Card 12

Text 1

'It's Only Me' Just Funny Stories

After her husband had gone to work, Mrs Richards sent her children to school and went upstairs to her bedroom. She was too excited to do any housework that morning, because in the evening she would be going to a fancy dress party with her husband. She intended to dress up as a ghost and she had made her costume the night before. Now she was impatient to try it on. Though the costume consisted only of a sheet, it was very effective. Mrs Richards put it on, looked in the mirror, smiled and went downstairs. She wanted to find out whether it would be comfortable to wear.

Just as Mrs Richards was entering the dining-room, there was a knock on the front door. She knew that it must be the baker. She had told him to come straight in if ever she failed to open the door and to leave the bread on the kitchen table. Not wanting to frighten the poor man, Mrs Richards quickly hid in the small store-room under the stairs. She heard the front door open and heavy footsteps in the hall. Suddenly the door of the store-room was opened and a man entered. Mrs Richards realized that it must be the man from the Electricity Board who had come to read the meter. She tried to explain the situation, saying 'It's only me', but it was too late. The man let out a cry and jumped back several paces. When Mrs Richards walked towards him, he ran away, slamming the door behind him. (1110)

Questions:

1. Why was Mrs Richards excited?

1. Why did she go downstairs in her costume?

2. Where did she hide when she heard a knock on the door?

3. What was the man’s reaction when he saw Mrs. Richards in the storehouse?

4. What holiday were Mr. and Mrs. Richards going to celebrate? Why do you think so?

Text 2

FREE SCHOOL English Textbook

At White Lion Street Free School there is no punishment for missing classes. But many kids spend more time here than other children spend in their schools. This school is open in the evenings and at weekends. The kids complain if holidays last longer than two weeks. There are no compulsory lessons. Each child has one adult who follows his progress through school. Together they decide what he needs to learn next, and the child does this in his own time. Sometimes kids work on their own, sometimes with an adult, sometimes in a group.

A lot happens outside school. The teachers think you can’t learn everything in one building. They visit local factories, markets, shops, fire and police stations.

Now there are very few Free Schools in England.

Questions:

1. How is White Lion Free School different from other schools in England and Russia?

1. How do pupils of this school work?

2. Do they learn everything in the some building?

3. Do you like going to school? Why / Why not?

4. What subjects are taught at your school? Which are your favourite ones?

5. Are all of them compulsory? What optional subjects do you study?

6. There are enough facilities and equipment in your school, aren’t there?

7. What after-school activities do you do?

9.Are you proud of your school? Say something about your school to make everybody sure you are proud of it.

10.Would you like to change anything in your school?