Разговорный английский
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M. Much better, thanks.
8. IN THE PLANE
STEWARDESS. This way, gentlemen. These seats are yours.
N. Have we to strap ourselves with these belts now?
S. No, this is in case of emergency.
N. When we begin to tumble down, eh?
S. Complete safety is guaranteed. How do you take to flying, gentlemen?
N. Can’t say. I’ve never been in a plane before. Have you, M.?
M. Neither have 1.1 hope it won’t make me feel bad.
S. So do I. If you should want anything, gentlemen, there’s a stewardess call button over there. The individual loud-speaker is at your right.
M. With whom may we talk?
S. With the captain and me, sir.
M. Is smoking allowed here?
S. The sign over there will answer your question, sir.
M. Oh, yes. Thank you. It’ll be a good reminder.
S. The smoking-room is at the rear of the plane.
M. When do we take off?
S. In ten minutes’ time. If you feel tired you may adjust the seat in a reclining position.
N. Yes, thank you. How many hops do we make in our flight?
S. We are in for a non-stop flight, sir. If you feel hungry, you’ll be provided with a hot meal on the way.
N. Oh, that’s fine! And when can we have it?
S. As soon as we reach altitude. In the meantime you may read this booklet entitled “The ABCs of Jet Flight.” The reading light is above you. I hope you will enjoy the flight, gentlemen.
BOTH. Thank you.
9. TRAVELLING BY CAR
As for me there is nothing better than to travel by car — a good, fast car I mean. When you are in an aeroplane, you have to be driven by someone else; travel by car is a more personal experience, for there you can drive yourself. You just sit down at the wheel, switch on the motor, step on the pedal with your foot and off the car goes.
You can go as slowly or as fast as you wish, stop when and where you choose; you park the car on the side of the road (street), get out and go where you like.
It is quite true that driving a car has some disadvantages. In town it is rather a nuisance with all these traffic “jams” or “hold-ups”, roundabouts, detours and so on. It is not altogether pleasant when you ride on a bumpy road or get a flat tyre, or still worse, when you get stuck in the mud.
But what can be better than a spin in a car on a week-end with your friend? As soon as you get out of the crowded town and see the long wide road opening up before you, what a thrill it is to feel the car rush forward at a touch of your foot, to feel the wind in your face, to see houses, trees and people flash past, to feel the real joy of speed.
Then, of course, you see much more of the country than you do in a plane. Suppose you are on vacation and have decided to take a 700—800 miles’ trip down South in a car. What magnificent views you behold on your way — the cheerful fields, the road winding its way up the mountain with steep, grey cliffs on one side and a deep precipice on the other, the shining expanse of the sea wrapped in a blue noonday haze, the woods, the rows of acacia that stretch along the streets of the towns that you pass through.
Indeed your impressions are unforgettable.
10. A JOY-RIDE
GEORGE. Hello you, Tom!
TOM. George N.! My Lord! It’s you, isn’t it?
GEORGE. My very self. How do you do, Tom?
TOM. Pretty well. And how goes the world with you?
GEORGE. Getting along all right. I say, Tom, let’s go for a spin in the car.
TOM. In the car? What car?
GEORGE. We have bought a car.
TOM. You don’t say so!?
GEORGE. Really. Well? What about Saturday at, let’s say, 4 o’clock?
TOM. Why, that would be fine! And couldn’t we pick up Fred and Ann?
GEORGE. Why, yes! You’ll let them know, won’t you? I’ll bring, the car over to your place at about four then.
TOM. All right.
GEORGE. Well, here we are. Hello, everybody.
ALL. Hello, George.
GEORGE. Well, come on. Get into the car, all of you, ANN. I say, George, may I take the front seat?
GEORGE. Certainly! Well? All in?
TOM. Yes. Step on it1, George.
GEORGE. Where do you want me to take you to?
TOM. Get out of town on to the highway first.
FRED. Well, it’s fine, Tom, isn’t it? I say, George, what does the speedometer show?
GEORGE. Sixty.
FRED. Sixty miles an hour. That’s great!
TOM. What about taking to the right, George?
GEORGE. No. The road’s bumpy there. Last Sunday we got stuck somewhere near here.
TOM. An right. Go straight —. What’s that?
GEORGE. People call it a puncture.
ANN. A puncture? What are we going to do now? Shall we have to walk back all this way?
GEORGE. Don’t fret, Ann. Everything will be all right in two jiffies. Well, lads, we’ll have to be snappy. You, Tom, get the jack. Do you know what to do with it?
TOM. Yes. To lift the car, I suppose.
GEORGE. That’s right. You, Fred, get out the spare wheel. And you, Ann, go and pick flowers. In ten minutes we’ll be on the move2 again.
TOM (after some time). Well, George? Everything’s fixed up, isn’t it?
GEORGE. Yes. You go and call Ann. Put in the wheel, Fred, while I fill the radiator.
ANN. You were rather quick, lads. Which way are we going now?
GEORGE. Let’s go as far as N. and then go back.
ANN. Good.
GEORGE. Well? How did you enjoy the joy-ride? ALL. It was fine, George. Thanks very much.
GEORGE. Don’t mention it.
Vocabulary Notes
1 to step on it —
2 to be on the move — быть в движении
11. AT THE CUSTOM HOUSE
P. Will you examine my things?