The excessive bill
Once a man received an exorbitant bill for legal services. He considered the amount excessive, so he went right to the lawyer's office. The conversation went like this: Client: Is this really my bill? Lawyer: Isn't this your name on the bill? C.: Yes. L.: Who handled it? C.: One of your secretaries. The tall one with blonde hair and... L.: Yes, yes. Miss Thompson. She's very accurate. There's no doubt that the bill is correct. C.: But this is too much for the service I received from your office. I didn't even have the professional services of a real lawyer. L.: That doesn't have anything to do with it. Here the charge is the same, whether I do the work personally or a secretary takes care of a routine matter such as yours. C.: But... but it's too much! L.: Sir, you take care of your business and I'll take care of mine! C.: Obviously you don't know who I am! L.: And who are you, sir? C.: Now I understand this exorbitant bill. L.: What do you mean? C.: Simply that I belong to the same profession as you do. L.: Oh, well! Then there was an oversight. My secretary didn't make a note of that fact. I'm very sorry about the mistake. C.: Oh, that's all right. It could happen to anyone. L.: So you're a member of my profession, eh? Well, in that case, I'll give you a discount of seventy-five percent. C.: That's better! Now that bill is for a reasonable sum, I'll pay it right away. Here's the money. L.: Thank you very much. I hope that you'll forgive this mistake. C.: Naturally. After taking the money, the lawyer sees his client to the door with great respect and courtesy, and says: L.: But tell me, friend, where is your office? C.: Oh, I don't have an office. L.: But you just told me that you had the same profession as I do. C.: Yes, I did. I'm a thief too! 17.8.2. Can you complete each sentence in the first list with the appropriate phrase from the second? 1. The telephone operator A. lack of hard work put through B. by their younger brothers 2. I have out by or sisters 3. She was dreadfully put C. his shoulder, playing out Rugby 4. If it rains we shall D. enough money for a win- have to put off ter holiday 5. How can you put up E. your address before I with forget it 6. George has put out F. the barbecue in the gar- 7. I must put down den tonight 8. We would be happy to G. the noise and fumes of put you up town life 9. We put his failure H. I shall stop smoking down to I. by his unkind remarks 10. If cigarettes are put up J. if you would like to stay 11. Older children are the night often put upon K. a warm jumper and hea- 12. When he began to vy coat shiver he decided to L. the call from London put on UNIT 18 Фонетика: sounds [b], [p] Словообразование: сложные существительные типа witness-box Грамматика: придаточные подлежащие, придаточные сказуемые Текст: «Pete and Nell go to the pictures» (cont.) Sound right 18.1.1. Listen, look, say: beauty ebb sobbed sublet breath boom cab obtain sublime bring box rib rub down sublibrarian bride boast sob club Dan Bob likes broom ball rub rob Peter Hob looks brown best lab globe trotter rub Lester bright 18.1.2. Listen, look, say: 1. A bad job. 2. A bad blunder. 3. The biter's bit. 4. Ben's as bold as brass. 5. Bob is a big bug. 6. Bel has a bee in her bonnet. 7. Bab lives at the back of beyond. 8. Don't be a busybody, baby. 9. Bram broke the back of the business. 10. Bee is a bread-and-butter miss. 11. Bob was black-balled. 18.1.3. Listen and look. Pay attention to the difference between the sounds [p] and [b] I A. You can't keep a pet in these apartments. В. Can't I keep a puppy? A. You can't keep a pet in these apartments. B. Or a kitten, perhaps. A. You can't keep a pet in these apartments. B. You ought to keep a pet yourself, you know. A. You can't keep a pet in these apartments. B. Why not try a parrot, for instance? II A. When the rain stops, you'll see how beautiful the beach is. B. But the rain's been pouring down for two days! We've both caught cold. Let's pack our bags and go back to town. A. The bedroom is a bit damp, yes. But it's better than a tent. You wanted to go camping, remember? B. You're impossible, Tom! A. Well, you did! You wanted to sleep in a tent! Oh, all right. Let's pack. III A. Was it a good game? B. It was a terrible game. A. You had a good day for it. B. A beautiful day. A. Did Tom score? B. He scored twice. A. And you? B. Now, where did I put that can of beer? A. Did you score? B. Oh, got it. A. Perhaps next time. B. Hm. IV A. How d'you do? I'm Parker. B. How d'you do, Barker. A. Parker. B. Oh, Parker, with a «p». A. With a «p», yes. B. Er... I'm Barker. A Barker with a «B», of course. В. А «В». Yes. A. Ah. B. Mm. A. Er... well, goodbye. Barker. B. Goodbye, Parker. 18.1.4. Listen, look, say. Pay attention to the intonation. 18.1.5. Read the dialogues in pairs. 18.1.6. Try to read the tongue-twister as fast as you can: A big blue bucket of blue blueberries.
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