He was afraid

Mr. Smith who lived in one of the suburbs of London was on his way home from the railway station. The road was dark and lonely. He heard footsteps behind him and had an uncomfortable feeling that he was being followed. He increased his speed. The footsteps quickened, too. The man became frightened and ran down the street. The footsteps still pursued him. In desperation he jumped over the fence and, rushing into the churchyard threw himself on one of the graves.

“If he follows me here”, he thought fearfully, “there can be no doubt as to his intentions”.

The man behind him was following him over the fence. Visions of robbers, maniacs and the like flashed through the frightened man’s brain. Quivering with fear he rose and faced the pursuer.

“What do you w-w-want?” he demanded, “wh-wh-why are you fol­lowing me?”

“I say”, asked the stranger, mopping the sweat from his brow, “do you always go home like this? Or are you giving yourself a special treat to­night? I’m going up to Mr. Brown's, and the man at the station told me to follow you, as you lived next door”.

I. Say which statements are false or true.

1. Mr. Smith lived in the suburbs of London.

2. He was on his very to work.

3. The road was dark, and lonely.

4. He heard the song behind him.

5. He had an uncomfortable feeling that he was being followed.

II. Choose the correct answer, please.

1. What did Mr. Smith hear?

a) the footsteps quickened b) the footsteps calmed down c) the footsteps became louder.

2. What happened to Mr. Smith?

a) he became angry b) hen became frightened c) he got sad

3. What pursue him?

a) the footsteps b) the dog c) the girl

4. Where did he jump over?

a) over the gate b) over the bush c) over the fence

5. Where did he throw himself?

a) on one of the graves b) on the lawn c) on the bench

6. What did the man behind him do?

a) was crying b) was shouting c) was following him

III. Finish the sentences.

1. Visions of . . . flashed trough the frightened man’s brains.

a) robbers, maniacs and the like. b) ghosts and witches. c) killers and assassins.

2. The man was

a) trembling from joy. b) quivering with fear. c) trembling from grief.

3. He rose and faced his

a) friend. b) neighbour. c) pursuer.

4. He asked the pursuer what

a) he wanted. b) he did. c) he threw.

5. The man said he wanted to know

a) the address of Mr. Brown. b) the address of Mr. Blue. c) the address of Mr. Green.

A slave

Murillo was a great painter in Spain. He painted beautiful pictures and “he had many students.

Once he came to his studio and found a very beautiful picture there. He asked his students who had painted that picture but nobody answered. Then he asked his slave Sebastian if he had seen somebody in the studio the night before. The slave did not answer. When the night came and eve­rybody went away Sebastian began to paint. He did not think of time. Suddenly he heard a noise behind him. When he turned round he saw Murillo and his students watching him quietly.

“Sebastian”, cried Murillo, “you are a very good painter. How did you learn to paint?”

“I took my lessons from you, master”, the slave answered.

“From me? I have never given you lessons”, said Murillo.

“But you gave lessons to your students, and I heard them”, answered the slave. Murillo was a very honest man. He understood that the slave was a very gifted painter, so he gave him his freedom and began to work with his ‘slave’ who was not a slave any longer.

I. Say which statements are false or true.

1. Murillo was a great painter in Germany.

2. He had many students.

3. Once he came to his studio and found a beautiful sculpture there.

4. He asked everybody but nobody knew.

5. He asked his son Sebastian about it.

6. The slave did not answer.

II. Choose the correct answer, please.

1. What did Sebastian begin to do when the night came?

a) he began to sleep b) he began to paint c) he began to clean the room

2. What didn’t he think of?

a) of time b) of people c) of master

3. What did he suddenly hear behind him?

a) a noise b) a whistle c) a creak

4. Whom did he see when he turned round?

a) slaves b) Murillo and his students c) police

5. What did Murillo cry?

a) you are a bad painter b) you are not a painter c) you are a very good painter

6. What did Murillo ask Sebastian?

a) who was his teacher b) who was his mother c) who was his friend

III. Finish the sentences.

1. Sebastian said that Murillo was

a) his teacher. b) his advisor. c) his tutor.

2. Murillo answered that he

a) had been pleased. b) had never taught him. c) had advised him nice advice.

3. Murillo was a

a) a very dishonest person. b) a very simple person. c) a very honest man.

4. He understood that his slave was

a) a very gifted person. b) a very clever person. c) a very stupid person.

5. He gave his slave

a) the freedom. b) the money. c) the house.

6. From that time he began to work with

a) Raphael. b) Sebastian. c) John.