Episode 24

A fter dinner we sat around the table discussing some of the recent political developments in the country. The discussion was lively, and the opinions expressed were very logical in some of the concepts they presented. No one got overly excited or adamant. There was a pleasant exchange of ideas. After a while, talk turned to the developments on the economic front. Every one expressed deep concern over the trends in the stock market, the rising cost of goods and services, the decline in purchasing power, and the effect of wide spread unemployment upon the economy. Dave Whitmore offered interesting ideas concerning possible ways to cure the economic woes of the country. He had long made a study of such matters since, as a stock broker, he was involved in the analysis of economic trends both nationally and internationally. His conclusion, certainly, appeared to be sound as well as practical. Nearly everyone agreed that some of his plans for economic recovery were much more workable than those that were currently in effect. Someone remarked jokingly: “Dave, I think that time has come for you to run for President”.

Exercises:

I. True/false:

1. Some of the concepts were logical.

2. Ideas were exchanged pleasantly.

3. Discussion turned to the problems of air pollution.

4. Everyone was concerned about the effect of unemployment on the economy.

5. Dave Whitmore knew about national and international economic trends.

6. Most of the people disagreed with Dave’s plans.

7. Dave plans to run for president.

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

1. The discussion was______________and the opinions expressed were____________and logical in the______________they presented.

2. Everyone expressed deep concern over the_____________in the stock market, the rising______________ of goods and services, the____________in purchasing power, and the effect of______________________unemployment upon the_______________

3. He had long made a ________________of such matters since, as a stock________, he was involved in the ____________________of economic trends both ______________and internationally.

4. Nearly____________________agreed that some of his_____________for economic____________________were much more______________than those that were currently in________________.

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

1. recent political_______________

2. excited or___________________

3. _______________________front

4. ways to____________________

5. as well as___________________

6. ____________________jokingly

7. ____________________has come

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

1. What was discussed first after dinner?

2. What was everyone concerned about?

3. Why was Dave Whitmore an expert about economic trends?

4. How did most of the people reach to Whitmore’s plans?