Episode 9

The Carruthers, Nick and Jan, were enjoying the morning sun on the deck of the cruise ship. It was a lovely morning, bright and clear, with not a cloud in the sky. They were relaxed and soaking up the warm sunshine, hoping to get a good tan before the end of the cruise. A quiet voice interrupted their reverie: “Your juice, sir!” It was the deck steward with the orange juice they had ordered. Nick and Jan had been saving for this Caribbean vacation for more than 2 years. They both worked and had managed to save something each month for their special – “Fun in the Sun Fund”, as they called it. The deck chairs were comfortable. A gentle sea breeze played across their lazy bodies. “I am not going to think about anything”, Jan remarked. “Absolutely nothing, especially work”. “Me, too”, Nick agreed. “Life is too short to think about the humdrum of work. Besides, I think it’s time to take up a little nap”.

Exercises:

I. True/false:

1. The day was cloudy.

2. The Carruthers were enjoying a good swim.

3. They wanted to get a good tan..

4. The ship’s capitain interrupted their sleep.

5. Nick went to get some orange juice.

6. Nick and jan had saved money for a vacation.

7. They both had jobs.

8. They had started a special vacation fund.

9. Nick and Jan didn’t want to think about work.

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

1. It was a lovely_______________, bright and clear, with not a _______________in the__________________________

2. They were hoping to get a good_______________before the end of the_______

3. A qwuit________________ interrupted their reverie.

4. They both worked and had ________________ to save something each___________ for their special “________________in the Sun Fund”.

5. A gentle sea______________played across their lazy________________

6. Life is too short to think about the _________________of work.

7. I think it’s________________to take a little_______________

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

1. the moning sun on the_______________________

2. ______________and soaking up the warm_____________________

3. the orange juice they had____________________

4. managed to save____________________

5. across their lazy____________________

6. ____________nothing-especially___________________

7. ____________to take a little_______________________

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

1. Where were the Carruthers?

2. Who interrupted their reverie?

3. How long had they been saving for the vacation?

4. What did they want to think about?

Episode 10

Jim Norton bought a motor-cycle last week and yesterday suggested to his wife Judy that she take her first ride on one. She agreed although she was a little apprehensive. She finally decided that today was as good as any day, and now finds herself speeding along, seated behind Jim with her long hair blowing in the wind, holding fast to Jim’s waist with both hands. She’s beginning to feel the exhilaration that he has talked about so often. Jim used to be a race car driver, and his driving skill is a great reassurance for Judy. The sense of freedom that she feels is exciting. In fact, she is beginning to think that she should have her own “Set of wheels” and resolves to bring the matter up as soon as they get home. Jim starts to slow down and turns off the highway. “Time to have that snack we brought”, he shouts to her over his shoulder. “We can eat in a little broad side-park up ahead”, Judy agrees. She is suddenly feeling absolutely famished.

Exercises: