英语初级口语教程 A Pocketful of Pigs

Text A

A Pocketful of Pigs
Once there was no money.
If people wanted to get something , they had to give something. This is the way it used to be.
"I will give you my cow for your pig," a man would say. "I'll give you my bowl if you give me a shirt," another would say.
"Here are seven oranges for one fish. "

"Will you give mc a chicken for a bag of corn?"
People had to trade things every day. They had to give a thing to ge.t a thing because there wasn't any money.
But they had to work out a good trade . one that came out
even..

What could you get for two chickens? Were thrce bags of apples a good trade for two bags of grapes? Or onc bag of apples for a little butter? What was an even trade? It was hard to know.
And it was too hard to carry around all the thinga for trading. People had to use too much time getting things they needed. So they thought of a new way to trade.

They thought of money.
Money could "stand for" apples, or bowls, or pigs.
And a pocketful of money was better than a pocketful of pigs.
With money, it was not so hard to trade. Everyone could use money. The man who needed a.pig could buy it with money. The man who sold the pig could keep the moyey until he needed something. People could work for money, and people buy things with the money they got from work.

　

　
Text B

Let's Play Chess

Mr Wilson and Mr Dawson arc watching some men playing chess.

MR WILSON: Let's play chess.
MR DAWSON: I haven't played chess for a long time.
MR WILSON: That's all right, I'm a beginner. I've just learnt how to play.
MR DAWSON: Look, there's a chessboard. Those two men have already finished playing.
MR WILSON (after they have played for a few minutes): You're a very good player
MR DAWSON: Not really, but once I won a prize.
MR WILsoN: So did I. I won a prize last week but it was a prize for beginners.
MR DAWSON: My prize was for the hest player in the country. Now let's start playing chess
seriously.

7. Read the following dialogue once. Underline the key words while reading and retell the dialogue to your partner in your own words.

Man: I'm not satisfied with it.
Saleswoman: Why not? What's wrong with it?
Man: Sometimes it goes fast. And sometimes it goes slow. And the alarm doesn't
work, either.
Saleswoman: Would you like another one?
Man: No. Can I have my money back? Saleswoman; Hmm... have you got a receipt?
Man: A receipt?
Saleswoman: Yes. I must see your receipt. You can't have your money back without a
receipt.
Man Oh, I'm not certain, but I think I've lost it.