TEXT. YOU REMEMBER ME, DON'T YOU?
Scene: the main hall of Paddington Station (one of the main London railway stations)
It was late at night, but there were still a lot of people coming and going There was a noise of trains.
A good-looking, fair-haired Swiss girl of about twenty was sitting on her suitcase. Her chin was in her hands and she looked tired and depressed. Nodoby spoke to her, nobody even looked at her.
Another young woman went past. She noticed the fair girl She stopped in surprise, turned round and looked again. "Why, it's Ann, isn't it?" The fair girl looked up. At first she didn't recognize the other girl. "You remember me, don't you? I'm Pauline. We were at school together."
Ann jumped to her feet. "Of course! My dear Pauline! I'm so glad to see you."
"I'm glad I noticed you. But what are you doing here? I didn't know you were in England."
"I arrived from Zurich at one o'clock. I had lunch at Victoria station. I think I took a long time over it. And now I'm alone in London. I don't know anybody. And what a day I've had! I must sit on this suitcase until tomorrow morning. I'm going to stay with some people called Forest. They live miles and miles in the country. But I've missed the last train."
"Missed the last train? Have you really? That's bad luck. But how did you miss it? It seems rather silly."
"It isn't far from Victoria to Paddington, but it took a long time to get there. I took a taxi, but still I arrived late. I ran into the station and shouted: "Which is the four o'clock train for Brimstead? But the porter thought I said "Bristol!" He put me in a train just as it moved away from the station. I was very proud of catching the train at the last minute. I settled down in the compartment. There was an old gentleman there, but I was too shy to speak to him, Later he gave me a cigarette and we talked. We stopped at a place called Reading and then went on. I thought the journey was taking a long time.
Then a man came to collect our tickets. He looked at mine and said: "Brimstead? You're in the wrong train, Miss." It was terrible I cried: "Stop the train! I must get out!" But the man said: "We don't stop until Bristol." At last we got there. I got out and ran like the wind with my suitcase to catch the next train back to London
I crossed the lines a lot of porters shouted after me, but I didn't stop.
The London train was just leaving. It was a slow train: it stopped at every station. When I got back here, the last train to Brimstead had just gone. It's only a small town, you see."
"But why are you sitting out here in this cold?"
"It's too stuffy in the waiting-room."
"Poor Ann! Come and spend the night at my lodgings. My landlady will be pleased to see you."
Comprehension
/. Listen to the text and answer the questions:
Where did Pauline meet Ann? Did Ann recognize her at once? Why did Ann look so tired and depressed? How did it happen that she got into the wrong train?
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//. Read the text and analyse its language peculiarities. Do some exercises in the next section to remember them.
Special Difficulties
/. Respond using the prompts:
e.g. Bob got another job, I suppose, (old) No, he was too old to get another job....I suppose.
1. Tom went alone, (young) 2. Peter got through the window, (fat) 3. George drove the car. (drunk) 4. Mary walked upstairs, (weak) 5. Peter ate something, (ill) 6. James bought the house, (poor) 7. Frank understood, (stupid) 8. Jack became a jockey, (small) 9. The other driver listened to you. (excited) 10. She wore your coat, (tall)
//. Make up sentences using the word combination "to be proud
e.g. She/her son
She is proud of her son.
1. He / his wife. 2. The girl/her mother 3. The children/their parents 4. David/his sister 5. Ann/her daughter 6. George/his brother e.g. Mr Green/work for this firm
Mr Green is proud of working for this firm. 1. Betty/type without mistakes 2. Dick/have a car 3. Bill/speak Chinese 4. He/live in this country 5. Kate/swim so well 6. Paul/ earn so much money
Text Exercises
/. Ask ana answer questions on the text.
II. Speak on Ann's adventure.
III. Did you ever have an experience like that? Tell about it.
Conversation Practice
/. Listen to the conversations and learn them: Booking Train Tickets
When does the London train leave, please?
9.25. Platform 3.
What time does it reach London?
You should be there at 11.31, but you may be a bit late.
Do I have to change?
Yes. You change at Lewes and East Croydon.
2. Which train do I take for Victoria, please?
9.28.
When does it get in?
It gets there at 11.34.
Must 1 change?
No, it's a through train.
3. What time's the next train to Victoria, please?
9.26. Platform 4.
When do we get there?
It's due at 11.35, but they're running late today.
Is it necessary to change?
Yes. Change at East Croydon.
4. Excuse me...
Yes. Can I help you?
Yes, I'd like some information about trains, please.
Where to?
...to London.
When?
Tomorrow.
Morning or afternoon?
In the evening. About six o'clock.
There's one at 6.40.
Thank you.
5. I want a ticket to Bern, please, second class.
Single or return?
Return, please.
Sixty-five pounds, please. Five pounds change, thank you.
Could you tell me what time the next train is?
8 o'clock, platform 12. If you hurry you'll just catch it.
Thanks.
//. Situation: You want to go to Kiev in a week. You phone the railway booking-office and inquire about the time-table and tickets.
At the Railway Station
Jane: Hello, Mr Blake. We're are not late, are we'
Mr Blake: Hello, Jane. No, you're not late. I was a bit earlv
Jane: When does the train leave?
Mr Blake: It leaves at four twenty-seven (4.27). If we hurry,
we'll be able to catch it. Jane: Is it an express?
Mr Blake: No, it's a stopping train Jane: Shall I buy ihe tickets, Mr Blake?
Mr Blake: Oh, yes, I forgot about them. There's the booking-office. Jane: Do you know how much the fare is?
Mr Blake- Seventy-five pence (75 p) for a single ticket and one
pound fifty for a return But ask for a weekend return.
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That might be cheaper. And ask for a time-table, too.
You'll need it on Sunday. Jane: All right. I'll meet you at the entrance to the platform.
Which platform is ours? Mr Blake: Platform sixteen. I'll take your suitcase. Which one's
yours?
Jane: That one's mine.
Mr Blake: Hurry. The train leaves at four twenty-seven. (4.27) Jane: From platform sixteen?
Mr Blake: Yes.
Questions: When does the train leave? Is it an express or a stopping train? Who is going to buy the tickets? What is the fare? From what platform does the train leave? Where do they agree to meet? Will Mr Blake help Jane with her suitcase?
