Episode 27

M ary Lee had not heard from her mother in over a month and was worried. Nomally, her mother wrote her every week, or so. But more than 4 week had passed, and there was no letter from home. “Not that I’m afraid that anything serious has happened”, Mary Lee thought to herself, “but I’d like to be sure that everything is all right at home”. After all Mother is getting along in years and I am her only daughter”. Mary Lee’ father had died 5 years ago and her mother lived alone, although her two older brothers lived in the same town. Marry Lee decided that the only thing to do was to call home that evening after she got off from work. Her budget was a little tight this month because of high utility bills, but she felt that she could afford a 10 minute call home. “After all, it’ nearly 2.000 miles home, and a long distance phone call is a lot cheaper than air fare”. “I’ll do it. I’ll call home tonight when long distance rates are lower”, she murmured to herself.

Exercises:

I. True/false:

1. Mary Lee hadn’t heard from home for three months.

2. She was worried because her mother hadn’t written.

3. Mary Lee likes to know that everything is okay at home.

4. Her mother is a widow.

5. Mary Lee is an only child.

6. She decided to call home after work.

7. She planned a 10-minute telephone call.

8. Telephone rates are cheapor at night.

9. Mary Lee’s home is 200 miles away.

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

1. Normally, her mother wrote her every_________________or so, but more than four______________had passed and there was no______________from home.

2. I like to be_______________that everything is all_______________at home.

3. Mary Lee’s_____________had died live___________ago and her mother lived______________, although her two_____________lived in same____________.

4. Her budget was a little_______________this month because of utility____________, but she felt that she could____________a 10-minute___________home.

5. It’s nearly 2,000_____________and a long distance____________call a lot

6. I’ll call home____________when long distance_______________are lower.

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

1. in over a _____________

2. _______________serious has

3. ________________to herself

4. getting along in___________

5. only thing to_____________

6. ________________off work

7. ________________do it

8. ________________to herself

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

1. Why was Mary Lee worried?

2. How did her mother write, normally?

3. What happened to Mary Lee’s father?

4. How many brothers and sisters does she have?

5. Why was her budget a little tight?

6. Why does she decide to telephone at night?

Episode 28

It was so hot in the car even with all the windows rolled down, Ed Davis couldn’t keep cool enough. He had about 300 more miles to go through the hot sun that beat down on the roof of the car mercilessly. The air conditioner of the car had stopped functioning about two hours ago. Shortly after Ed had stopped for lunch, and filled up his gas tank at the service station that was next to= the restaurant, he knew that driving across the plain during the hottest part of the day was a little foolish. But he had to get to his destination by evening. He was going to one of the most important appointments of his life. “A little heat isn’t going to stop me”, he muttered to himself. “If this old car can make those 300 miles, I’ll be plently happy”. He squinted through his dark glasses at the sun which was almost straight over head and pressed on the accelerator a little more to increase his speed. The motor purred like a kitten and he felt relieved. “This car may be old”, he thought to himself, “but it has a good enjine. It’ll get me there in plenty of time”.

Exercises: