George at a Party, страница 59 - гдз по английскому языку 5 класс книга для чтения Верещагина, Афанасьева

Supplementary material - страница 59.

Условие.

5 George at a Party

George was invited to a party arranged to help foreign students meet young English people. He was introduced to a girl called Elvira who spoke English very well. The following conversation took place:

George: Hi!

Elvira: Hello.

George: Nice weather we’ve had today ...

Elvira: Oh, please, don’t talk to me about the weather. I’ve had too much of it. Every Englishman I meet starts talking about the weather.

George: Well, we’ve got to start talking about something, haven’t we? How long have you been in England, then?

Elvira: Oh, no, please! Every Englishman I meet asks me how long I have been here. I’ve never lived in a place where I know exactly how many months, weeks and days I’ve spent here.

George: Well, what are you doing in England?

Elvira: Learning English, of course. Everyone is learning English ...

George: Except me. I think I know it a bit. Well, what shall I ask you? Where are you from? But I think people have already asked you about that before, and I know you’re from the Continent.

Elvira: The Continent! I don’t like that word!

George: You don’t like it! Why not?

Elvira: It seems so superior. The English speak about Europe as if they don’t belong to it themselves.

George: Not at all! “Continent” is just a geographical term. We, the English, live on an island, so we’re not part of the Continent, though of course we belong to Europe. How d’you like to speak about other countries across the Channel?

Elvira: You could say “another part of Europe”.

George: All right then: I know you’re from another part of Europe.

Elvira: That’s better.

George: Well, what shall I ask you now? I’m not very good at small talk. Oh, yes, what d’you think of the English?

Elvira: They’re reserved and cold, of course.

George: No, please! Don’t give me all that nonsense.

Elvira: But, yes. They are. The English are reserved and cold and they think they are superior.

George: Oh, Elvira, really ...

Elvira: And their food is awful, and they’re phlegmatic.

George: But Elvira, these are well-known stereotypes about the English. I’m sick to death of all these tales. It’s like saying that all Italians are ice cream sellers, or that all Spaniards are cruel bullfighters! Am I phlegmatic and superior? Really! I’m so reserved that I’ve done most of the talking.

Elvira: Ah, but then you don’t seem really English!

George: No, exactly. Whenever you meet an Englishman who doesn’t fit your ideas of our national character, you don’t change your ideas. Oh, no! You just say that the person is an exception and continue thinking the same nonsense!

Elvira: Well, you did talk to me about the weather as Englishmen do.

George: And you gave me the usual ideas about England that so many foreigners have. Anyway, now, perhaps, we can get to a more interesting conversation. There’s nothing like disagreement to help two people to get to know each other better!

Решение.