A sad story

Three men came to New York. They arrived at a very large hotel and took a room there. Their room was on the forty-fifth floor. In the evening the three men went to the theatre and came back to the hotel very late.

“I’m very sorry”, said the clerk of the hotel, but our lifts aren’t working tonight. If you don’t want to walk upstairs to your room we will make beds for you in the hall”.

“No, no”, said one of the three men, “No, thank you. We don’t want to sleep in the hall. We will walk up to our room”.

Then he told his two friends, “It won’t be easy walk up to the forty-fifth floor, but I think I know how to make it easier. On our way to the room I will tell you some jokes. Andy will sing us some songs. Then Peter will tell us some interesting stories”.

So they began to walk upstairs to their room. Tom told them many jokes, Andy sang some songs. At last they came to the thirty-fourth floor. They were tired and decided to have a rest.

“Well”, said Tom, “now it’s your turn, Peter”. “I will tell you a sad story”, said Peter. “We have left the key to our room in the hall”.

I. Say which statements are false or true.

1. Three men took a taxi.

2. In the evening the three men went to the theatre.

3. The lifts never stopped working.

4. The men didn’t want to sleep in the hall.

5. They began to walk upstairs.

6. They have left the key in the hall.

II. Choose the correct answer.

1. What did the men take at a hotel?

a) a key b) a book c) a room

2. What floor was their room on?

a) 45 b) 54 c) 35

3. When did they come back?

a) very early b) very late c) later then usual

4. What did the clerk suggest?

a) going to the nearest hotel b) using the lift c) making beds in the hall

5. What was the men’s decision?

a) to stay in the hall b) to work in the hall c) to walk upstairs

6. What kind of story did Peter tell them?

a) sad b) funny c) strange

III. Finish the sentences.

1. In the evening the three men went

a) to the cinema. b) to the theatre. c) to the hotel.

2. “I’m very sorry” – said

a) the clerk. b) the master. c) the driver.

3. We don’t want

a) to use the lift. b) to sleep in the hall. c) to speak to you.

4. I know how

a) to take it. b) to make a report. c) to make it easier.

5. On our way to the room I’ll tell you

a) some jokes. b) something new. c) nothing.

6. Who will sing the songs?

a) Peter. b) Tom. c) Andy.

A universal favourite

Sir Walter Raleigh, an English statesman and navigator, who lived in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, sailed across the sea to America in search of new lands and introduced the potato from America into England. Shortly after getting the first crop, he sent some to a friend.

Next spring the friend planted the potatoes, which soon gave an excellent crop. When the ‘potato-plums’, as he called them, were ripe, he took some of them to his cook, who fried them in butter, and put sugar and cinnamon over them. In this condition they were set on the dinner-table as a great rarity.

The balls, however, tasted unpleasant, and it was decided that the fruit couldn't ripen in the cold English climate. The gardener was therefore ordered to pull up the plants and burn them, and he did so.

It happened that the gentleman stepped on one of the baked potatoes as it lay in the ashes. When it broke open he noticed that it was white and had an agreeable smell. He tasted it and found it very tasty.

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The proper method of cooking the new vegetable was soon learnt, and in a short time it became a universal favorite.

I. Say which statements are false or true.

1. Sir Walter Raleigh lived in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

2. He introduced the potato from Africa into England.

3. The potato gave an excellent crop.

4. The potatoes were fried in butter.

5. The balls tasted very pleasant.

6. The proper method of cooking potatoes was soon learnt.

II. Choose the correct answer.

1. Why did Sir Walter Raleigh sail to America?

a) in search of money b) in search of food c) in search of new lands

2. What did he send to his friend?

a) some money b) some potatoes c) some books

3. How was the new vegetable called?

a) potato-apples b) potato-plums c) potato-berries

4. What did cook add into the potatoes?

a) salt and pepper b) sugar and cinnamon c) vinegar and mustard

5. What was decided?

a) the fruit couldn’t ripen b) the fruit must be grown c) the fruit was overcooked

6. Where did the potatoes lie when the gentleman stopped on them?

a) on the shelf b) under the scarf c) in the ashes

III. Finish the sentences.

1. Sir Walter Raleigh sailed across the sea and introduced

a) his friend. b) new lands. c) potato.

2. Shortly after getting the first crop

a) he sent some to a friend. b) he ate it. c) he sold it.

3. The potatoes were set on the dinner-table as

a) a desert. b) a great rarity. c) first course.

4. It was decided that the fruit

a) couldn’t ripen. b) was tasty. c) was untasty.

5. The gardener was ordered

a) to put on the plants. b) to pull up the plants. c) to push all the plants.

6. He tasted and found it

a) very tasty. b) too sweet. c) burnt.