Упражнение 44. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

Swift, ... famous English writer, was travelling one day on ... horseback with his servant. ... weather was bad, it was raining, and ... roads were muddy. In ... evening the two men came to ... inn. Before going to ... bed Swift told his servant to clean his boots. But ... servant was lazy and did not do it. In ... morning Swift asked ... servant why he had not cleaned ... boots. "What's ... use cleaning ... boots now?" said ... servant. "... roads are muddy, and ... boots will soon be dirty again." "All right," said ... writer. "Let's go. We must continue ... journey." "But I haven't had ... breakfast," said ... displeased servant. "Well, what's ... use giving you ... breakfast now?" said Swift: "You will soon be hungry again."

Swift, a famous English writer, was travelling one day on horseback with his servant. The weather was bad, it was raining, and the roads were muddy. In the evening the two men came to an inn. Before going to bed Swift told his servant to clean his boots. But the servant was lazy and did not do it. In the morning Swift asked the servant why he had not cleaned the boots. "What's the use cleaning the boots now?" said the servant. "The roads are muddy, and the boots will soon be dirty again." "All right," said the writer. "Let's go. We must continue the journey." "But I haven't had breakfast," said the displeased servant. "Well, what's the use giving you breakfast now?" said Swift: "You will soon be hungry again."

Запомните следующие застывшие словосочетания:

in fact - в действительности, на самом деле, фактически

the same - то же самое, одно и то же

Запомните употребление артикля в восклицательных предложениях, начинающихся со слова "what":

What a good boy! Какой славный мальчуган! (Вот молодец!)

What a long story! Какой долгий рассказ!

What a day! Что за день!

Упражнение 45. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

In ... small town in ... East there was once ... man who had ... parrot. ... parrot was taught to say ... words: "There is no doubt about it." It used to repeat these words all ... day long. Every time it was asked ... question, it gave ... same answer. "There is no doubt about it." One day ... man decided to sell ... bird; so he put ... parrot into ... cage and went to ... market with it. "Twenty pounds for ... very clever parrot!" he cried. ... man who was passing by heard this and turned to ... parrot. "Are you worth twenty pounds?" he asked. "There is no doubt about it!" answered ... parrot. "What ... clever parrot!" said ... man and bought ... bird. He took ... parrot home and invited his friends to look at ... clever bird. ... friends came and looked at ... parrot and talked to it. Now you must know that ... man was not rich. In ... fact, he was often short of ... money. So ... week or two later, sitting in ... armchair and looking at ... parrot, he said: "What... fool I was to throw away such ... lot of ... money!" "There is no doubt about it!" cried ... parrot. And this time ... bird was right.

In a small town in the East there was once a man who had a parrot. The parrot was taught to say the words: "There is no doubt about it." It used to repeat these words all day long. Every time it was asked a question, it gave the same answer. "There is no doubt about it." One day the man decided to sell the bird; so he put the parrot into the cage and went to the market with it. "Twenty pounds for a very clever parrot!" he cried. A man who was passing by heard this and turned to the parrot. "Are you worth twenty pounds?" he asked. "There is no doubt about it!" answered the parrot. "What a clever parrot!" said the man and bought the bird. He took the parrot home and invited his friends to look at the clever bird. The friends came and looked at the parrot and talked to it. Now you must know that the man was not rich. In fact, he was often short of money. So a week or two later, sitting in an armchair and looking at the parrot, he said: "What a fool I was to throw away such a lot of money!" "There is no doubt about it!" cried the parrot» And this time the bird was right.

Упражнение 46. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

... train stopped at ... little station. ... passenger looked out of the window of ... train carriage and saw ... woman selling ... cakes. ... man had not had ... breakfast in ... morning. He was hungry and wanted to buy ... cake. ... woman was standing rather far from ... carriage. ... man did not want to go and buy ... cake himself because he was afraid to miss ... train. He saw ... boy who was walking along ... platform near ... carriage. He called ... boy and asked him: "How much does ... cake cost?" "Threepence, sir," answered ... boy. ... man gave him a sixpence and said: "Bring me ... cake, and with ... other threepence buy ... cake for yourself." ... boy took ... money and went to ... woman. A few minutes later ... boy returned. He was eating ... cake. He gave ... man threepence change and said: "... woman had only one cake, sir."

A train stopped at a little station. A passenger looked out of the window of a train carriage and saw a woman selling cakes. The man had not had breakfast in the morning. He was hungry and wanted to buy a cake. The woman was standing rather far from the carriage. The man did not want to go and buy a cake himself because he was afraid to miss the train. He saw a boy who was walking along the platform near the carriage. He called the boy and asked him: "How much does a cake cost?" "Threepence, sir," answered the boy. The man gave him a sixpence and said: "Bring me a cake, and with the other threepence buy a cake for yourself." The boy took the money and went to the woman. A few minutes later the boy returned. He was eating a cake. He gave the man threepence change and said: "The woman had only one cake, sir."

Запомните следующие застывшие словосочетания:

it's high time - давно пора

to take care of - проявлять заботу, ухаживать
заботиться о своём здоровье — take care of one's health

to take aim - прицеливаться (во что-л. / в кого-л.

Упражнение 47. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

... crow once said to her children: "It's ... high time for you to look for ... food." With these words she turned them out of ... nest and took them to ... field. But ... crow's children did not like ... idea. "We'd rather go back to ... nest," they cried. "It's so nice when you bring ... food to us!" "Indeed!" said their mother. "You are big enough to feed yourselves. My mother turned me out of ... nest when I was much younger, and I had to take ... care of myself." "But... people will kill us with their guns," said ... young crows. "No ... fear of that," answered their mother. "Before ... people shoot, they take ... aim, and that takes ... time. When you see ... man raising ... gun to his face, you must just fly away." "That's ... simple thing to do," said ... children, "but supposing ... man or ... boy wants to throw ... stone at us: in such ... case he won't have to take ... aim." "Well, then he will have to bend down to pick up ... stone," said ... crow. "But what if he carries ... stone in his hand ready?" "Why, if you are clever enough to think of that," said ... mother, "you are clever enough to take ... care of yourselves." And she flew away leaving ... young crows in ... field.

A crow once said to her children: "It's high time for you to look for food." With these words she turned them out of the nest and took them to the field. But the crow's children did not like the idea. "We'd rather go back to the nest," they cried. "It's so nice when you bring food to us!" "Indeed!" said their mother. "You are big enough to feed yourselves. My mother turned me out of the nest when I was much younger, and I had to take care of myself." "But people will kill us with their guns," said the young crows. "No fear of that," answered their mother. "Before people shoot, they take aim, and that takes time. When you see a man raising a gun to his face, you must just fly away." "That's a simple thing to do," said the children, "but supposing a man or a boy wants to throw a stone at us: in such a case he won't have to take aim." "Well, then he will have to bend down to pick up a stone," said the crow. "But what if he carries a stone in his hand ready?" "Why, if you are clever enough to think of that," said the mother, "you are clever enough to take care of yourselves." And she flew away leaving the young crows in the field.

Упражнение 48. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

... Russia is such ... large country that when it is night in one part of ... country, it is day in another part, when it is winter in one part of ... country, it is already summer in another. Imagine it is ... beginning of ... May now. It is spring in ... St. Petersburg. ... weather is fine. It is still cool at... night, but it is quite warm in ... afternoon. It sometimes rains, but ... rain is warm, too. ... ground is covered with ... soft green grass, and ... trees are covered with ... green leaves. But while it is spring in St. Petersburg, it is still winter in ... north of our country at ... beginning of ... May. Here it is cold and sometimes frosty, ... rivers and ... seas are covered with ... ice. ... ice does not melt in some places even in summer. ... ground is covered with ... deep snow. In ... south of our country ... weather is quite different. It is already summer in ... Caucasus and in ... Crimea. It is much warmer than in St. Petersburg. It is sometimes even hot. ... sky is usually cloudless and it seldom rains here. People wear ... summer clothes.

Russia is such a large country that when it is night in one part of the country, it is day in another part, when it is winter in one part of the country, it is already summer in another. Imagine it is the beginning of May now. It is spring in St. Petersburg. The weather is fine. It is still cool at night, but it is quite warm in the afternoon. It sometimes rains, but the rain is warm, too. The ground is covered with soft green grass, and the trees are covered with green leaves. But while it is spring in St. Petersburg, it is still winter in the north of our country at the beginning of May. Here it is cold and sometimes frosty, the rivers and seas are covered with ice. The ice does not melt in some places even in summer. The ground is covered with deep snow. In the south of our country the weather is quite different. It is already summer in the Caucasus and in the Crimea. It is much warmer than in St. Petersburg. It is sometimes even hot. The sky is usually cloudless and it seldom rains here. People wear summer clothes. they enjoy gardening. You should see their gardens in the summertime - they are beautiful!

Упражнение 49. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

1. Is this ... interesting book? Is this ... very interesting book? Is this ... very interesting book you have spoken about so much? It is such ... interesting book. Is it ... same book you have recommended to us? 2. She is ... teacher. She is ... good teacher. She is ... teacher of our school. She is ... teacher of ... English. Here is ... teacher, ask her about... question which interests you. 3. There is ... word in ... text which I cannot understand. There is ... very difficult word, too, which I cannot pronounce. Here is ... word I was looking up in the dictionary. This word is ... adverb. 4. ... first men were vegetarians. 5. Serfdom was abolished in ... Russia in ... 19th century. 6. Columbus, who discovered ... America, was ... native of ... Genoa. 7. ... Rome is ... ancient town. 8. ... Ireland, ... Scotland and ... Wales are parts of ... United Kingdom. 9. What is ... name of ... ocean between ... America and ... Asia? — ... Pacific. 10. Last summer I visited ... Switzerland and ... Germany. 11. ... Amsterdam is ... capital of ... Netherlands.

1. Is this an interesting book? Is this a very interesting book? Is this the very interesting book you have spoken about so much? It is such an interesting book. Is it the same book you have recommended to us? 2. She is a teacher. She is a good teacher. She is a teacher of our school. She is a teacher of English. Here is the teacher, ask her about the question which interests you. 3. There is a word in the text which I cannot understand. There is a very difficult word, too, which I cannot pronounce. Here is the word I was looking up in the dictionary. This word is an adverb. 4. The first men were vegetarians. 5. Serfdom was abolished in Russia in the 19th century. 6. Columbus, who discovered America, was a native of Genoa. 7. Rome is an ancient town. 8. Ireland, Scotland and Wales are parts of the United Kingdom. 9. What is the name of the ocean between America and Asia? — The Pacific. 10. Last summer I visited Switzerland and Germany. 11. Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. 12. It was such a shock. 13. It's high time to take a break.

Упражнение 50. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

Once there lived ... king. His name was Midas. He had ... little daughter. They lived in ... beautiful palace with ... wonderful garden around it. Now ... king was very fond of ... gold. He loved ... gold more than anything else in ... world. One day, when ... king was looking at his gold, ... young man appeared before him. "You are ... very rich man, Midas," said ... young man. "Yes," said ... king, "but I would like to be richer. I would like to have ... golden touch. I want everything that I touch to turn into ... gold." ... young man was ... magician, and he gave ... king ... golden touch which he wanted to have. ... king was very happy. He touched ... table, and ... table became gold. He went into ... garden. There were ... beautiful roses in ... garden. He touched ... roses, and they also became gold. ... king's daughter, who loved ... roses very much, saw it and began to cry. "Don't cry, ... dear daughter," said ... king and touched his daughter's head. ... next moment... girl turned into ... beautiful gold statue.

Once there lived a king. His name was Midas. He had a little daughter. They lived in a beautiful palace with a wonderful garden around it. Now the king was very fond of gold. He loved gold more than anything else in the world. One day, when the king was looking at his gold, a young man appeared before him. "You are a very rich man, Midas," said the young man. "Yes," said the king, "but I would like to be richer. I would like to have a golden touch. I want everything that I touch to turn into gold." The young man was a magician, and he gave the king the golden touch which he wanted to have. The king was very happy. He touched a table, and the table became gold. He went into the garden. There were beautiful roses in the garden. He touched the roses, and they also became gold. The king's daughter, who loved the roses very much, saw it and began to cry. "Don't cry, dear daughter", said the king and touched his daughter's head. The next moment the girl turned into a beautiful gold statue.

Запомните следующее застывшее словосочетание:

The fact is (was) that... Дело в том, что...

Обратите внимание на употребление артикля со словом other (другой):

another — другой (неопределенный), какой-то другой, еще один

the other — другой (определенный), тот другой, другой из двух.

among other things — среди прочего, (неопределенного), мн.число

the other farmers — другие фермеры, (определенные), мн.число

Упражнение 51. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

... group of ... farmers were sitting in ... village house, and among ... other things they began talking about ... echoes. One of ... farmers said that there was ... wonderful echo in ... field near his farm where there was ... large group of ... trees. All ... other farmers said that they would like to hear ... echo, and ... farmer invited them to come ... next afternoon. But ... fact was that ... farmer did not really have ... echo he had told ... other farmers about. So when he came ... home, he sent for ... son of ... cook and told him to go to ... field, hide himself among ... trees and imitate everything that was said. ... next day ... other farmers came, and ... farmer took them to ... field to listen to ... wonderful echo. When they were in ... field, he shouted at ... top of his voice: "Are you there?" The answer came back: "Yes, I've been here for two hours!"

A group of farmers were sitting in a village house, and among other things they began talking about echoes. One of the farmers said that there was a wonderful echo in the field near his farm where there was a large group of trees. All the other farmers said that they would like to hear the echo, and the farmer invited them to come the next afternoon. But the fact was that the farmer did not really have the echo he had told the other farmers about. So when he came home, he sent for the son of the cook and told him to go to the field, hide himself among the trees and imitate everything that was said. The next day the other farmers came, and the farmer took them to the field to listen to the wonderful echo. When they were in the field, he shouted at the top of his voice: "Are you there?" The answer came back: "Yes, I've been here for two hours!"

Обратите внимание на употребление артикля со словом other (другой):

another — другой (неопределенный), какой-то другой, еще один

(во множественном числе или перед неисчисляемым существительным — other).

The other — другой (определенный), тот другой, другой из двух.

Упражнение 52. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

It was ... nice summer day. ... weather was fine, ... sun was shining in ... blue sky, ... air was fragrant with ... smell of ... grass and ... flowers. ... dog which was running about ... streets of ... little town saw ... butcher's ... stall with ... lot of ... meat. ... dog cautiously approached ... stall and, when ... butcher turned away to talk to ... woman, quickly seized ... big piece of ... meat and ran away with it. On ... way home ... dog had to cross ... stream by ... narrow bridge. As he was crossing, he looked down into ... stream and saw his reflection in ... water. He thought it was ... other dog with ... other piece of ... meat. He snapped at ... reflection and dropped his own piece of ... meat. That's how ... dog was punished for ... greediness.

It was a nice summer day. The weather was fine, the sun was shining in the blue sky, the air was fragrant with the smell of grass and flowers. A dog which was running about the streets of a little town saw a butcher's stall with a lot of meat. The dog cautiously approached the stall and, when the butcher turned away to talk to a woman, quickly seized a big piece of meat and ran away with it. On the way home the dog had to cross a stream by a narrow bridge. As he was crossing, he looked down into the stream and saw his reflection in the water. He thought it was another dog with another piece of meat. He snapped at the reflection and dropped his own piece of meat. That's how the dog was punished for greediness.

Запомните следующие застывшие словосочетания:

at sunrise - на рассвете

at sunset - на закате

in the country - за городом

in town - в городе

to the country - за город

to town - в город

by bus - автобусом

by tram - трамваем

by train - поездом

by car - на машине

Упражнение 53. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

On ... Sunday our family went to ... country. We got up at ... sunrise and quickly had ... breakfast. After ... breakfast we left ... home. There is ... little village not far from ... St. Petersburg where we have ... friends. We went there by ... train. We had ... very good time in ... country. ... weather was fine, ... sky was blue and ... sun was shining. We stayed out of ... doors all ... day long. We played ... volleyball and ... tennis. We returned to ... town late in ... evening. When we came ... home, we had ... supper and went to ... bed at once.

On Sunday our family went to the country. We got up at sunrise and quickly had breakfast. After breakfast we left home. There is a little village not far from St. Petersburg where we have friends. We went there by train. We had a very good time in the country. The weather was fine, the sky was blue and the sun was shining. We stayed out of doors all day long. We played volleyball and tennis. We returned to town late in the evening. When we came home, we had supper and went to bed at once.

Запомните следующие застывшие словосочетания:

in spring - весной

in autumn - осенью

in s summer - летом

in winter - зимой

Упражнение 54. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

1. Look at ... sky. It is covered with ... dark clouds. Let's hurry ... home. 2. It was very pleasant to live in ... country in ... summer. ... weather was fine and it seldom rained. Summer is ... fine season. 3. How lovely ... night is! There are no ... clouds in ... sky and ... air is so fresh. 4. When spring comes, ... sun shines brighter, ... snow melts, ... days become longer. 5. Winter is ... good time for sports. 6. On ... Sunday my friend and I usually go to ... country. We ski, skate, play ... snowballs and have ... very good time. 7. ... fog is so dense that it is difficult to walk. 8. My friend is ... very good chess player. 9. In ... summer we lived in ... country and went up to ... town by ... train. 10. Tomorrow is ... Sunday. If it is too hot in ... town, we shall go to ... country. And on ... Monday we shall come back. 11. ... Autumn is ... most beautiful ... season of ... year.

1. Look at the sky. It is covered with dark clouds. Let's hurry home. 2. It was very pleasant to live in the country in summer. The weather was fine and it seldom rained. Summer is a fine season. 3. How lovely the night is! There are no clouds in the sky and the air is so fresh. 4. When spring comes, the sun shines brighter, the snow melts, the days become longer. 5. Winter is a good time for sports. 6. On Sunday my friend and I usually go to the country. We ski, skate, play snowballs and have a very good time. 7. The fog is so dense that it is difficult to walk. 8. My friend is a very good chess player. 9. In summer we lived in the country and went up to town by train. 10. Tomorrow is Sunday. If it is too hot in town, we shall go to the country. And on Monday we shall come back. 11. Autumn is the most beautiful season of the year. 12. Winter isn't a depressing season.

Упражнение 55. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

Last Tuesday ... evening, when ... whole family was at ... home, ... burglar came into ... house and stole $ 500! When we discovered ... theft, we called ... police. Because his ... shoes were wet and dirty, ... detective could follow his ... footprints. Here is what ... burglar did. He came in ... front door. It was locked, so he broke ... lock. Dad was reading ... newspaper in ... study near ... front door. He was facing ... big window, so he didn't see ... man, and because he was also listening to ... loud ... music, he didn't hear him. It was raining and there was ... thunder, so there was ... lot of ... noise outside, too. ... burglar crossed ... hall to ... kitchen. Mum was making ... pot of ... tea, so he didn't go into ... kitchen. ... man went back across ... hall and looked into ... dining room. No one was in there. He looked through all ... drawers and found $ 300. But this wasn't enough. He came out of ... dining room and went upstairs. Tom was doing his ... homework in his ... bedroom and listening to his ... Walkman. ... burglar went past Tom's ... room. Sally was taking ... shower and singing at ... top of her ... lungs. He went into ... TV room. He opened everything but found nothing. Then he left ... TV room, went back down ... stairs and into ... kitchen. Mum was sitting in ... living room with Dad. ... burglar was very quiet! He found $200 in ... old ... teapot on ... top shelf of ... left kitchen cupboard. Then ... man went out through ... French window in ... dining room. It wasn't locked, so it was easy to get out. ... police couldn't believe it! We never heard ... burglar!

Last Tuesday evening, when the whole family was at home, a burglar came into the house and stole $ 500! When we discovered the theft, we called the police. Because his shoes were wet and dirty, the detective could follow his footprints. Here is what the burglar did. He came in the front door. It was locked, so he broke the lock. Dad was reading a newspaper in the study near the front door. He was facing the big window, so he didn't see the man, and because he was also listening to loud music, he didn't hear him. It was raining and there was thunder, so there was a lot of noise outside, too. The burglar crossed the hall to the kitchen. Mum was making a pot of tea, so he didn't go into the kitchen. The man went back across the hall and looked into the dining room. No one was in there. He looked through all the drawers and found $ 300. But this wasn't enough. He came out of the dining room and went upstairs. Tom was doing his homework in his bedroom and listening to his Walkman. The burglar went past Tom's room. Sally was taking a shower and singing at the top of her lungs. He went into the TV room. He opened everything but found nothing. Then he left the TV room, went back down the stairs and into the kitchen. Mum was sitting in the living room with Dad. The burglar was very quiet! He found $200 in an old teapot on the top shelf of the left kitchen cupboard. Then the man went out through the French window in the dining room. It wasn't locked, so it was easy to get out. The police couldn't believe it! We never heard the burglar!

Упражнение 56. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

1. My brother read to me ... extract from ... book which he had brought ... day before. ... main character of ... book is ... young doctor who went to ... distant village in ... Siberia. 2. ... weather was very bad in ... October. 3. When he came into ... room, he saw ... man sitting on ... sofa. He at once remembered that it was ... man he had seen at ... theatre ... night before. 4. Yesterday I saw ... film you are speaking about. 5. He took ... taxi and gave ... address to ... driver. 6. Tower Bridge is ... first bridge over ... Thames coming from ... sea. Built in 1894, it is ... suspension bridge. ... central portion of it can be opened to admit ... ships to ... docks in this part of ... river. When ... ship arrives, ... traffic is stopped and ... great bridge opens in ... centre: its two halves go up into ... air and ... ship passes through.

1. My brother read to me an extract from the book which he had brought the day before. The main character of the book is a young doctor who went to a distant village in Siberia. 2. The weather was very bad in October. 3. When he came into the room, he saw a man sitting on the sofa. He at once remembered that it was the man he had seen at the theatre the night before. 4. Yesterday I saw the film you are speaking about. 5. He took a taxi and gave the address to the driver. 6. Tower Bridge is the first bridge over the Thames coming from the sea. Built in 1894 it is a suspension bridge. The central portion of it can be opened to admit ships to the docks in this part of the river. When a ship arrives, the traffic is stopped and the great bridge opens in the centre: its two halves go up into the air and the ship passes through.

Запомните следующие застывшие словосочетания:

It was morning. - Было утро.

It was evening. - Был вечер.

It was daytime. - Был день. (Это было днем.)

It was night. - Была ночь.

Упражнение 57. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

Once ... Frenchman was travelling in ... Sweden. He stopped at ... hotel in ... little Swedish town. It was ... evening, ... man was tired, so he went to ... bed at once. In ... morning he had ... breakfast in ... hotel restaurant. After ... breakfast he went for ... walk. He walked along ... streets of ... town, visited ... museum and ... shops. Presently he felt hungry and dropped into ... cafe for ... lunch. He sat down at ... table, called ... waiter and ordered ... mushrooms. But ... Frenchman did not know ... Swedish and ... waiter did not know ... French. Nobody in ... cafe could speak ... French. Then ... Frenchman took ... piece of ... paper and ... pencil and drew the picture of ... mushroom. ... waiter looked at ... picture and left ... room at once. Five minutes later he returned with ... umbrella.

Once a Frenchman was travelling in Sweden. He stopped at a hotel in a little Swedish town. It was evening, the man was tired, so he went to bed at once. In the morning he had breakfast in the hotel restaurant. After breakfast he went for a walk. He walked along the streets of the town, visited a museum and some shops. Presently he felt hungry and dropped into a cafe for lunch. He sat down at a table, called a waiter and ordered mushrooms. But the Frenchman did not know Swedish and the waiter did not know French. Nobody in the cafe could speak French. Then the Frenchman took a piece of paper and a pencil and drew the picture of a mushroom. The waiter looked at the picture and left the room at once. Five minutes later he returned with an umbrella. What a funny story!

Запомните следующие застывшие словосочетания:

after a while - через некоторое время

from place to place - с места на место

Упражнение 58. Вставьте артикль, где необходимо.

... guide was once showing ... group of ... rich American tourists ... places of ... interest in ... little town in ... south of ... Italy. He took ... tourists from ... place to ... place, but as ... town was small, after ... while ... guide could not think of anything that might be of ... interest to ... Americans. "Tell us something unusual about... weather or ... climate of this place," said ... American lady to ... guide. "What can I tell her about our climate?" thought ... guide. Then he had ... idea. "Well," he said, "there is one unusual thing about our climate. One can easily notice that the wind here always blows from ... west." "Really?" said ... lady in ... surprised tone: "What ... interesting thing!" But ... other tourist said: "You must be wrong. Look! ... wind is blowing from ... east now!" At ... first moment ... guide did not know what to say. But he was ... clever man and soon found ... way out. "Oh," he said, "is that so? Well, then it must be ... west wind coming back."

A guide was once showing a group of rich American tourists the places of interest in a little town in the south of Italy. He took the tourists from place to place, but as the town was small, after a while the guide could not think of anything that might be of interest to the Americans. "Tell us something unusual about the weather or the climate of this place," said an American lady to the guide. "What can I tell her about our climate?" thought the guide. Then he had an idea. "Well," he said, ""there is one unusual thing about our climate. One can easily notice that the wind here always blows from the west." "Really?" said the lady in a surprised tone: "What an interesting thing!" But another tourist said: "You must be wrong. Look! The wind is blowing from the east now." At the first moment the guide did not know what to say. But he was a clever man and soon found a way out. "Oh," he said, "Is that so? Well, then it must be the west wind coming back."