Read this short extract about a funny incident in the park. Once you have finished, answer the reading comprehension questions and complete the reported speech activity.
Guess Who I Bumped Into?
Tim wandered along the path thinking aloud, "If I continue this diet I should lose twenty pounds by the end of..." when BOOM! he bumped into another city dweller out for a day's walk in the park. "I'm terribly sorry", he apologized. "I was so caught up in my thoughts I didn't see you!" he managed to stammer. Smiling, Sheila responded, "It's OK. Nothing's broken... No really, I wasn't watching my step either." Suddenly they both stopped making excuses and stared at each other.
"Don't I know you from somewhere?" inquired Tim while Sheila exclaimed, "You're Tim, Jack's brother, aren't you?!" They both began to laugh as they had met each other the week before at a party that Jack had given. Still laughing, Tim suggested, "Why don't we have a cup a coffee and donut?" to which Sheila replied, "I thought you wanted to continue your diet!" They both were still laughing by the time they reached the Swimming Donut cafe.
Comprehension Questions
Why did Tim bump into Sheila?
Where do they live?
Whose fault was the incident?
Where did they first meet?
Why was Tim's suggestion funny?
Later that day Sheila reported the story to her friend Mike. Fill in the blanks with reported (indirect) speech using the text above. Check your answers on the following page.
As he was walking down the path Tim said if he ____ ____ diet he ____ lose twenty pounds. We bumped into each other. He apologized saying he ____ terribly sorry. I told him it ____ OK, that nothing ____ broken. Tim said he ____ so caught up in ____ thoughts that he ____ ____. He seemed embarrassed, so I added that I ____ my step either. At that moment we recognized each other! He asked me if he ____ ____ from somewhere. I then remembered that he was Jack's brother. We both had a good laugh and then he invited me to have a cup of coffee and a donut. We had a great time together.
Waiting
(husband and wife waiting at 'Joe's Bar and Grill' - later waiter)
Husband: We've been waiting for more than 30 minutes!
Wife: Terry, are you sure you read the directions
correctly?
Husband: Do you think I made a mistake?! I'm sure he
said Joe's Bar and Grill.
Wife: I wish you had brought the directions with you.
Husband: Well if you hadn't lost them, I would have
brought them!
Wife: Now, now, let's not get into that. I told you I put
them on the shelf in the hall.
Husband: It's no use worrying about that now. Anyway,
what will be doing this time tomorrow? I'm so excited about
getting away on holiday.
Wife: So am I. Just think, this time tomorrow we'll be
lying on the beach soaking up the sun.
Husband: No, I'll be sitting at the bar enjoying my Gin
and Tonic and reading a good book.
Wife: It's going to be wonderful, isn't it? It's been so
long since we last got away.
Husband: Yes ... I wish he were here. I'm getting
hungry!
Wife: Why don't you ask that man for help.
Husband: OK (goes up to the man behind the counter)
Excuse me, we've been waiting for over a half an hour for a
friend. Have you seen anyone looking for somebody?
Waiter: No, I'm afraid I haven't.
Husband: I just don't understand our friend is never
late.
Waiter: Well, maybe he's at Joe's Pub.
Husband: Joe's Pub?
Waiter: Yes, there's also a Joe's Pub in town. People mix
us up all the time!
Husband: Do you think you could give a ring and see if
he's there?
Waiter: Certainly, no problem. What's his name?
Husband: Alex.
Waiter: (telephoning) Yes, this is Joe's Bar and Grill. Is
there an Alex waiting there? .... (he waits for the other person
to ask for Alex) Yes, great. Thanks. Good bye.
Husband: He's there, isn't he?
Waiter: Yes, he's there and he's been waiting for half an
hour.
Husband: Oh, no! He's at Joe's Pub! Is there a taxi
nearby?
Waiter: Yes, on the corner opposite the church.
Husband: Let's go!
Wife: I wish you had brought those directions!
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Multiple Choice Questions
1. The husband _____
forgot the directions
would have brought the directions if she hadn't lost them.
never had the directions.
2. What will they be doing tomorrow at this time?
Having dinner with their friends.
Be on holiday.
Be at work.
3. How long have they been waiting?
Not long
For more than a half an hour
For a few minutes
4. Their friend is:
often late.
sometimes late.
never late.
5. Where's their friend?
At Joe's Pub
At Joe's Bar and Grill
At Joe's house
6. Where are they?
At Joe's Pub
At Joe's Bar and Grill
At Joe's house