Lesson 30 Text A The Bloody Thumb
I met the old man at a cafe. I was a stranger in the town.
Did you hear the radio news yesterday he asked me.
I didnt, I said.Was there anything exciting
Exciting, no! It was important to me-and very, very sad.pack of hungry dogs
killed and ate my best friend.
Oh dear ! I cried. I am sorry. How did it happen
He was working in his olive grove on the hilisides. The pack attacked him
there. well never know all the facts , of curse. When he didn't return, I went
to the grove and-
You found the body I asked.
The old fellow drank half his coffee. The body he repeated.No, no. .I said
they were hungry dogs, didn't I The g bones were lying here and there in the
grove. But I found this- He pushed open a matchbox which he was holding in his
The box contained a mans thumb. It was lying on some hite, bloody material.
There was a cut-an old cut-on the mmb nail.
See that cut, the man said. I recognised it. This is my fiends right thumb.
The dogs ate the rest of him!
The old man began to cry then. He finished his coffee quick. ly and left the
cafe. I drank mine and called the waiter.
I'll pay the gentlemans bill, I said. Please don't trou. ble him with it. His
poor friend-how awful! Youve heard the news
The waiter laughed . Yes. Theres a hole in the bottom of the matchbox. He puts
his own thumb through the hole. The blood is red ink, I believe. Is the story
worth a cup of coffee, sir
Text B The Party
Claire Walton is working at home on a Sunday afternoor. The phone rings. It is
an old friend. ClAiRE: Hello.
MICK: Hello, Claire. This is Mick.
CLAIRE: Mick! Nice to hear from you again. How are you
MtcK: Fine, thanks. And you
CLAIRE: Oh , not so bad. I've been very busy , but I'm going
away on holiday soon.
MICK: Good. Listen. I'm phoning because I want to invite you to a party. At our
new
house. And. . .
CLAIRE: New house Really
MIcK: Yes. Weve moved. Thats why were giving the pa ty. Can you come
CLAIRE: Well, that depends. When is it
MIcK: This Saturday evening.
CLAIRE: Well. . . I'm going away on Sunday morning. Very ear ly. Will the party
go on
very late
MICK: Until two in the morning. But you don't have to si that long.Well What
about it
CLAIRE: All right. I'll come. But I'd like to bring a present Something for
your new house.
What would you like
MICK: Nothing. I mean, don't bring anything. It isnt necesary.
CLAIRE: But I'd still like...
MICK: Just bring yourself! I'm looking forward to seeing
you again. It's been a long time !
CLAIRE: Yes, it has. I'm looking forward to seeing you. too. and your new
house. Uh. . .
when does the party start
MlcK: Come any time after eight. All right .
CLAIRE: Yes. Oh. by the W..
MICK: Bye! See you on Saturday evening.
CLAIRE: Wait a moment , Mick. You havent. . . Mick Are you still there You
havent
given me your new address. Hello Mick Hello
Question on Text B 7.Read the following passage once. Underline the key words
while reading and reteli the story to your partner. There Are Some Things You
Cant Get Away Without
I have a confession to make, and the sooner it gets out in the open, the better
I'll feel about. I don't drive a car.
Americans are broad-minded people. theyll accept the fact that a person
newspapercan be an alcoholic, a dope fiend, a wife beater, and even
anewspaperman but if a man doesnt drive. therc is something wrong with him.
Through the years I've found it very embarrassing to admit it to anyand my best
friends tend to view me with suspicion and contempt.
But where I really run into. trouble is when I go into a stone and try to made
a purchase with a check.
It happend again last week when I went to a discount house at a large shopping
center in maryland.Iwanted to buy a portable tyewriter,and the salesman was
very helpful about showing me the different modeIs.
I decided on one, and then I said, May I write out a personal check
Naturally, he said kindly. Do you have any identification
Of course, I said. I produced an American Express credit card, a Diners Club
credit card, a Bell Telephone credit card d i pass to the White House.
The man inspected them all and then said,Wheres your drivers license
I dont. have one, I replied..
Did you lose it
No, I didn't lose it. I don't drive a car.
He pushed a button under the cash register, and suddenly a floor manager came
rushing over.
The salesman had now become surly.Thes guys trying to cash a checd, and he
doesnt have a drivers license. Should I call the store detective
Wait a minute. I'll talk to him , the manager said. Did you lose your drivers
license for some traffic offense
No, I've never driven. I don't like to drive.
Nobody likes to drive, the floor manager shouted. Thats no excuse. Why are you
trying to cash a check if you don't have a drivers license
I thought all the other identification was good enough, I explained. By this
time the president of the store had arrived on the scene. Fortu nately, he
recognized my name and okayed the check. He was very embarrassed by the
treatment I had received and said, come on, I'll buy you a drink.
I forgot to tell you, I said. I don't drink either.
This was too much, even for him, and he pushed me toward the door.
Get out of here , he said , and don't come back !
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