Linda and David have travelled by air from London to Sydney, Australia. Linda has promised(答应)her mother that she will ring her to let her know that they have arrived safely. This is something she had done ever since she was a child. David thinks it is not a good idea to ring so far, to spend too much, and to say so little.
"If there were an accident. " He says, theyd know soon enough. Bad news travels fast. "
But Linda has promised that she would ring. "However," she says, "‘it doesn’t cost much when you just think that it‘s the other side of the world. It’s only six pence per second (每秒六便士)。"
"If you‘re on that telephone for less than one minute, I’ll eat my hat,‘ David says, "And one minute’s nearly four pounds(英镑). "
"Thats no more than youd pay for a new hat," Linda answers.
She has asked the man at the hotel (旅馆) desk to get her the number. The telephone rings. Linda picks it up.
"Hello, Mum. Is that you ?" She says.
"Six pence per second," David reminds(提醒) her.
“Hello, love. " It is Mrs Lee, Lindas mother, speaking from London. "I can hear you very clearly just like you are in the next room. Its a better line than when you called me from your office. Do you remember? I shouted at that time, and still you couldn’t hear me sometimes. " "Yes, Mum. "Linda puts in. . "I just wanted to ring to ……. "
"I remember how you rang when you went to Bettys house to eat, when you were a little girl. And then when you …" Mrs Lee is a great talker
"Nearly four pounds. " says David.
Linda tries to tell her mother that it is time to say goodbye.
"Yes, all right,"says Mrs Lee," But you will write, wont you, as you did when you were at work …"
Once again, Mrs Lee talks about the pass. and there is no stopping her.
"Four pounds fifty, says David.
At last, Linda cuts her mother short, promises to write, and rings off.
"There! That wasnt long, was it ?"
" Four pounds, ninety pence. " David answers. " And you didnt even say that weve arrived. "
1. Linda is telephoning home to ________.
A. tell her mother some bad news
B. say that she and David have arrived safely
C. report an accident to her mother
D. say that she and David have left London
2. Linda does not think it expensive to ring, because _____.
A. it only costs four pounds and ninety pence
B. it is even more expensive to buy a new hat
C. she had telephoned home since she was a child
D. she will speak from one side of the word to the oth
