carte_modern english course

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ffi..... ... \:5.. .•.. . .~ .. ~ ... VJ ...•.• ~·

"They soar up over the Parks and Avenues" (p.225).

A

Modern English Course FOR

Foreign Students An lntermediate Book

BY

C. E. ECKERSLEY, M.A. Ellglish }.faster, tlw Polyleclmîc &Mndarll ScJwol; Leeturer i11 BlIUlish, Schod of 2JIcdern Ll1lguQges,

The PollllecJmic. Regent Strect, London

ILLUSTRATIONS BY P. J. WALFORD

LONGMAN~ GREEN AND CU LONDON • NEW YORK • TORONTO

LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO. LTD.

39 PAT&RNOSTER ROW, LO:<lDON, E.c·4 CHITTARAN)AN AYENUE, CALCUTTA

'53 NICOL RQAD, no:>tBAY

36A MOUNT ROAD, MADRAS

LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO. Il4 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK

221 EAST 20TH STRRE.T, CHICAGO

88 TnEMONT STREET, BOSTON

LONGZ\rANS, GREEN AND CO.

215 VICTORIA STREl:T, TORONTO

Bl'" THE SAJIE AUTHOR

ENGLAND AXD THE EXGLlSH. A Book for Foreign Students.

A CONCISE EXGLlSH GRA~!MAR. For Foreign Students.

AN EVERYDAY EXGLlSH COURSE. For Foreign Students.

BRIGHTER ENGLlSH. A Book of Short Stories, Plays, Poems,

aud Essays. With Exercises.

.:Vew Zmprc:ssi01t

Pritlled il! Great Brita:n.

PREFACE

WHEN my book "England and the English" appeared, a well-known teacher of English wrote to my publishers :

". . . Twenty-five years' experience at Continental universities has shown me that what is stilllacking is a short book, with illustrations, of things English, an English house, furniture, bills of fare, theatres, racecourse, football field, golf links; typical English scenes (not Westminster Abbey, the British Museum, Tower Bridge), advertisements, school programmes, university life, c10thing and all the common things of everyday life, shopping, post oftice, flying, motoring, sport; brieflv, everyday life in England, the whole arranged attractively between the covers of a weU-made book costing not more than 3s. That is what is wanted badly on the Continent."

1 hope this present volume will he1p towards supplying that want.

The student who knows no English at ali can make a beginning with this book, but those students who have already a slight lmowledge of English can telescope the first ten lessons into mo or three and will then find, 1 think, material that is new to them.

The maill emphasis of the book is on v

vi PREFACE conversational English, and for that reason much of the teaching is in the form of question and answer. For that reason, too, a series of conversations is included in which the ordinary affairs of life, housekeeping, football, buying a suit of clothes, tennis, a visit to the doctor, looking for " digs," etc., are given not in "literary" English but exactly in the colloquial language that would be used in informal talk. It is suggested that in these and the short plays the students should take the parts of the various characters, reading or performing them as naturally as possible.

Though the book is eminently suitable for use in schools it is inteneleel primarily for adult students, and so the vocabulary is " grown-up " rather than childish. In the first few lessons the vocabulary has necessarily been drawn from the objects found in the classroom or admitting of easy demonstration, but after that an effort has been made to gain freshness by the use of the living vocabulary of everyday speech. So there is no mention of the "pen of my aunt," but motor bikes, wireless sets, lipstick and laddered stockings, cocktails and the Stock Exchange elo figure in its pages. And though those old familiar friends the Tower, \Vestminster Abbey, anel the British Museum do not appear, the reader is taken to the Derby, an Oxford College, Wimbleelon, a Law Court; he has a glimpse of the Boat Race, a motor sale-room, and the " Cheshire Cheese "; he will learn how to make a telephone call, do a crossword puzzle, or order tea at a " Corner House," how to write a business letter, or get a good seat in the train; he will discover

PREFACE vii

the popular brands of cigarettes, and why English people senel their sons to Eton.

There is still no royal road to learning, and this book does not pretenel to teach English without effort-but it has tried to teach English without boredom ..

C. E. E.

For their kinelness and courtesy in glVmg permission to use copyright material the author is greatly indebted to :

Mr A. G. Street and the Editor of The Jl10ming Post for " HaD/est Days."

Mr Robert Lynd and the Editor of Tlle Nczos-Chronide for fi \Vords, \Vords, \V ords. "

l\fr 1 vor Bro\\'1l and the Editor of The Obsen:er for" \Yhite House."

Mr C. A. Strauss and the Editor of Tlze Eveniug Standard for" The Undergraduate's First Day at Oxford."

Mr Howard Spring and the Editor of The Evenillg Standard for" The Derby."

Miss P. N. Wamer and the Editor of Tlie Ncws-C/zronicle for" Here Corne the ' Undergraduettcs. ' "

Mr R. U. J oyce and the Editor of Tlte Quintinian for " A Question of Ethics."

The Editor of Punch for vadous jokes on p. 231. The Editor of The Daily Express for the Crossword Puzzle

on p. 235. The Editor of Tlie News Chronicle for the Crossword

Puzzle on p. 236. The l\rIanager of " Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese " for extracts

from the Pamplzlet of Ye Olde Clzeslzire Cheese. Mr J. B. Priestley for the quotation on p. 90 and Mr

H. G. Wells for that on pp. I36-37. John O' London and lVIessrs George New'nes for the

"Nursery Rhyme" (new style) on p. 237. The National Union of Teachers for Examination Papers

on pp. 240-4+

CONTENTS PREFACE THE SOUNDS IN ENGLISH EXERCISES IN PRONUNCIATION

PART ONE

THE ELEMENTS OF THE LANGUAGE. EVERYDAY ENGLAND

FIRST LESSON. "WHAT 18 IT I " Exercises "

SECOND LESSON. "IT 18, IT 18 NOT " Exercises". .....

THIRD LESSON. "THl8, THAT, THESE, THOSE " • Exercises . . . . .

FOURTH LESSON. THE VERB" To BE " Exercises . . .

FIFTH LESSON. NUMBERS . Exercises .

SIXTH LESSON. NATIONALITIES

Exercises '" SEVENTH LESSON. THE VERB" To HAVE "

Reading: CLOTHES Exercises. ..

EIGHTH LESSON. POSSESSIVE WJECTIVES L'iD PRONOUNS • "

Reading: TEA IN TEE RTh.-rAURANT Exercises "

NINTH LESSON. TIm VERB "CA"" L"iD OmER VERBS

Reading: TEE DAILY PROGRAM'IE Exercises

TENTH LESSON. "Haw?" EvercÎses

Reading : TIME Exercises

ix

PAGE

v

1

2

9 10

II 12

13 15 15 16 17 r8 rS 20

21

22

23

24 27 29

29 31

33 33 37 38 42

x CONTENTS

ELEVENTH LESSON. SOME PREPOSITIONS

Exercise Reading : WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

Exerdses TWELFTH LESSON. SOME OTHER QUESTION WORDS

Excrcise Reading : THE HOME

Exercises THIRTEENTH LESSON. VEREs-I"TERROGATIVE

AND NEGATIVE

Exercises Reading : P APERS AND MAGAZINES

Exercises FOURTEENTH LESSON. CmTPARlSOK OF ADJECTlVES

Exerase Reading: THE POST OFFICE

Exercises FIFTEENTH LESSON. ADVERBS

Exercises Reading : THE HOTEL

E:rcrcises . SIXTEENTH LESSON. THE POSSESSIYE CASE

ExercÎses Reading: MONEY

E::..:ercises . . SEVENTEENTH LESSON. THE PAST TENSE

Exercises Reading: SHOPS AND SHOPPING

Exercises EIGHTEENTH LESSON. IRREGULAR VERBS

Exerci'ses Reading: WOR!{ AND WORKERS

Exerdses NINETEENTH LESSON. PAST TENSE, NEGATIVE

AND INTERROGATIVE

Exercises Reading: A CHANNEL CROSSING

Exerdses TWENTIETH LESSON. THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Exercises

rAGB

43 46 47 49 5° 51

52

54

54 57 58 60

60 62 63 65 65 67 68 70

7° 72

72

75 76 77 77 80 80 83 84 86

86 88 90

92

93 95

CONTENTS

TWENTIETH LESSON (continued). Reading: WE.'THER

Exercises TWENTY-FIRST LESSON.

PHRASES E.'cercises

Reading: THE RAIL\VAY STATION Exercises . . .

SE?-.îENCES Ah"'D

TWENTY-SECOND LESSON. NOMINATlYE CASE AND OBIECTIVE CASE

Exereises Reading: MEALS

E"'.-.:ercises . TWENTY-THIRD LESSON. THE FUTURE TENSE

Exercises . . Reading: EKGLlSH SCHOOLS

E.t'(,,"rcises . TWENTY-FOURTH LESSON. TIIE FUTURE

TE."lSE AGAIN

Reading: THE GOVER.'-iMEKT OF EKGLAKD Exercises

TWENTY-FIFTH LESSON. MORE ABOUT ADVERBS Exercises

Reading: A CRIMINAL TRIAL

E."urcises " " TWENTY-SIXTH LESSON. QUESTION PIIRASES

Reading: LETTERS Exercises

PART TWO

CONVERSATIONS LoOKING FOR H D IGS " .

SHOPP'NG IN TIIE WEST E"D BUYING A CAR A NEW SUIT. • • • SPORT (1) AT TIIE FOOTBALL MATCII

(2) Tm,,,,,s AT W,MBLEDO>l AT TUR DOCTOR'S • TnB SRASIDE COTTAGE

xi

PAGE

96 99

100

I02

1°3 r07

108 IlO

IlO II{

Il5 IIÎ IlS 123

123 125 I28 129 13 1 I32

'34 '35 136 I43

'47 I48 '52

'56 160 ,62 ,67 169

xii

NANCY Exermes

CONTENTS

PLAYS

A QUESTION OF ETHICS, Exermes

by R U. Joyce

PART THREE

PAGB

175 186 186 192

SNAPSHOTS OF ENGLAND BY WRITERS OF TO-DAY

THE UNDERGRADUATE'S FIRST DAY AT OXFORD, by C. A. Sirauss '95 E:l:ercises 199

HERE C01lE THE " UNDERGRADUETTES," by P. N. Warner 200

Exercises 205 THE DERBY, by Howard Spriug 206

Exercises ZIa THE BOAT RACE, 1932, from Tlte Observer 210

Exermes ZI4 HARVEST D.ws, by A. G. Streel 2'4

Exermes z19 "WORDS, \VORDS, '\VORDS," by Robert Lynd 220

E."I.:ercises 224 \VHITE HOUSE) by Ivor Brcr;1J!t 2Z5

Exercises 228

PART FOUR CHIEFLY FOR AMUSEMENT

\VIT FROM U PUNeH H

JOKES CROSSWORD PUZZLES A NURSERY R!iYME •

OLO STYLE NEW STYLE

Il\-lAGINARY BOOK TITLES. \VORD PUZZLES

CONUNDRUMS l\NSWERS

EXAMINATION PAPERS APPENDIX

23 I

232

235, 236 23Î 23Î 237 237 237 238 238

240

A Modern Englisb Course

TIm SOUNDS IN ENGLISH

VOWELS AND DIPHTHONGS

As the sounds in one language have usually no exact parallel in another no attempt has been made to give foreign "equivalents" for the English sounds.

VOWELS. DIPHTHONGS.

7 Phonetic 1\ o. Symbol. Example. N Phonetic 1

o. Symbol. E.,amp e.

I. i : tree 13· ei late 2. pin 14· ou go 3· e pen 15· ai my 4· re man 16. au house 5· a: father '7· oi boy 6. " not ,S. i" deal' 7· a: saw '9· Ea air 8. u put 20. ". more 9· u: rude 21. ua poor

10. A up II. .: bird 12. " asleep

1

II A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

CONSONANTS UNVOICED. VOICED.

N Phanetic E 1 a. S b 1 'xamp e. PhalZetic l

Na. S b 1 Examp e.

1. 2. 3· 4· 5· 6. 7· 8. 9·

Vawel Na.

ym o. ~m a. p paper ro. b boat t town II. d doar k cat 12. g go f fat '3· v vine e thin '4· i1 then s sit 15· z zero S shut 16. 5 measure tS church '7· da judge h hot 18. m man

'9· n no 20. ~ sing 21. r red 22 I Iight 23· w wine 24· j ye~

EXERCISES IN PRONUNCIATION

VOWELS

I. [i:] see, sheep, leave, seat, cheap, believe, ceiling, quay, key, machine, people.

2. Ei] hit, ship, chip, Jive, build, deceive, believe.

3. [e] bed, hen, bread, breast, leopard, Leonard, any, many, Thames, says, friend, leisure, bury.

4. [re] cap, ~and, family, Saturday, imagine, examme.

EXERCISES IN PRONUNCIATION 3 Vou-ei

- p 5. [a:] far, car, are, comman,d, depart, can't, ,aunt, heart, c1erk, ,perby.

6. [a] bdx, c1ock, knowi~dge~ watch, swan, want, was, quality, ya~t, caulifiower, sausage, cough.

7. [a:] alI, dwarf, chalk, horse, fork, sWl;lrd, cause, saucer, laundry, ought, George." -8. Eu] fuII, pulI, bulI, bush, cushion, put, foot, woman, wolf, should, couId.

9. [u:] bODt, tooth, school, do, Iose, two, fiew, Jew, shoe, through, fruit.

10. [A] cup, jug, come, Monday, wonder, London, onion, young, country, courage, southem, does, twopenny.

II. [;):] herd, were, university, girl, skirt, word, world, colonel, church, fur, joumey, courteous.

12. [;)] a, alive, above, Christmas, breakfast, the, father, butter, teacher, to-night, propose, memory, labour, honour, August, anxious.

I3. [ei] gate, pai!, rain, Cambridge, reign, eight, vei!, great, break, gaol, jail, obey, champagne.

14. [ou] go, won't, boat, coat, brooch, though, dough, soul, folIow, sew, mauve, Cologne.

4 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE Vowel No. 15. [ai]

16. [au]

17. [oi] 18. [ia]

child, life, Michael, Isaac, fly, reply, buy, height, either, tie, dye, eye, flight, guide, isle. mouse, flour, mouth, count, cow, towel, bough, plough. noise, voice, oii, employ. fear, year, idea, sincere, superior, hero.

19. [ea] care, prayer, chair, hair, there, wear, heir.

20. [oa] pour, four, store, wore, door, oar. 21. lua] tour, your, sure, February, poor.

CONSONANTS

No. 6. [s] sour, so, scene, listen, university, (Unvoiced.) handsome, miss, cups, maps, shops,

hats, puts, thinks, shuts, peace, voice, Thomas.

No. 15. [z] crimson, clumsy, Wednesday, Thurs-(Voiced.) day, Chinese, Japanese, as, is, was,

possess, desire, disease, observe, present, resemble, result, buns, wines, beds, knives, cabs, comes, sings, loses, J ames, Charles.

Compare: loose, Iose; sink, zinc; grace, graze ; hiss, his; advice, advise; use (n.), use (v.); excuse (n.), excuse (v.); close (adj.), close (v.).

(The first of each pair is unvoiced, the second is voiced.)

EXERCISES IN PRONUNCIATION 5 No. 5. [8] thank, theatre, thick, thief, thimble, (Unvoiced.) thin, thing, through, thousand, three,

throat, throne, thumb, Thursday, health, mouth, strength, length, nothing, everything, wealthy, author.

No. 14. ['<5] than, that, the, their, then, there, (Voiced.) this, though, whether, smooth, with,

father, mother, brother, farthing, months, leather.

Compare: bath, bathe; breath, breathe; mouth, mouths; north, northern; south, southern; smith, smithy.

Repeat: din, fin, tin, sin, thin; tank, sank, dank, thank; den, fen, ten, then; fate, fade, face, faith; Fred, dread, shred, tread, thread; fought, taught, thought.

No. 13. [v] vain, valley, value, velvet, verb, verse, view, vil1age, live, invite, nephew, Stephen.

No. 23. [w]wage, wagon, walk, want, warm, water, Wednesday, white, wild, winter, wolf, woman, wife, work.

Compare: vine, wine; verse, worse; vary, wary; vent, went; veil, wail; vein, wane; vest, west; vile, while.

NO·9· [h] hair, half, hand, happy, head, health, hide, high, hold, hope, house, human, hurry, behind, behave, inhabit, prohibit, behold.

[h is not sounded in tlze following] heir, heiress, honour, honest, hour.

6 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

NO·7· [\] shelI, sharp, shoot, show, fish, passion, pension, fashion, patient, nation, ancient, sure, sugar, musician, machine.

No. 8. [tll Charles, chanee, cheek, cheese, each, arch, watch, touch, reach, eoach.

No. 17. [d3lJohn, judge, bridge, hedge, edge, large, German, George, age, luggage.

Compare: ship, chip; sheep, cheap; washes, watches; share, chair; shop, chop ; shoes, choose, Jews; shear, cheer, jeer; shin, chin, gin; Persia, perch, purge.

No. 24. [j 1 you, youth, year, your, yelIow, eube, huge, eure, due, new, human, unite, student.

PART 1

THE ELEMENTS OF THE LANGUAGE EVERYDAY ENGLAND

.,

FIRST LESSON

For the firsl seven lessons Ihe pupils' books should be rlosed while tlze tcacher glves tlze words, asl~ tlze questions, aud t'llustrates by pointing, etc.

WHAT 18 IT?

It is (it's) a hand a head a face

a book a pencil a knee

a nose a wrist a university [" u " here is a

consonant sound] " a " before a consonant sound.

It is (it's) an arm an elbow an ear an ankle an eye an inkpot

" an " before a vowel sound.

WHAT COLOUR 18 IT?

It is red blue green

Question. What colom is the

book?

yellow white black

Auswer. The book is red.

9


Question. What colour is the

sky?

What colour is the grass ?

What colour is the pilIar-box?

What colour is the traffic Iight?

Answer. The skv is blue; it is fine

to-dăy. The sky is grey; it is duH

to-day. The grass is green.

The pillar-box is red. (Picture on p. 6+)

It is red for Stop; now it is yellow for Get Ready ; now it is green for Go.

EXERCISES

I. Put in " a " or <1 a11."

(1) It is - anu. (2) It is - knee. (3) It is - face. (4) It is - ear. (5) It is - ankie. (6) It is - head. (7) It is - nose; (8) It is - eye. (9) It is - chin.

(10) It is - elbow.

2. TVhat is it ?

(TEACHER'S NOTE.-The allS'll,lcrs must always be sentences.]

w .c", "'1 f$~ ~

J:/ ~

\ ,~ ~

~ ~

~ -..; ,\

G ~ ~ "" .

SECOND LESSON

Dictation

What is tlus? It is an arm. It is a hand.

head face nose

chin mouth knee

ear eibow ankle

wnst vowel consonant

What colour is the pillar-box? It is red. "Vhat colour is the grass? The grass is green. The traffic light is red, yeUow, and green.

SECOND LESSON

IT lS

Question. 18 it a hand? Is it a nose ? Is it a finger ? 18 it an ear? I8 it an elbow ?

IT lS NOT

§ 1

Anszver. Yes, it is a hand. Yes, it is a nose. Yes, it is a finger. Yes, it is an ear. Yes, it is an elbow.

§z

II

I8 it a head? No, it is not (isn't); it is

1s it a foot ? Is it an arm? Is it an ankle ?

(it's) an arm. No, it isn't; it's an ear. No, it isn't; it's an ankle. No, it isn't; it's a leg.

[Tlze Teac1wr should illustrate tlzese by poilltil1g to arm, ear, etc.]

IZ A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

!t's a window. It's a door. It's a table. It's a pen.

Wh t' . t? ,It's a pencil. a lS 1 • \It'S a lamp.

It's a cupboard. It's a book. It's a desk. It' s a Roor.

Do dri/l fOit" tlzese as in § 1 and § 2, e.g., Is it a windofO?

Yes, it is. No, it im't " it's a door, etc.

EXERCISES

,"",m'" IJ ~ m i:i :~~~;; [!J4~ [iJ5snr. ~69.· .

1. Wlzat is it?

[Answers must be sentenees.]

(3) a hand? ~«( (4) an ear ? -(5) a lamp ? (6) a cup-

(7) ~";:!?? [l]7rm ~8 (8) a hand? O O . .... ~ (9) ~o;v;n- on ~

9

THIRD LESSON '3

Dictation

Is it a book? Yes, it is a book. Is it a desk? No, it is not; it Îs a lamp.

window table cupboard floar pencil

TIDRD LESSON

§ 1

THIS, THAT, THESE, THOSE This is a table; it is here. That is a window; it is there.

What is this? It is a table. What is that? It is a window.

(Teacher, pointillg to floor): Is the window here? No, it is there.

(To back of 700111): 1s the table there? No, it is here.

§2 This is a j acket. This is a handkerchief. That is a picture. That is a map (see p. 34)' Is that a map? Yes, it is. Is this a picture? No, it is a jacket.

This is a book. These are books.


Singular. Plural. faces. noses.

r

a face. a nose.

Thi a foot. . s~adesk. IS 1 a handkerchief.

la man.

Th ,feet. esei desks .

are handkerchiefs. men.

a woman. women.

This is a window. These are windows.

Singular.

ra wall. a picture.

That is la door. .A-,. a lamp. IX{ a star.

Plural.

lWallS.

Those pictures. are doors.

lamps . stars. :*:

A Pair=2 A pair of shoes. A pair of gloves. A pair of stockings. A pair of glasses.

~ A pair of trousers. A pair of braces. A pair of scissors. A pair of pliers.

Singular.

1)\ Plural.

arms. fa map. an arm.

It is a coHar.

la tie. lmaps.

They are c.ollars, tles.

a pair of shoes. 1Jairs of shoes.

FOURTH LESSON 15

EXERCISES

1. \\irite the plural of: a head, a foot, a leg, a table, a mau, a woman, a glove, a wrist, an ear, an elbO\y.

z. Write in plural form: This is a hand. This is a fooL That is a jacket. That Îs not a pen, it is a pencit. He is a man, Is this an eye? Yes, it is an eye. Is this a pair of gloves? No, it is a pair of stockings.

Dictation This is a picture. Those are books. These are shoes.

Those are scÎssors. There is a pair of pliers. Here is a collar. \Vhat are these? They are handkerchicfs. \\'hat are those ? They are strl.rs. A pair of glasses and a pair of glovcs are here.

FOURTH LESSON

THE VERB "TO BE"

1 am the teacher. 1 am a man, or, I am a woman. You are a student. You are a man, a boy, a woman, a gir!.

Question.

Am 1 the teacher ? Are you a student? Are you a man ?

Are l'ou a boy ?

Are you a11 students ? \Vhat is he? \'inat is she?

Allswer.

Yes, YOli are the teacher. Yes, 1 am a student. Yes, 1 am a man. No,Iamnot; Iamawoman. Yes, 1 am a boy. No,I am not; 1 am a girl. Yes, vie are aU students. He is a student, also. She is a student, too.


THE VERB "TO BE"

Affirmative. 1 am. You are. Re Îs. She is.

Negative. 1 am not. You are not. Re is not. She is not.

Interrogative. AmI? Are you? Is he? Is she ? Is it ? It is. It Îs not.

We are. You are. Theyare.

\Ve are not. You are not. They are not.

Are \Ve? Are you ? Are they ?

EXERCISES

1. Answer the following questÎons :-

r

a teacher ? Yes ...... 1\0 ..... . a student? Yes ...... No ..... .

) Y N A I

aman. es ...... _o ..... . I. m ~ - J

I la woman. Yes ...... No ..... .

2. S le.; . l' Y'~'

I h lagtr. es ...... l.'.o ..... .

3· s s e b ) Y N a ay. es ...... o ..... . an Englishman ? Yes ...... No ..... . an Eng1ishwoman ? Yes...... No .... ..

r

teachers ? Yes ...... No ..... . stuclents? Yes ...... No ..... .

A meni Y03 ...... No .... .. +. re we , Y' ~,

A women. es ...... I"lO ...•.•

5· re you 't' ls ) Y' N 6 A th gIr, 03 ...... '.0, .....

.reeYb) y." ays . es ...... .1.''<0 ••.•••

Englishmen ? Yes ,..... N o .... .. Englishwomen? Yes ...... No .... ..

Answer 'lIJlzere possible in tlze affirmative and then in tlze negative.

2. Write the following in the plural :-(1) 1 am a man. (6) That is a star. (z) Re is the teacher. (7) What is the man ? (3) She is a woman. (8) Is the gir! here? (4) You are a student. (9) Am 1 an Englishman ? (5) There is a book. (ro) This is a picture.

FIFTH LESSON

Dicta/ion

17

The men and \vomen, the boys and girls, are al! students.

The teacher is a{~~!an.} {S~:} is not a {;;;~~an.} This student is a man also; that student is a girl. She is here. The teacher is there.

o nought Ione 2two 3 three 4 four 5 five

FIFTH LESSON

NUMBERS 6 six 7 seven 8 eight 9 mne

10 ten

II eleven 12 twelve 13 thirteen 14 fourteen 15 fifteen

ADD1TION

16 sixteen 17 seventeen 18 eighteen 19 nineteen 20 twenty

One and one are two Two and five are seven Six and ten are sixteen

1+1=2.

2+5=7· 6+10=1~

SUBTRACTION Seven from fifteen leaves eight 15- 8. Four from thirteen leaves mne 13-4=9.

21 twenty-one 40 forty 22 twenty-two 50 fifty 23 twenty-three 60 sixty 24 twenty-four 70 seventy 25 twenty-five 80 eighty 26 twenty-six 90 mnety 27 twenty-seven 100 a hundred 28 twenty-eight 200 two hundred

twenty-mne 1000 a thousand 30 thirty 2000 two thousand

,8 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

MULTIPLICATION Faur times five are twenty Six times twelve are seventy-two Three times nine are twenty-seven

DIVISION Six into thirty goes five times Seven into twenty-eight goes faur . times

Five into a hundred goes twenty times

EXERCISES

4X5=20. 6XI2=72. 3x9=27·

30 --0-6= 5·

28--0-7=4'

100--0-5=20.

1. \V rite out the following numbers :-1, 2, 5, 9, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 128, 256, 389, 1264, 2561, 1001, 10,500.

2. Write out and complete the following :-3+4; 6+8; 4+9; 13+3; 15+2. 5-4; 10-7; 14-6 ; 17-6 ; 12-4·

3. Write out and complete the following :-6X7;4X";7X8;8X'2;8X'~ 28-;-4; 4°+8; 60+12; 100+10; 9+3·

SIXTH LESSON

NATIONALITIES

Are you French ? Are you a Frenchman ?

Are you German? Are you a German?

Yes, 1 am French, 1 come from France, 1 am a Frenchman.

No, 1 am not German, 1 come from Austria, 1 am Austrian, 1 am an Austrian.

SIXTH LESSON

1s he Dutch ? 1s he a Dutchman ?

'9 Yes, he is Dutch, he

comes from Holland, he is a Dutchman.

Is she Danish ? Is she a Dane?

No, she is not (isn't) Danish, she i8 Norwegian, she comes from Nonvay; but he is Danish, he comes from Denmark, he is a Dane.

Are they Swiss ? Yes, they come from Switzerland, they are Swiss.

Am 1 Russian ? Am 1 a Russian ?

No, you are not a Russian, you are an Englishman (you are English), you come from England.

Country. Africa America Arabia Argentine Australia Austria Belgium Brazii Britain Bulgaria Canada Chile China

Adjective. Mrican American Arabian Argentine Australian Austrian Belgian Brazilian British Bulgarian Canadian Chilean Chinese Czecho-Slovakian Danish English Finnish French

NOU1l.

an Mrieau an American an Arab an Argentine an Australian an Austrian a Belgian a Brazilian a Briton a Bulgarian a Canadian a Chilean a Chinese a Czecho-Slovakian a Dane an Englishman a Finn a Frenchman


COUlltry. Germany Greece Holland Hungary India Treland Italy Japan Jugoslavia Latvia Norway Peru Persia Poland Rumania Russia Scotland Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Wales

Adjective. German Greek Dutch Hungarian Indian lrish Italian Japanese J ugoslavian Latvian Norwegian Peruvian Persian Polish Rumanian Russian Scottish, Scotch Spanish Swedish Swiss Turkish Welsh

EXERCISE

Complete the following.

NOU1l.

a Gennan a Greek a Dutchman a Hungarian an Indian an lrishman an Italian a Japanese a J ugoslavian a Latvian Dr a Lett a Norwegian a Peruvian a Persian a Pole a Rumanian a Russian a Scotsman a Spaniard a Swede a Swiss a Turk a Welshman

Example.-He is African, he comes from Africa, he is an African.

I. He is Belgian, he comes from -, he is a-. 2. She is Austrian, she comes from -, she is an -. 3. Re is -, he comes from Denmark, he is a-. 4. Re is -, he comes from Fin1and, he is a -. ~. Re is Greek, he comes from -, hc i5 a-, 6. He is -, he comes from Holland, he i5 a -. 7. He is 1ri5h, he comes from -, he is an -. S. Re is -, he comes from Japan, he is a-. 9. Re is -, he comes from Norway, he is a-.

Ia. He is -, he comes from Poland, he is a -. ! 1. Re is -, he comes from Sv;eden, he is a -. 12. Re is -, he comes from \Vales, he is a-. 13, He is -, he comes from Scotland, he is a-"

SEVENTH LESSON 21

SEVENTH LESSON

THE VERB "TO HA VE "

1 have a wrist watch, you have a wrist watch. He has a motor bike, they have motor bikes.

Question. Rave 1 a \vrist watch ?

Have you a wrist \vateh ?

Bas he a motor bike?

Have they motor bikes ?

Rave you a passport ?

AnSUler. Yes, you have a \\'rist \vatch.

Yes, 1 have a wrist \vateh.

Yes, he has a motor hike.

Yes, they havc motor bikes.

Ycs, 1 havc a passport in my bag.

Ras she :l tennis racquet ? Yes, she has a tennis racquct. No, she has not (hasn't) a

tennis racquet.

Has he a telephone in his office ?

I-Iave we a large c1assroom ?

Yes, he has a telephone in his oilice.

No, he has not (hasn't) a telephone in his office.

Yes, \ve have a large classroom.

No, \ve havc not (havcn't) a large classroom.

Have they a \vireless set?

Yes, thcy have a wircless set.

2


Affirmative. I have. You have. He has. She has. It has. We have. You have. They have.

"TO HAvE" Negative.

I have not (haven't). You have not (haven't). He has not (hasn't). She has not (hasn't). It has not (hasn't). We have not (haven't). You have not (haven't). They have not (haven't).

CLOTRES

lnterrogative. Have I? Haveyou? Has he? Has she? Has it ? Rave we? Have you? Have they?

1. Jack Robinson has a new suit to-day; he is very proud o~ i~. It is a ?ayy-blu~ serge suit

conslstmg of tr(\'us~ts, walstcoat, and double-breasted coat or jacket. The jacket has two side pockets, an outside breast-pocket for a handkerchief, md an inside pocket for papers. .'

2. Re has a blue and white stitped shirt and collar, a neat black silk tie, black socks and shoes, md a felt hat. Re has also a new overcoat of dark cloth with a black silk li1ling. His hat is soft grey felt, and his gloves

are dark grey suede. 1 think he is a very welldres sed mall.

3· In summer he has a light suit of grey fianuel and a pmama hat, or, as he is very fOnd of cricket md tennis, he of ten has white fianne! tr~sers with a belt, a white silk or cotton shirt open at the neck, and rubber-soled shoe~.

4· In winter he plays golf frequently, and for

SEVENTH LESSON 23

d &.

:Ill';;ne,'llJiIS a rather heavy ark brown plus-four t~lsuit, with golf stockings and brogues, and

'~'f;,;"~ a cay on his head. - ; Robinson, is tall md slim,

has a well-cut black coat md

silk stockings, shoes. For the

the' country she has three-piece suit, cona navy-blue coat and

mmd a striped jumper, but weather is hot she has

tussore - silk sleeveless bIue, green, yellow, and Bmgues.

and canvas shoes. She Iittle Iinen hats to match her frocks.

For tennis she always has white frocks or a biouse md "shorts." Mrs Robinson has pretty bIack evening dress of chiffon velvet

m evening wrap to match, and bIack crepe-deippers. With these she wears platinum

ear-rings aud a smaIi necklace of seedwith a diamond and platinum c1asp.

EXERCISES

Vocabulary Practice.-Make a sentence for each of the }llmirlng words :-

(1) suit (2) navy blue (3) pocket (f) coUa! (5) lining (6) weU-dressed

(7) flannel (8) brogues (9) skirt

(10) weU-cut (II) velve! (IZ) sleeveless


2. \Yrite out the verb" to have," completing each fonn of the verb with words you have learned, e.g.,

" 1 have a new suit, H etc.

3. Write the following sentences (1) in the negative, (2) in the interrogative, (3) in the plural form :-

(a) 1 have a blue and white striped shirt. (b) He has a pair of black shoes. (e) She has a pink silk dress. (d) She has a fur coat. (e) 1 have a tweed cap.

(f) You have a pocket.

Dictatian Short piece from the passage " Clothes."

EIGHTH LESSON

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES AND PRONOUNS

My. Mine. Teac1zer:

This is my newspaper, it belongs to me, the newspaper is mine.

That is my cheque-book, it belongs to me, the :::heque-book is mine.

These are my shoes, they belong to me, the shoes are mine.

Your. Yours. Questioll. Amt!.lcr.

Whose newspaper is this ? It lS your ne,Yspaper, the newspaper is yours.

!Vho,e cheque-book is this ? It is your cheque-book, the cheque~ book is yours.

EIGHTH LESSON

Yours. 25

Amwer. They are Jlonr shoes, thc

shoes are yours.

~elephone, it belongs to yau, the 18 yours.

. umbrella, it belongs to you, the tDrella IS yours. are :your g~ves, they belong to you, the

gloves are yours.

telephone is tbat ?

gloves are those ?

His.

AnS'wer. It is my telephone, the tele

phone is mine. It is my umbrella, the Uffi

brella is mine. They are my gloves, the

gloves are mine.

His. That is !zis handkerchief, it belongs to !zim, the

handkerchief is his. That is !zis coat, it belongs to him, the coat is

!zis. Those are !zis dogs, they belong to !zim, the

dogs are !zis.

Question. A1lS1!'er. v .fi $;' handkerchief is that ? It IS his handke'rchief, it

belongs to Izin!. coat is that ? It is /zis eoat, it belongs to

Imn. dogs are those ? They are his dogs, they be-

long to lzim.


Her. Hers. That is her lipstick, it belongs to her, the lip

Ouestioll.

stick is hers. That is her powder-puff, it be

longs to her, the powder-puff is hers.

Those are her stockings, they belong to her, the stockings are hers.

Al1swer. Whose lipstick is that ? It is her lipstick, it belongs to

her. \\I1,ose powder-puff is that ?

\ Vhose stockings are those ?

Our.

It is her powder-puff, it belongs to her.

They are her stockings, they belong to her.

Ours. Thi.s is our classroom, it is for us, the room

IS ours. These are our desks, they are for 1IS, the desks

are ours. Question.

\Vhose classroom is this ?

Whose desks are thbe ?

Al1swer. It is our classroom, it is for

ilS, it is ours. They are our desks, they are

for us, they are ours.

Their. Theirs. The boys have a football, it is tlzeir football,

the football is theirs. The girls have some toys, they are tlzeir toys,

the toys are theirs. Questioll.

Whose football is this ? Whose toys are these ?

Ansa:er. It is the boys' footbaIl. They are the girls' toys.

EIGHTH LESSON

~~!ţ$ESSlVE ADJECTIVES AND ~+;" .. 1l0$SESSIVE PRONOUNS

PLURAL.

27

PronoU1l. ffime yours

Adjective. Pronoun.

hi } he~

EXERCISES

Dur ours your yours

their theirs

,,(:Onlp],ete the foIIowing, No. 1 is aIready done :-

h:tve ~ name, it belongs to me, it is my name, the n3n;te 15 1'!U1U::.

He

We you ................................. .

..........•.........................

2. Put the foIlowing into the plural :-(1) 1 have my book here. It is mine. (2) Re sits in his chair. The ehair is his. (3) She rcads her magazine. It is hers.

Put the foIIowing into the singular :(4) They are in their c1assrooms. (5) Rave you your books to-day ? (6) We bave a big tree in our garden.

TEA IN THE RESTAURANT

1. 1 often have my tea in a restaurant or cafe. to see the crowd of people coming and going,

the sound of their voices and laughter, to ligthn to the music of the orchestra.

2. Here we are in I':yons' "Corner House"


in Tott~~~m Court Road. It is very crowded, but we get a seat at a table for two, and now we are ready for tea. The waitress, very smart in her bl~cj{ dress, white cap and gpron, is here with h Ce.". h h d t e menu m er an.

3. "1 want a Rot of tea for two, ro11s aud butter, and some p~stries, please."

" Yes, sir, Indi1!n or China tea ? " " Ch' 1 " ma, p ease. _ "_ In a few minutes she is back again with a trfy:

On it there are cups and saucers, spoons and plătes, knives and forks, a. pot of tea, and jugs of h6t wâier aud milk.

4. 1 ptfur out the tea, my friend has his cup, 1 have mine. He has two lumps of sugar and plenty of milk. 1 have tea without sugar or milk. He has strong tea, but 1 prefer mine weak.

5. Here are the ro11s, the pats of butter, and the pastries. T~e ro11s are fresh and have crisp brown crusts, but the inside is soft aud white. The pastries are very good; there are cream cakes and sponge căkes, sma11 fruit tarts and jam ro11.

6. "That is a very nice tea," 1 say to my friend. "Yes," he says, " but it is time to go now." " Waitress, give me our bill, please." " Yes, sir; pay at the desk on the way out." The wmtress is very quick and ple'iisant. 1

put twopence unger my plate as a tip for her; my friend puts i:W6pence unde~ his plate, too.

NINTH LESSON

EXERCISES

;1:. Put each of these '\vords in a sentence :-(a) restaurant (d) waitress (g) j/l:g-(b) laughter (e) men'u (il) dl\st (e) orchestra (f) pastries (i) bill

2. How do you (a) Order tea, (b) Ask for your bill, (e) Make a pot of tea 1

3. Dictation from the passage read.

NINTH LESSON

THE VERB "CAN"

1 can speak English, you can speak English. 1 can row a boat, he can row a boat.

QuestioJl. Can 1 speak English ? Can you speak English ? Can he row a boat ?

Allsu'er. Yes, you can speak English. Yes, 1 can speak English. Yes, he can row a boat.

29

No,he cannot (can't) row a boat.

.,

~---"'--~~-:.s ~~~

,

3° A MODERN ENGLlSH COURSE

Question. Answer.

Can he sing a song ? Yes, he can sing a song.

No, she cannot (can't) carne ta the dance; she has a bad cald.

Can she carne ta the dance ta-night?

Can we dance here?

Can the palicemen direct ali this traffic in Landon ?

\Vhere can 1 huy meat, butter, fish?

Oh, na! Yau cannat (can't) dance here; the room is too small.

Yes, they dl~ect it very well.

You can huy meat at the butcher's, butter at the g"acer's, fish at the fishn:i6nger's.

SOME OTHER VERBS

ISt Persoll Singular. 1 row a boat. I pay my income tax. leat my dinner. 1 came fram Landon. 1 ga for a walk. 1 buy The Times.

3rd Perso1t- Singular.

Re rows a boat. Re pays his income ta..x. Re eats his dinner. She comes from Landon. My dag gbes\vith roe .• Mr Smith buys Tlle Telegrap".

AU these actions are in the present time so this form of the verb is caUed the rt€s~t'[el1s~, Simple. This Simple Present is used for ari action that is r€peated or habitual, e.g.,

1 like open windows. (Habitual.) Re always comes to this restaurant for lunch.

(R€peated.) Note that the third person singular of the

Simple Present ends in " s." ,

NINTH LESSON

SHOPKEEPERS The gros:er selIs sugar, tea, etc. The tobacconist selIs cigarettes. The baker sells cakes and bread. The fishmonger selIs fish. " The greengrocer sells cabbages.

PRACTICE IN "CAN" AND "CAN'T" _'fieat cabbages dikes' " ,~ brown bread

J

butter tea 1 can buy

1 · 't b / carrots can uy, Can 1 bu .\ sugar

Y veal bacon white bread cheese cigarettes

'6sh

ta.bacconiSt'S. Igrocer,s.

at the butcher's. b;:ţ,ker's. fishmanger's. greengrocer's.

3'

[Pupils should give quick anSUlers orally, e.g., H 1 cau buy meat at the butcher's," "1 can't buy meat at the grocer's," etc. Thm do tlze same illterrogatÎ1.Je(v.]

Y TRE DAILY PROGRĂMME 1 wfre at 6.30, and lie awake for ten minutes,

then 1 get up. 1 put on my dressing-gown aud go to the bathroom. 1 t\ll'n on the hot water, but, alas, it is never very warm in the early moming so my bath is only ltIkewarm. 1 have


my bath very. quickly, then 1 geti out and rub myself vigoro'îisly. Then . I wash my face and" brush my teeth and gb' back to my bedroom to dress. 1 brush and comb my hair, takd a clean handkerchief out of the drawer, and go downstairs for breakfast at twenty minutes past seven. 1 usually have porridge and cream and then b~con aţtd eggs, toast, and cbffee. As my train to town h~aves at 8.15, and we live quite near to the station, 1 have time to gl~Îlce at the moming paper and to smoke a cigarette. Then I walk to the station. and catch my train, which is always very crowded. 1 arrive at my office at ten minutes to nine. 1 work there tiU half-past twelve, and then 1 go out for lunch. I always go to a restaurant quite near to the office, and 1 sit at the same table every day, and the san"le waitress takes my order and brings my lunch. 1 retum to my office at two o'clock and work steadily tiU fise. At four o'clock, however, a cup of tea and. a biscuit is brought to my desk. 1 like it, and MeI very much refreshed by it. I get a train home at ten minutes past five and I am home again by a quarter to six.

In summer 1 spend about an hour in the garden till dinner at seven, and in winter I just sit and smoke and talk by the siţting-room fire. I enjoy my dinner in peace and qm'et. Then after dinner 1 turn on the wireless, or 1 read, or talk, or write letters tiU bedtime, that is about half-past ten or eleven.

Sometimes friends come in, and then we play bridge, and sometimes we go to the pictures or the theatre, but not very o~en. In summer 1 like to get out more, so in tlie evenings I go to

TENTH LESSON 33

my tennis club for a few sets of tennis, or 1 play a round of golf, or take out the ca:r for a run in the country.

EXERCISES

1. Read the above passage, putting " he 1> instead of H 1," and making any other necessary changes.

2. Rewrite the passage begillning " 1 usunIIy have ... " to " refreshed by it, H putting H she Il instead of " I," aod making any other necessary changes.

3," P~~~~,yo~,:"""~,~i"~,,:,,,~:~,,?~,~~:_,,

X TENTH LESSON

HOW? Question.

How are you? Haz!,) Îs your sister ? Hcrw is your father ?

How mucJ:ţ, money have you in your purse ?

H01D much bread is on the table?

Hoz!) much is butter te-dav ? \'i11,t price is butter to-day ?

How many books are there on tbe shelf of the bookcase ?

AnSZI.:er.

1 am very ,vclI, thank you. She is quite \,i·"ell, too. He is not ven" , .... ell, he has a

ralber bad cald. I have two shillings.

There is only half a loaf.

Butter is a shilling a pOtInd, madam.

Thcre are several books on the shelf.

~> ''1


Question. H eno many rooms are there in

yaur house?

Alzswer. There are nine rooms; there

is the sitting-room, the dining-room, the s~dy, the kitchen, four bedrooms, and the bathroom.

~t J ~

Ho;}) many miles is it from Landon ta Manchester?

It is about two hundred miles.

:;;;; How many days' journey is it from London ta New York?

It is from four days ta a \veek.

re H9{VUlllCh " is used with a singular noun. "How many H

is usetrwiflfaplftral noun.J ~~",~"",~,,,,,,,,,,,,,~,"

How of ten can you play I can play three times a /"~'tenn'is t""'''''''' week. How ofim have you an English We have an English lesson

lesson ? every day. r ~'."" . H ()ZI) of ten is there a train from Look at the t~eAă1:ife here;

Northwood to town (i.e., you see they are quite " Landon ") ? frequent.

[Ţhe Londo1Z statiolls on the time-table here are Balur Street, lyfeirylebone, King's Cross, Moorgate, Liverpool' Sireet, and J.lldgtÎte.]

Dep,'" A.M. A.M. A.M. A.M. A.M. A.M. A.M. A.M. A.M.

Northwood 726 720 743 750 71H 6 2 8 8 812 SI' PÎnner · .. 730 ';' 33 747 754 758 8 7 81.

S'21 North Ha'now 733 735 749 7 fi7 • 1 8 O 818

HARROW-on-the-Hili • dep . 7 Irl 738 752 8 1 8 • ... . .. .... 82'

\YcmbJey Park arr.t ... 743 S '2 S 8 814 ... .. . ... 834 \Vil!c'Mien GHcn .. ... 8 O 8"'9

8H 825 8'28 8'30 8'39

843 BAKER STREE'r : · .. ... 755 821 826 842

MARYLEBONE 750~ 1--

• arr. ... r:-:::I~ ... ... ... ... I -- --1-:-- -Kipg'" Croos · an,

"'1 S 1

827 ... 835 836 844 847 i\hmrgatc : .. ... 8 7 S~3 ... 841842 8s{) 853 Livcrp<:ml StrcN .. .., 8 9 .", ... 1.4> 8'" 8521855 ALDGATE · .. ... 811 837

1 ... 845847854 851

• Depart. t Anive .

,'I'EN'I'H LESSON

QuestiOll.

How long .... is this pencil I """/'''''-''''~'''~'-'''"

"VV11at lenith is this pencil ?

Answer. It is six inches long.

Its length is six inches.

35

Vi'hat is the length of this pencil?

The length of it is six inches.

How> long is the River It is 210 miles lang. 'I'hames ?

What length is the River Its length is 2IO miles. 'I'hames ?

Vvl1at is the length of the Riv~r 'I'he length of it is 210 miles. Thames I

How lang is this lesson I It is half (I) an hour.

How 1011g is the jOllrney from

It is three-quOlters (!) of an hour.

It is an hour.

Northwaod to Pihner ? It is four minutes. to Harraw-on-

the-Hill ? to Baker St. ? It is twenty-two minutes by ta Aldgate ? the 8.8, etc.

[Look at tlze time-table an p. 34.]

How high is this room I It is twelve feet high.

What height is this room ? .Its height is twelve feet. , {/,;,/';/""

What is the height of this The height of it is twelvefeet. room?

How tall are you ? lam five foot (or feet) eleven. (". TaU" is used for a persml ;

" high " is used for a thillg.J

What height are you ? My height is 5' II'. What is your heiglit I

[' =jeet, II =iuches. 1 foot=I2 ll1ches.]


INCI-IES

\ I I 1 I I I \,\ I \ \ I 1 I 121 1 I 1 II I 131 1 I 1 1

CENTIMETRES

\111 11 111\ 11111 \II~\\III \IIMIIII! \ I~I\III \II~IIIII\ I~\IIII\ II~IIIII \I~IIIIIIII~

Qucstion. FI DtU tall is your sister 1

How wide is the docr ? \Vhat width is the door ? W11at is the width of the door ?

CUSTOMER :

"How u'ide is this dress material ? "

" \Vhat width is this dress material? "

" \Vllat is the width of this dress material? "

Alls'Wer. She is five foot (or feet) SUI

inches. Her hcight is 5' V· It is four feet \vide. lts \vidth is four feet.

SHOP AsSISTANT :

"That is ' double width,' madam; it is fifty-four inches wide."

It is 200 feet broad.

Its breadth is 200 feet. How broad is the river ? \Vllat brcadth is the rivcr ? \Vhat is the breadth of the The breadth of it is 200 feet.

river? [There is very little difference in mealtil1g bet'iveen H braad "

and II' 'lJ.}ide." A" 'lt'ide rivcr" tahes a long time to cross, fJ.

H braad ri'ver " slzows a fine el:panse of 'lvater.1]

1 Fowler, "~Iodem English Usage.JI

TENTH LESSON

Qllestion. How deep is the well ?

\Vhat depth is the well ?

\Vhat is the depth of the well ?

How deep is the sv;imming pool?

\Vhat depth is the swimming pool?

\Vhat is the depth of the swimming poDI?

18 it deep ellollgh for me to dive inta it ?

Adjective. Nozm.

long length

high height ,vide v .. -idth broad breadth deep depth

Anszoer. It is 20 feet deep.

Its depth is 20 feet.

The depth of it is 20 feet.

It is '5 feet deep.

Its depth is '5 feet.

The depth of it is 15 fect.

The swimming poDI is quite deep enough for you to dive into.

Verb.

to lengthen (i.e., ta make longer)

heighten '\viden broaden

deepen

EXERCISES

1. Ans\ver the follO\ving questions :

(a) How is l'om brother to-day ? (b) Hmv many students are in the class? (e) How much is a newspaper ? (d) How tal! is l'om friend ? (e) How long is this mom ?

37


(f) How much a pound is bacon ? (g) How many miles is it from London to your country i

(It) How many {â~;;} is the journey?

(i) How of ten is your English lesson ? (j) How long is the chief river of your country ?

2. Say the following in a different way :

e.g., The water is 5 feet deep. Tlte dePl1t of Ihe waler is 5 feei.

(1) The eloth is 38 inches wide. . (2) The Rhine is 760 miles long. (3) The new building is a hundred feet high. (4) What is the length of my arm ? (5) What is the depth of the water here? (6) Can you tel! me the width of this silk. (7) How broad is the new road ? (8) What is theheight: of that tree ? (9) Mr Samson is a big man; what is his height ?

(10) How deep is the ocean I

3. Make questions of your own, using :-

how much, how many, how often, how Iong, how wide, how deep, how soon, how broad, how high, how tail.

TIME

I. There are twenty-four hours in a day and seven days in a week. The days are Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. The beginning of the day is dawn or

TENTH LESSON 39 daybreak; then comes morning, noon (12 o'clock), aftemoon, evening, and night.

2. The sun rises in the east in the moming and sets in the west in the evening. When the sun shines it is light; when the sun has set 1t lS

dark, except for the light of the moon and the stars.

; 3· In a year there are 365 days, 01' 366 in a leap year, which comes every four years. Each year has twelve months, viz.: January, February, March, April, May, June, J uly, August, September, October, November, December.

+. We remember the number of days in each month by the rj{jme :

Thirty days have September, April, June, and November; AII the rest have thirty-one, Excepting February alone, Which has but twenty-eight days elear, And twenty-nine in each leap year.

5. For the date of the month we use the ordinal numbers, e.g.-

H 'Wnat is the date to-day ? H

"What is the day of the month? u

H It's the first, second, third, fourth ... twenty-first ... thirtieth of January."

The usual public holidays are Christmas Day . (25th December), Boxing Day (26th December),

Good Friday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, August Bank Holiday (the first Monday in August).

40 A l\lODERN ENGLISH COURSE

6. Questioll. Answer.

What day is it to-day 1 It is Thursday. It was Wednesday. To-morrow is Friday.

What day was it yesterday 1 \Vhat clay is it tO-ffiorro\V ? What date is your birthday 11 \Vhen is your birthday 1 j \Vhen were YOli born ?

/'\./,\/"-",,~,,

My birthday is the fUteenth of May.

I was born an the futeenth of

How a1d are you ?

\Vhat do JOu say ta a friend on his birthday 1

\Vhat do you say at Christmas and New Ycar?

MaY ' 9' 5· 1 am nineteen. 1 am nineteen years aIcl. I am nineteen years of age. " l\-1any happy returns of the

day." " A lVIerry Christmas and a

Happy New Year."

7. Tlze Time' of Day.-We can tell the time by means of watches and clocks. A watch is carried

in the waistcoat pocket or is wom on the wrist with a strap or ribbon. A clock is too big for the pocket and is placed on the mantelpiece or is hung on the wal!. The big clocks that stand on the floor are called grandfather clocks ...

8. The dial of the clock is marked with fi~i:es to indicate the J;(ours. The fingers or hands of the watch or clock point to these figures and so we can tel! the time. When the long hand is at twelve and the short hand at three it is three o' clock; after five minutes it is five past three, then ten past three, a quarter past three, twenty

TENTH LESSON 4' past three, twenty-five past three, half-past three, twenty-five to four, twenty to four, a quarter to four, ten to four, five to four, four o'clock.

9. If mrwatch goes too fast 1 say it gains, if it goes too slowly 1 say it loses. If 1 forget to wind it up, it stops.

Question. \Vhat time is it ? ) \vhat's the time 1 ~ Can you tell me the time, f

piease? \Vhat time is yaur lesson ? I5 the 3 .40 train up to time ?

'Vhat is the meaning of A.M.-for examplc, 7.40 A.M. ?

1 see; so 7.40 P.M. means twenty to eight in the eveoing 1

It's 8.45. nine.

AllSU'er.

It's a quarter to

It is at 8 o'clock. No, it is TIve minutes late

owing to the fog. It means ante meridiem, i.e.)

in the morning, so 7.40 is twentl ta eight in the mormng.

Yes, thc P.M. means post 1tzeridiem, i.e., after noon.

ONE OR TWO PROVERBS ABOUT TIME

A stitch in time Sflves nine. Time and tîde ,y~it for no man. Time is money. There is a time for everything.

MEMORY WO.RK " There is a tîde in the :rf[airs.of men,

'\Vhich, taken at the flo6d, le~ds on to fortune ; Omitted, a11 the '~~y,qge of Jhţlx lif~· 15 bound in sha110ws and in miseries. H

SHAKESPEARE, " J ulius C resar. "


II First April, with her mellow showers, Opens the \Vay for early flO\vers ; Then after her comes smiling May, In a more rich and sweet array; • Next enters June, and brings us more Gems than those two that \Vent before ; Then lastly July comes and she More wealth brings in than ali those three."

ROBERT HERRICK.

EXERCISES

I. What is to-day's date? What date will it be to-morrow ? What date was it yesterday? What date was it the day before yesterday? What month is it? What \Vas last month? What is next month? What year is it? Is it a leap year ?

2. What times are 2·40, 3·50, 4·30, 5,45, 6·35, 7·55, 8.15 ? Look at the railway tÎlne-table on p. 34 and give each time there in a different form.

3. What is the difference between 7.IO A.M. and 7.IO P.M. ?

4. Where does the sun rise? Where does it set? About what time did it rise this morning? What time did it set last night?

5. What is the date of ChIistmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, your birthday ?

6. How many days are there in a year? How mauy months in a year? How mauy ,veeks? How many days are there in lVlarch, in January, in February, in September?

;f ;:~t+

7. When did you go for holidays last yeal" ?

ELEVENTH LESSON

ELEVENTH LESSON

SOME PREPOSITIONS

43

N otice the various meanings of the following prepositions :-

On His hat is on his head. I carne Olt the train every day. NIy sai;;:Y is paid on the first of each month. Corne aud see me Olt Friday.

In I

1 live in a small house in London. lv!y brother is ill good health now. In reply to youl' letter we are pleased to say \Ve c.m supply

the goods you \Vant. 1 get up early in the morning. That book was written in 1934· But Re walked iuto the room (" into lJ for motion).

At 1 work at the Bank of England. She is al home every Thursday

from 3 to 5 P.M.

The " char." comes at 8 o' c1ock. The train arrives at Victoria ai

8,30 P.M.

The vacuum-c1eaners that we manufacture can be sold at [,5 each. .

Open your book al page 20 and do the exercise at once.


By Carne and sit by me. Take time by the forelock. Are you paid by the hour or by the

day? \Ve carne to London by car to-day. That poem is by Shakespeare; 1

know it by heart. 1 can speak to you by telephone.

For Please post this letter for me. Trains for Dover go from platform Ia. That shop is noted for its good coffee. Can you stay in London for six months ?

With She is a pretty gir! '{vitlz fair hair. His employers are pleased 'l.!.Jith the vmrk he does for them. He speaks English ",ith a Cockney accent. It is 'with great pleasure that 1 do the work.

A preposition of ten changes the meaning of a verb. Notice the different meanings given to the verbs by the use of a different preposition:-

Get (a) The good \Veather will help you to get <>ver (=recover

from) your illness. (b) 1 always get on very weIl with English people (=feel

at home with). . (c) Let us get up a play and ptrform it when we know it

( =prepare).

ELEVENTH LESSON 45 (d) J can't b~lieve ,vhat he says. but 1 am going to get at

the truth (=discover). (e) Be careful when you get of! the bus.

(j) He works hard because he wants to get through his examination (=pass).

Take

(a) That little boy J~lgoş afier his father (=r~~mbles). (b) 1 can't ~<:l:,~~ to that man; 1 am sure he is not honest

(=like). Ce) IVlr Brmvn wants you to take an the job of cleaning

his car every week (=do). .

(d) Th" .. .offic~; boy is . .too sttlpidt()ta~e in tho. i'nst&ctions .r give hirn (=understaIld). (e) 1 \Vant ta take "p swimming next summer (=practise).

(f) If you give us your orders we tmdertake to give complete satisfaction (=guarantee).

Look

(a) Ten the porter to look after my luggag~ and put it in the luggage van (=guard).

(b) Come and look at the new models from Paris in this shop window (=see).


(e) To try to !ind an unknown per;;on in London is like looking for a needle in a h&ystack.

(d) Please look aver my work ;~dsee if it is correct ( =examine).

(e) Please send me particulars of your complaint about our goods so that 1 can look into the marter (=investigate).

Make

(a) She can't make flP her mind whether to go to the theatre or to a dance (=decide).

(b) This writing is so bad that 1 can't make Oflt (=discover) what it means. Here is the letter; see what you can make of it (-what meaning you can !ind).

(c) The modern girl takes a long time to make flP her face (=beautify artificially).

EXERCISE

Put the necessary t:repositions in the foţlowing :-o'I>;~' /J, F"'J'.

1. Re comes - town every day ;;..- car, 1 carne -

train. "/ ',,1,

2." _ summer 1 get up -'-:;, seven o'clock - the morning.

3. Please take this lerter"" the pos{:C:.. me .. 4. The book 1 am reading is writt~l1 ~/, Dkkens., 5. Carne and see me!"::":"':; TuesdayU',f f~~r o'clock 2::::::.::/the

afternoon. 6. cold night I !ike to sit - an armchair ~ the fire.

7. H .. e speaks French""" English accent. ';;t,? f F ~0d 8. ,Ce.. the end ofthe.day 1 am glad to go ...::.. bed - a rest.

o ):s <" <"f 9. Ta get to ..I~aps f/ţ''''4ondon you cross the Channel 0:....::-'

Dover "01.' Călais 1}; boat. li ;t'<h, c 47

10. 1 want to go~.dJ Manchester:':';- the 4. 15 Euston. (!

ELEVENTH LESSON 47 II. You buy bread the baker's and beef "'- the

butcher's. , 12. 1 work ~~~ my office/};ut9".30 ~'the morning .:....::..: 5

o'clock -~,ţhe evening. 13· Say n$king ~a perso;~his back that you can't

say :::n::' his face., 1/\,'./,,' <',"'.:,/

14 . .:..- tl1C evening; ,.....!;.. my day's work, 1 take - rny new suit and put!~ an ald onc.

15- 1 can't makel.,dthe writing Qn this envelope. 16. Great Britain exports coal lt!:' other countries and

imports food iiF41'Jl{em. 17. My suit is made 'f' woal which comes - the backs

,\,-! sheep. /~ !

18. 1 know you":':?' ,sight but nat :.r- name.

19. He is P~h~'T'his vmrk:,,;, 20. In reply -'- your lerter ""':'I4th January we enclose

Dur catalogue.

21. T1!ank you '2all your kindness. m,e - England. 22. /+'/ first the work is hard but Z,!.!..: a few days it is

easier. 'f, ,

23. She !ikes to go 'A'.' a walk..1: the seashore.

24. It is di~~~~lt:o ~crk "-' the midst;" no~;r ali day. 25. Ins~ead" ~o!,ng,:::,1 the c~:mcert he stays k horoe and

listens ~ It ~ the vllreless.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

I. One of the chief difficulties for the foreigner England is the complicated system of weights

measures, which seems very difficult after the ;simplicity of the metric system. There is nothing

then, but to Iearn at least the commonest of weights and measures used in England.


2. To weigh, we use a pair of scales and some weights. For general use the smallest weight is

the ounce [oz.], and there are

~ 160uncesina pound(written.lb.). We buy sweets, tobacco, etc., by

,"". the ounce; we buy sugar, butter, bacon, tea, etc., by the pound,

the half-pound, and the quarter-pound. 3. Fourteen pounds is a stone. A person's

weight is always r~ckoned in stones, e.g., 1 weigh II stones 8 lbs. (not 162 lbs.).

A hundred and twelve pounds (or8 stones) is a hundredweight (written cwt.). Bags of coal

are usually a hundredweight elich. Many people, however, buy coal not by the hundredweight but by the t6'n (20 cwis. or 2240 lbs.).

16 ozs. [1 oz.=28·35 grammes]=1 Ib. I4lbs. [1 Ib.=·4536 kilo]=I stone. 8 stones [1 stone=6'35 kilos]=I cwt.

II2 Ibs.=I cwt. 20 e\Vts. [1 ewt.=50·8 kilos]=I ton.

1 ton=IOI6 kilos. II Ibs. is about 5 kilos.

ELEVENTH LESSON 49 i e II

4. To measure dlStances we use a ruler or a tape measure, which is usually marked in inches, feet, and yards.

12 inehes [1 in.=2·S4 eentimetres]=1 foot (sec p. 36). 3 feet [1 ft'=30"48 cmS.]=I yard. 220 yards [1 yd'=9I"44 ems.]=1 furlong. 8 furlongs [1 fur.=20rI6 metres]=I mile. !Î6o yards= 1 mile.

1 mile=r609'3 metrcs. 8 kilometres is about 5 miles. II yards is about 10 metres.

A person 'g height is generally given in feet and inches, e.g.) 1 âm 5' IIN (five foot, or fect, eleven inches).

5. LiCJ,uids are measured as follows :-2 pints [1 pt.=0·568 litre] =1 quFt. 4 quarts [1 qt.=I"I36litres]=I gallon" 1 ghllon=4"544litres.

\Ve usually buy milk in half-pint, pint, ar quart bottles. Beer is solcl in half-pint ar pint glasses ar in pint t~nk~rcls. ,Petrol for the car is usually sold in two-gallon tins, or \Ve get a number of gallons from the petrol pump.

Temperatures are measured by degrees Fahrct'heit ar Centigracle. Freezing-point is 32° Fahr.;"âo Cent. Boiling-point is 2120 Fahr", 1000 Cent.

EXERCISES

1. Name two things sold by (a) the ounee, (b) the pound, (e) the hundredweight, (d) the pint, (e) the galion, (i) the yard.

5° A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

2. How many ounces are there in a pound, pounds in half a hundredweight, stones in a hundredwcight, pounds in a ton, inches in a foot, inches in a yard, feet in a yard, yards in a mile, pints in a quart, pints in a gallon ?

Written Work W rite out the tables of weights and measures and learn

them.

TWELFTH LESSON

SOME OTHER QUESTION WORDS

Where is the Marble Arch ?

Who is this ?

Where? !

It is at the north end of Oxford Street.

Where can 1 get a bus ta go there ?

Where does the bus stop?

Where do you go ta cash a cheque?

Who?

You can get one at Piccadilly Circus.

AII buses stop there.

1 go ta the bank.

It is Mr Aguilar from Venezuela.

" Who are the pîiblishers of The publishers are Messrs Longmans, Green and Ca. this book?

TVllO is in the aeroplane ?

Jf7l0 do you want to see ?

The pilot and several passengers are in it.

1 want ta see Mr Iohnson.

Strict grammar 'ZJ.)ould require ce whom" as abject of the 'cerb" to see," but bt conversation the general practice is ta use: " WJlO."

TWELFTH LESSON 5'

What?

~Vhat is your name and address ?

'fflhat time is it ?

Wlzat is the difference between a teacher and an engine~ driver?

lVly name is -- and I Iive at--.

It is three o' clack.

One trains the mind and the ather minds the train.

Why?

fl'71Y are you here?

Why is the boy running ?

Why is your train late to-day ?

Why is a elever boy like the alphabet?

We are here to learn. English.

Because the big fi&rce dog is chdsing him.

Because it is a very foggy day.

Because he has a YZ (wise head) at one end.

Which?

Wlluh window is open ?

Which chair is comfortable ?

Whiclz is the longest word in English?

The one by your head is open.

The armchair is comfortable, the other is uncomfortable.

The one in the green glass is yours.

" Smiles," because there is a " mile" between the first and last letter.

EXERcrSE

questians beginning with H \vho, li three H which," three with .. what," three with "whercJ "

with " why."


[Vw'w

THE HOME

1. 1 am glad you are able to come and stay the week-end with me. This is my house, " The Pines," Gordon Road, Harrow. It is a rather modern house, not very big, but quite pretty and comfortable. It stands in a fairly big garden, 100 feet wide by 300 feet long. Along one side of the garden are many pine trees, and that is why the house is ca11ed " The Pines."

,2. We enter by the garden gate, walk along the gdivel p~th to the front door. On either side of the path is a smooth lawn, which is cut and rolled every week in summer. On this side of the garden are shrllbs, and some are now in bloom, aud there, under the trees, you can see the daffodils nodding their heads in the wind.

3. We knock at the front door or ring the bel! and the maid opens the door. H~~:e we are in the halI. Hang lip your hat and cailt on the ha11-stand, and come with me to the sitting-room and meet my wife. The &itting-room has a thick carpet on the fioor, a cheeiy coal fire is b]lrning in the fueplace, and tl1ere are in it comfortăble armchairs and a~sţtţe'e, three or four bookcases, a piano, and a wireless set.

4. There's the dinner-gong, so dinner is ready. We go to the dining-room, a pleasant-looking room, with Persian rugs on the fioor, dark dak dining table, chairs, and sideboard, and a red lamp-shade that gives a wann ~910ur to the room, while an electric fire keeps it c15mfortable. There is a French window here which looks out on the

TWELFTH LESSON 53

garden, but the curtains of brO\vn velvet are drawn now, as it is getting late.

5. Now dinner is over, sa let liS go to my study for a quiet smoke aud a chat. A log fire crackles in the fireplace and gives bff a pleasant smell. This is my fd\·ourite room; it is lined with books, which are usua11y very untidy. There is my writing-desk with drawers to keep my papers in, and here, by the fender, are my slippers, pipe rack, and tobacco jar.

6. The maid clears away the dishes from the dining-room into the kitchen, and she washes up at the sink in the scullery. There is a slowcombustion stove in the kitchen that gives a constant supply of hot water as soon as she turns on the tap.

1/ 7. 1 suppose you are ready for bed now; come along upstairs. We have five bedrooms, a bathroom, and lavatory. This is your bedroom. There is a wash basin here with rlliining water, a tabl~t of soap is in the soap-dish, and here are ta\vE!ls on the towel-rai1. In the corner of the room is a built-in wardrobe; there al:ie coat-hangers in it, so you cau hang up you~ cl~\'l\.es.

8. 1 hope you will be c'omfortable. Switch on electric fire and warm your pyjftrrlas before

putting them ono There is a hot-water bottle bed, and besides the sheets there are three

blallkets and an eiderdown. Plt%sailt dreams I night!


EXERCISES

r. Use each of the following words in a sentence :modern, comfortable, grlivel, shrubs, haU-stand, settee, sideboard, crackle, fender, slippers, stove, tap, coathanger, eiderdown.

2. Say a few sentences about the following :-(a) The garden, (b) the sitting-room, (e) the diningroom, (d) the study, (e) the kitchen, (i) the bedroom.

Written Work Write a short description of (a) your house, (b) your

garden. Memory Work

A, E, I,O, U w 1'1 ie,U H e are very ltt e creatutes· AlI of different voice and fJatures ; One of us in GLASS is set, One of us you find in DIÎIlT. Another you can see in TiN, And the fourth a BOX is in.

l' te{ If the fifth you now pursue, It can never fiy from YOU.

JONATHAN SWIFT.

THIRTEENTH LESSON

VERBS-INTERROGATlVE AND NEGÂTlVE

As you have seen, to makethe interrogative of auxiliary and defective verbs like " be," " have,"

THIRTEENTH LESSON 55 "can," we put the verb before its pronoun" e.g.-

noun or

A • Affirmative.

You are the teacher. He has a bicycle. IVIiss Smith can wr1te short

hand.

11lterrogative.

Are you the teacher ? Has he a bicycle ? Can lVliss Smith wr.ite short

hand?

With alI other verbs, to make the interrogative put" do " before the verb.

THE VERB "TO DO"

Ido. You do. Vledo. rhey do.

f " • :Âffirmative.

1 speak clearly. You go to the seaside in

summer. They sell good ices at Fullers'.

John reads "thrillers."

Martha cooks the elinner.

The boy with the dirty face brings the newspaper every morning.

Re does. She does. It does.

lnterrogative.

Do 1 speak clearly ? Do you go to the seaside in

summer? Do they sell good ices at

Fullers' I Does J ohn

read 1( thrillers " ?

Does Martha cook the dinner?

Does the boy with the dirty face bring the nev,'gpaper every morning ?


As you have seen, to make the negative of au.'(Îliary and defective verbs like "be," "have," "can," \ve add " not," e.g. :

A jfirmative.

1 aul happy. 1 have a motor car. He can drive acar.

Negative.

I am 1Iot happy. 1 have not a motor car. Re camzot drive a car.

With alI other verbs we use "do" and " not " to roake the negative.

Ajfirmative.

1 drive a car. 1 like learning English.

\Ve buy stamps at the post office.

They listen to the wireless every night.

Boys in England play cricket in summer.

He works for his living.

Re givcs the waiter a good tip.

Re tips the \vaiter weU. This train stops at aH stations ;

it is a slow train. That nrm does a great deal of

business with us. These keys open the doors of

myoftice.

Negative.

I do noi (don't) drive a car. I do not (don't) like learning

English. We do noi (don't) buy stamps

at the fisrunonger's. They do noi (don't) listen ta

the wireless every night. Boys in England do noi (don't)

play cricket in ,vintcr. Re does 1/01 (doesn't) work for

his living. He doesn't give the waiter a

good tip. Re doesn't tip the waiter well. This train doesn't stop at a11

stations; it is an express. That :fum doesu't do much

business with us. Those are the wrong keys;

they dan't open these doors.

THIRTEENTH LESSON 57

THE VERB "SPEAK"

Affirmative.

1 speak. You speak. Re speaks. She speaks. It speaks. We speak. You speak. They speak.

lVegative.

Ido not (don't) speak. You do not (don't) speak. Re does not (doesn't) speak. She does not (doesn't) speak. It does not (doesn't) speak. \Ve do not (don't) speak. You do not (don't) speak.

They do not (don't) speak.

EXERCISES 1. Oral drill.

Interrogatiz:e,

Do I speak? Do you speak ? Does he speak ? Does she speak ? Does it speak ? Do ,ve speak ? Do you speak ? Do they speak ?

[Practise t/te interrogati'i:e and tlze tzegaU,,'e Irom the follO'lcillg by tlsillg eaclt pronolm witlz. eaclz. verb, e.g., "Do 1 speak? 1 don't speah." "Does he driz:e? fIe doesn't drz've." etc.] ..

do does

1 You He She \Ve They The boy Thcwoman The men The man The gir! The boys Thewomen

don't doesn't

speak. go. sel!. read. cook. drive. like. listen. play. work.


2. \Vrite the following sentences (a) in the interrogative, (b) in the negative :-

(a) 1 speak English well.

(b) You know Mr Smith. (c) Re c§mes here every

Thursday. (d) Re is one of your

friends.

(e) She plays tennis very often.

(1) It is raining to-day. (g) We catch the half-past

eight train. ;' " /1 (il) They take the dog a

walk every day.

P APERS AND MAGAZINES

1. There are an enormous number of papers and magazines prmted in England every day. London alone has ~.r hundred different daily papers, repres~ting every shade of political opinion and evelY v~rlety of dste and mterest.

2. So if you wish to get the views of the Cons~rvative Party you can read the Times 01'

the Daily Telegraph or 1lhe Moming Post. Socialist opinion is represented by the Daily Herald 01'

the Clarion, wbilst the N ews-Chronicle expresses the Liberal point of view, and (remembering its first editor, Charles Diekens) prides itself on its literary tone:

3. Then there are the popular Daily Express, with a circulation of about two million copies daily, the Daily NIail, and " picture papers" like the Daily Sketch and the Daily Mirror. On Sunday, amidst many others, appear the Observer and the Sunday Times, both big papers (about 36 pages), with, in addition to the usual news,

THIRTEENTH LESSON 59 very good cism, and journalism.

/' l'

literary, dramătic, and musical critIwell-informed, well-written political

4· And every evening of the week, except Sunday, at almost every street cornel' in London, newsboys can be seen, sh~ll:ting, " Evening Nf!'lOS, Star, or Standard," and holding brightly - coloured. pld'â'r:ds announcing some s~nslltionâl news appearing in that issue. On Wednesday apgears pz?nch, the leading lîtimorolis jo~rnal, whQse pages form almost a contemponiry history of England.

5· Most of thbse papers are printed in Fleet Street, and from about ten o'c1ock at night 1lntil about two o'c1Qck, in the morning the big newspaper offices are a scene of ft':verish activity.

6. Thb editor 01' sllb-editor bas received the news from the reporters, the ~dvhtisement editor has gilthered and ~rPangedhis material, and the copy has been sent to the lihotYpe machines to be set up. Soon the lfUge machines begin to roar, and the papers printed, cut, folded, and counted into bundles are tbrned out from the machines ready to be put into the waiting motor vans.

7· As soon as these are loaded they dash to station with the newsl}apers, and there .fast

take them to. th~ various newsagents in part of the kihgdom, ready for dJlivery on

breakfast-table nert morning.


EXERCISES

1. Mention the principal English newspapers. 2. Make a sentence about each of the following :

newsboys, the plâc~rds, P1l1zc!t, Fleet Street, the editor, newsagents, reporters, the Daily Mirrar.

Written Work 1. Describe the production of a newspaper. 2. \Vrite a few lines about the chief newspapers and

magazines of your country.

FOURTEENTH LESSON K: O ,~?~

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES

. J Here are five brothers, J ohn, George, William, J:1enry, and Charles. John is a very taU man;

John. George. William. Henry. Charles.

FOURTEENTH LESSON 6r ~5i:

as you see, he is taller than alI the ~thers, he is the oldest and the tallest of them alI. George is not quite so tall as J ohn, though he is taller than his brother William, but he is also older than William. William is just as taU as Henry; they are twins; they are exact1y the same size and the same age. The youngest and the smallest of the family is Charles. He is shorter than Henry and much sllOrter than J ohn.

Adjectives have three degrees of comparison, Positive, Comparative, and Superlative, e.g. :

Positive. Comparative. Superlative. tall taller tallest old older oldest young younger youngest short shorter shortest

To make the comparative we. add "er" to the positive; to make the superlative we add " est" to the positive.

Some adjectives are compared bv using " more" for ·the comparative and "most" for the superlative, e.g. :

Positive. Comparative. Superlative. beautiful more beautiful most beautiful useful more useful most liseful

A few are irregular, e.g. :

Positive. Comparative. Superlative. good better best !ittle less li~ bad '\Vorse worst many } much more most

62 A MODERN ENGLISH CODRSE

N otice particularly : 1. \Vith the positive degree we use " as ...... as,"

e.g., Ris face was as white as a sheet, L. .•••........ .J

or, if it is negative, we generally use" 50 ...... a5 ,"

e.g.) To-day it has not been so hot as it was yesterday. L. ..... .!

z. \Vith the Comparative degree we use " than," e.g.) To-day it is hotter tlzan it was yesterday.

II London is a more' interesting town than Man-

1. ............ __ .. _ ..... __ ... _ ......... _ . .1 chester . .

3. \Vith the Sup~rlative we of ten use " of," e.g., This is the 'lvealthiest of the three film actors.

II 1 have given you the"best of my horses and kept

~.. !..I the "",rst of them for myself.

l.J

EXERCISE

Complete the following :~

1. The sun is bigger '~the earth. /i: ,;)"

2. The moon is smaller '-' ihe earth.

3. Summer is not:..L cold':i. winter. 4. Twenty shillings are worth J!... < much - forty

sixpences. 5. My brother is older -.1 am ;J,ilt he is younger-

my sister. He is th~dest :li0ur family. 6. 1 speak English better ,!'Ii writ~\it .. o"

7. My writing of English is wo,se Vo;~;ny speaking. S. 1 can't stay in England more' ~ six months. 9. 1 am working hard :': 1 can to leam English.

FODRTEENTH LESSON

10. ~ soon -' roy Iesson is fipished 1, go home. II. A train do~s not travel "fast - an aeroplane. 12. Better late '.:....:.... never.

63

13. \Vhich is the most interesting the tO\vns you have visited?

I4. Did you /ind London m9re crowded - Paris? 15. That dog's bark is worse' '- his bite.

THE POST OFFICE

1. One of the most important of the Government departmen~-;.~s the G.P.O. (General Post Oftice). 6 Its ofticl~ls run into hundreds of thousands, rlmging from the Postmaster-Gener'ilI, who is a Cabinet Minister, / to ,the humble postman "lVith rus welcome "rat-tat" as he drops the letters into our letter-box.

2. The Post Oftice has many duties. It not only delivers letters, but, among other things, it controIs the telegraphs and telephones, it runs a savings bank with millions of depositors (its deposits last y,ear (1933) reached ,(;33C;,000,000), it issues dog illS';nces, motor-car licences, and wireless licences, aud P3)'s out.old-age pensions. It sends your letters by air mâll at a cost very little above the ordinary postage, sells you postal orders from 6d. to 2IS., 01', if you want to send a larger sum by post, issues money orders up to ,(;40.

3. Do you want to send a " wire " ? Just ask a telegraph form at the counter 01' take one

the box in the small compâhments provided the writing of telegrams. You cau send

6+ A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

9 words for 6d. (that is the minimum charge), with an additional charge of rd. for every extra word.

Or do you want to phone? Go into acalI-box, put two pennies in the sl~t (if it is a local call), " dial " the number you waIlt, and you can speak (for three minutes) to the person you have " rung up."

4. If it is a trunk call, then, after putting in your two pennies, dial " O," and when the operator speaks, ask for the number you want, e.g., " Give me Hampgate 3544 (three, five, double four)." The operator wiU then tell you how many more pennies to add and when to do so You then " press button A " and begin your conversation.

5. Perhaps you want only to buy a stamp to send a letter to, say, France or Germany. You want a 2~d. stamp. If you want one for a letter that is not to go abroad you need a rid. one (a "three half-penny," not "a penny half-penny," one). The more convenient way is to buy a twoshilling or a three-shilling book of stamps, or to buy

stamped envelopes or post cards, in which case you pay a little extra for the cost of the envelopes and post cards. If your letter contains anything Vltllfuble it is a good plan to register it. This costs 3d. extra.

6. There is a posting-box in a11 post offices, or you can drop your lettel into one of the familiar red pillîrr-boxes that stand at the corners of the streets. If it is posted in

FIFTEENTH LESSON 65

London it \vill not rest .thqe long, for there are twelve collections and d\;li\r~ries daily.

EXERCISES

I. Name twelve things seen in a post office and use each ""ord in a sentencc.

2. You ,vant to post (a) A lerter from London to Rio de J aneiro. (b) A letter from London to Manchester. (e) A post card from London to Australia.

How would you ask for the necessary stamps ?

3. Say how you would (a) scnd a telegram, (b) ring up " Paddington 7200 " from acalI-box.

Written Work 4-. "'Vrite a short composition an

(a) The work of the Post Oflicc. (b) A day in the life of a postman.

FIFTEENTH LESSON O ADVERBS

Compare the sentences

Re is a slow worker and Re works slowly.

In the first sentence the word "slow" tells us about the noun " worker," so " slow" here is an Adjective.


In the second sentence the word "slowly" tells,us about the vhb " works," so " slowly " is an Adverb.

Adjectives qualify nouns. Adverbs qualify verbs.

As "slowly" tells us how he works, we caB it an adverb of Manner.

Adverbs of manner are generally formed from the adjective by adding " ly," e.g. :

Adjective. Adverb.

slow slowly

quick quickly

bright brightiy

sweet sweetiy

cold coldly

brave brave1y

bad badly

nice nice1y

beautiful beautifully

I ' '-,

Some are a little diff~~ent, e.g. :

Adjective. Adverb.

happy happily

gali gaily

pretty pri!ttily

FIFTEENTH LESSON

Sometimes thb adverb and the adjective are the same, e.g.:

Adjective.

A fast train. A /zard exer

cise. A strcfz~lzt line.

A low voice.

Adverb. f _

Re ranfast. He works

hard. The road runs

strai'ght for many miles.

Re spoke low.

The adjective "good" adverb is " well," e.g. :

./ ,< ,e,-t c: ' IS exceptfonal;

Re is a good runner; he runs uel/.

EXERCISES

6]

its

1. Forrn adverbs from the following adjectives :-

strong, poor, vlise, thin, new, dainty, lucky, h6~~ful,. hard, good.

2. Correct the fol1owing :

(1) She sings s\Veet. (2) 1 could not catch him, he ran too quick. (3) You speak very fastiy; please speak slow. (4) The road from London to Brighton runs straightly

for ten miles. (5) You have al1 done your work very careful. (6) To trave! hopeful is belter than to arrive. (7) Re was hurt bad in the accident but was very

bravely.

68 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE (8) Mr Thomas always (Iresses vel)'cgood and speaks

very nice. '~/}.{/j

(9) The dress Miss Charming wore fitted hor beautiful.

(10) The little gir! danced pretty and smiled gayly.

THE HOTEL

A LETTER

NEWTON HOTEL, lVIAl ...... cHESTER,

I6th MaTei, '9.····· DEAR PAUL, I :

I was very pleased to receive your last letter and to hear that Frederick is coming to England. As I have been here now for some months I can probăbly give him a few tips 1

about hotels here. In the first place, I adv~se him to book his room beforehand and not wait as . I did until I arrived, only to find when I trled some of the more modest-looking hotels that every room was engaged-the hotel was fun up. I had a long and weary journey before I manăged to get a small and rather uncomfortable room on the fourth floor in a temperance 2 hotel.

But I have learnt a lot since then. In my business I have to travel a good deal, about England, and 1 have found the A.A? GliUle very usefnl. I usua11y select one of the two-star (**)

1 Useful bits of information. :1 Not having a licence ti) supply a1coholic drinks. : Automobile Association.

FIFTEENTH LESSON 69

or three-star (***) hotels, and I find them always very clean and comfortable, with excţllent food (if you like English cooking) and ~ffi<3r€nf service. The prices in these hotels are m6d~r:l:te, a single room being from 5s. to 8s., a double room ros. to r5s. I genera11y just order bed and breakfast (about 8s. to 12S.), but of course you can have inclllsive tariffs from ros. to I5s. a day.

When you enter the hotel ask for the reception clerk, and he or she will te11 you which is yom rQom, what floor it is qn, and wil! give you the key. You can then si'g'n the registHltipn book, stating your name, address, and nifti'Onality, and give your luggage to the porter 01' " boots," who Vii11 take it up in the lift to your room.

After washing and changing in my room, I like to explore the hotel, discover where the bathrooms, the lounge, the breakfast room, and the dining-room are. If I am staying some time at the hotel I have a word with the headwaiter, and 1 then find 1 get very good atterî"ti~n'. When 1 reti re for the night 1 put my shoes outside the bedroom door so that the boot-bov can clean them. •

On leaving, 1 tip the head waiter, my own waiter, the ch~bermaid, bqot-boy, and the porter who carrTh's out my luggd'ge. This is rather a troublesome business, and 1 mvsh prefer those hotels where 10 per cent. for gral'ttities is adclecl • to the bill.

1 hope Frederick will fincl these few hints of use to him; 1'11 write again later. Best wishes,

Yours sincerely, MARTIN.


EXERCISES

r. What is the work of (a) the " boots," (b) the chambermaid, (e) the reception clerk, (d) the waiter ?

z. How would you ask for accommodation in a hotel ?

Written Work

3. (a) Describe the best and the worst hotel at which you have ever stayed.

(b) A day in the life of a waiter.

SIXTEENTH LESSON

THE POSSESSIVE CASE

The possessive case in English is shown by " 's " added to a noun, e.g. :

The King's son. The boy's cap.

This " 's " is used only when the possessor is a person or an animal, e.g. :

The girl's hand. The dog's tail.

When the possessor is a thing, we use " of the," e.g. :

The branch of the tree. The roof of the house .

•

SIXTEENTH LESSON 7I

If the noun that is in the possessive case is plural and ends in "s," we put an apostrophe only, e.g. :

Singular.

The boy's father. The kitten's basket. The baby's nume. The puppy's biscuits.

Plural.

The boys' father. The kittens' basket. The babies' nume.

The puppies' biscuits.

If the noun that is in the possessive case is plural and does not end in " s " we add " 's," e.g. :

Singular.

The man's money.

The child's toys. The sheep's head.

Plural.

The men's money.

The children's toys. The sheep's heads.

Notice that we use the possessive form for the different kinds of shops, e.g. :

1 bought these goods at the grocer's, butcher's, hosier's.

They seU those things at Harrod's, Barker's, Woolworth's.

Where there are two or more names in the fum we use the possessive form only with the second one, e.g. :

Those are Bryant and May's matches. I bought these gloves at MarshaU and Snelgrove's.

Note also the Duke of York's house, the President of the Society's speech.


EXERCISES

1. Insert the apostrophe in the correct place in the following :-

Mr Smiths car is at the doar. \Vhere is the managers office ? The Lord Mayor of Londons carriage drove down

the Strand. The boys go to a boys school. \Vhere is the gentlemens cloak-room ?

2. Give the possessive of the following :-sailar, sailors, \Vornan, ",'omen, donkey, donkeys, wife, wives, Charles, Duke of Gloucester, Lard Mayor of Sheffield, father-in-law, Marks & Spencer.

3. \Vhere necessary, turn the following inta the possessive farm ,\~ith <C 's " :-

The crown of the Ring, the nest of the bird, the egg of the hen, the branch of the tree, the end of the road, the dog of the shepherd, the shoes of the children, the cries of the wamen, the clothes of the babies, the wings of the butterflies.

MONEY

1. English money is not reckoned according to the metric system. This makes it rather difficult for students iearning English. The unit is the pound (with figures, ·written " .[,," e.g., .[,5), and this is worth 20 shillings or 240 pence. Coins are made at the Royal Mint, near the Tower of London. Permission to visit the Mint and see the coins being made can easily be obtained.

SIXTEENTH LESSON 73

2. The gold coins are the sovereign and the half-sovereign, but these are not of ten seen now.

The silver ones are the shilling (with figures, written" s." or /, e.g., 5s. or 5/-), the two-shilling piece, the half-crown (worth two shilIings and sixpence), the five-shilling piece (not of ten seen), the sixpence, and the threepenny piece (or threepenny bit). The threepenny bit is not very common in England, but is very popular in 8cotland.

3. The bronze coins, generally called " coppers," are the penny, the halfpenny, and the farthing. In a penny there are two halfpennies or four farthings.

Then there is paper money or bank-notes. Bank-notes are issued by the Bank of England and are for IOS., [,r, .[,5, [,ro, [,20, [,50, .[,roo, .[,200, .[,500, and .[,rooo.

4· Tailors, doctors, dentists, or other professional men of ten name their prices or fees in guineas. A guinea is [,1. I8., and at one time there was a gold coin called a guinea, but this is no longer minted. A fee is generally a single payment for services. 80 you pay a fee for your classes at school, you pay a fee to a doctor or a lawyer. A salary is usually paid every month; wages are llSually paid every week.

5. When 1 pay bills 1 of ten pay by cheque, i.e., an order to the bank to pay money to the person whose name is on the cheque. 1 put the date on the cheque, the name of the payee (i.e.,

'''rson to be paid), the amount to be paid, 1 write in words and also in figures, aud

my usual signature.


6. If 1 am sending it by post 1 generally cross it, i.e., 1 draw two parallel lines across it and IVrite & Ca. between them. It wiU now be paid

only into a banking account, and in this way the person who receives the money wiU be known.

When the payee receives the cheque he endorses it, i.e., he writes his signature on the back of the cheque, and can then receive the money.

CONVERSAT ION

Question. Answer. Certainly, what do you want 1

Will a two-shilling pieee and a sixpence do ?

Can you change me half a crown?

1 should like more small ehange if you have it. 1 want to give a few tips.

That is exeellent. 1 am sorry to trouble you, but 1 should be very glad if you could give me some pennies also, for a phone call.

1 have five sixpences, if you would like that.

Yes, 1 can do that. Here are sixpennyworth of coppers, four pennies aud four halfpennies.

SIXTEENTH LESSON 7S

PROVERBIAL SAYINGS ABOUT MONEY

Take care of the penee and the pounds will take care of themselves.

Money lent is money spent.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

MEMORY WORK

U Neither a borrower nor a lender be, For Ioan oft loses both itself and friend."

SHAKESPEARE, "Hamlet. Il

EXERCISES

1. Wpat are the names of the English silver coins? What are the names of the gold ones? What are the names of the copper ones ?

2. How many pennies are there in half a crown, in three and sixpence, in four and twopence, in ten shi11ings ?

3. How much is 50 pence, 100 pence, 25 pence, 36 pence, 18 penee ?

4. \V rite in words the following :-

zid., rid., 3id., rs. nid., 6s. 7!d., [,1. 3S. 4lîd., [,2. os. 6d., [,I20. ros. 6d.

5. What Îs the difference between a fee, a salary, and wages.

6. \Vhat is the meaning of: payee, endorse, a crossed cheque.

Written Work

1. Explain how you would write out a cheque. 2. How would you spend [,100 if you had it I


SEVENTEENTH LESSON

THE P AST TENSE

The verbs in the grammar lessons from 1 to 16 are in the Present Tense, that is, they represent actions taking place in the present time. To represent an action in the past time we use another form of the verb, "called the Past Tense. Verbs form their pasţ", tellse in several ways, some by change of v6\vef, others by adding " d," " ed," or " t" to their present. Verbs which form their past tense and past participle by these additions are called Weak verbs.

Here are a number of \veak verbs with their past tense and past participle. (For the Ilse of the past participle with " have " see Lesson 20.)

Presellt Tellse. Past Tense. Past Participle.

walk walked walked

help helped helped

wait waited waited

lift lifted lifted

turn turned turned

save saved saved

hope hoped hoped

like liked liked

wish wished wished

burn burned burned

learn learned learned

dance daneed daneed

mean m~3nt meant

SEVENTEENTH LESSON

Present Tcnse. hear say build feed

Past Teme. heard said built fed

Past Participle. heard said built fed

77

A fe,v, like H cut," "hit," H J',~,g,t;l,,~,,: have the Bame form for present tense, past tense, and past participle, t11:ough with " read" the pronunciation is different. 0v,~-'

EXERCISES

1. Give the past tense and past participles of the follO\ving verbs, using each oue in a sentence :-

fasten, open, describe, heIp, explain, travel, cut, plant, spoil, Iose.

2. Put the following in the past tense ;(a) Mrs Smith cooks a good dinner. (b) The newsagent returns the unsold newspapers. (e) 1 peel the apple before eating it. (d) My friend lights one cigarette from the end of

the previous one. "ti (e) 1 button up my eoat when the rain starts to falI.

SHOPS AND SHOPPING

I. Napoleon spoke of the English as a " nation shopkeepers," and in spite of the growing

of the big "stores" like Harrod's or elfridge's, or of the "multiple shops" like

or \Voolworth's, a large part of stil! "keeps a shop." Let us

the street together and look at the ShODS. their owners, and the goods in


2. Here is the hosier's, who has a good display of men's gloves, socks, handkerchiefs, and shirts. He stocks also hats, ties, co11ars-in fact he ca11s himself a " gentleman's outfitter "; he will fit you out with a11 you require.

Next door is the tobacconist; he has a11 the popular brands of cigarettes, Player's, Gold Flake, Three Castles, Craven " A," etc.; he has pipe tobacco in attractive-Iooking ounce packets, or two or four ounce tins, and a good selection of cigarette cases, cigarette holders, pipes, pouches, and automatic lighters.

3. Here, in the milliner's window, are a few hats, tbe latest Paris models, in silk, straw, or felt, with fascinating bows, ribbons, or buckles. In tbe next window is a good array of shoes and a few boots. Here are some smart glace kid dancing shoes, there a good strong pair of brown brogues for" hiking." Here are shoes in suede, in crocodile skin and in snake skin, besides the more usual leather.

4. Look at the ironmonger's shop, he can supply you with almost anything in ironware from a pin to a steam-ro11er. He has tools of alI kinds, hammers and chise1s, screwdrivers and planes; there are nails and screws of all sizes; buckets and pans stand side by side; here is a lawnmower, there an iJ;:?H,poker and a pair of

tdngs; at that counter a woman is choosing a shove1 for coal, at another one a man is buying a ro11 of wire-netting to make a run for his hens. '

SEVENTEENTH LESSON 79 5. But come along, we can't stay here all day ;

we'l1 just glance into the dairy with its bottles of milk, its cartons of cream, its new-laid eggs, and fresh and salt butter; we'll hurry by the confectioner's, though the buns and tarts and fancy pastries and slabs of currant cake look attractive ; we'll pass quickly by the butcher's, with his legs of Iamb, sides of beef, and ribs of pork, quicker stil! past the fishmonger's (1 don't like the smell of fish !), the optician's (we don't need new glasses !), and the jeweller's (unless you want to choose an engagement ring !), but stop, please, at the stationer's.

6. We will call in here. 1 need a new writingpad and a few foolscap envelopes, and 1 want to

'see' if he has any refi11s for my Eversharp pencil. He's a bookse11er as well as a stationer, so we can have a very pleasant quarter of an hour looking at the novels on his shelves. Look, here is the latest Wells, and a cheap edition of Priestley's "Good Companions." This is a nice leatherbound set of Hardy, and here's an Olllilibus Galsworthy, an d here's-- Why, what's this? " A Modern English Course for Foreign Students," by C. E. Eckersley. That reminds me, 1 haven't done my homework yet for my c1ass. Come on; let's go home. "1 haven't dane my homework."


EXERCISES

1. What is sold by (a) a hosier, (b) a tobacconist, (e) an ironmonger, (d) a confectioner, (e) a stationer ?

2. Where could 1 buy (a) a hammer, (b) a nove!, (e) a carton of cream, (d) a wedding ring, (e) a pair of glasses ?

Written Work

3. \Vrite (a) a conversation between yourself and any shopkeeper mentioned in this extract, (b) a description of your favourite shop \vindow.

EIGHTEENTH LESSON

IRREGULAR VERBS

Many verbs form their past tense and past participle by a change of the vowel, e.g. :

Present.

1 sing

1 swim

Past Teme. o

I sang

Iswim

or by other changes, e.g. :

1 write 1 wrote

Past Participle.

I (have) sung

I (have) swtim

I (have) written

I speak I spoke I (have) spoken ., I go I \Vent I (have) gone

"<A.~"""~

These verbs arp. called Strong verbs.

EIGHTEENTH LESSON SI Here are a few of the principal irregular verbs,

with the past tense and past participle of each. Those marked * are weak, the bthers are strong.

Present Tellse. Past Tense. Past Particip/e. am be~ome begin

bite blow break

*bring *build *burn

"buy *catch

ch06se ;:h

corne

*cut dig draw

*drcam

dril;lk drive eat fali

fight find fly forget forgive

freeze

was Q

became

begl!în bit blew broke brought built burnt bought

caught ,1.,

chose

dme

cut diîg ddf:\v dre'amt

~ drank drove

ate fell

~

fought found fl~\,,' forgot forgave froze

(have) i?S$'1. Q~5Q~ţ!,," b •• egun bitten blgi~n broken brought built

burnt

bought caught chesen cerne

cut

d~~"g dra\vn drg~mt

za '" .. d,link d~iven eaten

fallen . fought round fld\vn forgotten

forgiven frozen

82 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE "'

Present Tense. Past Tense. Past Partir.iple.

get got (have) got

glve g~ve given

go w~nt gone

hl'de hiC! hidden

hold held held

*keep k~pt k~pt

kI;low kne\v known

*leave left left

*lose lost lost

*make roade made

*meet m'et met

*pay paid paid

*read fi read read

ride rode "i(iden

(

ring rang rung

ron ran run '\-'"

see saw seen

*sell sold sold

shbw showed shawn

sing sang sung

sit v sat sat

*sleep sl2pt slept

speak spoke spoken

stand stood stood

steal stale stolen

swim swam swum

take took taken

*teach taught taught , te1tr t6~e tom

*tell t~id told

EIGHTEENTH LESSON 83 Presellt Tense. Past Teme. , Past Participle.

*thlnk thought (have) thought ··:throw threw thrown

understand understood understood w1ar wore \Vorn win won won write wrote written

EXERCISES

1. Give the past tense and past participle of the foIlowing verbs :-

begin, drink, falI, get, gOJ shoot, ride, sell, buy, take, Iose, wear, wrÎtc, tell, sweep, steal, stand, say, see, pay.

2. Put the following sentences into the past tense :_ (I) A dog is crossing a stream with a bone in his

mouth. (2) Re sees the reflection of himself in the \Vater. (3) Re thinks it is another dog with a bigger piece

of meat. (4) The dog opens his mouth to attack the shadow. (5) The piece of meat faIls from his mouth. (6) Re Ioses the meat. (7) A mouse mns across the nose of a sleeping !ion. (8) The mouse wakens the !ion. (9) The !ion is going to kill the mouse.

(10) The mouse begs for its life. (II) The lion gives it its wish. (12) Some time later the lion faIls into a trap. (13) Re cannot escape from it. (14) The mouse hears the roars of the !ion. (15) It goes to the trap. (16) It bites through the ropes. (17) So the !ion gets ils freedom again.

•

8+ A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

WORK AND WORKERS

1. In most c~tntries of the wor1d one of the problems of the day is uD'employmer,t. The invention of machines,II).odern methods of mass production, and the " rai~orialisâtion" of i!1dtistry have thrown large numbers of men out of employment, and as it has been almost impossible to create new jobs for aU the men displ~ced, many of them are permanently unemployed and have to rely on the " dole." 1

2. Bilt let us consider those who are in work, the sllilled and the unskiUed workers of the various trades and indusuies, the farm lâb6urers, the plol1ghmen, the sh,epherds in ,the country, the i!ngl:neers, the artisăns, the me&ânics in the worksh~Jil~' ~he weavr~s and spinners in the mills, the colhers m the mines, and the countless 'bther workers who form part of the vast present-day system.

3. Every moment of our life we are served bv one or other of them. The house we live in ii the work of the flrchitect who dn!:W the plan, of the builder or contractor who undertook the work, of the bricklayers who with bricks and mortar quilt up its walls. Then there were the carpenters and joiners who made the woodwork, i.e., the doors, the window frames, thebeams, and the flooring. Meanwhile the plum~er had been at work putting in the water pipes, the boilers, and the ţ.is pipes, while the electrician had wired

1 State unemp,~oyment payment.

EIGHTEENTH LESSON , 85

the house for electric light, and fitted in the m~ter and the switches.

4. The tiles or slates were then put on, and the glass was put in the window by the glllzier, the p~inting and paperhanging were d,one by the decorators, and then the hous~ was ready for occupation as soon as the house "agent or landlord could sell it or could find a tenant to pay him the rent.

5. Even behind our simplest meal is a whole armv of workers. There is the cook who cooks it :wlth the coal or gas or electricity that was proc!:liced by,thq,\vork of miners, of transport workers, such as eriglne drivers, sign1Hmen, porters, lorry drivers, sailors of the merth~nt service, dock l:ibourers, and thousands of ,o,tht;rs. Then there are ali the commercial and fih'ănCiâl workers who also took their part, the retail shopkeeper who sold the goods, the wholesale merdhant from whom the d:tailer bought them, the bankers )VÎth their agents, secretaries, clerks, etc., who organ~sed the credit ~tnÎngements that made the buying possible-in fifct the llst seems endless.

6. The clothes we wear have needed other workers. Shepherds have i' looked after their flocks of sheep in the Y orkshi're dales or along the Tweed; ~hearers have 9lipped the wool from the sheep, weâvers have woven the wool, or spinners have spun the cotton or silk in the mills of Lancashire or Y orksh~re. Then carne the work of the shopkeeper, or of them'illi'rier, the dressmaker, or the tailor, before Eiially we wear the dress or tlle suit of clothes.

4


EXERCISES

1. What work do the following do 1

(a) A shepherd, (b) a weaver, (e) a collier, (d) a joiner,

(e) a plumber, (f) a millincr.

2. What retailer ?

the difference between a wKolesaler and a

Writtell Work 3. Write:

(a) A description of the building of a house.

(b) The story of a suit of clothes.

NINETEENTH LESSON

PAST TENSE, NEGATIVE AND INTERROGATIVE

You have seen (p. 55) th&t to form the present tense interrogative of ali verbs except auxiliaries

"d" . we use o, e.g ..

Affirmative.

You write.

Interrogative. Do you write ?

To form the Illterrogative of thePast Teme we use " did " with the infinitive of the verb (omitting " to") e (1 • , '0"

Affirmative. You wrote.

Interrogative. Did you write 1

NINETEENTH LESSON

Here are some fl!rther examples :-87

Question. Did lVlr Brown ring up ta-day ?

Did you see the ne\vs about America in the papers this morning?

What did the pJ;"e Minister say in answer to the lVI.P.'s 1

question? Where did you bll)' those silk

dresses ? Why did Mr Bradbury sell

out his rubber shares an the Stock Exchange 1

Anszcer. Yes, he rang up just after l'au

went out. Yes, 1 saw it at breakfast

time.

Re said the Gbvernment had the matter under consideratian.

I bought them in Paris on my \Vay here.

Re sold out because his stockbroker told him they were going to faU in price.

To form the Negative of the Past Tense \Ve use " did " and :' not " with the infinitive of the verb (o"mitting " to "), e.g. :

Affirmative. You spoke.

Negative. You did not (didn't) spcak.

Here are some further examples : Affirmative.

I lost my round of golf this morning by five and four.

Joe went to a Music Hal! to hear Grade Fields.2;

The "Hoaver" representative came to aur house wanting ta demonstrate his vacuUm deaner.

Negative. 1 didn't Iose my round; 1

wpn by five and four. R~g~nald didn't go to the

I\'lusic HaU, hc ,"vent to the Queen's Hal! to hear Kreisler.

He didn't come again because he found we already had one.

1 Member of Parliament. :1: Well-known musîc-hall comedîenne.


Ajfirmative. Negative.

Mr i\IacIntyre forgot to put the clock on when Summer Time carne in and so was an hour late next morning.

p

Mr Parke didn't forget to put his cloci< forward and so was not late next day.

1 didn't eat a big supper and didn't dream at alI. 1 "slept the sleep of the just. "

1 aie a big supper and dreamt 1 \Vas being chased alI aver th~~lfand by cannibals.

.......: "", --- , i4~. (ff''" '\ ~-' "~~ ~, ~

"Chased all over the island."

EXERCISES

1. Complete the folIowing. The first one is done for you:

lnfinitive.

break fiy wake

Past Teme.

1 broke

Past Tense Interrogative. did 1 break ?

Past Teme Negati've.

1 did not break

[Now do the same with the folIowing verbs.] get, catch, Iose, come, draw, drink, eat, faU, fight, forget, freeze, gO, hide, keep, leave, make, meet, pay, run, seU, shinc, show, sing, sit, swiro, take, teach, tell, think, throw, wear, win, \vrite.

NINETEENTH LESSON

2. Turn the following from affinnative to negative :_

(1) You sang very welI yesterday. (2) 1 heard you singing last week. (3) It rained agreat deallast summer. (4) 1 thought you would calI and see me.

(5) He struck a match on the side of the box. (6) You wrote your exercise very well. (7) The sun rose at five o'clock.

89

(8) 1 grew many veg,t~bles in my garden last year. (9) Mr Smith went to Paris yesterday.

(10) The hungry man ate his dinner quieldy.

3· Turn the following from negative ta affirmative :_

(1) 1 did not see many plays in London . (2) They did not think James \Vas as e1ever as Johu (3) You clicl not write many letters ,",,-hen you \vere

a\vay.

(4) He clid not speak v;hen he sa\v me.

(5) She did not come in time for dinner. (6) They did not eat alI tlle apples. (7) He did not go to Valparaiso last year.

(8) Miss Brown, did not wear that hat last week. (9) The bay did not tear his coat in getting over tho

gate.

(IO) The photographer did not take a very good pb6t6griiph.

4. Answer the following questions :-

(1) Did you hear the nightingale last night? (2) Where did you buy that car ? (3) How did you catch that had cold I (4) Why did you make that mistake I


(5) When did they pay their bill ? (6) Did you know the lady's name before 1 told you ?

(7) Did the thief steal aU your money ? (8) Did the lake freeze last night ? (9) Did he win a prize in the competition ?

(10) Did you grow these flowers in your garden?

A CHANNEL CROSSING

" They ~eemed to me, as indeed they have always seemed to me, these gtant liners, to be things not only of formidable size and power but also of real beauty, g~nuine creations of man the artist .... Let us ask ourselves what \Ve have built to compare \vith them in majesty since the medireval cathedrals." "English Journey," J. B. PRIESTLEY.

FROM THE JOURNAL OF A TRAVELLER

Isth March.-Here we are approaching the harbour at last. It's been a bad crossing and there were a good many white faces among the passengers. Luckily I'm a good sajlor and am very rătely sea-sick, and 1 enjoy bHng on deck when the ship is tossed ltbout. by the waves. The sea was certainly very rough, the spraY was blo;wn to the top de~k, and &reat waves burst over the bow of the Shlp and fl60dM the deck.

Of course there was no real danger of shipwreck; the ship is strongly built, and the captain and his crew are. alI exp,erienced men, and 1 know that in cases of emergency there are lifeboats and lifebelts, nevertheless 1 couldn't help J;eeljng a little excited at times. Most of the pÎlssengers wi~hly went below to their berths 01' cabins and

NINETEENTH LESSON 91

closed the portholes and tried to sleep, 01' rang for the steward to bring brandy and sodas.

We passed some interesting ships on the way. One ... was an old-time săiling ship with its 1 canvas spread, though some of its crew were in the rigging shortening sail as the gale blew up. It was a beautifuI sight with its taU masts, the graceful lines of its huli, and its sharp prow cutting through the waves. I

Then we passed a huge liner bound for New York, a Cunarder, I think, from the ensign it was flying. Smoke was co~ing from its four

gtgantic funnels, and you could hear the deep thro b of i ts powerful engines and the thrash of its screw, andseethefoamywake behind it. It seemed quite unaffected by the storm, and was steaming ahead at a steady twenty-five knots. 2

Then, just as we got outside the harbour, we 1 Sailors, and occasionally landsmen, refer to a ship as " she. U

a Knots =sea miles.

92

A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

met the fishing fleet returning. There were 11 few steam trawlers,' but the majority of the boats were fishing~macKs. Their nets were hanging over the side of the ships, and the boats looked as if they had had a hard struggle with the storm, but their sturdy weather-beaten crews, with their oiI-sEns aud" sou'westers," 1 were hauliug away cheerfully at the ropes. J udging from the glt!am of silver scales in the holds of the boats 1 should think they had had a good catch. "

Yes, here we are in the harb01rt. "Have your landing cards and passports ready," a sailor is sh<fUting. Now we are alougside, the sailors throw out the ropes; oiliers ,on the shore fasten them to theside of ilie qJay. Now the gang\vay is being lowered and the first passengers are across.

" This way tI? the Customs."l? " Have you d'nything to declare, any cigarettes,

cigars, wines, spirits, eau de Cologne, etc?" "I've only these few cigarettes, and a flask

of brandy for personal use." " All right. Close the bag." A chalk mark is scribbled on the bag. "Pass

ports ready, please l" "This way to the train."

EXERCISES

1. Name ten objects found on a ship aud make a sentence

about each. 2. Mention tv,."O or three different kinds of ships aod say

a few words about each. 3. What is the rigging, the huli, the funnel, the wake,

a fishing smack, a sou'wester, a gangway ? 1 Waterproof bat worn by sailors.

TWENTIETH LESSON

W1"itten Work

93

4· (a) Describe (i) a stearner, (ii) a sailing ship. (b) Write a description of a stofm at sea.

I , /

~/ ,'<

TWENTIETH Ţ.,ESSON \

THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

In thc following sentences a form of the verb is used different from those previously studied. Here, questions are asked and answerecl by using the past participle with the auxiliary " to have," e.g. :

Hm:e you uJlderstood me? Yes, 1 Izaz-'e tmderstood you. I

II as he done his \york ? 1." ••••. .1

No, he lzas not doue it veto , , .

This form of the verb is caIlecl the Present Perfect tense. '~.J'

,*,,"","~,",",," ___ ,,-.-~'''-''"''W'

Question. Ha"e you sem Mr Srnith

Iately I

Has Mr Johnson ever spoken to you ?

Have 1 told you about my visit to Buenos Aires ?

A1ls'lcer.

Yes, 1 havc set:tt him several times this ylar.

No, 1 have not (haven't) sem him for a Iong time nmy.

Yes, hc has spoken to me quite of ten.

No, he has never spohell te me yet.

Yes, vou ha'l}c toZd us about it. No, ~you ha'l)e not (han:'n't)

told us.


Questioll. Has it been too hot for you

to-day 1

Answer. Yes, it has been too hot j there

was no breeze to keep me cool.

No, it bas not (hasn't) bem too hot j 1 ,can stand any amount of heat.

[N ow give your own anS'wers to the follozving .(juestions. ]

Question. Have you finished your work

for to-day 1 Has my letter been posted ?

Hasn't it been a beautiful day to-day 1

Haven 't you opened your letters yet ?

Have you ever seen the King ?

Yes, No,

Yes, No,

Yes, No,

Yes, No,

Yes, No,

'1 Answer.

~ •••••••••• ,. 0'0 •••••••• ••••••

........ (' .... ': ...•. : ....... . ••.••• .. ;i{ !" ;-:~;:: •••• ':.;. '.0 •••••

.............................. ..............................

The Present Perfect tense is used : "" ".'" ''',,,,,, """"'''-~'''''~'''''''''''''',,''',,''-,-''''''''''''''''''''''--' "

1. When the time of the action is mdefinite, .e.g., )~b{!~esee1!th~ KiE:g, In this sentence we are not told when th€'actlOn took place, so here the Present Perfect is used. Compare this with "1 .wzllţhe Ki!1~'.l.3~~' Here, the time is defiiliIe;"so the Simpfe Past tense is used.

2. For an action in the past continuing into the present, e.g., 1 have taught (Present Perfect) this dass for ten years and am stiU teaching it. Compare this with " 1 taught (Simple Past) this class

TWENTIETH LESSON 95 two years ago but 1 am not teaching it now." Here the action is complete in the past and does not continue into the present, 1{ler.efore tl1e ~i~p!el(:l~tnqt~~l"r~ş~.@l~~ţ~sti~.;!(:sI(#

"1 am in England since October." 1~~'"_/"\"f,,,,0 "-,~,,~,,,"~,~,~_

This is a mistake commonly made by students beginning to learn English. The action here began in the past and has continued into the present, therefore the Present Pelject should be used, i.e., 'o/~'w""'~"""~"";'< ,J'·w./ ,

1 have been in England since October.

EXERCISES

1. Put the correct fonn of the verb in the blank spaces in the following sentences. Give the reason for your choice in each case.

Verb. vi'rite

see

be

go

wear

(1) 1 to I;Ily brother yesterday. (2) H. G. WeUs',":'::.: .. ; many books . (3) \Ve": ~:,~~A ~.i •• many interesting plays since we

have been in London. ( ) Th 40·j,!·" H 1" h Old V' 4 ey ""; .. : ... ".. am et at tele. . . ;Theat~e last week. .' (5) lI,,";' .. ,":": in England now since January. (6) She :/.cc'"'" in El)~I~nd last July but has now

returned ta ®l'td. (7) Mr Williami'· .... ?::,. to Spain for a holiday

last summer. (8) That \Vas not his first visit to Spain ; he ! .. ::.:c::

there often before. (9) I liked the dress which you'i)/lJ:~lt .. at the

dance last night. (10) I know this suit is shabby but it

now for nvo years.

96 A MODERN ENGLlSH COURSE 2. Put the correct farm of the verb in the blank spaces in

the following sentences :-(1) Did you ride in the Park this morning? Yes,

1 ... :".~,;/,:, therc. (2) Have you ever ridden in the Park? Yes,I"""

there frequently. { (,J~I-t:"

(3) H\,,~J;te.,pa.id you the money he owed you? Yes, heţ1:~~,!v:t.Z:~ me.

(4) Did he ,pay you the money he owed you? Yes, he"' '~ţ'iv.,:,;~. me a week aga.

(5) Did slie drive the car weU? Yes, she vcry 1.vell.

(6) Ras she ever driven your car? Yes, shc .. many a time.

(7) Did you think 1 would be here? Yes, you would be here.

(Ş) Havc you thought about what 1 said? Yes, J f(>1':~; i:<: about it vcry often.

(9) Did Mr Jones nnd th" cigarette case he \Vas looking for? Yes, he,·;·!:;\;(.--v:,LJ it in his old coat.

(10) Has Mr Jones found his cigarette case? Yes, .,,~,ţî, •• ';:i,,:;~:>'it.

~ WEATHER

K

1. When two English people meet, their first words wiU be " How do you do?" or "How are you ?" And after the reply " Very well, thank you; how are you ? " the next remark is almost certain to be about the weather. "It's a lovely morning isn't it?" or "Isn't it hot to-day?" and the 15ther person will reply, " Yes, it's v-:onderfuI weather we are having. 1 hope it wiU keep fine; it seems almost too good to last."

TWENTIETH LESSON 97

2. Or perhaps the day is dull; it is rammg a little, the sky is grey, and every one is wearing a mackintosh, or dlrrying an umbrella. As the cars and buses $0 along the street they spl&sh the water and mud on the passers-by.

3. Gradually it gets darker; a thick fog is spreading over London. The lamps are lit in the streets and in the shops and offices, and cars and buses put on their lights and can only crawl along. As one friend hj.ll:xij;!.~" into another, he says, " Isn't it a beastly day?" "Yes," replies the other, " you can hardly see a yard in front of you."

4. Then comes \vinter. There has been a good faH of snow and a hard frost. It is just the day for a good country walk; let us have a tramp dovrn the country lanes. The ground is like iron and ripgs under our feet, the frost sp~'rkles on the branches, and icicles hang from the houses.

5. It is still freezing hard and the ponds are frozen over. There are crowds of people on them sliding and skating, aud here is a merry grdîip of schoolbo.v s having a fight \v"Îth snowbal.Is. It is c;wtl' ( very pleasant while the frost lasts; the unpleasant time comes when the thrw,begins.

""~~,,~!',~"

6. A few months have passed and it is a beautiful spring day. The rain fel! heavily last night, but now the soft white clouds are floating across the blue sky, and the sun is shining brightly. Rain-drops and dew-drops shine on every smal! green leaf and every blade of young grass.


7. In the gardens the Jt~Q51ils are dancing m the breeze. The ,~~~ are '-just beginning to show, the cr5d'mes are going now but stil! make a gay spC5t'atcolour, yellow or pm:ple or white. As ~we walk along the lanes the white ,bl;xthgrll- bOOs are ready to open, and the yellow pnmroses make the hedge side beautiful.

8. Th~ bi~ds .are filling the air witlt j song. The lark IS hlgh m the sky, and the thrlÎsl~ and /~~Fd are sing!ng beautifully, {Vfiile- their mates are busy bmlding the nest for the eggs. The <s~aJ1Q1y_has returned from his winter abroad, ~nd m the evening the nightin~a~l: wiU be heard m the woods. ~"." .. ~. .

9. The f&~mer has ploughed his fi61ds and the new corn is just beginning tO appear above the ground. It has been a time of hard work, but in a few months now autumn and harvest time will come. When the corn has turned ripe and golden he wiU reap it and put it in his batn.

SOME USUAL REMARKS ABOUT THE WEATHER

It looks like rain to-day; 1 think we are going to have some more rain. .

It's a bit duH, but 1 think it wiU dear up. It's raining cats and dogs; it's pouring \vith

rain; it's coming down in torrents; I'm wet through; 1 am wet to the skin.

It's very dose to-day; 1 can hardly breathe.

TWENTIETH LESSON

Has it stopped raining yet ? 99

I think we are going to have a heavy falI of snow; the snow-flakes are very big.

It's freezing as hard as it can; it's bitterly cold.

That was a terrible thunder storm; a tree \Va" struck by lightning.

1 think we are in for a long dry summer.

March winds, April showers Bring forth May flowers.

EXERCISES

1. What are the four seasons of the year? Say a little about each.

2. '\'bat do you \vear to protect you against the rain ?

3· When does water freeze? What is the opposite of " freeze " ?

4. What do you do on the ice ?

5. Write down the names of (a) three birds, (b) three spring flmvers, and make a sentence about each.

6. Fill in the words omitted; if l'ou can't remember them you will find them in the piece you have just rcad :-

(a) There had been a - frost and a good - of snow. (b) The - is like iron and - under our feet. (e) The frost'- on tbe branches and'~ hang from the

houses. (d) It is freezing hard and the ponds are - over. (e) There are crowds. of people on them _ and L ' .

(j) Rain-drops and~drops shine on every leaf and on every ..::;;;.' bf young grass.

Ioa A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

(g) The daffodils ar~ - in the breeze. (h) As we walk along the lanes the white - bu" .. are

r~9.y to apen. (i) The' Lis high in the sky.

1·,r'·,V-' (j) The farmer has ......: his field.

7. There are several words in English ending in U ough," 1ike "plough," but they are net pronounced alike. The following are rhymes:-

through -biue douglt, though-go

plough, bOllgh-cow

cOllgh -off rouglt, enollgh-cilff

Pronounce each oue and use it in a sentence.

Written Work \Vrite a short description of a foggy day, or a winter's day,

or a walk in summer.

TWENTY-FIRST LESSON

SENTENCES AND PHRASES

"' ' . A group of words that r;::takes complete s~,pse IS called a Sentence. Sometlmes a gro'$Ip of wards may make sense but not c8"mplete sense. This group of words is called a Phrase. If 1 say " fuU of old envelopes and bills" the sense is not complete; that is a phrase. "The pockets of my brown coat" is another phrase; it does not make complete sense by itself. But if 1 say, " The pockets of my brown coat are fuU of old envelopes

TWENTY-FIRST LESSON !OI

and bills," you trnderstand my meaning completely. That is a sentence.

A sentence may be quite short, e.g. : Birds fly. Lions raar.

It may hen consist of one word, e.g. : Gol Help!

e SUBJECTS AND PREDICATES

A sentence has two parts. Th{;s in the sentence H Birds I fIy "

the first part, " birds," is the name of the thing we are talking or thinking about. This is the Subject. The second part tells us something about the subject, it tell&. us what birds do. This part is called the Predicate.

Here are some further examples. Subject.

Mr Robinson Oliver Twist

Predicate.

opened the door quietly. asked for more dinner.

The boZ with the dirty face, .f!{'J,Lc{,t.

has walked aII the way from lVlanchester tp Landon ta try to find work.

the raggeu coat, and the broken shoes

OBJECTS Sometimes although we have a subject and a

predicate the sense is not complete. Suppose 1 said

The boy asked, or Brutus killed, or 1 want,


you expect something more to be added to complete the meaning, for example :

The boy asked a qllestion. Brutus killed C<Esar. 1 w3nt my dinller.

These words are called the Object of the verb, and verbs that need an object are called TrlÎhsitive verbs, because the action passes over from one person or tlung to another person o~ thing. Some verbs do not need an object; the :\.ction does not pa~s over from one person or thing to another, e.g. :

The bOL~poke. Cresar died. The water froze.

These verbs are ca1led Intransitive verbs.

EXERCISES

1. !vIake the following phrases into sentences :-

(1) through the window. (6) open ali day. (2) half-past eight. (7) in answer to your letter. (3) walking in the park. (8) by the first train. (4) on Christmas Day. (9) in my garden. (5) with Jack Robinson. (la) with a knife andfork.

2. Add subjects to the following predicates so as to make

sentences :-(1) ... sat on a chair. (2) ... discovered America. (3) .,. walked to London. (4) .. , \Vere singing in the

trees. (5) ... comes on the 2Stll

of December.

(6) ... is nearly over. (7) .,. answered the letter.

(8)1",:", i,ş,. ~f.\lld season. I (9) ... burned the cakes. ,

(10) ... drank a glass of beer.

TWENTY-FIRST LESSON 103 3. Make up Predicates tQ ~uit the follO\ving :_,J

(1) The Daily Mail .. : • (6) London .. .

(z) The Paris express ... (7) My dog .. . (3) The leaves of the trees ... (3) A motor car ..• (4) ThemonthofFebruary... (9) Christmas Day "0

(5) William Shakespeare ... (la) A new moon ...

+ Pick out the subject, verb, and object (if there is one) in the following sentenccs :-

(1) The boy kicked the football. (2) A big dog chased the ydung rabbit. (3) The sun rose at four o'clock.

(4) John brushed his hair. (5) Harry lay down and went to sleep. (6) The t\Vo children are playing games in the nursery. (7) The fire is burning brightly. (8) 1 rl';d a very interesting book yesterday. (9) The newspaper is lying on the table.

(Ia) Sir William Jones lost his pocket-book, keys, aad gold cigarette case.

THE R..AILWAY STATION

CONVERSATIONS OVERHEARD

1 A.: Corne along, we are only just in tirne for

the train. B.: Oh, no! we're aU right; it doesn't go out

for another twenty minutes yet. A.: 1 thought it went at 12 .. 30.

B. : No, not till 12.50.

I04 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

A.: Oh, that's a11 right! Rave you got the tickets ?

B.: No; let's go along to the booking office. 1 want a few magâzines and newspapers, so we'l1 ca11 at the booksttill an the way.

A. : Yes, and I've left a bag in,ţhe cloakroom ; 1'11 just slip along 1 there and n!claim it while you get the tickets and newspapers.

B. : Right ho! 1'11 meet you outside the leftluggage oftice in ten minutes' time.

II

C. : rm glad you are coming on my train; we can travel together. Rave you a reserved seat?

D. : No; the train isn't very crowded and we'l1 get a seat quite easily. Rere'ş a porter; he can put our bags in the guard's vi\'n and find us seats. Porter!

PORTER: Yes, sir. You want these bags to go into the luggage van of the 12.50. Are the bags Iabe11ed, sir?

C. : Yes, there's a tie-on labeI on mine and a stick-on labei on my friend's. Get us two corner seats in a first-class smoker.

PORTER: Very good, sir. Better come along at once; the train is fi11ing up quickly. Platform 14·

D. : Ah! here we are. Row do you like to sit, facing the engine or with your back to it ?

1 Slip a,long=go.

TWENTY-FIRST LESSON 1°5

C. : 1 don't mind either way, but if it's aII the sal!'e to you l' d prefer to sit the way the train is gomg.

D. : That wi11 suit me perfectly. I'm rather fussy about not sitting in adraught, sa 1 prefer ta sit with my back ta the ~ngine.

III f ~ I

Speakers-JiM and B'ILLY, tzvo smalt boys.

J Il,l: l' d like to be an engine driver and ride on the footplate.

. BILLY: Yes, fltm&ce for him. engine, isn't it ?

or a fireman stoking up That' s a big tcnder for

that this

JIM: Well, it needs ta be. A long-distance express like this has ta carry a lot of coal.

BILLY: \Vhv, how much does it use ? 0\-t.,. ','J

JIM: About 35 lbs. per mile. BILLY: I've of ten wondered how engines

work. J IM: Oh, it's quite simple. Steam is made in

the boilers there, and then goes to the c}"Ii'nders and pushes up the pistons. These are connected to the driving wheels, so the wheels gO.;l"ound, and the used steam goes out through the funnel.

BILLY: When the engine is going, how does the driver stop it ?

J IM: Re shuts off the steam, pulls down the regulator handle, and puts on the brake.


BILLY: What's that sH6ve1 arrangement under the engine for?

JIM: That's a scoop for taking up water on the journey. This train will need about 3000 ga110ns for its run. It carries about half that and picks IlP the rest on the way, when it passes over trougfls of water.

f BILLY: HeUo! the engine's going to start. Oh, look! the whee1s are whizzing round on the line and the train isn't moving. What's the matter?

JIM: The whee1s aren't gripping; watch the sand coming down that pipe just by the wheel; now the wheel grips-it's of!.

BILLY: Oh, Jimmy, you'l1 have to be an engine driver.

JIM: That's what I teU dad, but he's not keen on it; he wants me to be a barrister like himisn't it sickening ?

IV

A. : Well, here we are, ready for the journey. B.: Put this small bag on the rack ~above your

head, wiU you? 1'11 just go along the corridor and see where the dining-car is and book for the first service; I'm hungry. '

A. Right; we shan't be long now, the si~nals are down and the guard is blowing his whistle. He's waving his flag. Now we're oti.

TWENTY-FIRST LESSON I07

LONDON TERMINI % ,0,"

Southern Railway (S.R.).-Victoria, WaterlOo; ChKring Cross. 0'0

London MIdland and Şj;ottish Railway (L.M:.S.).-Ei1€t8"n~o S'f'P!ficr!.ls. /, ..

London and North-Eas,teYrt Railway (L.N.E.R.).King's Cross, MiIryl~bon~, LiverpO'ol Street.

c Great Western Railway (G. W.R. ).-Paddington.

SOME FAMOUS TRAINS

«The . Flyi5/& Scotsman" - King's Cross to Edmburgh. ,

~AA 6" " The Wild Irishman "-Euston to Holyhead.

i~ /J \~"'I il ,t « Royâl Scoţ",-.. Euston to Edinbutgh.

1, ktV,'i [,vE ţ, " The Mancuman ".-. Euston to Manchester.

.{: Il

" Co~is~ Riviera Express "-P3.ddington to Penzance.

EXERCISES

1. Mention (a) ten things, (b) five officials or workers seen at a railway station, and make a sentence about each.

2. \Vhat is meant by a" smoker," the footplate, the guard's van, a stoker, the left-luggage office, to sit facing the engine.

Written Work 3, (a) Write a description of a busy railway station.

(b) Describe a journey you have had by train.

J08 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

TWENTY-SECOND LESSON

NOMINATIVE CASE AND OBJECTIVE CASE

You can now pick out quite easily the subjects and objects in sentences like

Brutus killed Cresar, OT The man saw the dog.

You say the subjects are" Brutus " and " the man," the objects "Cresar" and "the dog." Words that are the subject of a verb are in the Nominative case. Words that are the object of a verb are in the Objective or Accusative case. So in the hbtwe sentences "Brutus" and "the man" are nominative case, " Cresar" and " the dog" are objective case.

If, however, 1 write the sentences like this-

The dog saw the man, Cresar killed Brutus,

now the words "dog" and "Cresar" are nominative case, and " the man" and " Brutus " are objective case.

There is no difference in the form of an English noun to show whether it is nominative or accusative. In this it differs from many languages. If, for example, these sentences were in Latin or in German, the form of the noun would show whether they were nominative or accusative, e.g.:

Brutus (1Iom.) Cresarem (ace.) interfecit. Der Mann (1Iom.) sah den Hund (ace.).

TWENTY-SECOND LESSON I09

In English it is the word order that gives the meaning. In German you can say

Der Mann sah den Hund, ar Den Hund sah cler l\{ann

with no real change of meaning; in Latin Brutus Cresarem Înterfecit

is the same as

Cresarem Brutus interfecÎt.

But in English.such a change in word order would mean a dJmpll~te change in meaning.

The usual word order, then, is Subject-Verb-Object.

NOMINATIVE AND OBJECTlVE OF PRONOUNS

Nouns have the same form for nominative and objective, but most pronouns have onc forU'< for the nominative, another for the objective, thus:

lVominative. Objective. lVominati",'e. Objeetive. 1 me ,ve us he him you you she her they them it it who \vhom

So 1, lze, slze, we, tlzey, wlzo, can never be in the object.

114e, !zim, !zer, us, them, w!zom, can never be in the subject.

IlO A MODERN ENGLISH CODRSE

EXERCISES

1. In the following sentences say which nouns are in the Nominative case and which are in the Objective :-

f~"

(1) The film star signed the autograph book. (2) The artist sharpened his pencil. (3) Re quickly made a charming sketch. (4) Money does not always bring happiness. (5) But it makes most misfortunes easier to bear.

2. Explain what i5 wrong in the following sentences !

(1) 1:Ier helpedI. (2) Him and ~e are goinga holiday together. (3) S.he doesn't like you and'l··· :, " 'Ct, l,'!

(4) l'ou don't understand '\Ve English. (5) Let you and 1 do the work together.

MEALS

1. The usual meals in England are breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner; or in the simpler houses, breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper. ,

Breakfast is genera11y a substantial meal, not just ro11s and coffee. Many people like to begin with porridge, or some other "breakfast food" like " Grape Nuts " 01' " Force."

2. English people eat porridge with milk or cream and sugar, but no good Scotsman-and Scot1and is the home of porridge-would ever put sugar on his porridge. Then comes ,a J1!Şher or two of bacon and fried eggs, mărmâlade (made of oranges or lemons), with buttered toast, tea, ar coffee. And on a cold &osty moming that

TWENTY-SECOND LESSON III

is a meal fit for a king! If ygu prefer it Y01,I man have eggs boiled o~ scrambl~d, and ocdîsi6n~l1y fish, e.g., herring, haddock, or kipper, is served.

3. Lunch is served between half-past twelve and half-past one. The business man in London finds it is impossible to get home for this meal and so takes it in a cafe ar restaurant, but those who are at home generally t2ke cold meat, e.g., beef, mutton, veal, h.1lm, with boiled or fried potatoes, another vegefâble or salad, and pickles.

4. Instead of this you may have a chop, or a steak and chips, followed by biscuits and cheese and a cup of coffee. With the lunch you will probably drink water or light beer.

Afternoon tea fo11ows between four and five o' clock. This is not generally a formal meal. Instead of sitting round the table you have tea brought ta you, and you balance a cup on your knee ar in your hand as you take thin buttered bread, pastries, cake, 01' biscuits.

5. For dinner let us go to a hotel. In London !:here are hotels to suit every taste and every purse. There is, for example, Claridges, where they were so full up with kings and royal dukes that when Mr Ford wrote for accommodation

. they could offer him only a small back room. Or in the Grill Room of the Ritz we can try their specialities, Filet de Sole AMa or Poulade Chevaliere, ar in the Strand we can visit the cosmopolitan Savoy and meet people from almost every land.

6. A11 these places are, of. coursţ, expensive, but if we want somewhere cheaper we can go to

!IZ A MODERN ENGLISR COURSE

the Regent Palace or the Criterion, where for five or six shillings we can get an excellent din ner , with good service, a lively orchestra, and gay crowds. Then there are the various Lyons' " Corner Houses," where for a smaller sum you get bigger orchestras and larger crowds.

7. For the really cheap places it is very interesting to explore the little French or Italian restaurants of Soho. Here are the Rendezvous, where you can inspect the kitchens at any hour (and with Soho places that is a recommendation), or there is the Petit Riche, where the Breton proprietrcss gives an ~ntirely French menu, including snails and frogs m season, and where even the fireplace is roade of stones brought from Brittany; or you wil! get excellent value at Antoine's in Charlotte Street.

8. Spanish visitors who are feeling homesick can, within a hundred yards of Piccadilly, find the Spanish Restaurant and imagine they have gone back to Spain, for the decoration, the salads, the cooking, the wines, the waiters, and most of the diners are Spanish.

In the same way there are Indian, Chinese, Hungarian, or J ewish restaurants.

. 9. If you want real Old English food you must go to Simpson's in the Strand. Here a noble joint of roast beef--cooked at open roasting firesis wheeled to your table and carved before your eyes. Their head carver, who has been with them flfty-six years, is very proud of the fact that he was requested to carve the sirloin of beef at Houghton Towers when the King and Queen

TWENTY-SECOND LESSON II3

were there as guests. According to tradition it was at Houghton Towers that James 1. knighted the loin of beef, making it Sir Loin.

IO. Most visitors like to go to the "Old Cheshire Cheese," off Fleet Street. This is an old chop-house where famous \vriters used to go. In its old-fashioned rooro, whose uneven floor is covered with .saţvrl!lst, Doctor J ohnson sat at the head of the table in the eighteenth century, with Goldsmith by his side. Dickens and Thackeray went there in the nineteenth century, and many modem writers, journalists, and lawyers go there now. The busiest time is Wednesday evening, when at 6.30 their speciality, the huge rumpsteak, kidney, and oyster pudding, weighing 60 lbs., is brought in.

r 1. A plate of this with a pint of bitter beer in a long glass, followed by their Pancake or their Toasted Cheese and .special " punch " in a China bowl, is a meal l'ou don't easily forget.

And now, having tipped the waiter, p~id our bill, and got our hats and coats from the cloakroom, let us go on to a theatre, music hall, or

• _"",~",,","A',v cmema.

CONVERSATIONAL PHRASES AT THE TABLE

ROST ar ROSTESS :

Do you take tea or coffee ? Will you have tea ar coflee ?

How much sugar, one or two lumps (pieces) ?

GUEST:

Tea, please.

One. please. No sugar, thank you.

II4 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

HOST or HOSTESS :

Can 1 give you a little more bacon?

GGEST'

Yes, please. No, thank you.

No, I'd rather not, thank you.

Would you like a second helping of plum pudding ?

Do have a little more fruit WeB, just a very little, salad. please.

[Note, when YOllaccept, you use ",plea,sq"; when YOlt refuse, YOll use " thank YOIl."]

Pass the salt, please. W ould you mind passing the salt, please ? May 1 trouble you for the mustard, please ?

EXERCISES

I. Row many meals do we have each day 1 Say what they arc and at what time they are taken.

2. Say what you have for breakfast in England. 3. Make a list of (a) ten vegetables, (b) ten fish that are

eaten, (c) five kinds of meat. 4. Explain exactly (a) how you would make coifee, (b)

how to make good soup. 5. Row would you set a dinner table 1 6. Explain what " afternoon tea " is. 7. \Vhat are the favourite dishes in your country ? S. Imagine you are in a restaurant; now arder a good

lunch. 9. You have invited two friends to dinner; write out the

menu. Written Work

\Vrite an account of a visit to a hotel for dinner.

TWENTY-THIRD LESSON

TWENTY-THIRD LESSON.

THE FUTURE TENSE

IIS

To show the Future Tense in English we use two verbs, slzall.and uill. For example :

Prcsellt Tense. Future Tcnse. 1 am. 1 shaU be. I have. 1 shaU have. We know. We shalI know. Re comes. Re will corne. They go. They wiU go. You are here te-day. You will be here to-rnol'row. She is at home. She will be at home next week.

As you can see, "shall" is used in the Ist person singular and Ist person plural, i.e., with " 1" and "we;" "will" Îs used in aU other persons. Thus:

Affirmative. 11lterrogative. 1 shall be. Shall 1 be ? We shall be. Shall we be 1 Re '1 Will he l She she I! f'cill be. it J be 1 rou you They they

lVegative. J.legative lnterrogative. I ,hali not (sha'n't) be. ShaU 1 Dot (sha'n't 1) be 1 We shall not (sha'n't) be. ShaU we Dot (sha'n't ,ve) be 1

He 1 Will he } Won't he 1 She she she It 1'«1'1Z not (won't) be. it Dot be ? it J be?

you you They_ they they

(Note, it won't.")

the eontractÎon for "will not " 1$

Il6 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

Here you will see a few examples of these

forms: Question. Answer.

How old will you be in '945 ? 1 ,hali be 35 years old.

Row old will YOllr brother be He willlie 36 years old.

then? Sha'n't 1 see you to-morrow ? No, 1 shall be in Paris by

then.

[Now complete the rest. AU answers must be complete sentences.]

\ViU you ") I,paris Î your brather I Lima \ . J,gO to lv. J.ne>'1: year? Yes... No ... your slster lenna your friends Cairo

\Vhat day of the week wiU it be to-morrow ? \Vhat day of the month wiU it be to-morrow ?

\Vhere wiU you be next week ? ShaU 1 ask you the question again ? \ViU you go to the footbaU match with me? Yes... No .. . \ViU Jack Brown go, too ? Yes... No .. .

N otice the tenses used in the sentences :

He will see you when he comes (not " when /le sltall come ") to Landon.

\Ve shall go as seon as we are (not "shall be H)

ready. 1 shall not go to the footbaU match to-mOlTOW

rains (not " il it will rain ").

TWENTY-THIRD LESSON II7

EXERCISES

I. Put the following into the 3rd person, i.e., instead of t, I " or " we " put " he " or " they,)) etc.

(1) 1 shaU see you again to-morrow.

(2) 1 shaU be very pleased if you can come to my house for tea to-morrow.

(3) TeU liS when we shaU see you again.

(4) We shaU finish this lesson on Thursday.

(5) When 1 examine your work 1 shaU see if you have understood me.

2. Put the foUowing into the Ist person :-

(1) YOli wiU have another lesson next week.

(2) They won't do that again.

(3) Re wiU give the boys some sweets to-monow.

(4) CharIes won't make that mistake again.

(5) When wiII YOli caU and see me again ?

3. The following sentences are in the future tensc. Complete them by filling in the blank spaces with a verb.

(1) Re - open the door if you - him the key.

(2) 1 - write a letter if YOli - me your address.

(3) If there - a hoIiday to-morrow we - not corne to sehool.

(4) Re - glad when the holidays -.

(5) If it - convenient 1 - be pleased to call and see you on Friday.

5

lIS A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

ENGLISH SCHOOLS

1

1. There are two main types of schools in England that have grown up side by side, viz., State Schools and Private Schools. The State Schools are under the authority of the Board of Education and the Local Authority, are inspected by the Board's inspectors, and are supported by the State or Local Authority. The Private Schools usually receive no aid from the State, are generally not under the control of the State in any way, and are supported by the fees paid by the parents of the scholars and by endowments.

2. Education is compulsory for ali children between the ages of five and fourteen, and at the age of five the children go to the Infant School (or Kindergarten School). At the age of seven 1

theyalivan<.:~ to the Elementary School, beginning in Class I. Another break comes at eleven, when after an examination the best children go to Secondary or Grammar Schools, those who have done particularly well gaining a scholarship which pays their fees for the next five or six years. Those who do not gain admission to a Secondary School usually stay on in the Elementary School till they are fourteen, or they may take a later examination, or go to a Central School or to a Trade School for Vocational training.

3. In the Secondary School higher education 1. It is proposed ta organise Elementary Schools as Junior Depart

ments (s ta II) and Senior Departments (II ta 14), aud many such departments exist, but the scheme can only be introduced gradually.

TWENTY-THIRD LESSON II9

begins. It includes English, History, Geography, Mathematics, one or two Sciences-e.g., Chemistry, Physics, or Biology-one or two languages-e.g., French, Latin, Greek, German, Spanish, or Italian -Art, Music, Engineering, or other manual work. As the students approach the Sixth (i.e., top) Form the courses of study become more specialised, and a Science Course, Arts Course, Classical Course, or Modern Course is followed.

4- The students work for their Matriculation Examination, which is the entrance examination to the U niversities. They usually take this about the age of sixteen or seventeen, and having passed it they of ten stay on at school for a further two years to do advanced work for their first University examination. In agreat many cases the school fees are paid by the State, and where the boy's family is not welJ off a maintenance alJowance is given for his keep.

5· B.,ys with ability mav gain further scholarships, varying from [,50 to ;C 1 50 per year for their University career. It is, therefore, possible for a child to recel ve' the highest education in the country not on1y entirely without cost to himse1f or his parents but with the addition of considerable financial help towards his maintenance. There are eighteen U niversities in Great Britain and Ireland where students work for the degrees of B.A. (Bachelor:ofArts), B.Sc. (Bachelor of Sciel1pD, M.A. (Master()LAI!s), M.Sc. (Master QtSc[enee), etc. 'rhere are Medical Schbols at most of the U niversities, and medical students undergo part of their training at the HospitaIs, while students who are training to become


barristers study at one of the four Inns of Court, viz., Gray's lnu, Lincoln's Inn, Middle Temple, and Inner Temple.

II 6. But in addition to the children in the State

Schools there are a considerable number who attend Private Schools,' where generally a very expensive but in some cases inferior education is given by teachers sometimes not, perhaps, so well qualified, academically, as those in the State Schools. In these schools the boy or gir! attends a "College," "Academy," or "Preparatory School" up to the age of twelve or thirteen. The cost of this education varies greatly according to the standing of the school, but in a good "Prep." School-a boarding school-the fees will be about [,100 to [rso a year.

7. From the Preparatory School the boy will go to a Public School. There is a large ·number of these, but the best known are Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Winchester, Westminster, Charterhouse, Shrewsbury, St Paul's, and Merchant Taylors'. At these schools the cost will vary, but at one of the good boarding schools the fees and board for three or four years will be [,150 to [,200 a year. Here a boy will learn a good deal of Latin and Greek, football and cricket or rowing, as well as History, Modern Languages, Mathematics, English, and Science.

8. Why, then, do some English people send their sons to Preparatory and Public Schools rather .

1 The term "Private School" covers alI schools privately owned -inc1uding some, but not alI, of the Public Schools.

TWENTY-THIRD LESSON 121

Winchester College-Cbamher Caurt.


than to State Schools? Class distinction certainly has something to do with it, but the reason is not merely social snobbery as is sometimes suggested. Nor is it on1y because in the past, even more than in the present, it was almost impossible to hold high position in the Civil Service or the Diplomatic Service unless one had been to a great Public School.

9. The tradition of the Public Schools has always been that education means more than learning. Squire Brown 1 expresses the feeling admirably.

" Shall 1 tell Tom [his son] to mind his work aud say he's sent to school to make himself a good scholar? Well, but he isn't sent to school for that-at any rate not for that mainly. 1 don'f care a straw for Greek particles, no more does his mother .... If he'll only turn out a brave, helpful, truth-telling Englishman, aud a gentleman and a Christian, that's all 1 want."

Ia. So parents send their boys to Public Schools of ten because they themselves went there and they feeI that the ideal of building a manly straightforward character, of incu1cating habits of obedience and command, of developing a fearless courage and a scorn of meanness and lying, is an ideal worth striving for. The atmosphere of beauty, of scholarship, of calm sec1usion, and the inspiration of the great men of the past who have studied there are things that they treasure, and it is this heritage that they desire to pass on to their sons.

1 In the naveI <1 Tom Brown's Schooldays," by Thomas Hughes.

TWENTY-FOURTH LESSON 123

EXERCISES

1. Use each of the following words in a sentence. They are all taken from the preceding cĂ1:ract :-

compulsory, maintenance, financial, barrister, boarding, fees, snobbery, tradition, straightforward, inculcate, seclusion, inspiration.

2. What are the folIowing 1 -The Board of Educatio", ;n Infant School, Class 1., a scholarship, matriculation, B.A., B.Sc., M.A., M.Sc., Gray's Inn, a Preparatory SchooI, Etan.

Written Work 3. \Vrite a composition on one of the following :

(a) Your schooldays. (b) Your ideas of a good education. (e) Education in your country.

TWENTY-FOURTH LESSON

THE FUTURE TENSE AGAIN

0,1 Sometimes, in addition to futurity, a further id~a of prO/iiîSe, determination, ar command is intended. Then the use of " sh~ll " and " will " is exact1y the reverse of that given an p. IlS. Th"" us:-

A. B.

Simple Futurity.

1 shaU he will we shall you will they will

Promise, DeterminatiollJ

Comnzand. 1 will he shall we wiU you shall they shall


The following examples will help to make this usage elearer:-

1. Can you leI)d me a " fiver " U:5), 1 will (I'll) return it next m6nth. (Promise.)

....,-N.A"

2. We will (we'll) do all we can to make your stay here plâs~nt. (Promise.)

,,-,,,,,,,,,,~

3. You have tried to foree me to stay here, but 1 uill go away. (Determiuatiou.)

4. We ,will (we'll) not give our money to those who use it '·'j,';;dly. (Deter,,!~,"tiou.) •

5. " The time w7ii~~,;:e"(F~t"rity) when you ,hall hlar me." 1 (Determillation.)

6. "Thou ,halt not kill; Thou ,hGit not stea!." [The Commandments.] (C.!!}f!:~1f!:~4)

7. The thieves have threatened~ to take my money, but they ,hali not have it. (Determination.)

!"',," "',,,,,,".' ,,~,---

Rere is a short piece of dialogue which illustrates both A (simple future) and B (promise or determination).

What ,hall we do to-day? (A.)

1 will (I'll) take you to see a friend of mine who lives at Kensington. (B.)

Will he be at home now? (A.) Oh, yes ! we ,hali (we'll) be ali right about that (A), and

I'm sure you will (you'll) like him. (A.)

What time ,hali we start? (A.)

If you uill (you'll) be ready in half-an-hour's time we ,hali (we'll) be just in time for tea. (A.)

Right, 1 will (I'll) be ready then. (B.)

1 Disraeli's maiden (i.e., first) speech in the House of Commons.

TWENTY-FOURTH LESSON '. 125

Perhaps you have noticed that in convgrsation "1 will" and "1 shall" are of ten J;>.oth pronounced " 1'11." So if you are in dgUbt whether to use " I shall " or " I will," do as most English people do-say " 1'11."

';/ TRE GOVERNMENT OF ENGLAND

I. The government of England is by a hereditary soven!ign, an elected Rouse of Commons, and a " partly hereditary Rouse of Lords. The sovereign has the title of King (or Queen) of England and Emperor (or Empress) of India. Re n\sides generally at Bl1ckingham Palace or at Windsor Castle~occasJSlllally at Sandringham in Norfolk, or at ljalmof'1l1 in Scotland. Since I30I the heir apparent has had the title of Prince of Wales.

2. The Rouse of Lords has 750 members, composed of the Lords " Temporal" (Le., Barous,. Earls, Marquises, and Dukes), and the Lords " Spiritual" (i.e., the Archbishop of Cănterbury, the Ar«hbishop of York, and tlventy-four Bishops). The Ieader is the Lord Chancellor, who has a picturesque if somewhat, uncomfortable seat on the Woolsack, a large b1îg of wool covered with red eloth. The woolsăck is a remffider of the times when England's commercial prosperity was founded on her wool exports.

";?f ' 3· The Rouse of Commons comprise~ 615

members, who are elected by b'Îtllot in the, vari5Us constituencies of England, Scotland, WJles, and

126 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE et, I Ulster (N. lreland)" The election is held every five years, linless Parliament voluntarily diisolves itself before its term finishes, and at this election every person above the age of twenty-one has a vote. The party which has the largest number of members returned to Parliament fakes office and is called the Government; the party or parties in the mfnority is called the Opposition. The

Houses of Parliament.

Government sits on the right of the Speaker's chair, the Opposition on the left.

11 4 ... There are at present three mam parties, the

Consgrvatives, the LKb6tlr Party, and the Liberăls, and it is from the party. in power that the iYfinistry is chosen. The:Prime Minister (or Premier) is the principal stittesman in Parliâment, and he chooses from the Lords or the Commons the men, numbering <J.bout sixty, to fill the princip1U offices. He o bta1ns the King' s permission for

TWENTY-FOURTH LESSON I27 " " Lf l'

their ăppointment, and they form the Ministry. From these are chosen the fifteen to twenty to form the Cabinet. These are the holders of the m?st important offices, e.g., the Chancellor .of the E~&~quer, the Home Secretary, the Secretllrx,for ForlIgJî Affairs, the First Lord of the AdmiThlty, the President of the Board of Trade, the Post-master Genilrăl. .

5· A bill may be intro4'uc.ed by any member, but in practice bills are generally introduced by a Minister. The first stage is the first reading of the bill. There is no debate or disd:tssion at this sta,ge> but copies of the bill are printed and distrib6.ted among members so that they may st1,ldy its propOs1l1s. Then comes the second re'ading. On this occasion the member, explains the bill, it is disdlssed, criti~ed, and flrially the Speaker (the "President" of, the ,. House of Commons) asks if it has theapprovâl of the House. .

6. The members shout" A~e "(yes) or" No," and the Speaker gives rus decision as to ,:;hether the "ayes" or the "no.;s" are in the mâjority. If his decision is chalJenged by amember, a division is taken and the House " divli:l.es." The members go int9 the lobbies, the "ayes" going into the right 115bby at the back of the Speaker's chair, the " noes " into the left lobby. Here the fo;ur " tellers" count them as they p1lss in, and report to the Speaker.

7· If the bilL P<J.sses the second reading it goes to a comrriittee, which may be sometimes the whole House. When the House goes into

128 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE ~

Committee the Speaker leaves the chair and bis place is taken by the Chairman of Comrn'itte'es, who sits at the Cl@'rk's table. The bill is now disc~ssed in Mtail and many lIherations, I!lay be made. When its form has been agreed tipan, the Speaker is recalled and receives the report of the Committee. He then asks the House to vote âgain, and if the bill is now passed it goes to its third reading and then to the House of Lords.

8. Here it passes through similar stages to those.in the House of ~ommons. The Lords may reject the bill or may.amend itl·but they have no powe1' to amend or reject a fiil:nce bill. If they withhold their 'iissent to a money bill for more than a month after it has reached them, the bill may be presented for the King's ăssent, and on that being given it becomes law. With bills other than money bills, if they are passed by the Commons in th1'ee successive sessions they may, on the third rejection by the Lords, be presenteq for the King's assent, but two years must flapse between the first introduction of the bill and the date at which it passes the Commons a third time.

Thus it will be seen that though the Lords exercise a .restraining power and by delaying a bill can prevent h~ty legislation, the predominant power is vested in the House of Commons.

EXERcrSES

1. What is the title of the heir apparent 1 2. What are the Lords Temporal, the Lords Spiritual, the

W oolsack, the Speaker, the Lord Chancellor 1

TWENTY-FIFTH LESSON 129 3. What are the principal political parties in England ? 4. What happens at (I) the first reading, (2) the second

reading, (3) the Committee stage? 5. What powers has the House of Lords 1

Written Work (a) Give a short account of the Government of England. (b) Describe briefly the system of Government in your

country.

TWENTY-FIFTH LESSON

MORE ABOUT ADVERBS I

" COMPARISON OF ADVERBS

Adverbs of manner are compared like adjectives.

1. If they have ,O!J..t;,.sy!.h!J:,je we add " e1''' to the p~sitive to make the comparative, and "est" to the positive to mâke the superlative, e.g. :

Positt"ve. near fast

Comparatt've. nearer faster

Superlative. near,est fastkit

dd2;, If theX 4aveh .. InoE!;.,t~~~ .• 0l'leăk§yllh~~I~ we

a more to t e posltlve to m e t e comparative, and "most" to the positive to make the superlative, e.g. :

Positive.

brightly happily

Comparative.

more brightly more happily

Superlative. most brightly mos! happily

I3° A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

3. A few are irregular, e.g. :

Positive.

"A~)~911~""" Iittle badly

Comparative. better

"""~ressA'"'""' \Vorse

Superlative.

best j~;~t worst

OTHER KINDS OF ADVERBS You have seen examples of adverbs of manner

on p. 66. There are other kinds, principaIly adverbs of time, e.g., sometimes, never, of ten, always, etc.; of place, e.g., here, there, everywhere, etc., and of degree, e.g., very, too, so. \'

THE PLACE OF ADvERBS

1. The adverb is generaIly placed before adjectives, adverbs, and past participles, e.g. :

1 carne on a 'lJery slow train [before the adjective" slow "]. It went so slO\vly that 1 was late for my appointrnent

[before the adverb" slowly ''} That German student has been well taught [before the past

participle " taught "].

2. Adverbs of definite time, e.g., yesterday, to-day, tO-1ll0rrow, are generaIly placed at the end of the sentence, e.g. :

1 went to tea with Betty yesterday.

3. The adverbs never, of ten, always, SeldOIfl, sometimes are usuaIly put before the principal verbs, e.g. :

Hc ncver does his work weil. He oftm does his work weli.

TWENTY-FIFTH LESSON

He ahvays does rus work wt!1l. Re seldolll does his \York \VeIi. Re sometimes does his work well. I have never seen him before.

13 1

But they usually go after the verb "to be," e.g.

He is always lucky. She is never at home in the evening.

EXERCISES

1. In the following sentences put one of the following adverbs in the correct place: always, sometimes) 0/tf11, llever :_

(I) He lends me his motor bicycle. (2) She has been to America. (3) They wi11 help you if you ask. (4) 1 am sad when 1 hear music. (5) A letter to this address will tind me. , (6) 1 have thought it would be very pleasant to li\·c

on the Riviera. (7) 1 sha11 tinq aI)y place 1 like so mueh. (8) You can rH§'on Mr Wisehead's advice. (9) He has managed my business anairs.

(I o) 1 like driving a car in foggy weather.

2. Correct the mistakes in the use of the adverb in the following sentenee§ :i

(I) Never 1 have seen such beautiful flowers. (2) She sings very sweet. 1" (3) S0'1le pe?ple "Of most foalish. l;.: (4) Alviiiys he doi\~his work well .. (5) We pay heavy for those articles because they are

so goocj made~" (6) You ea~e~·imagine ~y surprise when 1 saw him. (7) The selcfOm visitors who c&e to our little cottage

were always welcome.


A CRIMINAL TRIAL

1. The chief Criminal Co~rt in London is the Old Bailey in Newgate Street, the.Law Courts in the Strand being used chiefly in civil cases. Any person may go in and listen to a case prov'rded there ,is room, so let us take our seats and watch the stene .

• ! 2. : There is ~he prisoner i::., the dock; he has pleadM nQt gmlty, and the Jllry of twelve men and women are listening ,to decide. whether he is guilty or not. It is a fund~mental principle of English law that a man is innocent until he is proved guilty, and before he can be convicted the case must be fu11y priJllred againsţ him.

3. The counsel for the .pr8s~c'fitioIbu i~; just opening the case. Re is a ba'rrister, a·K.C.,' and he is now givjng the history of the crTIhe, showing why the prisoner is suspected of having committed the cri%.e, his motives, etc., and the Il).ethods by which the criIhe will be pr8ved. The judge, in, his red robes and long white wig,sits on the b~nch (a raiJ,~d seat) and frequent1y tăkes notes as the case god on.

4.. The pl:'0sec'j{tiI1K cQu~sel ~as finished his openmg speech; . he ca11s hls Wltnesses, and by questioning them tries to prove the case he has outlined in his opening address. Before a witness may speak he has to take an oath to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and he must speak only of what he knows or has

1 Kîng's Counsel-a leading barrister.

TWENTY-FIFTH LESSON 133

observed for himself; he may not say what someone else told him.

5. Now the defending counsel takes his turn. Re cross-examines the witness and tries to nnd any false sti/tement in his evidence or if anything has been 01llÎtted that could help the prisoner. The prosecuting counsel may then re-examine the witnes~es, and so each witness for the prosecution is he'ard.

6. Then the defending counsel cj}ls the witnesses for the defence. They are examlhed, and the counsel tries to show from their evidence that the prisoner was not at the place of the crime at the time it was committed (i.e., he tries ,to prove an alib~;, or he shows by other means that the prisoner is innocent. These witnesses are in turn cross-examined and re-examined.

7. The d~f[ndinK~ ~6~!1sg1 jlo'w . makes . his speech. Re uses the eVldence ş;amed m exan1mation of the wltnesses to show the pri~oner's innocence. The cdtinsel for the pros~c'trtion foJlows, and giveshis vei-siotl:' of the evidence to pro've the prisoner is gliilty.

. 8. The jrllige now srims tlp. Re takes a11 the evidence and examines it with the sklll that. comes of long pnictic~e, and

~ I II. f deep now e, ge o the la! Re points

134 A MODERN ENGLISH CODRSE

out to the jury what is, in his opinion, important on both sides. He ende~voÎ1rs as far as possib!e not to show favour to either side or to persuăBe the jury in any way. ,\ 9. The jury now retire to consiHer their

vgrdict. AI! the time the case has been going on they have not been&I!61.Ved to go to their homes, but have .. been lodged at an hotel and guarded by the pollee so that they could not be infl.uenced in any way by outside gossip. Newspapers may report the case, but they may not comment on it in any way unti! it is finished.

10. Mter a while the jury return and the clerk of the court asks the foreman of the jury, "Members of the jury, have you agreed upon your verdict?" and if they have, he asks them what it is. If the foreman. says "Not guilty," the prisoner is immediately dischatged and can never be t~ied again. for that cl;lme. If the verdict is " gUllty," the Judge pr8'nounces the; sentence that the law infl.icts and the prisoner is remb'ved at once from. the dock. If he is not going to make an ~ppe'al to the Appeal Court his sentence begins.

EXERCISES 1. Make a sentence or two about (a) the prisoner, (Ii) the

counsel for the prosecution, (c) the counsel for the defence, (d) the judge, (e) the jury.

2. U se each of the following words .in a sentence :criminal, dock, plead, prihclplc, guilty, barrister, wig, witness, oath, cross~examine, alibi, evidence, verdict.

Written Work Describe a criminal trial in your country.

TWENTY-SIXTH LESSON

TWENTY-SIXTH LESSON

QUESTION PHRASES

135

In conversation, phrases like the French N' estce pas? or the qerman Nicht wahr? are frequently used. But, unlike the French or German phrases, these vary according to the form of the verb used in the tirst part of the sentence.

With the Smple Present tense we use the verb "do"e a • , 'o' .

Affirmative Verb.

1 speak clearly, dan't 1 ? You understand me, don.'t you? 'Ne know them, don't we? They live in Birmingham, dan't they? He works in London, doesn't he ? She comes an Dur train every morning, doem't slze?

Negatiile Vab.

I den't ewe you any money, do I? Yeu don't remember me, do YOll ?

\Ve don 't of ten see each other, do 'loc? They don 't live near you, do tlzey? Re doesn't play the piano, does he? lVlary doesn 't like me, does slze?

\Vith the Simple Past tense we use the verb " did," e.g. :

Affirmative Verb. 1 wrote to yeu, didn't I? And yeu replied, didn't J'OU ? Peter promised te come te the clinner party, didn't hc?


Negative Verb.

1 didn't meet your sister, did I? Re didn't miss his train, did lze ?-etc.

With Auxiliary verbs we use the same form as was used in the first part of the sentence, e.g. :

Affirmative.

You are a Frenchman, aren't YOlt? Re is a Belgian, im't !le? \Ve are ali trying to help each ather, aren't we? Re was here last week, wam't !le? You were in Austria last year, weren't YOll? 1 sha11 see you next week, s!zan't I? You will carne again and see me, won't YOll? You have dane your work, haven't you ? Stephen has written to you, ham't lze ? Re can carne to the dance on Friday, can't he?

Negative.

You are not going yet, are you ? Re is not leaving England so soon, is lze ? Fred wasn't badly hurt, was /ze?

You \Ven't keep me waiting, will YOll? You can't send a letter to Spain for Id., can YOll? We mustn 't make a mistake now, must we ?

LETTERS " lvlr Shalford always omitted pronouns and articles and

so forth; it seemed to him the very essence of the efficiently business-like. Ris only preposition was ' as ' or the compound , as per.' Re abbreviated every word he could, but, on the

TWENTY-SIXTH LESSON 137 other hand, if he saved words here he wasted them there : he never acknowledged an order that was not ' an esteemed favour,' nor sent a pattern without ' begging to sub mit ' it."

" Kipps," H. G. \VELLS.

There used to be a strange j~rgon written called "Commercial English." It was ful! of queer phrases such as "Y our esteemed favour. of even date to hand," or " Re yours of the 18th"ult.," etc. With the spread of popular education most of these died and the modern. iendency with up-to-date business firms is to avoid these more or less meaningless phrases and to say what they wish to say simply and concisely in the language used in writing any other piece of formal English.

However, a few of these phrases andJormş are occasionally used, and so some of the commonest will be given and, where necessary, explained. Meanwhile a few general points on letter-writing are worth noting. The Address, e.g. :

18 CHATWORTH SQ. EALlNG, W.S,

I8tlz August 19 ..... .

NOTES

1. Observe the piinctuation in the address, e.g,., the. fl1l! stop after " Sq." beca\!se the word is hbbrevtited and " q" is not its fin!\lletter.

2. "W. 5" is tnţ London postal district. London and its suburbs are divided into eight districts: E.C., W.C. (East Central and West Central), E., N.E., N.W., W., S.W., and S.E.,


and each of these into a number of subdivisions e.g., N.W. 3, S.E. 27, etc.

3. For the date we use the ordinal numbers, e.g., Ist, 2nd, 3rd, 4th April 1935, ar April Ist, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 1935, but you may use the d'l'dinals if you use figures only, e.g., 4-4-35, ar 4-1V-35.

The Salutatioll. (a) Business Lelters.

Dear Sir

Dear Sirs

Dear Madam

Sirs

Gentlemen

(b) Friend1y Lelters.

Dear Mr Smith

Dear Miss Brown

Dear Harry

M y dear Betty

(N ever Deal' Gentlemen) -~."'~- ~-

The Complimentary Clase.

(a) Business.

Yours truly,

Yours faithfully,

Very truly yours, ,r;·":4/ } ,v We have the pleasure ta remam,

Yours,

Hoping you will give this your immediate attention, We remain,

Y ours faithfully, '

In officialletters the conclusion is generally : 1 have the honour ta remain,

Yours,

TWENTY-SIXTH LESSON

(b) Friendly. , uz.

Yours smcerely, , U2

Y ours very sincerely J

Ţ rţ,maiIl , f,,~ v •. ' 'With !lest wishes and kindest regards,

Yours sincerely.

The Address.

c;?{ lVj

J. WALKER, EsQ. ~~~

16 BRIDGE ST.,

PRESTON,

LANCASHIRE.

NOTES

139

" Esq." is the abbreviation for" esquir{" and IS generally used for business and professionaJ men.

"Mr J. Walker" could also be used, but " l\'Ir J. Walker, Esq." is wrong. "i\lr" is never used\with " Esq."

Other forms of address are :-1'>1

Messri'J. Walker & Ca. Ltd. (Ta his firm.) Mr~'J. Walker. (His Wlfe.) Miss J oan Walker. (His daughter.)

'4° A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

J. Walker, Esq., Jr. (= Junior, his so;'.) Mâster John Walker. (A boy.) The Rev. Robert Walker~·(Aclergyman). Sir John Walker. (A knight.) Sir J ohn Walker, Bart. (A baronet.)

Here are a number of characteristic and sentences from business letters.

phrases

Openings. In reply to your letter of the 3rd inst. we beg to state

that . inst. (short for" instant ")=of this month, uIt. (short for" ultime ")=of last month, prox. (short for H proxima ")=of next month,

" beg " here=wish.

'Ve are in receipt of your circular of znd June . . . We beg to advise you that we have just opened

branch. " advise " here=inform.

We thank you for your inquiry of yesterday's date.

Endings. Awaiting your reply J

\Ve remain,

a new

\Ve trust that this business may prove to our mutual advantage,

And remain,

Awaiting your esteemed commands,

Trusting ta be favoured with your esteemed commands, .• .

Thanking you in anticipation,

An early reply will oblige, .••

TWENTY-SIXTH LESSON

Miscellaneous.

14.1

Your orders will always receive Dur most prompt attention.

We trust you will see your way 1 to take up the sale of our goods.

\Ve endose our list of prices and terms.

We enclose a trial order as follows :-

\Ve will write you further on the subject in the course of the next few days.

We should be glad to enter into negotiations with you for regular business between us.

You can rely on the exact and prompt execution of any orders placed with us.

\Ve invite comparison of our prices ",-ith those of other manufacturers.

\Ve beg to e. .... press our regret for any delays which have unavoidably occurred during the removal aud alteration of our premises.

\Ve are now in a position to execute the orders we have on hand and to proceed with any new orders with which we may be favoured.

\Ve can promise you the same care and attention in the execution of orders as in' the past, and trust to receive a continuance of your valued support.

We would point out that though our prices are lower our quality is not inferior to any in the market.

We shall be pleased to answer any further inquiries if you will let us hear from you as to your requirements.

1 Will see your way=be able.


\-Ve cannot see Dur way LO go any further with the

business.

The offer is subject to the goods being unsold on receipt

of your reply.

We guarantee the finest workmanship and best quality of materials, and our price complete would be ,(;35 (thirty-five pounds) net cash.

\Ve have ta-day sent you under separate cover Dur latest

catalogue of modern furniture.

Our prices include delivery f.o.b. l Landon steamer, less

2t per cent. discount for cash within 7 days.

Any information you could give liS would, of course, be

treated in absolute confidence.

Please give me further particulars regarding your conditions

and terms of purchase.

Your prices are considerably above the figure we usually

pay.

I should be willing to consider your proposals if •

Please send fie patterns with yOU! lowest prices and best

discount for cash.

I take the liberty of offering you my services as agent for

your goods.

1 endase a testimonial from my previous employer, and the following gent1emen have allowed me to use their names as references.

1 f.o.b.=free on board.

TWENTY-SIXTH LESSON I43

EXERCISES

r. W rite a letter applying for the following situations :_

(a) Wallted Foreign Correspondent for firm of publishers. Must have good knowledge of French, German, and Spanish. Apply giving full particulars to D. 24 Daily Telegraph.

(b) Wallted Housekeeper and Companion for elderly lady, educated, able to run house, good refs. required. Apply Box 6642 Evellillg Stalldard.

2. A customer owes your fum lII. 5s. This has been owing for three months.

(a) Write a polite letter requesting payment. The letter i5 ignored.

(b) \J\irite a nrmer letter again requesting payment. This letter i5 ignored.

(e) IVrite a finalletter.

(1 o Z -< ţâ w :> ~ >-'l > 1-< o :;;d z I-j w

.;: ~

:> ..... z -t::! hj

ţ >-<! w

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONVERSATIONS 1 ~~~

LOOKING FOR "DIGS"

Characters-ANNA, a student leaming English ; LANDLADY.

ANNA: I've come in answer to your advertise-. d' T' ment m yester ay s zmes. ii C:"

LANDLADY: Oh, yes! 1 advertised a room. Would you like to see it ?

A. : Yes, 1 should. L.: It's a bed-sitting-room, looking out on

the garden, and quite quiet. A. : 1 see. It looks very nice, but where 1S

the bed ? ii

L. : TIYs~Lva:nt< 1S made up as a bed. You take the cretonne cover aff at n1ght.

A.: What do you charge for this room ? L. : Thirty shillings a week. A. : What does that include? L. : It includes breakfast, which is served in

the dining-room downstairs, but no other meaIs. 1'11 show you the dlrung-room as we go ,down. The g:\:s-fire is on a shilling-in-the-slot mher, so you pay for the gas you use. There is the ,same arrangement in the bathroom, where the geyser is on a penny-in-the-slot ~eter. You can get a

. very good warm bath for twopence. A. : Do you supply lunch or dinner ? L. : No, I'm sorry. Most of the people prefer

to have their meals out. 147


A.: You see, I haven't cl~sses every day and shan't always want to go out.

L. : There's a very good little cafe at the end of the street where you can gţt a meal very relisonably. It wouldn't be w$hh my while to start lunches and dinners, so few of my boarders want them.

A.: How long would it take me to get to the West End from here?

L. : The 53 bus goes past the end of the street. The bus-stop isn't a minute's walk away, and the bus takes twentv minutes to Oxford Circus.

A. : 1 think 1'11 take the room you sh&"'Wed me. Is it v/cint now ?

L.: No, not till Saturday. 1 could have it ready for you by Saturday afternoon.

A. : Very good; that suits me very we11. Would you like me to pay a deposit?

",L.: Oh, no! that's not necessary, but you might give me your name and address. By the way, we are on the 'phone: Hampgate 2600 [two six double o].

A,.,: Thank you; here's my card with my name and âddress. Good-bye.

L.: Good-bye, and thank you.

SHOPPING IN THE WEST END

Speakers-ANNA; MARY WETHRRALL,jellow-boarder and student at tlle Royal Academy of Music.

ANNA: 1 simply must have some new stockings. These are my last and I've just made a ladder in one of them.

CONVERSATIONS 149 121 jl

MARY: Do you want lisle thread 1 or silk ? A. : That depends on the price. M.: Oh! you can get quite il decent 2 lisle

thread stocking for 2/II a pair; silk would be at le'ast 3/II.

A.: 1 think 1 can rise to 3 two pairs of silk stockings; they are so much nicer.

M. : Well, let's do our shopping and have tea at F\\.ller's. My a110wance 4 has just come, so 1'11 treat you to tea.

A. : How lovely! We'd better take the tube, it's coming on 5 rain.

M.: Oh, how horrid! 1 do so hate going down the escalator. 1 get into a paruc 5 and forget which foot I step of! with.

A.: \Vell, you' d better get used to them, because they've come to stay.

:M.: Oxford Circus-we get .. 1\'c just made out here. a laclder."

A.: What's the best place for stockings, do you think?

M. : We might have a look at D. H. Jones', they're not too dear, and stockings are on the ground floor.

A. : Thank goodness it isn't cheap-fare day to-day; the shops aren't crowded. Here's the stocking counter. Those fawn-grey stockings are rather ruce. How mll'ch are they ?

1 Cotton with a silk finish. , Good, 3 Mord.

6

'" Money from home. li Beginning to. G Become frightened.


SHOP ASSISTANT: They're a very good line,' madam,4/1 I.

A. : What have you at 3/II ? S.A. : Here's a pair, madam-a thin silk,

but very good wearing,2 with lisle heel and t81::-A. : Oh yes ! they're very nice, and 1 like the

shade.3 1'11 take two pairs, please. S.A. : What size, madam ? A. : A ten-inch foot. M. : Don't you think that's rather big for you ? A.: It is big, 1 know, but cheap stockings

always shrink' a bit, so I'd better have a teninch foot.

M. : Let's look at the shops till tea-time. Ali the new autumn things are in now-the 18veliest browns in everything.

A.: Oh, do let's! Brown's my colour, and 1 could do with • a new winter coat and a hat to match.

M. : Harridge's have a lovely window of winter coats, but they're a terrible price.

A. : Never mind! We'l1 see the smartest models there and look for a cheaper edition of them elsewhere.

M.: 1 do love those tailored coats with big co11ars and wide lapels; they look so cosy when they are buttoned up.

A.: Oh, 1 much prefer the coats with fur collars OI' fur ties. 1 think they are better for town we\lr. Of course, you're country-bred and think of what you'd wear for a good tramp over the moors. Look at that brown coat with the

1 Article for sale. !/: \Vîll wear weIl.

3 Calaur. 4. Become smaller.

6 1 need.

CON VeRSA TIONS 151

beaver co11ar-6! guineas. I'm having that if it suits me. Let's go in and try it ono

M. : We'd better take the lift. Coats are on the third floor.

A. (to the Shop Assistant): You've a brown coat in the window 1 should very much like to try ono

S.A.: Certainly, madan;t. If you'l1 take a seat 1'11 have it brought up i'mmMiîitely.

M. : What luck, Anna, there's a mannequin para de.· Aren't those girls elegant-so t~lI and ali very slfm?

A. : Here comes my coat. I'm dying to 1 see myself in it. i,

S.A.: Come this way, mădam; this fittingroom is vacant.

A. : 1 do hope it fits me-I like the colour and the style so much.

S.A.: There, madam, 1 think it suits you verywe11. M

M.: 1 think it's the tiniest bit too big for you, Anna; the shoulders are too ,vide and the waistline too low.

S.A. : It could be quite easily!rtered, madam; we should just lift it at the shl'l'ulders-so.

A. : Oh; that is very nice ! M.: Yes, that's ali right now. S.A. : Then 1'11 call in the fitter and we can

let you have the coat by Saturday. Has madam an account with us ?

A. : No; 1 shall pay cash. S.A.: Then 1'11 make out the bill immJdiately.

1 1 ,"".'ant vcry much.

A MODţ:RN ENGLISH COURSE & 0

A. : 1 am tired; Iet's go straight to Ftiller's 152

now. M.: Shall we do a picture 1 after tea ? A. : 1 don't feeI Iike it,' and there's nothing

much on 3 just now. M. : All right, 1'11 just go to Boots' and change

my Iibrary book, and then we'11 get a bus at Oxford Circus. Shopping is a most tiring business.

BUYING A CAR

Characters-JOHN, FREDERICK, SALESMAN.

FREDERICK: Look here, old fe11ow, I'm thinking of buying a car; you have a car, haven't you ? Can you give me a few tips 4 about the business ?

JOHN: We11, 1 don't know much about it; I've run my old "bus" 5 for about five or six years, but 1 picked it up 6 second-hand, or rather third-hand, from a fe110w 1 knew, so I've not done much dealing in cars.

F.: What sort of a car is yours ? J.: Oh, it's onlyan old Morris CowIey,192 5,

but it's done 7 me very weI!. I've run it about 50,000 miles now and it's never let me" down 8 yet. I've had it decarbonised, of course, and had a few minor repairs, but beyond that I've had no trouble at all.

F. : That's very good; if 1 can get one as good as that 1'11 not complain.

1 Go ta the cinema. \! 1 don't want ta. 3 ~othing interesting being shown. '" Hints, ideas.

5 Slang term for a car. I Bought it. 7 Served. • Failed.

CONVERSATIONS 153 J. : We11, let's stroI1' aiong Great Portland

Street, practically every shop there sells cars, so we'll see if there's anything good to be had.

F. : You know, I'm a bit doubtful about second-hand cars; you never know who's had 'em before and what sort of treatment they've had. I'm no mechanic, and 1 could be taken in 2

by anyone. 1 shouIdn't know a " dud" 3 car if 1 saw one.

J. : With most of these they'l1 give you a guarantee, or by paying a fee you can get the A.A:' or R.A.C.' to send a mechanic to examine it thtYr6Ughly and give you a report on it before you buy it.

F. : Yes, that's true, but 1 think 1'd Iike a new one. 1 don't want anything expensive-[,200 is my limit.' Now, what do you suggest?

J. : Well, there are Austins, Morrises, Standards, Singers-they are all jolly good and all under [,200. Let's go and see the agent. Here's the place.

F.: Good afternoon; we want to have a look at your latest modeIs.

SALESMAN: Certainly, sir. Which model are you particularly interested in ?

F.: l' d like to have a look at your Baby sports ,'\.','

model or the " ten" 7 two-seater tourer. S.: Here's our latest " Baby " 8 model. 1 \Valk id1y. :1: Decei .... ed. la Faulty; valueless. ... Automobile Association.

5 Rayal Automobile Club. U Ma.ximum price. 7 Ten horse-pO"\ver. 8 Sevcn horsc-pov.'er .

'54 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

F. : It's a very attractive-Iooking car. What will it do 1 to the ga110n ?

S. : Thirty-±ive to, forty. J. : Is it heavy 2 5n oii? S.: No; verylight. Youshouldchangetheoil,

say, every 2,000 miles. Beyond that it wi11 hardly use any at al!.

J. : That sounds very good. F. : 1 like this modJI very mu<:h, but I'm not

so keen on 3 tbe dblo\ir. 1 saw a very smartlookin& car a few days ago-cream body and red mtJ:Cl.gtiatds (\'.;ings).

S. : We sttppl1' tbis model in those colours. 1 haven't one in stock at this moment, but 1 could get one through from the works within a week.

J.: Is it ±itted with unbrealmble glass ? S. : Yes, Triplex glass is stiindard" now on a11

our models. F. : I:ve never driven a car with tbis " synehro

mesh " g€ăi; is it eomplieated at a11 ? S.: A ehild could drive it. Can you come with

me now on a trial run and 1'11 demonstrate for you ? F. and J.: Yes, I'd like that.

ON THE RUN

,S.: See how easily she starts up from cold; a t6uch of the self-starter and she 5 ticks over G

quietly. You and 1 wiII get in front, your friend can get in the "dickey" 7 seat. N orice how

1 How many miles ,vill it go on a galIon of petrol. 2 Does it use much. 3 1 don't likc. " Customary. 6 " She" is of ten used familiarly of a ship, engine, ar car. 6 The engine goes slowly and quietly. 7 Small back scat.

CONVERSATIONS '55

light the steering is-the lehst touch on the wheel and the car responds. This silent third g~ar makes difving in traffic easy-no fear of your engine " stiilIing." 1 Now we are getting out of the traffic; here's a good stretch of open road; 1'11 let her out 2 a bit; you'l1 see how quickly she aecelerates.

J. : The speedometer needle is showing 50-60-70-75. By jove, she can fairly go! What about the brakes? Can they pull us up at this speed before we get to that eross-road ? '

S. : Easily, sir; wateh, agentle pressure and we slaeken, a little more" and we stop dead 3

within 35 yards, and no danger of a skid' even on wet roads with these tyres.

F.: Now for this gear ehange-here's a good hiII in front of us; get the car going in top and then change down.

S. : Very good. Now we are in top-here you are, just depress tbe clfitch and' go through into the Idtfţr gear; tbere's no jar, no grating of gears; it's absoluteIy "fooIproof." Would you like to try, sir? Here's an incline eoming. Just ehânge places with me and try for yourself.

F. (repeating instructions): "Depress clilteh and go through into the Iower gear ... " That's good; here, let me try it again. This is far better than the old system.

J. : What are the lights like ? S.: Very good-a six-volt battery, two head

lights, two side, and ataiI light. These are dipping head Iights, so there is no danger of your dazzling other drivers on the road.

1 Stopping. a Increase speed. 3 Complete1y. 4. Side slip.


F.: Now, what about terms? 1 don't want to pay cash down.' Can 1 get this on the instlilment plan?

S.: c;ertaiI)ly, sir. We will make you a generous 'a11o'Wance on your old car and the balance on this car can be paid off in monthly instalments.

F. : That will suit me down to the ground." 1 think 1'11 settle on this car here and now.

S. : Very good, sir. I'me

sure you will be satisfied, and as soon e as the agn!ement is signed we can let you have delivery within a week.

F. : That's fine. Good day. S. : Good day, sir.

A NEW SUIT

CJzaracters-WILLIAM, CHARLES, THE TAILOR.

WILLIA.1\1: My suit's terribly worn; the cuffs are frayed and the seat of the trousers is shiny; in fact, it's just about threadbare in parts.

CHARLES: Yes, 1 noticed you were getting rather shabby. 1 could do with a suit myself, too. Sha11 we ca11 in at the tailor's this afternoon ?

W. : Right ho! I'm ono

AT THE TAILOR'S

T AILOR: Good afternoon, gentlemen, are you being attended to ?

W.: No; 1 just want La look at patterns of 1 AU the money at once. : Completely.

CONVERSATIONS 157 cloth. I'm wanting a new suit-a tweed, 1 think; rather heavy, it's for sports wear.

T. : Certainly, sir; we have some very good new tweed suitings in brown and grey.

W. : 1 had thought of brown. T.: Very good, sir, and about what price?

We hav~ a very good range of materials here at 9 guine:!s.

W. : That's rather too much. 1 don't want to go beyond 1 6~ guineas.

T. : Will you just look through this book of patterns-these are aU 6 or 6! guineas, made to measure.

C.: 1 am in a hurry for my suit - I'm going away to-morrow. Have you good readymade suits ?

T. : Yes, sir, we have a fine range in ready-towear clothes; we can guarantee you a good fit. If you will kindly go into the next department with this assistant he will show you our stock.

[Exit CHARLES.

W. : This pattern seems about right, but you can never te11 what this big check pattern looks Jike when it is made up." Have you the piece in stock?

T. : Yes, we have a ro11 of that cloth here; 1'11 just get it down and you can see it.

W. : Yes, 1 Jike that; wiU it wear welJ ? T. : You wiJl get three or four years of good

hard wear out of that. 'vV. : Very well, you can make me a suit of that

cloth. 1 Exceed. l\Iade inta a suit.

,;8 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

T. : Will you just step into the measuringroom and the fitter will measure you ?

T. : Now what style do you want, singlebreasted or double-breasted ?

W. : 1 think double-breasted seems more fashionable at present ?

T.: Double-breasted; very good, sir. Three buttons on the coat, outside breast pocket, and two side pockets, and inside breast pocket, 1 suppose?

W. : Yes, and a hip pocket in the trousers, and a smaU buttoned pocket in front for money.

T.: How about the trousers, do you like them wide?

W.: Not too wide, just what is being wom at present.

T.: Permanent tum-ups, 1 suppose.

W. : Oh yes! They are usual, aren't they? Now, when can 1 come to be tried-on.

T. : Let me see; to-day is Thursday-shall \ye say next Monday ?

W. : Very weU, that wi11 suit me aU right. [CHARLES enters.

W. : HeUo! Did you get fixed up with 1 your suit?

C. : Yes, they have a very good stock here. I got a suit that might have been made for meit fits perfectly. They are sending it to me this

1 Arrange about.

CONVERSATIONS '59 aftemoon, and 1'11 weal' it when 1 tl'avel to-mol'row. When is youl' fitting ?

W. : Monday! You are lucky getting out of it, but ready-made suits won't fit my figure at al!.

W.: 1 have suit.

MONDAY

caUed to be fitted on for my

T. : Oh, yes! Will you come this way, please, and 1'11 send for the fitter and the cutter? Here is your suit; will you try on the coat and waistcoat ? How does that feei?

W.: Yes, it's not bad. 1 think this sleeve is rather on the short side-could you lengthen it ?

T.: Yes, it is a bit short; 1'11 make it half an inch longer.

W.: The coat is tight under the armpits. T.: Yes. 1'lllet it out a little tllel'e and take

it in at the waist, it is ratller too full there. Apart from that, 1 think it is very good.

W. : Does it sit wel! on the shoulders? 1 am always difficult to fit there.

T. : Yes, it sits quite snugly there. This is the lining we are putting in; do you like it ?

W. : Yes, 1 think that will look very wel!; when will you have finished ?

T.: Can you cal! next Friday for a final fitting? It will be finished then, but we can see if any further alterations are needed.

W. : Very good. Good moming. T.: Good morning, and thank you.


SPORT

I.-AT THE FOOTBALL MATCH

Characters-JOHN, FREDERICK.

JOHN: Have you ever seen a footer match in England?

FRED. : No, I'd rather like to. J. : WelI, there's a good match on this after

noon, "Spurs" and Arsenal; let's go along to Highbury, a 19 or 273 bus will take us right to the gate.

F. : That's a good idea, come on.

HIGHBURY

J. : Here \ve are. F. : What a crowd-we'll never get through

that mob. J.: Oh, we'lI be alI right. Come along, push

in here; have your bob 1 ready-they don't give change at the turnstiles.

F. : In at last; 1 never expected we' d get in so quickly.

J. : Come up here on the stand; we'lI get a better view of the field.

F. : 1 don't know the names of the officials on the English field. Can you tell me who's who ?

J. : Of course! There's the referee-he controls the game.

F. : 1 thought he was the umpire. J.: N o, we don't use that term in football,

1 Shilling.

CONVERSATIONS 161

only in cricket or tennis. Then there are the two linesmen who run up and down the touch-line and signal when the ball is out of play. Then there's-- HelIo! Here's the home team coming out.

F. : What a shout. Is that the Arsenal team in red jerseys and white knickers ?

J. : Yes, and here's the Spurs; they are wearing white jerseys and blue shorts.

F. : Those will be the two captains tossing-up 1 for choice of end?

J. : Arsenal have won the toss, and are going to kick with the wind.

F. : There's the referee's whistle, and here they are lining up. What are the positions of the players ?

J. : There' s the goalkeeper (the " goalie "), then the two

'-'

fulI-backs, the three half-backs, and the five forwards.

F. : Thanks. There's one of the Spurs forwards ready to kick now.

J. : He's the centre-forward. He'lI tap the ball to the inside-right or inside-Ieft. . . . There he goes !

F. : The inside-Ieft has kicked the balI out to this man; who is he ?

J. : He's the outside-Ieft-the "winger"it was a good pass, too. There he goes down the

1 Spinning a coin.


touch-line racing for the goal. Ah, wel! tackled! That was a good clearance by the Arsenal back.

F.: Here they come again ... they are press-ing hard now.

J.: 8hoot! 8hoot! ... Oh, he's lost the balI! F. : Yes, he kept it to himself too long. J.: Of course he did! ... That's his worst

fault. He's selfish and always wants to dribble 1

and show off instead of taking the chance to pass. F. : Arsenal's centre-forward has the bal! now

. . . he's beaten the half-back .... Oh, a good pass! . . . Come on the outside man! ... Oh! well played ! ... Centre it ... centre it.

J. : Come on, Arsenal . . . here it is . . . right across the mouth of the goal ... look at that centrefonvard, he'lI get it with his head ... he's got it. GOAL !! GOAL!! Oh! well played, Arsenal!

II.-TENNIS AT WIMBLEDON

Characters-MARY, ANNA, THE UMPIRE.

MARY: What do you say to going to Wimbledon to-morrow for the final of the Tennis Toilrnament?

ANNA: I'd love to. How do we get there ? M.: Oh! we'lI take the District Railway to

80uthfields, and then we can get a bus that takes us right to the entrance to the ground.

A.: 1 see the matches start at 2.30, so if we get there about 2 o'clock we ought to be alI right.

M. : AlI right !! My deal' girl, we get there

1 Take the baII along by himself.

CONVERSATIONS I63

at 9 o'clock to-morrow morning at the latest and we line up in the queue.

A. : What, a queue at 9 o'clock in the morning ! M. : Yes, of course. 80me of the people in

it will have been there al! night. Others wiIl have places kept by messenger boys paid by the hour. ,

A. : I see it means an early breakfast to-morrow.

M. : It does, breakfast at 8 sharp. A.: Wel!, 1 hope it will be worth it . M.: It wil! be worth it, aIl right.

NEXT DAY

Outside the Ground

M.: Here we are; come on, line up in this queue, this is the three-shilling one.

A. : What is this other queue ? M. : That's the five-shilling one; you can get

reserved and numbered seats there, but we'Il get a ,1??Qd place here and right close to the c€ntre court.

A. : Well, we may as weIl settle down here. I've an old " mac." here, we can sit on the ground on that.

M. : Yes, and I've books, some fruit, and chocolates to pass the rime aJ"'ay. Besides, we'll get plenty of amusement walching the crowds and the entertainers who'll come and sing, recite, and do acrobatic tricks, and then pass round the hat.

A.: ... Here's another bus loaded up.


M.: Every bus from now to 2 o'c1ock will be packed.

A. : How orderly every one is; they all take their place quietly in the line. I've of ten noticed that in England.

12 o'clock M. : Hello! they're opening the gates; get

ready to m~ve and we'll s6i)n be in the ground now.

" A.: So this is Wimbledon; what beautiful dlrf. 1 think even 1 could put up a good game on that.

M. : Let's get out our sandwiches and Thermos flask and have a picnic lunch.

A. : Here are the players,-what's the match? M. : Men's Singles, Filial-Perry (England)

and Cochet (France). This wil! be agreat match, though 1 can't imagine any match wil! be as good as the one 1 saw between Tilden and Borotra. That was a game.

A. : Hush! they are starting. IVI.: Oh! good service, Perry. A. : \Vel! retumed, Cochet; wasn't that a

lovely stroke ? M.: 1 don't think Perry can reach it ... yes,

he can, he's got it and retumed it .... No ! he's sent it out .... Oh ! hard luck !

A.: Now he's serving again .... Fault ...• Ah! that's better.

M. : Look at the top spin on that drive. A. : Yes! Cochet has a lovely style, hasn't he ?

CONVERSATIONS 165 -look at the perfect "fol!ow through" after his stroke.

M. : J ove, it's a fast game, isn't it ? A.: 1 like the way Perry lobs when he's got

Cochet up to the net. M. : Yes, his fore-hand strokes are very power

fuI, but 1 don't think his back-hand play is as good as Cochet's.

A. : N o, you are right there, and on the whole 1 think Cochet is volleying better.

M. : Yes, but what he loses on his volleying he pulls up on his smash and his service.

A. : They are both sticking it well; it's been a hard-fought game and full of thrills.

M. : N ow they're changing over again; what's the score now ?

U MPlRE (caUs out): Five games all in the fifth set. Cochet gained the fust and second sets 7-5, 8-6, Perry the third and fourth sets 6-3, 10-8. Cochet is now leacling in the fifth set by five games to four.

M.: 1 do hope Perry can bring it 'off. I-Ie must get this game to save the set. I-Ie's serving. Oh, what a beauty!

UMPIRE: 15-love. A. : Well played, Cochet. A lovely retum. M. : Well up, Perry ... Cochet is rushing in

to volley ... a brilliant shot ! UMPlRE: 15-al!. M.: Good service, Perry-Oh, no! it's a net

ball-a let. Well served, Perry, just out of Cochet' s reach.

UMPlRE: 30-15.


M.: He'lI get the game yet-Iook at that shot-right on the back line.

A.: Hurrah! Cochet's got it. M. : Aud here's Perry rushing up to the net. A.: Cochet's lifting it over Perry's head. M. : Oh, well reached, Perry! He's just got

it and smashed it down. UMPlRE: 40-15. M. : Just one point now to save the game.

He's serving again now. UMPlRE: Fault! ! M.: Oh, o-o-oh ! UMPlRE: Double Fault ! ! CROWD: O-O-O-O-OH! UMPIRE: 40-30. M. : Never mind, this one does it! Well

returned, Cochet-just on the line ... Perry can never reach that !

UMPlRE: Deuce. M.: Perry looks tired out-Oh! what a service

. . . that was absolutely unplayable ! UMPlRE: Vantage server. A. : fcan't stand this excitement much longer.

. . . Come on, Cochet, playup. Good! Oh, good ! Cochet' s got it.

UMPlRE: Deuce. M. : Perry'll &-eed to puII hlS socks up' now.

He's playing a matvellous game. A. : Yes, but Cochet has done just a bit better.

He's played the game of his life this afternoon. M.: Good shot, Perry! Hţ(s Eutting eVery

thil1g he knows into it ... Oh! tlw.ioilve's going out ':~";:ncf~:~;;yes;~lt's out by about two inches.

1 Make an extra effort (slang).

CONVERSATIONS

UMPlRE: Vantage striker. A. : This point for it now.

167

M. : Come on, Perry! Well served; a good return Perry-Cochet-Perry-Cochet-PerryCochet-Perry's up at the net for a smash. Oh! Cochet's played a marvellous passing shot-can Perry reach it? No! it's beaten him.

UMPlRE: Game, set, and match to Cochet.

\/ AT THE DOCTOR'S /' "Characters-J OHN, DOCTOR MACKENZIE,

THE MAlD. e? ,;

J OHN: 1s Doctor M~ckenzie in ? J\1AlD: He isn't in at the moment; he's not

back yet from his visits. Will you come in and wait; he will be back any minute now ?

J. : Yes, 1'11 wait. M.: Come this way to the waiting-room .

What name, please} J.: Mr W ~therâll. M. : Thank you .

M.: The~, doctor is in now; will you come this way to the surgery? (Announcing) Mr Wetherall.

DOCTOR: Ah, good evening, Mr Wetherall. Well, what is the trouble ?

J. : I'm not feeling ,Cjuite up to the mark' at present; I've no âppetite; I'm not sleeping very well, and 1 feellistless and " nervy."

D.: Ah! a little run down, 1 expect. 1 Well.


J. : l' d like you to give me a general overhaul' and see if anything is really the matter.

D. : Very wel!. Let me see your tongue ... yes, rather coated. 1'11 just feeI your pulse . . . That's alI right. Now your hţart. (Takes out stetlwscope and listens.) H'm!' Do you smoke a lot?

J. : Yes, I'm afraid 1 do; about fifty to sixty cigarettes a day.

D.: 1 should cut it down 2 for a time . . • Let me see your tbr6at .... Say ah !

J. : Ah ... ah ... ah. D.: Say ninety-nine. J. : Ninety-nine ... ninety-nine. D. : Again, in a whisper. J. : Ninety-nine ... ninety-nine. D. : Very good. Now there's nothing serious

the matter, but you rreed a thorough rest for a while. 1'11 write you out a prescription for a tonic; get it made up at a cheinist's; take a tablespoonful in water three times a day after meals. That will help' a little, but what you really want is a change of air and scene. Can you get away to the seaside for a while ?

J. : Yes, I'm fortunate; my cousin has a seaside cottage and has invited me to join a party of friends there.

D. : Tlpt's just the thing; go tbere and laze and sun-bâtbe; take things quietly-no strenuous swimming or tennis-just vegetate for a time.

J. : Thanks, 1 will. Good evening. D.: Good evening. Come and see me when

you return. 1 Examination. " Reduce it.

CONVERSATIONS 169

THE SEASIDE COTT AGE

Characters-MARY, A:t<"NA, BETTY.

MARY: Are you doing anything at Whitsun, Anna?

ANNA: Oh! just staying on here; what else can 1 do? 1 don't know anyone in England.

M. : Well, listen! I've just had a letter from a friend of mother's asking me if l' d like her cottage for Whit. week. She's on a visit to mother and her cottage is empty.

A.: Of course l' d love it, but are you sure you can have me ?

M. : Have you! My dear, you're a necessity. Do you know why ?

A.: No. M. : 1 don't know the first thing about cook

ing. 1 can clean like any charwoman, but don't ask me to cook.

A. : That's f1.lllny. 1 love cooking and loathe cleaning.

M.: Splendid! 1'11 be your "char." and you'l1 be my cook.

A. : What's tbe house like ? M.: Oh, jolly nice! Mrs Bruce is very

house-proud and' everything is spotless. There are three bedl;ooms, one big living-room, and a very nice che~ry kitchen with a red brick fioor covered with coco-nut matting. Then there's a real cottage garden, with a lovely high hedge in front, witb a gap cut in it so that you can get a peep of the sea from tbe sitting-room window.

'7° A MODERN ENGLJSH COURSE

A.: That sounds just pgrfect. M. : W ould you mind very much if I asked

my cousin Betty to cerne, too ? She's out of a job and is living with her married sister, and having rather a thin 1 time, 1 think.

A.: Of course not! l' d 15ve to have her-the more the merrier.

M. : rm sure you'l! get on wel! together and the change would do her no end of good.

AT THE COTTAGE. BUYING IN.

M. : We'd better get the shopping done now, don'! vou think ?

A.": Wel!, I have the menus al! made out, so we'd better see what we need. Listen: to-dav, mid-day dinner-rump steak, chips, and ca'lliifiower, apple tart and cream, cofiee. Supper : omelette and mtrshrooms, bisct.its and cheese, fruit.

M. : That sounds like the Ritz-and a heavy basket for me.

A. : Hadn't you better order milk and creama pint and a half of milk every morning and a sixpenny carton of cream?

M.: Oh, yes, and bread. They had better cal! each morning and we'll get what we need.

A. : What about a newspaper? Do we want to read the news or don'! we ?

M. : We'd better have one. What do you say to the News Chronicle and the Telegraph, and the Observer on Sunday? Those are the ones we are

1 DuH, unhappy.

CONVERSATIONS I7 1

accustomed to. Well, if that's the lot I'd better set off. I have my morning's work cut out.

o. • [Exit MARY.

, p

BATHING

BETTY : How's the tide? When do we bathe to-day ?

iVL: The best time would be about half-past eleven. It's high tide at twelve.

,. A. : That's fine; that just gives us time to tidy up the house, make the beds, and prepare the dinner; then we can al! tl}ree be down on the beach by eleven and sun-bathe for half an hour before going in.

B. : My shoulders are a bit stiff and. sore today. I do hope they are not going to bli!;ter.

M. : They do look a bit red. Rub in some oiI gently and keep them protected from the sun to-day. , A.: You are lovely and brown, Mary. Am 1

stinbrtrnt ? B.: Of course you are, and your nose is quite

freckled. A.: Oh, isn't it tiresome! 1 do hate freckles. M. : Y ours are most becoming, my dear; very

small, and just right on that tip-filted nose of yours. B. : Well, here are our aids to beauty-face

cream, almond oiI, oliv';! . ~il-and here are the refreshments-a slab of chocolate and three apples.

• M. : Let's sun-bathe here at the top of the cliff, the view is so beautiful.

A.: Oh, no ! the wind is cold there. It's more

17Z A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

" ,,' " -; , -'.--------'''-.. '2..---

~ ~"-I (

) -. -_/"'-'

"-"""""-'=""

/ /

" I

d

<4c-

;'

\

CONVERSATIONS 173

sl1eIt';;ed down on the beach and the sand is so warm to lie ono

M.: Right ho! 1 say, the sea l!Joks quite rough to-day, little white horses bbbbing up everywhere. You mustn't swim out too far to-day, Anna. Remember this isn't a fashionable holiday resort, with life-savers mounting guard.

A. : Oh! 1 ll).Ufh prefer this to the places with piers and promenades and brass bands and firstcb~s hotels.'rhis is a bit of England-those pIaces are just anywhere.

B.: I'd love to have a fashionable holiday, with plenty of money, bt;autiful c1othes, hotels de luxe, just once for the experience. It must be wonderful.

M. : We11, draw the winner in the Irish Sweep and your dream comes true.

~A. : The tide',s j~s,t right Qnow, isn't it? Those breakers are too mVltmg-come ono

B.: Oh! Oh! it's cold! 1 don't think 1'11 go in to-day.

lVL: Come on, Betty, take the plunge; you'l1 be ali right once you're in. It's not rea11y cold after the first few seconds. L

B. : That's better-for two pms ' I'd have gone back to my book. This is grifnd.

M. : Look at Anna without a bathing cap; sea-water is so bad for the hair. It doesn't seem to harm her's, it's so lovely and curly, ' , , Look! she's got out to the rhft and is cliînbing on it. Let's swim out to her.

1 With the least excuse.


B.: J don't like sitting on rafts; the see-saw lll(5vl!lllent Illakes Ille sick.

A. : It's time to go back, anyway. Look out, rm going to take a " header."

[Ali three swim back and wttde out of the wdter.] M.: We ought really to have a bathing hllt

down here. It's much too beautiful to go back now. It's a pity we haven't a picnic lunch with us.

A. : Let's sit and sun ourselves. and eat our apples and chocol~te. Y ou'lI appretilife a good hot meal when dinner-time comes.

B. : This is the loveliest holiday I've had for a long time.

~"-O~~"""-=~"-=~'V'C"'~~~11

PLAYS ~c;-..o it>.

NĂNCY

AN EPISODE FROM DlCKENS' " OLIVER

TWlST"

[Fugin, the keeper of the thieves' kitchen, incÎtes the brutal BilI Sikes to the murder of Nancy, the woman with '\-vhom Bill Sikes lives.]

BlLL SlKES. FAGIN.

DRAMATIS PERSONlE

NOAH CLAYPOLE (kllown to FAGIN as MORRIS BOLTER).

A PEDLAR. A GENTLEMAN. A L.'lNDLORD. A COUNTRYMAN. THE Gd};im OF THE LONDON MAlL.

SCENE 1. : FAGlN'S hOl/se. SCENE II. : A smalt public-house in Hadfield.

SCENE 1.

[It is two lzours before daybreak, the time wlzen life is at the lozvest ebb and life seqJ.1Js least apparellt in this undergrolmd room. Eveti the fire seems dead, though its ~mbers are still warm and the candle gutters on tlie table, shedding a miserable

" I75

'76 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

light and a miserable shadow. There is a rough bed made from an old sack, zIJith a yozmg man sleeping on it. On the other side 9f th,erpom, near the"jjreplace, sits FAGIN, wrapped in a dirty, torn' coverlet. He is brooding aver the defeat of his plan and thinking of tlze possibility of revenge. From time to time he looks around at tlze sleeper, wlzo shudders in !zis sleep as if tlze cold were penetrating into his very dreams. But for tlzis, FAGIN sits unmoving, untillze seems to Izear a footstep in tlze street, wherezlpon he lifts Izis lzead.]

F AGIN: At last ! !} ,

[As he speaks, the bell rings g{mtly, and FAGIN goes up tlze steps to tlze dopr, w!ziclz he unbars, and a man enters zvlzo is 1J1Uffied to the chin, carrying a bzmdle under Izis arm. This is SIKES. He /zands FAGIN the bundle.]

SIKES: There! Take care of that and do the most you can with it. ft's been trouble enough to get; 1 thought 1 should have been here three hours ago. [FAGIN opens a cupboard and locks tlze bundle in it.

Meanwhile SIKES sits down on a stool bv the fire place. FAGIN returns.t0 his original' chair and they sit facing one tlnother.] 4

SIKES: What now? (For the other is quivering with rage, his eyes fixed on tlze robber;'who stIJrJ:J b.ack. in affnght.) Why do you look like that at a

.. ? man. [FAGIN is overcome by /zis rage. He shakes Izis finger

in the air, but tlze power of speec!z is gone.]

,

PLAYS • C.' 177

SIKES: Damn me! He's gone mad. 1 must look to myself here.

FAGIN (finding his voice): No! No! It's not -you're not the person. 1 have no-no fault to find with you.

SIKES: Oh! you haven't, haven't you? That's lucky-for one of us. Whieh one that is doesn't matter. [He ostentatiously passes a pistol from one pocket

to anotlzer, but FAGIN draws his clzail- closer.] FAGIN: I've got that to tell you, Bill, whieh

will make you worse than me. SIKES (incredulously): Aye? Tell away. Or

N aney will think I am lost. FAGIN: Lost! She has pretty well settled

that in her own mind already. «', [SIKES looks in pelplexity into FAGIN'S face, but

reading 1/0 answer ta the riddle there, catches hold of FAGIN'S collar and shakes him soundry.]

SIKES: Speak, will you! ar if you don't it fb aw shall be for want o reath. Open your mouth and

say what you've got to say in plain words. Out with it, you c~g old s1':ine; out with it !

FAGIN: Suppose that Iad that's lying there ... [SIKES seeJlls to llotice hîm for the first time.]

SIKES: Well? FAGIN: Suppose the. Iad was to peaeh '-to

blow upon' us all-first seeking out the right folks for the ptlrp6'se, and then having a meeting with 'em in the street to point out our likenesses, deseribe every mark that they might know us by,

1 Betray (slang).


"Why do you look like that at a man? H (p. 176.)

PLAYS 179 and the crib 1 where we might be most easily taken. Suppose he was to do alI this, and besides, to blow upon a plant 2 we've alI been in, more or less of his own fancy-not grabbed, trapped, tried, and brought to it on bread and water, but of his own fancy-to please his own taste; stealing out at nights to find those most interested against us, and peaching to them. Do you hear me? Suppose he were;so do alI this, what then? (He works up ta a jury.) , - v.$pms: What then? By God! If he was left

alive tilI 1 carne l' d grind his skulI under the iron heel of my boot into as many grains as there are hairs upon his head.

FAGIN: What if 1 did it? 1, that lmow so much, and could hang so many besides myself?

Snms: 1 don't know. 1'd do something in the jail that would get me put in irons, and if 1 was tried along wi~. you, 1'd falI upon you with them in the open c6urt, and beat your brains out before the people. 1 should have such strenith that 1 could smash your head as if a loaded waggon. had gone over it. (This very intensely.)

F AGIN: You would ? SIKES: Would I? Try me. FAGIN: If it was Charley, or Dodger, or Bet,

or--SIKES (impatient): 1 don't-care who. Whoever

it was l' d serve them the same.

[FAGIN motions him ta be silent, and erosses over ta tlze sleeping man. He caUs ta him, partly zvitlz jeigned sympathy, but actually in devilish

1 House that is being burglcd (slang). :1 Crime (sInng).


anticipation. BILL SIKES looks on, wondering what it is al! about.]

FAGIN: Bolter, Bolter! Poor Iad! He's tired -tired with watching for her so long-watching for her, Bill. [This has tlze desired effect, for BILL starts back in

fie~ce as~onishment.] si~s: What d'ye mean ?

[But F AGIN continues)n lzis efforts to awaken N OAH CLAYPOLE. Fiizally, with a heavy yawn, lze looks arollnd stllpidly.]

FAGIN: Tell me that again-once again, just for him to hear.

CLAYPOLE (lze is annoyed at being wakened): Tell you what ?

F AGIN (clfltclzing BILL SIKES lest he ShOllld miss a word): That about Nancy. You followed her ?

CLAYPOLE: Yes. FAGIN: To London Bridge ? CLAYPOLE: Yes. FAGIN: Where she met hvo people? (FAGIN

g~ts, more and more eager;"and more and more maddened ~vith fury.)

CLAYPOLE: So she did. F AGIN: A gentleman, and a lady that she had

gone to of her own accord before, who asked her to give up ali her pals, and Monks first, which she did-and to describe him, which she didand to tell her what house it was that we met at, and go to, which she did-and where it could be best watched from, which she did-and what time the people went there, which she did. She did ali

PLAYS ISI

this? She told it alI, every word without a threat, without a murmur-she did-she did alI thisdid she not?

CLAYPOLE: Ali right, that's just what it was. [He settles back to sleep, but is roughly stirred

again.] FAGIN: What did they say about last Sunday? CLAYPOLE: About last Sunday? Why, I told

you that before. FAGIN: Again. Tell it again!

[CLAYPOLE begins to realise who SIKES is, and accordingly becomes more wakeful.]

CLAYPOLE: They asked her why she didn't come last Sunday as she promised. She said she couldn't.

FAGIN: Why-why? TelI him why ! CLAYPOLE: Because she was forcibly kept at

home by Bill, the man she had told them of before. F AGIN: What more of him? What more of

the man she had told them of before? (He emphasises these last words for BILL'S benefit.) Tell him that!

CLAYPOLE: Why, that she couldn't very easily get out of doors unless he knew where she was going to, and so the first time she went to see the lady, she-Ha, ha, ha! it made me laugh when she said it, that did-she gave him a drink of laudanum.

SIKES: Hell's fire, let me go !

[He breaks from FAGIN'S grasp and rus!zes to t!ze doar, oversetting t!ze chair on !zis way. H li fumbles with t!ze lock and bar, and FAGIN is

7


scared at the e!fect of !zis words, though this is for what they were intended.]

F AGIN: Bill! Bill! A word. Only-Sums: Let me out. Don't speak to me; it

isn't safe. Let me out, 1 say. F AGIN: Hear me for a minute. You won't

be--SIKES: Well? FAGIN: You won't be-too violent, Bill ?

[F AGIN has Izis hand on the lock. They exchallge a look, and tlze fire in the eyes of both is the same. Slowly FAGIN tums the key. He realises that further disguise is useless.]

FAGIN: 1 mean, not too violent for safety. Be crafty, Bill, and not too bold.

[But his words have gone farther than he meant. BILL replies not a word, but smashes open the door and disappears into the cold halj-light of dawn. F AGIN tums back with a face on wlzich is refiected a malicious meer, and a somewhat troubled anxiety, at the e!fect of his carefulty plamled scene.]

CURTAIN

SCENE II. [The tap-room of a smalt public-hollSe at Hadfield,

on the evelling of the same day. An open doorway discloses the entrance f1"Om the courtyard. Around a blazing fire are seated some country labourers, drinking and talking of local a!fairs, especially of the recent deatlz of an old farmer.

PLAYS 183 On a bench, right, a man sits dozillg. A PEDLAR sits at the table eating his supper, his pack propped agaillst the leg of the table. an the table is a hat. OccasiollalZv the company around the fire cha!f' the PEDLAR. Finally, his supper gOlle, he pulls out his case and opells it on the table, demonstrating his wares, zvlzich include razors, soap, medicine for dogs and

• llOrses, hamess paste, pins, etc. One young fair-headed COUNTRYMAN points to some browll cakes with a grin.]

COUNTRYMAN: And what's that stuff? Good to eat, Harry ?

PEDLAR: This? (He picks a cahe up.) This is the infallible and invaluable composition for removing all sorts of stain, rust, dirt, speck, spot, or spatter from silk, satin, linen, carnbric, eloth, crape, stuff, carpet, muslin, or woollen stuff. Wine-stains, fruit-stains, beer-stains, paint-stains, any stains, all come out at one rub with the infallible and invaluable composition. If a lady stains her honour, she has on1y need to swallow one cake and she's cured at once-for it's poison ! If a gentleman wants to prove this, he has on1y need to take one little square and he has put it beyond question-for it's quite as satisfactory as a pistol-bullet and a great deal nastier in the flavour, consequently the more credit in taking it. One penny a square! \Vitll all these virtues, one penny a square! [One or tu'O buy, many others lzesitate.] It's all bought up as fast as it can be made. There are fourteen water-mills, six steam-engines, and

1 Make jokes with.

r84- A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

a galvanic battery always a-working upon it, and they can't make it fast enough, though the men work so hard they die off and the widows are pensioned directly, with twenty pounds a year for each of the children, and a premium of fifty for twins. One penny a square! Two ha'pence is ali the same, and four farthings received with joy. One penny a square! Wine-stains, fruit-stains, beer-stains, water-stains, paint-stains, mud-stains, blood-stains! [He picks Ihe hat up from tlle table.] Here's a stain upon the hat of a gentleman in the company that 1'11 take clean out before he can order me a pint of ale!

SIICES (starting up fram his comer): Hey! Give that back !

PEDLAR : 1'11 take it clean out, sir, before you can come across the room to get it. Gentlemen ali, observe tlle dark stain upon this gentleman's hat, no wider than a shilling, but thicker than a half-crown, whether it is a wine-stain, fruit-stain, beer-stain, water-stain, paint-stain, mud-stain, or blood-stain--

Snills: Blast you! Will you . . .

[H e tears the hat !rom the man' s grasp and ruslles out of the house, upsetting the table in his flight. The labourers stare after him in astonislmzent, until some one remarks, " Some drunken fool, 1 suppose," 2vhen there is a murmur of agreement. The PEDLAR again says, "One penny a square," and, after the righting of the table, the conversation is contillued. The ham and clatter of hoofs anllounces the arrival of the London mai!. The GUARD and a well-dressed

PLAYS I85

GENTLEMAN enter, tlle former carrying a basket.]

GUARD: Damn that bag! It wasn't ready the night before last. Hey, landlord! Two pints, and here's your basket. Aud look alive in there will ye ?

[The LANDLORD comes hastily with troa tanhards.]

LANDLORD: Anything new up in town, Ben? GUARD : No, nothing that 1 Imow of! Corn's

up a little. 1 heard talk of a murder, too, down Spitalfields way, but 1 don't reckon much upon it.

GENTLEMAN: Oh! that's quite true. And a dreadful murder it was.

GUARD (touching his hat respectfully): Was it, sir? Man or woman, may 1 ask, sir?

GENTLEMAN: A woman. It is supposecl-[He is interrupted by a shout from outside: "You

going to sleep in there, Ben? "] GUARD: Damn that bag; where is it ? LANDLORD (disappearing): Coming! GUARD: Coming! So's the young woman of

property that's going to take a fancy to 1 me, but 1 clon't know when.

[The LANDLORD returns roith the letter-bag.] LANDLORD: Here, take hold. AlI ri-ght !

[The ham sozmds, and tlle clatter of 1I0rses is heard until it dies away.]

CURTAIN

From The Quintinian.

1 FaU in love with.


EXERCISES 1. Word Study.-Use each of the following in • sentence.

All the words are in this pI.y :--ebb, embers, shudder, ostentatiollsly, incredulous, perplexity, anticipation, emphasise, sn,eţr, pedlar, infallibIe, clatter. "

2. Make • sentence or two .bout (a) Fagin, (b) Sikes, (e) CIaypoIe, (d) the pedIar, (e) Nancy, (f) the guard.

Written Work (a) Dcscribe fully the picture on p. '78. (b) Tell the story of the pIay.

A QUESTION OF ETHICS

By R. U. JOYCE

DRAlYL\TIS PERSON.IE

GEORGE BROWNLOW, a solicitor's clerk. NELLIE BROWNLOW, his wife. HENRY SNAITH, a solicitor.

SCENE: A sitting-room in the BROWNLOW'S house; it is neatly but sparsely fumished. GEORGE BROWNLOW is sitting in front of the fire, NELLIE opposite him.

GEO. : 1 know that the house is half-empty, my dear, but we can't afford to furnish it ali. We have enough debts already without calling in the hire-purchase man. We'lI have to let it stand for the moment. Nothing else for it. Sorry, dear, but we really can't get into any more debt.

PLAYS 187

NELL: Of course, darling. 1 know. Doesn't matter a bit, really, but-well, anyway, we may see something cheap later on, and-and maybe a client will leave you something in his will one of these days, and-oh! wouldn't that be wonderful, George!

GEO. (laughingly): That is likely to happen at any moment. That is, if 1 do not prevent him. Clients have a habit of slipping in under one's guard and bequeathing legacies to lawyer's c1erks if we take our eyes off them for a moment.

(A riug of the front-door bell. NELLIE gets up aud goes to answer it.]

GEO. : Now, I wonder who that can be .... Probably the butcher, baker, or grocer with his week's account. How sick of it aII 1 am !

[Re-euter NELLIE, excitedly.

GEO. : Well, dear, who was it ? NELL. : It's a Mr Snaith, and he wants to see

you. GEO.: Snaith? NELL. : Yes, of Snaith and Worthing, the

solicitors. Shall 1 show him in here? GEO. : Yes, I wonder what he wants !

[Exit NELLIE, l'eturning in a moment zm'th Mr SNAITH.

NELL: In here, Mr Snaith. (She witlzdraws.) SNAI.: Good-evening. You are Mr Brown

low? GEO.: Yes. SNAI.: Senior c1erk of Brand & Topliss ?

r88 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

GEO. : Yes, but I don't--SNAI.: Ah! of course! You are, no doubt,

surprised at my visit; however, that can soon be explained. May I sit down ?

GEO. : Why, certainly ....

[SNAITH produces a cigar case, offers one to GEORGE, zoho declines, lights one lzimseif, and sits back, regardillg GEORGE throllgh tlze smoke. ]

SNAI. : How old are you, Mr Brownlow ? GEO. : Twenty-six. SNAI. : A wonderful age. Dear me, how long

ago is it since I was twenty-six? They were interesting days for the lawyers then, Mr Brownlow. Tempora mutalltur. You are married, are you not? It was your wife who showed me in, wasn't it ?

GEO.: Yes. SNAI. : Long married ? GEO.: About four months. SNAI. : Well, well. Just starting on the seas

of life's great adventure. We older men have a habit of envying you younger ones your youth, but when one looks back one recollects that one had one's struggles and hard battles in those days, too. No doubt you have yours.

GEO. : I have. SNAI. : The economic problem, eh? (Lealling

forward.) Well, Mr Brownlow, to get to the subject of this interview. Y our people are handling the South-Westem Trust case, aren't they?

GEO.: The fact is well known. SNAI. : Precisely. It's a deplorable business,

that affair. Of course, you'll win your case.

PLAYS 189 GEO. : We are hoping so. SNAI.: Not a doubt of it. Well, what I have

to say to you is this, Mr Brownlow. You have on your list of witnesses Lord Savering. Of course-Ahem !-Lord Savering has had no discreditable association with this South-Westem Trust business, but nevertheless he is not an .. "ious to figure in it at ali. You understand? Now, without dragging him into it you can easily win your case, Mr Brownlow. (S11lilillg.) Oh, we are quite conversant with the case, you know. Now it is your business, as I know, to compile the list of witnesses, and so forth, and my proposal to you is this, Mr Brownlow. Take out Lord Savering's name from that list-remember, you do not really need him-and 1 shall pay you five hundred pounds on the evening before the trial.

GEO. : 1 don't deny that five hundred pounds would be very useful to me at present, Mr Snaith. What you are saying is accurate, we can win the case without Lord Savering's name on the list. But what about the ethics of the business! After ali, in law, matters are, well they're--

SNAI.: Take your time and think over my proposition. Recollect, Mr Brownlow, that five hundred pounds is five hundred pounds, and as you say, you could do with that sum at the present stage of your career. To be candid with you, at your age I would not have tumed down the offer. Moreover, you will not be guilty of any disloyalty to your fum. One witness more or less will make no difference. You are bound to win that case, anyway, and by eliminating Lord

'9° A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

Savering's name you will be doing nobody harm aud doing him a lot of good.

GEO.: This money to be paid in notes, Mr Snaith?

SNAI.: Certainly. If at nine o'clock on the evening before the trial 1 may ca11 here and yon will show me your list without the name of Lord Savering, 1 sha11 pay you the money persona11y.

GEO.: Very we11. 1 accept your offer. SNAI. (v.:ith a S1Ilile) : 1 am very glad that you

do so, Mr Brownlow. 1 think you have acted very wisely. 1 sha11 come here on the evening before the trial-that will be the 25th, one week from to-day. Nine o'clock precisely. Understood?

GEO. : Understood. SNAI. : Then good night, my boy, good night.

(He rises. GEORGE opens the doar for him and they go out.)

[Curtain for a few moments, ta indicate passage of a week. As it rises, a clock is striking nine and GEORGE BROWNLOW is sitting in his usual chair, fidgeting and i1llpatient; NELLIE is very excited. A ring is heard at the doar.]

N ELL.: There he is! (Rushes ta front doar; retUr1lS in a moment with Mr SNAITH, and at a sign iram GEORGE retires.)

SNAI.: 1t's been a beautiful day, Mr Brownlow, hasn't it? Certain1y not the day for wrangling in the courts of law over money and morals. Ours is a dry trade, Mr Brownlow; as dry and dusty as our own law books 1 We11, to business. You

PLAYS '9' have kept your part of the bargain, 1 presume. May 1 see the list of witnesses ?

[GEORGE produces it from a pocket-book and hands it ta hi1ll. He reads it carefully. Then he folds it up, hands it back, and he takes a bulky envelope from an irzside pocket.]

SNAI.: You will find the five hundred pounds in that, Mr Brownlow, and 1 am very much obliged. Now, what are you going to do with the money?

GEO.: Furnish my house, first of a11. Before that, 1 sha11 take my wife out to dinner.

SNAI. : Ah, those little dinners to celebrate! 1 used to do the same thing at your age, you lmow. Now 1 am a grandfather, Mr Brownlow. But 1 remember those dinners in the old days. Soft lights over a table somewhere in Soho-a bottle of wine, whispered dreams, and sudden squeezes of the hand; plans for the house with a garden. We11, 1 must be going.

GEO.: Just a moment, Mr Snaith; 1 wish to consult you on a question of ethics.

SNAI. : 1 am quite at your service. GEO. : You promised me five hundred pounds

if 1 showed you the list without the name of Lord Savering.

SNAI. : True. And you kept your part of the bargain, as 1 did mine.

GEO. : Quite so. But what would you say, Mr Snaith, if 1 told you that Lord Savering's name was never on that list? That we had never known he had anything to do with this business till you told me ?


SNAI. : 1 would say, Mr Brownlow, that there is agreat future before you in the law. AIso, that Lord Savering is paying that five hundred pounds, and . . . he certainly deserves to pay it. Go ahead and buy the furniture, Mr Brownlow. Good-bye.

CURTAIN

From The Quintinian.

EXERCISES

1. lVord Study.-Use each of the following in sentences. Al! the words are in the play :-

solicitor, fumish, bequeath, legacy, deplorable, ,vitness, compile, bulky, candid, eliminate.

2. What are (a) Ethics, (b) Economics, (e) Mathematics, (d) Physics, (e) Politics, (1) Aeronautics, (g) Hysterics.

Written Work (a) Ten the story of the play. (b) Was George honest? Discuss the ethics of the play.

PART III

SNAPSHOTS OF ENGLAND BY WRITERS OF TO-DAY

'93

~~~o,;:ţ;

'0 SNAPSHOTS OF ENGLAND ~" BY WRITERS OF TO-DAY j

mo~~~~~~~~~~~~~·~~

9-

THE UNDERGRADUATE'S F1RST DAY AT OXFORD

By C. A. STRAUSS (New College, Oxford)

TO-DAY the freshmen come to Oxford, their cheeks holding tongues that would like to prbphesy three years of whoopee,1 the timeof their. lives, and the conquest of the wor1d. '- . /'~":'7

They applY' for their rooms at the College lodge, where they last handed in thcir names when MF!.; for exams. How forebocling then! How benign and pleasant now! They are anxious to see what rooms they have for their first year. 1s it on the ground fioor, where one's friencls may conveniently drop in for a chat and a drink r Or on the top of a staircase? W 1\iting to receive and attend are the kIrtdly scti'ttl;,2 whose jobs have been handecl down for ge~erations. Pastmasters in the gentle art of graft" they enjoy parties as much as those they serve.

Aiso awaiting the freshman's attention are many impressive-Iooking communiocations from tradesmen, libraries, newsagents, barbers, and a myriacl otherfolk who wish to call his attention to the particular goods or services they have to

1 Gaiety. il Men~servants.

195

a Tipping.


offer. The I~d. stamp, female handwriting, and a scented envelope he discovers are not always what they seem. His mail is, perhaps, disappoint-ing but not unflattering. '

Unpackin~1 he arranges his prints and photos, while his scolit offers a second-hand gown for sale. The more l(;itgg~d it is (disguising his freshness), the more valtlable.

Dinner in hal! is the first big event. There the dons 1 dine at high table, and except when scholars sit together, the freshmen must al! keep to the lower end, where the ,God of Shyness has surely visited them. Some express it by a kind of ,defian~e, laughing and throwing bread about bilîsteroh'slv. Those who were at the same school elan together 2 for protection, like a tribe in new terrjtory.,

Others find, a c<;myersatibnalist near by and disguise their embarrăssment by elever talk, as Shel!ey once did with his friend Hogg. Then there are the few who sit silent and confused, listening to the bU'zz and staring at the lights.

Mter coffee the freshers 3 gather in little groups to chat and smoke round the fire. Soon the college representatives come round, suave and flattering, 01' full of beer and friendliness, to canvass for rowing, rugger,4 athletics, ~lubs, political or. o~hen~ise, and debatin~'l.~ocreties. The subscnptlOn lS small, the rh1;!atâ great. What is he to play? Which o(the French, Spanish, German, and Hindvstani soc)hies is he to join? A little of each, 01' avoid the lot and stick to books?

1 Tutors. S Become allies.

3 Freshmen (new students). 4 Rugby football.

SNAPSHOTS OF ENGLAND 197

• _m'--\.

-:::::..=--==--~:::::

--------.-. ~/~

.) J,

- ~/'-

Oxford. Ode1 and Tower of lvIerton College.

'98 A MOI)ERN ENGLISH COURSE ~/;/L,< (}=""

The politician, he learns, is expected to draw the club's wine and to add to its epigrams, and the hunting fan 1 no long;er bothered by timetables to take the fi~ld~at least tbree days a week.

These pallld y6utHs, so broad-minded and tolerant of every one (provided he has a crest, a ribbon, or a purse, otberwise, of course, who is he ?), are those who will be among the hunting set. The enthusiasts fQr a blue who will throng Vincent's (club for athlhes, etc.) are the " lIl1(tter of făct~' 'young men who are neveţ, led astra;)' nor sho\v tbemselves narrow, but applaud any philosophy.,unJ~ps put into prâctice.

The O.ttTI.S" (dramatic club) is recruited by tbe "'I1ltra-poetical super-restbetical" of the intellects, who reward themselves with their own colours, and a tie and handkSrdl:!ief to match.

N ext dax:" gentlemen are requested to )nterview their dtlns. Who could refuse so defc;j:ential an invitation? He hears how many week~1îe may spend away, but would he first say when he is going, please. It is regretted he must be in college by midnight, at the risk of .[,5 fine. In one college he is excused Il];lffiy fines, thrbugh a legacy left by a considerate patron a centulJ \Igo.

Though many petty rules seem a nuis'ânce, the life they allow is better than at foreign 'varsities with ţheir absolute freedom. . . .

E!lrly in the first week the freshers collect at each college wearing mortar-boards,3 white bow ties, and gown. They march off to the Sheldonian,' where different colleges line the benches. One

1 Fanatic; enthusiast. a Square black hats. : Oxford University Dramatic Society. 'A large assembly hall~


by one each signs the register, and is solemnly given a book of statutes. Then the Vice-Chancellor, with profound dignity, recites Latin, and bows, in the twilight. Sometimes there is a stir; a Balliol scholar has bowed back, or, as happened.no~ npny terms ago, a polite and unmistakably tr!însatlantic request is made to translate the Latin into English.

Soon the traffic jams in "the Corn," 1 the Progs 2 and Bul! Dogs ~ .. darting in pubs, the Clarendon Buildings ~unt and high on their massive pillars, the tufrets of Al! Souls and Reynolds' window in Chapel, the dark oak of an Elizabethan h'1:tn, lit up by th" glitter of an Elizabetban portrait, will have făded into the background of Oxford memories-truly a rich frame. Let tbem step in.

From Tlze Evening Standard.

EXERCISES

r. Word Study.-The following are words from this extract. Use each in a sentence of your 0,,"'11 :_

ground floor, unflattering. second-hand, ragged, defiance, boisterously, canvass (compare "canvas "), Iare, epigram (use also "epitaph," H epithet "), pallid, deferential, statute (compare H statue)l and " stature "), gaunt.

2. Insert the prepositions in the following. The sentences are in this extract :-

(a) They apply - their rooms the College lodge where they handed - their names when up - exams.

(b) - colfee the freshers gather - little groups to chat and smoke - the fire.

1 One of the main streets in Oxford. li Proctors (officials of the University with powers of discipline aver

undergraduates). III Proctars' assistants.

200 A MODERN ENGk!SH COU~~l':

( ) H b ,1" Il ii i 'd' h MV h . k c e must e ":""::0 CO ege>,",,- mi ntg t::..!:.... t e rIS,

[,5 fine. ( ( (d) Early ;&'the first week the freshers collect L each

'lRllege. p (e) One~ one each signs the register.

C . ~. Give words opp~site in meaning to the words in ltahcs ;- . );ft?;~0 .!?t -V"jll'"

(a) How bemgn/and pleasant now. (b) It)s an the grolllld floor where one's friends may

~+1 convclliently drop in. Ce) Ris mail is disappointing but not ul1ftattcring. (d) The dans dine at the high table, the freshmen

k h I ',wi/i d .. . eep t e ow{ff en . ~,,:<' ''':' \, t:w'v

(e) These pa!(i~youths are broad-minded and tolerant of eVel}) oue.

Written Work 'Vrite a composition an one of the following :

(a) A visit to a university tO\VIl.

(b) The joys of youth. (e) A comparison of EngIish university Iife and that

in your country.

HERE COME THE "UNDERGRADUETTES"

By P. N. WARNER

THE FRESHER'S FIRST DAYS AT A WOMEN'S COLLEGE AT OXFORD

During the three days before the beginning of term more than a thousand Freshmen are atriving at Oxford, ejgerly I ~n,tering on what many a father has jovlally decHîred to be "the

SNAPSHOTS OF ENGLAND ZOI

best three years of my life, my boy ! Mind you enjoy them ! " i

These newcomers are pturip.g into the city in crowds, and if you wish to eX'hmihe the species Undergraduate, you can do so just now on the platform of Oxford Station, where you, will find it swarming, hilariously self-conscii5ui;, loudly commandeering aII the pQrters and taxis, and destroying the peace and comfort of the ordinary trăveIIer.

Owing to this noisy preponderance of the species you have come to study, it will be easy for you to overlook, in the general meUe,' an important element in modern Oxfordthe new Undergraduette, who arrives more soberly, and struggles out of the station to find the only vehţcl~s left for her are those decrepit hansoms which stiII chîirhcter1se Oxford. But she is by no means negligible, for she is arriving ne~rly three hundred strong, determined to fiII her place in U niversity Iife.

These undergraduettes-to-be are the pick of the girIs' schools of the whole country. N ow that the numbers in the women's coIIeges at Oxford and Cambridge are strictly limited by U niversity statute, their entrance examinations become stiffer and more competitive every year, and it has become the ambition of every big school to secure some of the coveted vacancies for its pupils. But

1 Confusion.


because these young women are compelIed to be clever, let no one think they are stodgy.'

There are, of course, a few who have no thoughts outside their books; but there are many more who are pretty, and athktic, and who are as determined as ever any male undergraduate could be to make the most of their time at Oxford. They are excelIent examples of "the modern gir!."

At Oxford there are five women's collegesLady Margaret HalI, 80merville, 8t Hilda's, 8t Hugh's, and the 80ciety of Oxford Home 8tudents. Their new red brick buildings contrast crudely with the old grey stone of the men's colIeges, but modernity has some advantages. For instance, on winter mornings the men must sprint across the quad.2 to a block of bathrooms, added in the last century, while the women saunter along a warm corridor to a bathroom close at hand; and if the women's colIeges cannot boast the opulent suites and vast, oak-panelled chambers of the men's, the fresh-Iooking students' rooms of the former, with their distempered walIs and large windows, have a charm of their own.

Aud then comes the day when she " goes up " 3

-the train journey, the moment of arrival, the first glimpse of the room that will be hers for the next year, the interview with the Principal, followed by that with her own tutor. These are alI exciting, but they are eclipsed by that moment at hali-past

1 Dull. 2 Quadrangle; open square. li Begins at the University.

SNAPSHOTS OF ENGLAND 2°3 seven when she must enter the big dining-hall ,and make her first acquaintance with her fellowstudents.

8he dresses carefulIy, and timielly enters "HalI," and finds herself between a jollylooking" Fresher" and a friendly" Third Year," which latter, after inquiring her name, school, and faculty,' supplies a mass of useful information about the college, and cordially imites her to "come to coffee in my room at nine (l'clock."

After dinner the " Fresher " follows the crowd to chapel, and a little later finds her way to the room of the " Third Year," who has by this time collected nine or ten other "Freshers" and is dispensing coffee and chocolate biscuits, and helpfuI hints on University life.

Many amusing experiences are crowded into the fust few days. One of the earliest is the buying of a cap and"gO\vn. The gown is the same short, sleeveless one as is worn by the men; but instead of tlle stiff mortar-board the woman student wears a cap of soft black feIt, with four points, which gives her quite a Mephistophelian .air. (Incidentally it is very becoming.) The first time she walks down the street in cap and gown she is convinced that every eye is upon her, but soon it becomes the most natural garb in the world.

During the first week the "Fresher" must appear before the Vice-Chancellor to be matriculated-that is, to be formalIy admitted as a member (lf the U niversity. 8he takes her place in a long

1 Course of study.

2°4 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

line of new students, and at last stands before a venerable Vice-Chancellor who pronounces some unintelligible Latin words over her and hands her a book of University regulations -whilst she reflects that if it is for this latter that she has just paid ,(;4 it is an expensive purchase!

At this ceremony she must appear in funereal attire, for a University statute ordains that beneath her cap and gown she must wear " a dark coat and skirt, a white blouse, black tie, and black shoes and stockings." But her fate is preferable to that of the men, who are compelled to appear in a white evening tie in the morning! The same garb is insisted upon for all examinations and U niversity ceremonies, and so it is constantly to be seen in Oxford.

At the end of a week the "Fresher" has slipped into the regular routine of University life. The morning is, or should De, spent in worklectures in the dining-halls of the men's col!eges, c1asses in dons' sitting-rooms, and much poring over large tomes 1 and writing of essays in between. The afternoons are devoted to games or other recreation, for, at Oxford, to work between two and four "is not done." Following an early tea, studies begin again, and continue till dinner in Hall; and when that is over, Oxford offers innumerable distractions.

Every evening, from five to fifty Societies are holding their meetings, which they al! eagerly invite the " Fresher " to attend.

And when to their c1aims are added the 1 Volumes.


demands of social life in col!ege and the daily attractions of concerts, theatres, and cinemas, it is not surprising that many " Freshers " suffer from the complaint known as " Fresher's Fever," i.e., the sensation that there is too much that is delightful to be done and too little time to do it in. Therefore it is, perhaps, in the wisdom of the dons that it is ordained that every one must take an examination before the end of their first year, for nothing but the stern cal! of examinations could cure such an al!uring complaint.

From Tlze News Chrollicle.

EXERCISES

I. Word Study : jovially, hilariously, commandeer (compare "comrnand," "commend "), preponderance, decrepit, negligible (compare H neglectful "), coveted, crudely, sprint (what is a "spIint," a " splinter H ?), saunter, suite (compare " suit "), eclipsed, garb, funerea! (compare Il funeral "), routine.

2. Indicate the pronunciation of the following words :_

pour, your, hour; study, studious; schooI, scholar; woman, women; could, mould, would; \varm, harm, charm, swarm; suite, suit, sweet, suet, soot; own, town; later, Iatter.

Written Work

(a) The ideal education for women. (b) Should men and women be educated together?


THE DERBY

By HOWARD SPRING

[The Derby, 50 called after the twelfth Lord Derby, who originated it in 1780, is the most celebrated horse race in England. It is run every year at Epsom, where upwards of a million people go to see it.]

The more the Derby changes, the more it is the same thing-and how it changes, one is inclined to exclaim. But, after alI, the change is on1y on the surface. The motor-car and nothing else has brought it about.

Looking at Frith's 1 famous picture, you can pick out many details reproduced on the Downs to-day. The child dancer is there. 1 saw her just now, a slip of a gir! in tawdry finery, wearing shoes that were evidently home-made, dancing now in this feeding booth 2 and now in that, spinning and gyrating till she was fit to drop, accompanied by a small boy who played a mouth-organ and succeeded at the same time in beating a tambourine.

Then the gymnasts. .1 watched them entertaining the crowd upon the Downs-gymnasts on bicycles and improvised tight-ropes, and every sort of public entertainer that you could imagine.

There are the gipsies who look darkly into your soul for sixpence, men with the mystic eyes of the East who offer to solve that which puzzles so many of us and tell us why we were bom,

1 Famous English painter (1819-1910). I-lis U Derby Day" is in the National Gallery.

II Temporary covcred erection.

SNAPSHOTS OF ENGLA..ND 207 players of bagpipes and dancers of hompipes, stout women whom you had imagined to be there for a day's fun but who suddenly develop contralto voices that set the air vibrating and the fingers fumbling' for coppers.

There are water diviners 2 and palmists, men who produce melody from biscuit tins, and there are the old gay swings and roundabouts: Very welcome the roundabouts are, because thelr steam organs are always two or three years behindhand with their tunes, and as you listen to " There's a rainbow round my shoulder" you recapture the joy of vanished holidays and stroll once more beside forgotten seas.

Aud surely the tipsters 3 have not changed since Frith painted his picture. They are still here to shout defiantly " What's a fiver to me ? " as they tear into ribbons apparently good notes, and throw down coin of the realm which they trample into the grass.

"That's the way to help the working man to face the landlord and the wor!d," they yelI as they impart for the contemptible price of half a pint information that means " a summer holiday for nothing."

The "bookies'" are with us, too. Red in the face with their bawling, surrounded by their cohorts of clerks and tic-tac 5 men who fret the ,s.);:yline. with fantastic gesticulation.

. The crowd has not changed. It is the same 1 Feeling clumsily. II People who discover, by means of a rod, the presence of water. 3 People who say they can tell you which horse will win. ... Bookmakers-professional betting men. 6 System of signalling used by bookmakers.


calpival mob as ever, ready to eat ices and pork p1i!1;, jellied eels and oranges, with immense and indiscriminate gusto, ready to make a day of it for better or worse, and to go home by motorca~ or shanks's pony 1 as the great god Ch~nce decrees.

Looking from the hill on ,which the crowd so thickly collects, across the ti.fred z cliff of grandstands, one sees the same graceful wome1;l and wellgroomed 3 men, and, when the Pftr~de begins, there are the j?Fkeys in the self-same silks, p€'rchid on the same sih~y mounts.4

Soon thev flash by with the well-remembered impression of bows of bright colour tied to spded.1' cY~! mg ffiToWs,

But change there has beel)., and the motor-car has brought it about. It resraes chiefly in the way we get to the Derby. To this great festival of the horse we uşed to be taken by the horse : sumptuous co'i\chb, four-in-hands, S spanking 6

gigs,7 hansoms and buses, brakes 8 and growlers.9

Thousands and thousando of horses used to pour upon Epsom, but now, ironically enough, we go to see the finest horses in the wor1d over roads from which the horse is blmished more and more.

The gipsies' horses and the racehorses are the only ones you will see at Epsom to-day. We must

1 Legs, i.e., by ,valking. 3 Neat; smart. : In ro\vs. " Horscs. , Vehicle with four horses driven by one person. , Fine, rapid. '1 Light, two-wheeled, one-horse carriage. 8 Large hea .... 'Y carriage. • Four-wheeled cab.


compose a clfuplet to get the horse back in perspective:

Scam nat the home: he is the quadruped That puts the bulter an the baokies' bread.

The consequellce qf this intensive use of cars is that the old elăborate feeding which Frith has put on record is not seen much to-day.

When you can dash back to town so quickly there is no need to make the Derby so much of a "day." There is feeding on the tops of buses and i:lt î7he comfo]f,w)imousines, but it is not so spectiwular, so le~ur?'d, so ful! of the sense of being parked down for the day. .

This 8uhting of the horse, wiJ;hl~all its consequence, is the not&ble modern fe'~P/lre of Epsom. j

More and more the people who \vatch the race' run have never themselves driven a horse nor ridden a horse. ; ;

The changes in costume that strîke the eye as one looks at old I2pictures and photographs are Jnsignific~nt compăred with this.· . ,

We may be wearing those costlfihes again pefore we know where we are. Already.. the " boliter " 1

hat is ,coming back, and the s~frts of to-day are as sttlkingly different from thase of three years ago as from th:6se of twenty-three years ago. That is just fashi()l).'s see-saw, but this other thing is a definite revol\î:Hon in manners.

And YOli caMot go back on a revolution. You can only have another.

From The Evening Standard.

1 Straw bat.


EXERCISES

1. Word Study, tawdry, hornpipe, contralto (what other types of voice do yau know ?), trample (compare" tramp "), cohorts, bawI (compare H baU "), eels, decree (compare " degree "), sinewy, banished, insignificant.

2. Express the meaning of each of the following phrases in Ofle word; the words required are aU in this e1..'tract. You are given the first Ietter or letters :-

\Vhirling round [gy~"I-.1L';.~"S+,t~ Composed on the spot [im ..... . Quivering [vi ..... . One who tells fortunes by the lines on the hand [pa ..... . A motion made while speaking [ge ..... . Enjoyment in anything [gu ..... . A cab with t\Vo wheels [haiJd;.' A four-footed animal [qu{~'.<';~{.~1},,';j::,,?{> To expel [ou...... I Moving "p and down [se ..... .

Written Work (a) A description of a horse race or other sporting event

you have seen. (b) An imaginary conversation between a horse and a

motor-car. (e) Your ideas on betting.

THE BOAT RACE, 1932 [The Boat Race between Oxford University and Cam

bridge U niver~ity),~'J)p.~ 'of the most popular sporting events in England. It 15 ro'ţT;fed' every year on a Saturday at the end of M.rch or beginning of April, on the Thames, from Putney Bridge to Mortlake, a distance of 4i miles.]

It was rather cold when the race started at 10.30. Half au hour earlier the weather had been nearly perfect, with a high blue sky-" ominously

SNAPSHOTS OEENGLAND .m .. ~. . lightl blue," as the parson said gloclIn'ily-and with hardly a cloud about. But the crowd was not nearly so large as usual, owing to the early start, and the loudest and stoutest hawkers 2 I have ever seen tried to cover it alI up by being louder and stouter than ever. "Wear your colours," in dozens of gruff voices, shepherded the crowd along the roads to the new starting post. "Here's a streamer, sir. Such a nice streamer, sir. AH blue, sir" --such are the ancient appeals, familiar to everybody.

Thfis the scene does not alter much-a large, excited crowd, moving along under a serene and indifferent heaven.. The popular favom 3 alters, however, and there was no doubt this year that the crowd wanted Oxford to Win, mainIy because it was "time they did." There must have been two dark blue roseţtes to every light blut one. What exactly moves the smalt boys, who seem, in some miraculous ,vay, to pop up out ,of the very ground just under your feet, to we~r dark blue instead of light is a mystery. But out here on the launches men are illade of stemer stuff, and the an.xiety of waiting becomes insuPJJortable. There are times-;-;and sureIy this is one ofthemwhen it is quite impossible to speak. And it was amusing that when Oxford came out for their trml spin, leaving in/ a stride the Htbouring boatmen plying between shore aud launch, alI the cheering. came from the towpath.4 /'./

The general impression before the race started

1 The Cambridge calour is light blue, the Oxford one dark blue. : Men selling goods în the street. :s Colour. 4. Path along the side of the !iver.

2I2 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

was that it would be very like the one last year. Cambridge was expected to allow the dark blues to exhaust themselves at the start; and so, indeed, it proved. Oxford lost the toss, and, being forced to take the Middlesex side;~ihvas plain that their object would be to shake Cambridge off before Hammersmith. They started really well, moving beautifully together, man wedded to boat, and boat to water. They were, in fact, rowing 39 strokes to the 38 of Cambridge in the first minute; and when they carne up to the motionless launches moored a hundred yards or so up the course, they were just a little ahead ..

It was a beautiful si'ght now, as they carne past, these two boats moving s6r~nely along amidst a great uproar. It was a sight Ruskin knew and loved; but we, alas, only had it for a moment, for the l:funch gets away with a cough immediately the boats are level. Oxford i}:eLe then aeJUarter of a length ahead, and they pudîled their plan of getting in front with a courage that moved the parson to keep saying, "O Lord! O Lord!" now softly, and now reproachfully. But it was fairly obvious, even at the Fulham football ground, that the Oxford crew were tiring, whereas Cambridge, still ro'i~ng a slower stroke, were as fresh -and more ominous still, as confident-as when they started. Yet Oxford were now three-quarters of a length ahead, and it seemed to need ~but one more effort for them to get the cIear Uaq they wanted. e'l1.~V,fil4(<-C'!,,{

That effort was to be made more than 'b'lfce before th-;Crews reached the Mile Post, but it was not to succeed. The race, indeed, was tragically

SNAPSHOTS OF ENGLAND 2I3

like the one last year. Then, as now, Cambridge made their spurt at Harrods, aud this year they followed the same tactics, going away so fast that they were very soon half a length in front instead of being half a length behind. It was a really fine piece of generalship: Cambridge chbse the exact moment for their challenge, for at this point not only were Oxford tiring, but they had come into the head-wind and a stretch of water that was decidedly choppy.' There was no doubt what was going to happen now. Oxford were obviously getting tired aud short, aud from the Mile onwards it was merely a question of how much Cambridge were going'to win by.

Cambridge was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful crews seen here for a good many years. They rowed perfectly together, and except just at the start, seemed superbly, insolently unconscious of the race. Oxford rowed very pluckily, but when compared with Cambridge, looked as if they had been sentenced to the galleys aud were labouring under an invisible lash. There were just two or three minutes-say in the first quarter of a milewhen Cambridge seemed to be getting rattled,2

but once over that bad patch they did not make a mistake, aud ended up in a paddle. Oxford were very exhausted at the finish, and it was a minute or two before they could find enough heart to take their boat in.

The time was 19 min. II secs., and, considering the conditions, this was very fast indeed.

From The Observer.

8

1 Breaking in short, abrupt ,vavcs. 21 Disturbed.

2 14 A MODERN ENGLISH COURSE

EXERCISES

1. Word Study: gruff, serene, insupportable, to moor a boat, spurt.

2. Supply the verb required in the following sentenees :-

(a) The oarsmen - the boat. (b) The artist - the pieture. (c) The housewife - the room with a brush. (d) The baby bas - its first tooth. (e) Tbe aetors and aetresses are - their play in

preparation for the performance to-morrow.

Written Work (a) A description of an exciting race you have seen. (b) Y our favonrite sport.

HARVEST DAYS

By A. G. STREET,

Author of "Farm;rs' GZQ1'Y," Etc.

Farming goes on and on through a farmer's life in a never-ending cycle. In every month in the year he is planning and working-for something \vhich may or may not work out successfullysome months, perhaps some years, ahead.

Seasons, both good and bad ones, come and go; animals are born and animals die-some at their appointed time in the farming scheme, and some from natural causes. Seeds are sown, plants come up, grow vigorously until maturity, when they are cut down to wither and die; and the farmer and the farm labourers return to Mother Earth in the fullness of time. But the farm never

SNAPSHOTS OF ENGLAND ZIS

dies, and all down the ages men have been content to serve it faithfully.

Fifty years ago our farming scheme was run with one definite end in view each year-the grain harvest-but since that date this has dwindled 1

greatly both in size and importance. Instead of a yearly turnover, most farmers to-day reap a harvest of some sort or other every month. The market-gardener sells something practically every day, so does the dairy farmer, while the meat producer and the poultry farmer aim at producing a steady supply of their produce throughout the year.

Most farmers, 1 think, regret this change in the farming scheme, which they have been forced to make in order to use their farms to the best advantage, both for the nation and tllemselves. I know that I, for one, regret it bitterly, but there is no alternative. Modern invention and scientific discovery have so changed world conditions that unless our farming tries to keep pace with them it cannot succeed. In my boyhood, grain, especially wheat, was the " principal turn .. 2 in British farming, and the production of milk, eggs, and other commodities were by comparison only the side-shows. Now the boot is on the other foot,> and the side-shows of my boyhood have become the "principal turns."

To show how great this change is to-day, the total return of all our grain crops accounts for

J Decreased. :1 Subjcct; item. :il The conditions are reversed.


only about II per cent. of the annual output of our farming industry, while the one-time lowly and despised hen yields to our farmers every year nearly one and a half times more money than wheat. Even so, there wil! always be the present small proportion of grain in this country, as its cultivation in moderate quantity is a necessary adjunct to a prosperous animal husbandry. But while grain is comparatively insignificant in a material sense to-day, in a somewhat idyllic fashion it stil! bulks a hundred per cent. in the mind of every Briton.

To both townsman and countryman the month of August is associated with the corn harvest. Any remembrance of the Bible stories our mothers taught us is connected with the harvest. We feel sure that the sower in the parable was sowing wheat. To-day, grain in this country may be only the outward and visible sign in our farming industry, while animal husbandry is the inward monetary grace, but we all value the sign more than the reality. Rightly or wrongly, the glory of the harvest is instilled into all our minds. This inherent love for the harvest may be sentimental and illogical, but it is there in most of us, and it will never die, no matter what further changes may occur in our farming industry.

The townsman on holiday this August in a rural district is far more interested in the harvest operations than in any other farm happening. Albuminoid ratios in connection with animal nutrition, the recording of milk yie1ds, the science of artificial manuring, and countless other modernities-the farmer must be a past-master

SNAPSHOTS OF ENGLAND 217 at them aU, but the town visitor to the country cares only for the glory of the corn harvest.

Each succeeding year modern invention is doing its best to destroy this glory and charm. On one farm recently I have seen a combine harvester 1 at work in the fields, and a huge graindrying plant busy in the buildings. In the morning a field of ripe grain sways to the breeze under the August sun. In the evening this same grain is in sacks ready for the motor-Iorry to take it away on the morrow. In one twelve-hours it has been cut, threshed, winnowed, dried, and sacked up. One marvels at the ingenuity of the men who invented the machines which make such a hustle Z possible; one admires the energy and initiative of the farmers who are using these modern harvesting devices-one must respect a trier-but, despite every advantage which one can place to the credit of such a harvesting, most of us, I tllink, view it with regret, for on the debit side of the account we have to put the loss of charm.

Another neighbour this season has been using the ubiquitous motor-car hay-sweep to gather in rus corn harvest. The land is dry this August, and this active tool darts backwards and forwards across the field in a c10ud of dust. Gone are the wagons and horses of my boyhood, and in their place the car sweeps the stooks 3 across the field to the foot of the elevator. But here and tllere I have seen the old methods stil! employed. The sight< makes the farmer in me murmur, "That's an expensive way of going on," while the

1 Reaping machine. il Speed. 3 Bundles of sheaves.


sentimentalist in me pulls up his car in order to . savour the charm of his boyhood's harvest days once again. To see on the sky-line three horses at length hauling a wagon-Ioad of sheaves still tugs at the heartstrings of memory.

However, one charming feature of the corn

--~.:I"'"----= = ~~ ~~.~~.~=-~~~~~ -_-:-:. 7" "w-s.:------.::§::

"Ta see an the sky-line three horses at length hauling a wagon-load of sheaves stiU tugs at the heartstrings of rnemory. U

harvest still remains to-day even on the most mechanised farm. At about a quarter to four the white aprons of the women and the gay pinafores of the children can be seen coming slowly across the field towards the rick, the binders, or the combine. The tea is coming, a needful refresher for men in a harvest field, which this season has shimmered under a blazing sun since early morning. To my mind, this bringing


of the men's tea into the harvest field still gives one the impression that the whole village community are mterested in the harvesting of the corn. In these days a farm is a lonely place during most of the year, but in August, at harvest time, men, women, and children all play their part.

Another thing which remains unchanged in our modern harvest is the bounty of Providence, which this year has been granted in a most generous fashion. Machines can and do perform many wonderful feats in the harvest field, but without a sufficiency of sun, and wind, and rain there would be no crop for them to harvest, while a wet August would render all their efforts unavailing. Let us thank Heaven that these necessities to any farming industry do not depend on any human agency.

I have been scribbling these lines while I have been watching a harvest field in full swing. Now the machines have ceased their chattering, and the men and the horses have disappeared to a well-earned rest. The sun has stretched out the shadows of the hills and also of the chunkv 1

corn stacks. Soon he will disappear over the western hill, and the harvest moon will come up like a big round cheese floating in a cloudless sky.

From The Moming Post.

EXERCISES

r. Ward Study: wither (compare "whither "), lowly (note this is an adjective, not an adverb farmed from " low "), husbandry, inherent, thresh (compare" thrash "), winnow, ubiquitous, haul, rick, slllmmer.

1 Stumpy; lumpy.


2. Note the phrases, frequently idiomatic, used in this eJ.."tract, e.g., a yearly turnover, to the best advantage, to keep pace with, the boat is on the other foot, side-shows, it bulks largely, no matter what, a past~master, darts backwards and forwards, here and there, to my mind, in fuU swing. Explain and then use each of these in a sentence of your QWfl.

Written Work (a) The sights and sounds of the country. (b) The farmer's life. (e) The effect of machinery on agriculture.

"WORDS, WORDS, WORDS"

By ROBERT LYND

Mr Kipling once said that, in the days of his apprenticeship to literature, he had "dredged the dictionary " in search of words. At that time, however, there were so few words in the English language that they could alI be crowded into two volumes.

1 do not know at what date the craving to add new' words to an already overloaded dictionary became almost a mania. Most of the original writers, from Chaucer and Shakespeare to Mr Shaw and Mr Wodehouse, have probably contributed new words to the language, but never before was there such a flood of new additions as there has been during the past century.

Science and invention are largely to blame. The progress of every science is marked by a mushroom 1 growth of new words so extra-

1 Rapid.


ordinary that you would think Rabelais had coined them for a joke. As for inventions, you cannot look into the works even of so simple an invention as a motor-car without seeing twenty things the names of which would have been Greek to our grandfathers.

Then there is a mass-production of slang not only in England but in America, the Dominions, and India which is continualIy increasing the stock of new words in the so-calIed English language.

And, as if this were not enough, Mr James J oyce and his folIowers have taken enthusiasticalIy to inventing new words that nobody has ever spoken and nobody ever will speak til! the Day of Judgment.

As one Iooks at the enormous new Supplement to the Oxford Dictionary, one cannot help wondering where this pulIulation 1 of verbal novelties is going to stop. It is alI very welI to say that languages must grow; but the English language is at present growing at such a pace that you would think it had been given the Boom-Food of which Mr WelIs has written in " The Food of the Gods." 2

I doubt myself whether half these new words are necessary. Take slang, for instance. There must be at least a hundred slang words and phrases to describe the single fact of drunkenness, and they nearly alI mean exa,tly the same thing.

1 Reproduction. !: Which made humans grow into giants.


Is there any difference between being " blotto " and being "blithero"? It is true that under " sozzled" the Dictionary quotes someone as saying: "1 wasn't what you' d call sozzled. 1 might have been lit up, but sozzled-no." 1 doubt, however, whether the ordinary user of the words makes these fine distinctions.

Similarly, many of the slang names for parts of the face are linguistically superfluous. Concerning " boko" as a designation for the nose, for example, the Dictionary quotes: '" Conk or boko,' said Nicholas the vulgar. 'It's ali the same.'" The face itse1f is alternatively a " mug " or a " dia!."

There is this to be said for the inventors of slang, that they intended to coin words only for temporary conversational uses and had no notion that they were making permanent additions to the dictionary. Every period had its own slang, which perished like a fashion in women's clothes. One generation said "spiffing" 1; the next generation said "top-hole," and " spiffing" dis-

• appeared from human speech. What is happening to-day is, however, that we

are no longer permitting these temporary words to die a natural death. W riters introduce them into their books, and compilers of dictionaries collect them, till the English language has become a monstrous balloon of words that looks as if it had reached bursting point.

A question worth considering is whether it would not be possible to reduce the number of words in the language to reasonable proportions.

1 Splendid; excellent.


If half the slang words are superfluous, is it not conceivable that half the other words are equally so? What the English language needs is a ruthless sub-editor to go through the Dictionary with a blue pencil.

The editors of the Oxford Dictionary have, 1 am glad to see, made some slight use of the blue pencil. They have given hospitality neither to " cinemadrome" nor to "picturedrome," two names for the cinema which ought to be suppressed by a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Language.

There are a number of words recorded in the Dictionary, however, equally worthy of the attention of such a society. 1 could easily have spared " councilmanic" and " cosmoramic," " reluctantism" and "repeatability," "wooden-spoonist" and " chairoplane."

To say this is not to cnt1clse the Oxford Dictionary, which is the most masterly collection and explanation of words, good, bad, and indifferent, that has ever been made. The success with which the editors have done their work, however, suggests that the number of words is growing far too rapidly, and thât it is time that a weedingout process began.

Fortunate1y, most of us will never have occasion to use many of these words. It has been estimated that the ordinary man can get along with from 8000 to 10,000 words, and in conversation 1 imagine we use even fewer than that number.

1 opened the Supplement to the Dictionary at random, and in one column 1 found on1y two


words of which I already knew the meaning. I have not seen a single page that was not sprinkled with words of the existence of which I was unaware.

Millions of other people are as ignorant as I, yet we persist in inventing new words as eagerly as if we were astronomers discovering new stars. And what words some of them are-words like " xerophytically " . and " xylometrically " !

Some day a poet will discover these and similar words, and create a new school of poetry more unintelligible than any the world has yet seen. That is one danger of innovation, and one against which we should be on our guard.

From The News Chronicle.

EXERCISES

1. Word Study: dredge, linguistically, random, innova~ tion.

2. Note the prepositions used by the author here to give a new meaning to verbs, (., g., "to take to "=to acquire a habit, " to look inte "=to ex~mine, II to get along with "=find adequate.

(1) (2) go put run bring turn take

Take the verbs in column (1), combine eath one with each preposition in column (2) and give the meaning of each phrase farmed.

Written Work (a) Slang. (b) The charm of words. (e) An account of agreat writer.

in off away on over out


WHITE HOUSE

By IVOR BROWN

The white cliffs of England are no longer of the sea-coast only. They soar up over the parks and avenues, petty, no doubt, compared with their American cousins, but strangely fascinating and magical when seen through a white veil of winter mist or flaming like monster-torches floodIit against the sky. The opening of the magnificent Shell-Mex House 1 adds to that new sequence of cliff-structures which runs from Westminster to the City and the beginnings of dockland. Where the powerful milords of the Middle Ages and the English Renaissance had their palaces, with their water gates and private quays, the barons of the great unified industries now build their mansions of commerce, large and lustrous, the. nesses and forelands of the town, from whose summits one may feeI as Shakespeare's Gloucester 2 did upon the dizzy cliffs of Dover. And if it be, in these days of roaring traffic, that " the murmuring surge cannot be heard so high," so much the happier for their occupants.

The occupants, indeed, of the new office buildings, whether of high directing station or drafted to the beginner's desk, may well be happy that they live in an age which has applied its wits to the problems of commercial architecture. The

1 In the Strand. 2. In" IGng Lear."


housing of the clerk has been for long, and of ten still is, comparable only to the pitiful warren 1 of the slum. Crowded, ill-lit rooms over narrow aIleys have been good enough for city magnates and basements have been good enough for the wardens of the ledger,. because the unplanned cluster of the City has permitted nothing else. Perhaps one can make as much money in a small room as a big one, perhaps work better for sheer lack of alternative occupation, when there is no view but that of a dirty window or a blank wall. Possibly the topmost cliff-dwellers of the new buildings wiIl find that their crow's-nest offers a casemţnt too magical, a prospect too entrancing of m€!ăndering 3 Thames, for easy concentratioll on "Y ours of the 27th," and the full discipliD.'e of jacts and figures. StiIl, they will far better breathe and move and take the sun. For purpose of health, surely a cliff is preferable to a burrow.

For some inexplicable reason the past is of ten talked of as " the spacious days." But if our forefathers lacked anything, it was just this quality of space. Old houses are low of roof, old ,stairs are sharp and narrow, and old offices are me~e pigeonholes when matched with the new roof-gardened, colonnaded, and lavishly-windowed pl.les of architecture. There never was an age so prone to sţlfcriticism as our oWh. Others have blundered as grossly as we, but they blundered blithely,4

without thought and without repentance. We

1 Ground where rabbits burrow. 2 Clerks.

2 Winding. , ?\.ferrily.


are always oppressed with consciousness of sin, and there is alI the more reason to be proud of real achievement. It is a genuine, if belated, form of progress to turn the office from a dismal den to an airy kingdom, and to establish exactly that clean spaciousness which was unknown to earlier commerce. Heating that does not foul the sky, and filtered air, warmed or cooled according to the season's need, are indeed substantial gifts which scientific ventilation offers to the denizens 1 and the neighbours of the new white house.

What a vision of the Victorian workplace does one get in Dickens! Warmth won only by the jamming up of murky windows and then somehow bottled in a frowsty 2 and crowded den, a mere rabbit-hole of commerce. Let us be thankful that this tradition of the office and the warehouse is slowly going; that, instead of boxing up the people in any kind of cupboard, we have al1 the wisdom of the technician and the care of the artist applied to agreat commercial building just as much as to a private palace. The best lighting and easiest colouring for the work in hand, the most efficient conduits of warmth and fresh air, the consideration of metals and woods that both take the eye and save the I~botring hand, the space for feeding, and even for recreation and exercise, are now the essentials of industrial housing. Many are the dangers and many the social .Jiiscontents of our time. But, at least, we· are d&îng some things handsomely and decently ..

1 Inhabitants. 2 Dirty; airIess.


Ours are the spacious days. Gradually the cribb'd 1 workers are unconfined,' moving from grubby 3 cabin to white house.·

From The Observer.

EXERCISES

1. Word Study: quay (note the pronunciation), baron (compare "barren "), draft (compare (1 draught "), ledger, burrow (compare" borough "), blunder, jamming up, murky.

2. Explain the following idiomatic phrases. You will find them constantly appearing in ordinary everyday language :-

Ta be on the rocks, to be up in arms, to lead a dog's life, to be dog tired, a wild-goose chase, a bird's-eye view, to go out of the frying pan inta the fire, to throw up the sponge, a white elephant, to stick to one's guns.

Written Work (a) Modern architecture. (b) In what ways are we better, in what \Vorse, than people

were IDO years aga.

1 Shut in. "But now 1 am cabin'd, cribb'd, confined,"" l'vIacbeth," iii. 4.

:: Freed. 3 Dirty. " An allusion ta W. M. Thayer's "From Log Cabin ta White

House," a biography of President GarfieJd.

PART IV

CHIEFLY FOR AMUSEMENT

'29

~ CHIEFLY FOR AMUSEMENT !

~

WIT FROM "PUNCH"

"THE poets of to-day," . says a cnt1c, "do at least put plenty of fire into their verses." The trouble with some of them is that they do not put enough of their verses into the fire . .. .. ..

The problem of what to do with old razor blades is said to have been solved in Scotland. It seems they shave with them . .. .. ..

"Police Carmot Stop Betting," says a headline. We are grieved to hear they ever began . .. .. ..

"Man has invented the machine and he stands confused and bewildered in front of the force he has created," says Lord Irwin. Those who have tried to get cigarettes from a faulty automatic machine will understand the feeIing . .. .. ..

A writer states that parts of America suffer from "fierce outlaws." Fierce inlaws are, of course, found aII over the world . .. .. ..

231

232 A MODERN ENGLlSH COURSE

" What happens to old London taxi-cabs when they leave the streets ? " asks a critic. They don't.

" " " " Many bachelors wish they had pretty, help

fuI wives," states a writer. So do many husbands.

" " " A statistician says that two can live comfort

ably on five shillingsworth of food a week. Two what? Mice?

" " " It is suggested that the speed limit for a

motorist should be reduced for every offence he commits. At that rate several drivers would soon have to go in reverse.

" "A true host tries

home," and sometimes them wish they were.

" " to make people feei at he succeeds in making

JOKESI

SHORE ATTENDANT: "Hi, bathing's not allowed after eight o' c10ck 1 "

GIRL IN THE WATER: "I'm not bathing, I'm drowning. "

" " "

CHIEFLY FOR AMUSEMENT 233

BUSINESS MAN (dictating letter): "Sir, my typist, being a lady, cannot take down what I think of you; I, being a gentleman, cannot even think it; but you, being neither, can easily guess my thoughts."

" " " TEACHER (to new boy): "What's your name ? " Boy: "'Enery Smith." TEACHER: "Always say , sir' when you speak

to a teacher." Boy (apologetically): "Sir 'Enery Smith."

" " " " Y ou know," said the young student at the

Agricultural College to an old farmer, "your methods are absolutely out of date. Look at this field of oats-I'd be surprised if you ma de [,ro out of the oats in this field."

"So should I," smiled the farmer; "it' s barley."

'" " '" CURATE (in slu11l district): "Well, my little

man, is your father working ? " LITTLE Boy: "Yes." CURATE: "How long has he been working ? ' LITTLE BOY: " Two months." CUR/\TE: "What is he doing? " LITTLE Boy: "Three months."

" " "


The weather was somewhat rough and one passenger was looking rather ill. The steward tried to persuade him to retire to his cabin.

"Come, sir," he said, "you really can't be sick here."

The passenger looked at him sadly. "Can't 1 ? " he said. "Watch me."

" " " ABSENTEE: "1 was playing football in the

street and the police locked me up for four hours."

TEACHER: "Did they give you anything to eat ? "

ABSENTEE: "Yes, a hard roll." TEACHER: "What did you do with it ? " ABSENTEE: "Played football."


CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Acro!s

1. Gaols. 6. Young girl

(slang). il. Retreats. '12. Copy. 14. Disturb. 16. Lion (Latin). 17. Vjctory. 18. Fishing-stick. 19. Sofas for two. 22. l'vIarks made by

folding. 25. Steered. 29. Hardy person. 33. Number. 34. Frozen water. 35. River (Spanish). 36. Egg holders.

CLUES Acros!

38. Four-footed creatures.

40. Reaping-hooks. 41. Greets. 42. Dails.

Dovm 10. Marshy plants. 13. Assembly. 15. Part of a toe. 20. A couple. ZI. First \voman. 23. Knock.

D 24· Tune.

O'wn 25. \Vriters of 1. Buckets. poetry. 2. Imbecile. 26. La.vful. 3. rvIake a speech. 27. Faith. 4. Used by fisher- 28. Circular plates.

men. 29 .. J\mphibians. 5. Simmers. 30. Get up. 6. French coin. 31. Rubbish. 7. Limb. 32. Part of the face. 8. Apart. 37. Pastry. 9. Orchard fruit. 39. Born (French).

From Tlze Daily E.'.-.:press.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Acrass 1. Beetle. 6. Consideration. 9. 20 cv."ts.

10. Kingly. II. Male child. 12. Musical corn-

pasitioD. 14. Male sheep. 15. Piece of \Veod. 17. Coarse files. 20. Kind of ox. 21. Fish. 23. Speed. 25. Girl's name. 27. Whether. 28. Head covering. 29. Seize. 33. Honey maker. 34. Exists. 35. Fonvard.

CLUES Across

37. Beat out grain. 39. Vessels. 41. Dresses. 44. Plate. 45. Ta Jong for. 46. Haste. 47. \Vithers.

DOW1J

16. Shell fish. 17. Placed in ardeI. 18. Finishes. 19. Lean. 22. Upon. 24. At a distance. 26. An artist. 30. Receptacle for

liquids. Down 3 1 • ExcIudcd.

2. Slightly cald. 32. Shout of wel-3. Teases.. carne. 4- SkilI. 33· Exc1amation of 5. Animal. contempt. 6. Another animal. 36. Ta go by. 7. Confuse with 38. Place for bees.

shame. 39. A flO\ver holdeI. S. Skip about. 40. Looks.

13. Precious stone. 42. Hit lightly. 14. Trial of speed. 43. Crimson.

From The News Chrollicle (adapted).. 236


A NURSERY RHYME

OLD STYLE

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How 1 wonder what you are: Up above the wor1d so high, Like a diamond in the sky.

NEW STYLE

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, 1 don't wonder what you are : You're the cooling down of gases Forming into solid masses.'

IMAGINARY BOOK TITLES

" The Cliff Tragedy," by Eileen Dover. "Wine and Women," by Rex Holmes. " The Woman Who Sang," by Topsy Sharp. " The Song of the Shirt," by Dryden Aird. " Cutting it Fine," by Moses Lawn. " The Corn," by Honor Foote. "The Man with the Bad Cold," by Ivan

Ankerchieff. (If you don't see the point, turn to p. 238.)

WORD PUZZLES

1. Can you make an English sentence containing the word " and " five times consecutively? '

2. Can you make an English sentence containing the word " had " six times consecutive1y ?

(Answers on p. 238.)

1 From John O' London's li Treasure Trovc," by permission.


CONUNDRUMS 1. When were there only two vowels ? 2. Why is it difficult to buy coal ? 3. What is the difference between a rejected

lover and a good husband ? 4. What is the difference between a bottle of

medicine and a rug? 5. When is a ten-shilling note of no value ? 6. Why is the alphabet like a philosopher ? 7. Why is a dog's taillike the inside of a tree ? 8. What is it that when you knock out one eye

has only the nose left ? 9. Can February March ?

10. What is the difference between a tree and an aeroplane?

11. What letter would be of great use to a deaf woman?

12. Why is a moth flying round a candle like a garden gate ?

(Answers on p. 239')

ANSWERS BOOK TITLES

The point in these is the play upon words in the names of the authors. You will see it if you say them aloud, e.g., Eileen Dover=I leaned aver, Rex Holmes=wrecks homes. The remainder are Top C~ (C sharp), dried aud aired, mows his lawn, on her foot, I've an 'andkerchief.

WORD PUZZLES I. A publican objecting to the way a sign painter had

painted " Crown and Anchor," said, "There ought to be more space between ' Crown and and ' aud' and and Anchor.' "

2. If the sentence which had " had had " had had H had " it would have been correct.


CONUNDRUMS

1. In the time of Noah (no A), before U and 1 were born. 2. Because when it is bought it goes to the seller (cellar). 3. One misses the kisses and the ather kisses the "missus." 4. One is shaken up aud taken, and the other is taken up

and shaken. 5. When it is compared with a pound note; then it is

" worth less." 6. It has a YZ (wise head) at one end. 7. It is farthest from the bark. 8. Noise. 9. No, but April May.

10. One sheds its leaves and the ather leaves its sheds. II. A; because it makes " her" " hear. n 12. Because if it keeps on, it singes its wings (if it keeps

on its hinges, it swings).

You are now ready for

"ENGLAND AND THE ENGLISH"

AND

"A CONCISE ENGLISH GRAMMAR"

By THE SAME AUTHOR

'"'''-v!

Published by Langmans, Green and Ca. Ltd.

APPENDIX

EXAMINATION PAPERS

THE following papers were set by the National Union of Teachers in their Examinations in English for Foreigners, and are reprinted by kind permission of that society.

I.

1. \Vrite the EngLish names of Ca) the months of the year, (b) the things you use in writing, (e) si.....: animals, (d) six rivers in any part of the world. ~,A

\:2. C;0mplete the followi~g î~ntences: (a) qC;P?ol begins each _ at'"- o clock. (b) The sqn''ttfr;~,n th, ,~ast and/u .. ,:.J~n. the west. Ce) 1 ~ame here lr~m Lon,don b~};;~';' th':t!.:.....:..' .... as. J ~'A,s.hI1hngs. (d) There

,itrcJ.manY\;';":';' c10uds fi thev...2~J];,Jhmk It Wlll'~;~ (e) The roofs are ·,ktt;becausc)they are covered ·'4::,."'snow. (f) The twelfth part of a shilling js aţ:-""", and twelve L are worth a shilling.

3· Mak~ English sentences telling something about Ca) a motorcar, (b) your home, (e) a policeman, (d) a soIdier, (e) a nurse, (1) an aeroplane.

4· Copy the following, putting in aIl capital letters, full stops, commas, etc. :-tea is the leaf of a plant which grows in chinajapan and some par15 of india, if you were in china you would see the sides of some of the hills covered to the tops with the tea-plants. growing not in the fields but in small garden-plo15', each of these plots is some cottagers ten garden what he does not use he sells and with the money buys food and clothing for rus family.

s· Use the foIlowing phrases in sentences: (a) near the doar, (b) in thc sea, (e) from the grocer's, (d) over the chair, (e) behind the cloud . • i,!!1, J,

6. Mistress, grey, troise, thiel, sittil1g, suddel1ly, l1arrow, paw, jew, through, oftell, sate. These words have been Ieft out of the story below. \Vrite the story and put each wgrd in i15 right place.

A lady found that cream wasC:lli'Astf'Ien fr,9W, a jug which f,~$' Ieft on the table. No one ever thou~hţ her - cat was the '~.l because the, necJ,.:, of the jug was sd>~tanp. too pznall for her head ta go~.;;':9':0ne night, howevert.q~e cat:s".Jd!.'\v'ifut out of the' Ati room for a\!0~~"seconds, but retp,me'd <i ... il,ţ1thout ~king anj. j,-V~0?("' She ,vas surprised at .vhat shefi!4ţ;v,~'The caf"wa~~u'ii the table near the jug. She put h~,4l,.:,':/into the jug, and then. dra\ving it out, licked off alI the cream that was an it.

240

APPENDIX i:'--::" ' f 2 41

t" />""

'7/What words have the contrary meaning ta late,' Iose, alu.:ays, soft, sorrow, quiekly? ,Use in a sentence each of the ,vords which you have written. /< ::0/;-,'"

8. \Vrite about teh or twelve lines of English composition on ouc of the foI1owing subjects: (a) Breakfast, 01' (b) 'Vhy 1 am leaming English, ar (e) The Sunshine.

II. 1. \Vrite out the cardinal numbers from nine to nventy, and the

ordinal numbers from fifteenth ta twenty-sixth. 2. \Vrite questions ta which the fol1owing replies may be given:

(a) 1 am not quite sure. (b) No, 1 prefer beef. (e) If you think they would like it. (d) It is raining steadily. (e) A boy is running along the street.

3. \Vrite out the names of (a) the days of the week, (b) four articIes of dress, (e) faur articIes of food. "-, '

4. Compleţţ ~e following sentenc9?': lP} He bit thc! =: (b) ~.ee dog ran under~f~("2. Ţpe snow feR:Jf;,;,'(d) The train began to}.ili'.~ (e) My coffee 1s too \t~r / (

5. Rewrite the follorlving sentences, correcti-9g any,;nistakes you natice: (a) 1\1y br~l?-~.t'1as been home. (b) !v1e-and him can't agree. (e) 1 don't know ",,~e 1S. (d) She ,vî1l be~ giad of it. (e) \Ve are shure thej;are rig1k' t:"

€i" Suppl~ !J s4itable noun" td, each\:-of/the/f9Jlowing adjecthres:: bla~k,t~ound,'weak;"S~~,~,~~EY' 'ho,t~<<;a,I.tp.~swee IY~ip;ţJ,,~,q}lare. /) , "

7. Ivlake sentences each containîng one of the 'following phrases : (a) under the tree, (b) as soon as possible, (e) in spite of the ice, (d) în an instant, (e) in the newspaper.

8. Two Iists. (a) of nouns, (b) of verbs. are given belmv. l\Iake sentences, placing with each noun a suitable verb from the list supplied:-

(a) Noum: T,he tree, the lightning, the lion, the boy, the rain, the dog, the fish, the sun, the man, the day.

(b) Verbs: Sv.<U11, feli, smoked, dawned, flashed, grew, played, shone, roared, growled.

9. Write an English composifion (about ten lines) an one of the foIlowing: (a) A Cat, (b) A Bird, (e) A Book.

III. 1. \Vrite tv;elve lines of English composltlon an 01lC of the

folIowing subjects: (a) A Postman, (b) A Rainy Day, (e) My Ivlother, (d) My Friend, (e) A Horse Race.

2. \Vrite out in full the present, past, and future tense of the ,>'erb to be.

" r'; "

242 APPENDIX

3. Give the names of six oommon objects of the railway station and use each of them in a separate sentence.

4. Give the plural of each of the following nauna: policeman, woman, loaf, foct, boot, pianu, match, sheep, penny, child, monkey, fairy."

S. Usc each of the following pronouns in a separate sentencc: my, \Ve, our, US, they, their, them, his, her, its. (Ten sentences in aII.)

6. Change alI the nauns aod pronouns in the following sentence ioto the plural: He took /zer book and gave it to my jrie1td.

7. Usc each of the following words in a separate sentence: from, aver, near, away, again, above, berund.

8. Give a complete sentence in answer to each of the following questions: (a) Haw many books clid you huy? (b) What clid you teU your friend? (e) \Vhere arc yau going to-morrow? (d) ,\Yhen did you last see your cousin? (e) Can you teU me where the post office is? (f) Did the man speak ta you?

IV. 1. Give the English names of (a) ten common objects of the

school, (b) ten common objects of the garden, (c) ten articIes of food. 2. Write about twelve lines of English composition on onc of

the following subjects: (a) The Sea, (b) A Sunny Day, (e) A Railway Train.

3. Write a complete sentclIcc in answer to each of the follo\\wg questions! (a) Where do you live? (b) \Vhat do you think of the weather? (e) \Vhere were you going this moming? (d) Why were you late to-day ?

4. Dsc each of the following words in a separate sentence! in, iuto, soft, soJtly, near, nearly, some, something.

5. Give the three principăl parts of each of the following verbs : to rut:, to sing, to fly, to sv.:im, to buy.

6. W rite out in fuIl the personal pronouns of the third person. 7. Write onc sentence containing aIl the following worcls: dog,

stane, master, quickly. 8. Complete each of the following sentences by using a part

of the verb to be: (a) \Ve - going into the--country to-morrow,. (b) They - very tired yesterday. (e) She - coming this aftemoon, (d) 1 -leaving to-day.

V ••

x. Write not more than twelve lines of English composition an ouc of the following subjects: (a) A Motor-car, (b) My Dog, (e) A Steamer.

APPENDIX 243 2. \Vrite a complete sentenee in answer ta each of the following

questions! (a) \Vhat rime is it? (b) Where were you this morning ? (e) How much did you pay for your book? (d) Which is the way to the TO\V"n HalI ?

3· Rewrite the following sentences and change each 7l()Un into a pronoull: (a) 1 saw the boy yesterday; (b) The gir! can sing well ; (e) Have you seen the men? (d) The chilclren have gone; (e) 1 spoke to the lady.

4· Dsc cach of the follo, ... ·ing words in a separate sentence: road, rade; bear, bare; dear, deer; threru, thl'ough.

-t 5· Give the plural of each of the following nouns! lady, penny. box, fish, house, mouse, sheep, foot.

6. '\Vrite one sentence containing a/l the following words: ship. lost, stonn, night.

7· Complete each of the fol1owing sentences by adding a suitable adverb: (a) The bo)' does his work -; (b) The dog barks very _; (e) 1 saw my friend - ; (d) Place the book -; (e) The river fio",,'s _.

VI.

1. Give the names of (a) ten common objects of the strcet and (b) ten common objects of the home.

2. \Vrite not more than ten lines of English composition on oue of the following subjects: (a) A Foggy Day, (b) Tea~time. (c) 1\1y Friends. 'y;. Use each of the following words in a separate sentence: thall b~e, a/ter, sometimes, alfoays, llever. y 4· Construct sentences to show eleady the difference bet\veen tGtn mine, quic:k and quickly, their and there.

5· Rewrite the following sentences and change aII the verbs into the past tense! (a) The lady sings sweetlY3 (b) The wind blo'U.1S cold; (e) The rain falls J}eav:i1y j (d) She come$" here every day; (e) The hoy suims wel1. r;fi:'-Cf~

\'

6. Make onJ sentence containing all the foIlowing worcls: fioroers, pretty. found, ycsterday, field.

7· Complete each of the fQll?wing scntences by ~dQlg an adjectiv~ \ and an ~ad,:erb: (~) Ţh~t!'A: hoys arePplayingv~A1:~(b) Ţhe 17'«:,'1/; motor-~~, ,:!S,i ~nmg1',~;f(f») Those 1::',;:[ dogs are ~~barkmg ':.LJ,!~, :,'1 :><' (d) Th:at,;;k fire 15 burn1ng ~v>:"; X

VII.

I. Write a sentence in answer to each of the folIowing: (a) '\\o'hy are you lîving in England? (b) Do you find the English language easy ? Ce) Does the English elimate suit you? (d) Name four English books you have read.

2. Give the names of (a) sÎx articIes used at dinner, (b) six artic1es of cIothing, (e) sÎx parts of the body, (d) six things seen on a farm.

244 , APPENDIX

;,~~""Complbte the following sentences: (a) 1 cannot go tO~9ay!, b,ut I<:"~:"'" L to-morrow. (b) John lost his stick yestcr9ay, buţ hf--':"",''::::'':'" it ta-dax. (e) This book is mine, aod that is !..:.i..:.}'tJ (d) I~"'Writing; they rulreading; she ~ singing.

4. Write ten OI' tvtelve lines of English composition an ooe of the folIowing subjects: (a) Winter, (b) England, (c) My Native Laud.

5. Use each of the following words in a sentence: sometimesj

oftenl always. never, quite, quiet. 6. \Vrite a sentence about each of the following: a sailoI'. a

church, flowers, a river, coal, Landon.

",~,.("C:,~,mplete, th,~, f~llowing sentences: (a) Ta-day ~t 2dquite \Y-arrp.. but<"L it \Vas ~ -;.,,, (b) Sugar was <?~c,ţ"chea)?" but It ' now --;-~ (e) This room is cold; put some coal ~~'L. (d) The ehUd fell'-"-:', the'~':"':"":' and was drowned.

8. Use each of the following phrases in a sentence: (a) Iast year, (b) the day before, (e) next y,reek, (d) to-monow evening, (e) this afternaon, (1) a few days aga.

VIII. I. \Vrite questions to which the follawing replies may be given:

(a) No. 1 cannat go. (b) It is half-past three. (e) It is raining. (d) Yes, if you wish it. (e) On Tuesday next.

2. Complete .the fqţl2.:~!p.g/~sentences: (a) In the ,~~l?,boa,rd was .a (b) The tram waSJL.">:(C) 1 cann~t a,eIree to your>-." (d) He IS

very '.....:::.:::,:' (e)/,,-r:he hOIse kicked hi~f:..::.;J; 'w" (1) The;~ sailed away. (g) He spoke'~ quickly. (Iz) The,:2;',',':,barked laudly. (i) If yau -you wiU be,·;-:·);:,( j) \Vhen are you'';"",;; ta finish your ..:... ?

3. Rewrite the following sentences, ' correc:;ţing, :;lny mistakes you notice: (a) Can you learri.(,me English ? , (b) l"seized him by the air. (e) He ddÎl't care for it. (d) She and me went out. (e) \Vas you present? v ~,,'\'(/\'

4. Supply a suitable adjective ta each of the following nouns: poker, hand, window, rug, chair, picture, desk, rose, pony, drawer.

5. l'vIake sentences eantaining words opposite in meaning to each of the follawing: s~fg, s~~lfll~ueJ ~

6. Write suitable answers, each m the fonn of a sentence, to the following questions: (a) \Vhom did you see? (b) How many legs has a sheep? (e) \Vhat do you think of him? (d) How old are you ? (e) \Vhat time is it ?

,. Write down the names of the months of the year. 8. Supply suitable adverbs in the following sentences: (a) Go -

ta their aid. (b) She walked - along. (e) The man spoke -. (d) It was snowing -. (e) The bridge is - strong.

9. Write an English composition (about ten lines) on one of thefolJowing: (a) A Horse, (b) A Motor-car, (e) A Steamboat.

Printd in Gre::! Eno/::in al Tus DAIUSN PRESS. Ed{nlmrr};

carte_modern english course

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