Текст для читання "A Funny thing happened to me"

A Funny Thing Happened to Me

       A funny thing happened to me last Saturday. I’d gone to London to do some shopping. I wanted to get some Christmas presents, and I needed to find some books for my course at university. I caught an early train to London, so by early afternoon I’d bought everything I wanted. Anyway, I’m not very fond of London, all the noise and traffic, and I’d made some arrangements for that evening. So, I took a taxi to Waterloo station. I can’t really afford taxis, but I wanted to get the 4.30 train. Unfortunately the taxi got stuck in a traffic jam, and by the time I got to Waterloo, the train had just gone. I had to wait an hour for the next one. I bought an evening newspaper, the ‘Standard’, and wandered over the station buffet. At that time of day it’s nearly empty, so I bought a coffee and a packet of chocolate biscuits. I’m very fond of chocolate biscuits. There were plenty of empty tables and I found one near the window. I sat down and began doing crosswords. I always enjoy doing crosswords-puzzles.

       After a couple of minutes a man sat down opposite me. There was nothing special about him, except that he was very short. In fact he looked like a typical city businessman (you know, dark suit and brief-case). I didn’t say anything and I carried on with my crossword. Suddenly he reached across the table, opened my packet of biscuits, took one, dipped it into his coffee and popped it into his mouth. I couldn’t believe my eyes!

     Moreover, I was too shocked to say anything. Anyway, I didn’t want to make a fuss, so I decided to ignore the fact. I always avoid trouble if I can. I just took a biscuit myself and went back to my crossword.

     When the man took a second biscuit, I didn’t look up and I didn’t make a sound.

     I pretended to be very interested in puzzle. After a couple of minutes, I casually put out my hand, took the last biscuit and glanced at the man. He was staring at me furiously.

     I nervously hut the biscuit in my mouth, and decided to leave the buffet. I was ready to get up and go when the man suddenly pushed back his chair, stood up and hurried out of the buffet. I felt very relieved and decided to wait two or three minutes before going myself.

     Finally, I finished my coffee, folded my newspaper and stood up. And there, on the table, where my newspaper had been, was my packet of biscuits. The newspaper covered it!

    Pre-listening

Listen to key words and tell the main idea of the story.

• train,  crossword, buffet, biscuit, chocolate, newspaper, table, coffee.

Match the phrases into one sentence.

1. I just took a biscuit myself                             a) and I found one near the window.
2.  There were  plenty  of empty tables              b) and went back to my crossword.    

   While-listening

Match the phrases.

Match the words to their definitions.

Answer the questions, choose the correct answer.

1. Why did a young man go to London?

1. He wanted to buy some Christmas presents and some books for his course at university.
2. He wanted to He didn’t like London because buy a packet of chocolate biscuits for Christmas.
3. He’d made some arrangements for that evening.

2. How did he get to London?

1. He took a taxi.
2. He caught an early train.
3. He went on foot.

3. Why didn’t he like London?

1. He didn’t like London because of the noise and traffic.
2. He didn’t like London because the service in London’s buffets was bad.
3. He didn’t like London because Londoners are not polite.

4. Why didn’t he manage to get 4.30 train?

1. He was doing crossword-puzzles and missed the train.
2. The taxi got stuck in a traffic jam.
3. He decided to go sightseeing.

5. What did he buy in the buffet?

1. He bought a tea and a packet of chocolate biscuits.
2. He bought a coffee and a packet of chocolate biscuits.
3. He bought a packet of chocolate biscuits.

6. Where did he sit down and began doing crosswords-puzzles?

1. He sat down near the window.
2. He sat down near the door.
3. He sat down opposite a man

7. How did a man in the buffet look?

1. He looked like a typical citizen.
2. He looked like a typical farmer.
3. He looked like a typical city businessman.

8. What shocked the man?

1. His packet of biscuits disappeared.
2. A man sat down opposite him although there were a lot of empty tables.
3. The man in a dark suit opened his packet of chocolate biscuits.

9.  Who ate the last chocolate biscuit?

1. The student ate the last chocolate biscuit.
2. The man in a dark suit ate the last chocolate biscuit.
3. Nobody ate the last chocolate biscuit.

10. What was there on the table under the newspaper?

1. There was a packet of chocolate biscuits.
2. There was a biscuit.
3. There was another newspaper.

Complete the sentences

1. I needed to find some books…

1. for my mother;
2. for my course at university;
3. as Christmas presents.

2. I bought an evening newspaper, …

1. the “Standard”;
2. the “Times”;
3. the “Sun”.

3. There was nothing special about him, except that …

1.  he was very fat;
2. he was very short;
3. he was very tall.

4. I didn’t say anything and I …

1. carried on with my crossword;
2. opened my packet of biscuits;
3. glanced at the man.

5. I nervously put the biscuit in my mouth, and decided …

1. to tell the man what I thought about him;
2. to leave the buffet;
3. to push the man’s chair.

6. I felt very relieved and decided …

1. to enjoy doing the crossword;
2. to wait two or three minutes before going myself;
3. to follow the man.

Read the sentences, are they true or false?

1. Funny things have never happened to the man.
2. He had bought everything that he wanted by early afternoon.
3. The man wanted to live in a big city.
4. He was hot -tempered.
5. He has been waiting for the next train for three hours.
6. He used to eat at the expense of another.

Put the sentences into the right order.

1. The man bought a coffee and a packet of chocolate biscuits.
2. The man missed the 4.30 train.
3. The stranger hurried out the buffet.
4. The man saw the packet of chocolate biscuits under the newspaper.
5. The stranger opened the packet of biscuits.
6. A stranger sat down opposite him.

Divide the  text into logical parts. Give  them names.

Use this plan to retell the text.

Answer the questions.

What do you think about the men’s behaviour?

 Have funny things ever happened to you?

How did you react?

Did you manage to solve the problem?