friends. (200 words )

Key to Letter writing A possible answer (body of letter only)

I am writing to you about the talk I agreed to give at the local library in two weeks' time.

I regret I have to cancel this talk. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I am being sent abroad by my firm and will be away for three weeks. I'll be back on June 24th. I will be happy to give my talk on a later occasion. I look forward to hearing from you and to arranging a new date. (80 words)

Lesson 15 Fifty pence worth of trouble 五十便士的麻烦

I was walking along the street when I saw a crowd ahead of me. I could hear people shouting and making a noise. On arriving at the scene, I saw a small boy on the pavement with his arm in a drain cover. A lady carrying a large bar of soap and a saucepan of water knelt down beside the boy. She asked the boy if he was in pain and he said he wasn't. Then she rubbed his arm with butter, but he couldn't get it free. Meanwhile, someone had telephoned the fire brigade. The boy had begun to cry, but when he saw the firemen, he cheered up. At first, the firemen decided to cut through the drain cover, but they changed their minds and rubbed the boy's arm with a special type of grease. The boy was soon free and though his arm

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hurt, he was smiling.

Key to Letter writing A possible answer (body of letter only)

I know you're going to be eight years old in ten days' time!

I'm not quite sure any more what boys of your age like these days. I'd like to get you something you really like. For example, perhaps you'd like a computer game, or a model car, or a pair of rollerblades, or something else. Let me know what you tike best and I'll post it to you so it arrives on your birthday.

Write to me soon. (79 words)

Lesson 16 Mary had a little lamb 玛丽有一头小羔羊 Not so black

Dimitri was surprised to find that the lamb had turned white. He took a close look at it and recognized it as his own.

This discovery immediately led to an angry scene between Dimitri and Aleko. Dimitri repeated his accusation that Aleko had stolen the lamb, but Aleko still denied any theft. During the violent argument, Dimitri said the rain had proved that the lamb had been dyed black and he recognized it immediately as the one he had given to his wife. When Aleko finally admitted he had stolen the lamb, Dimitri called the police. Aleko was

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arrested and Dimitri took his lamb home.

The story caused a lot of excitement in the village. The villagers didn't often have the opportunity to talk about such an important event and they were greatly amused by what had happened. Some thought Aleko had been very clever. Others thought he had been extremely stupid. Others said God had sent the rain to punish Aleko for his crime and to prove he was a thief. They discussed the event at great length for a long time, as there wasn't much else to talk about in a village where nothing much ever happened. (199 words)

Key to Letter writing A possible answers (two introductions)

1 A prize you have won: You know I entered a competition some time ago and I'm sure you will be really pleased to share my good news. (22 words) 2 An examination you have passed: Yesterday the postman delivered a large brown envelope containingmy exam results and I was very nervous when I opened it. The agony is over! (25 words)

Lesson 17 The longest suspension bridge in the world 世界上最长的吊桥 The bridge I know best is called the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It joins either side of Sydney Harbour. From far away it looks like a great arch, but when you get near, you can see a great deck under the arch. It is made

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of steel and supported by two towers. If you stand on the bridge early in the morning, you can see the Parramatta River to the west and the open sea to the east. At this time everything is quiet. During the day, however, the harbour becomes busy with small boats and large ships moving in all directions. I enjoy standing on the bridge at night when you see the magnificent Opera House looking like a great sailing ship. In the darkness you can see the city lights. In the stillness the traffic and the movement of the sea are the only sounds that can be heard. (150 words)

Key to Letter writing A possible answer

possible answer (body of letter only)

Here are a few directions ahead of your visit next week.

To be here for lunch, take the 12.15 train from the main station and get off at West Hill. From there you can get a 27 bus just outside the station and get off at Park Avenue. When you come out of the station, take the first road on your left. My house is number 36 which is clearly marked. I look forward to seeing you next week. (79 words)

Lesson 18 Electric currents in modern art 现代艺术中的电流 An interesting exhibition

Recently I went to the Royal Academy in London to see the summer

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