Reading

Vocabulary

to feel nervous - нервувати

to feel restless - почуватися неспокійно

stranger - незнайома людина, іноземець

blind - сліпий

to go blind - сліпнути

blind date - побачення з незнайомою людиною

graduation - закінчення (вищого навчального закладу)

top grades - найвищі оцінки

brush up (English) - відновлювати знання (англійської мови)

to show smb around - показувати комусь місто і т. ін.

to be interested (in) - цікавитись

to feel at home - почуватися як вдома

outgoing - товариський

shy - сором’язливий

smart dresser - людина, яка одягається модно, елегантно

casual clothes - повсякденний одяг

to wear (wore, worn) - носити

jeans - джинси

T-shirt - футболка

trainers - кеди

trousers - штани

jacket - куртка

shoes - туфлі

shirt - сорочка

tie - краватка

to take chances - ризикувати

slim - стрункий

to burst out laughing - розсміятися

at the first sight - з першого погляду

belt - ремінь

blouse - блуза

cardigan - жакет

to mind - заперечувати, бути проти

I don’t mind - Я не проти.

Read the text below. Use your dictionary to help.

It's Saturday, 2 p.m. Paul's feeling restless and a bit nervous. It's natural. After all it's his first blind date! Tonight he is meeting Greta, Hans's cousin, "a beautiful stranger" as he calls her to himself. Greta comes from Bonn but now she's living in Bristol with a British family. She is an au pair girl. She does light work in the house and helps with the children in return for learning English. Greta would like to work in Britain after graduation. So she doesn't only need top grades in most subjects but good knowledge of spoken English as well. Greta hopes that her three months' stay in Bristol will help her brush up her English. She asked Hans to introduce her to one of his friends.

It's Greta's first visit to Oxford, so Paul is planning to show her around and then go to a disco to dance. He thinks it's O.K. for a start. But what if she doesn't like dancing? Unlikely, of course, but possible. Perhaps she's interested in jazz. Well, no problem. He can take her to a jazz club instead. But what if she doesn't like jazz either? Where else can they go? And then Paul remembers. Sabine is giving a party tonight. Why not go there? Paul always enjoys her parties. Sabine is a wonderful hostess. She seems to have a gift for entertaining people. Even if they don't know each other very well they feel at home when she's around. But Greta? What kind of girl is she? Is she an outgoing person like Sabine or is she too shy to go to a party of strangers with a boy she hardly knows? Well, in case she feels uncomfortable, they can leave. It is worth a try, anyway. Now that Paul has finally got something to offer he feels a little better. What is he going to wear? Paul opens his wardrobe and looks at his "collection" of clothes. The choice is rather limited. Paul isn't a smart dresser. He prefers casual clothes - jeans, T-shirts and trainers. The nicest and oldest thing he has is a black jacket. He feels good when he is wearing it. He can wear it with anything - it looks great when he wears it with trousers and casual when he puts on jeans. The jacket is Paul's favourite. Paul usually dresses for himself but today it's different. He wants to look especially nice and attractive. He's going to wear grey trousers, black shoes, a white shirt with a striped tie and of course, the jacket (for luck!). You can't take chances on a day like that! Paul looks at the clock. My God! It's well past 4! He is going to be late! He promised to pick up Greta at 5. Paul gets dressed, looks at himself in the mirror, combs his hair and hurriedly leaves the house.

At exactly 5 o'clock he knocks on Hans's door. The door opens almost immediately and Paul sees a tall slim blonde girl. She is smiling. "Paul?" - "Greta?" - "Hello!" They both say at the same time and burst out laughing. Paul is no longer nervous. He likes the girl at first sight. He just can't take his eyes off her. Greta looks wonderful. She is wearing tight dark blue jeans with a leather belt, a pink silk blouse and a long matching cardigan.

"Well, where shall we go first?" she asks still smiling.

"I'm going to take you on a tour around Oxford", Paul says and adds, "if you don't mind."

"Not in the least. I'd love to."

"And after that we can go to a disco, to a club or to a party. Decide for yourself."

"Sorry, Paul. I'm afraid I'm too tired tonight to go anywhere else. Let's just take a long walk and talk about ourselves. We can enjoy Oxford night life some other time."

"O.K. How about tomorrow?"

"Why not go to France on a day trip? We can take a train through the Chunnel."

Paul gasps. Gosh! What a girl! She is VERY special!