Passage 1

Patrick ：I read a funny story today in the paper – true story.

Steve ：Go on, then.

Patrick ：OK. This 72-year old guy stole a pair of trousers from a department store in Paris. A security man saw him  and  alerted the police and they were waiting for him when he came out of the shop. The shoplifter started running, but the policeman soon caught up with him. The man then bit the policeman on his arm several times.

Steve ：He bit the policeman?

Patrick ：Yes – you have to remember, he was 72.

Steve ：I’d forgotten that.

Patrick ：Problem was, it didn’t hurt the policeman at all, ’cause the guy had forgotten to put his false teeth in before he left home.

Steve ： Very funny!

Patrick ：And the moral of the story is –

Steve ：Always remember to wear your false teeth if you’re going to bite someone.

Patrick ：That’s good. I read a funny crime story the other day. Let’s see … yeah … this guy …this guy robbed a  supermarket somewhere in America – I can’t remember where exactly – anyway, he got away with about 4,000 dollars. The next week the local newspaper reported the story but said he’d stolen 6,000 dollars. The   thief rang the newspaper office to complain. He said, “Look, I only took 4,000 dollars. I’m wondering if the  supermarket manager took another 2,000 and said I’d taken it. I did not take 6,000, I promise you.”

Steve ： He was probably telling the truth.

Patrick ：He probably was. Anyway, the newspaper managed to keep the guy talking while they rang the police. And  the police traced the call – the guy was ringing from a phone booth – and they arrested him while he was still talking to the newspaper.

Steve ： That’s good. Stupid guy! I’ve got another true story … This – this – old guy was in court for some crime – and he  fell asleep. His case began and his lawyer stood up and said, “My client pleads not guilty.” The man  suddenly  woke up, but wasn’t sure what was happening. He jumped up and shouted, “I plead guilty! I plead  guilty!”

Patrick ：So what happened?

Steve ：The judge allowed him to plead not guilty[申辩无罪].

Patrick ：That’s the best, I think.

Answers

3 Answers

  1 He had forgotten to put his false teeth in.

  2 He stole 4,000 dollars.

  3 They said he stole 6,000 dollars, but he only stole 4,000.

  4 They traced his call.

  5 He fell asleep in court and suddenly woke up, but wasn't sure what was happening.

  6 The judge all allowed him to plead not guilty.

4 Listen to Passage 1 again and correct the sentences according to the passage.

  1 The shoplifter started running, but the policeman soon caught up with him.

  2 Always remember to wear your false teeth if you are going to bite someone.

  3 I'm wondering if the supermarket manager took another 2,000 and said I'dtaken it.

  4 The guy was ringing from a phone booth--and they arrested him while he was still talking to the newspaper.

  5 The man suddenly woke up, but wasn't sure what was happening.