Lesson Three Text 22 In a twinkling,the whole day changed from grim to lovely at both ends of the wire. (23 An English hostess with a quick wit was giving a formal dinner for eight distinguished guests whom she hoped to enlist in a major charity drive. 24 Austerity was de rigueur in England at the time,and she had 25drafted her children to serve the meal.She knew that anything could happen---and it did,just as her son,(26 with the studies concentration of a tightrope walker brought in a large roast turkey.He successfully elbowed the swinging dining-room
Lesson Three Text (22) In a twinkling, the whole day changed from grim to lovely at both ends of the wire. (23)An English hostess with a quick wit was giving a formal dinner for eight distinguished guests whom she hoped to enlist in a major charity drive. (24)Austerity was de rigueur in England at the time, and she had (25)drafted her children to serve the meal. She knew that anything could happen --- and it did, just as her son, (26)with the studies concentration of a tightrope walker, brought in a large roast turkey. He successfully elbowed the swinging dining-room
Lesson Three Text door,but the backswing (27 deplattered the bird onto the dining-room floor. (28 The boy stood rooted:guests stared at their plates.Moving only her head,the hostess smiled at her son, No harm,Daniel,"she said,"just pick it up and take him back to the kitchen"---(29 she enunciated clearly so he would think about what she was saying---"and bring in the other one." (30 A wink and a one-liner instantly changed the dinner from a red-faced embarrassment to a conspiracy offun. The power of humor to dissolve a hostile confrontation
Lesson Three Text door, but the backswing (27)deplattered the bird onto the dining-room floor. (28)The boy stood rooted; guests stared at their plates. Moving only her head, the hostess smiled at her son, “No harm, Daniel,” she said, “just pick it up and take him back to the kitchen” --- (29)she enunciated clearly so he would think about what she was saying --- “and bring in the other one.” (30)A wink and a one-liner instantly changed the dinner from a red-faced embarrassment to a conspiracy of fun. The power of humor to dissolve a hostile confrontation
Lesson Three Text often lies in its unspoken promise:(31"You let me off the hook my friend,and I'll let you off." 32 The trick is to assign friendly motives to your opponent,to smile just a little ---but not too much.Canada's Governor-General Roland Michener,master of the technique,was about to inspect a public school when he 33 was faced with a truculent picket line of striking 34 maintenance personnel.35 Ifhe backed away from the line he would seriously diminish his office's image:36 if he crossed it,he might put the government smack into a hot labor issue
Lesson Three Text often lies in its unspoken promise: (31)“You let me off the hook, my friend, and I’ll let you off.” (32)The trick is to assign friendly motives to your opponent, to smile just a little --- but not too much. Canada’s Governor-General Roland Michener, master of the technique, was about to inspect a public school when he (33)was faced with a truculent picket line of striking (34)maintenance personnel.(35) If he backed away from the line , he would seriously diminish his office’s image; (36)if he crossed it, he might put the government smack into a hot labor issue
Lesson Three Text While he pondered the matter,more strikers gathered across his path.37 Suddenly.the graving pencil-line mustache on Michener's face stretched a little in Cheshirean complicity."How very nice of you all (38 to turn out to see me!he boomed."Thank you.Shall we go in?"The line parted and,by the time the pickets began to chuckle,the governor-general was striding briskly up the school steps
Lesson Three Text While he pondered the matter, more strikers gathered across his path. (37)Suddenly, the graying pencil-line mustache on Michener’s face stretched a little in Cheshirean complicity. “How very nice of you all (38)to turn out to see me!” he boomed. “Thank you. Shall we go in?” The line parted and, by the time the pickets began to chuckle, the governor-general was striding briskly up the school steps
Lesson Three Text (39 Next time you find yourself in an ethnically awkward situation,take a lesson from the diplomatic delegates to Europe's Common Market.In the course of history nearly every member nation has been invaded or (40 betrayed by at least one of the others,and the Market's harmony must be constantly buttressed.One method is the laugh based on national caricatures.Recently, 4Da new arrival at Market headquarters in Brussels (42) introduced himself as a Minister for the Swiss Navy.Everybody laughed.The Swiss delegate retorted,(43"Well,why not?Italy
Lesson Three Text (39)Next time you find yourself in an ethnically awkward situation, take a lesson from the diplomatic delegates to Europe’s Common Market. In the course of history nearly every member nation has been invaded or (40)betrayed by at least one of the others, and the Market’s harmony must be constantly buttressed. One method is the laugh based on national caricatures. Recently, (41)a new arrival at Market headquarters in Brussels (42) introduced himself as a Minister for the Swiss Navy. Everybody laughed. The Swiss delegate retorted, (43)“Well, why not? Italy