GOOD NEWS 31/7

The story:

The secretary told me that Mr Harmsworth would see me. I felt very nervous when I went into his office. He did not look up from his desk when I entered. After I had sat down, he said that business was very bad. He told me that the firm could not afford to pay such large salaries. Twenty people had already left. I knew that my turn had come.
'Mr Harmsworth', I said in a weak voice.
'Don't interrupt' he said.
then he smiled and told me I would receive an extra $100 a year.

The questions and anwers:

1. Who wanted to see you?
Mr Harmsworth wanted to see me.
2. How did you feel about this?
I felt nervous about this.
3. Where did you go?
I went into his office.
4. Did he say that business was bad, or did he say that it was good?
He said that business was bad.
5. Could the firm pay such large salaries or not?
The firm could not afford to pay such large salaries.
6. How many people had left already?
20 people had already left.
7. Did he ask you to leave as well or not?
He did not ask you to leave.
8. What did he offer you?
He offered you to receive an extra $100 a year.

DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH? 30/7

The story:

I had a amusing experience last year. After I had left a small village in the south of France, I drove on to the next town. On the way, a young man waved to me. I stopped and he asked me for a lift. As soon as he had got into the car, I said good morning to him in French and he replied in the same language. Apart from a few words, I do not know during the journey. I had nearly reachethe town when the young man suddenly said, very slowly, 'Do you speak English?' As I soon learnt, the was English himself.

 Questions and answers:

1.Whom did the writer give a lift to in the south of France last year?
The writer gave a lift to a young man in the south of France last year.
2. Did they greet each other in English or in French?
They greeted each other in French.
3. DOes the writer speak any French or not?
Yes, the writer speak French a little.
4. Did they sit in silence, or did they talk to each other?
They sat in silence.
5. What did the young man say at the end of the journey?
The young man said at the end of the journey.
6. Was he English himself, or was he French?
He was English himself.

THE GREENWOOD BOYS 28/7

The story:

The Greenwood boy are a group of popular singers. At present, they are visiting all parts of the country. They will be arriving here tomorrow. They will be coming by train and most of the young people in the town will be meeting them at the station. Tomorrow evening they will be singing at the Workers' Club. The Greenwood Boys will be staying for five days. During the time, they will give five performances. As usual, the police will have a difficult time. They will be trying to keep order. It is always the same on these occasions.

Questions and answers:

1. Are the Greenwood Boys popular singers or are they popular dancers?
The Greenwood Boys are popular singers.
2. When will they be coming here?
They will be coming here tomorrow.
3. Who will be meeting them at the station?
Most of young people in the town will be meeting them at the station.
4. How many performances will they give?
They will give five performances.
5. What will the police be trying to do as usual?
The police will be trying to keep order as usual.

GOODBYE AND GOOD LUCK 27/7

The story:

Our neighbour, Captain Charles Alison, will sail from Portsmouth tomorrow. We shall meet him at the harbour early in the morning. He will be in his small boat, Topsail. Topsail is a famous little boat. It has sailed across the Atlantic many times. Captain Alison will set out at eight o'clock, so we shall have plenty of time. We shall see his boat and then we shall say good-bye to him. He will be away for two months. We are very proud of him. He will take part in an important race across the Atlantic.

Questions and answers:

1. Whom shall we meet at Portsmouth Harbour early tomorrow morning?
We shall meet Captain Charles Alison at Portsmouth Harbour early tomorrow morning.
2. Where will he be?
He will be at his small boat.
3. At what time will he leave?
He will leave at 8 o'clock.
4. Shall we say goodbye to him, or shall we travel with him?
We shall say goodbye to him.
5. What will he take part in?
He will take part in an important race across the Atlantic.

ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES ANOTHER 26/7

The story:

I was having dinner at a restaurant when Harry Steele came in. Harry worked in a lawyer's office years ago, but he is now working at a bank. He gets a good salary, but he always borrows money from his friends and never pays it back. Harry saw me and came and sat at the same table. He has never borrowed money from me. While he was eating, I asked him to lend me $12. To my surprise, he gave me the money immediately. 'I have never borrowed any money from you'. Harry said, 'so now you can pay for my dinner.'

Questions and answers:

1. Where were you having dinner?
I was having dinner at a restaurant.
2. Did you see Harry Steele after a while or not?
Yes. I saw Harry Steele  after a while.
3. What does he always borrow from his friends?
He always borrows money from his friends.
4. Did Harry sit at your table, or did he sit somewhere else?
Harry sat at my table.
5. How much did you ask him to lend you?
I asked him to lend me $12.
6. Did he give you the money at once or not?
Yes, he gave me the money at once.
7. What did he want you to do?
He wanted you to pay for his dinner.

NOT FOR JAZZ 25/7

The story:

We have an old musical instrument. It is called a clavichord. It was made in Germany in 1681. Our clavichord is kept in the living room. It has belonged to our family for a long time. The instrument was bought by my grandfather many years ago. Recently is was damaged by a visitor. She tried to play jazz on it! She struck the keys too hard and two of strings were broken. My father was shocked. Now we are not allowed to touch it. It is being repaired by a friend of my father's.

The questions and answers:

1. Do we own an old clavichord, or do we own a new piano?
We own an old clavichord.
2. When was it made?
It was made in 1681.
3. Who bought the instrument many years ago?
My grandfather bought the instrument many years ago.
4. Who damaged it recently?
recently, a visitor damaged it.
5. What did she try to do?
She tried to play jazz on it.
6. What did she break?
She broke two of strings.
7. Who is repairing it now?
Now, my father's friend is repairing it.

NO WRONG NUMBERS 23/7

The story:

Mr James Scott has a garage in Silbury and now he has just bought another garage in Pinhurst. Pinhurst is only 5 miles from Silbury, but Mr Scott cannot get a telephone for his new garage, so he has just bought twelve pigeons. Yesterday, a pigeon carried the first message from Pinhurst to Silbury. The bird covered the distance in three minutes. Up to now, Mr Scott has sent a great many requests for spare parts and other urgent messages from one garage to the other. In this way, he has begun his own  privat 'telephone' service.

Questions and answers:

1.Where has Mr Scott opened his second garage?
Mr Scott has opened his second garage in Pin hurst.
2. Where is his first garage?
His first garage is in Silbury.
3. How far away is Silbury?
Silbury is about 5 miles from Pin hurst.
4. Can Mr Scott get a telephone for his new garage or not?
No, he cannot.
5. What has he bought?
He has bought 12 pigeons.
6. In how many minutes do they carry messages from one garage to the other?
In 3 minutes.