- Good morning. I want an apartment in central London.
- Certainly, sir. How much rent did you want to pay?
- No more than $27 a month.
- $27 a month? We don’t often have apartments as inexpensive as that. We have one apartment for $29 a month in Northern Avenue. It’s down near the station.
- Is it furnished?
- No, it’s unfurnished. The kitchen has no oven. It’s forbidden to use the garden. No friends in the apartment after 11 in the evening. No noise and no television after 11.15. No…
- No thank you! I want an apartment, not a prison!
NOISY NEIGHBOURS [ŋ ]
- Bang! Bang! Bang! What are the Kings doing at 7 o’clock on Sunday morning?
- Well, Mr King is singing.
- Yes, but what’s the banging noise?
- He’s standing on a ladder and banging some nails into the wall with a hammer. Now he’s hanging some strong string on the nails.
- And what’s Mrs King doing?
- She’s bringing something pink for Mr King to drink. Now she’s putting it under the ladder and…Ohh!
- What’s happening?
- The ladder’s falling.
- What’s Mr King doing?
- He’s hanging from the string. He’s holding the string in his fingers and he’s shouting to Mrs King.
- And is she helping him?
- No. She’s running to our house. Now she’s ringing the bell.
- I’m not going to answer. I’m sleeping.
At the Photographer’s [ f ]
Phillip: I want a photograph of myself and my wife.
Photographer: Please fill in this form, sir. Would you prefer a full front photograph or a profile?
Phillip: A full front, don’t you think, Phillippa?
Phillippa: Yes, a full front photograph.
Photographer: Please sit on the sofa. Is it comfortable, Mrs Puffin?
Phillippa: Yes, It feels fine.
Photographer: Mr Puffin, please give a friendly laugh.
Phillip: That’s difficult. If you say something funny, I can laugh.
Photographer: And, Mrs Puffin, please look soft and beautiful.
Phillip: (laughs)
Phillippa: Is it finished?
Photographer: Yes.
Phillip: Will the photograph be ready for the first of February?
Photographer: Yes. Please phone my office after five days, Mr Puffin.
Puffin -‘òóïèê (çâåðåê)
A Walk in the Woods [ w ]
Gwen: Did you see Victor on Wednesday, Wendy?
Wendy: Yes, we went for a walk in the woods near the railway.
Gwen: Wasn’t it cold on Wednesday?
Wendy: Yes. It was very cold and wet. We wore warm clothes and walked quickly to keep warm.
Gwen: It’s lovely and quiet in the woods.
Wendy: Yes. Further away from the railway it was very quiet and there were wild squirrels everywhere. We counted twenty squirrels.
Gwen: How wonderful! Twenty squirrels! And did you take lunch with you?
Wendy: Yes. About twelve we had veal sandwiches and sweet white wine, and we watched the squirrels. It was a very nice walk.
It’s Expensive [ s ]
Sam: Let’s go to the seaside on Sunday.
Alice: Yes! Let’s go sailing and water-skiing. That’s exciting.
Sam: It’s expensive too. Let’s just sit in the sun and go swimming instead.
Alice: Let’s stay in the Six Star Hotel and spend Sunday there too.
Sam: Be sensible, Alice. It’s too expensive. Let’s sleep outside instead.
Alice: Yes. Let’s sleep on the sand. That’s more exciting.
Surprises in the Post Office [ z ]
Mrs Smith: This parcel smells, Mrs Jones.
Mrs Jones: Something’s written on it.
Mrs Smith: What does it say?
Mrs Jones: It says: This parcel contains six mice.
Mrs Smith: Pooh!
Mrs Jones: Listen! What’s in this sack?
Mrs Smith: It’s making a strange hissing noise.
Sack: (hisses) Sssssssssssssssss!
Mrs Jones: Mrs Smith! It’s a sack of snakes!
Mrs Smith: So it is! And what’s in this box, Mrs Jones?
Mrs Jones: It’s making a buzzing sound.
Box: (buzzes) Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Mrs Smith: These are bees!
Mrs Jones: A parcel of mice! And a sack of snakes! And a box of bees! This is very surprising.
Mrs Smith: It’s amazing! This isn’t a post office, Mrs Jones. It’s a zoo!
A Special Washing Machine
Mrs Marsh: Does the shop sell washing machines?
Mr Shaw: Yes. This is the newest washing machine, madam.
Mrs Marsh: Is it Swedish?
Mr Shaw: No, madam. It’s English.
Mrs Marsh: Please show me how it washes.
Mr Shaw: Shall I give you a demonstration? Here are some sheets and shirts. You put them in the machine. You shut the door. And you push this button.
Mrs Marsh: The machine shouldn’t shake like that, should it?
Mrs Marsh: But the sheets have shrunk, and so have the shirts.
Mr Shaw: Do you wish to buy this machine, madam?
Mrs Marsh: I’m not sure.
At the Butcher’s [ʧ ]
Butcher: Good morning, Mrs Church.
Mrs Church: Good morning, Mr Cheshir. I’d like some chops for the children’s lunch.
Butcher: Chump chops or shoulder chops, Mrs Church?
Mrs Church: I’ll have four shoulder chops, and I want a small chicken.
Butcher: Would you like to choose a chicken, Mrs Church?
Mrs Church: Which one is cheaper?
Butcher: This one is the cheapest. It’s a delicious chicken.
Mrs Church: How much is all that? I haven’t got cash. Can I buy it by cheque?
George Churchill [ʤ ]
Jerry: Just outside this village there’s a very dangerous bridge.
John: Yes. Charles told me two jeeps crashed on it in January. What happened?
Jerry: Well, George Churchill was the driver of the larger jeep, and he was driving very dangerously. He’d been drinking jin.
John: George Churchill? Do you know George Churchill?
Jerry: Yes. That ginger-haired chap. He’s the manager of the travel agency in Chester.
John: Oh yes, I remember George. He’s always telling jokes. Well, was anybody injured?
Jerry: Oh yes. The other jeep went over the edge of the bridge, and two children and another passenger were badly injured.
John: Were both the jeeps damaged?
Jerry: Oh yes.
John: And what happened to George?
Jerry: George? He’s telling jokes in jail now, I suppose.
EARLY for LUNCH [ l ]
- Hello, Lily. You’re looking lovely today.
- Hello, Mr Alien. You’re early for lunch. It’s only 7 o’clock.
- When I come later there’s usually nothing left.
- What would you like?
- Leg of lamb, please.
- And would you like a plate of salad? It’s lettuce with black olives.
- Marvellous! I love olives.
- And would you like a glass of lemonade?
- Yes, please, Lily. And a slice of melon and some yellow jelly.
A Proud Parent [ r ]
- Are all the children grown up now, Puth?
- Oh yes. Laura is the cleverest one. She’s a librarian in the public library.
-Very interesting. And what about Rita?
-She’s a secretary at the railway station.
- And what about Rosemary? She was always a very pretty child.
- Rosemary is a waitress in a restaurant in Paris. She’s married to an electrician.
- And what about Jerry and Roland?
- Jerry drives a lorry. He drives everywhere in Europe.
- Really? Which countries does he drive to?
- France and Austria and Greece and Russia.
- And does Roland drive a lorry too?
- Oh, no. Roland is a pilot.
- Really? Which countries does he fly to?
- Australia and America.
GOSSIPS [ θ ]
Judith: Edith Smith is only thirty.
Ethel: Is she? I thought she was thirty-three.
Judith: Edith’s birthday was last Thursday.
Ethel: Was it? I thought it was last month.
Judith: The Smiths’ house is worth thirty thousand pounds.
Ethel: Is it? I thought it was worth three thousand.
Judith: Mr Smith is the author of a book about moths.
Ethel: Is he? I thought he was a mathematician.
Judith: I’m so thirsty.
Ethel: Are you? I thought you drank something at the Smiths’.
Judith: No, Edith gave me nothing to drink.
Ethel: Shall I buy you a drink?
Judith: Thank you.
A Hat in the Window [ ð ]
A: I want to buy a hat in the window.
B: There are three hats together in the window, madam. Do you want the one with the feathers?
A: No, the other one.
B: The small one for three pounds?
A: No. Not that one either. That one over there. The leather one.
B: Ah! The leather one. Now this is another leather hat, madam. It’s better than the one in the window. It’s a smoother leather.
A: I’d rather have the one in the window. It goes with my clothes.
B: Certainly, madam. But we don’t take anything out of the window until three o’clock on Thursday.
A Horrible Accident [ h ]
Helen: Hello, Ellen.
Ellen: Hello, Helen. Have you heard? There’s been a horrible accident.
Helen: Oh dear! What’s happened?
Ellen: Hilda Higgins’ husband has had an accident on his horse.
Helen: How awful! Is he injured?
Ellen: Yes. An ambulance has taken him to the hospital
Helen: How did it happen?
Ellen: He was hit by an express train. It was on the crossing just behind his house.
Helen: How horrible!
Ellen: He’s having an important operation in hospital now. Poor Hilda! She’s so unhappy.
Helen: Perhaps he’ll be all right.
Ellen: I hope so.
In a Department Store [ t ]
-I want to buy a hat.
-Hats are upstairs, on the next floor.
-Where can I get a hot meal?
-The restaurant is on the 13th floor.
-I want to buy some boot laces.
-They are on the next counter on your left, dear.
-I want some tins of tomato paste.
-Try the supermarket in the basement.
-Could you tell me where the Travel Agency is?
-It’s right next to the cafeteria on the 13th floor.
-I want to buy a foot ball.
-Take the lift to the Sports Department. It’s on the top floor.
-Could you tell me where the telephone is?
-It’s on the 12th floor opposite the Photographer’s.
-Could you tell us the time, please?
-Yes. It’s exactly 22 minutes to 10.
A Stupid Student [ ju: ]
A: Excuse me! Did you use to live in York?
B: Yes.
A: Did you use to be a tutor at the University?
B: Yes, for a few years.
A: Do you remember Hue Young? He was a music student.
B: Hue Young…Did he use to have a huge yellow jeep?
A: Yes. And he used to play beautiful tunes on the tube.
B: Yes, I knew Hue. He used to be a very stupid student. Do you have any news of him?
A: Yes. He is a millionaire now in New York.
B: Millionaire? Playing the tube!
A: No, he produces jam in tubes and tins of sausages and onion stew and sells them in Europe. I read about Hue in the newspaper yesterday.
B: Oh! Well, he wasn’t so stupid.
At the Railway Station
-Hey! This train’s late! I’ve been waiting here for ages!
-Which train, sir?
-The 8.18 to Baker Street.
-The 8.18? I’m afraid, you’ve made a mistake, sir.
-A mistake? My time table says: Baker Street train - 8.18.
- Oh, no, sir. The Baker Street train leaves at 8.08.
-At 8.08?
- You see, sir, they changed the timetable at the end of April. It’s the first of May today.
-Changed it? May I see the new timetable? What does it say?
-It says: Baker Street train - 8.08.
-Hh! So the train isn’t late. I’m late.
At the Railway Station
-Hey! This train’s late! I’ve been waiting here for ages!
-Which train, sir?
-The 8.18 to Baker Street.
-The 8.18? I’m afraid, you’ve made a mistake, sir.
-A mistake? My time table says: Baker Street train - 8.18.
- Oh, no, sir. The Baker Street train leaves at 8.08.
-At 8.08?
- You see, sir, they changed the timetable at the end of April. It’s the first of May today.
-Changed it? May I see the new timetable? What does it say?
-It says: Baker Street train - 8.08.
-Hh! So the train isn’t late. I’m late.
At the Railway Station
-Hey! This train’s late! I’ve been waiting here for ages!
-Which train, sir?
-The 8.18 to Baker Street.
-The 8.18? I’m afraid, you’ve made a mistake, sir.
-A mistake? My time table says: Baker Street train - 8.18.
- Oh, no, sir. The Baker Street train leaves at 8.08.
-At 8.08?
- You see, sir, they changed the timetable at the end of April. It’s the first of May today.
-Changed it? May I see the new timetable? What does it say?
-It says: Baker Street train - 8.08.
-Hh! So the train isn’t late. I’m late.
At the Railway Station
-Hey! This train’s late! I’ve been waiting here for ages!
-Which train, sir?
-The 8.18 to Baker Street.
-The 8.18? I’m afraid, you’ve made a mistake, sir.
-A mistake? My time table says: Baker Street train - 8.18.
- Oh, no, sir. The Baker Street train leaves at 8.08.
-At 8.08?
- You see, sir, they changed the timetable at the end of April. It’s the first of May today.
-Changed it? May I see the new timetable? What does it say?
-It says: Baker Street train - 8.08.
-Hh! So the train isn’t late. I’m late.
At the Railway Station
-Hey! This train’s late! I’ve been waiting here for ages!
-Which train, sir?
-The 8.18 to Baker Street.
-The 8.18? I’m afraid, you’ve made a mistake, sir.
-A mistake? My time table says: Baker Street train - 8.18.
- Oh, no, sir. The Baker Street train leaves at 8.08.
-At 8.08?
- You see, sir, they changed the timetable at the end of April. It’s the first of May today.
-Changed it? May I see the new timetable? What does it say?
-It says: Baker Street train - 8.08.
-Hh! So the train isn’t late. I’m late.
At the Railway Station
-Hey! This train’s late! I’ve been waiting here for ages!
-Which train, sir?
-The 8.18 to Baker Street.
-The 8.18? I’m afraid, you’ve made a mistake, sir.
-A mistake? My time table says: Baker Street train - 8.18.
- Oh, no, sir. The Baker Street train leaves at 8.08.
-At 8.08?
- You see, sir, they changed the timetable at the end of April. It’s the first of May today.
-Changed it? May I see the new timetable? What does it say?
-It says: Baker Street train - 8.08.
-Hh! So the train isn’t late. I’m late.
The Worst Nurse
Herbert: Nurse!
Burton:Nurse! I’m thirsty!
Herbert:Nurse! My head hurts!
Burton:Nurse!
Herbert:Curse these nurses!
Burton:Nurse Sherman always wears such dirty shirts.
Herbert:And such short skirts.
Burton:She never arrives at work early.
Herbert:She and Nurse Turner weren’t at work on Thursday, were they?
Burton:No, they weren’t.
Herbert:Nurse Sherman is the worst nurse in the ward, isn’t she?
Burton:No, she isn’t. She’s the worst nurse in the world!
The Worst Nurse
Herbert: Nurse!
Burton:Nurse! I’m thirsty!
Herbert:Nurse! My head hurts!
Burton:Nurse!
Herbert:Curse these nurses!
Burton:Nurse Sherman always wears such dirty shirts.
Herbert:And such short skirts.
Burton:She never arrives at work early.
Herbert:She and Nurse Turner weren’t at work on Thursday, were they?
Burton:No, they weren’t.
Herbert:Nurse Sherman is the worst nurse in the ward, isn’t she?
Burton:No, she isn’t. She’s the worst nurse in the world!
The Worst Nurse
Herbert: Nurse!
Burton:Nurse! I’m thirsty!
Herbert:Nurse! My head hurts!
Burton:Nurse!
Herbert:Curse these nurses!
Burton:Nurse Sherman always wears such dirty shirts.
Herbert:And such short skirts.
Burton:She never arrives at work early.
Herbert:She and Nurse Turner weren’t at work on Thursday, were they?
Burton:No, they weren’t.
Herbert:Nurse Sherman is the worst nurse in the ward, isn’t she?
Burton:No, she isn’t. She’s the worst nurse in the world!
The Worst Nurse
Herbert: Nurse!
Burton:Nurse! I’m thirsty!
Herbert:Nurse! My head hurts!
Burton:Nurse!
Herbert:Curse these nurses!
Burton:Nurse Sherman always wears such dirty shirts.
Herbert:And such short skirts.
Burton:She never arrives at work early.
Herbert:She and Nurse Turner weren’t at work on Thursday, were they?
Burton:No, they weren’t.
Herbert:Nurse Sherman is the worst nurse in the ward, isn’t she?
Burton:No, she isn’t. She’s the worst nurse in the world!
The Worst Nurse
Herbert: Nurse!
Burton:Nurse! I’m thirsty!
Herbert:Nurse! My head hurts!
Burton:Nurse!
Herbert:Curse these nurses!
Burton:Nurse Sherman always wears such dirty shirts.
Herbert:And such short skirts.
Burton:She never arrives at work early.
Herbert:She and Nurse Turner weren’t at work on Thursday, were they?
Burton:No, they weren’t.
Herbert:Nurse Sherman is the worst nurse in the ward, isn’t she?
Burton:No, she isn’t. She’s the worst nurse in the world!
The Worst Nurse
Herbert: Nurse!
Burton:Nurse! I’m thirsty!
Herbert:Nurse! My head hurts!
Burton:Nurse!
Herbert:Curse these nurses!
Burton:Nurse Sherman always wears such dirty shirts.
Herbert:And such short skirts.
Burton:She never arrives at work early.
Herbert:She and Nurse Turner weren’t at work on Thursday, were they?
Burton:No, they weren’t.
Herbert:Nurse Sherman is the worst nurse in the ward, isn’t she?
Burton:No, she isn’t. She’s the worst nurse in the world!