arranged and they would go to the theatre.

Only then did Ben remember it was the very night that had been settled for

their going out. So June was realizing her dream. He envied his daughter Penny, a

sixteen-year old girl, who said she would stay indoors and watch television. But

suddenly he was sorry for June who got too little entertainment even at week-

ends.

It was already past seven when they started for the theatre. The weather was

unusually nasty. Ben's nose and feet were cold. After 20 minutes a number 64 bus

stopped. They got on, but the seats were full. Unfortunately the bus conductor told

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Ben to get off as only seven people could stand in the bus. Ben did so forgetting

that his wife had got the tickets.

It wa$ pouring now. The road was wet and there "was a hole in his shoe.

Luckily he got on the next number 64 bus soon enough and found a seat. Ben shut

his eyes. When he opened them again, the bus was past the theatre. It was still

raining as he walked back to it feeling unhappy. Over the doors were the words,

"Under the High Trees".

The man at the door said he could not let him in without a ticket. Ben was

about to leave when a girl behind the ticket-office window said: "Are you Mr.

Smith? Your wife left your ticket with me."

Ben squeezed to his seat in the dark, stepping on people's feet. He asked June

what the play was about. She whispered she could not understand much as one

actor, an old man, spoke very quietly, and the other, a young man, spoke very

quickly.

As soon as the play was over, they ran out. There were no buses and it was

raining. They waited and waited and their clothes got wetter. At last Ben lost his

patience and shouted: "Taxi!"

A passing taxi stopped. Ben pushed his wife in. "Two pounds" said the driver

when they arrived. "What?"

"After ten o'clock in the evening the fare is higher." Unwillingly Ben paid the

driver. Besides all the trouble it turned out to be too expensive for them,

"Did you watch television, Penny?" Ben asked his daughter. "Yes," she said.

"You can't imagine how brilliant the play was."

"What was the name oi it?" asked Ben as he picked up his cup of coffee.

"Under the High Trees" was the answer. Ben Smith put his cup of coffee on the

kitchen table and went slowly upstairs to bed.

TEXT 2 AT THE SEASIDE

Mrs. H i l t o n : It's much fresher here than in London.

Mr. H i l t o n : Yes, it was so stuffy in the train with the carriage so crowded, I

hate trains and buses.

Mrs. H i l t o n : It's all over now. Look? Alice and Roger have gone further

along. They've chosen a nice place.

Mr. H i l t o n : Yes, there are fewer people there.

Mrs. H i l t o n : How quick the young people are! They are already in their

bathing-suits lying in the sun.

A l i c e : Isn't the water cold?

R o g e r : It is, and you are certainly afraid to come into the water, you

coward.

Mrs. H i l t o n : Stop teasing your sister, Roger. I am sick and tired of your

quarrels. Let me have a minute's rest.

216

R o g e r : Sorry, Mum. I'll be as good as gold. Wait for me, Alice, I'm coming

too.

A l i c e : Quick! I'm already in the water.

R o g e r : I'll catch up with you easily. You splash about too much with your

feet.

A l i c e : I'm not such a strong swimmer as you. Oh, I've got a mouthful cf

salt water.

R o g e r : You shouldn't swim with your mouth open.

A l i c e : I feel a bit chilly. I'd rather swim ashore and lie on the sand.

R o g e r : I'll join you in a moment after I dive off that raft.

VOCABULARY NOTES

be tired after устать от, е. д. They were tired after having practice in hearing and

pronunciation. If you are tired of London, go down to the sea. be tired (of) надоесть; be

sick and tired надоесть до смерти; е. д. I am sick and tired of this noise.

a lot (of) много. The following word combinations are all translated into Russian with

the word «много». Mind their usage and the way prepositions are used: a great deal (of), a

good deal (of) are used with uncountable nouns, e. g. He spends a good (great) deal of time

at the language laboratory. She plays the piano a good (great) deal, a great number of, a

great many are used with countable nouns, e. g. There is a great number of old newspapers

in the desk. I saw a great many needles in the working-basket, a lot of, plenty of are used

both with countable and uncountable nouns, e. g. There is a lot (plenty) of fruit in the shop

today. There are a lot (plenty) of tooth-brushes on the shelf. He knows a lot.

Mind the way of strengthening the meaning of the given word combinations: He knows a

lot more than you think. I can tell you a great deal more on the subject.

get everything arranged все уладить, приготовить, е. д. Robert and Tom got

everything arranged for their excursion.

very adj тот самый, е. д. At that very moment Mrs. Hilton told them that it was high

time for everybody to go to bed. He is the very person we want to see.

settle vt улаживать, решать; назначать, определять, е. д. It was not difficult to settle the

question. Syn, decide v t / i решать, e. g. She decided to leave Nick at home.

realize vt 1. представлять себе; понимать, осознавать. Syn. understand

(understood, understood) vt, e. g. The man was very quiet. He didn't realize the danger.

2. осуществлять, реализовать, е. д. The plan was hard to realize (fulfil). But: It's necessary

to understand the rule before doing this exercise. I don't understand why he has left.

indoors adv дома; out-of-doors на улице; indoor games: chess, draughts, lotto,

dominoes, etc.; outdoor games: football, golf, cricket, hockey, etc.

Mind the stresses in the following word combinations: 'indoor ' games, but to 'stay in'

doors;' out-of-' doors.

watch television (TV) смотреть телевизор, е. д. The Leonovs bought a TV-set and

invited the neighbours to watch TV. to see

(watch) the TV programme смотреть телевизионною передачу, е. д. I'm

sorry you didn't see the TV programme on Sunday evening. It was really

interesting.

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week-end n Sunday, with parts of Saturday and sometimes of Monday, as a

period of rest or as a holiday. Mind the use of prepositions: to do something at the

week-end, to go somewhere for the week-end.

start (for some place) v t / i 1. отправляться, пускаться в путь, е. д. The

family started for the railway station. 2. Начинать что-л.. e. g. The machine

started working.

unusually adv необычно, e. g. He thought that Jane looked unusually pretty

that day. Ant. usually обычно, e. g. He usually takes a cold shower at 8 o'clock, as

usual как обычно, е. д. Не took off his coat and hung it on the hook as usual.

to feel (look) unhappy (happy, bad, chilly, etc.) чувствовать себя