英语口语教程（Oral Workshop）--初级 Lesson 20

 

Lesson 20 

Text A 

                                       Honesty

    A man went to an insurance office to have his life insured².The manager of the office asked him how old his parents .were when they died.

    "Mother had a bad heart and died at the age of thirty. Father died of tuberculosis³ when he was thirty-five. "

    "I am very sorry," said the manager, "We cannot insure¹ your life as your parents were not healthy. "

    As the man was leaving the office, depressed⁴, he met a clerk who had overheard⁵ the conversation.

    "You must not be so frank⁶ and tell the truth," said the clerk, "no office will insure you if you speak like that. Use your imagination a little. "

    The man went to another office and was shown into the manager's room.

    "Well, young man, how old were your parents when they died?"

    "Mother was ninety-three, and she died from a fall off her bicycle. Father was ninety-eight and he died while he was playing football. " 　

Text B 

                                 Can You Deliver It? 

MAN:   Can you deliver it, please'? 

SALESWOMAN:   It depends where you live , sir. 

MAN:   In Camden Town. 

SALESWOMAN:   Yes, we deliver there. But it costs two pounds fifty. 

MAN:   All right. But I'm only in on Saturday. 

SALESWOMAN:   Morning or afternoon? 

MAN:   Afternoon, please, if that's possible. 

Questions on Text B 

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

                              They Are Here in My Hand !

   Mrs Williams loved flowers and had a small but beautiful garden. In the summer, her roses were always the best in her street. One summer afternoon her bell rang, and when she went to the front door, she saw a small boy outside. He was about seven years old,,and was holding a big bunch of beautiful roses in his hand.

   "I am selling roses", he said. "Do you want any? They are quite cheap. Five pence⁷ for a big bunch. They are fresh. I picked them this afternoon. "

   "My boy,"Mrs Williams answered, "I pick roses whenever I want, and don't pay anything for them, because I have lots in my garden. "

   "Oh , no , you haven't , " said the small boy. "There aren't any roses in your garden - because they are here in my hand!"

1 insure   

v.保险，给…保险；保证使...得到

参考例句：

• Check your work to insure its accuracy.检查一下你的工作，以保证它的准确性。
• An insurance company will insure your life.保险公司可以给你保寿险。

2 insured   

被保险人

参考例句：

• Was the vehicle insured? 那辆车上保险了吗？
• It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently. 原来他没有给房屋投足保险。

3 tuberculosis   

n.结核病，肺结核

参考例句：

• People used to go to special health spring to recover from tuberculosis.人们常去温泉疗养胜地治疗肺结核。
• Tuberculosis is a curable disease.肺结核是一种可治愈的病。

4 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

5 overheard   

adj. 串音的, 偶而听到的 动词overhear的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• We talked quietly so as not to be overheard. 我们低声交谈，以免别人听到。
• I told Lucy the news under my breath, but Joyce overheard me. 我低声地把这个消息告诉露西，可还是被乔伊斯听到了。

6 frank   

adj.坦白的，直率的，真诚的

参考例句：

• A frank discussion can help to clear the air.坦率的谈论有助于消除隔阂。
• She is frank and outgoing.她很爽朗。

7 pence   

n.便士；名词penny的复数形式

参考例句：

• She counted out fifteen pence and passed it to the salesgirl.她数出15个便士交给女店员。
• These apples are selling at 40 pence a kilo.这些苹果售价每公斤40便士。