Caught in the Rush Hour

1. What is the rush hour? 2. Why are there rush hours in big cities? 3. Have you ever been caught in the rush hour? 4. What is it like? How does it feel to find yourself moving slowly along with the crowd a) out of (into) the metro? b) along the underground passage? 5. Can you do anything or do you feel quite helpless and paralyzed in your movements? 6. What are the Do's and the Don't's of the rush hour?

Ex. 45. Read the following article. Answer the questions, using the vocabulary of the lesson. Discuss the employment situation in Great Britain.

STAN LOOKS FOR A JOB AND GETS ADVICE

Stan and Iris were spending the last day of Stan's holidays painting the house. Another two doors and they would be through.

They broke off to have tea. There was no hurry, those two doors would not take long.

Iris switched on the radio for the six o'clock news and they heard the local news which came before it.

Stan enjoyed the cake Iris had made early that morning, and was taking a second cup of tea when the news reader started to read off the unemployment figures. Sixty there, 120 here and 300 at Blank's factory.

Stan, who up to that moment was only half listening, nearly upset his cup with shock. Blank's electronics factory was being closed.

I'll let Stan continue the story.

"I couldn't believe my ears. I was too shocked to hear the rest of the news properly.

"It brought my holiday to a sudden end. I couldn't keep my mind on house-painting any more. I managed to put a bit of paint on those doors, but it was a poor job."

Then followed the sad business of interviews with Ministry of La­bour officials,* trying to arrange new jobs.

"Electronics engineer," the Ministry man repeated as Stan told him his job. "Nothing in that, I'm afraid. Got any other ideas?"

"I was wondering," said my friend Stan, "if you could get me a job as music teacher in local schools. I've a degree** in music."

The Ministry man looked at him in surprise and quickly said: "At your age it's unreasonable to think of becoming a teacher. You must accept the fact that you are a factory worker and are likely to remain one."

Questions

1. How did Stan and Iris spend the last day of Stan's holidays? 2. How did they manage with the job of house-painting? 3. Why did they decide to paint the house themselves? 4. Why was there no need for them to rush with the work? 5. How did Stan happen to learn about the em­ployment situation in their part of the country? 6. What did he learn from the news broadcast? 7. How many people were known to be em­ployed at Blank's electronics factory? 8. Why did Stan make such a poor job of the remaining doors? 9. What government organisation was ex­pected to deal with the problem of finding employment for the redun­dant factory workers? 10. Could the Ministry man promise Stan employment as an electronics engineer any time in the near future? 11. What idea did Stan have about settling his problem? 12. Why did the Minis­try official refuse to discuss it? 13. What are Stan's prospects for the future?

Ex. 46. Read. the following, answer the questions, retell the text in Eng­lish.

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