Разговорный английский

ANN. Neither do I. What comes first on the programme?

MARY. Ssh! They’re about to begin.

4. RADIO

G. Why! I thought you were at the football match, Tom.

T. No luck. Couldn’t get a ticket. And you?

G. Well, I was to go on commission, you see, and then it was postponed. But what about coming over to me?

T. And getting it on the wireless?

G. Yes.

T. That’s a good idea. We’ll be in time for it, I suppose.

G. Oh yes, I live close by. I’ve got a new set, don’t you know?

T. No, I didn’t know. A good one?

G. Yes. An all-wave set with push-button control. You will see it presently.

T. With a recorder?

G. Yes. It works on miniature valves.

T. Does it? It should be a good one then.

G. It is. Well, here we are. Come in.

T. Anybody at home?

G. No. All have gone out. This way, Tom.

T. Oh, it’s a beauty, it is. A 13 valve set, isn’t it?

G. Yes, and how do you like the shape of the plastic cover? Isn’t it nice?

T. It is.

G. I intend to install a remote-control extension¹.

T. What for?

G. Why! You can switch the set on and even tune in from any of the rooms.

T. Really! I’ve never heard of that before.

G. Well now, let’s switch it on. It has a magic eye tuning², see?

T. Yes. It cost you a pretty penny, didn’t it?

G. It did. I’d been saving up money for quite a time. It was my dream to have one like this, you know.

T. Yes.

G. Well, I’ve tuned in. Here’s the announcer speaking.

T. I can hear him as plain as ever.

Vocabulary Notes

¹ remote-control extension — ди- ² magic eye tuning — настройка станционное управление      по электронному индикатору

5. DANCING

G. I say, Fred, do you want a ticket for a dance? I mean, two tickets?

F. How did you come to get them? I didn’t know that you were a dancer.

G. My sister gave me them. She’ll be engaged this evening — an appointment, I suppose.

F. And why don’t you want to go?

G. Well, I don’t mind walking or running or climbing, but I’m the world’s worst dancer.

F. I don’t think you can be worse than I am.

G. Oh, yes, I am. Why, a girl once asked me if I danced. I never spoke to her again.

F. Why not? It was quite a polite question.

G. Yes, but I was dancing with her when she asked me. Can you beat that?

F. I can. Well, I was dancing with a girl once and I asked her if she had ever danced with a worse dancer.

G. And what did she answer?

F. She didn’t say a word.

G. Well?

F. So I repeated the question.

G. And -.

F. And you know what she said?

G. How can I know?

F. She said, “I heard you the first time. I was trying to think.” How do you like it?

G. Well, I am under the impression that we are the most “wonderful” dancers in the world, aren’t we?

F. Sure, we are.

G. Yes, but what am I to do with these tickets? What about ringing up —?

T. Hello, you two.

F. Why, it’s you Tom!

G. Talk of the devil and he is sure to come. What are you doing this evening, Tom?

T. I?

G. You, of course, I have two tickets for a dance. Do you want them?

T. Well, but are you quite sure you don’t want the tickets yourself? G. Want them! If you can go there for me, you are my best friend. T. And you, Fred?

F. If you go there for me, well, you’ll be my bosom friend forever, Tom.

T. Indeed? Well, it’s worth while to have two good friends. Where are the tickets?

G. Here you are. It’s at the Ritz.

T. Thank you.

XII. Sport

1.      FOOTBALL

The Football Match Between England and Austria

England:2 — Austria:2

England won the toss and the Austrians kicked off into the sun¹. Two free kicks were given against England in the first two minutes, and the English defence cleared them well.

After 15 minutes’ play the Austrian centre-forward, Buzek, broke away on the left and McDonald, the goalkeeper, did well to tip a fierce drive over the bar.

A minute later the Austrians opened the scoring with a magnificent goal, which McDonald had no chance of saving.

Left-half Koller, getting possession about 25 yards out, put in a dynamic drive which sped like a bullet into the top right-hand comer of the goal.

The English forwards pressed continuously, but to no avail. In the 28th minute Douglas shot weakly from close in², while at the other end Buzek lost a great chance of making it two for Austria by shooting inches wide of the uprights³ from close range.

Three minutes later Haynes had a wonderful chance to equalize, but he was hesitant and was robbed. After 35 minutes’ play the English attack had five or six chances of equalizing, but their shooting was wild⁴.

England continued to do well in midfield, but the forwards were completely inept. Two minutes from the interval Robson was dispossessed by the goalkeeper only feet away from the goalmouth.

There was a concluding thrill when goalscorer Koller again put in a blinding shot from well out⁵ but this time he was inches wide of the upright.