At the Telephone
Mr. Smith: Can I use your telephone for a long distance call? I couldn't find a pay phone in the building.
Mr. Wilson: Sure.
Mr. S.: My wife is going to meet me in New York tomorrow. I want to tell her what time the train gets in.
Mr. W.: Here you are. New York you can dial the number direct. Dial 2 and then the number.
Mr. S.: There's no answer. I'll call later.
Mr. W.: You can use the telephone any time you want.
Mr. S.: Direct distance dialing is wonderful, isn't it?
Operator: Trunk-service (), number, please? Mr. Jones: London Victoria 2884. I say, operator, will you hurry it
up for me as I have a train to catch in a few minutes?
O.: Unless your number is engaged, I can put you through
almost at once. I am sorry, sir, your number is engaged.
(After a few seconds.) I have got your number. Hold the
line, please.
Mr. J.: Oh, it's you, Mary?
Mrs. Jones: Is it you, George, dear? How are you? So pleased to hear
your voice again! When are you going to come back?
Mr. J.: I can't hear you, dear. Operator, will you try again.
O.: I think that's better now.
Mr. J.: Are you there? Is that you, Mary, dear? I say, can you
hear me?
Mrs. J.: Yes, dear, I can.
Mr. J.: I shall be arriving at Waterloo Station at 5.40 this after-
noon. Will you come and meet me?
Mrs. J.: Certainly, darling.
Mr. J.: There is something else I want to tell you. Get hold of
Smith at the office, will you? Ask him to ring me up tomorrow in the morning.
O.: Your time is up. If you want to speak on, drop another
sixpence, please.
Mr. J.: All right, dear, so long.
Exercise 4. Speak about:
1. The history of television development.
2. Future development of television.
Use exercise 1 and 2 and the following words and word combinations for your topic: to be interested in; research; it is announced (reported) that; to solve problems; it became clear; compared to (with); to call; have an advantage; to find application in.
Exercise 5. Comment on the following statements:
1. Opponents usually say that the young people are too passive and too lazy () because they watch TV so much now.
2. We don't need the telephone, telegraph and television.
Exercise 6. Read and smile.
A Letter to a Sweetheart
A young man was writing a letter to his sweetheart () who lived just a few miles away in a nearby town. He began to tell her how much he loved her and how wonderful he thought she was. But the more he wrote, the more poetical he became. Finally, he said that in order to be with her he would suffer the greatest hardships (), he would face the greatest dangers () that anyone could imagine. In fact, to spend only one minute with her, he would climb () the highest mountain, he would swim the widest river, he would fight the fiercest () animals. He signed his name, and then suddenly remembered
that he had forgotten to mention something rather important. So, in a postscript below his name, he added: By the way, I'll be over to see you on Wednesday night if it doesn't rain.
A Frenchman in England
A Frenchman was once travelling in England. He could speak English quite well but not perfectly. His vocabulary was not large.
Once, for example, he was eating in a small country inn () and he wanted to order some eggs. But he couldn't remember the word for eggs.
Suddenly, through the window, he saw a rooster () walking in the yard. He immediately asked the waiter what the bird was called in English. The waiter told him that it was called a rooster. The Frenchman then asked what the rooster's wife was called. The waiter told him that she was called a hen. The Frenchman then asked what the hen's children were called. The waiter told him that they were called chickens. The Frenchman then asked what the chickens were called before they were born. The waiter told him that they were called eggs. Fine!, said the Frenchman, Please bring me two plus a cup of coffee and some toast.
Text 4B
