A sad story

Three men came to New York for a holiday. They came to a very large hotel and took a room there. Their room was on the forty-fifth floor. In the evening the young men went to the cinema. When the film was over, they went to a restaurant and had supper there. They came back to the hotel very late.

“I am very sorry”, said the clerk of the hotel, “but our lifts do not work at night. If you don’t want to walk up in your room, you can sleep in the hall”.

“No, no”, said one of the three men, “no, thank you. We shall walk to our room”. Then he said to his friends, “I think I know how to make it easy for us to walk up to the forty-fifth floor. On our way to the room I’ll tell you some jokes, then you, Peter, will tell us some interesting stories”.

So they began to walk up to their room. At last they came to the thirty-fourth floor. They were tired by that time, and they decided to have a rest. “Well”, said Tom “now it is your turn, Peter. Tell us a story with a sad end”.

“I’ll tell you a story”, said Peter. “It will not be long, but it will be sad enough. Listen. We have left the key to our room in the hall downstairs”.

floor – этаж joke – шутка

It is your turn – ваша очередь key – ключ

TEXT D

WHAT HIS LIFE WAS WORTH

Robert Burns, the great Scottish poet, loved common people and wrote for them. Though he had little formal education, he was well-read and talented. He began to be recognized as a poet when his first poems were published in 1786. He was known as a very witty man.

One day when Burns was walking near the docks, he heard a cry for help. He ran towards the water. At that moment he saw a young sailor jump off a boat that stood near the dock. The sailor began to swim towards the man who was calling for help. Though it was not easy, the sailor saved the man.

The man who was saved from drowning was a very rich merchant. He thanked the brave sailor and gave him a shilling. The sailor was embarrassed.

A large crowd of people gathered round them. All the people considered the sailor to be a hero. They were displeased when the rich man gave the brave sailor only a shilling.

Many of the people shouted loudly and protested against it. But the rich merchant did not pay any attention to them.

At the moment Robert Burns approached the crowd and wondered what the matter was. He was told the whole story.

He was not surprised at the behavior of the rich merchant and said:

“Let him alone. The gentleman is the best judge of what his life is worth”.

common – простой witty – остроумный

docks – доки to drown – тонуть

behavior – поведение Let him alone – оставьте его (в покое)

judge – судья to be worth – `стоит что-то сделать