"text":"DAN:You're working hard, George.\n\nWhat are you doing?\n\nGEORGE:I'm making a bookcase.\n\nGEORGE:Give me that hammer please, Dan.\n\nDAN:Which hammer?\n\nThis one?\n\nGEORGE:No, not that one.\n\nThe big one.\n\nDAN:Here you are.\n\nGEORGE:Thanks, Dan.\n\nDAN:What are you doing to do now, George?\n\nGEORGE:I'm going to paint it.\n\nDAN:What colour are you going to pain it?\n\nGEORGE:I'm going to paint it pink.\n\nDAN:Pink!\n\nGEORGE:This bookcase isn't for me.\n\nIt's for my daughter, Susan.\n\nPink's her favourite colour.",
"text":"SAM:What are you going to do with that vase, Penny?\n\nPENNY:I'm going to put it on this table, Sam.\n\nSAM:Don't do that. Give it to me.\n\nPENNY:What are you going to do with it?\n\nSAM:I'm going to put it here, in front of the window.\n\nPENNY:Be careful! Don't drop it!\n\nPENNY:Don't put there, Sam.\n\nPut it here, on this shelf.\n\nSAM:There we are! It's a lovely vase.\n\nPENNY:Those flowers are lovely, too.",
"text":"SAN:Is that bag heavy, Penny?\n\nPENNY:Not very.\n\nSAN:Here!\n\nPut it on this chair.\n\nWhat's in it?\n\nPENNY:A piece of cheese.\n\nA loaf of bread.\n\nA bar of soap.\n\nA bar of Chocolate.\n\nA bottle of milk.\n\nA pound of sugar.\n\nHalf a pound of coffee.\n\nA quarter of pound of tea.\n\nAnd a tin of tobacco.\n\nSAN:Is that tin of tobacco for me?\n\nPENNY:Well, it's certainly not for me!",
"text":"PENNY:Can you make the tea, Sam?\n\nSAM:Yes, of course I can, Penny.\n\nSAM:Is there any water in this kettle?\n\nPENNY:Yes, there is.\n\nSAM:Where's the tea?\n\nPENNY:It's over there, behind the teapot.\n\nPENNY:Can you see it?\n\nSAM:I can see the teapot, but I can't see the tea.\n\nPENNY:There it is! It's in front of your!\n\nSAM:Ah yes, I can see it now.\n\nSAM:Where are the cups?\n\nPENNY:There are some in the cupboard.\n\nPENNY:Can you find them?\n\nSAM:Yes. Here they are.\n\nPENNY:Hurry up, Sam! The kettle's boiling!",
"text":"THE BOSS:Can you come here a minute please, Bob?\n\nBOB:Yes, sir?\n\nTHE BOSS:Where's Pamela?\n\nBOB:She's next door. She's in her office, sir.\n\nTHE BOSS:Can she type this letter for me? Ask her please.\n\nBOB:Yes, sir.\n\nBOB:Can you type this letter for the boss please, Pamela?\n\nPAMELA:Yes, of course I can.\n\nBOB:Here you are.\n\nPAMELA:Thank you, Bob.\n\nPAMELA:Bob!\n\nBOB:Yes?\n\nWhat's the letter.\n\nPAMELA:I can't type this letter.\n\nPAMELA:I can't read it! The boss's handwriting is terrible!",
"text":"CHRISTINE:Do you like coffee, Ann?\n\nANN:Yes, I do.\n\nCHRISTINE:Do you want a cup?\n\nANN:Yes, please, Christine.\n\nCHRISTINE:Do you want any sugar?\n\nANN:Yes, please.\n\nCHRISTINE:Do you want any milk?\n\nANN:No, thank you.\n\nI don't like milk in my coffee.\n\nI like black coffee.\n\nCHRISTINE:Do you like biscuits?\n\nANN:Yes. I do.\n\nCHRISTINE:Do you want one?\n\nANN:Yes, please.",
"text":"BUTCHER:Do you want any meat today. Mrs. Bird?\n\nMRS. BIRD:Yes, please.\n\nBUTCHER:Do you want beef or lamb?\n\nMRS. BIRD:Beef, please.\n\nBUTCHER:This lamb's very good.\n\nMRS. BIRD:I like lamb, but my husband doesn't\n\nBUTCHER:What about some steak?\n\nThis is a nice piece.\n\nMRS. BIRD:Give me that piece, please.\n\nMRS. BIRD:And a pound of mince, too.\n\nBUTCHER:Do you want a chicken, Mrs. Bird?\n\nThey're very nice.\n\nMRS. BIRD:No, thank you.\n\nMRS. BIRD:My husband likes steak,\n\nbut he doesn't like chicken.\n\nBUTCHER:To tell you the truth, Mrs. Bird,\n\nI don't like chicken either!",
"text":"HANS:Where do you come from?\n\nDIMITRI:I come from Greece.\n\nHANS:What's the climate like in your country?\n\nDIMITRI:It's very pleasant.\n\nHANS:What's the weather like in spring?\n\nDIMITRI:It's often windy in March.\n\nIt's always warm in April and May, but it rains sometimes.\n\nHANS:What's it like in summer?\n\nDIMITRI:It's always hot in June, July and August.\n\nThe sun shines every day.\n\nHANS:Is it cold or warm in autumn?\n\nDIMITRI:It's always warm in September and October.\n\nIt's often cold in November and it rains sometimes.\n\nHANS:Is it very cold in winter?\n\nDIMITRI:It's often cold in December, January and February.It snows sometimes.",
"text":"HANS:Where do you come from?\n\nJIM:I come from England.\n\nHANS:What's the climate like in your country?\n\nJIM:It's mild, but it's not always pleasant.\n\nJIM:The weather's often cold in North and windy in the East.\n\nIt's often wet in the West and sometimes warm in the south.\n\nHANS:Which seasons do you like best?\n\nJIM :I like spring and summer.\n\nThe days are long and the nights are short.\n\nThe sun rises early and sets late.\n\nJIM:I don't like autumn and winter.\n\nThe days are short and the nights are long.\n\nThe sun rises late and sets early.\n\nOur climate is not very good, but it's certainly interesting.\n\nIt's our favourite subject of conversation.",
"text":"The Sawyer live at 87 King Street.\n\nIn the morning, Mr. Sawyer goes to work and the children go to school.\n\nMrs. Sawyer stays at home every day.\n\nShe does the housework.\n\nShe always eats her lunch at noon.\n\nIn the afternoon, she usually sees her friends.\n\nThey often drink tea together.\n\nIn the evening, the children come home from school.\n\nThey arrive home early.\n\nMr. Sawyer comes home from work.\n\nHe arrives home late.\n\nAt night, the children always do their homework.\n\nThen they go to bed.\n\nMr. Sawyer usually reads his newspaper, but sometimes he and his wife watch television.",
"text":"The Sawyer live at 87 King Street.\n\nIn the morning, Mr. Sawyer goes to work and the children go to school.\n\nTheir father takes them to school every day.\n\nMrs. Sawyer stays at home every day.\n\nShe does the housework.\n\nShe always eats her lunch at noon.\n\nIn the afternoon, she usually sees her friends.\n\nThey often drink tea together.\n\nIn the evening, the children come home from school.\n\nThey arrive home early.\n\nMr. Sawyer comes home from work.\n\nHe arrives home late.\n\nAt night, the children always do their homework.\n\nThen they go to bed.\n\nMr. Sawyer usually reads his newspaper, but sometimes he and his wife watch television.",
"text":"It is eight o'clock. \nThe children go to school by car every day, \nbut today, they are going to school on foot.\n\nIt is ten o'clock. \nMrs. Sawyer usually stays at home in the morning, \nbut this morning, she is going to the shops.\n\nIt is four o'clock. \nIn the afternoon, Mrs. Sawyer usually drinks tea in the living room. \nBut this after, she is drinking tea in the garden.\n\nIt is six o'clock. \nIn the evening, the children usually do their homework, \nbut this evening, they are not doing their homework. \nAt the moment, they are playing in the garden.\n\nIt is nine o'clock. \nMr. Sawyer usually reads his newspaper at night. \nBut he's not reading his newspaper tonight. \nAt the moment, he's reading an interesting book.",
"text":"LADY:I want some envelopes,please.\n\nSHOP ASSISTANT:Do you want the large size or the small size?\n\nLADY:The large size, please.\n\nLADY:Do you have any writing paper?\n\nSHOP ASSISTANT:Yes, we do.\n\nSHOP ASSISTANT:I don't have any small pads.\n\nI only have large one.\n\nDo you want a pad?\n\nLADY:Yes, please.\n\nLADY:And I want some glue.\n\nSHOP ASSISTANT:A bottle of glue.\n\nLADY:And I want a large box of chalk, too.\n\nSHOP ASSISTANT:I only have small boxes. Do you want one?\n\nLADY:No, thank you.\n\nSHOP ASSISTANT:Is that all?\n\nLADY:That's all, thank you.\n\nSHOP ASSISTANT:What else do you want?\n\nLADY:I want my change.",
"text":"MR. WILLIAMS:Where's Jimmy?\n\nMRS. WILLIAMS:He's in bed.\n\nMR. WILLIAMS:What's the matter with him?\n\nMRS. WILLIAMS:He feels ill.\n\nMR. WILLIAMS:He looks ill.\n\nMRS. WILLIAMS:We must call the doctor.\n\nMR. WILLIAMS:Yes, we must.\n\nMR. WILLIAMS:Can you remember the doctor's telephone number?\n\nMRS. WILLIAMS:Yes. It's 09754.\n\nDOCTOR:Open your mouth, Jimmy. Show me your tongue. Say, \"Ah'.\n\nMR. WILLIAMS:What's the matter with him, doctor?\n\nDOCTOR:He has a bad cold, Mr. Williams, so he must stay in bed for a week.\n\nMRS. WILLIAMS:That's good new for Jimmy.\n\nDOCTOR:Good news? Why?\n\nMR. WILLIAMS:Because he doesn't like school!",
"text":"DOCTOR:How's Jimmy today?\n\nMRS. WILLIAMAS:Better. Thank you, Doctor.\n\nDOCTOR:Can I see him please, Mrs. Williams?\n\nMRS. WILLIAMAS:Certainly, doctor. Come upstairs.\n\nDOCTOR:You look very well, Jimmy.\n\nYou are better now, but you mustn't get up yet.\n\nYou must stay in bed for another two days.\n\nDOCTOR:The boy mustn't go to school yet, Mr. Williams.\n\nAnd he mustn't eat rich food.\n\nMRS. WILLIAMAS:Does he have a temperature, doctor?\n\nDOCTOR:No, he doesn't\n\nMRS. WILLIAMAS:Must he stay in bed?\n\nDOCTOR:Yes. He must remain in bed for another two days.\n\nHe can get up for about two hours each day, but you must keep the room warm.\n\nDOCTOR:Where's Mr. Williams this evening?\n\nMRS. WILLIAMAS:He's in bed, doctor.\n\nCan you see him please?\n\nHe has a bad cold, too!",
"text":"DOCTOR:How's Jimmy today?\n\nMRS. WILLIAMAS:Better. Thank you, Doctor.\n\nDOCTOR:Can I see him please, Mrs. Williams?\n\nMRS. WILLIAMAS:Certainly, doctor. Come upstairs.\n\nDOCTOR:You look very well, Jimmy.\n\nYou are better now, but you mustn't get up yet.\n\nYou must stay in bed for another two days.\n\nDOCTOR:The boy mustn't go to school yet, Mr. Williams.\n\nAnd he mustn't eat rich food.\n\nMRS. WILLIAMAS:Does he have a temperature, doctor?\n\nDOCTOR:No, he doesn't\n\nMRS. WILLIAMAS:Must he stay in bed?\n\nDOCTOR:Yes. He must remain in bed for another two days.\n\nHe can get up for about two hours each day, but you must keep the room warm.\n\nDOCTOR:Where's Mr. Williams this evening?\n\nMRS. WILLIAMAS:He's in bed, doctor.\n\nCan you see him please?\n\nHe has a bad cold, too!",
"text":"FATHER:What are you going to do this evening. Jill?\n\nJILL:I'm going to meet some friends. Dad.\n\nFATHER:You mustn't come home late.\n\nYou must be home at half past ten.\n\nJILL:I can't get home so early, Dad!\n\nJILL:Can I have the key to the front door please?\n\nFATHER:No, you can't\n\nMOTHER:Jill's eighteen years old, Tom.\n\nShe's not a baby.\n\nGive her the key.\n\nShe always comes home early.\n\nFATHER:Oh, all right!\n\nFATHER:Here you are.\n\nBut you mustn't come home after a quarter past eleven.\n\nDo you hear?\n\nJILL:Yes. Dad.\n\nJILL:Thanks, Mum.\n\nMOTHER:That's all right. Goodbye. Enjoy yourself!\n\nJILL:We always enjoy ourselves, Mum. Bye-bye.",
"text":"MRS. JOHNSON:Hello. Where you at the butcher's?\n\nMRS. WILLIAMS:Yes. I was.\n\nWere you at butcher's too?\n\nMRS. JOHNSON:No, I wasn't\n\nI was at the greengrocer's.\n\nHow's Jimmy today?\n\nMRS. WILLIAMS:He's very well, thank you.\n\nMRS. JOHNSON:Was he absent from school last week?\n\nMRS. WILLIAMS:Yes, he was.\n\nHe was absent on Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday and Tuesday.\n\nHow are you all keeping?\n\nMRS. JOHNSON:Very well, thank you.\n\nWe're going to spend three days in the country.\n\nWe're going to stay at my mother's for the weekend.\n\nMRS. WILLIAMS:Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the country!\n\nAren't you lucky!",
"text":"There is a car race near our town every year. \nIn 1995, there was a very big race.\n\nThere were hundreds of people there. My wife and I were at the race. \nOur friends Julie and Jack were there, too. \nYou can see us in the crowd. \nWe are standing on the left.\n\nThere were twenty cars in the race. \nThere were English cars, French cares, German cars. Italian cars. American cars and Japanese cars. \nIt was an exciting finish. \nThe winner was Billy Stewart. \nHe was in car number fifteen. \nFive other cars were just behind him.\n\nOn the way home, my wife said to me, 'Don't drive so quickly! You're not Billy Stewart!'",
"text":"There is a car race near our town every year. \nIn 1995, there was a very big race.\n\nThere were hundreds of people there. My wife and I were at the race. \nOur friends Julie and Jack were there, too. \nYou can see us in the crowd. \nWe are standing on the left.\n\nThere were twenty cars in the race. \nThere were English cars, French cars, German cars, Italian cars, American cars and Japanese cars. \nIt was an exciting finish. \nThe winner was Billy Stewart. \nHe was in car number fifteen. \nFive other cars were just behind him.\n\nOn the way home, my wife said to me, 'Don't drive so quickly! You're not Billy Stewart!'",
"text":"JANE:What's Ron Marston like, Pauline?\n\nPAULINE:He's awful! \nHe telephoned me four times Yesterday, and three times the day before yesterday.\n\nPAULINE:He telephoned the office yesterday morning and yesterday afternoon. \nMy boss answered thetelephone.\n\nJANE:What did your boss say to him?\n\nPAULINE:He said, \"Pauline is typing letters. She can't speak to you now!\"\n\nPAULINE:Then I arrived home at six o'clock yesterday evening. \nHe telephoned again. \nBut I didn't answer the phone!\n\nJANE:Did he telephone again last night?\n\nPAULINE:Yes, he did. \nHe telephoned at nine o'clock.\n\nJANE:What did you say to him?\n\nPAULINE:I said, 'This is Pauline's mother. Please don't telephone my daughter again!'\n\nJANE:Did he telephone again?\n\nPAULINE:No, he didn't",
"text":"Last week Mrs. Mills went to London. \nShe does not know London very well, and she lost her way.\n\nSuddenly, she saw a man near a bus stop. \n'I can ask him the way.' she said to herself.\n\n'Excuse me,' she said. 'Can you tell me the way to King Street, please?'\n\nThe man smiled pleasantly. \nHe did not understand English! He spoke German. \nHe was a tourist.\n\nThen he put his hand into pocket, and took out a phrasebook.\n\nHe opened the book and found a phrase. \nHe read the phrase slowly. \n'I am sorry,' he said. 'I do not speak English.'",
"text":"LADY:Do you have any shoes like these?\n\nSHOP ASSISTANT:What size?\n\nLADY:Size five.\n\nSHOP ASSISTANT:What colour?\n\nLADY:Black.\n\nSHOP ASSISTANT:I'm sorry.We don't have any.\n\nLADY:But my sister bought this pair last month.\n\nSHOP ASSISTANT:Did she buy them here?\n\nLADY:No, she bought them in the U.S.\n\nSHOP ASSISTANT:We had some shoes like those a month ago, \nbut we don't have any now.\n\nLADY:Can you get a pair for me, please?\n\nSHOP ASSISTANT:I'm afraid that I can't \nThey were in fashion last year and the year before last. \nBut they're not in fashion this year.\n\nSHOP ASSISTANT:These shoes are in fashion now.\n\nLADY:They look very uncomfortable.\n\nSHOP ASSISTANT:They are very uncomfortable. \nBut women always wear uncomfortable shoes!",
"text":"NURSE:Good morning. Mr. Croft.\n\nMR. CROFT:Good morning, nurse. \nI was to see the dentist, please.\n\nNURSE:Do you have an appointment?\n\nMR. CROFT:No, I don't\n\nNURSE:Is it urgent?\n\nMR. CROFT:Yes, it is. It's very urgent. \nI feel awful. \nI have a terrible toothache.\n\nNURSE:Can you come at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 24th?\n\nMR. CROFT:I must see the dentist now, nurse.\n\nNURSE:The dentist is very busy at the moment. \nCan you come at 2 p.m.?\n\nMR. CROFT:That's very late. \nCan the dentist see me now?\n\nNURSE:I'm afraid that he can't,Mr. Croft. \nCan't you wait till this afternoon?\n\nMR. CROFT:I can wait, but my toothache can't",
"text":"TOM:What are you doing, Carol?\n\nCAROL:I'm making a shopping list,Tom.\n\nTOM:What do we need?\n\nCAROL:We need a lot of thing this week.\n\nCAROL:I must go to the grocer's. \nWe haven't got much tea or coffee, and we haven't got any sugar or jam.\n\nTOM:What about vegetables?\n\nCAROL:I must go to the greengrocer's. \nWe haven't got many tomatoes, but we've got a lot of potatoes.\n\nCAROL:I must go to the butcher's，too. \nWe need some meat. \nWe haven't got any meat at all.\n\nTOM:Have we got any beer and wine?\n\nCAROL:No, we haven't \nAnd I'm not going to get any!\n\nTOM:I hope that you've got some money.\n\nCAROL:I haven't got much.\n\nTOM:Well, I haven't got much either!",
"text":"SAM:Hi, Carol! Where's Tom?\n\nCAROL:He's upstairs. \nHe's having a bath.\n\nCAROL:Tom!\n\nTOM:Yes?\n\nCAROL:Sam's here.\n\nTOM:I'm nearly ready.\n\nTOM:Hello, Sam. \nHave a cigarette.\n\nSAM:No, thanks, Tom.\n\nTOM:Have a glass of whisky then.\n\nSAM:OK. Thanks.\n\nTOM:Is dinner ready, Carol?\n\nCAROL:It's nearly ready. \nWe can have dinner at seven o'clock.\n\nTOM:Sam and I had lunch together today. \nWe went to a restaurant.\n\nCAROL:What did you have?\n\nTOM:We had roast beef and potatoes.\n\nCAROL:Oh!\n\nTOM:What's the matter, Carol?\n\nCAROL:Well, you're going to have roast beef and potatoes again tonight!",
"text":"CAROL:Hello, Sam.Come in.\n\nTOM:Hi, Sam. \nWe're having lunch. \nDo you want to have lunch with us?\n\nSAM:No, thank you. Tom. \nI've already had lunch. \nI had at half past twelve.\n\nCAROL:Have a cup of coffee then.\n\nSAM:I've just had a cup, thank you. \nI had one after my lunch.\n\nTOM:Let's go into the living room, Carol. \nWe can have our coffee there.\n\nCAROL:Excuse the mess, Sam. \nThis room's very untidy. \nWe're packing our suitcases. \nWe're going to leave tomorrow. \nTom and I are going to have a holiday.\n\nSAM:Aren't you lucky!\n\nTOM:When are you going to have a holiday, Sam?\n\nSAM:I don't know. \nI've already had my holiday this year.\n\nCAROL:Where did you go?\n\nSAM:I stayed at home!",
"text":"GEORGE:Hello, Ken.\n\nKEN:Hi, George.\n\nGEORGE:Have you just been to the cinema?\n\nKEN:Yes, I have.\n\nGEORGE:What's on?\n\nKEN:'Paris in the spring '.\n\nGEORGE:Oh, I've already seen it. \nI saw it on television last year. \nIt's an old film,but it's very good.\n\nKEN:Paris is a beautiful city.\n\nGEORGE:I've never been there. \nHave you ever been there, Ken?\n\nKEN:Yes, I have. \nI was there in April.\n\nGEORGE:Pairs in the spring, eh?\n\nKEN:It was spring, \nbut the weather was awful. \nIt rained all the time.\n\nGEORGE:Just like London!",
"text":"MR. WOOD:Is my car ready yet?\n\nATTENDANT:I don't know. sir. \nWhat's the number of your car?\n\nMR. WOOD:It's is LFZ 312G.\n\nATTENDANT:When did you bring it to us?\n\nMR. WOOD:I brought it here three days ago.\n\nATTENDANT:Ah, yes, I remember now.\n\nMR. WOOD:Have your mechanics finished yet?\n\nATTENDANT:No, they're still working on it. \nLet's go into the garage and have a look at it.\n\nATTENDANT:Isn't that your car?\n\nMR. WOOD:Well, it was my car.\n\nATTENDANT:Didn't you have a crash?\n\nMR. WOOD:That's right. \nI drove it into a lamp-post. \nCan your mechanics repair it?\n\nATTENDANT:Well, they're trying to repair it, sir. \nBut to tell you the truth. \nyou need a new car!",
"text":"NIGEL：Good afternoon. \nI believe that this is house is for sale.\n\nIAN:That's right.\n\nNIGEL：May I have a look at it, please?\n\nIAN:Yes, of course. Come in.\n\nNIGEL：How long have you lived here?\n\nIAN:I've live here for twenty years.\n\nNIGEL：Twenty year! \nThat's long time.\n\nIAN:Yes, I've been here since 1976.\n\nNIGEL：Then why do you want to sell it?\n\nIAN:Because I've just retired. \nI want to buy a small house in the country.\n\nNIGEL：How much does this house cost?\n\nIAN:$68,500.\n\nNIGEL：Well, I like the house. \nbut I can't decide yet. \nMy wife must see it first.\n\nIAN:Women always have the last word.",
"text":"NIGEL：Good afternoon. \nI believe that this is house is for sale.\n\nIAN:That's right.\n\nNIGEL：May I have a look at it, please?\n\nIAN:Yes, of course. Come in.\n\nNIGEL：How long have you lived here?\n\nIAN:I've live here for twenty years.\n\nNIGEL：Twenty year! \nThat's long time.\n\nIAN:Yes, I've been here since 1976.\n\nNIGEL：Then why do you want to sell it?\n\nIAN:Because I've just retired. \nI want to buy a small house in the country.\n\nNIGEL：How much does this house cost?\n\nIAN:$68,500.\n\nNIGEL:That's a lot of money!\n\nIAN:It's worth every penny of it.\n\nNIGEL：Well, I like the house. \nbut I can't decide yet. \nMy wife must see it first.\n\nIAN:Women always have the last word.",
"text":"CATHERING:Has Ian sold his house yet?\n\nJENNY:Yes, he has. \nHe sold it last week.\n\nCATHERING:Has he moved to his new house yet?\n\nJENNY:No, not yet. \nHe's still here. \nHe's going to move tomorrow.\n\nCATHERING:When? Tomorrow afternoon.\n\nJENNY:No. Tomorrow afternoon. \nI'll miss him. \nHe has always been a good neighbour.\n\nLIDA:He's a very nice person. \nWe'll all miss him.\n\nCATHERING:When will the new people move into this house?\n\nJENNY:I think that they'll move in the day after tomorrow.\n\nLINDA:Will you see Ian today, Jenny?\n\nJENNY:Yes, I will.\n\nLINDA:Please give him my regards.\n\nCATHERING:Poor Ian! \nHe didn't want to leave this house.\n\nJENNY:No, he didn't want to leave. \nbut his wife did!",
"text":"Nigel is our new next-door neighbour. \nHe's a pilot. \nHe was in the R.A.F. \nHe will fly to New York next month. \nThe month after next he'll fly to Tokyo. \nAt the moment, he's in Madrid. \nHe flew to Spain a week ago. \nHe'll return to London the week after next. \nHe's only forty-one years old, \nand he has already been to nearly every country in the world. \nNigel is a very lucky man. \nBut his wife isn't very lucky. \nShe usually stays at home!",
"text":"GEORGE:Two return tickets to London,please. \nWhat time will the next train leave?\n\nATTENDANT:At nineteen minutes past eight.\n\nGEORGE:Which platform?\n\nATTENDANT:Platform Two. \nOver the bridge.\n\nKEN:What time will the next train leave?\n\nGEORGE:At eight nineteen.\n\nKEN:We've got plenty of time.\n\nGEORGE:It's only three minutes to eight.\n\nKEN:Let's go and have a drink. \nThere's a bar next door to the station.\n\nGEORGE:We had better go back to the station now, Ken.\n\nPORTER:Tickets, please.\n\nGEORGE:We want to catch the eight nineteen to London.\n\nPORTER:You've just missed it!\n\nGEORGE:What! \nIt's only eight fifteen.\n\nPORTER:I'm sorry, sir. \nThat clock's ten minutes slow.\n\nGEORGE:When's the next train?\n\nPORTER:In five hours'time!",
"text":"GEORGE:Two return tickets to London,please. \nWhat time will the next train leave?\n\nATTENDANT:At nineteen minutes past eight.\n\nGEORGE:Which platform?\n\nATTENDANT:Platform Two. \nOver the bridge.\n\nKEN:What time will the next train leave?\n\nGEORGE:At eight nineteen.\n\nKEN:We've got plenty of time.\n\nGEORGE:It's only three minutes to eight.\n\nKEN:Let's go and have a drink. \nThere's a bar next door to the station.\n\nGEORGE:We had better go back to the station now, Ken.\n\nPORTER:Tickets, please.\n\nGEORGE:We want to catch the eight nineteen to London.\n\nPORTER:You've just missed it!\n\nGEORGE:What! \nIt's only eight fifteen.\n\nPORTER:I'm sorry, sir. \nThat clock's ten minutes slow.\n\nGEORGE:When's the next train?\n\nPORTER:In five hours'time!",
"text":"MR. MALL:I left a suitcase on the train to London the other day.\n\nATTENDANT:Can you describe it, sir?\n\nMR. MALL:It's a small blue case and it's got a zip. \nThere's a label on the handle with my name and address on it.\n\nATTENDANT:Is this case yours?\n\nMR. MALL:No, that's not mine.\n\nATTENDANT:What about this one? \nThis one's got a label.\n\nMR. MALL:Let me see it.\n\nATTENDANT:What's your name and address?\n\nMR. MALL:David Hall, 83, Bridge Street.\n\nATTENDANT:That's right. \nD.N. Hall, 83, Bridge Street.\n\nATTENDANT:Three pounds fifty pence, please.\n\nMR. MALL:Here you are.\n\nATTENDANT:Thank you.\n\nMR. MALL:Hey!\n\nATTENDANT:What's matter?\n\nMR. MALL:This case doesn't belong to me! \nYou've given me the wrong case!",
"text":"ANDY:Ow!\n\nLUCY:What's the matter, Andy?\n\nANDY:I slipped and fell downstairs.\n\nLUCY:Have you hurt yourself?\n\nANDY:Yes, I have. \nI think that I've hurt my back.\n\nLUCY:Try and stand up. \nCan you stand up? \nHere.Let me help you.\n\nANDY:I'm sorry, Lucy. \nI'm afraid that I can't get up.\n\nLUCY:I think that the doctor had better see you. \nI'll phone Dr. Carter.\n\nLUCY:The doctor says that he will come at once. \nI'm sure that you need an X-ray, Andy.",
"text":"GRANDMOTHER:Read Jimmy's card to me please, penny.\n\nPENNY:'I have just arrive in Scotland and I'm staying at a Youth Hostel.'\n\nGRANDMOTHER:Eh?\n\nPENNY:He say he's just arrived in Scotland. \nHe says he's staying at a Youth Hostel. \nYou know he's a member of the Y.H.A.\n\nGRANDMOTHER:The what?\n\nPENNY:The Y.H.A., Mum. \nThe Youth Hostels Association.\n\nGRANDMOTHER:What else does he say?\n\nPENNY:'I'll write a letter soon.I hope you all well.'\n\nGRANDMOTHER:What? \nSpeak up. Penny. \nI'm afraid I can't hear you\n\nPENNY:He say he'll write a letter soon. \nHe hopes we are all well. 'Love, Jimmy.'\n\nGRANDMOTHER:Is that all? \nHe doesn't say very much, does he?\n\nPENNY:He can't write very much on a card, Mum.",
"text":"GARY:How was the exam, Richard?\n\nRICHARD:Not too bad. \nI think I passed in English and Mathematics. \nThe questions were very easy. \nHow about you, Gary?\n\nGARY:The English and Maths papers weren't easy enough for me. \nI hope I haven't failed.\n\nRICHARD:I think I failed the French paper. \nI could answer sixteen of the question. \nThey were very easy. \nBut I couldn't answer the rest. \nThey were too difficult for me.\n\nGARY:French test are awful, aren't they?\n\nRICHARD:I hate them. \nI'm sure I've got a low mark.\n\nGARY:Oh, cheer up! \nperhaps we didn't to do badly. \nThe guy next to me Wrote his name at the top of the paper.\n\nRICHARD:Yes?\n\nGARY:Then he sat there and looked at it for three hours! He didn't write a word!",
"text":"GARY:How was the exam, Richard?\n\nRICHARD:Not too bad. \nI think I passed in English and Mathematics. \nThe questions were very easy. \nHow about you, Gary?\n\nGARY:The English and Maths papers weren't easy enough for me. \nI hope I haven't failed.\n\nRICHARD:I think I failed the French paper. \nI could answer sixteen of the question. \nThey were very easy. \nBut I couldn't answer the rest. \nThey were too difficult for me.\n\nGARY:French test are awful, aren't they?\n\nRICHARD:I hate them. \nI'm sure I've got a low mark.\n\nGARY:Oh, cheer up! \nperhaps we didn't to do badly. \nThe guy next to me wrote his name at the top of the paper.\n\nRICHARD:Yes?\n\nGARY:Then he sat there and looked at it for three hours! He didn't write a word!",
"text":"THE BOSS：Where's Sandra, Bob? \nI want her.\n\nBOB:Do you want to speak to her?\n\nTHE BOSS：Yes, I do. \nI want her to come to my office. \nTell her to come at once.\n\nSANDRA:Did you want to see me?\n\nTHE BOSS：Ah, yes, Sandra. \nHow do you spell \"intelligent'? \nCan you tell me?\n\nSANDRA:I-N-T-E-L-L-I-G-E-N-T.\n\nTHE BOSS：That's right. \nYou've typed it with only one 'L'. \nThis letter's full of mistakes. \nI want you to type it again.\n\nSANDRA:Yes, I'll do that. \nI'm sorry about that.\n\nTHE BOSS：And here's a little present for you.\n\nSANDRA:What's it?\n\nTHE BOSS：It's a dictionary. \nI hope it'll help you.",
"text":"Assistant:Do you like this dress, madam?\n\nLady:I like the colour very much. \nIt's a lovely dress, \nbut it's too small for me.\n\nAssistant:What about this one? \nIt's a lovely dress. \nIt's very smart. \nShort skirts are in fashion now. \nWould you like to try it?\n\nLady:All right. \nI'm afraid this green dress is too small for me as well. \nIt's smaller than the blue one.\n\nLady:I don't like the colour either. \nIt doesn't suit me at all. \nI think the blue dress is prettier.\n\nLady:Could you show me another blue dress? \nI want a dress like that one, but it must be my size.\n\nAssistant:I'm afraid I haven't got a larger dress. \nThis is the largest dress in the shop.",
"text":"ASSISTANT:Do you like this dress, madam?\n\nLADY:I like the colour very much. \nIt's a lovely dress, \nbut it's too small for me.\n\nASSISTANT:What about this one? \nIt's a lovely dress. \nIt's very smart. \nShort skirts are in fashion now. \nWould you like to try it?\n\nLADY:All right. \nI'm afraid this green dress is too small for me as well. \nIt's smaller than the blue one.\n\nLADY:I don't like the colour either. \nIt doesn't suit me at all. \nI think the blue dress is prettier.\n\nLADY:Could you show me another blue dress? \nI want a dress like that one, but it must be my size.\n\nASSISTANT:I'm afraid I haven't got a larger dress. \nThis is the largest dress in the shop.",
"text":"BETTY:Shall I make some coffee, Jane?\n\nJANE:That's a good idea, BETTY.\n\nBETTY:It's ready. Do you want any milk?\n\nJANE:Just a little please.\n\nBETTY:What about some sugar? Two teaspoonfuls?\n\nJANE:No, less than that. One and a half teaspoonfuls please. That's enough for me.\n\nJANE:That was very nice.\n\nBETTY:Would you like some more?\n\nJANE:Yes, please.\n\nJANE:I'd like a cigarette, too. May I have one?\n\nBETTY:Of course. I think there are a few in that box.\n\nJANE:I'm afraid it's empty.\n\nBETTY:What a pity!\n\nJANE:It doesn't matter.\n\nBETTY:Have a biscuit instead. Eat more and smoke less!\n\nJANE:That's very good advice!",
"text":"CHARLOTTE:Shall I make some coffee, Jane?\n\nJANE:That's a good idea, CHARLOTTE.\n\nCHARLOTTE:It's ready. Do you want any milk?\n\nJANE:Just a little please.\n\nCHARLOTTE:What about some sugar? Two teaspoonfuls?\n\nJANE:No, less than that. One and a half teaspoonfuls please. That's enough for me.\n\nJANE:That was very nice.\n\nCHARLOTTE:Would you like some more?\n\nJANE:Yes, please.\n\nJANE:I'd like a cigarette, too. May I have one?\n\nCHARLOTTE:Of course. I think there are a few in that box.\n\nJANE:I'm afraid it's empty.\n\nCHARLOTTE:What a pity!\n\nJANE:It doesn't matter.\n\nCHARLOTTE:Have a biscuit instead. Eat more and smoke less!\n\nJANE:That's very good advice!",
"text":"MR FRITH:I like this TV very much. \nHow much does it cost please?\n\nASSISTANT:It's the most expensive model in the shop. \nIt costs 500 pounds.\n\nMRS FRITH:That's too expensive for us. We can't afford all that money.\n\nASSISTANT:This model's less expensive than that one. \nIt's only 300 pounds. \nBut, of course, it's not as good as the expensive one.\n\nMR FRITH:I don't like this model. \nThe other model's more expensive, but it's worth the money.\n\nMR FRITH:Can we buy it on instalments?\n\nASSISTANT:Of course. \nYou can pay a deposit of ten pounds, and then one pound a week for sixty weeks.\n\nMR FRITH:Do you like it, dear?\n\nMRS FRITH:I certainly do, but I don't like the price. \nYou always want the best, but we can't afford it. \nSometimes you think you're a millionaire!\n\nMR FRITH:Millionaires don't buy things on instalments!",
"text":"MR FRITH:I like this TV very much. \nHow much does it cost please?\n\nASSISTANT:It's the most expensive model in the shop. \nIt costs 500 pounds.\n\nMRS FRITH:That's too expensive for us. We can't afford all that money.\n\nASSISTANT:This model's less expensive than that one. \nIt's only 300 pounds. \nBut, of course, it's not as good as the expensive one.\n\nMR FRITH:I don't like this model. \nThe other model's more expensive, but it's worth the money.\n\nMR FRITH:Can we buy it on instalments?\n\nASSISTANT:Of course. \nYou can pay a deposit of thirty pounds, and then fourteen pounds a month for three years.\n\nMR FRITH:Do you like it, dear?\n\nMRS FRITH:I certainly do, but I don't like the price. \nYou always want the best, but we can't afford it. \nSometimes you think you're a millionaire!\n\nMR FRITH:Millionaires don't buy things on instalments!",
"text":"CONDUCTOR:Fares please!\n\nMAN:Trafalgar Square please.\n\nCONDUCTOR:I'm sorry, sir. \nI can't change a pound note. \nHaven't you got any small change?\n\nMan:I've got no small change, I'm afraid.\n\nCONDUCTOR:I'll ask some of the passengers.\n\nCONDUCTOR:Have you any small change, sir?\n\n1ST PASSENGER:I'm sorry. I've got none.\n\n2ND PASSENGER:I haven't got any either.\n\nCONDUCTOR:Can you change this pound note, madam?\n\n3RD PASSENGER:I'm afraid I can't\n\n4TH PASSENGER:Neither can I.\n\nCONDUCTOR:I'm very sorry, sir. \nYou must get off the bus.None of our passengers can change this note. They're all millionaires!\n\nTwo Tramps:Except us, conductor.\n\n1ST TRAMP:I've got some small change.\n\n2ND TRAMP:So have I.",
"text":"CONDUCTOR:Fares please!\n\nMAN:Trafalgar Square please.\n\nCONDUCTOR:I'm sorry, sir. \nI can't change a pound note. \nHaven't you got any small change?\n\nMan:I've got no small change, I'm afraid.\n\nCONDUCTOR:I'll ask some of the passengers.\n\nCONDUCTOR:Have you any small change, sir?\n\n1ST PASSENGER:I'm sorry. I've got none.\n\n2ND PASSENGER:I haven't got any either.\n\nCONDUCTOR:Can you change this pound note, madam?\n\n3RD PASSENGER:I'm afraid I can't\n\n4TH PASSENGER:Neither can I.\n\nCONDUCTOR:I'm very sorry, sir. \nYou must get off the bus. \nNone of our passengers can change this note. \nThey're all millionaires!\n\nTWO TRAMPSs:Except us.\n\n1ST TRAMP:I've got some small change.\n\n2ND TRAMP:So have I.",
"text":"HELEN:Isn't there anyone at home?\n\nJIM:I'll knock again, Helen. Everything's very quiet. \nI'm sure there's no one at home.\n\nHELEN:But that's impossible. \nCarol and Tom invited us to lunch. Look through the window.\n\nHELEN:Can you see anything?\n\nJIM:Nothing at all.\n\nHELEN:Let's try the back door.\n\nJIM:Look! Everyone's in the garden.\n\nCAROL:Hello, Helen. Hullo, Jim.\n\nTOM:Everybody wants to have lunch in the garden. \nIt's nice and warm out here.\n\nCAROL:Come and have something to drink.\n\nJIM:Thanks, Carol. May I have a glass of bear please?\n\nCAROL:Beer? There's none left. \nYou can have some lemonade.\n\nJIM:Lemonade!\n\nTOM:Don't believe her, Jim. \nShe's only joking. \nHave some beer!",
"text":"When my husband was going into the dining room this morning , he dropped some coins on the floor. \nThere were coins everywhere. \nWe looked for them, but we could not find them all.\n\nWhile we were having breakfast, our little boy, Tommy, found two small coins on the floor. \nHe put them both into his mouth. \nWe both tried to get the coins, but it was too late. \nTommy had already swallowed them!\n\nLater that morning, when I was doing the housework, my husband telephoned me from the office. \n\"How's Tommy?\"he asked. \n\"I don't know,\"I answered, \n\"Tommy's been to the lavatory three times this morning, but I haven't had any change yet!\"",
"text":"Do you like stories? \nI want to tell you a true story. \nIt happened to a friend of mine a year ago. \nWhile my friend, George, was reading in bed, two thieves climbed into his kitchen. \nAfter they had entered the house, they went into the dining room. \nIt was very dark, \nso they turned on a torch. \nSuddenly, they heard a voice behind them. \n\"What's up? What's up?\"someone called. \nThe thieves dropped the torch and ran away as quickly as they could. \nGeorge heard the noise and came downstairs quickly. \nHe turned on the light, but he couldn't see anyone. \nThe thieves had already gone. \nBut George's parrot, Henry, was still there. \n\"What's up, George?\"the called. \n'Nothing, Henry,' George said and smiled. \n'Go back to sleep.'",
"text":"CUSTOMER:I bought two expensive dictionaries here half an hour ago, but I forgot to take them with me.\n\nMANAGER:Who served you, sir?\n\nCUSTOMER:The lady who is standing behind the counter.\n\nMANAGER:Which books did you buy?\n\nCUSTOMER:The books which are on the counter.\n\nMANAGER:Did you serve this gentleman half an hour ago, Caroline? \nHe says he's the man who bought these books.\n\nCAROLINE:I can't remember. \nThe man whom I served was wearing a hat.\n\nMANAGER:Have you got a hat, sir?\n\nCUSTOMER:Yes, I have.\n\nMANAGER:Would you put it on, please?\n\nCUSTOMER:All right.\n\nMANAGER:Is this the man that you served, Caroline?\n\nCAROLINE:Yes, sir. I recognize him now.",
"text":"MIKE:Look, Scott. This is a photograph I took during my trip to Australia.\n\nSCOTT:Let me see it, Mike.\n\nSCOTT:This is a good photograph. Who are these people?\n\nMIKE:They're people I met during the trip.\n\nMIKE:That's the ship we traveled on.\n\nSCOTT:What a beautiful ship!\n\nSCOTT:Who's this?\n\nMIKE:That's the man I told you about. Remember?\n\nSCOTT:Ah yes. The one who offered you a job in Australia.\n\nMIKE:That's right.\n\nSCOTT:Who's this?\n\nMIKE:Guess!\n\nSCOTT:It's not you, is it?\n\nMIKE:That's right.\n\nMIKE:I grew a beard during the trip, but I shaved it off when I came home.\n\nSCOTT:Why did you shave it off?\n\nMIKE:My wife didn't like it!",
"text":"SUSAN:Can't you come in and have tea now, Peter?\n\nPETER:Not yet, dear. \nI must water the garden first.\n\nSUSAN:Do you have to water it now?\n\nPETER:I'm afraid I must. \nLook at it! \nIt's terribly dry.\n\nSUSAN:What a nuisance!（真讨厌）\n\nPETER:Last summer it was very dry, too. \nDon't you remember? \nI had to water it every day.\n\nSUSAN:Well, I'll have tea by myself.\n\nSUSAN:That was quick! \nHave you finished already?\n\nPETER:Yes, dear. Look out of the window.\n\nSUSAN:It's raining. \nThat means you needn't water the garden.\n\nPETER:That was a pleasant surprise. \nIt means I can have tea, instead.",
"text":"SUSAN:Can't you come in and have tea now, Peter?\n\nPETER:Not yet. \nI must water the garden first.\n\nSUSAN:Do you have to water it now?\n\nPETER:I'm afraid I must. \nLook at it! \nIt's terribly dry.\n\nSUSAN:What a nuisance!\n\nPETER:Last summer it was very dry, too. \nDon't you remember? \nI had to water it every day.\n\nSUSAN:Well, I'll have tea by myself.\n\nSUSAN:That was quick! \nHave you finished already?\n\nPETER:Yes, dear. Look out of the window.\n\nSUSAN:It's raining. \nThat means you needn't water the garden.\n\nPETER:That was a pleasant surprise. \nIt means I can have tea, instead.",
"text":"KATE:Can you recognize that woman, Liz?\n\nLIZ:I think I can, Kate. \nIt must be Karen Marsh, the actress.\n\nKATE:I thought so. \nWho's that beside her?\n\nLIZ:That must be Conrad Reeves.\n\nKATE:Conrad Reeves, the actor? \nIt can't be. \nLet me have another look. \nI think you're right! \nIsn't he her third husband?\n\nLIZ:No, He must be her fourth or fifth.\n\nKATE:Doesn't Karen Marsh look old!\n\nLIZ:She does, doesn't she! \nI read she's twenty-nine, but she must be at least forty.\n\nKATE:I'm sure she is.\n\nLIZ:She was a famous actress when I was still a schoolgirl.\n\nKATE:That was a long time ago, wasn't it?\n\nLIZ:Not that long ago! \nI'm not more than twenty-nine myself.",
"text":"KATE:Can you recognize that woman, Liz?\n\nLIZ:I think I can, Kate. \nIt must be Karen Marsh, the actress.\n\nKATE:I thought so. \nWho's that beside her?\n\nLIZ:That must be Conrad Reeves.\n\nKATE:Conrad Reeves, the actor? \nIt can't be. \nLet me have another look. \nI think you're right! \nIsn't he her third husband?\n\nLIZ:No, He must be her fourth or fifth.\n\nKATE:Doesn't Karen Marsh look old!\n\nLIZ:She does, doesn't she! \nI read she's twenty-nine, but she must be at least forty.\n\nKATE:I'm sure she is.\n\nLIZ:She was a famous actress when I was still at school.\n\nKATE:That was a long time ago, wasn't it?\n\nLIZ:Not that long ago! \nI'm not more than twenty-nine myself.",
"text":"ANN:Look, Gary! \nThat policeman's waving to you. \nHe wants you to stop.\n\nPOLICEMAN:Where do you think you are? \nOn a race track? \nYou must have been driving at seventy miles an hour.\n\nGARY:I can't have been.\n\nPOLICEMAN:I was doing eighty when I overtook you.\n\nPOLICEMAN:Didn't you see the speed limit?\n\nGARY:I'm afraid I didn't officer. \nI must have been dreaming.\n\nANN:He wasn't dreaming, officer. \nI was telling him to drive slowly.\n\nGARY:That's why I didn't see the sign.\n\nPOLICEMAN:Let me see your driving-license and your insurance certificate \n\nPOLICEMAN:I won't charge you this time. \nBut you'd better not do it again!\n\nGARY:Thank you. \nI'll certainly be more careful.\n\nANN:I told you to drive slowly, Gary.\n\nGARY:You always tell me to drive slowly, darling.\n\nANN:Well, next time you'd better take my advice!",
"text":"ANN:Look, Gary! \nThat policeman's waving to you. \nHe wants you to stop.\n\nPOLICEMAN:Where do you think you are? \nOn a race track? \nYou must have been driving at seventy miles an hour.\n\nGARY:I can't have been.\n\nPOLICEMAN:I was doing eighty when I overtook you.\n\nPOLICEMAN:Didn't you see the speed limit?\n\nGARY:I'm afraid I didn't officer. \nI must have been dreaming.\n\nANN:He wasn't dreaming, officer. \nI was telling him to drive slowly.\n\nGARY:That's why I didn't see the sign.\n\nPOLICEMAN:Let me see your driving-license.\n\nPOLICEMAN:I won't charge you this time. \nBut you'd better not do it again!\n\nGARY:Thank you. \nI'll certainly be more careful.\n\nANN:I told you to drive slowly, Gary.\n\nGARY:You always tell me to drive slowly, darling.\n\nANN:Well, next time you'd better take my advice!",
"text":"MARTIN:Where are you going to spend your holidays this year, Gary?\n\nGARY:We may go abroad. \nI'm not sure. \nMy wife wants to go to Egypt. \nI'd like to go there, too. \nWe can't make up our minds.\n\nMARTIN:Will you travel by sea or by air?\n\nGARY:We may travel by sea.\n\nMARTIN:It's cheaper, isn't it?\n\nGARY:It may be cheaper, but it takes a long time.\n\nMARTIN:I'm sure you will enjoy yourselves.\n\nGARY:Don't be so sure. \nWe may not go anywhere. \nMy wife always worries too much. \nWho's going to look after the dog? \nWho's going to look after the house? \nWho's going to look after the garden? \nWe have this problem every year. \nIn the end, we stay at home and look after everything!",
"text":"REPORTER:Have you just made a new film, Miss Marsh?\n\nMiISS MARSH:Yes, I have.\n\nREPORTER:Are you going to make another?\n\nMiss Marsh:No, I'm not. \nI'm going to retire. \nI feel very tired. \nI don't want to make another film for a long time.\n\nKATE:let's buy a newspaper, Liz. \nListen to this! \"Karen arsh:Sensational News! \nBy our reporter, Alan Jones. \nMiss Karen Marsh arrived at London Airport today. \nShe was wearing a blue dress and a mink coat. \nShe told me she had just made a new film. \nShe said she was not going to make another. \nShe said she was going to retire. \nShe told reporters she felt very tired and didn't want to make another film for a long time.\"\n\nLiz:I wonder why!",
"text":"REPORTER:Are you really going to retire, Miss marsh?\n\nMISS MARSH:I may. \nI can't make up my mind. \nI shall have to ask my future husband. \nHe won't let me make another film.\n\nREPORTER:Your future husband, Miss Marsh?\n\nMISS MARSH:Yes. \nLet me introduce him to you. \nHis name is Carlos. \nWe are going to get married next week.\n\nKATE:Look, Liz! \nHere's another report about Karen Marsh. \nListen:\"Karen Marsh:The Latest. \nAt her London Hotel today Miss Marsh told reporters she might retire. \nShe said she couldn't make up her mind. \nShe said she would have to ask her future husband. \nShe said her future husband would not let her make another film. \nThen she introduced us to Carlos and told us they would get married next week.\"\n\nLIZ:That's sensational news, isn't it, Kate?\n\nKate:It certainly is. \nHe'll be her sixth husband!",
"text":"REPORTER:Are you really going to retire, Miss marsh?\n\nMISS MARSH:I may. \nI can't make up my mind. \nI will have to ask my future husband. \nHe won't let me make another film.\n\nREPORTER:Your future husband, Miss Marsh?\n\nMISS MARSH:Yes. \nLet me introduce him to you. \nHis name is Carlos. \nWe are going to get married next week.\n\nKATE:Look, Liz! \nHere's another report about Karen Marsh. \nListen:\"Karen Marsh:The Latest. \nAt her London Hotel today Miss Marsh told reporters she might retire. \nShe said she couldn't make up her mind. \nShe said she would have to ask her future husband. \nShe said her future husband would not let her make another film. \nThen she introduced us to Carlos and told us they would get married next week.\"\n\nLIZ:That's sensational news, isn't it, Kate?\n\nKate:It certainly is. \nHe'll be her sixth husband!",
"text":"JULIE:Are you doing the football pools,Brian?\n\nBRIAN:Yes, I've nearly finished, Julie. \nI'm sure we will win something this week.\n\nJULIE:You always say that, but we never win anything! \nWhat will you do if you win a lot of money?\n\nBRIAN:If I win a lot of money , I shall buy you a mink coat.\n\nJULIE:I don't want a mink coat! \nI want to see the world.\n\nBRIAN:All right. \nIf we win a lot of money, we shall travel around the world and we shall stay at the best hotels. \nThen we shall return home and buy a big house in the country. \nWe shall have a beautiful garden and…\n\nJULIE:But if we spend all that money we shall be poor again. \nWhat shall we do then?\n\nBRIAN:If we spend all the money, we shall try and win the football pools again.\n\nJULIE:It's a pleasant dream, but everything depends on\"if\"!",
"text":"JULIE:Are you doing the football pools,Brian?\n\nBRIAN:Yes, I've nearly finished, Julie. \nI'm sure we will win something this week.\n\nJULIE:You always say that, but we never win anything! \nWhat will you do if you win a lot of money?\n\nBRIAN:If I win a lot of money , I will buy you a mink coat.\n\nJULIE:I don't want a mink coat! \nI want to see the world.\n\nBRIAN:All right. \nIf we win a lot of money, we shall travel around the world and we'll stay at the best hotels. \nThen we'll return home and buy a big house in the country. \nWe'll have a beautiful garden and…\n\nJULIE:But if we spend all that money we shall be poor again. \nWhat'll we do then?\n\nBRIAN:If we spend all the money, we'll try and win the football pools again.\n\nJULIE:It's a pleasant dream, but everything depends on\"if\"!",
"text":"GRAHAM TURNER:Is that you, John?\n\nJOHN SMITH:Yes, speaking.\n\nGRAHAM TURNER:Tell Mary we shall be late for dinner this evening.\n\nJOHN SMITH:I'm afraid I don't understand.\n\nGRAHAM TURNER:Hasn't Mary told you? \nShe invited Charlotte and me to dinner this evening. \nI said I would be at your house at six o'clock, but the boss wants me to do some extra work. \nI'll have to stay at the office. \nI don't know when I shall finish. \nOh, and by the way, my wife wants to know if Mary needs any help.\n\nJOHN SMITH:I don't know what you're talking about.\n\nGRAHAM TURNER:That is John Smith, isn't it?\n\nJOHN SMITH:Yes, I'm John Smith.\n\nGRAHAM TURNER:You are John Smith, the engineer, aren't you?\n\nJOHN SMITH:That's right.\n\nGRAHAM TURNER:You work for the Overseas Engineering Company, don't you?\n\nJOHN SMITH:No, I don't \nI'm John Smith the telephone engineer and I'm repairing your telephone line.",
"text":"Last week, my four year old daughter, Sally, was invited to a children's party. \nI decided to take her by train. \nSally was very excited because she had never traveled on a train before. \nShe sat near the window and asked questions about everything she saw. \nSuddenly, a middle-aged lady got on the train and sat opposite Sally.\n\n\"Hello, little girl.\"She said. \nSally did not answer, but looked at her curiously. \nThe lady was dressed in a blue coat and a large, funny hat. \nAfter the train had left the station, the lady opened her handbag and took out her powder compact. \nShe then began to make up her face. \n\"Why are you doing that?\"Sally asked. \n\"To make myself beautiful,\"the lady answered. \nShe put away her compact and smiled kindly. \n\"But you are still ugly.\"Sally said. \nSally was amused, but I was very embarrassed!",
"text":"I live in a very old town which is surrounded by beautiful woods. \nIt is a famous beauty spot. \nOn Sundays, hundreds of people come from the city to see our town and to walk through the woods. \nVisitors have been asked to keep the woods clean and tidy. \nLitter baskets have been placed under the trees, but people still throw their rubbish everywhere. \nLast Wednesday, I went for a walk in the woods. \nWhat I saw made me very sad. \nI counted seven old cars and three old refrigerators. \nThe little baskets were empty and the ground was covered with pieces of paper, cigarette ends, old tyres, empty bottles and rusty tins. \nAmong the rubbish, I found a sign which said, 'Anyone who leaves litter in these woods will be prosecuted!'",
"text":"Pumas are large, cat-like animals which are found in America. \nWhen reports came into London Zoo that a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London, they were not taken seriously. \nHowever, as the evidence began to accumulate, experts from the Zoo felt obliged to investigate, for the descriptions given by people who claimed to have seen the puma were extraordinarily similar. \nThe hunt for the puma began in a small village where a woman picking blackberries saw 'a large cat' only five yards away from her. \nIt immediately ran away when she saw it, \nand experts confirmed that a puma will not attack a human being unless it is cornered. \nThe search proved difficult, for the puma was often observed at one place in the morning and at another place twenty miles away in the evening. \nWherever it went, it left behind it a trail of dead deer and small animals like rabbits. \nPaw prints were seen in a number of places and puma fur was found clinging to bushes. \nSeveral people complained of \"cat-like noises' at night and a businessman on a fishing trip saw the puma up a tree. \nThe experts were now fully convinced that the animal was a puma, \nbut where had it come from? \nAs no pumas had been reported missing from any zoo in the country, this one must have been in the possession of a private collector and somehow managed to escape. \nThe hunt went on for several weeks, but the puma was not caught. \nIt is disturbing to think that a dangerous wild animal is still at large in the quiet countryside.",
"text":"Our vicar is always raising money for one cause or another, \nbut he has never managed to get enough money to have the church clock repaired. \nThe big clock which used to strike the hours day and night was damaged many years ago and has been silent ever since.\n\nOne night, however, our vicar woke up with a start:the clock was striking the hours! \nLooking at his watch, he saw that it was one o'clock, \nbut the bell struck thirteen times before it stopped.\n\nArmed with a torch, the vicar went up into the clock tower to see what was going on. \nIn the torchlight, he caught sight of a figure whom he immediately recognized as Bill Wilkins, our local grocer.\n\n'Whatever are you doing up here Bill?' asked the vicar in surprise. \n'I'm trying to repair the bell,'answered Bill. \n'I've been coming up here night after night for weeks now. You see, I was hoping to give you a surprise.' \n'You certainly did give me a surprise!' said the vicar. \n'You've probably woken up everyone in the village as well. Still, I'm glad the bell is working again.' \n'That's the trouble, vicar,' answered Bill. \n'It's working all right, but I'm afraid that at one o'clock it will strike thirteen times and there's nothing I can do about it.' \n'We'll get used to that, Bill,' said the vicar. \"Thirteen is not as good as one, but it's better than nothing. Now let's go downstairs and have a cup of tea.'",
"text":"Our vicar is always raising money for one cause or another, \nbut he has never managed to get enough money to have the church clock repaired. \nThe big clock which used to strike the hours day and night was damaged many years ago and has been silent ever since.\n\nOne night, however, our vicar woke up with a start:the clock was striking the hours! \nLooking at his watch, he saw that it was one o'clock, \nbut the bell struck thirteen times before it stopped.\n\nArmed with a torch, the vicar went up into the clock tower to see what was going on. \nIn the torchlight, he caught sight of a figure whom he immediately recognized as Bill Wilkins, our local grocer.\n\n'Whatever are you doing up here Bill?' asked the vicar in surprise. \n'I'm trying to repair the bell,'answered Bill. \n'I've been coming up here night after night for weeks now. You see, I was hoping to give you a surprise.' \n'You certainly did give me a surprise!' said the vicar. \n'You've probably woken up everyone in the village as well. Still, I'm glad the bell is working again.' \n'That's the trouble, vicar,' answered Bill. \n'It's working all right, but I'm afraid that at one o'clock it will strike thirteen times and there's nothing I can do about it.' \n'We'll get used to that, Bill,' said the vicar. \"Thirteen is not as good as one, but it's better than nothing. Now let's go downstairs and have a cup of tea.'",
"text":"Some time ago, an interesting discovery was made by archaeologists on the Aegean island of Kea. \nAn American team explored a temple which stands in an ancient city on the promontory of Ayia Irini. \nThe city at one time must have been prosperous, for it enjoyed a high level of civilization. \nHouses--often three storeys high--were built of stone. \nThey had large rooms with beautifully decorated walls. \nThe city was equipped with a drainage system, for a great many clay pipes were found beneath the narrow streets.\n\nThe temple which the archaeologists explored was used as a place of worship from the fifteenth century B.C. until Roman times. \nIn the most sacred room of temple, clay fragments of fifteen statues were found. \nEach of these represented a goddess and had, at one time, been painted. \nThe body of one statue was found among remains dating from the fifteenth century B.C. It's missing head happened to be among remains of the fifth century B.C. This head must have been found in Classical times and carefully preserved. \nIt was very old and precious even then. \nWhen the archaeologists reconstructed the fragments, they were amazed to find that the goddess turned out to be a very modern-looking woman. \nShe stood three feet high and her hands rested on her hips. \nShe was wearing a full-length skirt which swept the ground. \nDespite her great age, she was very graceful indeed, \nso far, the archaeologists have been unable to discover her identity.",
"text":"Some time ago, an interesting discovery was made by archaeologists on the Aegean island of Kea. \nAn American team explored a temple which stands in an ancient city on the promontory of Ayia Irini. \nThe city at one time must have been prosperous, for it enjoyed a high level of civilization. \nHouses--often three storeys high--were built of stone. \nThey had large rooms with beautifully decorated walls. \nThe city was equipped with a drainage system, for a great many clay pipes were found beneath the narrow streets.\n\nThe temple which the archaeologists explored was used as a place of worship from the fifteenth century B.C. until Roman times. \nIn the most sacred room of temple, clay fragments of fifteen statues were found. \nEach of these represented a goddess and had, at one time, been painted. \nThe body of one statue was found among remains dating from the fifteenth century B.C. \nIt's missing head happened to be among remains of the fifth century B.C. \nThis head must have been found in Classical times and carefully preserved. \nIt was very old and precious even then. \nWhen the archaeologists reconstructed the fragments, they were amazed to find that the goddess turned out to be a very modern-looking woman. \nShe stood three feet high and her hands rested on her hips. \nShe was wearing a full-length skirt which swept the ground. \nDespite her great age, she was very graceful indeed, \nbut, so far, the archaeologists have been unable to discover her identity.",
"text":"These days, people who do manual work often receive far more money than people who work in offices. \nPeople who work in offices are frequently referred to as \"white-collar workers' for the simple reason that they usually wear a collar and tie to go to work. \nSuch is human nature, that a great many people are often willing to sacrifice higher pay for the privilege of becoming white-collar workers. \nThis can give rise to curious situations, as it did in the case of Alfred Bloggs who worked as a dustman for the Ellesmere Corporation. \nWhen he got married, Alf was too embarrassed to say anything to his wife about his job. \nHe simply told her that he worked for the Corporation. \nEvery morning, he left home dressed in a smart black suit. \nHe then changed into overalls and spent the next eight hours as a dustman. \nBefore returning home at night, he took a shower and changed back into his suit. \nAlf did this for over two years and his fellow dustmen kept his secret. \nAlf's wife has never discovered that she married a dustman and she never will, for Alf has just found another job. \nHe will soon be working in an office. \nHe will be earning only half as much as he used to, but he feels that his rise in status is well worth the loss of money. \nFrom now on, he will wear a suit all day and others will call him 'Mr. Bloggs',not 'Alf'.",
"text":"Editors of newspapers and magazines often go to extremes to provide their reader with unimportant facts and statistics. \nLast year a journalist had been instructed by a well-known magazine to write an article on the president's palace in a new African republic. \nWhen the article arrived, the editor read the first sentence and then refuse to publish it. \nThe article began:'Hundreds of steps lead to the high wall which surrounds the president's palace'. \nThe editor at once sent the journalist a fax instructing him to find out the exact number of steps and the height of the wall.\n\nThe journalist immediately set out to obtain these important facts, \nbut the took a long time to send them Meanwhile, the editor was getting impatient, for the magazine would soon go to press. \nHe sent the journalist two more faxes, but received no reply. \nHe sent yet another fax informing the journalist that if he did not reply soon he would be fired. \nWhen the journalist again failed to reply, the editor reluctantly published the article as it had originally been written. \nA week later, the editor at last received a fax from the journalist. \nNot only had the poor man been arrested, \nbut he had been sent to prison as well. \nHowever, he had at last been allowed to send a fax in which he informed the editor that the he had been arrested while counting the 1,084 steps leading to the fifteen-foot wall which surrounded the president's palace.",
"text":"Editors of newspapers and magazines often go to extremes to provide their reader with unimportant facts and statistics. \nLast year a journalist had been instructed by a well-known magazine to write an article on the president's palace in a new African republic. \nWhen the article arrived, the editor read the first sentence and then refuse to publish it. \nThe article began:'Hundreds of steps lead to the high wall which surrounds the president's palace'. \nThe editor at once sent the journalist a fax instructing him to find out the exact number of steps and the height of the wall.\n\nThe journalist immediately set out to obtain these important facts, \nbut the took a long time to send them Meanwhile, the editor was getting impatient, for the magazine would soon go to press. \nHe sent the journalist two more faxes, but received no reply. \nHe sent yet another fax informing the journalist that if he did not reply soon he would be fired. \nWhen the journalist again failed to reply, the editor reluctantly published the article as it had originally been written. \nA week later, the editor at last received a fax from the journalist. \nNot only had the poor man been arrested, \nbut he had been sent to prison as well. \nHowever, he had at last been allowed to send a fax in which he informed the editor that the he had been arrested while counting the 1,084 steps leading to the fifteen-foot wall which surrounded the president's palace.",
"text":"The expensive shops in a famous arcade near Piccadilly were just opening. \nAt this time of the morning, the arcade was almost empty. \nMr. Taylor, the owner of a jewellery shop was admiring a new display. \nTwo of his assistants had been working busily since eight o'clock and had only just finished. \nDiamond necklaces and rings had been beautifully arranged on a background of black velvet. \nAfter gazing at the display for several minutes, Mr. Taylor went back into his shop.\n\nThe silence was suddenly broken when a large car, with its headlights on and its horn blaring, roared down the arcade. \nIt came to a stop outside the jeweller's. \nOne man stayed at the wheel while two others with black stocking over their faces jumped out and smashed the window of the shop with iron bars. \nWhile this was going on, Mr. Taylor was upstairs. \nHe and his staff began throwing furniture out of the window. \nChairs and tables went flying into the arcade. \nOne of the thieves was struck by a heavy statue, \nbut he was too busy helping himself to diamonds to notice any pain. \nThe raid was all over in three minutes, for the men scrambled back into the car and it moved off at a fantastic speed. \nJust as it was leaving, Mr. Taylor rushed out and ran after it throwing ashtrays and vases, \nbut it was impossible to stop the thieves. \nThey had got away with thousands of pounds worth of diamonds.",
"text":"The expensive shops in a famous arcade near Piccadilly were just opening. \nAt this time of the morning, the arcade was almost empty. \nMr. Taylor, the owner of a jewellery shop was admiring a new display. \nTwo of his assistants had been working busily since eight o'clock and had only just finished. \nDiamond necklaces and rings had been beautifully arranged on a background of black velvet. \nAfter gazing at the display for several minutes, Mr. Taylor went back into his shop.\n\nThe silence was suddenly broken when a large car, with its headlights on and its horn blaring, roared down the arcade. \nIt came to a stop outside the jeweller's. \nOne man stayed at the wheel while two others with black stocking over their faces jumped out and smashed the window of the shop with iron bars. \nWhile this was going on, Mr. Taylor was upstairs. \nHe and his staff began throwing furniture out of the window. \nChairs and tables went flying into the arcade. \nOne of the thieves was struck by a heavy statue, \nbut he was too busy helping himself to diamonds to notice any pain. \nThe raid was all over in three minutes, for the men scrambled back into the car and it moved off at a fantastic speed. \nJust as it was leaving, Mr. Taylor rushed out and ran after it throwing ashtrays and vases, \nbut it was impossible to stop the thieves. \nThey had got away with thousands of pounds worth of diamonds.",
"text":"Has it ever happened to you? \nHave you ever put your trousers in the washing machine and then remembered there was a large bank note in your back pocket? \nWhen you rescued your trousers, did note in your back pocket? \nWhen you rescued your trousers, did you find the note was whiter than white? \nPeople who live in Britain needn't despair when they made mistakes like this (and a lot of people do)! \nFortunately for them, the Bank of England has a team called Mutilated Ladies which deals with claims from people who fed their money to a machine or to their dog. \nDogs, it seems, love to chew up money! \nA recent case concerns Jane Butlin whose fiancé, John, runs a successful furniture business. \nJohn had very good day and put his wallet containing $3,000 into the microwave oven for safekeeping. \nThen he and Jane went horse-riding. \nWhen they got home, Jane cooked their dinner in the microwave oven and without realizing it, cooked her fiancé's wallet as well. \nImagine their dismay when they found a beautifully-cooked wallet and notes turned to ash! \nJohn went to see his bank manager who sent the remains of wallet and the money to the special department of the Bank of England in Newcastle:the Mutilate Ladies! \nThey examined the remain and John got all his money back. \n'So long as there's something to identify, we will give people their money back,' said a spokeswoman for the Bank. \n'Last year, we paid $1.5m on 21,000 claims.' Damaged bank notes. \nThe Queen's head appears on English bank notes, and 'lady' refers to this.",
"text":"Has it ever happened to you? \nHave you ever put your trousers in the washing machine and then remembered there was a large bank note in your back pocket? \nWhen you rescued your trousers, did you find the note was whiter than white? \nPeople who live in Britain needn't despair when they made mistakes like this (and a lot of people do)! \nFortunately for them, the Bank of England has a team called Mutilated Ladies which deals with claims from people who fed their money to a machine or to their dog. \nDogs, it seems, love to chew up money! \nA recent case concerns Jane Butlin whose fiancé, John, runs a successful furniture business. \nJohn had very good day and put his wallet containing $3,000 into the microwave oven for safekeeping. \nThen he and Jane went horse-riding. \nWhen they got home, Jane cooked their dinner in the microwave oven and without realizing it, cooked her fiancé's wallet as well. \nImagine their dismay when they found a beautifully-cooked wallet and notes turned to ash! \nJohn went to see his bank manager who sent the remains of wallet and the money to the special department of the Bank of England in Newcastle:the Mutilate Ladies! \nThey examined the remain and John got all his money back. \n'So long as there's something to identify, we will give people their money back,' said a spokeswoman for the Bank. \n'Last year, we paid $1.5m on 21,000 claims.' \n*Damaged bank notes. The Queen's head appears on English bank notes, and 'lady' refers to this.",
"text":"The Great St. Bernard Pass connects Switzerland to Italy. \nAt 2,473 metres, it is the highest mountain pass in Europe. \nThe famous monastery of St. Bernard, witch was founded in eleventh century, lies about a mile away. \nFor hundreds of years, St. Bernard dogs have saved the lives of travellers crossing the dangerous Pass. \nThese friendly dogs, which were first brought from Asia, were used as watchdogs even in Roman times. \nNow that a tunnel ahs been built through the mountains, the Pass is less dangerous, \nbut each year, the dogs are still sent out into the snow whenever a traveller is in difficulty. \nDespite the new tunnel, there are still a few people who rashly attempt to cross the Pass on foot.\n\nDuring the summer months, the monastery is very busy, for it is visited by thousands of people who cross the Pass in cars. \nAs there are so many people about, the dogs have to be kept in a special enclosure. \nIn winter, however, life at the monastery is quite different. \nThe temperature drops to--30 o and very few people attempt to cross the Pass. \nThe monks prefer winter to summer of they have more privacy. \nThe dogs have greater freedom, too, for they are allowed to wander outside their enclosure. \nThe only regular visitors to the monastery in winter are parties of skiers who go there at Christmas and Easter. \nThese young people, who love the peace of mountains, always receive a warm welcome at St. Bernard's monastery.",
"text":"The Great St. Bernard Pass connects Switzerland to Italy. \nAt 2,473 metres, it is the highest mountain pass in Europe. \nThe famous monastery of St. Bernard, witch was founded in eleventh century, lies about a mile away. \nFor hundreds of years, St. Bernard dogs have saved the lives of travellers crossing the dangerous Pass. \nThese friendly dogs, which were first brought from Asia, were used as watchdogs even in Roman times. \nNow that a tunnel ahs been built through the mountains, the Pass is less dangerous, \nbut each year, the dogs are still sent out into the snow whenever a traveller is in difficulty. \nDespite the new tunnel, there are still a few people who rashly attempt to cross the Pass on foot.\n\nDuring the summer months, the monastery is very busy, for it is visited by thousands of people who cross the Pass in cars. \nAs there are so many people about, the dogs have to be kept in a special enclosure. \nIn winter, however, life at the monastery is quite different. \nThe temperature drops to--30 o and very few people attempt to cross the Pass. \nThe monks prefer winter to summer of they have more privacy. \nThe dogs have greater freedom, too, for they are allowed to wander outside their enclosure. \nThe only regular visitors to the monastery in winter are parties of skiers who go there at Christmas and Easter. \nThese young people, who love the peace of mountains, always receive a warm welcome at St. Bernard's monastery.",
"text":"Cats never fail to fascinate human beings. \nThey can be friendly and affectionate towards humans, \nbut they lead mysterious lives of their own as well. \nThey never become submissive like dogs and horses. \nAs a result, humans have learned to respect feline independence. \nMost cats remain suspicious of humans all their lives. \nOne of the things that fascinates us most about cats is the popular belief that they have nine lives. \nApparently, there is a good deal of truth in this idea. \nA cat's ability to survive falls is based on fact.\n\nRecently the New York Animal Medical Center made a study of 132 cats over a period of five months. \nAll these cats had one experience in common:they had fallen off high buildings, yet only eight of them died from shock or injuries. \nOf course, New York is the ideal place for such an interesting study, \nbecause there is no shortage of tall buildings. \nThere are plenty of high-rise windowsills to fall from! \nOne cat, Sabrina, fell 32 storeys, yet only suffered from a broken tooth. \n'Cats behave like well-trained paratroopers.' a doctor said. \nIt seems that the further cats fall, the less they are likely to injure themselves. \nIn a long drop, they reach speeds of 60 miles an hour and more. \nAt high speeds, falling cats have time to relax. \nThey stretch out their legs like flying squirrels. \nThis increases their air-resistance and reduces the shock of impact when they hit the ground",
"text":"Cats never fail to fascinate human beings. \nThey can be friendly and affectionate towards humans, \nbut they lead mysterious lives of their own as well. \nThey never become submissive like dogs and horses. \nAs a result, humans have learned to respect feline independence. \nMost cats remain suspicious of humans all their lives. \nOne of the things that fascinates us most about cats is the popular belief that they have nine lives. \nApparently, there is a good deal of truth in this idea. \nA cat's ability to survive falls is based on fact.\n\nRecently the New York Animal Medical Center made a study of 132 cats over a period of five months. \nAll these cats had one experience in common:they had fallen off high buildings, yet only eight of them died from shock or injuries. \nOf course, New York is the ideal place for such an interesting study, \nbecause there is no shortage of tall buildings. \nThere are plenty of high-rise windowsills to fall from! \nOne cat, Sabrina, fell 32 storeys, yet only suffered from a broken tooth. \n'Cats behave like well-trained paratroopers.' a doctor said. \nIt seems that the further cats fall, the less they are likely to injure themselves. \nIn a long drop, they reach speeds of 60 miles an hour and more. \nAt high speeds, falling cats have time to relax. \nThey stretch out their legs like flying squirrels. \nThis increases their air-resistance and reduces the shock of impact when they hit the ground",
"text":"The great ship, Titanic, sailed for New York from Southampton on April 10th, 1912. \nShe was carrying 1,316 passengers and crew of 891. \nEven by modern standards, the 46,000 ton Titanic was a colossal ship. \nAt the time, however, she was not only the largest ship that had ever been built, \nbut was regarded as unsinkable, for she had sixteen watertight compartments. \nEven if two of these were flooded, she would still be able to float. \nThe tragic sinking of this great liner will always be remembered, for she went down on her first voyage with heavy loss of life.\n\nFour days after setting out, while the Titanic was sailing across the icy water of the North Atlantic, huge iceberg was suddenly spotted by a lookout. \nAfter the alarm had been given, the great ship turned sharply to avoid a direct collision. \nThe Titanic turned just in time, narrowly missing the immense walk of ice which rose over 100 feet out of the water beside her. \nSuddenly, there was a slight trembling sound from below, \nand the captain went down to see what had happened. \nThe noise had been so faint that no one though that the ship had been damaged. \nBelow, the captain realized to his horror that the Titanic was sinking rapidly, for five of her sixteen watertight compartments had already been flooded! \nThe order to abandon ship was given and hundreds of people plunged into the icy water. \nAs there were not enough lifeboats for everybody, 1,500 lives were lost.",
"text":"The great ship, Titanic, sailed for New York from Southampton on April 10th, 1912. \nShe was carrying 1,316 passengers and crew of 891. \nEven by modern standards, the 46,000 ton Titanic was a colossal ship. \nAt the time, however, she was not only the largest ship that had ever been built, \nbut was regarded as unsinkable, for she had sixteen watertight compartments. \nEven if two of these were flooded, she would still be able to float. \nThe tragic sinking of this great liner will always be remembered, for she went down on her first voyage with heavy loss of life.\n\nFour days after setting out, while the Titanic was sailing across the icy water of the North Atlantic, huge iceberg was suddenly spotted by a lookout. \nAfter the alarm had been given, the great ship turned sharply to avoid a direct collision. \nThe Titanic turned just in time, narrowly missing the immense walk of ice which rose over 100 feet out of the water beside her. \nSuddenly, there was a slight trembling sound from below, \nand the captain went down to see what had happened. \nThe noise had been so faint that no one though that the ship had been damaged. \nBelow, the captain realized to his horror that the Titanic was sinking rapidly, for five of her sixteen watertight compartments had already been flooded! \nThe order to abandon ship was given and hundreds of people plunged into the icy water. \nAs there were not enough lifeboats for everybody, 1,500 lives were lost.",
"text":"We can read of things that happened 5,000 years ago in the Near East, where people first learned to write. \nBut there are some parts of the word where even now people cannot write. \nThe only way that they can preserve their history is to recount it as sagas--legends handed down from one generation of another. \nThese legends are useful because they can tell us something about migrations of people who lived long ago, \nbut none could write down what they did. \nAnthropologists wondered where the remote ancestors of the Polynesian peoples now living in the Pacific Islands came from. \nThe sagas of these people explain that some of them came from Indonesia about 2,000 years ago.But the first people who were like ourselves lived so long ago that even their sagas, if they had any, are forgotten. \nSo archaeologists have neither history nor legends to help them to find out where the first 'modern men' came from.Fortunately, however, ancient men made tools of stone, especially flint, \nbecause this is easier to shape than other kinds. \nThey may also have used wood and skins, but these have rotted away. \nStone does not decay, \nand so the tools of long ago have remained when even the bones of the men who made them have disappeared without trace.ROBIN PLACE Finding fossil man",
"text":"We can read of things that happened 5,000 years ago in the Near East, where people first learned to write. \nBut there are some parts of the word where even now people cannot write. \nThe only way that they can preserve their history is to recount it as sagas--legends handed down from one generation of another. \nThese legends are useful because they can tell us something about migrations of people who lived long ago, \nbut none could write down what they did. \nAnthropologists wondered where the remote ancestors of the Polynesian peoples now living in the Pacific Islands came from. \nThe sagas of these people explain that some of them came from Indonesia about 2,000 years ago. \nBut the first people who were like ourselves lived so long ago that even their sagas, if they had any, are forgotten. \nSo archaeologists have neither history nor legends to help them to find out where the first 'modern men' came from. \nFortunately, however, ancient men made tools of stone, especially flint, \nbecause this is easier to shape than other kinds. \nThey may also have used wood and skins, but these have rotted away. \nStone does not decay, \nand so the tools of long ago have remained when even the bones of the men who made them have disappeared without trace.\n\nROBIN PLACE Finding fossil man",
"text":"Why, you may wonder, should spiders be our friends? \nBecause they destroy so many insects, \nand insects include some of the greatest enemies of the human race. \nInsects would make it impossible for us to live in the world;they would devour all our crops and kill our flocks and herds, if it were not for the protection we get from insect-eating animals. \nWe owe a lot to the birds and beasts who eat insects but all of them put together kill only a fraction of the number destroyed by spiders. \nMoreover, unlike some of the other insect eaters, spiders never do the harm to us or our belongings.\n\nSpiders are not insects, as many people think, nor even nearly related to them. \nOne can tell the difference almost at a glance, for a spider always has eight legs and insect never more than six.\n\nHow many spiders are engaged in this work on our behalf? \nOne authority on spiders made a census of the spiders in grass field in the south of England, \nand he estimated that there were more than 2,250,000 in one acre;that is something like 6,000,000 spiders of different kinds on a football pitch. \nSpiders are busy for at least half the year in killing insects. \nIt is impossible to make more than the wildest guess at how many they kill, \nbut they are hungry creatures, not content with only three meals a day. \nIt has been estimated that the weight of all the insects destroyed by spiders in Britain in one year would be greater than the total weight of all the human beings in the country.\n\nT. H. GILLESPLE Spare that spider from The Listener",
"text":"Why, you may wonder, should spiders be our friends? \nBecause they destroy so many insects, \nand insects include some of the greatest enemies of the human race. \nInsects would make it impossible for us to live in the world; \nthey would devour all our crops and kill our flocks and herds, if it were not for the protection we get from insect-eating animals. \nWe owe a lot to the birds and beasts who eat insects but all of them put together kill only a fraction of the number destroyed by spiders. \nMoreover, unlike some of the other insect eaters, spiders never do the harm to us or our belongings.\n\nSpiders are not insects, as many people think, nor even nearly related to them. \nOne can tell the difference almost at a glance, for a spider always has eight legs and insect never more than six.\n\nHow many spiders are engaged in this work on our behalf? \nOne authority on spiders made a census of the spiders in grass field in the south of England, \nand he estimated that there were more than 2,250,000 in one acre; \nthat is something like 6,000,000 spiders of different kinds on a football pitch. \nSpiders are busy for at least half the year in killing insects. \nIt is impossible to make more than the wildest guess at how many they kill, \nbut they are hungry creatures, not content with only three meals a day. \nIt has been estimated that the weight of all the insects destroyed by spiders in Britain in one year would be greater than the total weight of all the human beings in the country.\n\nT. H. GILLESPLE Spare that spider from The Listener",
"text":"Modern alpinists try to climb mountains by a route which will give them good sport, \nand the more difficult it is, the more highly it is regarded. \nIn the pioneering days, however, this was not the case at all. \nThe early climbers were looking for the easiest way to the top, \nbecause the summit was the prize they sought, especially if it and never been attained before. \nIt is true that during their explorations they often faced difficulties and dangers of the most perilous nature, equipped in a manner with would make a modern climber shudder at the thought, \nbut they did not go out of their way to court such excitement. \nThey had a single aim, a solitary goal--the top!\n\nIt is hard for us to realize nowadays how difficult it was for the pioneers. \nExcept for one or two places such as Zermatt and Chamonix, which had rapidly become popular, Alpine village tended to be impoverished settlements cut off from civilization by the high mountains. \nSuch inns as there were generally dirty and flea-ridden;the food simply local cheese accompanied by bread often twelve months old, all washed down with coarse wine. \nOften a valley boasted no inn at all, \nand climbers found shelter wherever they could--sometimes with the local priest (who was usually as poor as his parishioners),sometimes with shepherds or cheese-makers. \nInvariably the background was the same:dirt and poverty, and very uncomfortable. \nFor men accustomed to eating seven-course dinners and sleeping between fine linen sheets at home, the change to the Alps must have very hard indeed.\n\nWALTER UNSWORTH Matterhorn Man",
"text":"Modern alpinists try to climb mountains by a route which will give them good sport, \nand the more difficult it is, the more highly it is regarded. \nIn the pioneering days, however, this was not the case at all. \nThe early climbers were looking for the easiest way to the top, \nbecause the summit was the prize they sought, especially if it and never been attained before. \nIt is true that during their explorations they often faced difficulties and dangers of the most perilous nature, equipped in a manner with would make a modern climber shudder at the thought, \nbut they did not go out of their way to court such excitement. \nThey had a single aim, a solitary goal--the top!\n\nIt is hard for us to realize nowadays how difficult it was for the pioneers. \nExcept for one or two places such as Zermatt and Chamonix, which had rapidly become popular, Alpine village tended to be impoverished settlements cut off from civilization by the high mountains. \nSuch inns as there were generally dirty and flea-ridden; \nthe food simply local cheese accompanied by bread often twelve months old, all washed down with coarse wine. \nOften a valley boasted no inn at all, \nand climbers found shelter wherever they could--sometimes with the local priest (who was usually as poor as his parishioners),sometimes with shepherds or cheese-makers. \nInvariably the background was the same:dirt and poverty, and very uncomfortable. \nFor men accustomed to eating seven-course dinners and sleeping between fine linen sheets at home, the change to the Alps must have very hard indeed.\n\nWALTER UNSWORTH Matterhorn Man",
"text":"Several cases have been reported in Russia recently of people who can detect colours with their fingers, \nand even see through solid and walls. \nOne case concerns and eleven-year-old schoolgirl, Vera Petrova, who has normal vision but who can also perceive things with different parts of her skin, \nand through solid walls. \nThis ability was first noticed by her father. \nOne day she came into his office and happened to put her hands on the door of a locked safe. \nSuddenly she asked her father why he kept so many old newspapers locked away there, \nand even described the way they were done up in bundles.\n\nVera's curious talent was brought to the notice of a scientific research institute in the town of Ulyanovsk, near where she lives, \nand in April she was given a series of tests by a special commission of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federal Republic. \nDuring these tests she was able to read a newspaper through an opaque screen and, stranger still, by moving her elbow over a child's game of Lotto she was able to describe the figures and colours printed on it;and, in another instance, wearing stockings and slippers, to make out with her foot the outlines and colours of a picture hidden under a carpet. \nOther experiments showed that her knees and shoulders had a similar sensitivity. \nDuring all these tests Vera was blindfold;and, indeed, except when blindfold she lacked the ability to perceive things with her skin. \nIt was also found that although she could perceive things with her fingers this ability ceased the moment her hands were wet.\n\nERIC DE MAUNY Seeing hands from The Listener",
"text":"Several cases have been reported in Russia recently of people who can detect colours with their fingers, and even see through solid and walls. \nOne case concerns and eleven-year-old schoolgirl, Vera Petrova, who has normal vision but who can also perceive things with different parts of her skin, and through solid walls. \nThis ability was first noticed by her father. \nOne day she came into his office and happened to put her hands on the door of a locked safe. \nSuddenly she asked her father why he kept so many old newspapers locked away there, \nand even described the way they were done up in bundles.\n\nVera's curious talent was brought to the notice of a scientific research institute in the town of Ulyanovsk, near where she lives, \nand in April she was given a series of tests by a special commission of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federal Republic. \nDuring these tests she was able to read a newspaper through an opaque screen and, stranger still, by moving her elbow over a child's game of Lotto she was able to describe the figures and colours printed on it; \nand, in another instance, wearing stockings and slippers, to make out with her foot the outlines and colours of a picture hidden under a carpet. \nOther experiments showed that her knees and shoulders had a similar sensitivity. \nDuring all these tests Vera was blindfold;and, indeed, except when blindfold she lacked the ability to perceive things with her skin. \nIt was also found that although she could perceive things with her fingers this ability ceased the moment her hands were wet.\n\nERIC DE MAUNY Seeing hands from The Listener",
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