Episode 23

When he had finished telling everyone we were moving away, all the people in the neighbourhood gathered at our house to wish us farewell and good speed. Neighbours brought food for an outdoor cookout. My father and mother had lived in same house for 20 years. Now he was being transferred to another job with the same company in another state. It was both a happy and sad occasion. We were happy to be going to a new place where there would be new friends, new sights, new things to do, but we were sad, too, to be leaving friends, that we had come to love and appreciate. We gathered around in a circle, and someone began to sing “auld Lang Syne”. Soon the whole group was singing, and I could see tears in the eyes of both my farther and mother as well as in the eyes of some of our neighbours. The neighbours had gotten together and bought a going (away) present for us. My father made a short “thank-you” speech, everyone clapped. Then we began to say good-bye and go home. It was the end of an important part of my life. Mr. Brown, who lived next door, said it very well, “Good neighbours make good friends”.

Exercises:

I. True/false:

1. The gathering took place at our house.

2. My parents had lived in the same house for 20 years.

3. My farther was retiring.

4. We were sorry to be leaving friends.

5. One person sang a song about friendship.

6. My parents had tears in their eyes.

7. The neighbors gave us a present.

8. My mother gave a speech thanking everyone.

9. The occasion was the end of an important part of my life.

10. Mr.Brown was our next-door neighbor.

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

1. He had finished telling______________that we were moving____________.

2. He was being______________to another job with the same____________in another________________.

3. We were happy to be going to a new ________________where there would be new______________, newsights, new_______________to do.

4. We gathered around in a_______________and someone began to______________”Auld Lang Syne”.

5. I could see________________in the eyes of both my_____________and mother, as well as in the_______________of some of our_______________.

6. My father made a short thank you_____________and everyone__________.

7. Mr. Brown, who lived next_______________, said it very______________.

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

1. people in the_____________

2. wish us_________________

3. ________________occasion

4. to love and______________

5. the whole_______________

6. had gotten_______________

7. to say__________________

8. _______________on my life

9. make good______________

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

1. Where were we going?

2. Why had people gathered at our house?

3. Where was my father being transferred?

4. Why was it both a happy and sad occasion?

5. What song did we sing?

6. Who gave the present?

7. Who was Mr.Brown?