英语初级口语教程 What a Mess!

             Lesson 12

              Text A

      What a Mess!

     Bill Lane has just touched some wet paint. MR FIELD:
   You mustn't touch the wet paint, Bill.
 
    BILL:
   I'm sorry. I won't do it again.
 
MR FIELD:
   Try to be more careful in future.
 
BILL:
   I shall. I wasn't as careless as John Sampson. He walked across that wet cement
 
   over there.
MR FIELD:
   The workmen oughtn't to leave it without a no tice.
 
BILL:
   The headmaster asked them not to do so.
 
MR FIELD:
   Then why isn't there a notice?
 
BILL:
   They went to their stores to get one. Here they come with it now!
 
MR FIELD:
   But look at them! They've forgotten about the wet cement and they're walking
 
   across it to put up the notice!

　
 
Text B

A Tall and Slim Girl

    At five feet six inches , Rosa was taller than every other student in the sixth grade. She worried about this alt the time, in school and at home. Her mother told her to stand up straight and be proud that she was so tall and slim.
   "Someday , " her mother said , "you'11 be happy that you're tall. "
This made Rosa happier, but she was still afraid her classmates were making fun of her behind her back. One day , all this changed when Mr Ransom, the coach from the youth club , asked Rosa to play center on their basketball team. He said that Rosa was a good ball player and her height would make her valuable as center. Now, she really was proud to be tall. She was someone special.

Questions on Text B

7. Read the following passage once. Underline the key words while reading and retell tbe story to your partner.

                               Better Be a Stupid Man
    It was a beautiful spring morning. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and the sun was warm but not too hot . so Mr Andrews was surprised when saw an old gentleman at the bus-stop with a big, strong black umbrella i' his hand.
    Mr Andrews said to him, "Are we going to have rain today, do you think?"
    "No , " said the old gentleman , "I don't think so. "
    "Then are you carrying the umbrella to keep the sun off you?"
    "No, the sun is not very hot in spring. "
    Mr Andrews looked at the big umbrella again, and the gentleman said, "I am an old man, and my legs are not very strong, so I really need a walk- ing-stick. But when I carry a walking-stick, people say, `Look at that poor old man' , and I don't like that. When I carry an umbrella in fine weatber, people only say, `Look at that stupid man'. "