Читать книгу Английский разговорный язык. Практическое пособие по развитию устной речи - В. А. Миловидов - Страница 12

A little old lady sold pretzels on a street corner for 25 cents each. Every day a young man would leave his office building at lunch time. As he passed her pretzel stand, he would leave her a quarter, but would never take a pretzel. This went on for more than five years. The two of them never spoke. One day as the young man passed the old lady's pretzel stand and left his quarter as usual, the pretzel woman spoke to him: «Sir, I appreciate your business. You are a good customer, but I have to let you know that due to inflation the price of pretzels has increased to 35 cents.»

* * *

– Why do Economists provide estimates of inflation to the nearest tenth of a percent?

– To prove they have a sense of humour.

* * *

Inflation allows you to live in a more expensive neigbourhood without moving.

Слова и выражения:

appreciate – высоко оценивать

estimate – оценивать (обычно заранее), прогнозировать

pretzel – маленький соленый хрустящий крендель

quarter – монета в 25 центов

pretzel stand – лоток с кренделями

the nearest tenth of a percent – ближайшая десятая доля процента

sense of humour – чувство юмора

Exercise 3

Answer the questions:

1. Why didn't the young man take a pretzel?

2. What was the inflation rate in the five years the story about pretzels is speaking of?

3. Why is it possible to live in a more expensive house in the times of inflation?