An experienced teacher

It happened in a crowded bus in the rush hour. A boy of about twelve was comfortably seated by the window, watching the changing scenery and pretending not to see old men and women standing near him. A dis­tinguished looking gentleman said to the boy:

• If I give you 10 shillings, my lad, will you stand up and let me have your seat?

• Sure! - answered the boy without hesitation.

The man took a 10-shilling note out of his wallet and handed it to the boy. The latter took the money and stood up at once.

• The seat is yours! – said the man to an elderly lady who was stand­ing next to him.

She blushed and answered:

• Thank you ever so much, but I couldn’t possibly take the seat for which you paid so much!

• Don’t worry about that, Madam. You see, I'm an old and experi­enced teacher. If I gave the boy some money it was to teach him a lesson. Nothing is too expensive.

The lady sat down and said to the boy:

• I say, Bob, have you thanked the gentleman for the 10 shillings he gave you?

I. Say which statements are false or true.

1. It happened in a crowded bus in the rush hours.

2. The boy of about eleven was comfortably seated by the window

3. The man took a 10-shilling note out of his wallet.

4. I’m an old and experienced teacher.

5. He took some money from the boy.

6. The boy thanked the gentleman for his money.

II. Choose the correct answer.

1. Where did it happen?

a) in a crowned bus b) in a crowded bus c) in a crowd of buses

2. Who was sitting by the window?

a) an old lady b) a gentleman c) a boy

3. Who addressed the boy?

a) a distinguished looking gentleman b) an old lady c) a young boy

4. What did the man do?

a) he handed the money to the boy b) he handed in the paper c) he handled the door

5. Why did he pay the money?

a) to teach a boy English language b) to teach a boy a lesson c) to be taught a lesson

6. What did the lady say to the boy?

a) “Have you thought about it?” b) “Has he thanked you?” c) “Have you thanked the gentleman?”

III. Finish the sentences.

1. The boy was seated pretending

a) not to thank old men and women. b) not to see old men and women. c) not to sing old men men and women.

2. If I give you 10 shillings

a) will you see me. b) will you sing me. c) will you stand up.

3. The man took a 10-shilling note

a) out of his wallet. b) out of his pocket. c) out of his packet.

4. The boy took the money

a) and went away. b) and stood up. c) and sat down.

5. Thank you very much but I couldn’t

a) take the seat. b) thank you. c) take the money.

6. Have you thanked the gentleman

a) for the seat. b) for the money. c) for the song.

The indian and the spaniard

A Spaniard was riding across a deserted country in South America. Suddenly his horse went lame. He felt very nervous because he saw that the horse would never be able to carry him home. A little later he saw an Indian riding a fine fresh horse and asked him to exchange horses. The In­dian refused to do this. The Spaniard used force and made the Indian give up his horse. He rode away, leaving his lame horse to the Indian. The In­dian followed him until he reached a town where he found the Spaniard.

The Spaniard had to appear before a judge. The Spaniard told the judge that the horse was his own. The Indian asked the judge to send for the horse. This was done, and the Indian, throwing his cloak over the hors’'s head, said to the judge: “This man says that the horse is his, let him, therefore, tell you which of its eyes is blind”.

The Spaniard said at once: “The right one”. The Indian, taking off the cloak, exclaimed: “Neither the right eye nor the left; the horse is not blind at all”.

The judge had to say that the horse must be returned to the Indian and ordered the Spaniard to pay a large sum of money to the Indian.

I. Say which statements are false or true.

1. A Spaniard was riding in Africa.

2. Suddenly his horse went lame.

3. He felt very happy because of that.

4. He saw an Indian riding his horse.

5. The Spaniard proposed to buy a horse.

6. The Indian refused to do this.

II. Choose the correct answer, please.

1. How did the Spaniard make the Indian give him his horse?

a) he used force b) he used the gun c) he used good words

2. What did the Spaniard leave to the Indian?

a) the money b) his lame horse c) his wallet

3. Where did the Indian follow the Spaniard?

a) to his native town b) to the capital city c) to his house

4. What had the Spaniard to do?

a) he had to pay the fine b) he had to appear before a judge c) he had to give the money

5. What did the Spaniard prove?

a) that this horse was his own b) that this horse was his father’s c) that this horse was his uncle’s

6. What did the Indian ask the judge?

a) to send for the horse b) to send for his wife c) to send for his relatives

III. Finish the sentences.

1. The Indian threw a cloak

a) over the horse’s head. b) over the horse’s back. c) over the horse’s legs.

2. The Indian asked the Spaniard to tell

a) which of the horse’s eyes was blind.

b) which of the horse’s eyes was big.

c) which of the horse’s eyes was wide.

3. The Spaniard said that it was

a) the right one. b) the left one. c) both.

4. The Indian said that his horse

a) was blind. b) wasn’t blind at all. c) was healthy.

5. The judge ordered the Spaniard

a) to return the cloak. b) to return the horse. c) to return the shoes.

6. The Spaniard also paid

a) a large sum of money. b) a small sum of money. c) a little money.