Book 12

Text 338

      Mr and Mrs Taylor had one child. He was a boy, he was seven years old, and his name was Pat. Now Mrs Taylor was expecting another  child.

       Pat had seen babies in other people's houses and had not liked them very much, so he was not delighted about the news that there was soon going to be one in his house too.

       One evening Mr and Mrs Taylor were making plans for the baby's arrival. "This house won't be big enough for us all when the baby comes. I suppose we'll have to find a larger house and move to that," said Mr Taylor finally.

       Pat had been playing outside, but he came into the room just then and said, “ What are you talking about? "

     "We were saying that we'll have to move to another house now, because the new baby's coming,' his mother answered.

    "It's no use," said Pat hopelessly. "He'll follow us there."

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. How many children did Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have at the beginning of the story?
2. Why was Pat not pleased about the arrival of the new baby?
3. What news did Pat's parents share with him?
4. What were Mr. and Mrs. Taylor planning one evening?
5. Why did Mr. Taylor think the family needed a larger house?
6. What was Pat doing before he entered the room?
7. How did Mrs. Taylor explain the need to move?
8. What did Pat think about moving to another house?
9. What does Pat's final comment reveal about his understanding of the situation?
10. Why is the ending of the story humorous?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. big → __________
2. outside → __________
3. larger → __________
4. new → __________
5. come → __________
6. happy → __________
7. arrival → __________
8. follow → __________
9. hopelessly → __________
10. evening → __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Pat was six years old. _______
2. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor had two children at the beginning of the story. _______
3. Pat enjoyed playing with babies in other people's houses. _______
4. Mrs. Taylor was expecting twins. _______
5. The family planned to move because their house was too old. _______
6. Pat was reading a book when he entered the room. _______
7. Mr. Taylor wanted to build an extra room in the house. _______
8. Pat immediately became excited about the new baby. _______
9. Mrs. Taylor told Pat that the baby would stay with relatives. _______
10. Pat said that the baby would follow them to the new house. _______

Text 339

      An important businessman went to see his doctor because he could not sleep at night. The doctor examined him carefully and then said to him, " Your trouble is that you need to learn to relax. Have you got any hobbies? "

      The businessman thought for a few moments and then said, “No, doctor, I haven't. I don't have any time for hobbies."

     "Well," the doctor answered, 'that is your main trouble, you see. You don't have time for anything except your work. You must find some hobbies, and you must learn to relax with them, or you'll be dead in less than five years. Why don't you learn to paint pictures?'

     "All right, doctor," the businessman said. "I'll try that."

     The next day he telephoned the doctor and said, “That was a very good idea of yours, doctor. Thank you very much. I've already painted fifteen pictures since I saw you."

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. Why did the businessman visit the doctor?
2. What problem was the businessman experiencing?
3. What question did the doctor ask about the businessman's free time?
4. Why didn't the businessman have any hobbies?
5. According to the doctor, what was the man's main trouble?
6. What did the doctor say would happen if the businessman did not learn to relax?
7. Which hobby did the doctor suggest?
8. How did the businessman respond to the doctor's advice?
9. Why did the businessman telephone the doctor the next day?
10. What is funny about the ending of the story?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. important → __________
2. night → __________
3. relax → __________
4. carefully → __________
5. learn → __________
6. dead → __________
7. next → __________
8. good → __________
9. thank → __________
10. main → __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. The businessman went to see the doctor because he had a broken leg. _______
2. The doctor advised him to work harder. _______
3. The businessman had many hobbies. _______
4. The doctor suggested learning to play football. _______
5. The businessman said he had plenty of free time. _______
6. The doctor told him to stop working forever. _______
7. The businessman painted only one picture after visiting the doctor. _______
8. The businessman called the doctor a month later. _______
9. The doctor said the businessman was completely healthy and needed no changes. _______
10. The businessman painted fifteen pictures in one day. _______

Text 340

       Mary's mother was nearly seventy, and Mary and her husband wanted to give the old lady a nice birthday present. She liked drinking tea, so Mary ordered an electric machine which made the tea and then woke you up in the morning. She wrapped it up in pretty

paper and brought it to her mother on her birthday. Then her mother opened the package. Mary showed her how to use it.

      "Before you go to bed, put the tea in the pot and the water in the kettle," she explained to the old lady, "and don't forget to switch the electricity on. Then, when you wake up in the morning, your tea will be ready."

       After a few days, Mary's mother rang up and said, "Perhaps I'm being rather silly, but there's one thing I'm confused about: why do I have to go to bed to make the tea?

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. How old was Mary's mother nearly?
2. What did Mary and her husband want to give her mother?
3. Why did they choose that particular present?
4. What kind of machine did Mary buy for her mother?
5. How did Mary prepare the gift before giving it to her mother?
6. What did Mary's mother need to put in the machine before going to bed?
7. What should she not forget to do before going to sleep?
8. What would happen when she woke up in the morning?
9. Why did Mary's mother telephone her daughter after a few days?
10. What misunderstanding caused the humor in the story?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. old → __________
2. nice → __________
3. morning → __________
4. wake up → __________
5. remember → __________
6. pretty → __________
7. open → __________
8. before → __________
9. go → __________
10. confused → __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Mary's mother was nearly sixty years old. _______
2. Mary's mother liked drinking coffee more than tea. _______
3. Mary bought her mother a new television. _______
4. The machine made tea in the afternoon. _______
5. Mary's husband wrapped the gift in old newspaper. _______
6. Mary's mother had to put milk in the machine before bed. _______
7. Mary told her mother to switch the electricity off before sleeping. _______
8. Mary's mother called Mary on the same day she received the gift. _______
9. Mary's mother thought she had to stay awake all night to make tea. _______
10. Mary's mother was confused about why she had to go to bed to make the tea. _______

Text 341

         Mr Grey was the manager of a small office in London. He lived in the country, and came up to work by train. He liked walking from the station to his office unless it was raining, because it gave him some exercise.

         One morning he was walking along the street when a stranger stopped him and said to him, 'You may not remember me, sir, but seven years ago I came to London without a penny in my pockets. I

stopped you in this street and asked you to lend me some money, and you lent me five pounds, because you said that you were willing to take a chance so as to give a man a start on the road to success.'

         Mr Grey thought for a few moments and then said, Yes, I remember you. Go on with your story.'

       " Well," answered the stranger, "are you still willing to take a chance? "

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. What was Mr. Grey's job?
2. Where did Mr. Grey live?
3. How did he travel to work every day?
4. Why did Mr. Grey enjoy walking from the station to his office?
5. Who stopped Mr. Grey in the street one morning?
6. What did the stranger say had happened seven years earlier?
7. How much money had Mr. Grey lent the stranger?
8. Why did Mr. Grey lend the stranger the money?
9. What did Mr. Grey say after remembering the stranger?
10. Why is the ending of the story amusing?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. small → __________
2. country → __________
3. work → __________
4. liked → __________
5. willing → __________
6. success → __________
7. remember → __________
8. lend → __________
9. stop → __________
10. morning → __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Mr. Grey was the manager of a large factory. _______
2. He lived in London near his office. _______
3. Mr. Grey travelled to work by bus. _______
4. He enjoyed walking because it saved him money. _______
5. The stranger met Mr. Grey for the first time that morning. _______
6. Seven years earlier, the stranger had arrived in London with plenty of money. _______
7. Mr. Grey lent the stranger ten pounds. _______
8. Mr. Grey immediately forgot the stranger's story. _______
9. The stranger returned the money with interest. _______
10. The stranger asked Mr. Grey if he was still willing to take a chance. _______

Text 342

        During the Second World War it was difficult to travel by plane, because the seats were needed for important government and army people.

        Mr Brown worked for the government during the war. He was a civilian, and he was doing very secret work, so nobody was allowed to know how important he was except a very few people.

       One day he had to fly to Edinburgh to give a lecture to a few top people there, but an important army officer came to the airport at the last minute, and Mr Brown's seat was given to him, so he was not

able to fly to the city to give his lecture.

       It was not until he reached the city that the important officer discovered that the man whose seat he had taken was the one whose lecture he had flown to the city to hear.

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. Why was it difficult to travel by plane during the Second World War?
2. Who usually received the available seats on planes during the war?
3. What kind of work did Mr. Brown do for the government?
4. Why did only a few people know how important Mr. Brown was?
5. Where did Mr. Brown need to travel one day?
6. What was the purpose of his trip to Edinburgh?
7. Why was Mr. Brown unable to take his flight?
8. Who was given Mr. Brown's seat?
9. When did the army officer discover who Mr. Brown was?
10. Why is the ending of the story ironic and humorous?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. difficult → __________
2. important → __________
3. secret → __________
4. few → __________
5. last → __________
6. able → __________
7. fly → __________
8. give → __________
9. discover → __________
10. top → __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. During the Second World War, it was easy for everyone to travel by plane. _______
2. Mr. Brown worked for a private company. _______
3. Everyone knew how important Mr. Brown was. _______
4. Mr. Brown was travelling to London to give a lecture. _______
5. The lecture was for school students. _______
6. An important navy officer took Mr. Brown's seat. _______
7. Mr. Brown decided not to travel because he was ill. _______
8. The officer knew immediately that he had taken Mr. Brown's seat. _______
9. Mr. Brown finally flew to Edinburgh on the same plane. _______
10. The officer had flown to Edinburgh to hear Mr. Brown's lecture. _______

Text 343

 

        Peter Judd joined the army when he was eighteen, and for several months he was taught how to be a good soldier. He did quite well in everything except shooting. One day he and his friends were practising their shooting, and all of them were doing quite well except Peter. After he had shot at the target nine times and had not hit it once, the officer who was trying to teach the young soldiers to shoot said, "You’re quite hopeless, Peter! Don't waste your last bullet too! Go behind that wall and shoot yourself with it!"

         Peter felt ashamed. He went behind the wall, and a few seconds later the officer and the other young soldiers heard the sound of a shot.

         "Heavens!" the officer said. "Has that silly man really shot himself?"

         He ran behind the wall anxiously, but Peter was all right. " I'm sorry, sir," he said, “but I missed again."

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. How old was Peter Judd when he joined the army?
2. What was Peter being trained to become?
3. In which activity did Peter perform poorly?
4. How many times did Peter shoot at the target without hitting it?
5. What did the officer say after Peter missed nine times?
6. How did Peter feel after hearing the officer's words?
7. Where did Peter go after the officer spoke to him?
8. What did the officer and the other soldiers hear a few seconds later?
9. Why did the officer run behind the wall?
10. What did Peter mean when he said, "I missed again"?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. good → __________
2. young → __________
3. behind → __________
4. ashamed → __________
5. last → __________
6. well → __________
7. hopeless → __________
8. joined → __________
9. hit → __________
10. friend → __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Peter Judd joined the army when he was twenty-one. _______
2. Peter was excellent at shooting. _______
3. Peter hit the target nine times. _______
4. The officer praised Peter for his shooting skills. _______
5. Peter laughed when the officer spoke to him. _______
6. Peter went into a building after the officer's comment. _______
7. The soldiers heard two shots from behind the wall. _______
8. The officer was not worried about Peter. _______
9. Peter accidentally hit the target from behind the wall. _______
10. Peter said that he had missed again. _______

Text 344

         Mr Richards worked in a small seaside town, and he and his wife had a comfortable house near the sea. During the winter they were quite happy there, but every summer a lot of their relatives used to want to come and stay with them, because it was a nice place for a holiday, and it was much cheaper than staying in a hotel. 

       Finally one June Mr Richards complained to an intelligent friend of his who lived in the same place. "One of my wife's cousins intends to bring her husband and children and spend ten days with us next month again. How do you prevent all your relatives coming to live with you in the summer?"

       "Oh," the friend answered, “that isn't difficult. I just borrow money from all the rich ones, and lend it to all the poor ones. After that, none of them come again."

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. Where did Mr. Richards work?
2. Where was Mr. Richards' house located?
3. Why were Mr. and Mrs. Richards happy during the winter?
4. Why did many relatives want to stay with them in the summer?
5. Why was staying with the Richards family cheaper than staying in a hotel?
6. Who planned to visit the Richards family for ten days?
7. When was the cousin planning to visit?
8. What problem did Mr. Richards discuss with his friend?
9. What method did the friend use to stop relatives from visiting?
10. Why do you think the friend's plan was successful?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. small → __________
2. near → __________
3. winter → __________
4. happy → __________
5. cheaper → __________
6. intelligent → __________
7. rich → __________
8. borrow → __________
9. difficult → __________
10. come → __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Mr. Richards worked in a large city. _______
2. His house was far from the sea. _______
3. The relatives usually visited during the winter. _______
4. Staying with the Richards family was more expensive than staying in a hotel. _______
5. Mr. Richards enjoyed having many relatives stay every summer. _______
6. His friend's brother planned to stay for ten days. _______
7. Mr. Richards asked his friend how to attract more relatives. _______
8. The friend borrowed money from poor relatives and lent it to rich relatives. _______
9. After using his method, the friend's relatives visited more often. _______
10. The friend said that none of his relatives came again after he borrowed and lent money. _______

Text 345

       Mrs Scott bought a new house last year. The walls of the rooms had been painted a short time before, and Mrs Scott liked the colours, but the person who had sold her the house had taken the curtains with him, so Mrs Scott had to buy new ones, and of course she wanted to buy ones whose colours would go with the walls of her rooms. She discovered that her comb was exactly the same colour as these walls, so she always took it with her whenever she went to look for cloth for curtains.

      In one shop she showed the shopkeeper the comb and then looked at various cloths for curtains for half an hour with him, until he got tired and said to her, " Madam, wouldn't it be easier just to buy some

cloth you like, and then find a new comb to go with that? "

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. When did Mrs. Scott buy her new house?
2. What did Mrs. Scott like about the rooms in the house?
3. Why did she need to buy new curtains?
4. What did Mrs. Scott want the curtain colours to match?
5. What object did she discover was the same colour as the walls?
6. Why did Mrs. Scott take the comb with her when shopping?
7. What did she show the shopkeeper?
8. How long did Mrs. Scott look at different curtain cloths?
9. Why did the shopkeeper become tired?
10. What humorous suggestion did the shopkeeper make?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. new → __________
2. short → __________
3. like → __________
4. same → __________
5. always → __________
6. buy → __________
7. easier → __________
8. tired → __________
9. with → __________
10. sold → __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Mrs. Scott bought her house five years ago. _______
2. The walls had never been painted. _______
3. Mrs. Scott disliked the colours of the walls. _______
4. The previous owner left all the curtains in the house. _______
5. Mrs. Scott wanted curtains that matched her furniture. _______
6. Her watch was exactly the same colour as the walls. _______
7. She took the comb to the shop only once. _______
8. The shopkeeper chose the curtains for her immediately. _______
9. Mrs. Scott spent only five minutes looking at cloth. _______
10. The shopkeeper suggested buying cloth she liked and then finding a matching comb. _______

Text 346

       Helen lived with her sister Mary. Both of them were about seventy- five years old, and neither of them had ever married. They had a small, old car, and when they wanted to go somewhere, which they

did very rarely, Mary always drove, because her eyes were better.

      One weekend they drove to a large town to look at some thingswhich they had read about in the newspaper. Neither of them had been to that town before.

      They were driving along in a lot of traffic when they turned right into a street which cars were not allowed to go into. There was a policeman there, and he blew his whistle, but Mary did not stop, so he got on to his motor-cycle and followed them.

      After he had ordered them to stop, he said, " Didn't you hear me blow my whistle? "

     "Yes, we did," admitted Mary politely, “but Mummy told us never to stop when men whistle at us."

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. Who did Helen live with?
2. How old were Helen and Mary approximately?
3. Why did Mary usually drive the car?
4. Why did they rarely go out?
5. Where did they go one weekend?
6. Why did they visit the town?
7. What mistake did Mary make while driving?
8. How did the policeman try to stop them?
9. What did the policeman do when they did not stop?
10. Why is the ending of the story humorous?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. old → __________
2. never → __________
3. small → __________
4. better → __________
5. go → __________
6. right → __________
7. allowed → __________
8. stop → __________
9. polite → __________
10. hear → __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Helen and Mary were young women. _______
2. They had never married. _______
3. Mary had poor eyesight. _______
4. They often travelled to the city. _______
5. They had a large modern car. _______
6. They had been to the town many times before. _______
7. The policeman waved at them but did not blow a whistle. _______
8. Mary stopped the car immediately when she heard the whistle. _______
9. The policeman rode a bicycle to follow them. _______
10. Mary said they were taught not to stop when men whistle at them. _______

Text 347

       In England nobody under the age of eighteen is allowed to drink in a public bar. 

       Mr Thompson used to go to a bar near his house quite often, but he never took his son, Tom, because he was too young. Then when Tom had his eighteenth birthday, Mr Thompson took him to his usual bar for the first time. They drank for half an hour, and then Mr Thompson said to his son, " Now, Tom, I want to teach you a useful lesson. You must always be careful not to drink too much. And how do you know when you've had enough? Well, I'll tell you. Do you see those two lights at the end of the bar? When they seem to have become four, you've had enough and should go home. "

       "But, Dad," said Tom, "I can only see one light at the end of the bar."

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. What is the legal drinking age in England mentioned in the text?
2. Where did Mr. Thompson often go?
3. Why did Mr. Thompson not take his son to the bar before?
4. What special event allowed Tom to go to the bar?
5. How long did Mr. Thompson and Tom drink together?
6. What lesson did Mr. Thompson want to teach Tom?
7. What advice did Mr. Thompson give about drinking too much?
8. What did Mr. Thompson say about the lights at the end of the bar?
9. How many lights did Mr. Thompson say a person should see when they have had enough?
10. Why is the ending of the story humorous?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. old → __________
2. never → __________
3. allowed → __________
4. often → __________
5. start → __________
6. young → __________
7. enough → __________
8. first → __________
9. always → __________
10. go → __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. In England, people under sixteen are allowed to drink in bars. _______
2. Mr. Thompson rarely went to the bar. _______
3. Tom went to the bar many times as a child. _______
4. Tom had just turned eighteen years old. _______
5. They drank for five hours. _______
6. Mr. Thompson wanted to teach Tom about driving safely. _______
7. The father said two lights would become four when a person had drunk enough. _______
8. Tom saw two lights at the end of the bar. _______
9. Mr. Thompson could see four lights immediately. _______
10. Tom said he could only see one light. _______

Text 348

    Mr and Mrs Davis had four children. One Saturday Mrs Davis said to her husband, " The children haven't got any lessons today, and you're free too. There's a fun-fair in the park. Let's all go." 

    Her husband was doubtful about this. "I want to finish some work,"

he said.

   " Oh, forget about it and come to the fair!" his wife said.

   So Mr and Mrs Davis took the children to the fun-fair. Mr Davis was forty-five years old, but he enjoyed the fun-fair more than the children. He hurried from one thing to another, and ate lots of sweets and nuts.

   One of the children said to her mother, " Daddy's behaving just like a small child, isn't he, Mummy?"

   Mrs Davis was quite tired of following her husband around by now, and she answered, " He's worse than a small child, Mary, because he's got his own money! "

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. How many children did Mr. and Mrs. Davis have?
2. What did Mrs. Davis suggest doing on Saturday?
3. Why was Mr. Davis doubtful about going?
4. What was happening at the park?
5. How did Mrs. Davis persuade her husband to go?
6. How did Mr. Davis behave at the fun-fair?
7. What kinds of food did Mr. Davis enjoy at the fair?
8. What did one of the children say about her father?
9. How did Mrs. Davis feel while following her husband?
10. Why did Mrs. Davis say her husband was “worse than a small child”?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. free → __________
2. forget → __________
3. come → __________
4. start → __________
5. small → __________
6. old → __________
7. happy → __________
8. finish → __________
9. husband → __________
10. lots of → __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Mr. and Mrs. Davis had three children. _______
2. The children had no lessons on Saturday. _______
3. Mr. Davis wanted to finish some work. _______
4. The fun-fair was in a shopping centre. _______
5. Mrs. Davis refused to go to the fun-fair. _______
6. Mr. Davis enjoyed the fun-fair very much. _______
7. He ate only sandwiches and fruit. _______
8. The children thought their mother behaved like a child. _______
9. Mrs. Davis was happy to follow her husband all day. _______
10. Mr. Davis behaved like a small child at the fun-fair. _______

Text 349

      Mr Jones bought some things from a big shop last month, and whenhe got the bill a few days ago, he thought that there was a mistake in it, so he telephoned the shop and asked to speak to the Accounts Department. " Who do you want to speak to in the Accounts Department? " the telephone operator asked.

     " It doesn't matter to me," Mr Jones answered. He did not know the names of any of the people who worked there. He heard nothing for a few seconds and then the operator said, " Hullo, you wanted to speak to someone in the Accounts Department, didn't you? "

     " Yes, that's right," Mr Jones answered.

     " Would you like to speak to Mr Hankinson?" the operator said.

     " Yes, that'll be all right," Mr Jones said patiently. " It doesn't matter who I speak to."

     " I'm sorry,"  the operator answered, " but Mr Hankinson isn't in today."

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. Where did Mr. Jones buy some things?
2. When did he receive the bill?
3. Why did Mr. Jones think there was a problem with the bill?
4. What did Mr. Jones do after noticing the possible mistake?
5. Which department did he ask to speak to?
6. Why did Mr. Jones not give a specific name?
7. Who spoke to Mr. Jones on the telephone first?
8. What name did the operator suggest?
9. Was Mr. Hankinson available that day?
10. What is funny about the ending of the conversation?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. big → __________
2. last → __________
3. few → __________
4. right → __________
5. matter → __________
6. speak → __________
7. patient → __________
8. know → __________
9. answer → __________
10. in → __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Mr. Jones bought things from a small shop. _______
2. He received the bill immediately on the same day. _______
3. Mr. Jones thought the bill was correct. _______
4. He telephoned the Accounts Department. _______
5. He asked to speak to a specific person by name. _______
6. The operator helped him choose someone to speak to. _______
7. Mr. Jones refused to speak to anyone suggested. _______
8. The operator suggested speaking to Mr. Hankinson. _______
9. Mr. Hankinson was available and answered the call. _______
10. Mr. Jones did not care who he spoke to. _______

Text 350

     Mr Hodge was a chicken farmer. He had hundreds of chickens, and sold the eggs and the meat and got quite a lot of money for them, but he lived in a very hot part of the country, and he found that his hens laid hardly any eggs in the summer. So he decided to put airconditioning into his chicken-house so that the hens would lay well all through the year and he could get more eggs and in that way earn more money.

     The owner of the company which sold the air-conditioning came to see him, and when he saw Mr Hodge's house, he thought that he might be able to persuade him to buy some air-conditioning for that  too.

    " Your wife would be much happier and more comfortable then," he

said to Mr Hodge. But Mr Hodge was not interested.

      " My wife doesn't lay eggs,' he said.

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. What was Mr. Hodge’s job?
2. What did he sell from his farm?
3. Why did Mr. Hodge earn less money in summer?
4. What problem did he have with his hens?
5. What solution did Mr. Hodge decide to use?
6. Why did he want to install air-conditioning in the chicken-house?
7. Who came to visit Mr. Hodge?
8. What did the company owner try to sell him besides chicken-house air-conditioning?
9. What reason did the owner give for installing air-conditioning in the house?
10. Why did Mr. Hodge refuse the idea for his wife?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. hot → __________
2. more → __________
3. buy → __________
4. sell → __________
5. happy → __________
6. comfortable → __________
7. much → __________
8. earn → __________
9. inside → __________
10. wife → __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Mr. Hodge was a chicken farmer. _______
2. He sold vegetables and fruit. _______
3. His hens laid many eggs in summer. _______
4. He lived in a cold country. _______
5. He decided to install air-conditioning in his chicken-house. _______
6. The company owner suggested air-conditioning for the chickens only. _______
7. The owner suggested improving comfort for Mr. Hodge’s wife. _______
8. Mr. Hodge agreed immediately to install air-conditioning in his house. _______
9. Mr. Hodge wanted fewer eggs from his chickens. _______
10. Mr. Hodge said his wife does not lay eggs. _______

Text 351

      George Banks was a clever journalist. He worked for a good newspaper, and he liked arguing very much. He argued with anybody, and about anything. Sometimes the people whom he argucd with were as clever as he was, but often they were not.

      He did not mind arguing with stupid people at all: he knew that he could never persuade them to agree, because they could never really understand what he was saying; and the stupider they were, the surer they were that they were right; but he often found that stupid people said very amusing things.

     At the end of one argument which George had with one of theseless clever people, the man said something which George has alwaysremembered and which has always amused him. It was, " Well, sir,you should never forget this: there are always three answers to cvery question: your answer, my answer, and the correct answer."

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. Why did George Banks enjoy arguing with people?
2. What kind of newspaper did George work for?
3. Who did George argue with?
4. Why could George not persuade stupid people to agree with him?
5. How did stupid people usually feel about their own opinions?
6. What did George find amusing about some people?
7. Were all the people George argued with as clever as he was?
8. What happened at the end of one memorable argument?
9. Which statement made a lasting impression on George?
10. What does the man's statement suggest about disagreements?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. clever → _______________
2. good → _______________
3. agree → _______________
4. understand → _______________
5. remember → _______________
6. always → _______________
7. right → _______________
8. amusing → _______________
9. end → _______________
10. sure → _______________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. George Banks was a farmer. ______
2. George worked for a magazine. ______
3. George disliked discussing different opinions. ______
4. George only argued with intelligent people. ______
5. George found stupid people very interesting because they always agreed with him. ______
6. Less clever people easily understood George's arguments. ______
7. The man said there was only one answer to every question. ______
8. George forgot the man's words soon after hearing them. ______
9. George believed that every opinion was automatically correct. ______
10. George Banks was a journalist. ______

Text 352

       Pat came over from Ireland to England with his wife one year to find work. He got quite a good job with a building company, and as he did not drink or smoke, he saved up quite a lot of money. 

        His wife's parents were still in Ireland, and one day she got a telegram to say that her mother was ill, so Pat gave her some money and she went to Ireland to see her.

         After a week, Pat wanted to write a letter to her, but he could not read or write very well, so he went to his priest and asked him to do it for him. Pat told the priest what he wanted to say, and the priest wrote it down. After a few minutes Pat stopped, and the priest said, " Do you want to say any more?"

"Only, “Please excuse the bad writing and spelling”," Pat said.

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. Where did Pat and his wife come from?
2. Why did they go to England?
3. What kind of company did Pat work for?
4. Why was Pat able to save a lot of money?
5. Where were Pat's wife's parents living?
6. What news did Pat's wife receive in the telegram?
7. Why did she travel back to Ireland?
8. Why couldn't Pat write the letter himself?
9. Who helped Pat write the letter?
10. What funny request did Pat ask the priest to add at the end of the letter?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. good → _______________
2. save → _______________
3. find → _______________
4. come → _______________
5. ill → _______________
6. give → _______________
7. write → _______________
8. more → _______________
9. wife → _______________
10. over → _______________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Pat came from France to England. ______
2. Pat worked for a hospital. ______
3. Pat spent all his money on smoking and drinking. ______
4. Pat's wife's parents lived in England. ______
5. The telegram said that Pat's father was ill. ______
6. Pat's wife stayed in England after receiving the telegram. ______
7. Pat could read and write very well. ______
8. Pat asked a teacher to write the letter. ______
9. The priest refused to help Pat. ______
10. Pat wanted to write a letter to his wife after a week. ______

Text 353

       Mark went to a barber's shop and had his hair cut, but when he came out, he was not happy with the result, and when his friend George saw him, he laughed and said, " What's happened to your hair, Mark? "

       Mark said, " I tried a new barber's shop today, because I wasn't at all satisfied with my old one, but this one seems even worse. "

       George agreed. "Yes, I think you're right, Mark. Now I'll tell you what to do next time you go into a barber's shop: look at all the barbers’ hair, and then go to the one whose own hair has been cut the worst."

      "The one whose hair's been cut the worst? " Mark repeated. But that would be foolish!

" Oh, no, it wouldn't, " answered George. “Who do you think cut that man's hair? He couldn't cut it himself, could he? Another of the barbers cut it—and he must have been a worse barber than the one whose hair he cut.'

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. Where did Mark go to have his hair cut?
2. How did Mark feel after leaving the barber's shop?
3. Why did Mark try a new barber's shop?
4. What was George's reaction when he saw Mark?
5. Did George agree with Mark's opinion about the new barber?
6. What advice did George give Mark for choosing a barber?
7. Which barber did George recommend?
8. Why did Mark think George's advice was foolish?
9. Why couldn't the barber with the worst haircut have cut his own hair?
10. What was George's reason for choosing that barber?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. new → _______________
2. happy → _______________
3. worse → _______________
4. agree → _______________
5. right → _______________
6. foolish → _______________
7. worst → _______________
8. come out → _______________
9. laugh → _______________
10. satisfied → _______________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Mark was happy with his haircut. ______
2. Mark went to his usual barber's shop. ______
3. George was angry when he saw Mark. ______
4. George thought the new barber was excellent. ______
5. George advised Mark to choose the barber with the best haircut. ______
6. Mark immediately agreed with George's advice. ______
7. George said that barbers usually cut their own hair. ______
8. The barber with the worst haircut cut his own hair badly. ______
9. Mark's old barber was better than the new one according to George. ______
10. George told Mark to look at all the barbers' hair before choosing one. ______

Text 354

     Mrs Harris's husband died when she was forty-five years old. Shehad a son, who was eighteen years old at that time.

     Mrs Harris was not a widow for very long. She met a nice man who was a few years older than she was, and two years after her first husband had died, she married for the second time. Her son, Peter, was twenty years old then.

     Mrs Harris had a nice, quiet wedding in the village church, and after that, they had the usual party at her house for her family and her new husband's, and for some of their friends, but Peter was very late for the party. At last he hurried in, kissed his mother, and said, I'm sorry I'm late, Mum, but I've been looking everywhere for a card which says, “ To my Mother, for her Wedding,” and I haven't been able to find one."

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. How old was Mrs Harris when her first husband died?
2. How old was her son Peter at that time?
3. Did Mrs Harris remain a widow for a long time?
4. Who did Mrs Harris meet after her husband's death?
5. How many years after her first husband's death did she marry again?
6. How old was Peter when his mother married for the second time?
7. Where was the wedding held?
8. What happened after the wedding ceremony?
9. Why was Peter late for the party?
10. What was funny about the card Peter was looking for?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. died → _______________
2. old → _______________
3. nice → _______________
4. quiet → _______________
5. late → _______________
6. hurried → _______________
7. first → _______________
8. married → _______________
9. usual → _______________
10. everywhere → _______________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Mrs Harris was fifty-five years old when her husband died. ______
2. Peter was eighteen years old when his mother married for the second time. ______
3. Mrs Harris never married again. ______
4. Her second husband was younger than she was. ______
5. Mrs Harris married again ten years after her first husband died. ______
6. The wedding took place in a large city hall. ______
7. There was no party after the wedding. ______
8. Peter arrived early for the party. ______
9. Peter easily found a card for his mother's wedding. ______
10. Mrs Harris had a quiet wedding in the village church. ______

Text 355

        A long time ago, when aeroplanes were not very big or strong yet, all passengers had to be weighed with their luggage, so that planes did not have to carry more than it was safe to carry. Then later, when aeroplanes became bigger and stronger, only the luggage had to be weighed; and now very often, the luggage has to be measured instead of being weighed, because size is more important to the airlines than weight. Aeroplanes are so big and strong now, that they can carry almost any weight.

        But before a passenger can travel by Hawaiian Airlines, he or she still has to be weighed. Once when one fat man was asked by the airlines' clerk how much he weighed, he thought for a few seconds and then said to her:

       "With or without my clothes?"

       “Well, sir," the girl answered, “how are you planning to travel?'

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. Why were passengers weighed with their luggage in the early days of aviation?
2. What changed when aeroplanes became bigger and stronger?
3. Why is luggage often measured instead of weighed today?
4. What is more important to many airlines now: size or weight?
5. How strong are modern aeroplanes compared to older ones?
6. Which airline still requires passengers to be weighed?
7. What question did the airline clerk ask the fat man?
8. Why did the man think for a few seconds before answering?
9. What unusual question did the man ask the clerk?
10. Why was the clerk's reply funny?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. long → _______________
2. big → _______________
3. strong → _______________
4. safe → _______________
5. later → _______________
6. important → _______________
7. fat → _______________
8. with → _______________
9. before → _______________
10. carry → _______________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. In the past, only luggage had to be weighed. ______
2. Early aeroplanes were very large and powerful. ______
3. Modern airlines care more about weight than size. ______
4. Today's aeroplanes can carry very little weight. ______
5. Hawaiian Airlines never weighs its passengers. ______
6. The clerk asked the man how old he was. ______
7. The man immediately knew what to answer. ______
8. The man asked whether he should be weighed with or without his shoes. ______
9. The clerk suggested that the man might travel without any luggage. ______
10. Hawaiian Airlines still weighs passengers before they travel. ______

Text 356

      When Dick was six years old, he went and stayed with his grandparents in the country for a few weeks in the summer. He talked a lot with his grandmother while he was there, and she told him a lot of interesting things about their family which he had not known before. When he came home again to his own parents, he said to his father,

      " Is it true that I was born in London, Daddy?"

      " Yes, it is, Dick," his father answered.

      " And were you really born in Germany? " Dick asked.

      " Yes, that's right," his father answered. “I was."

      " And is it true that Mummy was born in Ireland? " Dick continued.

      His father said, " Yes, it is, but why are you asking me all these questions? "

Dick answered, “Because when Granny told me all those things while I was with her, I couldn't understand how we had all met."

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. How old was Dick when he went to stay with his grandparents?
2. Where did Dick spend a few weeks during the summer?
3. Who shared information about the family with Dick?
4. What did Dick learn about his birthplace?
5. Where was Dick's father born?
6. In which country was Dick's mother born?
7. Why did Dick ask his father several questions about the family?
8. How did Dick's father react to his questions?
9. What made Dick confused after talking to his grandmother?
10. What does Dick's final remark reveal about his understanding of family relationships?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. old → ____________________
2. summer → ____________________
3. country → ____________________
4. true → ____________________
5. home → ____________________
6. before → ____________________
7. interesting → ____________________
8. come → ____________________
9. answered → ____________________
10. understand → ____________________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Dick was ten years old when he visited his grandparents. _____
2. Dick stayed with his grandparents during the winter holidays. _____
3. Dick's grandfather told him many stories about the family. _____
4. Dick was born in Ireland. _____
5. Dick's father was born in France. _____
6. Dick's mother was born in Germany. _____
7. Dick already knew all the family information before visiting his grandparents. _____
8. Dick's father refused to answer his questions. _____
9. Dick clearly understood how his family members had met. _____
10. Dick wondered how people born in different places could have met each other. _____

Text 357

      When Dave Perkins was young, he played a lot of games, and he was thin and strong, but when he was forty-five, he began to get fat and slow. He was not able to breathe as well as before, and when he walked rather fast, his heart beat painfully.

       He did not do anything about this for a long time, but finally he became anxious and went to see a doctor, and the doctor sent him to hospital. Another young doctor examined him there and said, " I don't want to mislead you, Mr Perkins. You’re very ill, and I believe that you are unlikely to live much longer. Would you like me to arrange for anybody to come and see you before you die? "

       Dave thought for a few seconds and then he answered, " I'd like another doctor to come and see me."

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. What was Dave Perkins like when he was young?
2. How did Dave's physical condition change when he was forty-five?
3. What problems did Dave experience when he walked quickly?
4. Why did Dave become anxious?
5. What did Dave decide to do about his health problems?
6. Where did the first doctor send Dave?
7. What did the young doctor tell Dave after examining him?
8. What offer did the doctor make to Dave?
9. How did Dave respond to the doctor's question?
10. Why is Dave's answer at the end of the story humorous?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. young → ____________________
2. thin → ____________________
3. strong → ____________________
4. fast → ____________________
5. before → ____________________
6. long → ____________________
7. ill → ____________________
8. unlikely → ____________________
9. come → ____________________
10. die → ____________________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Dave was weak and unhealthy when he was young. _____
2. Dave became thinner when he was forty-five. _____
3. Dave could breathe better than before as he got older. _____
4. Dave immediately visited a doctor when he noticed health problems. _____
5. The first doctor treated Dave at home. _____
6. The young doctor told Dave that he was completely healthy. _____
7. The doctor suggested that Dave return to work the next day. _____
8. Dave asked for his family to visit him before he died. _____
9. Dave agreed with the doctor's opinion without question. _____
10. Dave asked to see another doctor. _____

Text 358

     Joe was one of those people who love the sound of their own voice. He never had anything interesting to say, but he talked and talked and talked, and every story he told reminded him of another one, so that he never stopped for a second to let anybody else say anything.

     One evening he was invited to a party by someone whom he had met only a few days before and who did not know him very well yet. They had a good meal, and then they had some music and dancing. Joe danced once with a pretty girl and then suggested that they should sit and talk. He talked and talked and talked, and was just beginning, “And that reminds me of the time...," when the girl said,

“The time? Yes, you're quite right! " She looked at her watch quickly

and said, " Look how late it is. I must go."

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. What kind of person was Joe?
2. Why did people find it difficult to talk when Joe was present?
3. What happened whenever Joe told a story?
4. Who invited Joe to the party?
5. Why did the host not know Joe very well?
6. What activities did the guests enjoy after the meal?
7. With whom did Joe dance at the party?
8. What did Joe suggest after the dance?
9. What was Joe about to say when the girl interrupted him?
10. Why did the girl decide to leave suddenly?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. love → ____________________
2. interesting → ____________________
3. never → ____________________
4. stop → ____________________
5. invited → ____________________
6. good → ____________________
7. pretty → ____________________
8. late → ____________________
9. quickly → ____________________
10. begin → ____________________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Joe was a quiet person who rarely spoke. _____
2. Joe often allowed other people to tell stories. _____
3. Joe always had very interesting things to say. _____
4. Joe was invited to a party by a close childhood friend. _____
5. The guests left immediately after dinner. _____
6. Joe danced with several girls during the evening. _____
7. The girl enjoyed listening to Joe's long stories for hours. _____
8. Joe stopped talking often to let the girl speak. _____
9. The girl asked Joe to tell another story. _____
10. The girl looked at her watch and said she had to leave. _____

Text 359

      Matthew Hobbs was sixteen years old. He had been at the same school for five years, and he had always been a very bad pupil. He was lazy, he fought with other pupils, he was rude to the teachers, and he did not obey the rules of the school. His headmaster tried to make him work and behave better, but he was never successful—and the worst thing was that, as Matthew grew older, he was a bad influence on the younger boys.

       Then at last Matthew left school. He tried to get a job with a big company, and the manager wrote to the headmaster to find out what he could say about Matthew.

       The headmaster wanted to be honest, but he also did not want to too hard, so he wrote, “If you can get Matthew Hobbs to work for you, you will be very lucky.”

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. How old was Matthew Hobbs when he left school?
2. How long had Matthew been at the same school?
3. What kind of pupil was Matthew?
4. How did Matthew behave toward other pupils?
5. What was Matthew's attitude toward his teachers?
6. What did the headmaster try to do for Matthew?
7. Why was Matthew considered a bad influence on younger boys?
8. What did Matthew do after leaving school?
9. Why did the company manager write to the headmaster?
10. What did the headmaster write about Matthew in his letter?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. old → ____________________
2. lazy → ____________________
3. rude → ____________________
4. younger → ____________________
5. bad → ____________________
6. leave → ____________________
7. big → ____________________
8. honest → ____________________
9. successful → ____________________
10. lucky → ____________________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Matthew was fourteen years old when he left school. _____
2. Matthew had attended several different schools in five years. _____
3. Matthew was a hardworking and polite pupil. _____
4. Matthew always obeyed the school rules. _____
5. The headmaster never tried to help Matthew improve. _____
6. Matthew was a positive influence on younger boys. _____
7. Matthew decided to become a teacher after leaving school. _____
8. The company manager telephoned Matthew's classmates for information. _____
9. The headmaster wrote that Matthew was the best student in the school. _____
10. The headmaster wrote a recommendation letter about Matthew to the company manager. _____

Text 360

      Harry came to his mother one morning while she was having her breakfast, and said to her, "No one at my school likes me, Mother. The teachers don't, and the children don't. Even the cleaners and the bus drivers hate me."

     "Well, Harry," his mother answered, “perhaps you aren't very nice to them. If a few people don't like a person, he or she may not be responsible for that; but if a lot of people don't, there's usually something wrong, and that person really needs to change."

       “ I'm too old to change," Harry said. “I don't want to go to school."

        " Don't be silly, Harry," his mother said, going towards the garage to get the car out. You have to go. " You're quite well, and you still have a lot of things to learn. And besides that, you're the headmaster of the school."

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. When did Harry speak to his mother?
2. What complaint did Harry make about the people at his school?
3. Which groups of people did Harry say disliked him?
4. How did Harry's mother respond to his complaint?
5. What did Harry's mother say a person should do if many people dislike him or her?
6. Why did Harry say he could not change?
7. What did Harry say he did not want to do?
8. Why did Harry's mother insist that he go to school?
9. What was Harry's mother's final reason for sending him to school?
10. Why is the ending of the story humorous?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. morning → ____________________
2. like → ____________________
3. hate → ____________________
4. wrong → ____________________
5. old → ____________________
6. silly → ____________________
7. well → ____________________
8. a lot → ____________________
9. go → ____________________
10. learn → ____________________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Harry spoke to his father during breakfast. _____
2. Harry said that everyone at school liked him. _____
3. Harry mentioned only the teachers in his complaint. _____
4. Harry's mother agreed that the school was the problem. _____
5. Harry said that he was young enough to change easily. _____
6. Harry wanted to go to school that day. _____
7. Harry's mother said that he was too sick to attend school. _____
8. Harry's mother walked to the school with him. _____
9. Harry was a student at the school. _____
10. Harry was the headmaster of the school. _____

Text 361

       Mrs Watson was a doctor's wife. She had a nice neighbour, Mrs  Potts. They often did each other's shopping.

       One day, Mrs Potts had to go to Dr Watson because she was ill, so Mrs Watson said, “I'll do your shopping today, Beryl?'" Mrs Potts told her that she only wanted a sheep's kidney.

       Mrs Watson went to the shops, and when she came back, she went to Mrs Potts's house, but she was not there, so she went to her own house. She looked in her husband's waiting-room, but Mrs Potts was not there either, so she went into her husband's office. Her husband told her that Mrs Potts had just left him and gone to the lavatory.

        Mrs Watson ran out into the crowded waiting-room just in time to catch Mrs Potts. She shouted, "Here's your kidney! " and ran and gave her the parcel.

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. Who was Mrs Watson?
2. What kind of relationship did Mrs Watson and Mrs Potts have?
3. How did the two women help each other?
4. Why did Mrs Potts need to visit Dr Watson?
5. What did Mrs Potts ask Mrs Watson to buy for her?
6. Why did Mrs Watson go to Mrs Potts's house after shopping?
7. Where did Mrs Watson look for Mrs Potts?
8. What did Dr Watson tell his wife about Mrs Potts?
9. What did Mrs Watson do when she found Mrs Potts?
10. Why is the ending of the story humorous?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. nice → ____________________
2. often → ____________________
3. ill → ____________________
4. today → ____________________
5. went → ____________________
6. crowded → ____________________
7. left → ____________________
8. out → ____________________
9. catch → ____________________
10. give → ____________________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Mrs Watson was a teacher's wife. _____
2. Mrs Watson and Mrs Potts never helped each other. _____
3. Mrs Potts went to the doctor because she was healthy. _____
4. Mrs Potts asked Mrs Watson to buy some fruit. _____
5. Mrs Watson found Mrs Potts at home after shopping. _____
6. Mrs Potts was waiting in the doctor's office when Mrs Watson arrived. _____
7. Dr Watson told his wife that Mrs Potts had gone home. _____
8. Mrs Watson quietly left the parcel on a chair. _____
9. Mrs Watson gave Mrs Potts a book. _____
10. Mrs Watson ran into the waiting-room and gave Mrs Potts the parcel containing the kidney. _____

Text 362

      Jim was intelligent, but he hated hard work. He said, 'You work hard, and earn a lot of money, and then the government takes most of it. I want easy work that gives me lots of money and that the

government doesn't know about.'

     So he became a thief—but he did not do the stealing: he got others to do it. They were much less intelligent than he was, so he arranged everything and told them what to do.

    One day they were looking for rich families to rob, and Jim sent one of them to a large beautiful house just outside the town.

    It was evening, and when the man looked through one of the windows, he saw a young man and a girl playing a duet on a piano.

    When he went back to Jim, he said, “ That family can't have much money. Two people were playing on the same piano there."

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. 1. Why did Jim dislike the idea of working hard?
   2. What kind of work did Jim want instead?
   3. Why did Jim choose to become a thief?
   4. What role did Jim play in the robberies?
   5. Why did Jim use other people to carry out the thefts?
   6. Where did Jim send one of his men to look for a family to rob?
   7. What did the man see when he looked through the window?
   8. What information did the man report to Jim?
   9. Why did the man think the family was not wealthy?
   10. What does the ending of the story reveal about the man's understanding of the situation?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. Intelligent — __________
2. Hard — __________
3. Rich — __________
4. Large — __________
5. Beautiful — __________
6. Young — __________
7. Outside — __________
8. Evening — __________
9. Easy — __________
10. Same — __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Jim loved working hard for his money. ________
2. Jim wanted the government to know about all his income. ________
3. Jim personally carried out all the robberies. ________
4. The thieves were more intelligent than Jim. ________
5. Jim sent a man to a small house in the center of town. ________
6. The man looked through the door of the house. ________
7. The people inside the house were playing guitars. ________
8. The visitor concluded that the family was very rich. ________
9. The story takes place in the morning. ________
10. Jim organized the robberies and told others what to do. ________

Text 363

     Fred sometimes liked to go to a bar to have a drink before he went home after work. There were some tables and chairs in the bar, but it was too early for most people when Fred was there, so he seldom found anyone to talk to.

     Then one evening he went into the bar and saw a man playing draughts at a table, but he could not see anyone in the chair opposite him. He went nearer to look, and was very surprised to see that the man was playing against a dog. When it had to move one of its draughts, it stood on its back legs on the chair.

     Fred watched while the two played their game, and when the dog lost, Fred went up to its owner and said, “I've never seen such a clever dog before.'

     ‘Well,' answered the other man, he isn't really very clever. I always win.'

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. Why did Fred sometimes go to the bar after work?
2. Why did Fred usually have no one to talk to in the bar?
3. What unusual sight did Fred see one evening?
4. Why was Fred surprised when he looked more closely?
5. How did the dog move its draughts pieces?
6. What did Fred do while the man and the dog were playing?
7. What happened at the end of the game?
8. What did Fred say to the dog's owner?
9. How did the owner respond to Fred's comment?
10. Why is the ending of the story funny?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. Early — __________
2. Before — __________
3. Home — __________
4. Nearer — __________
5. Clever — __________
6. Win — __________
7. Lost — __________
8. Stood — __________
9. Opposite — __________
10. Surprised — __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Fred usually went straight home after work without stopping anywhere. ________
2. The bar was always crowded when Fred arrived. ________
3. Fred saw two men playing draughts together. ________
4. The dog was sitting under the table and not playing. ________
5. Fred was not interested in the game. ________
6. The dog won the game easily. ________
7. Fred said he had never seen such a lazy dog before. ________
8. The dog's owner said the dog was much smarter than he was. ________
9. The game they played was chess. ________
10. The dog stood on its back legs to move its draughts pieces. ________

Text 364

      Henry was from the United States and he had come to London for a holiday.

      One day he was not feeling well, so he went to the clerk at the desk of his hotel and said, 'I want to see a doctor. Can you give me the name of a good one?'

      The clerk looked in a book and then said, 'Dr Kenneth Grey, 61010.'

      Henry said, “Thank you very much. Is he expensive?"

     "Well," the clerk answered, 'he always charges his patients two pounds for their first visit to him, and £1.50 for later visits.'

       Henry decided to save 50p, so when he went to see the doctor, he said, “I've come again, doctor."

       For a few seconds the doctor looked at his face carefully without saying anything. Then he nodded and said, "Oh, yes." He examined him and then said, "Everything's going as it should do. Just continue with the medicine I gave you last time."

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. Where was Henry from?
2. Why did Henry go to the hotel clerk?
3. What information did the clerk give Henry?
4. What question did Henry ask about the doctor?
5. How much did the doctor charge for a first visit?
6. How much did the doctor charge for later visits?
7. Why did Henry say, "I've come again, doctor"?
8. How did the doctor react when Henry said this?
9. What advice did the doctor give Henry?
10. Why is the ending of the story humorous?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. Good — __________
2. Expensive — __________
3. First — __________
4. Later — __________
5. Save — __________
6. Come — __________
7. Holiday — __________
8. Well — __________
9. Continue — __________
10. Carefully — __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Henry was from England. ________
2. Henry came to London for business. ________
3. Henry felt very healthy and energetic. ________
4. The hotel clerk was a doctor. ________
5. The doctor charged £1.50 for a first visit. ________
6. Henry wanted to spend more money on the doctor. ________
7. Henry honestly told the doctor it was his first visit. ________
8. The doctor immediately recognized Henry as a returning patient. ________
9. The doctor gave Henry some new medicine. ________
10. Henry tried to save 50p by pretending he had visited the doctor before. ________

Text 365

       Mrs Jenkins was the owner of a small restaurant in Southampton. Southampton is a big port. Mrs Jenkins had two young waitresses and a cook to help her.

      One day a sailor came into the restaurant, sat down at one of the tables, ordered what he wanted from the waitress and then got up and left again after a few minutes. The owner of the restaurant was surprised when she saw this, so she called the waitress and asked her  why the man had left before having his meal.

     "Well," the waitress answered, ‘he asked for some of our fried rabbit, and when I went out into the kitchen to order it from the cook, the cat was just on the other side of the door and I stepped on its tail

by mistake. It made a terrible noise, of course, and then the man got up from his table and went out very quickly.'

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. Who was Mrs Jenkins?
2. Where was her restaurant located?
3. How many employees helped Mrs Jenkins in the restaurant?
4. What did the sailor do when he entered the restaurant?
5. What surprised Mrs Jenkins about the sailor's behavior?
6. What did the sailor order from the waitress?
7. Where did the waitress go after taking the order?
8. What happened to the cat near the kitchen door?
9. How did the cat react when the waitress stepped on its tail?
10. Why did the sailor leave the restaurant so quickly?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. Small — __________
2. Big — __________
3. Young — __________
4. Came — __________
5. Sat down — __________
6. Left — __________
7. Surprised — __________
8. Inside — __________
9. Quickly — __________
10. Terrible — __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Mrs Jenkins owned a large hotel in Southampton. ________
2. Southampton was a small village. ________
3. Mrs Jenkins had five waitresses working for her. ________
4. The customer was a soldier. ________
5. The sailor ate his meal before leaving. ________
6. The sailor ordered fried chicken. ________
7. The waitress stepped on the cook's foot. ________
8. The cat remained silent after its tail was stepped on. ________
9. Mrs Jenkins saw the sailor leave and was not interested. ________
10. The waitress accidentally stepped on the cat's tail. ________

Text 366

      There is a prison in Iceland which allows its prisoners to go out without any guards to work every day. They work on the farms near the prison during the day, and come back to have their evening meal

and to sleep every evening. Before they are allowed to go out like this, they have to promise to come back every evening. If they do not promise this, they are not let out.

      One night one of the prisoners was invited to have a meal and a drink with the family of the farmer he was working for, so he came back to the prison very late. He had to knock at the gate several times

before the guard came to let him in. The guard did not like being disturbed at this time, so he said to

the prisoner angrily, 'If you come back so late again, I won't let you in.'

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. In which country is the prison located?
2. What special freedom does this prison give its prisoners?
3. Where do the prisoners work during the day?
4. When do the prisoners return to the prison?
5. What must prisoners promise before they are allowed to go out?
6. What happened to one prisoner one night?
7. Why did the prisoner return to the prison late?
8. What did the prisoner have to do when he arrived at the prison gate?
9. Why was the guard angry?
10. Why is the guard's final comment humorous?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. Out — __________
2. Day — __________
3. Near — __________
4. Evening — __________
5. Late — __________
6. Allow — __________
7. Come back — __________
8. Angry — __________
9. Several — __________
10. Work — __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. The prison is located in Norway. ________
2. Prisoners are always accompanied by guards when they leave the prison. ________
3. The prisoners work in factories far from the prison. ________
4. Prisoners are allowed out even if they do not promise to return. ________
5. The prisoner was invited to a wedding party. ________
6. The prisoner returned to prison early that evening. ________
7. The guard immediately opened the gate when the prisoner arrived. ________
8. The guard was pleased to be disturbed late at night. ________
9. The guard told the prisoner he would reward him if he came back late again. ________
10. The prisoners return to the prison every evening for their meal and sleep. ________

Text 367

       Peter was 10 years old, and he was having painting lessons every   week at a small private class.

       During the Christmas holidays, he had a party at his home, and he wanted to invite one of the other students, but he only knew her name — Celia Poe. He did not know her address or her telephone number.

       Peter's mother looked in the telephone book and said, " Well,  there are only four Poes here, so I'll telephone each of them and ask whether they have a daughter who has painting lessons.”

       She telephoned the first one, and the telephone rang for rather a long time before a woman answered. Peter's mother said, “Excuse me. Is that the Mrs Poe who has a daughter who takes painting lessons?"

       " No, it isn't," the woman answered. "This is the Mrs Poe who had to get out of her bath to answer the telephone!'

Exercises:

A) Answer these questions:

1. How old was Peter?
2. What lessons was Peter taking every week?
3. Why did Peter want to find Celia Poe?
4. What information did Peter know about Celia?
5. What information did Peter not know?
6. How did Peter's mother try to find Celia?
7. How many people with the surname Poe were listed in the telephone book?
8. What happened when Peter's mother called the first Poe family?
9. What question did Peter's mother ask the woman?
10. Why is the woman's reply funny?

B)  Which words in the story  mean the opposite of:

1. Small — __________
2. Private — __________
3. Christmas — __________
4. Home — __________
5. Invite — __________
6. Daughter — __________
7. Long — __________
8. Answer — __________
9. First — __________
10. Know — __________

C) Which of these sentences are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1. Peter was twelve years old. ________
2. Peter was taking music lessons every week. ________
3. Peter wanted to invite his teacher to a party. ________
4. Peter knew Celia's address and telephone number. ________
5. Peter's father searched the telephone book. ________
6. There were ten people named Poe in the telephone book. ________
7. The first person answered the phone immediately. ________
8. The woman who answered had a son taking painting lessons. ________
9. The woman was happy because the phone call interrupted her bath. ________
10. Peter's mother called the first Poe family to ask about a daughter taking painting lessons. ________