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20. THE FASTEST TRAIN

A Frenchman, an Englishman and an American were boasting
about how fast the trains went in their countries. The Frenchman
said, «In my country the trains go so fast that the telegraph posts
by the line look garden fence.» The Englishman said, «In England
the trains go so that we have to pour water on the wheels to cool
them because they get white hot and will melt.»
The third man, an American, said, «That's nothing. You must
come to America to see how fast the trains go there. I was once
leaving on a trip and my wife came with me to the platform to see
me off. I got into the train and was standing at the window of my
compartment. I wanted to take leave of my wife as the train was
just starting so I leant out of the window to give her a kiss. But the
train went off so fast that instead I kissed a cow in a field six miles
down the line.»

Comprehension Quiz

I. Say which of the following statements are false and
which are true. Correct the false statements to make them
true.

1. Three men were travelling by train.
2. All of them were Americans.
3. The telegraph posts can look like a garden fence.
4. In England there are no trains.
5. The wife came to the platform to see him off.
6. He was standing at the window.

II. Choose the correct answer to finish each of the
following statements.

1. Who were boasting about fast trains?
a) three Americans;
b) a Frenchman, an American and a German;
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