11. A Mistake

The famous Italian singer Enrico Caruso sang in many countries of Europe. He visited Russia, France, Germany, Spain and many other countries. Everywhere he was a great success and his name was well known all over the world.

Caruso knew that he was famous, but he liked to repeat the sentence: ‘No more known as he thinks he is’.

Once he was invited to die USA to give some concerts. When he was driving to New York, his car broke and he had to stay at a farm-house. Caruso could not repair his car and asked the farmer to help him.

The farmer agreed to do it. While the farmer was repairing die car. Caruso was invited into the house to have a rest.

When the farmer finished the work, he entered the house, too. He informed the great singer that his car was ready and could drive on. Caruso was very glad to hear it. He paid farmer for the work and gave him a photo. It was a picture of Enrico Caruso. On the back side of the photo Caruso wrote his name. He thought it would be pleasant tor the farmer to have a picture of the famous singer. The farmer took the picture, looked at it very attentively, then he looked at Enrico Caruso. He realized that it was the picture of the man whose car he had repaired.

He wanted to know the name of the man, so he read what was written on the back side of the picture.

After that he cried out: 'How lucky I am! You are Robinson Crusoe! I've never dreamed of receiving the greatest traveler in the world in my poor house!"

1. Why was Caruso famous?

2. What did he use to say about fame?

3. Does the story prove his words?

12. A True Friend

George had stolen some money, but he police had caught him and he had been put in prison. Now his trial was about to begin, and he felt sure that he would be found guilty and sent to prison for a long time. Then he discovered that an old friend of his was one of the members of the jury at his trial. Of course, he did not tell anybody, but he managed to see his friend secretly one day. He said to him: ‘Jim, I know that the jury will find me guilty of having stolen the money. I cannot hope to be found not guilty of taking it — that would be too much to expect. But I should be grateful to you for the rest of my life if you could persuade the other members of the jury to soften the punishment'.

‘Well, George,’ answered Jim, ‘I shall certainly try to do what I can for you as an old friend, but of course I cannot promise anything. The other eleven people on the jury look terribly strong-minded to me’.

George said that he would quite understand if Jim was not able to do anything for him, and thanked him warmly for agreeing to help. The trial went on, and at last the time came for the jury to decide whether George was guilty or not. It took them five hours, but in the end they found George guilty with a strong recommendation to soften the punishment.

Of course, George was very pleased, but he did not have a chance to see Jim for some time after the trial. At last, however, Jim visited him in prison, and George thanked him warmly and asked him how he had managed to persuade the other members of the jury to soften the punishment.

‘Well, George,' Jim answered, ‘as I thought, those eleven men were very difficult to persuade, but I managed it in the end by tiring them out. Do you know those fools had all wanted to find you not guilty’.

1. Which of the following best describes the main idea of the story?

A. A friend in need is a friend indeed. B. Any crime should he punished.

C. Good intention often has the opposite effect.

D. It is always easy to persuade the members of the jury.

2. Why did George ask his friend to do him a favour?

A. His friend Jim knew the legislation.

B. Jim could see his friend secretly as he worked in prison.

C. Jim was the member of Parliament.

D. Jim was one of those who was to decide if George was guilty.

3. George said that he would be grateful to Jim for the rest of his life if:

A. Jim could persuade the jury to find him not guilty.

B. Jim could persuade the jury to pardon him.

C. Jim could persuade the jury to make his punishment less severe.

D. Jim could persuade the jury to fine him.

4. How did Jim manage to meet George's request?

A. He said that George had not stolen the money.

B. The members of the jury were tired and they agreed.

C. He had worked in prison for a long time and knew everybody there.

D. He was an experienced lawyer.