Lesson 91    Three men in a basket

Where was the station’s Commanding Offcer?

A pilot noticed a balloon which seemed to be making for a Royal Air Force Station nearly. He informed the station at once, but no one there was able to explain the mystery. The officer in the control tower was very angry when he heard the news, because balloons can be a great danger to aircraft. He said that someone might be spying on the station and the pilot was ordered to keep track of the strange object. The pilot managed to circle the balloon for some time. He could make out three men in a basket under it and one of them was holding a pair of binoculars. When the balloon was over the station, the pilot saw one of the men taking photographs. Soon afterwards, the balloon began to descend and it landed near an airfield. The police were called in, but they could not arrest anyone, for the basket contained two Members of Parliament and the Commanding Officer of the station! As the Commanding Officer explained later, one half of the station did not know the other half was doing!

Summary writing

In not more than 85 words explain what happened from the pilot was ordered to keep track of the balloon. Write two different paragraphs using the points and connections given below.

   While circling the balloon, the pilot saw three men in the basket, one of whom was holding a pair of binoculars. When it flew over the station, one of the men took photographs. Then it landed near an airfield, but the police could not arrest  anyone because the basket contained two Members of Parliament

and the Commanding Officer of the station. Afterwards the Commanding Officer explained that one half of the station did not know what the other half doing.     （81 words）

The pilot circled the balloon, under which there was a basket containing three men, one of whom was holding a pair of binoculars. Before landing near an airfield, it flew over the station and someone took photographs. As two of the men were Members of Parliament and the other was the Commanding Officer, the police could not arrest anyone. The mystery was explained when the Commanding Officer admitted承认 (said) that one half of the station did not know what the other half was doing.

Composition

Imagine that the police did not believe the three men and arrest them. Write two paragraphs in about 150 words using the ideas given below;

1 The men struggled---they explained who they were---they were not believed---taken to the police station.

2 The police questioned the men---they refused to answer---the Commanding Officer telephoned the station---a senior officer arrived---he identified辨认 the C.O.---the police apologized.

   The men in the basket struggled hard with the balloon for some time. Soon afterwards, the balloon began to descend and it landed near an airport. The three men tried to explain who they were, but they were not believed. Being suspected怀疑 to be spies间谍, they were finally taken to the police station.

   The police questioned the men over and over again, but they refused to answer any questions. Just then, the Commanding Officer of a Royal Air Force Station telephoned the police station and said that three of their Commanding Officers disappeared. Soon a senior officer arrived. He immediately identified辨认 the three Commanding Officers in disguise伪装. The police was greatly surprised at this, and they apologized to them.

Letter writing

Write opening sentences which would be suitable for letters to the following;

1 A friend who has not written to you for a long time.

2 A friend who has been expecting to hear from you for a long time.

3 An aunt who entertained款待you to dinner and a visit to the theatre.

4 A friend who has successfully passed a difficult examination.

1 Dear Bill,

       I haven’t heard from you for a long time.

2 Dear Mary,

       Please forgive me for not answering your letter earlier.

3 Dear Aunt Alice,

       Thank you very much for taking me to dinner and to the theatre last weekend.

4 Dear Tom,

       I have just heard that you have successfully passed a difficult examination. My heartfelt真心的 congratulations恭喜！

Key structures

Can, Be able to, Manage to

C Supply the correct form of can or be able to in the following;

1 () you show me the way to the station please?

2 I gave him a few lessons and he () soon swim.

3 They () jump into the sea before the boat sank.

4 You ()not leave this room until you get permission许可承诺.

1 Can/Could

2 was (soon) able to /could

3 were able to

4 can

Special difficulties

The verb make has a difficulties meaning in each of the following sentences. Study them carefully.

A balloon seemed to be making for飞往 a Royal Air Force Station. (It seemed to be travelling towards…)

I could not make out 理解分辨what he said. (I could not understand.)

Please make out 写a fresh copy.(Write out another one.)请重写一份。

He made up 编造a story about two men and a horse. ( He invented虚构).

She spends hours making up 化妆in front of the mirror. (She uses cosmetics.化妆品 )

I must make up补上 for the time I lost this morning. ( I must compensate 补偿for…)

Exercise

Supply the missing words in the following sentences;

1 I lost my lecture讲演讲课 notes and had to make (out) a new set套.

2 I can’t make (out) what you’ve written.

3 When it got dark we made (for) home.

4 My daughter often makes (up) stories of her own.

5 How can you make (up) all those lessons you missed.

Multiple choice questions

1 The officer in the control tower wan angry because ().

A he thought the men in the balloon were spies间谍

B one of the men in the balloon was taking photographs

C the balloon was over the Royal Air Force Station

D he was worried about aircraft safety.

D 

2 The officer in the control wouldn’t have been angry().

A if he had seen the balloon himself

B if he had known his Commanding Officer had arranged安排 the trip

C if the balloon had gone away

D if the balloon had landed on an airfield

B

Structure

3 A pilot noticed a balloon () for a Royal Air Force Station.

A make

B to make

C making

D in making

C note; notice后跟名词、不带to的不定式和动名词。A,指过程，c指正在做的动作。

4 He informed the station() the balloon.

A for

B about

C of

D from

C note; inform sb. of sth. 通知某人某事

5 He was angry when he heard the news. He was angry () the news.

A with hearing

B in hearing

C on hearing

D for hearing

C

6 He heard the news. The news () bad.

A were

B are

C had

D was

D

7 The balloon contained two MPs. () two MPs in it.

A They were

B There were

C They had

D There had

B

Vocabulary

8 The Royal Air Force Station was nearby. It was () them.

A quite far

B quite close to

C beside

D rather far from

B

9 He was ordered to keep track of it. He was ordered to () it.

A record

B control

C follow

D check

C

10 He could make out three men. That’s how many he could ().

A find

B see

C follow

D watch

C

11 Soon afterwards, the balloon began to descend. It began to come ().

A over

B off

C down

D away

C

12 The balloon landed near an airfield. It ().

A came along

B came down

C came over

D came off

Sentence structure

Make two sentences from the following, then check your answer against the text.

The pilot who noticed a balloon which seemed to be making for a Royal Air Force Station nearby informed the station at once, but no one there was able to explain the mystery.

A pilot noticed a balloon which seemed to be making for a Royal Air Force Station nearby. He informed the station at once, but no one there was able to explain the mystery.