Short stories for reading 7class
книга по английскому языку (7 класс)

T e x t 1

THE DOG

Linda Robinson was very thirsty so she went into a café. There was an old woman in the café. She was sitting at a table near the door. At her feet, under the table, there was a small dog. Linda bought a large glass of lemonade and some biscuits. She sat down at the table next to the old woman. The old woman sat quietly. She looked lonely. Linda decided to talk to the old woman. She said, “It is very hot today”.

“Yes, but it is nice and cool inside the café”, replied the old woman.

Linda looked at the little dog and she asked, “Does your dog like people?”

“Oh, he is very friendly.”

Linda wanted to give the dog one of her biscuits so she asked, “Does your dog like biscuits?”

“They are his favourite food”, said the old woman.

Linda was afraid of dogs so she said, “Does your dog bite?”

The old woman laughed and said, “No. My dog is very tame. He is afraid of cats.”

Linda took a biscuit from her plate and she put it near the dog’s mouth.

However, the dog didn’t bite the biscuit, it bit Linda’s hand. Linda jumped out of the chair and screamed in pain. In an angry voice, she shouted at the old woman, “You said that your dog didn’t bite”.

The old woman looked at Linda and at the dog. Then she said, “That’s not my dog.”

Words and word-combinations:

1. to be thirsty – испытывать жажду;

2. biscuit – печенье, кекс;

3. quietly – тихо;

4. to look lonely – выглядеть одиноким;

5. to reply – отвечать;

6. to be friendly – быть дружелюбным;

7. to be afraid of … – бояться кого-либо, чего-либо;

8. to bite (bit, bitten) – кусаться;

9. to be tame – быть прирученным;

10. to scream in pain – закричать от боли;

11. to shout at smb. – закричать на кого-либо.

1. Answer the questions.

1. Why did Linda go to a café?

2. Who was sitting at the table near the door?

3. Who did Linda see under the table?

 4. Why did she think it was the old woman’s dog?

5. What did Linda buy at the café?

6. Why did Linda decide to talk to the old woman?

7. What did they talk about?

8. What was the dog’s favourite food?

9. Did the dog like people according to the old woman?

10. Was Linda afraid of dogs?

11. What questions did Linda ask the old woman?

12. Was the old woman’s dog tame?

13. Was it friendly to Linda?

14. What did the dog do when Linda gave it a biscuit?

15. What did the old woman say about this dog?

T e x t 2

CALL ME MOTHER

A friend of mine and her new husband were enjoying a romantic evening at

a restaurant. They were still in love and sat looking into each other’s eyes. But

soon they noticed an elderly lady dining alone at the opposite table. She was

gazing at them with love and admiration. They smiled back politely and the old

dear came up to their table. “I’m sorry to trouble you”, she began sadly. “I have

never seen such a beautiful couple in my life. I’ve been watching you all the

evening. You know, my dear, your wife looks so much like my daughter. She

was killed last year and I’ve been so miserable ever since. I miss her terribly. I

wonder if you will be able to do me a great favour?” The couple said that they

would do so. “It will give me so much joy if just as I leave you will say “Goodbye,

Mum!” Certainly they couldn’t refuse her this. A few minutes later the old

lady stood up to leave and the two diners did as she had asked. Soon their bill

was brought.

They checked and rechecked it and finally made the manager explain why it

was so massive.

“Your bill includes the old lady’s meal”, was the answer. “She expected her

daughter to pay for her. Isn’t that natural?”

Words and word-combinations:

1. to gaze – пристально глядеть;

2. admiration – восхищение;

3. a couple – супружеская пара;

4. to be miserable – быть несчастным;

5. to do smb. a favour – оказывать услугу, любезность;

6. to expect – ожидать, рассчитывать.

1. Answer the questions.

1. On what occasion did the couple go to the restaurant?

2. Who was dining at the opposite table?

3. Why did the lady come up to the couple?

4. What trick did the elderly lady use to arouse their sympathy?

5. Did the trick work?

6. What favour did the lady ask for?

7. When did the couple realize that they had been cheated?

8. How did the manager explain why the bill was so massive?

9. If such an incident happened to you would you forgive the woman?

10. What do you think of the words “Trust but check”?

2. Discuss the following.

1. Do you sometimes go to a restaurant (café)?

2. How often can you afford to eat out?

3. On what occasion do you usually go to a restaurant?

4. Which national cuisine do you prefer?

5. Which restaurant is your favourite one?

6. Are you satisfied with the quality of the food and the service at that restaurant?

 7. Do you, as a rule, check the accuracy of the bill? Give your reasons for that.

8. Do you usually tip the waiter?

9. How much tip do you leave? Is there any special rule about the amount

of the tip?

T e x t 3

THE BEST DRIVER

Can you guess the last line of this story?

One of the largest construction companies in the States wanted a truck

driver and advertised for one in the national newspapers. A week later ten candidates

applied for the job. They all brought excellent references from their

former employers and were invited to the first interview. Not all the applicants

were successful and after the first interview there were only three candidates on

the final shortlist.

The Personnel Manager asked the first man:

“How near can you drive to the edge of a precipice without going over?”

The driver said, “Within an inch.”

“Very well,” said the manager, “you can go now and I’ll let you know about

the chances to get the job.”

The second man answering the same question said, “I can drive within half

an inch of the edge, in fact I have done it more than once.”

When the third man came, the manager said: “Well, my man, and how near

can you drive to the edge of a precipice without going over?”

“Indeed, sir, I have never tried and I don’t want to.”

“Ah”, said the manager, “……..”.

1. Explain the meaning of the following phrases in your own words.

1. wanted a truck driver;

2. apply for a job;

3. excellent references;

4. not all the applicants were successful;

5. I will let you know.

2. Answer the questions.

1. In what area of business did the company work?

2. Which vacancy did the company advertise? Where did the company advertise the job?

3. How many candidates applied for the position?

4. What did they bring with themselves?

5. Who gave them the references? 6. Who interviewed them?

7. How many applicants remained on the shortlist after the first interview?

8. How many questions did the manager ask each candidate?

9. What was the answer of the first candidate? Did the answer satisfy or disappoint the manager?

10. What answer did the second candidate give? Was the manager pleased with the answer?

11. What was the third driver’s answer?

12. Which of the candidates was offered the job?

3. Discuss the following.

1. What is the aim of a job interview for both a candidate and an interviewer?

2. What advice would you give to an applicant before his/her first interview?

3. How do people usually look for a job?

T e x t 4

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A MILLIONAIRE?

                  Why or why not? Does a lot of money REALLY make you happy?

Sally Burgess tries to answer the million-dollar question.

                   Mark Larsen won over nine million pounds on the lottery two years ago. At first, life was fantastic and Mark had some fun – he spent a lot of money on a big new house and five new cars. Then the problems started. Some friends began to ask him for money. He had a lot of arguments with his wife and they divorced. Now he says, “I haven’t got any friends and I feel lonely. Life was better

when I didn’t have much money”.

                  Many people think that money brings happiness. However, according to

Professor Michael Argyle, this is not true. In Britain, we are richer but unhappier

than fifty years ago. The USA is the richest country in the world but Americans are not the happiest people in the world.

                  Professor Argyle has found that very poor people and very rich people are unhappier than those in between. For example, very poor people in the developing world live in overcrowded houses without any running water and with no electricity. However, there are also many millionaires with personal problems.

A lot of young people who get rich very quickly are at risk.

                  Because of this, a few young millionaires are changing their lifestyles.

Richard Cross, a multi-millionaire computer analyst from California, is an example.

His house shows no signs of his wealth. There is a small garden and

there are only two cars parked outside his house. “I want my kids to live a normal

life”, says Richard.

                 So what can make us happy? According to Professor Argyle, you should have a united family and some close friends. You should do a little sport and have a lot of contact with other people. Other people make you happy, not money!

1. Are the statements below true or false?

1. Mark Larsen was happier when he was poorer.

2. British people are happier than in the past.

3. Millionaires and very poor people are often unhappy.

4. Richard Cross has not got much money.

5. It’s a good thing to have friends.

6. A lot of money makes you very happy.

2. Match the words to make phrases from the article. Make your own sentences with the phrases.

3. Answer the questions.

1.Why did Mark Larsen become unhappy?

2. What kind of personal problems do you think millionaires could have?

3. What kind of lifestyle do a few young millionaires choose? Why?

4. According to Professor Argyle, what makes people happy? Do you agree with his opinion?

5. What can make YOU happy?

T e x t 5

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO UNCLE OSCAR?

            I would like to tell you what happened to my uncle Oscar, or I would rather

try to understand it and explain it to you.

            My uncle Oscar was a very nice man. Every morning on Monday, Tuesday,

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday he usually took the seven-forty-five (7.45)

bus and started for work. He went to the bank early in the morning as he was an

accountant (and by the way, a very good one). He worked hard all day long and

returned home rather late. My uncle was forty-seven years old, married and had

two children.

             His wife’s name was Agatha. Aunt Agatha was fond of talking and always

talked too much and in a very loud voice. That’s why I think Uncle Oscar seldom

had much to say. Their two children, Elizabeth and Julian, were not very pleasant. Both of them were large and loud like their mother. And they were selfish and greedy too. They didn’t think about their father much. He was a little quiet man, who spoke little and went about unnoticed. He liked music but didn’t play any musical instrument. He practically never went to the theatre or to the cinema and he didn’t visit exhibitions or museums either.

             Uncle Oscar didn’t go in for sports. You could never see him in the sitting

room in front of the television watching sports programmes.

             Uncle Oscar never complained about his boring life. I knew he had a hobby. He had a very good collection of stamps and he was happy only when he

worked on his stamp collection. His children took no interest in their father’s hobby. But I, his nephew, did. Uncle Oscar showed me some stamps and explained

that they were really very expensive.

             Then on the 14th of October 1971 Uncle Oscar got up as usual at six-fortyfive, made his own breakfast (Aunt Agatha, Elizabeth and Julian were still in

bed; they never got up before 8), left the house and went to the bust stop. Some

people who were at the bus stop that day didn’t see him at all. The others were not so sure. They couldn’t say anything definite. But that was the kind of person Uncle Oscar was: other people seldom noticed him. One thing was certain, he never got to the bank that morning.

1. Answer the following questions:

1. Who is the narrator of the story?

2. How many members were there in Uncle Oscar’s family?

3. How old was Uncle Oscar?

4. What was his job?

5. Who talked a lot in his family? Who was always quiet?

6. Do you think Uncle Oscar’s children loved their father? Why?

7. What was Uncle Oscar’s hobby?

8. Why was Uncle Oscar’s life boring?

9. Uncle Oscar didn’t go in for sports, did he?

10. Where did Uncle Oscar go on the 14th of October? Did he get there?

2. Say what you think of:

a) Uncle Oscar;

b) his wife; c) his children;

d) the kind of life Uncle Oscar led;

e) say whether you think Uncle Oscar was happy. 

3. What do you think the end of the story is?

4. Uncle Oscar’s hobby was collecting stamps. What about other people’s hobbies? Say whose hobbies they are and describe them in the most detailed way.

a) visiting museums, exhibitions, galleries;

b) playing the piano (the violin, the guitar);

c) going in for sports;

d) painting;

e) listening to the radio, watching TV;

f) watching video films;

g) going to jazz or pop concerts.

T e x t 6

BRITISH WAYS

Here are some facts about life on the continent.

– People seldom speak about weather.

– Sunday papers appear on Monday.

– Some people like cats, others don’t.

– People are proud of the things they know. They try to show off their

knowledge.

– You can offend people in many ways: if you laugh at them or make jokes

about their life and jobs.

– People either tell you the truth or lie.

– On Sundays even the poorest person puts on his best suit and tries to look

nice and respectable.

 – Many continentals think life is a game.

– People have good food.

Now find in the text and read out the same information about the British ways.

                 You might already know a lot about the English language and the people

who speak it. Here are some facts about British ways if you compare them with the life on the continent.

                 In England many things are the other way round. On the continent people

seldom speak about weather. If they do, it usually means they have no other topics to discuss. In England, if you don’t repeat the phrase “It’s a nice day today, isn’t it?” two hundred times a day people are surprised and think that you are very dull. On the continent Sunday papers appear on Monday; in England (the country is really hard to understand) they appear on Sunday. On the continent some people like cats, others don’t, but in England cats are very special animals. Everyone loves them and takes care of them.

                On the continent people are proud of the things they know. They try to

show off their knowledge and often quote Greek and Latin writers. In England only those who don’t know them or who haven’t read them do it.

                You can offend people on the continent in many ways, for example, if you laugh at them or make jokes about their life and jobs. But the English take everything with a sense of humour. You can easily offend them only if you tell them they have no sense of humour.

                People on the continent either tell you the truth or lie, in England they

hardly ever lie, but they don’t tell you the truth either.

               On Sundays on the continent even the poorest person puts on his best suit

and tries to look nice and respectable. In England even the richest man dresses in some old clothes and doesn’t shave.

               Many continentals think life is a game; the English think cricket is a game.

On the continent people have good food. In England people have good table manners.

1. Speak about the differences between British and continental ways of life.

2. Do you think the writer of the text has a good sense of humour? Prove your point of view.

T e x t 7

A DOG AND THREE DOLLARS

             I have always believed that a man must be honest. “Never ask for money you haven’t earned,” I always said.

             Now I shall tell you a story which will show you how honest I have always

been all my life.

             A few days ago at my friend’s house I met General Miles. General Miles was a nice man and we became great friends very quickly.

           “Did you live in Washington in 1867?” the general asked me.

           “Yes, I did”, I answered.

           “How could it happen that we did not meet then?” said General Miles.

           “General,” said I. “We couldn’t meet then. You forget that you were already

a great general then, and I was a poor young writer whom nobody knew and whose books nobody read. You do not remember me, I thought, but we met once in Washington at that time.”

             I remember it very well, I was poor then and very often I did not have money even for my bread. I had a friend. He was a poor writer too. We lived together. We did everything together: worked, read books, went for walks together.

And when we were hungry, we were both hungry. Once we were in need of three dollars. I don’t remember why we needed these three dollars so much, but I remember well that we had to have the money by the evening.

          “We must get these three dollars,” said my friend. “I shall try to get the money, but you must also try.”

          I went out of the house, but I didn’t know where to go and how to get the

three dollars. For an hour I was walking along the streets of Washington and was very tired. At last I came to a big hotel. “I shall go in and have a rest,” I thought.

          I went into the hall of the hotel and sat down on a sofa. I was sitting there

when a beautiful small dog ran into the hall .It was looking for somebody. The dog was nice and I had nothing to do, so I called it and began to play with it.

         I was playing with the dog, when a man came into the hall. He wore a beautiful uniform and I knew at once that he was General Miles. I knew him by his

pictures in the newspapers. “What a beautiful dog!” said he. “Is it your dog?”

         I did not have time to answer him when he said, “Do you want to sell it?”

         “Three dollars”, I answered at once.

         “Three dollars?” he asked. “But that is very little. I can give you fifty dollars

for it.”

        “No, no. I only want three dollars.”

        “Well, it is your dog. If you want three dollars for it, I shall be glad to buy

your dog.”

         General Miles paid me three dollars, took the dog and went up to his room.

         Ten minutes later an old man came into the hall. He looked round the hall. I

could see that he was looking for something.

         “Are you looking for a dog, sir?” I asked.

         “Oh, yes! Have you seen it?” said the man.

           “Your dog was here a few minutes ago and I saw how it went away with a

man,” I said. “If you want, I shall try to find it for you.”

           The man was very happy and asked me to help him.

           “I shall be glad to help you, but it will take some of my time and …”

           “I am ready to pay you for your time,” cried the man. “How much do you want for it?”

         “Three dollars?” answered I.

         “Three dollars?” said the man. “But it is a very good dog. I shall pay you ten dollars if you find it for me”.

         “No sir, I want three dollars and not a dollar more,” said I.

         Then I went to General Miles’s room The General was playing with his new dog. “I came here to take the dog back,” said I.

         “But it is not your dog no – I have bought it. I have paid you three dollars for it,” said the General.

         “I shall give you back your three dollars, but I must take the dog back”, answered I.

        “But you have sold it to me, it is my dog now.”

        “I couldn’t sell it to you, sir, because it was not my dog.”

        “Still you have sold it to me for three dollars”.

        “How could I sell it to you when it was not my dog? You asked me how much I wanted for the dog, and I said that I wanted three dollars. But I never told you that it was my dog.”

          General Miles was very angry now.

         “Give me back my three dollars and take the dog,” he shouted.

         When I brought the dog back to its master, he was very happy and paid me

three dollars with joy. I was happy too because I had the money and I felt I had earned it.

            Now you can see why I say that honesty is the best policy and that a man must never take anything that he has not earned.

1. Find in the text English equivalents for the following words and expressions.

Быть честным; приятный человек, которого никто не знал; даже на хлеб; к вечеру; отдохнуть; мне было нечем заняться; сразу догадался; через десять минут; готов заплатить; я должен забрать собаку; вернул соба-

ку хозяину.

2. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text and use them in sentences of your own.

Earn some (a lot of, little) money; become great friends; be in need of smth.; wear a uniform; it takes (took, will take) smb. some time to do smth.; be angry with; with joy.

3. Answer the questions.

1. Whom did the author meet at his friend’s house one day?

2. Did General Miles recognize the author? Why couldn’t he?

3. Prove that the author’s youth was very hard.

4. Why did the boy find himself in the hotel one day?

5. Who ran into the hall suddenly?

6. Why did the boy sell the dog to General Miles for three dollars?

7. What happened ten minutes later?

8. What brilliant idea came to the boy’s mind?

9. How did he manage to take the dog back?

10. How did the boy’s behaviour prove his words, “Never ask for money

you haven’t earned”?

4. Comment on the proverb: “Honesty is the best policy”. Say how you understand it and illustrate it by examples. Give your reasons and try to prove your point of view beginning with:

As far as I know …

The matter is ….

I’m sure that ….

I suppose that …

I believe that …

To sum it up …

Moreover …

5. Give the gist of the story in not more than ten sentences.

THE CAGE                                                                                       A short story by Riley H. Welcker

Not so very far from here, there once lived a young man named Idle. He lived at home and worked in a small, little-known grocery store called “Super Deals” down Main Street. His father owned the store, and as one of his few employees, Idle was required to do many jobs. He had to sweep the floor, wash the windows, bag customers’ groceries, and look after the vendors who unloaded their pallets in the back room early each morning.

It was well known that Idle did not like his work. He complained to everyone about everyone else. He complained at his broom. He complained at the store and often called it his “tomb.”

One day while Idle was staring wistfully out the roll-up door, past the vendors who came and went, an apron at his waist and a broom in his hand, one of the vendors asked him what he was searching for.

“Freedom,” Idle said.

The vendor looked over his shoulder and smiled. “It’s a wide world out there, but it isn’t a place for the faint-hearted. Out there, life is full of adventure and danger, riches and pleasures in plenty. Out there you can have anything you want.”

Idle just stared.

The vendor only smiled, finished his work, and promptly left.

After a few days, Idle looked at the apron at his waist and the broom in his hand and thought to himself, “I am not faint-hearted. I want more than this dull, dreary life. I want more than to slave all day for hardly any pay on the hope of some future inheritance. I want to see some of the world, to experience life.” And with that, Idle dropped his apron and broom and left his work to seek an easier fortune. But before he left, his father warned him of many frightful dangers to watch out for and offered him a still, small compass made of solid gold. Idle didn’t listen to his father’s warnings. He believed he knew enough to keep out of harm’s way and that his father only told him of harbingers and horrors to discourage him. His father said the compass would guide him back home and that he need only heed its needle.

Idle looked at the compass. The needle did not point north. Instead, it pointed at his father. Idle believed it was broken but thought that he might get a good price out of it if he ever got the chance. His father put it into his hand and hugged him fast.

Idle waved and started off with a spring in his step. Having no car, no bike, no form of transportation whatsoever, he walked the margin of the scenic byway out of town like a high-spirited hitchhiker. His father watched him from the storefront window. He waved just as Idle was on the edge of sight but Idle never turned around and eventually his body disappeared altogether over the last hill. A tear fell from his father’s cheek, and he turned inside.

Meanwhile, Idle pressed onward, feeling free at last and soaking in the wide world around him. He glanced at the compass, no more than the briefest of glances, and crammed it into his pant pocket, out of sight and out of mind. The fields around him were sharp and green; the breeze, cool. The trees were upright and cheerful and the clouds were, large and frothy. The sun shone bright in his face.

But it wasn’t long before fatigue and hunger crept on him. At first, it was uncomfortable, then it hurt, and finally it ached. He felt dizzy. The fields around him became a blur; the air was hot and still. The trees seemed to wilt, their branches drooping like Idle’s arms. The sun slid behind a dark cloud. Idle felt his pockets and found nothing but the little gold compass. He pushed it deeper into his pocket and trudged onward, feeling bad, when he met a fork in the road.

It surprised him.

At the fork, Idle saw a man. He was sitting on a stump. His legs were crossed and he was busying himself with a rag and his shoes. The man was dressed as any normal person might dress—nothing out of the ordinary. He wore no cape, no hood, no large boots as one might think of a traveller or a villain in tales. No, he was dressed in a dark blue suit, almost black. He wore a yellow tie. His hair was clean cut and his black shoes well-polished. A large cage hung from a pole beside him, like a canary cage, but only large enough for a man. Idle thought he recognized the man but could not place him. He stood there, puzzling, growing ever hungrier and more fatigued when the man saw him, snapped up and took Idle’s arm.

“Please, have a seat,” he said. He smiled a familiar smile.

“Who are you?” Idle asked.

“My name is Rascal,” the man replied. “You look tired and hungry. Do you not have any food?”

“I have nothing,” Idle said. “Nothing but this gold compass.” He pulled it from his pants’ pocket. The compass buzzed in his hand, and he tucked it away in his shirt pocket.

The man nodded. “I tell you what. You can have anything you want, anything at all, and I will give it to you for neither price nor work if you will sit in this cage for a single second. I will even leave the cage door open.”

Idle frowned at the cage, but the man seemed harmless. He was friendly, and he did offer him anything he wanted. “Only a second?” Idle asked.

“Only a second,” the man said. “After that, you can have anything you want, anything at all. Only remember that for each thing more that you want, you must sit here in this cage twice as long as the last time.”

Idle thought there could be no harm in that. All he wanted was something simple to eat to satisfy his desperate hunger, nothing more; and besides, the man said he wouldn’t even close the door.

Idle agreed.

And he sat in the cage for a single second, his feet dangling from the open cage door. Idle then leapt from the cage as the man promised. The man smiled back at him. “Whatever you want, it is yours.”

Idle asked for a bowl of beef and beans, and it was freely given to him. It was nice to eat food without paying or working for it, and Idle ate and ate until he was hungry no more. All the while, Rascal talked to him and asked him many questions and they had a nice conversation. Rascal was so harmless and friendly. Idle told Rascal all about himself and listened intently to Rascal’s stories, ignoring the constant buzzing in his shirt pocket. Of all his stories, Idle especially enjoyed hearing about the many wide and beautiful paths in the world and the clear, sparkling brooks burbling from the mountains and foothills, which made him feel thirsty.

Idle thought how nice it would be to have just one drink from one of those clear, sparkling brooks. So he asked the man and consented to sit in the cage for two seconds, his feet dangling through the open cage door as before, and when he got out, the man gave him a clear, cool drink. Idle thought it was the best thing that he had ever tasted until he heard the word ice cream, and Idle could not think of anything better than to have a triple-chocolate scoop in a heavy-breaded waffle cone. Again he asked the man, but this time the man said he could skip the cage just this once if Idle would give him that curious gold compass. Idle pulled the buzzing piece from his pocket and frowned at it vibrating in his hand, its needle pointing away from the man and away from the cage in a single, steady direction, and promptly gave it to Rascal, feeling that he had made a good trade as he greedily gobbled his newfound triple-chocolate pleasure.

But Idle could not stop there, no sir. That ice cream was just too good. Idle wanted more. He truly believed it was great getting something for nothing—well, almost nothing. Sitting in the cage wasn’t all that bad, and he was soon out again. Whatever Idle wanted he got and whatever he got made him want more and so he kept on asking the man and sitting his time out in the open cage. He required new clothes, and Rascal gave them to him. He demanded a motorcycle, a car, his own jet plane, and Rascal gave them to him as well.

Idle sat in the cage for mere seconds, then minutes, and so on until he was sitting in the cage for hours at a time. Meanwhile, Rascal stood outside the cage and waited and watched. He didn’t have to do much, only remind Idle how wonderful his wants were and of the things he might have, and so Idle forgot about his time in the cage.

The longer Idle sat in the cage the bigger and grander his wants became until he had a house, a 20,000 sq. ft. castle, a moat with ducks in it, land, animals, and hosts of servants. He was certain he was entitled to good health and decreed it so. He owned closets of shoes, fleets of boats, and took the most exotic vacations.

He wanted until he was spending days, months, and even years in the cage, all the while basking over the things he would get for nothing and no work at all when he had finished out his time. Meanwhile, Rascal stood outside the cage and he waited and watched.

Idle’s wants consumed him. He claimed whole cities, whole countries, and whole kingdoms. He lived in the most beautiful places, and saw the most beautiful things, and was wanted by the most beautiful women. Idle wanted all that the world could offer until it seemed he might take possession of the whole of it—everything, that is, but the cage to which he returned. Meanwhile, Rascal stood outside the cage and waited and watched.

It seemed to Idle there was nothing he could not have and no end to getting what he wanted, and so it was that he began to want less and less until his wants were quite small and insignificant—a cool drink from a nearby brook, a friendly smile from passers-by and finally his freedom. It was on this last that he dwelt the longest—for he was now wholly confined to his cage. Simple freedom. It seemed to him more than any man could ask for; the freedom to walk about, the freedom to lift a broom, the freedom to act according to his own conscience. And so it was that he dwelt on this, the idea of simple, insignificant freedom, what he had so longed for, until the day he died, curled on the floor of his cage, a wistful look in his face, with the cage door open.

Lancheon

By W.S. Maugham

 I caught sight of her at the play and in answer to her beckoning I went over during the interval and sat down beside her. It was long since I had last seen her and if someone had not mentioned her name I do not think I would have recognized her. She addressed me brightly.

       "Well, it's many years since we first met. How time flies! We are not getting any younger. Do you remember the first time I saw you? You asked me to, luncheon."

       Did I remember?  

       It was twenty years ago and I was living in Paris. I had a tiny apartment in the Latin Quarter' and I was earning barely enough money to keep body and soul together. She had read a book of mine and had written to me about it. I answered, thanking her, and presently I received from her another letter saying that she was passing through Paris and would like to have a chat with me; but her time was limited and the only free moment she had was on the following Thursday. She asked me if I would give her a little luncheon at Foyot's. Foyot's is a restaurant at which the French senators eat and it was so far beyond my means that I had never even thought of going there. But I was flattered and I was too young to say no to a woman. I had eighty francs to live on till the end of the month and a modest luncheon should not cost more than fifteen. If I cut out coffee for the next two weeks I could manage well enough.

       I answered that I would meet her at Foyot's on Thursday at half past twelve.

       She was not so young as I expected and in appearance imposing rather than attractive. She was in fact a woman of forty, and she gave me the impression of having more teeth, white and large and even, than were necessary for any practical purpose. She was talkative, but since she seemed inclined to talk about me I was prepared to be an attentive listener. I was startled when the menu was brought, for the prices were a great deal higher than I had expected. But she reassured me.

       "I never eat anything for luncheon," she said.

       "Oh, don't say that!" I answered generously.

       "I never eat more than one thing. I think people eat too much nowadays. A little fish, perhaps. I wonder if they have any salmon."

       Well, it was early in the year for salmon and it was not on the menu, but I asked the waiter if there was any. Yes, they had a beautiful salmon, it was the first they had had. I ordered it for my guest. The waiter asked her if she would have something while it was being cooked.

       "No," she answered, "I never eat more than one thing. Unless you had a little caviare.' I never mind caviare."

       My heart sank a little. I knew I could not afford caviare, but I could not tell her that. I told the waiter by all means to bring caviare. For myself I chose the cheapest dish on the menu and that was a mutton chop.

       "I think you're unwise to eat meat," she said. "I don't know how you can expect to work after eating heavy things like chops. I never overload my stomach."

       Then came the question of drink.

       "I never drink anything for luncheon," she said.

       "Neither do I," I answered promptly.

       "Except white wine," she went on as though I had not spoken. "These French white wines are so light. They are wonderful for the digestion."

       "What would you like?" I asked her.

       "My doctor won't let me drink anything but champagne." I think I turned a little pale. I ordered half a bottle. I mentioned casually that my doctor had absolutely forbidden me to drink champagne.

       "What are you going to drink, then?"

       "Water."

       She ate the caviare and she ate the salmon. She talked gaily of art and literature and music. But I wondered what the bill would come to. When my mutton chop arrived she said:

       "I see that you're in the habit of eating a heavy luncheon. I'm sure it's a mistake. Why don't you follow my example and just eat one thing? I'm sure you'd feel much better then."

       "I am only going to eat one thing," I said, as the waiter came again with the menu.
She waved him aside with a light gesture.

       "No, no, I never eat anything for luncheon. Just a bite, I never want more than that. I can't eat anything more unless they had some of those giant asparagus. I should be sorry to leave Paris without having some of them."

       My heart sank. I had seen them in the shops and I knew that they were horribly expensive. My mouth had often watered at the sight of them. "Madame wants to know if you have any of those giant asparagus," I asked the waiter.

       I hoped he would say no. A happy smile spread over his broad face, and he assured me that they had some so large, so splendid, so tender, that it was a marvel.

       "I'm not in the least hungry," my guest sighed, "but if you insist I don't mind having some asparagus."

       I ordered them.

       "Aren't you going to have any?"

       "No, I never eat asparagus."

       "I know there are people who don't like them."

       We waited for the asparagus to be cooked. Panic seized me. It was not a question now how much money I should have left for the rest of the month, but whether I had enough to pay the bill. It would be terrible to find myself ten francs short and be obliged to borrow from my guest. I could not bring myself to do that. I knew exactly how much money I had and if the bill came to more I made up my mind that I would put my hand in my pocket and with a dramatic cry start up and say my money had been stolen. If she had not money enough to pay the bill then the only thing to do would be to leave my watch and say I would come back and pay later.

       The asparagus appeared. They were enormous and appetizing. The smell of the melted butter tickled my nostrils. I watched the woman send them down her throat and in my polite way I talked on the condition of the drama in the Balkans. At last she finished.

       " Coffee?" I said.

       "Yes, just an ice-cream and coffee," she answered.

       It was all the same to me now, so I ordered coffee for myself and an ice-cream and coffee for her.

       "You know, there's one thing I thoroughly believe in," she said, as she ate the ice-cream. "One should always get up from a meal feeling one could eat a little more."

      "Are you still hungry?" I asked faintly.

      "Oh, no, I'm not hungry; you see, I don't eat luncheon. I have a cup of coffee in the morning and then dinner, but I never eat more than one thing for luncheon. I was speaking for you."

      "Oh, I see!"

      Then a terrible thing happened. While we were waiting for the coffee, the head waiter, with a smile on his false face, came up to us bearing a large basket full of huge peaches. Peaches were not in season then. Lord knew what they cost. I knew too — a little later, for my guest, going on with her conversation, absent-mindedly took one. "You see, you've filled your stomach with a lot of meat and you can't eat any more. But I've just had a snack and I shall enjoy a peach."

      The bill came and when I paid it I found that I had only enough for a quite inadequate tip. Her eyes rested for a moment on the three francs I left for the waiter and I knew that she thought me mean. But when I walked out of the restaurant I had the whole month before me and not a penny in my pocket.

      "Follow my example," she said as we shook hands, "and never eat more than one thing for luncheon."

      "I'll do better than that," I answered. "I'll eat nothing for dinner tonight."

      "Humorist!" she cried gaily, jumping into a cab. "You're quite a humorist!"

      But I have had my revenge at last. Today she weighs twenty-one stone.'

T e x t 12

AT THE DOCTOR’S

Doctor: Would you like to come in?

Patient: Thank you. (He coughs.)

Doctor: That cough sounds really very bad. How long have you had it?

Patient: For about 2 weeks. But it’s all right.

Doctor: I think I should listen to your chest and to your lungs. Take off your shirt. Breathe in deeply, that’s right… and again, please, and once more, please. Sit down. I’m going to take your blood pressure.

Patient: Can I put my shirt on? It’s rather cold in here.

Doctor: Oh, certainly, you can. Sorry about the cold. The central heating is broken. Well, … Do you ever take any exercise?

Patient: Not regularly. Sometimes I do. But I hardly ever do morning exercise.

Doctor: You should take more exercise. All right. Now I want to take your pulse. Stand up, please, and touch your toes. Do you smoke?

Patient: Oh, yes, I do, Doctor. About ten cigarettes a day. 

Doctor: You shouldn’t smoke at all. You should stop immediately. Now, I want to take your temperature. OK. That’s all right. Well, there you are then. Take this medicine 3 times a day after meals.

Patient: But, Doctor, I didn’t come about my cough.

Doctor: You didn’t?

Patient: No, it’s my feet, Doctor. My feet hurt every time I walk.

Doctor: Take your shoes off! Let me see. Do they hurt now?

Patient: Oh, yes, they hurt. It awfully hurts here. I’ve had this pain for about 2 weeks.

Doctor: I see… And these shoes… How long have you had them?

Patient: The shoes? Oh, for about 2 weeks, Doctor. Oh, yes. I see, Doctor. It’s silly of me. Thank you, Doctor. Goodbye.

1. Answer the questions:

1. Why did the patient come to see the doctor?

2. Why did the doctor begin to listen to the patient’s chest and lungs?

3. Why was it cold in the doctor’s room?

4. Was the patient a healthy man?

5. What was wrong with the man? 

2. What people do if:

- they have a headache;

- they can’t sleep;

- they have a toothache;

- they have a pain in the heart;

- they have a cold;

- they have a stomachache.

to go to the dentist; to call a doctor; to go to bed; to take some medicine;

to have a walk outdoors; to drink warm milk; to drink warm milk with

honey or butter.

3. Comment on the proverb: “Good health is above wealth”.

MARKS AND SPENCER

Britain’s favourite store.

          Marks and Spencer (or M&S) is Britain’s favourite store. Tourists love it too. It attracts a great variety of customers, from housewives to millionaires. The Duchess of York, Dustin Hoffman, and the British Prime Minister are just a few of its famous customers.

          Last year it made a profit of £529 million, which is more than £10 million a week.

         How did it all begin?

         It all started 105 years ago, when a young Polish immigrant, Michael Marks, had a stall in Leeds market. He didn’t have many things to sell: some cotton, a little wool, lots of buttons, and a few shoelaces. Above his stall he put the now famous notice: Don’t ask how much – it’s a penny.

        Ten years later, he met Tom Spencer and together they started Penny Stalls in many towns in the north of England. Today there are 564 branches of M&S all over the world – in America, Canada, Spain, Belgium, and Hungary.

       What are the best-sellers?

       Surprisingly, tastes in food and clothes are international. What sells well in Paris sells just as well in Newcastle. Their best-selling clothes are:

 – For women: jumpers, bras, and knickers (M&S is famous for its knickers!).

– For men: shirts, socks, pyjamas, dressing gowns, and suits.

– For children: underwear and socks.

        Best-sellers in food include: fresh chickens, bread, vegetables, and sandwiches.

       Chicken Kiev is internationally the most popular convenience food.

       Why is M&S so successful?

       The store bases its business on three principles: good value, good quality, and good service. Also, it changes with the times – once it was all jumpers and knickers. Now it’s food, furniture, and flowers as well. Top fashion designers advise on styles of clothes.

        But perhaps the most important key to its success is its happy, well-trained staff. Conditions of work are excellent. There are company doctors, dentists, hairdressers, and even chiropodists to look after the staff, and all the staff can have lunch for under 40p!

1. Here are some answers. What are the questions?

1. __________________________________________________________

£529 million.

2. __________________________________________________________

105 years ago.

3. __________________________________________________________

Poland.

4. __________________________________________________________

No, he only had a few things.

5. __________________________________________________________

564.

6. __________________________________________________________

Because it gives good value, good quality, and good service.

7. __________________________________________________________

No, it doesn’t. It sells food and furniture.

8. __________________________________________________________

Less than 40p. 

2. In the text there are a lot of examples of clothes, food, and professions. List them in the columns below and add three more examples of your own to each column.

3. Here are the four headings from the text.

Britain’s favourite store.

How did it all begin?

What are the best-sellers?

Why is M&S so successful?

Use these to help you say in a few words the main points of the text.

Use the headings to help you to talk about one of the favourite stores in your country.