Text 8
Last winter Eileen went to New York on business. Her husband went with her as he had never been to New York before. On the last day of their stay in New York they checked out of the hotel in the morning. Eileen’s husband decided to do some sightseeing while she was at her last business meeting.
They agreed to meet at the airport. The plane was leaving at a quarter past nine.
When after the meeting Eileen went out into the street there was much snow everywhere and it was still snowing heavily. She took a taxi but it was just before Christmas and there was a terrible traffic jam. Then the car broke down. Suddenly she remembered there was a subway close to that place – that’s what the Americans call their underground trains to the airport.
When she took a bus from the subway to the airport, it was almost 8.30. It wasn’t far to the airport but it was snowing still heavier and the bus went slowly. When at last she got to the airport she ran to the check-in-desk. There was a large crowd of people. One of them was her husband.
“There was no need to hurry,” he said, “The snow has delayed everything. The plane is late too.”
2.8.1 Vocabulary notes
to check out (ant. To check in – регистрироваться) – платить по счету в гостинице
to delay – откладывать, задерживать
2.9 Text 9
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
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.
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
