THE BLIND MAN AND THE GREAT ARTIST Every day in one of the streets of Vienna you could see a blind man playing the violin. His dog sat near him with a cap in his mouth. People, who were passing them, dropped coins into the cap.
One day, when the weather was very cold, the man was playing for a long time, but nobody wanted to give him anything. The poor man thought he would have to go to bed without supper. He was so tired and so weak that he stopped playing.
At the moment a young man came up to him and asked him: «Why have you stopped playing?» The blind man said: «1 have played for two hours but nobody gave me anything.» «Give me your violin. I shall help you», said the man. And with these words he began to play. He played so well that people began to gather and soon there was a big crowd. Everybody was eager to listen to the fine music and to thank the young man for the pleasure.
Soon the cap was full of money.
«I don't know how to thank you», said the blind man. «Who are you?»
«I am Paganini», was the answer.
LISTENING COMPREHENSION VARIANT 61
1. Listen to the text and decide if the statements are true or false. 1. One day in one of the streets of Vienna you could see a blind man playing the violin.
2. His dog sat near him with a bone in his mouth.
3. People, who were passing them, dropped coins into the cap.
4. One day, when the weather was very beautiful, the man was playing for a long time, but nobody wanted to give him anything
5. The poor man thought he would have to go to bed without supper.
6. He was so tired and so weak that he stopped playing.
7. «Give me your guitar. I shall help you», said the man.
8. With these words he began to sing
9. Everybody was eager to thank the young man for the pleasure.
10. Soon the cap was full of apples.
2. Choose the correct answer to complete the sentences. 1. Every day in one of the streets of Vienna you could see a blind man … .
playing football
playing the guitar
playing the violin
People, who were passing them … ..
dropped coins into the cap
4. He was … . that he stopped playing.
a) so tired and so weak
b) so glad and so happy
so tired and so cold
5. At that moment … came up to him
a)an old man
b) a young man
c) a young girl
6. The blind man said: «I have played for … hours but nobody gave me anything.»
a) two;
b) three;
c) four.
7. Everybody … to listen to the fine music.
a) wanted
b) was eager
c) wished
8. He played so … that people began to gather and soon there was a big crowd.
a) nice;
b) well;
c) interesting.
9. «I don't know how to … you», said the blind man. «Who are you?»
a) greet;
b) tell;
c) thank .
10.Soon the … was full of money.
a) cap;
b) hat;
c) cup.