The evidence was not strong

A man was accused of stealing a pair of trousers. After a long and patient examination he was acquitted, because the evidence against him was not sufficiently strong.

He stayed however in the dock after his acquittal had been pronounced The lawyer who had defended him, observing that he didn’t go away informed him that he was free to go wherever he wanted. The man shook his head slightly, but remained. By this time the court was nearly empty. Again his lawyer told him that he could go, and asked him why he seemed to be so stupid.

“Just come here for a moment, please, sir,” said the man, “and let me whisper in your ear – I can’t go till all the witnesses against me have left the court.”

“And why may that be?” asked the lawyer.

“Because of the stolen trousers, sir. Don’t you understand?”

“Most certainly I don’t; what about the trousers?” said the lawyer.

“Only this, sir,” whispered the fellow in his lowest tones, “I’ve got them on.”

I. Say if the statements are true or false.

1. The man was accused of selling pearls.

2. After a long examination the man was acquitted.

3. The man didn’t leave the court.

4. The court was full of people.

5. The lawyer informed him about the time.

6. The man wanted to speak in the court.

II. Choose the correct answer.

1. Why was the man acquitted?

a) he paid a big sum of money

b) the evidence wasn’t strong

c) he was short of money

2. What did the lawyer tell him?

a) he was found guilty

b) he had to stay in the court

c) he was free to go

3. Why didn’t the man leave the court?

a) he wanted all the witness to leave the court

b) he was afraid

c) he liked to stay there

4. Why did the man seem so stupid?

a) he was frightened

b) he didn’t believe in his release

c) he liked to seem stupid

5. What did the lawyer do in the court?

a) he defended the man

b) he read the newspaper

c) he talked to his friend

6. What couldn’t the lawyer understand?

a) why the man didn’t leave the court

b) why the man whispered in the ear

c) why the man was acquitted

III. Finish the sentences.

1. The evidence against the man …

a) was officially known.

b) was not sufficiently strong.

c) was suddenly known.

2. The man stayed in the dock after …

a) his acquittal had pronounced.

b) his report had been finished.

c) he gave the lecture.

3. His lawyer told him that

a) he should pay money.

b) he could go.

c) he would be imprisoned.

4. The man shook his head …

a) but remained.

b) but remembered.

c) but returned.

5. The lawyer asked him why he …

a) seemed so stupid.

b) smelt so strong.

c) slept so fast.

6. I can't go till …

a) all the witches have left the court.

b) all the witnesses have left the court.

c) all the wives have left the court.

An arab and his sons

Far to the East there lived in older days an Arab who had 3 sons, whom he dearly loved. He had seventeen beautiful horses, whom he loved, too.

One day the old man became very ill. Feeling that the end was near, he called his sons to give the eldest half of his horses, to the second son, one third, and to the youngest, one ninth.

The sons met to divide the horses but they didn’t know how to divide them.

“How can I take one half of seventeen horses?” said the eldest son. “I can’t divide a living horse in two.” “And how can I,” asked the second, “take one third of seventeen horses? But this is what my father wanted me to do.”

“I also want to do what my father wanted us to. But what is one ninth of seventeen horses?”

At that moment an old man came riding on a horse. “Maybe he can tell us”, they said hopefully. They told their story to him.

The man began to think. Several minutes passed before he spoke. At last he said, “Take my horse and there will be eighteen.”

They did so. The eldest son took one half of the horses. Then the second son called the horses which he loved best and the six animals came running to him. And the youngest son took two horses. The sons said to the man: “You divided the horses wonderfully. Say what you want us to give you for it”.

“I shall take all the horses that are left”, said the old man and he rode away on his own horse.

I. Say if the statements are true or false.

1. Far to the North lived an Arab.

2. He had 10 sons.

3. Also he had 17 horses.

4. One day he became very rich.

5. He called his sons to tell his will.

6. He was feeling his end.

II. Choose the correct answer.

1. Why did the sons meet?

a) to divide the money b) to divide the horses c) to divide the estate

2. Whom did they see?

a) a man riding horse b) a girl riding a donkey c) a boy riding a camel

3. What did they hope?

a) he would give the money b) he would go away c) that he would help them

4. What did they tell him?

a) their story b) their legend c) their joke

5. What did the man do?

a) he began to think b) he began to run c) he began to ride

6. How much time did it pass?

a) several minutes b) an hour c) a day

III. Answer the questions.

1. What did he suggest?

a) his own bag b) his own horse c) his own food

2. How many horses did the eldest boy get?

a) 19 b) 9 c) 5

3. How many horses did the second son get?

a) 5 b) 6 c) 7

4. What was the part of the youngest boy?

a) 2 horses b) 3 horses c) 10 horses

5. What did the boys say?

a) it was bad b) it was wonderful c) it was so so

6. What did the man take?

a) his own rope b) his own saddle c) his own horse