Basic English Institute
What pleasure is there in fishing? What do I ask ? You asked what pleasure is in fishing. It seems to me a poor sort of amusement for a man. What does it seem ? It seems a poor sort of amusement for a man. To who does it seem a poor sort of amusement for a man ? It seems to you a poor sort of amusement for a man. Whenever I have been out with my rod I say to myself that this is the last time and that I will never go fishing again. What have I been out with ? You have been out with your rod. What is it ? It is the last time. How will I go fishing ? You will never go fishing again, What do I say to myself ? You say to yourself that it is the last time and that you will never go fishing again. When do I say these to myself ? Whenever you have been out with your rod you say those to yourself. Then I go to see some friend who is a good fisherman, Who do I go to see ? You go to see some friend. What fisherman is he ? He is a good fisherman. What friend do you go to see ? You go to see some friend who is a good fisherman. and his story of coming back the day before with a basket full of fish or of getting one as long as his arm gives me new hope. What does your friend come back with ? He comes back with a basket full of fish. When does he come back ? He comes back the day before. What does he get ? He gets fish as long as his arm. What gives me new hope ? His story gives you new hope. What story gives me new hope ? His story of coming back the day before with a basket full of fish or of getting one as long as his arm gives you new hope. In the end I foolishly let him take me to his special part of the river to see if I am able to do even better than he. Where do I let him take me ? You let him take you to his special part of the river. How do I let him take me to his special part of the river. In the end you foolishly let him take you to his special part of the river. How better am I able to do ? You are able to do even better. Who am I able to do even better than ? You are able to do even better than he. In the end what do I foolishly let him take me to his special part of the river to do ? In the end you foolishly let him take you to his special part of the river to see if you are able to do even better than he. The strange thing is that I never completely give up hope. What do I never completely give up ? You never completely give up hope. What is that I never completely give up hope ? The strange thing is that you never completely give up hope. I went out with a friend of this sort yesterday. Who did I go out with ? You went out with a friend of that sort. When did I go out with him ? You went out with him yesterday. We made a start quite early, taking our fishing-rods and enough food for the day. What did we make ? You made a start quite early. What were we taking ? You were taking your fishing-rods and enough food for the day. How did we make a start quite early ? You made a start quite early, taking your fishing-rods and enough food for the day. My friend is an expert, and very good at fly-fishing. What is my friend ? He is an expert. How good is he ? He is very good. What is he very good at ? He is very good at fly-fishing. He puts a fly with brightly colored wings on the hook at the end of his line. What does he put ? He puts a fly with brightly colored wings. Where does he put it ? He put it on the hook at the end of his line. He makes some of these flies himself with feathers and a twisted wire. What does he make ? He makes some of these flies. How does he make them ? He makes them himself with feathers and a twisted wire. Then he lets the fly come down on the water with very little force, hoping that a fish will come up and take it in the belief that it is a living fly. What does he let the fly do ? He lets the fly come down. Where does he let the fly come down ? He lets the fly come down on the water. What does he let the fly come down on the water with ? He lets the fly come down on the water with very little force. What will come up. ? A fish will come up. What fly is it ? It is a living fly. What does it take in the belief ? It takes it in the belief that it is a living fly. What does he hope ? He hopes that a fish will come up and take it in the belief that it is a living fly. How does he let the fly come down on the water with very little force ? He lets the fly come down on the water with very little force, hoping that a fish will come up and take it in the belief that it is a living fly. It frequently does. How does it ? It frequently does. I am not expert enough for fly-fishing. How enough am I not ? You are not expert enough. What am I not expert enough for ? You are not expert enough for fly-fishing. I never got the right trick of touching the water with a fly, What did I never get ? You never got the right trick. What do I touch ? You touch the water. What do I touch the water with ? You touch the water with a fly. What right trick did I never get ? You never got the right trick of touching the water with a fly. and I generally made such a noise that all the fish got away long before I came near them. What did I make ? You made such a noise. How did I make such a noise ? You generally made such a noise. What got away ? All the fish got away. Where did I come ? You came near them. When did they get away ? They got away long before you came near them. Why did all the fish get away long before I came near them ? The fish go away because you generally made such a noise. So I gave it up. What did I gave up ? You gave it up. My fishing is the quiet sort, What sort is it ? It is the quiet sort. I do not go out into the middle of the river with rubber boots on, as my friend does. What do I not go into ? You do not go into the middle of the river. How do I not go into the middle of the river.? You do not go into the middle of the river with rubber boots on, as your friend does. I take a seat on the grass What do I take ? You take a seat. Where do I take a seat ? You take a seat on the grass. and put my line into the water with a worm on the end of it. What do I put ? You put your line. What do I put my line into ? You put your line into the water. What do I put my line into the water with ? You put your line into the water with a worm on the end of it. Then I take out a book or go to sleep till the feeling of something pulling on the line makes me give attention. What do I take out ? You take out a book. What do I go to ? You go to sleep. What pulls on the line ? Something pulls on the line. What makes me give attention ? The feeling of something pulling on the line makes you give attention. Till when do I take out a book or go to sleep ? You take out a book or go to sleep till the feeling pulling on the line makes you give attention. I am very slow at putting my rod together. How slow am I ? You are very slow. What do I put together ? You put your rod together What am I very slow at dong ? You are very slow at putting your rod together. It is formed of short, hollow sticks made from the stem of a plant. What is it formed of ? It is formed of short, hollow sticks from the stem of a plant. Some are thick and some are thin, What are thick ? Some are thick. What are thin. Some are thin. and I take some time to get them sorted. What do I take ? You take some time. What do I get sorted ? You get them sorted. What do I take some time to do ? You take some time to get them sorted. Yesterday my line got into knots when I was threading it through the rings of the rod, What got into knots ? Your line got into knots. When did it get into knots. Yesterday it got into knots. What was I threading it through ? You were threading it through the rings of the rod. When did my line get into knots yesterday ? It got into knots when you were threading it through the rings of the rod. and my friend had got his first fish before I was ready. What had he got ? He had got his first fish. When had he got his first fish ? He had got his first fish before you were ready. The level of the river was high and the current was strong. What was high ? The level of the river was high. What was strong ? The current was strong. This made it hard for me to keep the line in one position, How did it make ? It made it hard. What do I keep ? You keep the line. How do I keep the line ? You keep the line in one position. What did it make it hard for me to do ? It made it hard for you to keep the line in one position. and it got fixed in some plants on the river-bed. Where did it get fixed ? It got fixed in some plants on the river bed. While I was pulling to get it free, I saw my friend taking a great fish off his hook. How do I get it ? You get it free. What was I pulling to do ? You were pulling to get it free. What fish is he taking ? He is taking a great fish . What is he taking a great fish off ? He is taking a great off his hook. What did I see him doing. You saw him taking a great fish off his hook. During what time did I see him taking a great fish off his hook ? While you were pulling to get it free, you saw him taking a great fish off his hook. Looking at me, he said, " I see you've got one," Who was his friend looking at ? He was looking at you. What did he say ? He said, " I see you've got one." How did he say it ? Looking at you, he said it. and then gave a laugh when my line came out of the water with a mass of green leaves on the end of it. What did he give ? He gave a laugh. What did my line come out of ? It came out of the water. How did it come out of the water. It came out of the water with a mass of green leaves on the end of it. When did he give a laugh ? He gave a laugh when your line came out of the water with a mass of leaves on the end of it. I was pleased that no one but my friend was there to see me. Who was there ? No one but your friend was there. What was no one but my friend there to do ? No one but your friend was there to see you. What was I pleased ? You were pleased that no one but your friend was there to see you. After that, nothing took place for a long time. What took place ? Nothing took place. How long did nothing take place ? Nothing took place for a long time. When did nothing take place for a long time ? After that nothing took place for a long time. But for the insects from the grass, which got on my hands and face, I would have gone to sleep. What got on my hands and face ? The insects got on your face and hands. What would I gone to ? You would have gone to sleep. But for what insects would I have gone to sleep ? But for the insects, which got on your hands and face, you would have gone to sleep. I became interested in the observation of the things about me. What did I become interested in ? You became interested in the observation of things around you. Hours went by What went by ? Hors went by. and it seemed to me that I was almost able to see the growth of the plants and the opening of the flowers. What was I able to see ? You were able to see the growth of the plants and the opening of the flowers. How was I able to see the growth of the plants and the opening of the plants. You were almost able to see the growth of the plants and the opening of the flowers. I was looking at a flower unfolding itself when a bee came and took the sweet liquid from it. What was I looking at ? You were looking at a flower. What was a flower doing ? It was unfolding itself. What flower was I looking at ? You were looking at a flower unfolding itself. What came ? A bee came. What liquid did it take ? It took the sweet liquid. What did it take the sweet liquid from ? It took the sweet liquid from the flower. When was I looking at a flower unfolding itself ? You were looking at a flower unfolding itself when a bee came and took the sweet liquid from it. When it went off, its legs were covered with the yellow powder from the middle of the flower. What did it do ? It went off. What were its legs covered with ? They were covered with the yellow powder from the middle of the flower. When were they covered with the yellow powder from the middle of the flower.? When it went off, they were covered with the yellow powder from the middle of the flower. All this time I had not been giving any attention to my rod. What had I not been giving ? You had not been giving any attention. What had I not been giving any attention to ? You had not been giving any attention to your rod. When had I not been giving any attention to my rod ? All this time you had not been giving any attention to your rod. Suddenly there came to my ears the sound of something moving in the water. What came there ? There came the sound of something. Where came there the sound of something ? There came the sound of something to your years. What is moving ? Something is moving. Where is something moving ? Something is moving in the water. What sound came there to your ears ? There came to your ears the sound of something moving in the water. How came there to my ears the sound of something moving in the water ? Suddenly there came to your ears the sound of something moving in the water. Was this a fish at last ? What did I say ? You said, "Was this a fish at last ?" I quickly had a look. What did I have ? You had a look. How did I have a look. You quickly had a look. No. It was only a rat having a swim. What was it ? It was only a rat. What was a rat having ? It was having a swim. What rat was it ? It was only a rate having a swim. In the middle of the day my friend came back to where I was. What did he come back to ? He came back to where you were. When did he come back to where you were. ? In the middle of the day he came back to where you were. He was looking very pleased with himself, not without reason. How pleased was he looking ? He was looking very pleased. Who was he very pleased with ? He was very pleased with himself. How was he very pleased with himself ? He was very pleased with himself, not without reason. He took two great fat fish out of his basket and some smaller ones. What did he take ? He took two great fat fish and some smaller ones. What did he take them out of ? He took them out of his basket. I had still got nothing. What had I got ? You had got nothing. How had I got nothing. You had still got nothing. " Let us have some food," he said. "You may do better after a rest." What did he say ? " Let us have some food," he said. "You may do better after a rest." We got our parcel of food open How did we get our parcel of food ? You got it open. and made the discovery that some ants had somehow got inside What had got inside. Some ants had got inside. How had they got inside ? They had somehow got inside. and were all over the food. Where were they ? They were over the food. How were they over the food ? They were all over the food. I had seen a line of them moving through the grass like an army What had they been moving through ? They had been moving through the grass. How had they been moving through the grass ? They had been moving through the grass like an army. What had I seen a line of them doing ? You had seen a line of them moving through the grass like an army. and had been looking at their behavior with great interest, What had I been looking at ? You had been looking at their behavior. How had I been looking at their behavior ? You had been looking at their behavior with great interest. but I had had no idea where they were going. What had I had ? You had had no idea. What were they doing ? They were going. What idea had I had ? You had had no idea where they were going. Most of the food had to be put in the river, What had to be put in the river ? Most of food had to be put in the river. and so we had a very poor meal. What meal did we have ? You had a very poor meal. My friend then made me go to a different place, which he said was full of fish. Where did my friend make me go ? He made you go to a different place. How was the place ? It was full. What was it full of ? It was full of fish. What different place did he make me go to ? He made you go to a different place which was full of fish. He had seen them jumping out of the water earlier in the day, What had he seen them doing ? He had seen them jumping. What had he seen them jumping out of ? He had seen them jumping out of the water. When had he seen them jumping out of the water ? He had seen them jumping out of the water earlier in the day. but he had kept away so that I might have a chance of hooking some. What had he done ? He had kept away. What do I hook ? You hook some What might I have ? You might have a chance. What might I have a chance of doing ? You might have a chance of hooking some. Why had he kept away ? He had kept away so that you might have a chance of hooking some. "They are waiting for you," he said, What did he say ? "They are waiting for you," he said, and he was right. How was he ? He was right. I had been there only a short time when I got a bite. Where had I been ? You had been there. How long had I been there ? You had been there only a short time. What did I get ? You got a bite. When did I get a bite ? You had been there only a short time when you got a bite. It seemed that I was going to be rewarded for all my trouble. What was I going to be rewarded for ? You were going to be rewarded for all your trouble. What did it seem ? It seemed that you were going to be rewarded for all your trouble. With great care, I took in my line. What did I take in ? You took in your line. How did I take in my line ? With great care, you took in your line. At first the fish was pulling strongly. How was it pulling ? It was pulling strongly. When was it pulling strongly ? At first it was pulling strongly. Then, when the rod was almost getting out of control, the line came in without any trouble at all. What was the rod getting out of ? It was getting out of control. How was it getting out of control. It was almost getting out of control. How did the line came in ? It came in without any trouble at all. When did the line come in without any trouble at all ? When the rod was almost getting out of control, the line came in without any trouble at all. The hook had been broken off What had been broken off ? The hook had been broken off. and there was nothing there. What was there ? There was nothing. Where was there nothing ? There was nothing there. The fish had taken the worm What had the fish taken ? It had taken the worm. and got away with the sharp hook in its mouth. What did it get away with ? It got away with the sharp hook in its mouth. When I had got another hook fixed on my line, I put a very fat worm on it What had I got fixed ? You had got another hook fixed. Where had I got it fixed ? You had got it fixed on your line. What worm did I put ? You put a very fat worm. Where did I put it ? You put it on the hook. When did I put it on the hook ? When you had got another hook fixed on your line, you put it on the hook. and let it into the water at the same point as before. What did I let it into ? You let it into the water. Where did I let it into the water. You let it into the water at the same point as before. I was angry about the loss of the fish How was I ? You were angry. What was I angry about ? You were angry about the loss of the fish but comforted by the thought that there were still others in the river and that I had a good chance of getting one of them. What was I comforted by ? You were comforted by the thought. What were there ? There were others. Where were there others ? There were others in the river. How were there others in the river ? There were still others in the river. What chance had I ? You had a good chance. What do I get ? You get one of them. What had I a good chance of doing ? You had a good chance of getting one of them. What thought was I comforted by ? You were comforted by the thought that there were still others in the river and that you had a good chance of getting one of them. This time I kept my eyes on the water What did I keep eyes on ? You kept eyes on the water. When did I keep eyes on the water ? This time you kept eyes on the water. and gave all my attention to what I was doing. What did I give ? You gave all attention. What did I give all attention to ? You gave all attention to what you were doing. Suddenly the rod was almost pulled out of my hands What was it pulled out of ? It was pulled out of your hands. How was it pulled out of my hands ? Suddenly it was almost pulled out of my hands. and I saw something twisting violently about in the water. What did I see twisting ? You saw something twisting. How was it twisting ? It was twisting violently. Where was it twisting ? It was twisting about in the water. How and where did I see it twisting ? You saw it twisting violently about in the water. Gripping the rod more tightly, I put my foot against a stone to keep myself from being pulled into the river. What was I gripping ? You were gripping the rod. How tightly was I gripping the rod ? You were gripping the rod more tightly. What did I put ? You put your foot. What did I put my foot against ? You put your foot against a stone. What am I pulled into ? You are pulled into the river. What do I keep myself from ? You keep your self from being pulled into the river. How do I put my foot against a stone ? Gripping the rod more tightly, you put your foot against a stone. What do I put my foot against a stone to do ? You put your foot against a stone to keep your self from being pulled into the river. The fish went out into the middle of the river, taking my line with it. What did it go out into ? It went out into the middle of the river. How did it go out into the middle of the river ? It went out into the middle of the river, taking your line with it. When it had got as far as the line would let it, it went violently first to one side and then to the other, doing its best to get free. How far had it got ? It had got as far as the line would let it. How did it go ? It went violently first to one side and then to the other. What was it doing ? It was doing its best. How does it get ? It gets free. What was it doing its best to do ? It was doing its best to get free. How did it go violently first to one side and then to the other ? It went violently first to one side and then to the other, doing its best to get free. When did it go violently first to one side and then to the other, doing its best to get free ? When it had got as far as the line would let it, it went violently first to one side and then to the other, doing its best to get free. I went on pulling with all my force till, after a time, the fish got tired. How did I pull ? You pulled with all your force. What got tired. The fish got tired. When did it get tired. ? After a time it got tired. Till when was I pulling with all my force. You were pulling with all your force till, after time, the fish got tired. What did I go on doing ? You went on pulling with all my force till, after a time, the fish got tired. Slowly, I got it nearer and nearer to land. How did I get it ? Slowly, you got it nearer and nearer to land. " Now I've got the better of you " I said What did I say ? " Now I've got the better of you " you said But the fight was not ended. What was not ended? The fight was not ended. Hoping to get back into the deep water, the fish gave a sudden pul1. What did the fish hope to get back into ? It hoped to get back into the deep water. What pull did it give ? It gave a sudden pull. How did it give a sudden pull. Hoping to get back into the deep water, it gave a sudden pull. I didn't let the line out quickly enough What didn't I let out ? You didn't let the line out. How didn't I let the line out ? You didn't let the line out quickly enough. and my fishing-rod became bent like a stem of grass in a wind. How did it become bent ? It became bent like a stem of grass in a wind. With another pull, the rod was broken. What was the rod broken with ? It was broken with another pull. Dropping it, and taking the line itself in my two hands, I got the fish landed at last after much hard work. What did I drop ? You dropped it. What did I take ? You took the line itself. How did I take the line itself. You took the line itself in your two hands. What did I get landed ? You got the fish landed. How did I get the fish landed ? You got the fish landed at last after much hard work. What a size it was ! What did I say to myself ? You said to yourself, "What a size it was !" When I got it on the grass it wasn't moving at all Where did I get it ? You got it on the grass. How wasn't it moving ? It wasn't moving at all. When wasn't moving at all ? When you got it on the grass it wasn't moving at all. and it seemed to be dead. How did it seem to be ? It seemed to be dead. I went down on my knees Where did I go down ? You went down on your knees. and put my finger down its throat What did I put ? You put your finger. Where did I put it ? You put it down its throat. and took out the hook. What did I take out ? You took out the hook. When the hook came out, the fish gave a jump into the air. What came out ? The hook came out. What did the fish do ? It gave a jump into the air. When did it give a jump into the air ? When the hook came out, it gave a jump into the air. I got a blow on the chest from its tail What did I get ? You got a blow. Where did I get a blow. You got a blow on the chest. What did I get a blow from ? You got a blow from its tail. and the fish and I went into the river. Who went into the water ? The fish and you went into the river. The shock of the cold water made me give a cry, What made me give a cry ? The shock of the cold water made you give a cry. and my friend came and got me out. Who came and got me out ? Your friend came and got you out. The only sign of the fish was a long red line of-blood in the water. What was the only sign of the fish ? It was a long red line of blood in the water. I gave my friend an account of the fight I had had, stretching out my arms to give him an idea of the size of the fish, What had I had ? You had had the fight. What did I give my friend ? You gave him an account of the fight you had had. What was I stretching out ? You were stretching out your arms. What did I give him ? You gave him an idea of the size of the fish. How did I give my friend an account of the fish I had had ? You gave an account of the fish you had had, stretching out your arms to give him an idea of the size of the fish. but I saw that he had little belief in my story. What belief in my story did he have ? He had little belief in your story. "I'm not doubting what you say, old man," he said, "but aren't you still feeling the effect of your fall into the river ? You are not quite yourself. I have made a fire and am cooking one of my fish. Come and get dry and have a meal. You'll be better after that." What did he say ? " I'm not doubting what you say, old man," he said, "but aren't you still feeling the effect of your fall into the river ? You are not quite yourself. I have made a fire and am cooking one of my fish. Come and get dry and have a meal. You'll be better after that." The smell of the cooking fish was very good What was very good ? The smell of the cooking fish was very good and its taste even better, How better was it ? It was even better. but the meal was poor comfort after the experiences of the day, How comfort was it ? It was poor comfort. What was it poor comfort after ? It was poor comfort after the experience of the day. and my friend's good humor made things worse. What made thing worse ? Your friend's good humor made things worse. He had a basket full of beautiful fish to take back to his family. What did he have ? He had a basket full of beautiful fish. What does he take back ? He takes back a basket full of beautiful fish. Who does he take it back to ? He takes it back to his family. What did he have a basket full of beautiful fish to do ? He had a basket full of beautiful fish to take back to his family. I, on the other hand, had nothing to take back but another fisherman's story. What did I have ? You had nothing. How did I have nothing ? You, on the other hand, had nothing. What do I take back ? You take back nothing but another fisherman's story. What did I, on the other hand, have nothing to do ? You, on the other hand, had nothing to take back but another fisherman's story.
Saburo Terada
Saitama Prefecture