Episode 17

“ My mind is made up, Felix”, Roberta said.

“I am not going to the concert tonight. I have too much yet to do on that report to the committee, and, besides, you can get Austin to go with you. You know how he enjoys getting out now and then. Besides, he is an excellent music critic with a fine ear, even though he’s gotten a little deaf in the past year or so…” – “I had really counted on your going with me”, Felix replied. “That’s why I made a special effort to get such good seats”. You know how I hate to wait in line, and I waited in line for nearly two hours, just to get these tickets”. – “I am sorry to be such a drag”, Roberta said. – “And I really intended to go. But you know how Mr. Petters is , when he is chairman of a committee to be just as dedicated and hardworking as he is. And he has asked for this report by noon tomorrow. I just have to do it tonight without fail”. – “Oh, all right”, - Felix replied. “If you must – you must. I guess, I’ll call Austin then. At last, I know he is not busy tonight”.

Exercises:

I. True/false:

1. Roberta is not going to concert.

2. She has to write some letters to friends.

3. Austin is a good music critic.

4. Austin doesn’t hear very well.

5. Felix made a special effort to get good seats.

6. He had to wait in line almost a whole day.

7. Roberta never intended to go to the concert.

8. The chairman of the committee is Austin.

9. Mr. Peters expects people on the committee to be dedicated and hardworking.

10. Felix is going to call Mr. Peters.

II. QUICK REVIEW: Write the words that best complete the sentence.

1. My mind is made________________

2. I have too much____________to do on flat report.

3. You can______________ Austin to go with you.

4. He enjoys getting out now and________________

5. I___________________

6. I had realy_______________on your going with me.

7. You know_____________I hate to wait in___________

8. I’m sorry to be_______________a drag.

9. You know how Mr. Peters______________

10. He has asked for this ________________by noon tomorrow.

11. If you___________________, you must.

12. At_________________I know he’s not busy tonight.

III. CLOSE ATTENTION: Write the word that immediately precedes or follows the words below to fill in the blanks.

1. not going_____________

2. report to the____________

3. _____________getting out

4. _____________though he’s

5. past year or____________

6. that’s_________________

7. ______________two hours

8. _____________to get these

9. ____________intended to go

10. ____________of a committee

11. just as_________________

12. without________________

IV. RECALL: Answer the following questions based on what you remember.

1. Why isn’t Roberta going to the concert?

2. Who’s an excellent mucic critic?

3. How long did Felix wait in line?

4. Who is Mr. Peters?

5. What does he expect of committee?

6. When is the report due?

Episode 18

T he latest news from overseas was not good. Philip’s investments in some of the foreign markets that had appeared so promising last year, were looking less and less profitable. In fact, Philip was afraid that if matters did not improve soon he would be forced to sell at a considerable loss. And then, there was the problem with the documents for the house he thought he had bought recently. The bank had failed to notify him of certain discrepancies in the wording of the contract. His lawyer was out of town for two weeks and couldn’t be reached. And now it looked as if the deal was going to fall through because the seller might decide not to sell. Besides all this, his daughter had called him from the university the night before and told him that she had fallen madly in love and wanted to leave school to get married. “But Cynthia”, he’d argued, “you are only 19 years old. Finish school first and then you can get married”. Cynthia did not want to discuss the matter at all and in spite of his pleading had told him that her mind was made up. Philip could do nothing but acquiesce. “Luckily”, - he thought, - “I know the boy she loves and he is a fine young man. That’s one bright spot in all the mess of the past few days”.

Exercises: