New+Concept+English+Book+II (三)
Lesson 11 | One good turn deserves another
I was having dinner at a restaurant when Tony Steele came in. Tony worked in a
lawyer's office years ago, but he is now working at a bank. He gets a good salary, but he
always borrows money from his friends and never pays it back. Tony saw me and came
and sat at the same table. He has never borrowed money from me. While he was eating, I
asked him to lend me twenty pounds. To my surprise, he gave me the money immediately.
'I have never borrowed any money from you,' Tony said, 'so now you can pay for my
dinner!'
Lesson 12 | Goodbye and good luck
Our neighbour, Captain Charles Alison, will sail from Portsmouth tomorrow. We'll
meet him at the harbour early in the morning. He will be in his small boat, Topsail.
Topsail is a famous little boat. It has sailed across the Atlantic many times. Captain Alison
will set out at eight o'clock, so we'll have plenty of time. We'll see his boat and then we'll
say goodbye to him. He will be away for two months. We are very proud of him. He will
take part in an important race across the Atlantic.
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
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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!