Breakfast or Lunch

It was Sunday. I never get up early on Sundays. I sometimes stay in bed until lunch time. Last Sunday I got up very late. I looked out of the window. It was dark outside  'What a day!' I thougt. 'It's raining again.' Just then, the telephone rang. It was my aunt Lucy. 'I've just arrived by train,' she said. 'I'm coming to see you.'
    'But I'm stil having breakfast,' I said.
   'What are you doing?' she asked.
   'I'm having breakfast,' I repeated.
  'Dear me,' she said. 'Do you always get up so late? it's one o'clock!'

Comprehension and Precis

Answer these questions in not more than 50 words.

1. Does the writer  always get up early on Sundays, or does he always get up late?
2. Did he get up early last Sunday, or did he get up late?
3. Who telephoned then?
4. Had she arrived by train, or had she come on foot?
5. Was she coming to see him or not?
6. Did he say,' I'm still having breakfast', or did he say,' I am still in bed'?
7. Was his aunt very surprised or not?
8. What was the time?

A Private Conversation

Last week I went to the theatre. I had a very good seat. The play was very interesting. I did not enjoy it. A young man and young woman were sitting behind me. They were talking loudly. I got veryangry. I could not hear the the actors. I turned round. I looked at the man and the woman angrily. They did not pay any attention. In the end, I could not bear it. I turned again. 'I can't hear a word!' I said angrily.
'It's none of your business,' the young man said rudely. 'This is a private conversation!'

Comprehension Precis and Composition
Answer these question in not more than 55 words.

1. Where did the writer go last week?
2. Did he enjoy the play or not?
3. Who was sitting behind me?
4. Were they talking loudly, or were they talking quietly?
5. Could the writer hear the actor or not?
6. Did he return round or not?
7. What did he say?
8. Did the young man say,'The play is not interesting.' or did he say 'This is a privat conversation!'

Sticky Fingers

 After breakfast, I sent the children to school and then I went to market. It was still early when I returned home. The children were at school, my husband was at work and the house was quiet. So I decided to make some tarts for tea. In a short time I was busy mixing butter and flour myhands were soon covered with sticky pastry. At exactly that momment, the thelephone rang. Nothing could have been more annoying. I picked up the receiver between two sticky fingers and was dismayed when I recognized the voice of Mrs Bates. It took me ten minutes to persuade her to ring back later. At last I hung up the receiver. What a mess! There was pastry on my fingers, on the thelephone, and on the door-knobs. I had no sooner got back to the kitchen than the door-bell rang
loud enough to wake the dead. This time it was the postman and he wanted me to sign for a registered letter!

A Slip of the Tongue

People will do anything to see a free show-even if it is a bad one. When the news got round that a variety show would  be presented at our local cinema by the P and U. Bird Seed Company, we all rushed to see it. we had to queue for hours to get in there must have been several hundred people present just before the show began. Unfortunately, the show was one of the dullest we have ever seen. Those who failed to get in need not have felt disappointed as many of the artistes who should have appeared did not come. The only funny things we heard that evening came from the advertiser at the beginning of the programme. He was obviously very nervous and for some minutes stood awkwardly, before the microphone. As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone burst out laughing. We all know what the poor man should have said, but what he actually said was : 'This is the Poo and Ee Seed Bird Company. Good ladies, evening and gentlemen!'

Trapped in a Mine

Six men have been trapped in a mine for seventeen hours. If they are not brought to the surface soon they may lose their lives. However, rescue operations are proving difficult. If explosives are used, vibrations will cause the roof of the mine to collapse. Rescue workers are therefore drilling a hole on the north side of the mine. They intend to bring the men up in a special capsule. If there had not been a hard layer of rock beneath the soil, they they would have completed the job in a few hours. As it is, they have been drilling for sixteen hours and they still have a long way to go. Meanwhile, a microphone, which was lowered into the mine two hours ago, has enabled the men to keep in touch with the closest relatives. Thought they are running out of food and drink, the men are cheerful and confident that they will get out soon. They have been told that rescue operations are progressing smoothly. If they knew how difficult it was to drill through the hard rock, they would lose heart.