Too honest

Jim was a young man in his early twenties who was apprenticed to a carpenter. He was a good worker, honest and reliable and, above all, he was punctual, so his boss was pleased with him.

But Jim’s one great drawback was that he could never tell a lie, no matter how hard he tried, not even a little white one. In fact, he was so honest and shy that he would blush even when he was telling the truth.

One morning, however, he didn’t feel like going to work because he had been to a party the night before and it hadn’t ended till the early hours of the morning. And so for the first time in his life he decided to take a day off. He rang his boss and pretending to be a woman, he spoke in a high-pitched voice.

“Hello,” he said nervously, “I’m afraid Jim can’t come in to work today. He doesn’t feel very well.”

Poor Jim was thankful his boss couldn’t see him just at that moment because his hands were trembling and his face was bright red.

“Thank you for letting me know,” said Mr. Woods, and then, just as he was about to hang up, he said, “Just a minute, who’s speaking, please?” At that moment Jim nearly passed out with shock.

“Oh!” he stammered, and doing his utmost to sound like a woman, he exclaimed in a clear voice, “This is my landlady speaking!”

I. Say if the statements are true or false.

1. Jim was a young man in his early twenties.

2. He was a good worker.

3. He didn’t have any drawbacks.

4. One morning he didn’t feel like going to work.

5. His hands were trembling.

6. He was speaking to his landlady.

II. Choose the correct answer.

1. How old was Jim?

a) less than 20 b) more than 20 c) 20.

2. What kind of worker was he?

a) dishonest but reliable b) honest but unreliable c) honest and reliable

3. What was his drawback?

a) he could never say a lie b) he could be sly c) he could never tell ‘die’

4. Why didn’t he feel like going to work one day?

a) the party hadn’t ended till the early hours of the morning

b) he was the member of the party

c) he decided to part

5. Whom did he ring?

a) his boss b) his best friend c) his landlady

6. What did he exclaim in a clear voice?

a) This is my landlady speaking

b) This is my lender speaking

c) This is my lady speaking

III. Finish the sentences.

1. Jim was apprenticed to …

a) a car-maker. b) a carpenter. c) a carpet cleaner.

2. He could never tell a lie no matter how hard he …

a) tied . b) was tired. c) tried.

3. He was so honest that he would ... even when he was telling the truth.

a) flash b) brush c) blush

4. He rang his boss pretending to be …

a) a woman. b) an old man. c) unwell.

5. Jim was thankful his boss …

a) couldn’t see him. b) couldn’t speak to him. c) could see him.

6. Al this moment Jim nearly …

a) passed him a stocking.

b) passed out with a shock.

c) paused being in a shock.

A sailor and the monkeys

Once a sailor went ashore on the coast of South America. He had a number of blue woollen caps with him, which he wanted to sell. On his way to the town at some distance from the coast, he had to pass through a forest, in which there was a great number of monkeys.

At noon, as the sun was right overhead, the sailor decided to have a rest, as it was very hot. He lay down under the shade of a large tree, took one of the caps out of his bundle, put it on his head, and soon fell asleep.

When he awoke, he found, to his surprise, that the caps were all gone!

Soon he heard a loud noise among the thick branches above him, and he looked up.

He saw the trees alive with monkeys, and on the head of each monkey there was a blue woollen cap! The monkeys had watched his actions, had stolen his caps, while he slept and had put them on, and now they did not pay any attention to his shouts.

When the sailor saw that he couldn’t get his caps back, he pulled off the one which he had on his head, and threw it on the ground, crying, “If you want to keep the rest, you may take this one too!”

To his great surprise the little animals did the same. Each took the cap off its head and threw it on the ground. The sailor got his caps back and went away in triumph.

I. Say if the statements are true or false.

1. Once a sailor went ashore on the coast of Africa.

2. He had a number of golden caps with him.

3. He had to pass through a forest.

4. It was very cold.

5. The caps were all gone.

6. He saw a lot of monkeys.

II. Choose the correct answer.

1. Who went ashore?

a) a seller b) a sailor c) a soldier

2. What did he want to sell?

a) woolen caps b) a suit c) plates

3. Why did he decide to have a rest?

a) it was raining b) it was dark c) it was hot

4. Where did he lie?

a) in a house b) under the bush c) in the shadow of a large tree

5. What did he see when he awoke?

a) a tiger b) the trees with birds c) the trees alive with monkeys

6. What happened to the caps?

a) they were wet b) they were gone c) they were torn to pieces

III. Finish the sentences.

1. He had a number of blue woolen caps which he wanted to …

a) buy. b) sell. c) present.

2. In the forest there were great numbers of …

a) tigers. b) snakes. c) monkeys.

3. When he awoke he found the caps were …

a) broken. b) all gone. c) in his bundle.

4. On the head of each monkey there was …

a) a blue woolen cap. b) a golden chain. c) a black hat.

5. The monkeys didn’t pay any attention …

a) to him. b) to his shouts. c) to the noise.

6. Each took the cap off its head and …

a) threw it in the air. b) hold it. c) threw it on the ground.