Mid-Morning Break

4.6

Have you ever heard of “elevenses” in Britain?

At eleven o’clock a lot of people stop to work and have a cup of coffee or tea, or if they are at school, a bottle of milk. This mid-morning break is called “elevenses”. “Elevenses” is also time for a talk, and when you are at school there is always a lot to talk about.

Mike and Penny are friends at a Secondary Modern School. The eleven o’clock bell has rung, and everyone is in the playground. Very soon there are groups playing games and there are groups talking and laughing. Mike has got two bottles of milk for Penny and himself, and has found a place to talk. Let’s listen to what they are saying.

Mike: Shall you come to my house tonight and hear my new records?

Реnnу: You know I can’t. My exams begin in ten days.

Mike: Well, they’re not so important, are they?

Penny: Not so important as my “O” level exams in the summer. But if I do badly in the exams next week, they won’t let me take my “O” level exams in the summer. The math exam is difficult.

Mike: Math is easy. The French exam is difficult for me.

Penny: Math is your best subject! And French is my best subject. How many “O” levels did you pass last year?

Mike: Four.

Penny: And how many did you take?

Mike: Five.

Penny: What did you fail then?

Mike: French!

Penny: What exams did you pass, then?

Mike: I passed math, chemistry, physics and English.

Penny: You are clever, Mike! I’ll be happy if I pass one of my exams this term.

Mike: You’ll pass your exams all right

Penny: Well, I certainly won’t pass my exams, if I come and listen to the records and do not do my homework today.

Mike: I think you are right.

Penny: Don’t you have any exams this term?

Mike: No, I don’t have any more exams now till I take my “A” levels next summer.

Penny: Well, that’s good!

Mike: But I have to stay at school at lunch-time and finish my tasks in the chemistry laboratory.

Penny: So I won’t see you at lunch-time? Mike: No. And you won’t come to my house after school?

Penny: No, I can’t.

Mike: Oh, well... see you this time tomorrow, then. Don’t work too much!