. Изложите суть текста в 5-6 предложениях. Передайте основной смысл в сжатом виде. UNDER THE HIGH TREES
It was six o’clock when Ben Smith, dreadfully tired, arrived
home from the school where he was a teacher. He had had a lot
of work and trouble that day. He dreamed of a quiet evening at
home. June, his wife, met him at the door smiling radiantly. She
asked Ben to be quick with his supper and change after that.
She said she had got everything arranged and they would go to
the theatre.
Only then did Ben remember it was the very night that had
been settled for their going out. So June was realizing her
dream. He envied his daughter Penny, a sixteenyear old girl,
who said she would stay indoors and watch television. But sud
denly he was sorry for June who got too little entertainment
even at weekends.
It was already past seven when they started for the theatre.
The weather was unusually nasty. Ben’s nose and feet were
cold. After 20 minutes a number 64 bus stopped. They got on,
but the seats were full. Unfortunately the bus conductor told Ben
to get off as only seven people could stand in the bus. Ben did so
forgetting that his wife had got the tickets.
It was pouring now. The road was wet and there was a hole in
his shoe. Luckily he got on the next number 64 bus soon
enough and found a seat. Ben shut his eyes. When he opened
them again, the bus was past the theatre. It was still raining as
he walked back to it feeling unhappy. Over the doors were the
words, “Under the High Trees”.
The man at the door said he could not let him in without a
ticket. Ben was about to leave when a girl behind the ticket
office window said: “Are you Mr. Smith? Your wife left your ticket
with me.”
Ben squeezed to his seat in the dark, stepping on people’s
feet. He asked June what the play was about. She whispered she
could not understand much as one actor, an old man, spoke very
quietly, and the other, a young man, spoke very quickly.
As soon as the play was over, they ran out. There were no
buses and it was raining. They waited and waited and their
clothes got wetter. At last Ben lost his patience and shouted:
“Taxi!”
A passing taxi stopped. Ben pushed his wife in.
“Two pounds,” said the driver when they arrived.
“What?”
“After ten o’clock in the evening the fare is higher.”
Unwillingly Ben paid the driver. Besides all the trouble it
turned out to be too expensive for them.
“Did you watch television, Penny?” Ben asked his daughter.
“Yes,” she said. “You can’t imagine how brilliant the play
was.”
“What was the name of it?” asked Ben as he picked up his
cup of coffee.
“Under the High Trees” was the answer. Ben Smith put his
cup of coffee on the kitchen table and went slowly upstairs to
bed.

дима55922    3   28.04.2021 00:21    3