
             UNIT 3

TEXT

They say that blood is thicker than water, that our relatives are more important to us than others. Everyone was so kind to the old lady on her birthday. Surely her daughter would make an even bigger effort to please he?

               The Present
    It was the old lady's birthday.
    She got up early to be ready for the post. From the second floor flat she could see the postman when he came down the street, and the little boy from the ground floor brought up her letters on the rare occasions when anything came.
    Today she was sure the would be something. Myra wouldn't forget her mother's birthday, even if she seldom wrote at other times. Of course Myra was busy. Her husband had been made Mayor, and Myra herself had got a medal for her work the aged.
    The old lady was proud of Myra, but Enid was the daughter she loved. Enid had never married, but had seemed content to live with her mother, and teach in a primary school round the corner.
    One evening, however, Enid said, "I've arranged for Mrs. Morrison to look after you for a few days, Mother. Tomorrow I have to go into hospital--just a minor operation, I'll soon be home."
    In the morning she went, but never came back--she died on the operating table. Myra came to the funeral, and in her efficient way arranged for Mrs. Morrison to come in and light the fire and give the old lady her breakfast.
    Two years ago that was, and since then Myra had been to see her mother three times, but her husband never.
    The old lady was eight today. She had put on her best dress. Perhaps--perhaps Myra might come. After all, eighty was a special birthday, another decade lined or endured just as you chose to look at it.
    Even if Myra did not come, she would send a present. The old lady was sure of that. Two spots of colour brightened her cheeks. She was excited--like a child. She would enjoy her day.
    Yesterday Mrs. Morrison had given the flat an extra clean, and today she had brought a card and a bunch of marigolds when she came to do the breakfast. Mrs. Grant downstairs had made a cake, and in the afternoon she was going down there to tea. The little boy, Johnnie, had been up with a packet of mints, and said he wouldn't go out to play until the post had come.
    "I guess you'll get lots and lots of presents," he said, "I did last were when I was six."
What would she like? A pair of slippers perhaps. Or a new cardigan. A cardigan would be lovely. Blue's such a pretty colour. Jim had always liked her in blue. Or a table lamp. Or a book, a travel book, with pictures, or a little clock, with clear black numbers. So many lovely things.
She stood by the window, watching. The postman turned round the corner on his bicycle. Her heart beat fast. Johnnie had seen him too and ran to the gate.
    Then clatter, clatter up the stairs. Johnnie knocked at her door.
    "Granny, granny," he shouted, "I've got your post."
    He gave her four envelopes. Three were unsealed cards from old friends. The fourth was sealed, in Myra's writing. The old lady felt a pang of disappointment.
    "No parcel, Johnnie?"
    "No, granny."
    Maybe the parcel was too large to come by letter post. That was it. It would come later by parcel post. She must be patient.
    Almost reluctantly she tore the envelope open. Folded in the card was a piece of paper. Written on the card was a message under the printed Happy Birthday -- Buy yourself something nice with the cheque, Myra and Harold.
    The cheque fluttered to the floor like a bird with a broken wing. Slowly the old lady stooped to pick it up. Her present, her lovely present. With trembling fingers she tore it into little bits.

NEW WORDS

    relative              
n.  
    present
n.  gift Ʒ
    postman 
n.  ʵԱ
    rare
a.  not happening often ģ
    occasion 
n.  special time; time when sth. happens  ʱ̣ʱ
    mayor 
n.  chief official of a city or town г
    medal 
n.  
    aged 
a.  old 
    content  
a.  satisfied; pleased ģ˵
    primary 
a.  first; earliest Ҫģ
    arrange 
vi. make preparations; plan ţﻮ
    minor 
a.  not serious or important СģҪ
    operate 
vi. cut the body in order to set right or remove a diseased part 
    operating table     
n.  a special table in a hospital, where operations are done ̨
    funeral 
n.  
    efficient             
a.  able to plan and work well  Чʸߵ
    decade                
n.  ten years
    endure   
vt. bear (pain, suffering, etc.) ܣ
    spot                  
n.  a round area that is different from the main surface  㣬ߵ
    brighten              
vt. make bright or brighter ʹ⣻ʹ
    cheek                 
n.  either side of the face below the eye 
    extra                 
a.  additional ӵģӵ
    clean   
n.  cleaning
    bunch   
n.  things of the same kind that are tied together һһ
    marigold              
n.  پգ
    packet                
n.  small parcel box С
    mint 
n.  
    slipper 
n.  Ь
    cardigan 
n. ë
    clatter 
n.  a number of rapid short knocking sounds 
    granny                
n.  (colloq. for)grandmother
    envelope              
n.  a paper cover for a letter ŷ
    unsealed              
a.  δܷ
    seal  
vt.
    sealed                
a.  ܷ
    writing               
n.  handwriting 鷨ʼ
    pang                  
n.  sudden, sharp pain ʹ
    disappointment        
n.  sadness because one does not get what one hopes for  ʧ
    disappoint            
vt.
    parcel                
n.  
    reluctantly           
ad. unwillingly Ըأǿ
    reluctant           
a.
    fold                  
vt. bend into two or more parts ۵
    cheque                
n.  ֧Ʊ
    flutter               
vt. move quickly to and fro in the air  Ʈ
    stoop                 
vi. bend the body forwards and downwards 
    tremble               
vi. shake uncontrollably with quick short movements 

PHRASES & EXPRESSIONS

    at other times               
    on other occasions ڱʱƽʱ
    round / around the corner
    very near in distance or time ڸ
    after all               
    in spite of everything; it must be remembered Ͼվ
    be sure of              
    ...аգȷ
    pick up                  
    take hold of and lift up from a surface 𣬼

PROPER NAMES

    Myra               
    Ů
    Enid               
    ݵ£Ů
    Morrison          
    Īɭϣ
    Grant              
    أϼ
    Johnnie             
    ԼᣨJohnǳƣ
    Jim                
    ķJamesǳƣ
Harold 
