walk.

Dialogue 23

A. It’s a lovely day today, isn’t it? I am going for a walk.

B. Yes, it’s wonderful weather we are having. I hope it will

keep fine.

A. It’s a bit too hot for me.

B. I hope it will not rain.

А. You never can tell.

~² In a Restaurant

Peter:	What would you like to eat, Edith?
Edith:	A meat sandwich.
Peter:	Jean? Would you like a meat sandwich or a cheese sandwich?
Jean:	A cheese sandwich, please, Peter.
Waiter:	Good evening.
Peter:	Good evening. We’ll have one meat sandwich and two cheese sandwiches.
Edith:	And three teas, please!
Waiter:	One meat sandwich…two cheese sandwiches… and…three teas.

~² TV Advertisement for “Onwash”

Voice A:	What’s wrong with you, Mrs Bloggs?
Mrs Blogs:	What’s wrong with me? I want a holiday from this horrible job of washing socks!
Voice B:	Buy a bottle of “Onwash”, Mrs. Blogs!
Voice C:	“Onwash” is so soft and strong!
Voice D:	You don’t want lots of hot water with “Onwash”!
Voice A:	It’s not a long job with “Onwash”.
Voice B:	Use “Onwash” often.
Voice C:	You won’t be sorry when you’ve got “Onwash”.
Voice D:	Everybody wants “Onwash”.
Everybody:	“Onwash” is so popular!

~² A Mouse in the House

Mrs Brown:	I’ve found a mouse!
Mr Brown:	Oh! You are shouting too loudly. Sit down and don’t shout.
Mrs Brown:	I’ve found a mouse in the house.
Mr Brown:	A brown mouse?
Mrs Brown:	Yes. A little brown mouse. It’s running around in the lounge.
Mr Brown:	On the ground?
Mrs Brown:	Yes. It’s under the couch now.
Mr Brown:	Well, get it out.
Mrs Brown:	How?
Mr Brown:	Turn the couch upside-down. Get it out somehow. We don’t want a mouse in the house. Ours is the cleanest house in the town!

~² A Special Washing Machine

Mrs Marsh:	Does this shop sell washing machines?
Mr Shaw:	This is the newest washing machine, madam.
Mrs Marsh:	Is it Swedish?
Mr Shaw:	No, madam. It’s English.
Mrs Marsh:	Please show me how it washes.
Mr Shaw:	Shall I give you a demonstration? Here are some sheets and shirts. You put them in the machine. You shut the door. And you push this button.
Mrs Marsh:	The machine shouldn’t shake like that, should it?
Mr Shaw:	Washing machines always shake, madam. Ah! It’s finished now.
Mrs Marsh:	But the sheets have shrunk, and so have the shirts.
Mr Shaw:	Do you wish to buy this machine, madam?
Mr Marsh:	I’m not sure.

~ ² Limericks for Fun u

A limerick is a type of poem, but one can hardly call it true poetry. It is both comic and funny and is sometimes called nonsense verse. Edward Lear is supposed to be the inventor of this type of poem. But since then he has had a lot of imitators, because limericks are very popular in England and the USA.

This comic verse is named after the town of Limerick in Ireland. Every limerick has five lines.

1.	There was a young lady of Niger, Who smiled as she rode on a tiger. They returned from the ride With the lady inside, And the smile on the face of the tiger.
2.	There was an old man of Peru, Who dreamt he was eating his shoe. He awoke in the night In a terrible fright And found it was perfectly true.
3.	There was an old man of Peru, Who found he had nothing to do. So he sat on the stairs And counted his hairs And found he had seventy two.
4.	There once was a student named Bessor, Whose knowledge grew lesser and lesser. It at last grew so small: He knew nothing at all. But today he is a college professor.
5.	There was a young man who was bitten By twenty-two cats and a kitten. Cried he, ”It’s clear. My end is quite near. No matter I’ll die like a Britton”.
6.	There was a young fellow of Ealing, Devoid of all delicate feeling. When he read on the door “Don’t spit on the floor”, He immediately spat on the ceiling.
7.	The composer Benjamin Britten Had a very musical kitten. It played lovely tunes On piano and spoons Much better than Britten had written.
8.	There was an old lady who said, When she found a thief under her bed, “Get up from the floor, You are too near the door, And you may catch a cold in your head”.

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