Lesson 13 The Greenwood Boys
The Greenwood Boys are a group of pop singers. At present, they are
visiting all parts of the country. They will be arriving here tomorrow. They will be
coming by train and most of the young people in the town will be meeting them at the
station. Tomorrow evening they will be singing at the Workers' Club. The Greenwood Boys
will be staying for five days. During this time, they will give five performances.
As usual, the police will have a difficult time. They will be trying to keep order.
It is always the same on these occasions.
Lesson 14 Do you speak English?
I had an amusing experience last year. After I had left a small village in the south of
France, I drove on to the next town. On the way, a young man waved to me. I stopped and
he asked me for a lift. As soon as he had got into the car, I said good morning to him in
French and he replied in the same language. Apart from a few words, I do not know any
French at all. Neither of us spoke during the journey. I had nearly reached the town,
when the young man suddenly said, very slowly, 'Do you speak English?'
As I soon learnt, he was English himself!
Lesson 15 Good news
The secretary told me that Mr. Harmsworth would see me. I felt very nervous when I
went into his office. He did not look up from his desk when I entered. After I had sat
down, he said that business was very bad. He told me that the firm could not afford to
pay such large salaries. Twenty people had already left. I knew that my turn had come.
Mr. Harmsworth, I said in a weak voice. Don't interrupt, he said. Then he smiled and
told me I would receive an extra thousand pounds a year!