New+Concept+English+Book+II (二)

Lesson 6 | Percy Buttons
   I have just moved to a house in Bridge Street. Yesterday a beggar knocked at my door.
He asked me for a meal and a glass of beer. 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.
Everybody knows 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.

Lesson 7 | 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!

Lesson 8 | 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
larger than Joe's. Bill works harder than Joe and grows more flowers and vegetables, but
Joe's garden is more interesting. He has made neat paths and has built a wooden bridge
over a pool. I like gardens 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!

Lesson 9 | A cold welcome
   On Wednesday evening, 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 someone 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.

Lesson 10 | Not for jazz

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                                                               New Concept English, Book II

   We have an old musical instrument. It is called a clavichord. It was made in Germany
in 1681. Our 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.