everyone else should. So why should people like tramps and beggars be different?
Tramps say all they want is their freedom. Well, they may be free, but their freedom is paid for by everyone else in society. There are many unemployed people who simply cannot get a job----but they would work if they could. And many beggars are people who have turned to begging because they cannot find a job. Tramps are not like them. Tramps lead a very selfish way of life and it is a way of life that shows an unwillingness to assume responsibility for others. The rest of us have a home, children, work, and so on. But not tramps!
Tramps are lazy parasites on society, and if we all had their mentality, society would not exist, for them or anyone else.
Although we might in some ways be envious of tramps, and although we might envy their freedom, how many of us could be as selfish as them? How many of us could say ?I'm going to live exactly as I want, and damn the rest of society!?? I couldn't.
Key to Letter writing A possible answer (body of letter only)
I know I wrote to you only a few weeks ago, but I'm writing this time to ask if you can help me. Do you think I can get a job in the UK for a few months? I don't mind doing almost anything----as long as it's not too hard.
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I could work in a hotel or a restaurant, for example, but I couldn't work on a building site!
I need money to help to pay for a holiday that I am planning to take next year in Australia. But a visit to the UK would also help me improve my English.(103 words)
Lesson 28 Five pounds too dear 五镑太贵 The bargain
The writer had only just got rid of a man who was trying to sell a diamond ring when another man approached him with some expensive pens and watches. When he held them up for the writer to look at, the writer showed quite a lot of interest.
?Can I see one of the pens??the writer asked the man. They all looked genuine. The man handed the writer one and said:?It's a beautiful pen, sir. It's worth ￡50, but you can have it for ￡30.?
When the writer offered him just ￡5, there was an argument about the price, but eventually the man said:?You can have it for ￡10, sir. That's the least I can take.?
As the writer walked away shrugging his shoulders, the man followed him.?I can't really do it, sir----I'm almost giving it away,?he said,?but you can have it for ￡5.?
The writer was obviously very pleased. He gave the man ￡5, took the pen,
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and the man disappeared quickly into the crowd. The writer was extremely pleased: he had bought a very expensive pen for just ￡5.What a bargain! Later, back on board ship, the writer discovered why the man had been in such a hurry to get away: you couldn't fill the pen with ink and it just didn't work! It wasn't such a?bargain?after all!
Key to Letter writing A possible answer (body of letter only)
I am writing to you because I have heard that you want to sell your CD player.
Most of my friends have one, so I have wanted to buy one for some time. I've looked at new ones, but I can't afford one, and my parents won't lend me the money, so I would like to buy yours.
Perhaps you can tell me something about it. Can you tell me how old your machine is, what condition it is in and how much you are asking for it. Have you also got any CDs that you'd like to sell with it? (101 words)
Lesson 29 Funny or not? 是否可笑？ The gasman
An aunt of mine lives in a small village in the country and tells this story of what happened to her once. In order to understand the story, you should know a little about life in an English village. For example, people often
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enjoy afternoon tea together, they still leave doors unlocked, and certain tradesmen are used to delivering goods and, with permission, leaving them inside the owner's house.
One day my aunt had invited some friends round for afternoon tea. She had put some cakes in the oven to bake, and had gone upstairs to do some cleaning. When she finished, she decided to have a bath before her friends arrived. She was just about to get into the bath when she suddenly remembered the cakes. She wrapped a bath towel round her, went down to the kitchen and took the cakes out of the oven. Just then, there was a knock on the back door. She was sure it was the baker, who would open the door, come in and leave the bread on the kitchen table.
She panicked, dashed into the cupboard under the stairs and closed the door. Then, horrified, she heard footsteps coming to the cupboard. The door opened and there stood the gasman who had come to read the meter----which was in the cupboard. My aunt blushed and said, ?I'm very sorry. I was expecting the baker.??Oh,? the gasman said. ?Sorry, madam.? He closed the door gently and left. (250 words)
Key to Letter writing A possible answer (body of letter only)
I'm writing to see if you can help me. I've looked everywhere here at home, but can't find my overcoat anywhere. I have an idea I left it at your house
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