Ex. 12.                                                  Dinner-table Talk

— Good evening. I'm so glad you were able to come ... . Dinner's ready. Let's go into the dining-room. Mrs. Thompson, will you sit here on my left, and you, Mr. Thompson, there .... How long have you been in London?

— Oh, only a few days, since last Monday, to be exact, and I'm sorry to say we have to return tomorrow week.

— Is this your first visit?

— It's my wife's first visit, but I've been here several times before. I have to come over at least once a year on business, and I feel quite at home in London.

— And what do you think of London, Mrs. Thompson?

— Er — I beg your pardon, I didn't quite catch what you said.

— I was asking what you thought of London.

— Oh, I think it's a wonderful place. There always seems to be something interesting to do.

— And how do you like our weather?

— Well, it's rather changeable, isn't it?

— Yes, it is, but on the whole it's not so bad, once you get used to it. Will you have some more chicken?

— No, thank you.

— What about you, Mr. Thompson?

— Yes, please, just a little. It's delicious.

— I'm so glad you like it... and now what sweet will you have, Mrs. Thompson? There's apple tart and cream, or chocolate trifle.

— Er — trifle for me, please.

— And you Mr. Thompson?

— Trifle for me, too, please.

Insufficient Local Knowledge

Ex. 16.

A Londoner who was going to the West of England for a holiday, arrived by train at a town, and found that it was pouring. He called a porter to carry his bags to a taxi. On the way out of the s ation, partly to make conversation and partly to get a local opinion on prospects of weather for his holiday, he asked the porter:

"How long has it been raining like this?"

"I don't know sir, I've only been here for fifteen years," was the reply.

SECTION FIVE

Ex. 12.                                                              About the Job

Harry: Well, Robert, have you made up your mind yet what you want to do when you leave college?

Nora: Oh, Harry, surely he's a bit young to decide on his career? be hasn't even got to college yet.

Harry: Not at all, Nora. It's wisest to decide in good time. Look at me, for example. I really wanted to be a sailor, but now I spend my days sitting at a desk in an office. Yes, it's silly to train for the wrong job. And after all, Robert will be going to college soon.

Nora: (musing) Now if I were a man I'd be a farmer. To see the crops growing — that's my idea of a good life.

Harry: Well, you haven't answered my question у at, Robert. What would you like to do?

Nora: (wistfully) Are you sure you don't want to be a farmer, Robert? Or a market gardener?

Rоbert: No I'm sorry, Mum, but I don't want to at all. I'd rather be a civil engineer. I want to build roads and bridges.

Harry: Not ships? Isn't it better to be a shipbuilding engineer?

Robert: (crossly) Look here, is it my career we're planning or yours?

Harry (huffed) All right, all right, there's no need to lose your temper. But you'd better win that scholarship first.

Ex. 15.                                                  Nothing to Complain About

An intelligent small boy was sitting in a bus. A passenger sitting next to him asked him a question:

"How old are you?"

"I'm four," answered the child.

"I wish I were four," said the passenger. He was considerably taken aback, however, when the child, turning rather a surprised gaze upon him, replied:

"But you were four once."

SECTION SIX

Ex.19. See p. 211.

Ex. 21.                                                              Weather Forecasts

Two men were travelling in a very wild part of America. They saw no modern houses and no traces of civilization for many days. What they saw were only a few huts made of wood or tents where Indians lived. One day they met an old Indian who was a hunter. He was very clever and knew everything about the forest and the animals living in it and many other things. He could also speak English quite well.

"Can you tell us what the weather will be like during the next few days?" one of the two travellers asked him.

"Oh, yes," he answered. "Rain is coming, and wind. Then there will be snow for a day or two but then the sunshine will come again and the weather will be fine."

"These old Indians seem to know more about Nature than we with all our science," said the man to his friend. Then he turned to the old Indian.

"Tell me," he asked, "how do you know all that?"

The Indian answered: "I heard it over the radio."

SECTION SEVEN

Ex. 8. See p. 289.

Ex. 13.                                                  Commerce and Industry

Great Britain is one of the most important commercial and trading centres in the world. Britain buys more goods than she sells; her imports exceed her export. Not being a great argi-cultural country, England has to obtain her food supplies largely from abroad. She also has to import many raw materials, such as wool from Australia; timber from Sweden and Finland; cotton, petroleum and tobacco from the United States. Wine and fruit are imported from France, Italy, Spain, and the Dominions; dairy produce from Denmark and Holland, and so on.

One of the most extensive industries in England is the textile industry,- immense quantities of cotton and woollen goods and artificial silk are produced and exported. English leather goods are also in great demand in other countries. Great Britain is noted for its coal mines and for iron and steel goods, and it supplies many countries with certain classes of machinery. Another leading industry in this country is shipbuilding. The motor industry is also very flourishing.

Ex. 15.                                                  Mothering Sunday (Mother's Day)

Mother's Day is traditionally observed on the fourth Sunday in Lent (the Church season of penitence beginning on Ash Wednesday, the day of which varies from year to year). This is usually in March. The day used to be known as Mothering Sunday and dates from the time when many girls worked away from home as domestic servants in big households, where their hours of work were often very long. Mothering Sunday was established as a holiday for these girls and gave them an opportunity of going home to see their parents, especially their mother. They used to take presents with them, often given to them by the lady of the house.

When the labour situation changed and everyone was entitled to regular time off, this custom remained, although the day is now often called "Mother's Day". People visit their mothers if possible and give them flowers and small presents. If they cannot go, they send a "Mother's Day card," or they may send one in any case. The family try to see that the mother has as little work to do as possible, sometimes the husband or children take her breakfast in bed and they often help with the meals and the washing up. It is considered to be mother's day off.

SECTION EIGHT