New+Concept+English+Book+II (五)

Lesson 21 | Mad or not?
   Aeroplanes are slowly driving me mad. I live near an airport and passing planes can be
heard night and day. The airport was built years ago, but for some reason it could not be
used then. Last year, however, it came into use. Over a hundred people must have been
driven away from their homes by the noise. I am one of the few people left. Sometimes I
think this house will be knocked down by a passing plane. I have been offered a large sum
of money to go away, but I am determined to stay here. Everybody says I must be mad
and they are probably right.

Lesson 22 | A glass envelope
   My daughter, Jane, never dreamed of receiving a letter from a girl of her own age in
Holland. Last year, we were travelling across the Channel and Jane put a piece of paper
with her name and address on it into a bottle. She threw the bottle into the sea. She never
thought of it again, but ten months later, she received a letter from a girl in Holland.
Both girls write to each other regularly now. However, they have decided to use the post
office. Letters will cost a little more, but they will certainly travel faster.

Lesson 23 | A new house
   I had a letter from my sister yesterday. She lives in Nigeria. In her letter, she said that
she would come to England next year. If she comes, she will get a surprise. We are now
living in a beautiful new house in the country. Work on it had begun before my sister left.
The house was completed five months ago. In my letter, I told her that she could stay
with us. The house has many large rooms and there is a lovely garden. It is a very modern
house, so it looks strange to some people. It must be the only modern house in the district.

 Lesson 24 | It could be worse
   I entered the hotel manager's office and sat down. I had just lost 50 and I felt very
upset. 'I left the money in my room,' I said, 'and it's not there now.' The manager was
sympathetic, but he could do nothing. 'Everyone's losing money these days,' he said. He
started to complain about this wicked world but was interrupted by a knock at the door.
A girl came in and put an envelope on his desk. It contained 50. 'I found this outside
this gentleman's room,' she said. 'Well,' I said to the manager, 'there is still some honesty
in this world!'

Lesson 25 | Do the English speak English?

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  I arrived in London at last. The railway station was big, black and dark. I did not know
the way to my hotel, so I asked a porter. I not only spoke English very carefully, but very
clearly as well. The porter, however, could not understand me. I repeated my question
several times and at last he understood. he answered me, but he spoke neither slowly nor
clearly. 'I am a foreigner,' I said. Then he spoke slowly, but I could not understand him.
My teacher never spoke English like that! The porter and I looked at each other and
smiled. Then he said something and I understood it. 'You'll soon learn English!' he said. I
wonder. In England, each person speaks a different language. The English understand
each other, but I don't understand them! Do they speak English?