Lesson 26
Text A
What Are the Times of Meals?
Mr and Mrs Williams had always spent their summer holidays in England in the past , in a small boarding-house at the seaside. One year, however, Mr Williams made a lot of money in his business , so they decided to go to Rome and stay at a really good hotel while they went around and saw the sights of that famous city.
They flew to Rome, and arrived at their hotel late one evening. They expected that they would have to go to bed hun- gry, because in the boarding-houses they had been used to in the past, no meals were served after seven o'clock in the evening. They were therefore surprised when the clerk who received them in the hall of the hotel asked them whether they would be taking dinner there that night.
"Are you still serving dinner then?" asked Mrs Williams.
"Yes, certainly, madam," answered the clerk. "We serve it until half-past nine. "
"What are the times of meals then?" asked Mr Williams.
"Well, sir," answered the clerk, "we serve breakfast from seven to half-past eleven in the morning, lunch from twelve to three in the afternoon, tea from four to five, and dinner from six to half-past nine. "
"But that hardly leaves any time for us to see the sights of' Rome ! " said Mrs Williams in a disappointed voice.
Text B
The Food Is Bad
Lise, Nick and Bill had gone out walking for the day. Nick got back about six. "Haven't Bill and Lise arrived yet?" he asked. "I thought they were ahead of me. . . "
It was 7. 30 when Bill and Lise came in. The others were just finishing supper. " Where on earth have you been?" Nick asked.
"We'll tell you all about it after supper," Bill said. "We'd better go and get our food. The warden's alreatly told us that we're late. . . "
After supper, the group sat around talking.
STEVE: Ugh ! The food here really is bad. My soup was cold. And the meat-huh! -it was likeleather!
LtsE: Yes, and they don't give you very much, either. I'm still hungry. Are hostels inEngland always as- badas this?
Anna: I haven't stayed in one for ages. But I'm sure thisone is especially bad. And the warden is so unpleasant. . .
MALC: "Don't do this, don't do that. You mustn't do this, you can't do that. . . "STEVE: WEll, I'm going to write a letter of complaint. To the Secretary of the YouthHostels Association!
LIsE: And we'll all help you. . .
Questions on Text B
7. Read the following dialogue once. Underline the key words while reading and retell to your partner the dialogue in your own words.
A: They don't really think you took it, do they?
B: 1 don't know. I just know I've never been asked so many questions in my life.
A: How many of them were there?
B: Three-but there was one of them who kept asking really stupid questions.
A: Like what?
B: Oh, he wanted to know what time I got up this morning and if I bad a bath or ashower - you know, things like that.
A: What on earth has that got to do with some money disappearing?
B: I've no idea. Oh yes, and the most ridiculous thing. He asked me what I had forbreakfast this morning.
A: Oh well, that's it. They obviously think you're a desperate criminal and you haveto steal to eat. I should think you'll get thirty years.
B: Hmm. Tharik you very much.
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