Basic English Institute
Almost any morning, at about half-past nine, you may see Mrs. Jones walking up High Street with the air of a woman who has important business to do. What air of a woman is she walking up High Street ? She is walking up High Street with the air of a woman who has important business to do. What may I see Mrs. Jones doing ? You may see Mrs. walking up High Street with the air of a woman who has important business to do. When may I see Mrs. walking up High Street with the air of a woman who has important business to do ? Almost any morning, at about half-past nine, you may see Mrs. Jones walking up High Street with the air of a woman who has important business to do. She does her marketing early because there is a better selection of goods then than later in the day. What does she do ? She does her marketing ? When does she her marketing ? She does her marketing early. What is there ? There is a selection of goods. When is there a better selection of goods than ? There is a better selection of goods then than later in the day. Why does she do her marketing early ? Because there is a better selection of goods then than later in the day. Some women give their orders on the telephone. What do they give ? They give orders. How do they give orders ? They give orders on the telephone. Mrs. Jones doesn't do this because she is certain that the trades-men take less trouble with telephone orders. What doesn't she do ? She doesn't do that. What trouble do trades-men take ? They take less trouble ? What do they take less trouble with ? They take less trouble with telephone orders. What is she certain ? She is certain that the trades-men take less trouble with telephone orders. Why doesn't she do that ? Because she is certain that the trades-men take less trouble with telephone orders. Being a good housekeeper, she goes to the stores where the prices are lowest. What is she ? She is a good housekeeper. Where does she go ? She goes to the store. What store does she go ? She goes to the stores where the prices are lowest. Why does she go to the stores where the prices are lowest ? Being a good housekeeper, she goes to the stores where the prices are lowest. Before starting, she makes a list of all the things she has to get. What does she make ? She makes a list of all the things. What things does she make a list of ? She makes a list of all the things she has to get. When does she make a list of all the things she has to get ? Before starting, she makes a list of all the things she has to get. Then, taking this list, and a basket for the parcels, and an old black handbag in which she keeps her housekeeping money, she goes out. What does she take ? She takes that list and a basket for the parcels and old black handbag. What old black handbag does she take ? She takes an old black handbag in which she keeps housekeeping money. How does she go out ? Taking that list, and a basket for the parcels, and an old black handbag in which she keeps her housekeeping money, she goes out. This morning Mrs. Jones was later than she generally is because she was looking after her son, who is ill in bed. How was she ? She was later. What was she later than ? She was later than she generally is. When was she later than she generally is ? That morning she was later than she generally is. How is her son ? He is ill in bed. Why was she later that morning than she generally is ? Because she was looking after her son, who is ill in bed. She went first to get him a bit of fish. What did she go first to do ? She went first to get him a bit of fish. The storekeeper was writing with a chalk on a blackboard. What was he writing ? He was writing with a chalk. Where was he writing with a chalk ? He was writing with a chalk on a blackboard. When he saw Mrs. Jones, he gave a shake of his head, pointing to the board, which said ' NO FISH TILL 11.' Who did he see ? He saw Mrs. Jones. What did he give a shake of ? He gave a shake of his head. What was he pointing to ? He was pointing to the board. What board was he pointing to ? He was pointing to the board, which said ' NO FISH TILL 11 '. When did he give a shake of his head, pointing to the board, which said ' NO FISH TILL 11 ' ? When he saw Mrs. Jones, he gave a shake of his head, pointing to the board, which said ' NO FISH TILL 11.' " Haven't you got anything at all ? "said Mrs. Jones. What did she say ? " Haven't you got anything at all ? " she said. " Nothing but a little smoked fish," was the man's answer. What was the man's answer ? " Nothing but a little smoked fish," was the man's answer. " I had some boxes of fish What did he have ? He had some boxes of fish. but all of it was bad. What was bad ? All of it was bad. Now I am waiting for some more to come from the market." What is he waiting for some more to do ? He is waiting for some more to come from the market. When is he waiting for some more to come from the market ? Now he is waiting for some more to come from the market. "What am I going to do?" said Mrs. Jones. What did she say ? "What am I going to do?" she said. "My son has influenza . . . What does he have ? He has influenza. . . . and I have been ordered to give him some steamed fish in the middle of the day. What has she been ordered to do ? She has been ordered to give him some steamed fish in the middle of the day. But it's quite impossible for me to come again at 11. How impossible is it ? It's quite impossible. What is it quite impossible for her to do ? It's quite impossible for her to come again at 11. I have so much to do." What does she have ? She has so much to do. The storekeeper kindly said that he would send her a bit when it came, . . . What would he send her ? He would send her a bit. When would he send her a bit ? He would send her a bit when it came. What did he kindly say ? He kindly said that he would send her a bit when it came. . . . so everything was all right. What was all right ? Everything is all right. Going across to the opposite side of the street, Mrs. Jones went into an important-looking store which had food of every sort in its windows. Where did she go ? She went across to the opposite side of the street. What did she go into ? She went into an important-looking store. What stores did she go into ? She went into an important-looking store which had food of every sort in its windows. How did she go into an important-looking store which had every sort of food in its windows ? Going across to the opposite side of the street, she went into an important-looking store which had food of every sort in its windows. A man who was cutting up meat came forward with a smile when he saw her . . . What was he cutting up ? He was cutting up meat. What man came forward ? A man who was cutting up meat came forward. How did he come forward ? He came forward with a smile. When did he come forward with a smile ? He came forward with a smile when he saw her. What man came forward with a smile when he saw her ? A man who was cutting up meat came forward with a smile when he saw her . . . and said " Good morning, Mrs. Jones. What may l do for you today? " What did he say ? He said, " Good morning, Mrs. Jones. What may l do for you today? " Then, seeing that she was eyeing a bit of meat in front of her, he went on, What was she eyeing ? She was eyeing a bit of meat in front of her. What was he seeing ? He was seeing that she was eyeing a bit of meat in front of her. How did he go on ? Seeing that she was eyeing a bit of meat in front of her, he went on ? " No, I wouldn't take that if I was you. What wouldn't he take ? He wouldn't take that. In what condition wouldn't he take that ? He wouldn't take that if he was she. I'll be straight with you. How will he be ? He'll be straight. Who will he be straight with ? He'll be straight with her. We've been sent some meat of very poor quality this week. What have they been sent ? They have been sent some meat of very poor quality. When have they been sent some meat of very poor quality ? They have been sent some meat of very poor quality this week. Now this is what I would have myself. What is it ? It is what he would have himself. It's the best bit of meat I have in the store." What is it ? It's the best bit of meat. What best bit of meat is it ? It's the best bit of meat he has in the store. The meat in question was a bit of rolled beef, dark red with a circle of white fat round it. What was it ? It was a bit of rolled beef, dark red with a circle of white fat round it. 'That will do very well," said Mrs. Jones. What did she say ? 'That will do very well," she said. The man put it on the scales, placing some weights on the other side. Where did he put it ? He put it on the scales. What was he placing ? He was placing some weights. Where was he placing ? He was placing some weights on the other side. How did he put it on the scales ? He put it on the scales, placing some weights on the other side. "A little over three pounds," he said. "That'll be forty seven cents. Is that all right? " What did he say ? He said, "A little over three pounds, that'll be forty seven cents. Is that all right? " Mrs. Jones said she'd take it . . . What did she say ? She said she'd take it. . . . and was handed a ticket with the price on it. What was she handed ? She was handed a ticket with the price on it. She gave this and two quarters to the girl who was taking the money. What did she give ? She gave that and two quarters. Who did she give that and two quarters to ? She gave that and two quarters to the girl. What was she taking ? She was taking the money. What girl did she give that and two quarters to ? She gave that and two quarters to the girl who was taking the money. After stamping the ticket, the girl gave it back to her with five cents change. What did she stamp ? She stamped the ticket. What did she give it back to her with ? She gave it back to her with five cents change. How did she give it back to her with five cents change ? After stamping the ticket, she gave it back to her with five cents change. Mrs. Jones took the ticket back to the man . . . What did she take back ? She took the ticket back. Who did she take the ticket back to ? She took the ticket back to the man. . . . and he gave her the parcel of meat in exchange for it. What did he give her ? He gave her the parcel of meat. How did he give her the parcel of meat ? He gave her the parcel of meat in exchange for it. When Mrs. Jones had put the meat safely in her basket, she went to another part of the building to get some things for her store-cupboard. What had she put ? She had put the meat. Where had she put the meat ? She had out the meat in her basket. How had she put the meat in her basket ? She had put the meat safely in her basket Where did she go ? She went to another part of the building. What did she go to another part of the building to do ? She went to another part of the building to get some things for her store-cupboard. There were two or three other persons in front of her, . . . Who were there ? There were two or three other persons. Where were there two or three other persons ? There were two or three other persons in front of her. . . . and while she was waiting for her turn she got into talk with a little girl who had a long pigtail down her back. What was she waiting for ? She was waiting for her turn. Who did she get into talk with ? She got into talk with a little girl. What little girl did she get into talk with ? She got into talk with a little girl who had a long pigtail down her back. She was surprised that such a small girl had come to the store by herself. Who had come to the store ? Such a small girl had come to the store. How had she come to the store ? She had come to the store by herself. What was she surprised ? She was surprised that such a small girl had come to the store by herself. The girl said that her mother had a delicate chest and was in hospital, so she was looking after her father. What chest did she have ? She had a delicate chest. Where was she ? She was in hospital. Who was she looking after ? She was looking after her father. What did the girl say ? She said that her mother had a delicate chest and was in hospital, so she was looking after her father. "What are you going to give him when he comes back tonight ? " said Mrs. Jones. What did she say ? She said, "What are you going to give him when he comes back tonight ? " "Sponge-cake and jelly " was the little girl's answer, What was the little girl's answer ? "Sponge-cake and jelly " was the little girl's answer, and everyone gave a laugh. Who gave a laugh ? Everyone gave a laugh. Two women who had been waiting longer than the little girl were kind enough to let her get in front of them. Who had they been waiting longer than ? They had been waiting longer than the little girl. What women were kind ? Two women who had been waiting longer than the little girl were kind. What were they kind enough to do ? They were kind enough to let her be in front of them. If an older person had done this, there would naturally have been an outcry. Who had done that ? An old person had done that. What would there have been ? There would have been an outcry. How would there have been an outcry ? There would naturally have been an outcry. In what condition would there naturally have been an outcry ? If an older person had done this, there would naturally have been an outcry. When Mrs. Jones's turn came to give her order, she took a look at her list. What came to give her order ? Mrs. Jones's turn came to give her order. What did she take a look at ? She took a look at her list. This is what she had put down : 2 lb. white sugar 2 lb. brown sugar l lb. rice 1 lb. coffee 1 tin of meat soup 6 boxes of matches 3 cakes of soap 6 oz. soap powder What is it ? It is what she had put down. What things had been put down ? Rice, meat, soup, coffee, matches, soap and two kinds of sugar. While she was reading out the things, the store-girl went and got them one by one from the shelves. What was she reading out ? She was reading out the things. How did the store-girl go and take them ? She went and took them one by one from the shelves. "Are you interested in having some of this new cake powder? " said the girl when she had put everything together. What did she say ? "Are you interested in having some of this new cake powder? " she said. When did she say it ? She said it when she had put everything together. "It's free this week. How is it ? It's free. When is it free ? It's free this week. The maker is giving it away as an advertisement. How is the maker giving it away ? The maker is giving it away as an advertisement. You make a paste with it by the addition of a little milk What do I make ? You make a paste. What do I make a paste with ? You make a paste with it. How do I make a paste with it ? You make a paste with it by addition of a little milk. and it is then ready to go into the oven." What is it then ready to do ? It is then ready to go into the oven. Mrs. Jones saw that it had the trade mark of a good maker. What did it have ? It had the trade mark of a good maker. What did she see ? She saw that it had the trade mark of a good maker. "Yes, I'll take some," she said. What did she say ? "Yes, I'll take some," she said. "It seems very simple. How simple does it seen ? It seems very simple. And that is all for today." What is it ? It is all for today. The girl quickly did the addition . . . What did she do ? She did the addition. How did she do the addition ? She quickly did the addition. . . . and gave her a ticket marked 5/4 1/2. What ticket did she give her ? She gave her a ticket marked 5/4 1/2. A little way down the street was a store which had fruit and garden produce. Where was a store ? A little way down the street was a store. What store was a little way down the street. A little way down the street was a store which had fruit and garden produce. Here Mrs. Jones gave an order for a hundred weight of potatoes to be sent later in the day . . . What did she give an order for ? She gave an order for a hundred weight of potatoes. Where did she give an order for a hundred weight of potatoes ? There she gave an order for a hundred weight of potatoes. What potatoes did she give an order for a hundred weight of ? She gave an order for a hundred weight of potatoes to be sent later in the day . . . and got some oranges for her son. What did she get ? She got some oranges for her son. When she came out, a small boy in the doorway, with a very dirty face and no shoes on, was unable to take his eyes off the oranges in her bag. What did she do ? She came out. Who was unable to keep his eyes off the oranges in her bag ? A small boy in the doorway, with a very dirty face and no shoes on, was unable to take his eyes off the oranges in her bag. When was he unable to keep his eyes off the oranges in her bag ? When she came out, he was unable to take his eyes off the oranges in her bag. It was clear that his mouth was watering, . . . What was watering ? His mouth was watering. What was clear ? It was clear that his mouth was watering. . . . and, having a kind heart, she gave him one. What heart did she have ? She had a kind heart. What did she give him ? She gave him one. How did she give him one ? Having a kind heart, she gave him one. She was rewarded by a smile of pleasure. What was she rewarded by ? She was rewarded by a smile of pleasure. The store where Mrs. Jones got her milk was a clean-looking place in a side street. What did she get ? She got her milk. What was the store ? It was a clean-looking place in a side street. What store was a clean-looking place in a side street ? The store where she got her milk was a clean-looking place in a side street. It had white walls and a stone floor . . . What did it have ? It had white walls and a stone floor. . . . and the woman inside was dressed in a white overall. How was she dressed ? She was dressed in a white overall. "I'll have to take another pint of milk this morning," Mrs. Jones said to the woman. What did she say to the woman ? "I'll have to take another pint of milk this morning," she said to the woman. "My son is ill . . . How is he ? He is ill. . . . and I didn't get enough from the milkman." What didn't she get ? She didn't get enough. Who didn't she get enough from ? She didn't get enough from the milkman. The woman took a pint measure . . . What did she take ? She took a pint measure. . . . and with it she put the milk into a bottle. What did she put ? She put the milk. What did she put the milk into ? She put the milk into a bottle. How did she put the milk into a bottle. With it she put the milk into a bottle. In addition to the milk, Mrs. Jones took six eggs and half a pound of butter. What did she take ? She took six eggs and half a pound of butter. In addition to what did she take ? She took milk, in addition to the six eggs and half a pound of butter. She didn't put the bag of eggs into her basket for fear that they might get broken, What didn't she put ? She didn't put the bag of eggs. What didn't she put the bag of eggs into ? She didn't put the bag of eggs into her basket. For what fear didn't put the bag of eggs into her basket ? She didn't put the bag of eggs into her basket for fear that they might get broken. In answer to Mrs. Jones's question " How much is that ? " the woman said, " Two and fifty cents," doing the addition in her head. In answer to what question did she say ? In answer to Mrs. Jones's question " How much is that ? " she said. What did she say ? She said, "Two and fifty cents." How did she say ? She said, doing addition in her head. When she saw Mrs. Jones taking a pound out of her bag, she said, "Haven't you got anything smaller? I've very little change today." What did she see Mrs. Jones doing ? She saw her taking a pound out of her bag. What did she say ? She said, "Haven't you got anything smaller? I've very little change today." When did she say it ? When she saw Mrs. Jones taking a pound out of her bag, she said it. Mrs. Jones was able to give her the right amount. What was she able to do ? She was able to give her the right amount. On the way back, Mrs. Jones went to Mr. Huggett's store to have a look round. Where did she go ? She went to Mr. Huggett's store. What did she go to Mr. Huggett's store to do ? She went to Mr. Huggett's store to have a look round. When did she go to Mr. Huggett's store to have a look round. On the way back, she went to Mr. Huggett's store to have a look round. Mr. Huggett has a surprising selection of goods. What does he have ? He has a surprising selection of goods. You may get almost anything in his store, ranging from nails to a garden roller. What may they get ? They may get almost anything. Where may they get almost anything ? They may get almost anything in his store. In what range may they get almost anything in his store ? They may get almost anything in his store, ranging from nails to a garden roller. "Are those the only pots you have ? " said Mrs. Jones, pointing to some black iron pots on a shelf. What did she say ? "Are those the only pots you have ? " she said. How did she say it ? She said, pointing to some black iron pots on the shelf. " No," he said, . . . What did he say ? He said, "No.". . . . "there are some made of aluminum which came in this morning. What are there ? There are some made of aluminum which came in this morning. " Mr. Huggett undid a box to let her see them. What did he undo ? He undid the box. What did he undo the box to do ? He undid a box to let her see them. Mrs. Jones was uncertain about aluminum. What was she uncertain about ? She was uncertain about aluminum. " Isn't there a general belief that food cooked in aluminum have a bad effect on the digestion ? " she said. "What is your view, Mr. Huggett ? " What did she say ? She said, " Isn't there a general belief that food cooked in aluminum have a bad effect on the digestion ? What is your view, Mr. Huggett ? " Mr. Huggett said that his food had been cooked in aluminum pots for the last twenty years What pots had his food been cooked in ? It had been cocked in aluminum pots. How many years had it been cooked in aluminum pots ? It had been cooked in aluminum pots for the last twenty years. and there was nothing wrong with his digestion. What was there ? There was nothing wrong. What was there nothing wrong with ? There was nothing wrong with his digestion. He overcame Mrs. Jones's doubts What did he overcome ? He overcame Mrs. Jones's doubts. and she took one of the smaller pots, priced at four and three. What did she take ? Se took one of the smaller pots. What one of the smaller pots did she take ? She took one of the smaller pots, priced at four and three. He then saw her looking at some buckets. What did he then see her doing ? He then see her looking at some buckets. " Here is a good strong bucket," he said, " made of the best zinc. Only three and nine and very cheap at the price. Will you have it? Good." What did he say ? He said, " Here is a good strong bucket made of the best zinc. Only three and nine and very cheap at the price. Will you have it? Good." Mrs. Jones said she was needing something to take out ink marks. What was she needing ? She was needing something. What was she needing something to do ? She was needing something to take out ink marks. What did Mrs. Jones say ? She said she was needing something to take out ink marks. Mr. Huggett took a bottle from one of his shelves, saying, . . . "This chemical is the very thing for your purpose. What did he take ? He took a bottle. What did he take a bottle from ? He took a bottle from one of his shelves. How did he take a bottle from one of his shelves ? He took a bottle from one of his shelves, saying, "This chemical is the very thing for your purpose. "It will take marks out of almost anything without causing damage." What will it take ? It will take marks. What will it take out of ? It will take marks out of almost anything. What will it take marks out of anything without doing ? It will take marks out of almost anything without causing damage. Mr. Huggett is an expert at pushing his goods. What is he good at doing ? He is good at pushing his goods. Before he let Mrs. Jones go out of the store he had got her to take some silver-plated fish-knives, an electric bulb which he said would give twice as much light as a normal bulb without using any more current, six yards of cord, and half a gallon of paraffin. What did he let her go out of ? He let her go out of the store. What light would an electric bulb give ? It would give twice as much light as a normal bulb. What would it give twice as much light as a normal bulb without doing ? It would give twice as much light as a normal bulb without using any more current. What did he say ? He said that it would give twice as much light as a normal bulb without using any more current. What had he got her to do ? He had got her to take some silver-plated fish-knives, an electric bulb which he said would give twice as much light as a normal bulb without using any more current, six yards of cord, and half a gallon of paraffin. When had he got her to take them ? Before he let Mrs. Jones go out of the store he had got her to take them. In addition, she took a patent tin-opener on condition that he would give her the money back if she wasn't pleased with it. What did she take ? She took a patent tin-opener. How did he take a patent tin-opener ? In addition, she took a patent tin-opener. What would he give her back ? He would give her the money back. In what condition would he giver her the money back ? He would give her the money back if she wasn't pleased with it.. On what condition did she take a patent tin-opener ? She took a patent tin-opener on condition that he would give her the money back if she wasn't pleased with it. " I don't generally let things be taken on approval," said Mr. Huggett, . . . What did he say ? He said, " I don't generally let things be taken on approval." . . . "but I'll do it this time because I'm certain you'll keep it when you've given it a test." When will he do it ? He'll do it this time. When will she keep it ? She'll keep it when she has given it a test. What is he certain ? He's certain she'll keep it when she has give it a test. Why will he do it this time ? Because he's certain she'll keep it when she has give it a test. Mrs. Jones said she would have the things put down on her account . . . What would she have put down on her account ? She would have the things put down on her account. What did she say ? She said she would have the things put down on her account. . . . and made a request for them to be sent as quickly as possible. What way did she make a request for them to be done ? She made a request for them to be sent as quickly as possible. " I haven't seen your son here for some time," said Mrs. Jones when she was on her way out. What did she say ? " I haven't seen your son here for some time," she said. When did she say it ? She said it when she was on her way out. "What is he doing now?" What did she say ? "What is he doing now?" she said. "He has got a place with a house-painter," said Mr. Huggett. What did he say ? "He has got a place with a house-painter," he said. . " It's a good trade . . . What sort of trade is it ? It's a good trade. . . . and he is doing well. How is he doing ? He is doing well. He never had much interest in business." What did he never have ? He never had much interest in business. By the time Mrs. Jones got away from Mr. Huggett she was quite tired. Who did she get away from ? She got away from Mr. Huggett. How tired was she ? She was quite tired. Till when was she quite tired ? By the time she got away from Mr. Huggett she was quite tired. At first she hadn't been troubled by the weight of her basket, . . . What hadn't she been troubled by ? She hadn't been troubled by the weight of her basket. When hadn't she been troubled by the weight of her basket ? At first she hadn't been troubled by the weight of her basket. . . . but now it was pulling the muscles of her arm . . . What and when was it pulling ? Now it was pulling the muscles of her arm. . . . and she still had to go half a mile to get back to her house. How far did she still have to go ? She still had to go half a mile. What did she still have to go half a mile to do ? She still had to go half a mile to get back to her house. She said to herself that she might be wiser to give her orders by telephone as her friends did. How might she be ? She might be wiser. What might she be wiser to do ? She might be wiser to give her orders by telephone as her friends did. But, no. But what is it ? It is no. The thought of the beautiful bit of beef which would be put on the table that night, gold and brown on the outside and still a little red in the middle, made her put the idea out of her head. What would be put on the table ? The beautiful bit of beef would be put on the table. When would it be put on the table ? It would be put on the table that night. How would it be ? It would be gold and brown on the outside and still a little red in the middle. What made her put the idea out of her head ? The thought of the beautiful bit of beef which would be put on the table that night, gold and brown on the outside and still a little red in the middle, made her put the idea out of her head.
Saburo Terada
Saitama Prefecture