The Strange Present Long ago there lived an old woman in England. She had a son who was a sailor. He went to different countries and always brought presents for his old mother.
Once he went to China and brought some tea from that country. At that time tea was very expensive and only rich people could buy and drink it. So the old woman was very happy to have it. But she did not know what to do with it. She thought it was a vegetable. She invited her friends to taste it with her. At last the day of the party came. The woman put a big dish with tea-leaves on the table. The guests began to eat them with salt and pepper and they did not like it.
Some time later the sailor came into the room. "What are you doing?" he asked. "Where is the water in which you have boiled the leaves?"
"I threw it away," his mother answered.
LISTENING COMPREHENSION VARIANT 22
Listen to the text and decide if the statements are true or false. Many years ago there lived an old man in London
Her son was a sailor
He always brought presents for his old father.
He went to China and brought some tea leaves.
At that time only rich people could buy and drink tea.
The old woman was very sad.
The sailor invited his friends to taste tea.
The guests began to eat tea leaves without salt and pepper and they like it.
At that time the sailor came into the room.
His mother threw the water in which had boiled the leaves.
Choose the correct answer to complete the sentences. Long ago there lived _______ in England.
a) an old man b) an old woman c) two sailors.
The sailor went to different countries and always brought ______ for his old mother.
a) tea b) a big dish c) presents
The son brought some tea from _______
a) England b) different countries c) China.
Long ago only rich people could buy and drink ______ .
a) milk b) tea c) tea with milk.
The old woman thought tea was a _____________ .
a) vegetable b) drink c) leaves
At the day of the party the old woman ______.
a) was very happy b) invited her friends c) did not know what to do.
The woman put a big dish with ______ on the table.
a) vegetables b) water c) tea leaves.
The guests began to eat them with salt and pepper and they __________.
a) like it b) did not like it c) were very happy.
The sailor came into the room and didn’t see _______.
a) guests b) the water c) tea leaves
The old woman threw ______ away.