Читать интересную книгу Английский язык - Виктория Мороз

to delay – откладывать, задерживать

2.9 Text 9

A DAY OFF WORK

Bill Walker works for an import-export company. Last Wednesday morning Bill rang his office at 9 o’clock and spoke to his boss Mr. Thompson. Bill told his boss that he couldn’t come to the office that day, he had a very sore throat. He was going to stay in bed but the next morning he would be able to come to work.

Mr. Thompson recommended him to stay in bed until he felt well again. Mr. Thompson liked Bill very much. At 12.30 he got into his car, drove to a shop and bought some fruit for him. He went to Bill’s flat to visit him. “How is your throat?” he asked Bill.

“I’m sure, I’ll be able to come in tomorrow”, Bill answered.

At 3 o’clock in the afternoon Mr. Thompson locked his office door and switched on his portable television. He wanted to watch an important international football match. It was England against Brazil. Both teams were playing well, but neither of them could score a goal. The crowd were cheering and booing. It was very exciting.

Then at 3.20, England scored from a penalty. Mr. Thompson jumped out of his chair. He was very excited. He was smiling happily when suddenly the camera-man showed the crowd. Mr. Thompson’s smile disappeared and he looked very angry. Bill Walker’s face, in close-up, was there on the screen. He didn’t look ill, and he didn’t sound ill. He was smiling happily and cheering wildly [3].

2.9.1 Vocabulary notes

to score a goal – забивать гол

to boo – произносить неодобрительное восклицание, освистывать

in close-up – крупным планом

3 Part two

3.1 Text 1. Read the text, answer the following questions

SOME MORE, PLEASE

Once a Frenchman went on business to Germany. He was to visit an exhibition there. His firm was interested in developing trade contacts with German firms. Though the exhibition was not very large he hoped that he would be able to find something interesting for his firm as they always exhibited latest models at such exhibitions. As the Frenchman had never been to Germany before he hoped that he would have time to go sightseeing there and would enjoy his stay in that country.

He went there by an overnight train and hoped that it would not take him much time to get there. He enjoyed his trip by train. As he was travelling first class, there were only two passengers in his compartment and he was satisfied with his fellow travellers.

But there was one thing which he didn't like. The fact was there was no buffetcar on the train and by the end of the journey he was very hungry. So he looked forward to having a good dinner at the station restaurant.

What he wanted to do first when he arrived at Hamburg was to find a restaurant. It took him some 15 minutes to get to the nearest restaurant. "He left his coat in the cloak-room and went upstairs.

The head-waiter showed him to a little table near the window. In a few minutes a waiter came up to his table and put the menu on the table. The Frenchman made his choice very quickly because there was only one word on the menu he could understand, it was "beef-steak." So he had to order beef-steak; but it was so bad the Frenchman couldn't eat it.

At a table not far from him a man was eating chicken. The Frenchman wanted to have chicken too, but he didn't know how to say it in German. Soon the man finished his chicken and said to the waiter: "Some more, please." The waiter went out and a minute later came back with another plate of chicken.

"Well," thought the Frenchman, "now I know how to say «chicken» in German." So he called the waiter and said in German: "Some more, please."

The waiter went out and ten minutes later brought him another beef-steak.

3.1.1 Vocabulary notes

to look forward to – ожидать, очень хотеть

3.1.2 Answer the questions

1 What was the purpose of the Frenchman’s visit to Germany?

2 What was he looking forward to while staying in Germany?

3 How did he like his trip by train?

4 Why was he hungry by the end of the journey?

5 What was the first thing he did at Hamburg?

6 Did he enjoy his meal at the restaurant? Why not?

7 Why didn’t he get what he required?

8 How do you think he felt when the waiter brought him another beef-steak? Did he eat it?

9 Why do you think it is extremely important to know foreign languages if you deal with foreign firms?

10 Did you go to a restaurant during your last trip to a foreign country? Who ordered meals for you?

3.2 Text 2. Read the text and answer the questions.

THE LOVE OF A BUSY BUSINESSMAN(after O'Henry)

Pitcher was the chief clerk in the office of Harvey Maxwell. Mr. Maxwell was a businessman. He bought and sold things. He also helped other businessmen buy and sell things. Pitcher was an important man in Maxwell's office.

This morning Pitcher's face had a look of surprise on it. The clerk did not usually show his feelings, but today his boss came into the office late. It was half past nine. And he had his pretty young secretary with him.

With a quick "Good morning," Maxwell hurried to his desk. Hundreds of papers waited for him there. He started working on them at once. The secretary was beautiful. She did not look or dress like a secretary. Her simple clothes and hair were most pleasant to see. And this morning her face shone with a gentle light. Her eyes were bright and full of dreams.

Pitcher noticed this. He also noticed a difference in her ways this morning. She usually went straight into her office. Today she stayed near Mr. Maxwell's desk. But he did not notice her. As soon as he sat down at the desk, Maxwell became a machine. At last he saw her. "Well, what is it?" he asked sharply. His cold grey eyes looked at her. He wanted to get on with his work.

"Nothing," said the secretary. She moved away with a little smile. "Mr. Pitcher," she said to the clerk. "Did Mr. Maxwell say anything about the agency yesterday?"

"About getting another secretary, Miss Leslie? Yes, he did. He told me to telephone the agency. I did. I told them to send me a secretary this morning. But it's a quarter to ten now, and no one has arrived yet."

"I will just continue my work then," said the secretary. "Just until the new secretary arrives." She went into her office. She hung up her hat and started to work.

Perhaps you have never seen a really busy New York businessman at work. "One crowded hour of busy life," the old song says. Mr. Maxwell's hours were crowded. The minutes and seconds were fighting for a place in them.

This day was one of Harvey Maxwell's busiest days. The telephone rang all the time. He was buying, selling, arranging. Visitors came in, visitors went out. The clerks in the office flew about like leaves in a strong wind. Pitcher's usually calm face still looked very surprised.

Business was fast and fierce. Prices flew up and down and Maxwell had to follow them exactly. He moved among his business machines and telephones. He gave orders … he was in another world.

In the middle of all this, the businessman suddenly noticed a stranger. It was a young woman with a lot of bright yellow hair. She wore a large green hat and a white coat with a black collar. Pitcher came and stood at her side.

"A young lady from the agency, sir," he said. "About the job." Maxwell turned round in his big chair. His hands were full of papers.

"What job?" he asked.

"The job of secretary, sir," said Pitcher. "You asked me to call the agency yesterday. You wanted to hire a new secretary this morning."

"Pitcher, you are going mad," said the businessman. "I do not need a new secretary. Miss Leslie has been with us for a year. I am very pleased with her. She is a very good secretary. Madam," he said to the young woman. "I am sorry. There is no job here." He turned to Pitcher. "Tell the agency that you made a mistake. Don't bring any more secretaries in here."

The young woman left the office. There was an angry look on her face under the large hat.

"Oh dear," thought Pitcher. "The boss has forgotten!" Business continued. Orders to buy and sell flew about like birds. Maxwell still worked like a machine. He worked quickly and exactly. This was the world of business and money. There was no time for feelings.

At one o'clock the clerks went out to get something to eat. The office was a little calmer. Maxwell did not go out. Businessmen do not have time to eat in the middle of a working day. He stood by his desk. His hands were full of letters and telegrams. His pen was behind his ear. His hair hung untidily all over his face.

The window of his office was open. Spring was coming to the city. Through the window came the soft, sweet smell of spring flowers. For a second Maxwell stood still. He knew that scent. His secretary always wore it. The scent brought Miss Leslie into Maxwell's busy thoughts. Suddenly the world of business appeared very unimportant. She was in the next office and he had something to say to her.

"I'll do it now," Maxwell said to himself. "Why didn't I do it long ago?" He hurried into his secretary's office. She looked up at him with a smile. Her face was pink and her eyes were honest and kind. Maxwell sat down on the edge of her desk. His hands were still full of papers. His pen was still behind his ear.

"Miss Leslie," he began. "I can't stay here long. I am very busy but I want to say something to you. Will you be my wife? I haven't had time to talk to you about love in the ordinary way but I really do love you. Answer quickly, please. I must get back to work."

"Oh, what are you talking about?" cried the secretary. She looked at him with round, surprised eyes.

"Don't you understand?" went on Maxwell. "I wanted to tell you. I waited for a long time; I was too busy before… Oh, dear. There's another telephone call for me now. Tell them to wait a minute, Pitcher… Miss Leslie, will you marry me?"

The secretary acted in a very strange way. At first she was too surprised to move or speak. Then she cried. Then she smiled, like the sun after rain. One of her arms slipped round the businessman's neck.

"I know now," she said softly. "You're so busy, dear. It really makes you forget everything, doesn't it? Harvey, have you really forgotten? We got married yesterday!"

3.2.1 Vocabulary notes

to arrange – договариваться, устраивать(ся)

fierce – жесткий

to hire – нанимать на работу

3.2.2 Answer the questions

What were Mr. Pitcher, Mr. Maxwell and Miss Leslie's jobs?

What kind of company did they work at?

Why did Mr. Pitcher's face had a look of surprise that morning?

3.3 Text 3. Read and answer the questions

CAGED (after L. E. Reeve)

Purcell was a small man. He owned a pet shop. He sold cats and dogs and monkeys, he dealt in fish food, on his shelves there were long rows of cages.

Each morning when he completed the routine of opening his shop he sat down on a high stool behind the counter and read a morning newspaper.

It was a cold rainy day. Mr. Purcell was reading a newspaper as usual, when a customer appeared in the shop.

"Good morning," Purcell said. "What can I do for you?" The customer didn't answer. He looked around the shop. It was a man with short hair, his suit was cheap and very old.

"Good morning," repeated the shopkeeper. "What do you want?"

The man looked at Purcell and answered:

"I want something in a cage."

"Something in a cage?" Mr. Purcell was a bit confused. "You mean some sort of pet?"

"I mean what I said!" answered the man.

"Something in a cage. Something alive that's in a cage."

"I see," said the shopkeeper, not sure that he did.

"Now, let me think. A white rat, perhaps? I have some very nice white rats."

"No!" said the man. "Not rats. Something with wings. Something that flies."

"A bird!" exclaimed Mr. Purcell.

"A bird is all right." Suddenly the customer pointed to the cage with two white doves.

"How much for those?" "Five-fifty," came the quick answer. "It's a very reasonable price. They are a fine pair." "Five-fifty?" The man produced a five-dollar bill. "I'd like to have those birds. But this is all I've got. Just five dollars."

Mr. Purcell thought that even if he reduced the price by 50 cents he would make a good profit.

"My dear man, if you want them so much, you can certainly have them for five dollars," he smiled.

"I'll take them," the customer said and put the money on the counter. Mr. Purcell handed the cage to him.

"Listen," the man said suddenly. "How long do you think it took me to make those five dollars?"

Mr. Purcell was in a state of panic, but he asked, "Why, how long?" The other laughed. "Ten years! I've spent ten years in jail. Ten years! Fifty cents a year!"

The man took his cage and left the shop. Mr. Purcell came up to the shopwindow to look at the customer who was holding the cage and poking at his purchase.

Then the man opened the cage and took the birds out. Soon they disappeared in the grey sky.

3.3.1 Vocabulary notes

to own – владеть ч. -л.

to deal in – заниматься ч. -л., торговать

counter – прилавок в магазине

shopkeeper – владелец магазина

reasonable price – доступная цена

to make a profit – извлекать прибыль, получать прибыль

3.3.2 Answer the questions

1 What did Mr. Purcell deal in?

2 What discount did Mr. Purcell offer to his strange customer?

3 What did the customer do with his purchase?

3.4 Text 4

PEARLS (by Philip Wylie)

Cedric Bradley, at fifty-three, was short apple-cheeked, with blue eyes and a cockney accent. He controlled Bradley Ltd., the largest jewelry house in London. He was proud of two things: he built his business with his own hand and brain and he had never been swindled or robbed.

One morning in May when Bradley was calculating his profits the card of Lord Throckmorton of Taine was brought to the jeweller. Throckmorton came in. He was a total stranger to the firm.

"My daughter is about to be married," said he," I thought of a necklace, matched and perfect. Nothing unusual – just the best. Now I'm going to Africa for three months. I thought – with three months – you can assemble something good. For, say, eighty thousand pounds?"

"Agreed."

His Lordship took out a check book from his coat. "A deposit, say ten thousand?" Mr. Bradly agreed. The check was written, the two men shook hands.

Three months passed. Lord Throckmorton entered the office of Mr. Bradley. The head of the firm showed him the necklace.

"Good Lord, Bradley. They are the best I've ever seen. I say, my wife is an invalid, I want her to see them before my daughter. Can you send them over?"

"I'd be glad to bring them over myself," answered the jeweller.

The jeweller was received in the drawing room. Her Ladyship was there. When she saw the pearls she cried. Then a nurse took her away to her room. Lord Trockmorton asked to see the pearls again. At that moment his daughter Gwen entered the room. As the pearls were to be a surprise at the time of the wedding the Lord hurriedly put them into his cabinet that had belonged to Louis XV. Both the father and his guest rose to meet the girl. She was a real beauty. She was more than an elegant girl. Bradly was all emotions.