Not For Jazz

We have an old musical instrument. It is called a clavichord. It was made in Germany 1681. Out clavichord is kept in the living-room. It has belonged to our family for a long time. The instrument was bought by my grandfather many years ago. Recently it was damaged by a visitor. She tried to play jazz on it! She struck the keys too hard and two of the strings were broken. My father was shocked. Now we are not allowed to touch it. It is being repaired by a friend of my father's.

1. Do we own an old clavichord, or do we own a new piano?
2. When was it made?
3. Who bought the instrument many years ago?
4. Who damaged it recently?
5. What did she try to do?
6. What did she break?
7. Who is repairing it now?

A Cold Welcome

On Wednesday eveninfg, we went to the Town Hall. It was the last day of the year and a large crowd of people had gathered under the Town Hall Clock. It would strike twelve in twenty minutes' time. Fifteen minutes passed and then, at five to twelve, the clock stopped. The big minute hand did not move. We waited and waited, but nothing happened. Suddenly somenone shouted, 'It's two minutes past twelve! the clock has stopped!' I looked at my watch. It was true. The big clock refused to welcome the New Year. At that moment, everybody began to laugh and sing.

 

Comprehension Precis and Composition

Answer these question in not more than 50 words. 

1. Where did we go on New Year's Eve?
2. Were there many people there or not?
3. In how many minutes would the Town Hall clock strike twelve?
4. At what time did it stop?
5. Did it refuse to welcome the New Year or not?
6.  What did the crowd do then?

The Best and The Worst

Joe Sanders has the most beautiful garden in our town. Nearly everybody enters for 'The Nicest Garden Competition' each year, but Joe wins every time. Bill Frith's garden is lager than Joe's. Bill works harder than Joe and grows more, flowers and vgetables, but Joe's garden is more interesting. He has made neat paths and has built a wooden bridge over a pool. I like gadens too, but I do not like hard work. Every year I enter for the garden competition too, and I always win a little prize for the worst garden in the town!

Comprehension Precis and Composition
Answer these question in not more than 45 words. 

1. Who has the best garden in town?
2. What does he win each year?
3. Who else has a fine garden?
4. Is Joe's better or not?
5. Is the writer's garden beautiful, or is it terrible?
6. What does he always win a prize for?

Too Late

The plane was late and detectives were waiting at the airport all morning. They were expecting a valuable parcel of diamonds from South Africa. A few hours earlier, someone had told the police that thieves would try to steal the diamonds. When the plane arrived, some of the detectives were waiting inside the main building while others were waiting on the airfield. Two men took the parcel off the plane and carried it into the Customs House. While two detectives were keeping guard at the door, two others opened the parcel. To their surprise, the precious parcel was full of stones and sand!

Comprehension Precis and Composition
Answer these question in not more than 50 words.

1. How long were detective waiting at the airport?
2. What were they expecting from South Africa?
3. Where did two men take the parcel after the arrival of the plane?
4. How many detectives opened it?
5. What was the parcel full of?

Percy Buttons

I have just moved to a house in Bridge Sreet. Yesterday a beggar knocked at my door. He asked me for a meal and a glass of bear. In return for this, the beggar stood on his head and sang songs. I gave him a meal. He ate the food and drank the beer. Then he put a piece of cheese in his pocket and went away. Later a neighbour told me about him. His name is Percy Buttons. He calls at every house in the street once a month and always asks for a meal and a glass of beer.

Comprehension Precis and Composition

Answer these question in not more than 55 words.

1. Has the writer just moved to a house in Bridge Street or not?
2. Who knocked at her door yesterday?
3. Did he sing songs, or did he ask for money?
4. What did the writer give him in return for this?
5. What is the beggar's ame?
6. Does he call at every house once a week or once a month?
   

No Wrong Number

Mr James thas a garage in Silbury and now he has just bought another garage in Pinhurst. Punhurst is only five miles from Silbury, but Mr Scott cannot get a thelephone for his new garage, so ha has just bought twelve pigeons. Yesterday, a pigeon carried the first message from Pinhurst to Silbury. The bird covered the distance in three minutes. Up to now, Mr Scott has sent a great many request for spare parts and other urgent messages from one garage to the other. In this way, he has begun his own privat 'telephone' service.

Comprehension Precis and Composition
Answer these question in not more than 50 words.

1. Where has Mr Scott opened his second garage?
2. Where is his first garage?
3. How far away is Silbury?
4. Can Mr Scott get a telephone for his new garage or not?
5. What has he bought?
6. In how many minutes do they carry messages from one garage to other?

An Exciting Trip

I have just received a letter from my brother, Tim. He is in Australia. He has been there for six months. Tim is an engineer. He is working for a big firm and he has already visited a great number of different place in Australia. He has just bought an Australian car has gone to Alice Springs, a small town in the centre of Australia. He will soon visit Darwin. From there, he will fly to perth. My brother has never been abroad before, so he is finding this trip very exciting.

Comprehension Precis and Composition
Answer these question in not more than 50 words.

1. What has the writer just received from his brother, Tim?
2. Is Tim an engineer, or is he a doctor?
3. How long has he been in Australia?
4. Has he already visited many places or not?
5. Where is he now?
6. Has Tim ever been abroad before or not?
7. Is he enjoying his trip very much or not?

Please Send Me a Card

Postcards always spoil my holidays. Last summer, I went to Italy. I visited museums and sat in public gadens. A friendly waiter taught me a few words of Italian. Then he lent me a book. I read a few lines, but I did not understand a word. Every day I thought about postcards. My holidays passed quickly, but I did not send any cards to my friends. On the last day I made a big decision. I got up early and bught thirty-seven cards. I spent the whole day in my room, but I did not write a single card!

Comprehension Precis and Composition
Answer these question in not more than 50 words.

1. Do postcards always spoil the writer's holidays or not?
2. Where did he spend his holidays last summer?
3. What did he think about every day?
4. Did he send any cards di to his friends or not?
5. How many cards did he buy on the last day?
6. Where did he stay all day?
7. Did he write any cards or not?

Breakfast or Lunch

It was Sunday. I never get up early on Sundays. I sometimes stay in bed until lunch time. Last Sunday I got up very late. I looked out of the window. It was dark outside  'What a day!' I thougt. 'It's raining again.' Just then, the telephone rang. It was my aunt Lucy. 'I've just arrived by train,' she said. 'I'm coming to see you.'
    'But I'm stil having breakfast,' I said.
   'What are you doing?' she asked.
   'I'm having breakfast,' I repeated.
  'Dear me,' she said. 'Do you always get up so late? it's one o'clock!'

Comprehension and Precis

Answer these questions in not more than 50 words.

1. Does the writer  always get up early on Sundays, or does he always get up late?
2. Did he get up early last Sunday, or did he get up late?
3. Who telephoned then?
4. Had she arrived by train, or had she come on foot?
5. Was she coming to see him or not?
6. Did he say,' I'm still having breakfast', or did he say,' I am still in bed'?
7. Was his aunt very surprised or not?
8. What was the time?

A Private Conversation

Last week I went to the theatre. I had a very good seat. The play was very interesting. I did not enjoy it. A young man and young woman were sitting behind me. They were talking loudly. I got veryangry. I could not hear the the actors. I turned round. I looked at the man and the woman angrily. They did not pay any attention. In the end, I could not bear it. I turned again. 'I can't hear a word!' I said angrily.
'It's none of your business,' the young man said rudely. 'This is a private conversation!'

Comprehension Precis and Composition
Answer these question in not more than 55 words.

1. Where did the writer go last week?
2. Did he enjoy the play or not?
3. Who was sitting behind me?
4. Were they talking loudly, or were they talking quietly?
5. Could the writer hear the actor or not?
6. Did he return round or not?
7. What did he say?
8. Did the young man say,'The play is not interesting.' or did he say 'This is a privat conversation!'

Sticky Fingers

 After breakfast, I sent the children to school and then I went to market. It was still early when I returned home. The children were at school, my husband was at work and the house was quiet. So I decided to make some tarts for tea. In a short time I was busy mixing butter and flour myhands were soon covered with sticky pastry. At exactly that momment, the thelephone rang. Nothing could have been more annoying. I picked up the receiver between two sticky fingers and was dismayed when I recognized the voice of Mrs Bates. It took me ten minutes to persuade her to ring back later. At last I hung up the receiver. What a mess! There was pastry on my fingers, on the thelephone, and on the door-knobs. I had no sooner got back to the kitchen than the door-bell rang
loud enough to wake the dead. This time it was the postman and he wanted me to sign for a registered letter!

A Slip of the Tongue

People will do anything to see a free show-even if it is a bad one. When the news got round that a variety show would  be presented at our local cinema by the P and U. Bird Seed Company, we all rushed to see it. we had to queue for hours to get in there must have been several hundred people present just before the show began. Unfortunately, the show was one of the dullest we have ever seen. Those who failed to get in need not have felt disappointed as many of the artistes who should have appeared did not come. The only funny things we heard that evening came from the advertiser at the beginning of the programme. He was obviously very nervous and for some minutes stood awkwardly, before the microphone. As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone burst out laughing. We all know what the poor man should have said, but what he actually said was : 'This is the Poo and Ee Seed Bird Company. Good ladies, evening and gentlemen!'

Trapped in a Mine

Six men have been trapped in a mine for seventeen hours. If they are not brought to the surface soon they may lose their lives. However, rescue operations are proving difficult. If explosives are used, vibrations will cause the roof of the mine to collapse. Rescue workers are therefore drilling a hole on the north side of the mine. They intend to bring the men up in a special capsule. If there had not been a hard layer of rock beneath the soil, they they would have completed the job in a few hours. As it is, they have been drilling for sixteen hours and they still have a long way to go. Meanwhile, a microphone, which was lowered into the mine two hours ago, has enabled the men to keep in touch with the closest relatives. Thought they are running out of food and drink, the men are cheerful and confident that they will get out soon. They have been told that rescue operations are progressing smoothly. If they knew how difficult it was to drill through the hard rock, they would lose heart.