Basic English Institute
The Greens were moving in at Number Two, Springfield Square. Where were they moving in ? They were moving in at Number Two, Springfield Square. " Where are we going to make a start ?" said Susan Green, after looking at the masses of boxes, bags, pictures, books, tables, chests of drawers, and so on in all the rooms. What was she looking at ? She was looking at the masses of boxes, bags, pictures, books, tables, chests of drawers, and so on in all the rooms. What did she say ? She said, "Where are we going to make a start ?" When did she say it ? She said it after looking at the masses of boxes, bags, pictures, books, tables, chests of drawers, and so on in all the rooms. "It will take at least a week to get these rooms clear and put every thing away." How long will it take ? It will take at least a week. What will it take at least a week to do ? It will take at least a week to get these rooms clear and put every thing away." " It's not as bad as it seems," said John Green, " but don't let's make an attempt to do everything today. Wouldn't it be best to do the living-room first ? " What did he say ? He said, " It's not as bad as it seems, but don't let's make an attempt to do everything today. Wouldn't it be best to do the living-room first ? " Susan was in agreement with John's suggestion. What suggestion was she in agreement with ? She was in agreement with his suggestion. When they had made a decision about what to keep in the room, everything which was not needed there had to be moved into other rooms. What had they made ? They had made their decision. What had they made a decision about ? They had made a decision about what to keep in the room. What did everything have to be moved into ? Everything had to be moved into other rooms. What things had to be moved into other rooms ? Everything which was not needed there had to be moved into other rooms. When did everything which was not needed there have to be moved into other rooms ? When they had made a decision about what to keep in the room, everything which was not needed there had to be moved into other rooms. John did most of the moving by himself, . . . What did he do ? He did most of the moving. How did he do most of the moving ? He did the most of moving by himself. . . . but sometimes he had to get help from Susan. What did he have to get ? He had to get help from Susan. How did he have to get help from Susan ? Sometimes he had to get help from Susan. They had trouble in getting a chest full of papers over the step at the door. What did they have ? They had trouble. What did they have trouble in doing ? They had trouble in getting a chest full of papers over the step at the door. John gave it a lift at one end, . . . What did he give it ? He gave it a lift. Where did he give it a lift ? He gave it a lift at one end. . . . and by pulling hard while Susan gave a push at the other end he was able to get it through the door. How was he pulling ? He was pulling hard. What did she give ? She gave a push. Where did she give a push ? She gave a push at the other end. What was he able to get ? He was able to get it. What was he able to get it through ? He was able to get it through the door. During what time was he pulling hard ? He was pulling hard while Susan gave a push at one end. How was he able to get it through the door ? By pulling hard while Susan gave a push at one end he was able to get it through the door. It was warm work, . . . What work was it ? It was warm work. . . . but the air in the unheated house was cold, . . . What was cold. The air in the unheated house was cold. . . . and Susan put her hands in front of her mouth to make them warm with her breath. What did she put ? She put her hands. Where did she put her hands ? She put her hands in front of her mouth. What did she put her hands in front of her mouth to do ? She put her hands in front of her mouth to make them warm with her breath. When they had got the floor clear by putting as much as possible against the wall, Susan gave it a brush, . . . What had they got clear ? They had got the floor clear. What had they got the floor clear by doing ? They had got the floor clear by putting as much possible against the wall. What did she give it ? She gave it a brush. When did she give it a brush ? When they had got the floor clear by putting as much possible against the wall, she gave it a brush. . . . but it was so dirty that she said nothing but soap and water would get it clean. How dirty was it ? It was so dirty that she said nothing but soap and water would get it clean. John went to get a bucket of water . . . What did he go to do ? He went to get a bucket of water. . . . and came back with the news that there was no water because there had been a burst in one of the pipes. What was there ? There was no water. What had there been ? There had been a burst. Where there had been a burst ? There had been burst in one of the pipes. Why was there no water ? Because there had been a burst in one of the pipes. What news did he come back with ? He came back with the news that there was no water because there had been a burst in one of the pipes. This news gave poor Susan a shock, . . . What gave poor Susan a shock ? That news gave poor Susan a shock. . . . but she was comforted when John said that they would be able to get water for washing and cooking from another house, and that he would get someone to come and put the pipe right in the morning. What would they be able to get ? They would be able to get water for washing and cooking. What would they be able to get it from ? They would be able to get it from another house. What would he get someone to do ? He would get someone to come and put right the pipe in the morning. What did John say ? He said that they would be able to get water for washing and cooking from another house, and that he would get someone to come and put the pipe right in the morning. How was she ? She was comforted. When was she comforted ? She was comforted when John said it. Some of the floor-boards were rough. What were rough ? Some of the floor-boards were rough. John said he would make them smooth with his plane later and give them a new coat of paint. How would he make them ? He would make them smooth. What would he make them smooth with ? He would make them smooth with his plane. When would he make them smooth ? He would make them smooth later. What would he give them ? He would give them a new coat of paint. What did he say ? He said he would make them smooth with his plane later and give them a new coat of paint. They quickly got the seats and tables and cupboards in their right positions, . . . What did they get ? They got the seats and tables and cupboards. How did they got them ? They quickly got them. Where did they got them ? They got them in their right positions. . . . and when some ornaments had been placed about the room and Susan had got out the cushions and put a silk shade on the electric light the place seemed quite different. What had been placed ? Some ornaments had been placed. Where had they been placed ? They had been placed about the room. What had she got out ? She had got out the cushions. What had she out ? She had put a silk shade. Where had she put a silk shade ? She had put a silk shade on the electric light. How different did the place seem ? It seemed quite different. When did the place seem quite different ? It seemed quite different when some ornaments had been placed about the room and she had got out the cushions and put a silk shade on the electric light. The bookshelves had to be fixed to the wall with screws, . . . Where did they have to be fixed ? They had to be fixed to the wall. What did they have to be fixed to the wall with ? They had to be fixed to the wall with screws. . . . and this took a longer time. What time did it take ? It took a longer time. The first screw John put in came up against a brick and had to be exchanged for a shorter one. What did he put in ? He put in the first screw. What came up against a brick ? The first screw came up against a brick. What screw came up against a brick ? The first screw he put in came up against a brick. Another one was put into the wall at a point where it was hollow . . . What was put into the wall ? Another one was put into the wall. Where was it put into the wall ? It was put into the wall at a point. At what point was it put into the wall ? It was put into the wall at a point where it was hollow. . . . and there was nothing for the screw to go into. What was there for the screw to do ? There was nothing for the screw to go into. Every turn of the screw made the hole greater, so that the screw became looser. What made the hole greater ? Every turn of the screw made the hole greater. How did every turn of the screw make the hole greater ? The hole was so greater that the screw became looser. At last the shelves were ready, however, . . . How were the shelve ? They were ready. When were they ready ? At last they were ready. . . . and Susan was able to put the books on them. What was she able to put ? She was able to put the books. Where was she able to put them ? She was able to put them on the bookshelves. John said that while Susan was doing this he would put the curtains up. What would he put up ? He would put the curtains up. What was she doing ? She was doing that. During what time he would put the curtains up ? While she was doing that he would put the curtains up. What did he say ? He said that while she was doing that he would put the curtains up.. The window was a high one . . . What was it ? It was a high one. . . . and they had no steps. What did they have ? They had no steps. He got up on a seat . . . Where did he get up ? He got up on a seat. . . . but he wasn't very tall . . . How tall wasn't he ? He wasn't very tall. . . . and it wasn't high enough. How enough wasn't it ? It wasn't high enough. The table was higher, . . . How was it ? It was higher. . . . but its polished wood might have got marked by his shoes, . . . What would might have got marked ? Its polished wood might have got marked. What it might have got marked by ? It might have got marked by shoes. . . . so he put some boxes one on top of another and got up on these. What did he put one on top of another ? He put some boxes one on top of another. What did she get up on ? She got up on those. Susan said that the structure was not very strong. How strong was the structure not ? It was not very strong. What did she say ? She said that the structure was not very strong. " Keep away from the edge," she said. " If your foot gives a slip you may have a bad fall." What did she say ? She said. " Keep away from the edge. If your foot gives a slip you may have a bad fall." "I'm safe enough if I take care," said John, . . . What did he say ? "I'm safe enough if I take care," he said, . . . and went on with his work. What did he go on with ? He went on with his work. When he had almost put one curtain up there was a loud crack . . . What had he put up ? He had put one curtain up. How had he put one curtain up ? He had almost put one curtain up. What was there ? There was a loud crack. When was there a loud crack ? When he had almost put one curtain up there was a loud crack. . . .and his foot went through the box. What did it go through ? It went go through the box. He put his hand on the curtain-rail to keep his balance, . . . What did he put ? He put his hand. What did he put his hand on ? He put his hand on the curtain rail. What did he put his hand on the curtain rail to do ? He put his hand on the curtain rail to keep balance. . . . but the supports which kept the rail up gave way . . . What supports gave way ? The supports which kept the rail up gave way. . . . and he came down on his back. What did he do ? He came don on his back. There was the sound of a smash, What was there ? There was the sound of a smash. Susan was at John's side in a second, crying, " I said those boxes weren't safe.". Where was she ? She was at his side. How soon was she at his side ? He was at his side in a second. What was she crying ? She was crying, "" I said those boxes weren't safe." How was she at his side in a second ? She was at his side in a second, crying, "I said those boxes weren't safe." He got up, rubbing his head. What did he do ? He got up. What was he rubbing ? He was rubbing his head. How did he get up ? He got up, rubbing his head. " I'm all right," he said, " but I gave the back of my head a blow against the leg of the table. What damage have I done ? " What did he say ? He said, " I'm all right, but I gave the back of my head a blow against the leg of the table. What damage have I done ? " A painted board which was across the top of the window had been pulled off . . . What painted board had been pulled off. A painted board which was across the top of the window had been pulled off. . . . and a glass ornament was in bits on the floor, . . . How was it ? It was in bits. Where was it in bits ? It was in bits on the floor. . . . but the damage would have been much more serious if John had not made a clear space round the window before starting work. What would have been much more serious. The damage would have been more serious. What space had he not made ? He had not made a clear space. Where had he not made a clear space. He had not made a clear space round the window. When had he not made a clear space round the window ? He had not made a clear space before starting work. In what condition would the damage have been much more serious ? It would have been much more serious if he had not made a clear space before starting work. John had a look for the two screws with which the supports for the curtain-rail had been fixed, . . . What screws did he have a look for ? He had a look for the two screws with which the supports for the curtain-rail had been fixed. . . . but they didn't seem to be anywhere about. Where didn't they seem to be ? They didn't seem to be anywhere about. " We may come across them later," he said. " They are quite a common size and I probably have some in my box." What did he say ? He said, " We may come across them later. They are quite a common size and I probably have some in my box." The box had divisions in it so that screws of different sizes might be kept in separate places, . . . What did it have ? It had divisions. Where did it have them ? It had them in it. What might be kept. Screws of different sizes might be kept. Where might they be kept ? They might be kept in separate places. How did the box have divisions in it ? The box had divisions so that screws of different sizes might be kept in separate places. . . . but it had gone on the floor at the time of John's fall . . . Where had it gone ? It had gone on the floor. When had it gone on the floor ? It had gone on the floor at the time of John's fall. . . . and the screws had got mixed. What had got mixed ? The screws had got mixed. They had to be sorted again before he came across two of the size he was looking for. How do they have to be sorted ? They have to be sorted again. What did he come across ? He came across two of the size. What was he looking for ? He was looking for two of the size. What size did he come across ? He came across two of the size he was looking for. When did they have to be sorted again ? They had to be sorted again before he came across two of the size he was looking for. This time John took his shoes off and got up on the table. What did he take off ? He took his shoes off. Where did he get up ? He got up on the table. When the rail was fixed he had to put up the board. What was fixed. The rail was fixed. What did he have to put up ? He had to put up the board. When did he have to put up the board ? When the rail was fixed he had to put up the board. Susan gave him a hammer and some nails . . . What did she give him ? She gave him a hammer and some nails. . . . and he did not take long to get it nailed up. How did he not take ? He did not take long. What did he not take long to do ? He did not take long to get it nailed up. When the curtain had been hooked to the rings Susan was very pleased with the look of it. Where had the curtain been hooked ? It had been hooked to the rings. How pleased was Susan ? She was very pleased. What was she very pleased with ? She was very pleased with the look of it. When was she very pleased with the look of it ? When it had been hooked to the rings she was very pleased with the look of it. The curtains were new. How were they ? They were new. John had said he wouldn't have enough money for new curtains that month, . . . What wouldn't he have ? He wouldn't have enough money for new curtains. When wouldn't he have enough money for new curtains ? He wouldn't have enough money for new curtains that month. What had he said ? He had said he wouldn't have enough money for new curtains that month. . . . but Susan got them from a store which gave her credit, . . . What did she get ? She got them. What did she get them from ? She got them from a store. What store did she get them from ? She got them from a store which gave her credit. . . . and later, when the time came for payment, John would be better off. What came ? Time came. What did time come for ? Time came for payment. How would he be ? He would be better off. When would he be better off ? Later, when time came for payment, he would be better off. " Now let's put some pictures up," said Susan. "Then we'll see a little less of this common wallpaper. It gives me memories of summers at the seaside when we were very young." What did she say ? She said, " Now let's put some pictures up. Then we'll see a little less of this common wallpaper. It gives me memories of summers at the seaside when we were very young." John put up a picture on the wall opposite the window. What did he put up ? He put up a picture. Where did he put up a picture ? He put up a picture on the wall opposite the window. It was an old picture of a brass vessel and a tray with some fruit on it . . . What was it ? It was an old picture of a brass vessel and a tray with some fruit on it . . . and was the work of a Dutch painter. What was it ? It was the work of a Dutch painter. It had been given to them when they got married. Who had it been given to ? It had been given to them. What did they do ? They got married. When had it been given to them ? It had been given to them when they got married. " How's that? " said John when he had put it up, turning to Susan for her opinion. What did he say ? " How's that? " he said. What had he put up ? He had put it up. Who was he turning to ? He was turning to her. What was he turning to her for ? He was turning to her for her opinion. How did he say it ? He said it, turning to her for her opinion. It seemed to Susan that the top of the picture was not quite parallel with the picture-rail, . . . How parallel was it not ? It was not quite parallel. What was it not quite parallel with ? It was not quite parallel with the picture-rail. What did it seem ? It seemed that it was not quite parallel with the picture-rail. Who did it seem to ? It seemed to her. What seemed to her ? It seemed to her that it was not quite parallel with the picture-rail. . . . so John let one side down a little to make it straight. What did he let down ? He let one side down. How did he let one side down ? He let one side down a little. What did he let one side down a little to do ? He let one side down a little to make it straight. "Where are we going to put these horns? " he said, pointing to the horns of a great animal which were fixed to a bit of polished wood. What did he say ? "Where are we going to put these horns? " he said. What horns was he pointing to ? He was pointing to the horns of a great animal which were fixed to a bit of polished wood. How did he say it ? He said it by pointing to the horns of a great animal which were fixed to a bit of polished wood. They had been given to John by his father after a journey to India. Who had they been given to ? They had been given to John. Who had they been given to him by ? They had been given to him by his father. When had they been given to him by his father ? They had been given to him by his father after a journey to India. Susan said that the only possible place for them was over the fireplace. What was over the fireplace ? The only possible place for them was over the fireplace. What did she say ? She said that the only possible place for them was over the fireplace. When John took the ornament up he saw that one chain for hanging it by had come off, . . . What did he take up ? He took the ornament up. What chain had come off ? One chain for hanging it by had come off What did he see ? He saw that one chain for hanging it by had come off. When did he see that one chain for hanging it by had come off.? When he took the ornament up he saw that one chain for hanging it by had come off. . . . so Susan gave him a bit of thick cord which had been round one of the boxes. What cord did she give him ? She gave him a bit of thick cord which had been round one of the boxes. It was strong though not very beautiful. How was it ? It was strong though not very beautiful. When John had put up the horns and taken away the boxes in which the books had come, he was ready for a rest. What had he put up ? He had put up the horns. What boxes had he taken away ? He had taken away the boxes in which the books had come. What was he ready for ? He was ready for a rest. When was he ready for a rest ? When he had put up the horns and taken away the boxes in which the books had come, he was ready for a rest. Susan said she would put a match to the fire and then get him some food. What would she put a match to ? She would put a match to the fire. What would she get him ? She would get him some food. What did she say ? She said she would put a match to the fire and then get him some food. She had put some sticks and coal in the fireplace earlier in the day. What had she put ? She had put some sticks and coal. Where had she put them ? She had put them in the fireplace. When had she put them in the fireplace ? She had put them in the fireplace earlier in the day. When the fire was lighted, clouds of smoke came out into the room. What was lighted ? The fire was lighted. What came out into the room ? Clouds of smoke came out into the room. " Quick, get the window open," she said to John, who was coughing because of the smoke. What did she say ? She said, " Quick, get the window open." What person did she say it to ? She said it to him who was coughing because of the smoke. John went to the window Where did he go ? He went to the window. but the lock was very stiff and he was unable to get it open. How stiff was it ? It was very stiff. What was he unable to do ? He was unable to get it open. He took out his knife . . . What did he take out ? He took out his knife. . . . and put the blade in the lock . . . What did he put ? He put the blade. Where did he put it ? He put it in the lock. . . . and gave a push. What did he give ? He gave a push. It had no effect. What effect did it have ? It had no effect. Then he put a drop of oil on it . . . What did he put ? He put a drop of oil. Where did he put it ? He put it on the lock. . . .and after working for some time he got it loose. How long did he work ? He worked for some time. How did he get it ? He got it loose. When did he get it loose ? After working for some time he got it loose. He gave a pull . . . What did he give ? He gave a pull. . . . and the window came down with a loud noise. What did it come down with ? It came down with a loud noise. John took a deep breath. What breath did he take ? He took a deep breath. "That's better," he said, " but we'll have to do something about this window. The cord is broken, I see. It'll be hard to get the window shut again." What did he say ? He said, "That's better, but we'll have to do something about this window. The cord is broken, I see. It'll be hard to get the window shut again." There was no answer from Susan, who hadn't given much attention to what he was saying. What was there ? There was no answer from Susan. What attention hadn't she given ? She hadn't given much attention. What didn't she given much attention to ? She hadn't given much attention to what he was saying. She was much more troubled by the fact that the smoke had made her clean cushions and covers black and that her hands and nails were dirty and she had no way of washing them. What had made her clean cushions and covers black ? The smoke had made her clean cushions and covers black. What were dirty ? Her hands and nails were dirty. What did she have no way of doing ? She had no way of washing them. What was she troubled by ? She was troubled by the fact that the smoke had made her clean cushions and covers black and that her hands and nails were dirty and she had no way of washing them. How was she troubled by that fact ? She was much more troubled by that fact At this minute she was regretting bitterly that she had let John take her away from their small, bright, electrically heated flat to this cold, dirty house which had smoking coal fires and no water. What had she let him take her away from ? She had let John take her away from their small, bright, electrically heated flat. What had she let him take her away to ? She had let John take her away to this cold, dirty house which had smoking coal fires and no water. How was she regretting that she had let John take her away from flat to this house ? At this minute she was regretting bitterly that she had let John take her away from their small, bright, electrically heated flat to this cold, dirty house which had smoking coal fires and no water.
Saburo Terada
Saitama Prefecture