Life Is a Question of Choice or Chance?

— If you could recapture your childhood, Richard, would you change much?

— Life is a sort of arch. Arrival to departure. You can't switch directions, Charles. Each century brings changes but actually, nature doesn't change.

— But you can reach different decisions. With television, you can choose which channel to watch, switch to another picture. You could catch a different train. Given a chance, Richard, would you change trains?

— Life is a rich adventure and largely a question of chance. You don't choose your future as you choose a chocolate or a piece of cheese.

— But, Richard, you do choose. You forge your own fortune — a butcher? a cellist? a teacher? a merchant? Each choice suggests a further choice — which tree, which branch, which twig?

— Let's adjourn to the kitchen for chicken and chips. No choice for lunch, you see Charles.

— But you actually chose chicken and chips! Chops would have been much cheaper.

Which Do You Prefer?

— Hello, Avril, it's me!

— Hello, Jane, come in.

— Oh, holiday brochures at Christmas.

— Yes, the weather's been awful, I want to cheer myself up, so I'm thinking about my summer holiday.

— Mm, I know what you mean. Let's have a look.

— For me it's a choice between Portugal and Morocco. Have you ever been to Portugal? It looks very pretty there.

— Yes, I have. I like it very much. It's very beautiful.

— Mm, and how about Morocco? That looks interesting too. Have you ever been there?

— No, I haven't. I've never been to Morocco but I've been to Algeria, which is quite similar in some ways.

202. Read the rhymes and learn them.

     1. I often sit and wish that I Could be a kite up in the sky, And ride upon the breeze and go Whatever way it chanced to go. 2. If I'd as much money as I could spend, I never would try old chairs to mend, Old chairs to mend, old chairs to mend, I never would try old chairs to mend.

     3. There was a man in our town, And he was wondrous wise, He jumped into a bramble bush, And scratched out both his eyes. But when he saw his eyes were out, With all his might and main, He jumped into another bush, And scratched them in again.

203. Transcribe the proverbs and learn them.

1. Cheek brings success.

2. Children are poor men's riches.

3. Choose an author as you choose your friend.

4. Charity begins at home.

5. Misfortunes tell us what fortune is.

6. That's where the shoe pinches.

Sound [z]

First practise the sound / Z / in some of the words from this unit. Read the words aloud.

usually unusual pleasure

204. Track 62. Listen

Television Programmes: Channel 5	Sharon	Shaun	Charlotte	Mrs Marsh
7.00 – Children’s film: Treasure Island	+
7.15 – News update: An Unusual Collision		+
7.30 – Fashion show: Casual Clothes			+
7.45 – Travel film: Crossing Asia				+
8.15 – Do-it-yourself show: How to Measure a New Garage	+
8.30 – Variety show: It’s a Pleasure		+

Make as many sentences as you can about who's watching what on TV tonight.

EXAMPLE At 8.30, Shaun's watching a variety show called It’s a Pleasure.

Practise with a partner. Talk about which of the television programmes above you would like to watch. Also ask each other about what shows you usually watch.

EXAMPLES \What do you usually watch on Thursdays?

Would you like to watch the fashion show Casual Clothes?