Basic English Institute
Mr. and Mrs. Bird had been walking through the streets of Middletown all day. What had they been walking through ? They had been walking through the streets of Middletown. How had they been walking ? They had been walking all day. Mr. Bird had been offered work in the town What had he been offered ? He had been offered work in the town. and they were looking for a house, What were they looking for ? They were looking for a house. but no one in Middletown seemed to have a house to let. Who seemed to have a house to let ? No one in Middletown seemed to have a house to let. Mr. Bird was feeling tired. How was he feeling ? He was feeling tired. His feet were paining him What were paining him ? His feet were paining him. and he had a great desire to get back and take his shoes off, What desire did he have ? He had a great desire. What does he do ? He gets back. What does he take off ? He takes his shoes off. What did he have a great desire to do ? He had a great desire to get back and take his shoes off. but Mrs. Bird kept saying, " Let's go on a little farther. We may come to something in a minute." How do they go on ? They go on a little further. What may they come to ? They may come to something. When may they come to something ? They may come to something in a minute. What did she keep saying ? She kept saying, "Let's go on a little farther. We may come to something in a minute." Suddenly Mrs. Bird saw a house which had ' TO LET ' outside it. What did she see ? She saw a house. What did the house have ? It had 'TO LET'. Where did it have 'TO LET' ? It had 'TO LET' outside it. What house did she see ? She saw a house which had ' TO LET ' outside it. How did she see the house. Suddenly she saw it. It was a small new house with a square of grass in front and a garden with some fruit-trees at the back. What was it ? It was a small new house with a square of grass in front and a garden with some fruit-trees at the back. It had a flat roof and the walls were of stone. What did it have ? It had a flat roof and the walls were of stone. " Henry," she said, gripping his arm, "there is the very place we have been looking for. What is there ? There is the very place. What have they been looking for ? They have been looking for the very place. What did she say ? "Henry", she said, "there is the very place we have been looking for. How did she say it ? She said it gripping his arm. " Mr. Bird did not take quite the same view. What view did he not take ? He did not take quite the same view. They were looking for a cheap house because their income was small, What house were they looking for ? They were looking for a cheap house. How was their income ? It was small. Why were they looking for a cheap house ? Because their income was small. and they were now in the best part of Middletown. Where were they ? They were in the best part of Middletown. When were they there ? They were now there. He had little doubt that a beautiful house in this part of the town would be far from cheap. What did he have ? He had little doubt. How would it be ? It would be far. What would it be far from ? It would be far from cheap. What little doubt did he have ? He had little doubt that a beautiful house in this part of the town would be far from cheap. But Mrs. Bind was a woman who got ideas into her head, What was she ? She was a woman. What did she get ? She got ideas. What did she get them into ? She got them into her head. What woman was she ? She was a woman who got ideas into her head, and when she got an idea into her head it was hard to get it out. What did she get ? She got an idea. What did she get an idea into ? She got an idea into her head. How was it ? It was hard. What does he get out ? He gets it out. What was it hard to do ? It was hard to get it out. When was it hard to get it out ? When she got an idea into her head it was hard to get it out. Mr. Bird had had some experience of Mrs. Bird's ideas. What had he had ? He had had some experience of Mrs. Bird's ideas. The more he said, the stronger the idea became. What did he say ? He said more. How did the idea became ? It become stronger. How did the idea become stronger ? The more he said, the stronger the idea became. So, being a wise young man, he did not say very much. What man was he ? He was a wise young man. How much did he not say ? He did not say very much. How did he not say very much ? Being a young wise man, he did not say very much. "It is the right size for us," went on Mrs. Bird brightly, . . . What is it ? It is the right size for them. What did she go on ? "It is the right size for us," she went on. How did she go on ? She went on brightly. . . . and it is in a position where it gets all the sun. Where is it ? It is in a position. What does it get ? It gets all the sun. What position is it in ? It is in a position where it gets all the sun. And Jack and Mary will be able to take their playthings out on that flat roof in the summer. What will they be able to take out ? They will be able to take their playthings out. Where will they be able to take them out ? They will be able to take them out on that flat roof. When will they be able to take them out there ? They will be able to take them out there in the summer. It will be so good for them to be outdoors. How will it be good ? It will be so good. Who will it be so good for ? It will be so good for them. Where are they ? They are outdoors. What will be so good for them ? It will be so good for them to be outdoors. There seems to be somebody there. What does there seem to be ? There seems to be somebody. Where does there seem to be somebody ? There seems to be somebody there. Let's go in and have a look." What does she say ? She says, "Let's go in and have a look." Mr. Bird made a feeble protest, What protest did he make ? He made a feeble protest. but Mrs. Bird gave no attention to him, What did she give ? She gave no attention. Who did she give no attention to ? She gave no attention to him. and, pulling him by the coat, she went up the front steps Who did she pull ? She pulled him. What did she pull him by ? She pulled him by the coat. Where did she go ? She went up the front steps. How did she go up the front steps ? Pulling him by the coat, she went up the front steps. and gave the bell a push. What did she give the bell ? She gave the bell a push. A well-dressed woman came to the door with a pencil and a bit of paper in her hand. Where did she come ? She came to the door. How did she come to the door ? She came to the door with a pencil and a bit of paper in her hand. "We saw the sign outside," said Mrs. Bird. "Is the house still to let, and if so, may we have a look over it ?" What did she say ? She said, "We saw the sign outside. Is the house still to let, and if so, may we have a look over it ?" "Yes, please come in," the woman said. What did she say ? She said, "Yes, please come in." "We will be moving out very shortly What will they be doing ? They will be moving out. When will they be moving out ? They will be moving out shortly. and I am in the middle of putting our things into boxes, What does she put ? She puts their things. What does she put them into ? She puts them into boxes. What is she in the middle of doing ? She is in the middle of putting their things into boxes. so the house isn't looking its best. How isn't it looking ? It isn't looking its best. I've been making notes of what is ours." What has she been making notes of ? She has been making notes of what is theirs. She took them into a room where there were books and pictures and flowers. Who did she take ? She took them What did she take them into ? She took them into a room. What were there. There were books and pictures and flowers. What room did she take them.into ? She took them into a room where there were books and pictures and flowers. The color of the walls was blue How was it ? It was blue. and the curtains and covers and cushions were a darker shade of blue. How were they ? They were a darker shade of blue. "What a sweet color !" said Mrs. Bird, when she saw it. "Isn't it, Henry ?" What did she say ? She said, "What a sweet color ! Isn't it, Henry ?" What did she see ? She saw it When did she say it ? She said it when she saw it. Mr. Bird was not quite so ready to give his approval. How ready was he not ? He was not so quite ready. What does he give ? He gives his approval. What was he not so quite ready to do ? He was not quite so ready to give his approval. It was a good color for summer, What color was it ? It was a good color for summer. but, in his opinion, it would give one a cold feeling in the winter. What feeling would it give one ? It would give one a cold feeling. When would it give a cold feeling ? It would give one a cold feeling in the winter. In whose opinion would it give a cold feeling in the winter ? In his opinion, it would give one a cold feeling in the winter. Mrs. Bird's answer to that was that the room would get sunlight most of the day. What would the room get ? It would get sunlight. When would it get sunlight ? It would get sunlight most of the day. What was that the room would get sunlight most of the day. Mrs. Bird's answer to that was that the room would get sunlight most of the day. She was picturing to herself the pleasure of having on her new blue dress in such a room when her friends came to see her. What was she picturing to herself ? She was picturing to herself the pleasure. What does she put on ? She puts on her new blue dress. Where does she put it on ? She puts it on in such a room. What do her friends do ? They come. Who does they see ? They sees her. What do they come to do ? They come to see her. When does she put on her new blue dress ? She puts on her blue dress when her friends come to see her. What was she picturing to herself the pleasure of doing ? She was picturing to herself the pleasure of having on her new blue dress in such a room when her friends came to see her. "The condition of the paint is very good, isn't it ?" she said to the woman who was taking them round. What did she say ? She said,"The condition of the paint is very good, isn't it ?" Who did she say it ? She said it to the woman. Who was the woman taking round.? The woman was taking them round. What woman did she say it to ? She said it to the woman w was taking them round. The woman said that they had had the house painted the year before, so the paint was almost new. What had they had painted ? They had had painted the house. When had they had painted the house ? They had had the house painted the year before. How new was the paint ? It was almost new. What did the woman say ? She said that they had had the house painted the year before, so the paint was almost new. In answer to a question put by Mrs. Bird, she said that the housework gave very little trouble. What gave very little trouble ? The housework gave very little trouble. What did she say ? She said that the housework gave very little trouble. Who put a question ? Mrs. Bird put a question. How did she say it ? In answer to a question put by Mrs. Bird she said it. In fact, it was quite a pleasure. What pleasure was it ? It was quite a pleasure. How was it quite a pleasure. In fact, it was quite a pleasure. The rooms were all small How small were they ? They were all small. and this was such a clean part of Middletown. What was it ? It was such a clean part of Middletown. Mr. Bird had the feeling that these women who had never seen one another before were working together to make him take the house. How had they seen ? They had never seen one another before. What do they make him take ? They make him take the house. What were they doing ? They were working together. What were they working together to do ? They were working together to make him take the house. What women were working together to make him take the house ? Those women who had never seen one another before were working together to make him take the house. What did he have ? He had the feeling. What feeling did he have ? He had the feeling that those women who had never seen one another before were working together to make him take the house. Mrs. Bird was very pleased with the room How pleased was she ? She was very pleased. What was she very pleased with ? She was very pleased with the room. and she was surprised that it was so quiet. How quiet was it ? It was so quiet. How was she ? She was surprised. How was she surprised ? She was surprised that it was so quiet. One didn't seem to be troubled at all by the noises in the street. What didn't one seem to be troubled by ? One didn't seem to be troubled by the noises in the street. How didn't one seem to be troubled by the noises ? One didn't seem to be troubled at all by the noises in the street. The woman said this was because the room had thick stone outside walls and there was a thin inside wall of cork to keep out sound. What did the room have ? It had thick stone outside walls. What was there ? There was a thin inside wall of cork. What does a thin inside wall of cork keep out ? It keeps out sound. What wall was there ? There was a thin inside wall of cork to keep out sound. What was it ? It was because the room had thick stone outside walls and there was a thin inside wall of cork to keep out sound. What did the woman say ? She said that it was because the room had thick stone outside walls and there was a thin inside wall of cork to keep out sound. When the windows were shut, not a note came through into the room even when music was being played in the street. How were the windows ? They were shut. What came through into the room ? Not a note came through into the room. In what condition, didn't a note come through into the room ? When the windows were shut, not a not came through into the room. What was being played ? Music was being played. Where was music being played ? Music was being played in the street. When didn't a note come through into the room ? Not a note came through into the room even when music was being played in the street. Mr. Bird, who had never been able to do any work in his flat in London, said that most of the noises came from inside the house when one had a small son and daughter. What had he never been able to do ? He had never been able to do any work ? Where had he never been able to do any work ? He had never been able to do any work in his flat in London. Where did they come from ? They came from inside the house. Who did one have ? One had a small son and daughter. When did they come from inside the house ? They came from inside the house when one had a small son and a daughter. What person said that most of the noises came from inside the house when one had a small son and daughter.? Mr. Bird, who had never been able to do any work in his flat in London, said that most of the noises came from inside the house when one had a small son and daughter. The woman of the house then took them into the room for meals. Who did she take ? She took them. Where did she take them ? She took them into the room for meals. When did she take them into the room for meals ? She then took them into the room for meals. It seemed a dark, narrow little room to Mr. Bird, What did it seem ? It seemed a dark, narrow little room. Who did it seem a dark, narrow little room to ? It seemed a dark, narrow little room to Mr. Bird, but Mrs. Bird gave a cry of pleasure when she went into it. What did she give ? She gave a cry of pleasure. Where did she go ? She went into it. When did she give a cry of pleasure ? She gave a cry of pleasure when she went into it. "How well the dark brown table goes with the dark floors and the dark doors,. . ." What does it go with ? It goes with the dark floors and the dark doors. How does it go with them ? It goes very well with them. and what a good view one gets of the garden from here ! What view does one get of ? One gets a good view of the garden. Where does one get a good view of the garden from ? One gets a good view of the garden from there. Henry, wouldn't there be enough space in here for our dark table which Mother gave us ?" What does she ask ? She asks, "Wouldn't there be enough space in here for our dark table which Mother gave us ?" It was not a beautiful table What table was it not ? It was not a beautiful table. and Mr. Bird had been hoping that they would not have to take it with them to Middletown. What would they not have to take with them ? They would not have to take it with them. Where would they not have to take it with them.? The would not have to take it with them to Middletown. He was almost ready to have a fight about it. How ready was he ? He was almost ready. What does he have ? He has a fight. What does he have a fight about ? He has a fight about it. What was he almost ready to do ? He was almost ready to have a fight about it. " No," he said, " if you had that table in a room as narrow as this, you wouldn't be able to get round it. What did she have ? She had that table. Where did she have it ? She had it in a room as narrow as this. What wouldn't she be able to do ? She wouldn't be able to get round it. In what condition wouldn't she be able to get round it ? She wouldn't get round it if she had that table in a room as narrow as this. What did he say ? He said, "No, if you had that table in a room as narrow as this, you wouldn't be able to get round it." This room may not seem much smaller than the one it is in now, How smaller may that room not seem ? It may not seem much smaller. Where is their table ? It is in the one. When is it in the one ? It is in the one now. What one is their room ? Their room is the one their table is in now. What may that room not seem much smaller than ? That room may not seem much smaller than the one their table is in now. but it is a long, narrow room and our room is square." What room is it ? It is a long, narrow room. How is their room ? It is square. Mrs. Bird made no answer, What did she make ? She made no answer. but she gave him a look which said as clearly as words, "We'll have a talk about that later." What did she give ? She gave a look. What will they have ? They'll have a talk. What will they have a talk about ? They'll have a talk about that. When will they have a talk ? They'll have a talk later. How clearly did a look say ? It said as clearly as words. What words did it say as clearly as ? It said as clearly as words "We'll have a talk about that later." Then she went round the room with the other woman Where did she go ? She went round the room. Who did she go with ? She went with the other woman. and gave her approval to every detail -- the position of the lights, the opening in the wall through which the food was handed by the cook, the bell on the floor which was pushed with one's foot. What did she give her approval to ? She gave her approval to every detail. Who was the food handed by ? It was handed by the cook. What was it handed through ? It was handed through the opening in the wall. What opening was it ? It was the opening in the wall through which the food was handed by the cook. What was the bell on the floor pushed with ? It was pushed with one's foot. What bell was it ? It was the bell on the floor which was pushed with one's foot. The woman then took the Birds to see where. the cooking was done. Who did she take ? She took them. What was done ? The coking was done. What did she take them to do ? She took them to see where the cooking was done. Mr. Bird saw that the washing up had to be done in a bad light and that the pipes were uncovered and so placed that they might give trouble in the cold weather. What had to be done ? The washing had to be done. In what light did it have to be done ? It had to be done in a bad light. How were the pipes ? They were uncovered and so placed. What might they give ? They might give trouble. When might they give trouble ? They might give trouble in the cold weather. Why might they give trouble in the cold weather ? They were uncovered and so placed that they might give trouble in the cold weather. Mrs. Bird was more interested in the bright yellow curtains and light green walls, What was she interested in ? She was interested in the bright yellow curtains and light green walls. How was she interested in them ? She was more interested in them. and she wasn't able to take her eyes off the electric cooker. What wasn't she able to take ? She wasn't able to take her eyes. What wasn't able to take her eyes off ? She wasn't able to take her eyes off the electric cooker. The oven had an instrument for recording the heat and an apparatus for controlling it. What did the oven have ? It had an instrument and an apparatus. What does the instrument record ? It records the heat. What does the apparatus control.? It controls the heat. What did the oven have the instrument for doing ? It had the instrument for recording the heat. What did the oven have the apparatus for doing ? It had the apparatus for controlling the heat. By the use of this apparatus one was able to keep the oven at the right heat all the time. How was one able to keep the oven ? One was able to keep the oven at the right heat all the time. In what way was one able to keep the oven at the right heat all the time ? By the use of this apparatus one was able to keep the oven at the right heat all the time. The cook said that it was a beautiful oven for cakes but the electric current was dear. What oven was it ? It was a beautiful oven. How was the electric current ? It was dear. What did the cook say ? He said that it was a beautiful oven but the electric current was dear. The coal place was by the back door. Where was it ? It was by the back door. They went to have a look at it What did they do ? They went. What do they have a look at ? They have a look at it. What did they go to do ? They went to have a look at it. and the woman took a key from her bag and put it in the lock on the door of the outhouse. What did she take ? She took a key. What did she take a key from ? She took a key from her bag. What did she put ? She put it. Where did she put it ? She put it in the lock on the door of the outhouse. "We have to keep this outhouse locked," she said,"because if we didn't little boys would come and take our coal." How do they have to keep that outhouse ? They have to keep it locked. What would little boys do ? They would come. What would they take ? They take their coal. In what condition would little boys come and take their coal ? If they didn't keep that outhouse locked, little boys would come and take their coal. "So do we, don't we, Henry ? It's the same everywhere," said Mrs. Bird. What did she say ? She said, "So do we, don't we, Henry ? It's the same everywhere." After this the Birds were taken up to the first floor to see the bedrooms. Where were they taken up ? They were taken up to the first floor. What do they see ? They see the bedrooms. What were they taken up to the first floor to do ? They were taken up to the first floor to see the bedrooms. Again Mrs. Bird gave her approval to everything---basins with water in all the rooms, shelves everywhere, a heated rail in the bathroom, in fact, all the details necessary for one's comfort. What did she give her approval to ? She gave her approval to everything--- basins with water in all the rooms, shelves everywhere, a heated rail in the bathroom, in fact, all the details necessary for one's comfort. It was clear to Mr. Bird that he was going to have a hard fight not to take the house, however high the price. How was it ? It was clear. Who was it clear to ? It was clear to Mr. Bird. What fight was he going to have ? He was going to have a hard fight. What does he take ? He takes the house. How does he take the house ? He takes the house however high the price. What was he going to have a fight not to do ? He was going to have a hard fight not to take the house however high the price. What was clear to Mr. Bird ? It was clear to Mr. Bird that he was going to have a hard fight not to take the house, however high the price. He made Mrs. Bird have a look at a place where rain had come in from the roof and done damage to the wall, What does she have a look at ? She has a look at a place. What had rain come in from ? It had come in from the roof. What had it done ? It had done damage. What had it done damage to ? It had done damage to the wall. What did he make her do ? He made her have a look at a place. What place did he make her have a look at ? He made her have a look at a place where rain had come in from the roof and done damage to the wall. and he said, almost with a suggestion of pleasure in his voice, that some of the boards of the floor were in bad condition. What condition were some of the boards of the floor in ? They were in bad condition. What did he say ? He said that they were in bad condition. How did he say that they were in bad condition ? He said almost with a suggestion of pleasure in his voice that some of the boards of the floor were in bad condition. The woman of the house said it would be no trouble at all to put such little details right, What would it be ? It would be no trouble. How would it be no trouble ? It would be no trouble at all. What does one put right ? One puts such little details right. What would it be no trouble at all to do ? It would be no trouble at all to put such little details right. What did she say ? She said that it would be no trouble at all to put such little details right. and Mrs. Bird said with a laugh, How like a man ! What did she say ? She said, "How like a man !" How did she say it ? She said it with a laugh. They went down to the front room again Where did they go down ? They went to the front room. How did they go down to the front room ? They went down to the front room again. and the women went on talking like old friends, What do the talk like ? They talk like old friends. What did they go on doing ? They went on talking like old friends. but at last Mr. Bird got the chance to put some questions. What did he get ? He got the chance. When did he get the chance ? He got the chance at last. What does he put ? He puts some questions. What did he get the chance to do ? He got the chance to put some questions. He said, "What price will the house be let for, and will we be able to have it for two years ?" What did he say ? He said, "What price will the house be let for, and will we be able to have it for two years ?" "I have no idea," said the woman who had taken them round. Who had the woman taken round ? She had taken them round. What did the woman say ? "I have no idea," she said. What woman said it ? The woman who had taken them round said it. " I am not the owner. What is she not ? She is not the owner. The house is the property of a friend who let us have it for a year while he was away." " What did a friend let them have ? The friend let them have it. How long did the friend let them have it ? The friend let them have it for a year. How was the friend ? He was away. What is it ? It is the property of a friend. What property is it ? It is the property of a friend who let us have it for a year while he was away. Who is responsible for the letting ?" said Mr. Bird. What did he say ? He said, "Who is responsible for the letting?" The woman said that he would have to see Box, Day, and Potter, in whose hands the business had been put by the owner, and that they'd be wise to go that day because some other persons had been looking at the house in the morning. Who would he have to see ? He would have to see Box, Day, and Potter. In whose hands had the business been put ? It had been put in the hands of Box, Day, and Potter. Who had it been put by ? It had been put by the owner. How would they be ? They would be wise. What do they do ? They go. When do they go ? They go that day. What would they be wise to do ? They would be wise to go that day. What had some other persons been looking at ? They had been looking at the house. When had they been looking at the house ? They had been looking at the house in the morning. What did the woman say ? She said that he would have to see Box, Day, and Potter, in whose hands the business had been put by the owner, and that they'd be wise to go that day because some other persons had been looking at the house in the morning. But the office would be shut in less than an hour How would the office be ? It would be shut ? When would it be shut ? It would be shut in less than an hour. so they would have to be quick. So how would they have to be ? They would have to be quick. Mrs. Bird got up, saying, "Let's go there now, Henry. We may not get a chance like this again." What did she do ? She got up. How did she get up ? She got up, saying, " Let's go there now, Henry. We may not get a chance like this again." Mr. Bird had been hoping that he would not have to make a decision till later and that there would be time for discussion What would he not have to make ? He would not have to make a decision. Till when would he not have to make a decision ? He would not have to make a decision till later. What would there be ? There would be time for discussion. What had he been hoping ? He had been hoping that he would not have to make a decision till later and that there would be time for discussion. Now he had the feeling that he was being pushed into taking the house. What does he take ? He takes the house. What was he being pushed into doing ? He was being pushed into taking the house. What did he have ? He had the feeling ? What feeing did he have ? He had the feeling that he was being pushed into taking the house. His feet were still paining him What were still paining him ? His feet were still paining him. and he was in a bad humor. What humor was he in ? He was in a bad humor. He had no desire to go and see Box, Day, and Potter at the other end of the town. What did he have ? He had no desire. Who does he see ? He sees Box, Day, and Potter. Where does he see them ? He sees them at the other end of the town What did he have no desire to do ? He had no desire to see Box, Day, and Potter at the other end of the town. In fact, his one desire was to get into a warm bath. What does he get into ? He gets into a warm bath. What was his one desire to do ? It was to get into a warm bath. How was his one desire to get into a warm bath ? In fact, it was to get into a warm bath. But anything was better than a long argument with Mrs. Bird, so he said that he would make an offer. How was anything ? Anything was better. What was anything better than ? Anything was better than a long argument with Mrs. Bird What would he make ? He would make an offer. What did he say ? He said that he would make an offer. At the door, Mrs. Bird said to the woman of the house, "I have no doubt that I will see you again. We will come back and have another look at the house before moving in." What did she say ? She said, "I have no doubt that I will see you again. We will come back and have another look at the house before moving in." Who did she say it to ? She said it to the woman of the house. Where did she say it ? She said it at the door .
Saburo Terada
Saitama Prefecture