英语中级口语教程

英语中级口语教程lesson1

Lesson1

TooClever

TextA

Afarmerwholivedinasmallvillagesufferedfromaseverepaininthechest.Thisneverseemedtogetanybetter.Thefarmereventually

decidedthathewouldconsultadoctorinthenearesttown.Butashewasamiserlypersonhethoughthewouldfindoutwhathewouldhaveto

paythisdoctor.Hewastoldthatapatienthadtopaythreepoundsforthefirstvisitandonepoundforthesecond'visit.Thefarmerthoughtabout

thisforalongtime,andthenhedecidedtogoandconsultthedoctorinthetown.

Ashecameintothedoctor'sconsultingroom,hesaidcausally/Goodmorning,doctor.HereIamagain.'Thedoctorwasalittlesurprised.He

askedhimafewquestions,examinedhischestandthentookthepoundwhichthefarmerinsistedongivinghim.Thenthedoctorsaidwitha

smile,Well,sir.There'snothingnew.PleasecontinuetotakethesamemedicineIgaveyouthefirsttimeyoucametoseeme.'

TextB

Amanwenttoseehisdoctoronedaybecausehewassufferingfrompainsinhisstomach.Afterthedoctorhadexaminedhimcarefully,he

saidtohim,'Well,there'snothingreallywrongwithyou,I'mgladtosay.Youronlytroubleisthatyouworrytoomuch.

Doyouknow,Ihadamanwiththesametroubleasyouinhereafewweeksago,andIgavehimthesameadviceasI'mgoingtogiveyou.

Hewasworriedbecausehecouldn'tpayhistailor'sbills.Itoldhimnottoworryhisheadaboutthebillsanymore.Hefollowedmyadvice,and

whenhecametoseemeagaintwodaysago,hetoldmethathenowfeelsquiteallrightagain."

Yes,Iknowallaboutthat,'answeredthepatientsadly.Ybusee,I'mthatman'stailor.,

AdditionalInformation

Doctor:Goodmorning.Howareyou?

Patient:I'mveryworried;doctor.

Doctor:Oh?Whatareyouworriedabout?

Patient:I'mafraidthatI'mveryill.

Doctor:I'msorrytohearthat.Whydoyouthinkso?

Patient:BecauseIfeeltiredallthetime,evenwhenIwakeupinthemorning.Ifind

itverydifficulttodoanywork.1havenoappetite.MywifecooksmedeliciousmealsbutIcanonlyeatalittle.

Doctor:Howdoyousleep?

Patient:Verybadly,doctor.

Doctor:Doyoufinditdifficulttogettosleep,ordoyouwakeupearly?

Fatient:Both,doctor.Inevergettosleepuntil2o'clockandIalwayswakeat5.

Doctor:Areyouworriedaboutanything?

Patient:Well,yes,Iam.I'mworriedaboutmywork.I'vejusttakenanewjob.Iearnalotofmoneybutit'sdifficultwork.Pmalwaysafraidof

makingamistake.

Doctor:Isee.Pleasetakeoffyourshirtandliedownonthecouch.

Patient:Yes,doctor.(TheDoctorexaminesthepatient)

Doctor:Well,there'snothingverymuchwrongwithyou,I'mgladtosay.You'reworkingtoohardandworryingtoomuch.Doyoutakemuch

exercise?

Patient:No,doctor.Ineverhaveenoughtimeforexercise.Istartworkveryearlyinthemorningandfinishlateintheevening.ThenIcan'tget

tosleep.Canyougivemesomemedicinetohelpmetosleep?

Doctor:Ican,butI'mnotgoingto.Ybudon'tneedmedicine.Vbuneedadvice.

Don'tworksohard.Toomuchworkisbad.foryou.Don'tworryaboutyourwork.It'ssillytoworry.Takeregularexercise.

Patient:ButImaylosemyjob,doctor!It'shardtogetajoblikemine.

Doctor:Thengetaneasierone,evenifyouearnlessmoney.Whichwouldyouratherhave,healthorwealth?

Patient:You'reright,doctor.It'smoreimportanttobehealthythanwealthy.I'llchangemyjob.I'mgratefulforyouradvice.

Doctor:Comeandseemeagaininamonth'stime.Ithinkyou'llbeadifferentmanI

英语中级口语教程lesson2

Lesson2

AuPairGirl

TextA

GretelcomesfromAustria.Sheiseighteenyearsold.SheisgoingtostaywiththeClarkfamilyforayear.GretelhascometoEngland

becauseshewantstoimproveherEnglish.Sheworksasanaupairgirl.ShehelpsMrsClarkinthehouseandattendsEnglishclassesregularly

inhersparetime.

Gretelhasn'tbeeninEnglandlongandeverythingisstrangetoher.SheoftencompareslifeinLondonwithlifeinVienna.Somethingsare

nicerinLondon;otherthingsarenotsonice.Forinstance,theshopsarebiggerinLondonthaninViennaandthereisgreatervariety.Butit's

moreexpensivetoenjoyyourselfinLondon.It'sexpensivetohaveamealatarestaurantortogotoatheatre.

Gretelhasgotusedtomanythingsalready,butshecan'tgetusedtobreakfastinEngland."YouEnglisheatsomuchinthemorning,"she

oftensays."Fruitjuice,porridge,baconandegg,tea,toastandmarmalade!Howcanyoufaceallthatfoodsoearlyintheday?"

TextB

MariahaddecidedthatassoonasshehadfinishedschoolshewouldbecomeanaupairgirlinLondon.Twoofherfriendshadalreadyspent

ayearwithafamilyinKensington,andtoldhertheyhadhadaninterestingtimeandhadmanagedtolearnalotofEnglish.Shewasadvisedby

herHeadTeachertogetherparents'consentandtomakeallthenecessaryarrangementspriortoherdeparture:haveenoughmoneyforher

returnfare,knowexactlywhatkindofafamilyshewasgoingtolivewithandwhattheyexpectedofher.

ShortlyafterhereighteenthbirthdayMariareceivedaletterfromMrsHutchinson,thewifeofanadvertisingexecutive,statingthetermson

whichshewouldbeemployed.TheHutchinsonslivedinahouseinChelsea.Theyhadthreechildren;twoboys,agedfourteenandten.bothat

boardingschools,theelderataPublicSchoolintheMidlandsandtheyoungerataPreparatorySchoolinSurrey;theyoungestchildwasagirl

agedeight,andshewenttotheFrenchLyceeinSouthKensington.DuringtermtimeMariawouldhavetotakethegirltoschoolinthemorning

andfetchherintheafternoon.ShewouldhavetohelpMrsHutchinsoninthehouse-washingup,makingthebeds,layingthetable,dustingthe

rooms,answeringthedoor,takingtelephonemessages,shoppingandrunningerrands.

ShewouldbeguaranteedthreeeveningsaweekfreeandcouldattendEnglishclasseseitherfromeleventilloneinthemorningorfromhalf

pastonetillfourintheafternoon.Shewouldreceive3aweekpocketmoney.Mariawasdelightedwiththeconditionsandthoughtthattheywere

fair.Shealsolikedthelookofthefamily,asMrsHutchinsonhadthoughtfullyenclosedaphotographwithherletter.

AdditionalInformation

Itwasnothingforagirlt.obesentawaytoservicewhenshewaselevenyearsold.Thatmeantleavingthefamilyasshehadneverbeen

partedfromforadayinherlifebefore,andgoingtosomeplacemilesawaytobetreatedlikeadog.I'vegotnothingagainstgirlsgoingintogood

service.

Inmyopinion,goodserviceinaproperlyrunbighousewasawonderfultrainingforalotofgirlswhoneverwouldhaveseenanything

differentallthedaysoftheirlivesiftheyhadn'tgone.Itwasbetterthanworkingontheland,then,andifitstillexistednow,IreckonI'drathersee

anyofmydaughtersbeagoodhousemaidorawell-trainedparlourmaidthanadolled-upshop-assistantorafactoryworker.

Butfolksaretooproudtoworkforotherfolks,now.evenifit'stotheirownadvantage,thoughasfarasIcanseeyouarestillworkingforother

folks,whateveryou'redoing.Bighousesdidn'twantlittlegirlsofeleven,evenaskitchenmaids,sothefirstfewyearshadtobeputinsomewhere

else,beforeyougoteventhatamountofpromotion.

Bighousesexpectedgoodservice,butyougotgoodtreatmentinreturn.It.wasn'tlikethatatthesortofplacemyfriendshadtogo.Mostly

theywenttothefarmers'houseswithintenortwentymilesfromwherethey'dbeenborn.ThesefarmerswereajumpedUp,proudlotwhodidn't

knowhowtotreatthepeoplewhoworkedforthem.Theytookadvantageofthepoorpeople'sneedtogettheirgirlsofftheirhandstogetlittle

slavesfornearlynothing.Theconditionswereterrible.

英语中级口语教程lesson3

Lesson3

WhoTooktheMoney?

TextA

MrSmithgavehiswifetenpoundsforherbirthday-tenprettypoundnotes.Sothedayafterherbirthday,MrsSmithwentshopping.She

queuedforabus,gotonandsatdownnexttoanoldlady.Afterawhile,shenoticedthattheoldlady'shandbagwasopen.Insideit,shesawa

wadofpoundnotesexactlyliketheoneherhusbandhadgivenher.Soshequicklylookedintoherownbag-thenoteshadgone!

MrsSmithwassurethattheoldladywhowassittingnexttoherhadstolenthem.Shethoughtshewouldhavetocallthepolice;but.asshe

dislikedmakingafussandgettingpeopleintotrouble,shedecidedtotakebackthemoneyfromtheoldlady'shandbagandsaynothingmore

aboutit.Shelookedroundthebustomakesurenobodywaswatching,thenshecarefullyputherhandintotheoldlady'sbag,tookthenotesand

puttheminherownbag.

Whenshegothomethatevening,sheshowedherhusbandthebeautifulhatshehadbought.

Howdidyoupayforit?'heasked.

zWiththemoneyyougavemeformybirthday,ofcourse,'shereplied.

Oh?What'sthat,then?'heasked,ashepointedtoawadoftenpoundnotesonthetable.

TextB

'Goodbye,darling,'saidMrMacklin.'I'llbelatetonight.'PoorGeorge,shethought.Hewasalwaysinahurryinthemorning,anditwasn't

unusualforhimtocomehomelateatnight.HeworkedforashoecompanyinLeeds,andtherewassuchalotofworkthathenormallystayedin

theofficetillsevenorcite.

WhenGeorgehadleftthehouseMrsMackinsatdown,inanarmchairandturnedontheradio.Itwasafewminutespasteight,andshe

heardthelastwordsofthenews:'...womanwhoescapedfromIcedprisonyesterdayisstillfree.Thepolicewarnyounottoopenyourdoorto

strangers.'

Sheturnedofftheradio.Thehouseworkwaswaitingforher.Shemadethebedsandwashedthedishes.Therewasn'tanyshoppingtodo.

andsoshethoughtforamomentofalltheWorkinthegarden.

TheMachineslivedinahousewithalargegardeninasuburbofLeeds.Behindthegardenthereweresometrees.andthentheepenfields.

SuddenlyMrsMackinrememberedthenews.Shelaugheduneasily.Thatprisonisonly15milesaway,shethought.Shedidn'tworkinthe

garden,shemendedherhusband'sshirtsinsteadAndshecarefullylockedthefrontdoorandclosedallthewindows.

Itwasgettingdark.Sheturnedonthelightsinthelivingroom.Thenshenoticedthatshehadturnedonthelightsinmostoftheroomsinthe

house.

'HowsillyIam!'shesaidnervouslyandwentintotheotherroomsandturnedtheleghtson.

Thepersonatthedoorsaidsomethingloudly,butshewassofrightenedthatshedidn'tunderstandaword.

AdditionalInformation

Doyoubelieveinghosts?Idon't,emitter-oratleastIdidn'tuntilIheardastrangestorytheotherdayfromMrMikePaton,of19Marlborough

loll.

ItallbeganonNovember28,whenMrPaton'seight-year-oldson,Bob,wasplayinginthebigbackgardenofhisparents'house.Hemetan

oldmanwithalongwhitebeard.TheoldmantoldBobhewasbuildingtheundergroundrailwaythere,butBobdidn'tbelievehim.Bobtoldme

afterwardsthatheknewtheundergroundranunderMarlboroughHillitself.Theoldmansaidtherehadbeenanaccidentthedaybefore.Thenhe

wentaway.

AtfirstthePitonsdidntbelieveBob'sstory.MrsPatontoldmethatBoboftenmadeupstoriesaboutghostsandmonsters,likeotherchildren

ofhisage.ButMrPattonwascuriousanddecidedthathewouldgotothelibrarytocheckuponthefacts.

HefoundthattherailwaycompanyhadstartedtobuildthelinetothewestofMarlboroughHillin1881.buttheyhadrunintoanunderground

river.TenworkmenhaddiedinanaccidentandtheCompanyhadchangedthedirectionofthelineandbuiltthepresenttunnelunder

MarlboroughHill.AtfirstIdidntbelieveMrPatton'sstorveither,soIdidsomeresearchmyself.InspectorBrightoftheMetropolitanPolicesaidit

wasnaturaltofindtrampsinthedistrictinwinter,butnoonehadreportedoneansweringthedescriptionIhadgivenhimsincelastAugust.

MrJosephGriffithsofLondonTransportcheckedthefilesontheaccidentforme.Hetoldmethattheaccidenthadapparentlytakenplaceon

orverynearthejunctionofMarlboroughHillandWoodstockAvenueon27November1881.MrPaton'shousestandsonthecorner!

Thesourceofthisextraordinarystorywasnotaffectedbythenews.'ItoldMummyitwastrue,'youngBobPatontoldmeyesterday.WhenI

leftthehousehewasplayinghappilywithhistoycars-inthegarden!

英语中级口语教程lesson4

Lesson4

MusicalHalf-Notes

TextA

AmusicianwhoplayedPopMusicinaCLublivedinboardinghouseinthecentreofLondon.Healwaysusedtogetbacktohisroomverylate

atnightandsometimesintheearlyhoursof

themorning.Hewassotiredwhenhegotbackthathewouldsitontheedgeofhisbed,takeoffhisshoesandthrowthemonthefloorand

say.'Thankgoodness.anotherdayisover.'Hewouldthengetintohadandfallfastasleep.

Butthepoorlodgerwhohadtheroomunderthemusician'swaswokenupcoldnight,orcarryingthemorning,bythetwothudsthatthetwo

shoesmadeastheylandedOnhisceiling.Finally,hecouldnotstanditanymoreandwentandcomplainedtothemusician.

Naturallythemusicianwasveryupsetandpromisedthat,infuture,aftertakingoffhisshoes,hewouldputthemdownasquicklyaspossible

onthecarpet.

Thenextday,hegotbackfromhisclubataboutoneo'clockinthemorning,wentuptohisroom,satontheedgeofhisbed,tookoffoneshoe

andthrewitonthefloor.

Hewasjustabouttodothesamewiththeotherwhensuddenlyrememberedthepromisehehadmadethedaybefore.Sowithgreatcarehe

putthesecondshoedownsilentlyonthecarpet.Thenhegotintobedandfellfastasleep.Anhourlater,hewaswokenupbyaviolentknocking

onhisdoor.Itwasthelodgerwhosleptintheroomjustunderhis.

Please,places,please,'theLodgerpleaded,'droptheothershoe.Ihavebeenwaitingforawholehourforyoutodropit.AssoonasyoudoI

cangotosleep.'

TextB

Ofallthemenwhoeverlikedfreshair,notonelikeditmorethanJamesWilson.Hetooklongwalksinthefreshair.Heranlongdistancesin

thefreshair.Heplayedfootballandothergamesinthefreshair.Helikedtoclimbmountainsandbreathethefreshairatthetop.Heusedtogoto

sitbytheseaandwatchthegreatwavesinthefreshair.Healwayssleptwithhiswindowswideopen.Hehadanopencarwithnoroof,andhe

droveitmadlythroughthefreshair.

IfWilsonenteredaroomwherethewindowswereshut,heimmediatelyopenedthem.Hedidthisevenwhensnowwasfallingoutside.K

someoneelseshutthewindowsagain,hewalkedoutoftheroominamannerwhichshowedhisopinionswithoutanydoubt.Whenhetraveledby

sea,hecouldusuallybefoundinaplaceonboardwherethewildwindwasblowingthroughhishair.

OnewinterWilsonwenttoFinlandonbusiness.GoodhotelsinFinlandareheatedduringthecoldwinter,andthiswinterwasevencolder

thanusual.WhenWilsonreachedhisroominthehotel,hefoundthatthewindowswereclosedtokeeptheicyairout.Hedidhisbesttoopen

one,butfailed.Itwasabsolutelyimpossibletoopenit:themanagerhadverywiselyarrangedthat.

Wilsonundressedandgotintobed.Hewasaveryangryman.

Thebedroomwasverypleasant.TwoorthreepicturesonthewallsshowedviewsofsomebeautifulpartsofFinland.Therewasnonoiseat

all.Thebedwasreallyexcellent;butWilsoncouldnotsleep.Hecouldnotforgettheclosedwindow.Nofreshair!Itwasterribletothinkof!

Hegotoutofbedandtriedoncemoretoopenthewindow;butitwasuseless,andhesadlygotbackintobed.

Ataboutoneo'clockinthemorninghewasstillawake,worryingabouttheairinthebedroom.Hehadturnedoverinbedtwohundredand

thirty-sixtimes.Hewasveryhot.Asheturnedoverforthetwohundredandthirty-seventhtime,onearmcameoutofthebedclothesandhung

downbesidethebed.Hishandtouchedthefloor.Italsotouchedsomethingonthefloor.Thisthingwasashoe.

Anideacameintohisworriedmind.Angrymenactquickly,

andtheshoewasinhishandinlessthanasecond.Wherewasthewindow?Hecouldseesomethingthatlookedlikeglassoverthere.He

threwtheshoethroughthedarknesswithalltheforceofhisstrongrightarm.

Theshoeflewstraightthroughtheairandhittheglassinthemiddle.Aterriblesoundofbreakingglassfilledthebedroom,

buttoWilson'ssadheartitseemedlikethesoundofsweetandbeautifulmusic.

"NowIhavesomefreshairintheroom,"hethought."NOWIneednotdie.

Fiveminuteslaterhewaspeacefullyasleep.Hedidnotmoveformanyhours.

Whendaylightcamegentlythroughthewindow,heawokeandlaywithhiseyesclosed.Wherewashe?Oh,yes!HewasinFinland;butwhat

thematter?Wasabuttingwrong'?TherewassomethingtoworryaboutWhatwasit?Oh.thebrokenwind!Yes,indeed.Hewouldhavetopas?for

that.Howmuch.?Wasitabigpieceofglass?Hecouldnotremember.HeOpenedhiseyestolook.

Slowlyhetnrnedthemtowardsthewindow,andthenhesatupsuddenlyinbed.Hewasverysurprised:thewindowwasnotbrokenatall.

Theglasswasallinonepiece.justasgoodasithadbeenthemightbefore.Nofreshairwasteeteringtheroomthroughthatwindow.

What,then,hadhappenedwhenhethrewtheshoe?

Heturnedhiseyestothesideandsawabrokenpicturehangingonthewall.Therewasashoeonthefloorbelowit.Hecouldseealotof

brokenglassroundtheshoe.andtherewasmoreinsideit.

AdditionalInformation

HereiswhathappenedtoAdrianFoxonthetrainoneday:

AdrianFoxlivesinDevonandheistravellinghomefromLondonbytrain.Hedecidestohaveacupoftea.andgoestothetrainbuffet.While

heisdrinkinghistea,anattractivegirlcomesandsitsatthesametable.TheybegintalkingandthegirltellsAdriansheisgoingtoDevonon

holiday.Theyaresoonveryfriendly.Adrianfindsoutthatthegirlhasn'tyetfoundahoteltostayin.Adrian'smotherhasaspareroominherhouse,

andAdrianinvitesthegirltostaythere.Heknowshismotherwon'tmind.Thegirlaccepts.

Afewminuteslateramancomesandsitsbesidethegirl.whointroduceshinttoAdrian.Heisherhusband.Adriandidn'tknowthegirlwas

married,andheisalittleangry.Hismotherwontliketohavetwopeoplestayinginherhouse.Thenthreechildrenarrive.Twoofthemare

carryingcats,andonehasasmalldog.Theyarethegirl'schildren.Theyareallveryhappy,thegirlsays,tobestayinginAdrian'smother's

house.EutAdrianisn'tsohappy.Whenhereachesthestationhephoneshismother...

英语中级口语教程lesson5

Lesson5

IsHeaHero?

TextA

"Fire!Fire!"Whatterriblewordstohearwhenonewakesupinastrangehouseinthemiddleofthenight!Itwasalarge,old,wooden

house-thesortthatburnsbeautifully—andmyroomwasonthetopfloor.Ijumpedoutofbed,openedthedoorandsteppedoutintothepassage.

Itwasfullofthicksmoke.

Ibegantorun,butasIwasstillonlyhalf-awake,insteadofgoingtowardsthestairsIwentintheoppositedirection.Thesmokegrewthicker

andIcouldseeflamesallaround.Thefloorbecamehotundermybarefeet.Ifoundanopendoorandranintoaroomtogettothewindow.

ButbeforeIcouldreachit,oneofmyfeetcaughtinsomethingsoftandIfelldown.ThethingIhadfallenoverfeltlikeabundleofclothes,

andIpickedituptoprotectmyfacefromthesmokeandheat.Justthenthefloor.gavewayundermeandIcrashedtothefloorbelowwithpieces

ofburningwoodallaroundme.

Isawaflamingdoorwayinfront.putthebundleovermyfaceandran.Myfeetburnedmeterribly,butIgotthrough.AsIreachedthecoldair

outside,mybundleofclothesgaveathincry.Inearlydroppeditinmysurprised?ThenIsawacrowdgatheredinthestreet.Awomanina

night-dressandaborrowedman'scoatscreamed"asshesawmeandcamerunningmadly.

"Mybaby!Mybaby!"shecried.Thecrowdcheeredwildlyasshetookthesmoke-blackenedbundleoutofmyarms.Ihadsomedifficultyin

recognizingher.ShewastheMayor'swife,andIhadsavedherbaby.Iwasahero!

TextB

TeresawentuptoMrsWebster'sroom,twostairsatatime.Shewasnearlyatthetopwhenshestoppedandsniffed.Astrongsmellofgas

wascomingfromthatdirection.Teresaranuptheremainingstairsandthrewopenthedoor.Sheputherhandsoverhermouthtostopascream.

MrsWebsterwaslyingonthefloornearthesink.Herskinandlipshadapinkishcolourandsheappearedtobeunconscious.Theroomwasfullof

gas.

AdditionalInformation

Whodoesn'tlovesittingbesideacozyfireonacoldwinter'snight?Whodoesn'tlovetowatchflamescurlingupachimney?Fireisoneof

man'sgreatestfriends,butalsooneofhisgreatestenemies.Manybigfiresarecausedbycarelessness.Alightedcigarettethrownoutofacaror

trainwindoworabrokenbottlelyingondrygrasscanstartafire.Sometimes,though,afirecanstartonitsown.Wethaycanbeginburningby

itself.Thisishowithappens:thehaystartsto.rotandbeginstogiveoffheatwhichistrappedinsideit.Finally,itburstsintoflames.That'swhy

farmerscutandstoretheirhaywhenit'sdry.

Fireshavedestroyedwholecities.Inthe17thcentury,asmallfirewhichbeganinabaker'sshopburntdownnearlyeverybuildinginLondon.

MoscowwassetonfireduringthewaragainstNapoleon.Thisfirecontinuedburningforsevendays.And,ofcourse,in64A.D.Nerofiddledwhile

Romeburned!Eventoday,inspiteofmodernfire-fightingmethods,firecausesmillionsofpounds'worthofdamageeachyearbothinourcit