Is He a Good Neighbour?

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Lesson

          Is HeGood Neighbour?

              Text A

    Youyour family have been livingthe same six-family apartment buildingeight years. The landlord's family also lives there, and, generally speaking,alltenants get along fairly well with each other. Recently, however, there waschangethe apartment nextyours.

    A nice, quiet old couple usedlive there. The old lady would sometimes bring over some cookies or small cakes she had made,your motherreturn would give them some food or helpold woman with her shopping. Unfortunately,old lady died last month. Her husband couldn't live alone, sograndson movedwith him.

    The grandson, whoabout twenty, has becomeproblemyour family. The wallsthe building are thinhenoisy. You are usedpeacequiet, butgrandson likeslistenhis radio late at night. Sometimes friendshis visit,they makelotnoise. Everyoneyour familybothered by your new neighborasresultbecoming more irritated.

    Your mother once politely askedold man if he was ablesleep well at night , but apparently he didn't gethint. If he did understand your mother's intentiondid speakhis grandson about it,grandson apparently didn't listen, since things haven't changed any. Everyoneyour family agrees that something hasbe done, but no one wantshurtold man's feelings or cause him any problems.
    What do you think should be done?

          
             Text B

ALBERT:   Listen,heating's brokenmy room. When are you goingcomefix it?
MANAGER:   I'm sorryhear that, sir. I'll get someone right away.
ALBERT:   You'd better. It's freezing up there. And my
   room'sdisgrace. That maid's useless.want her replaced.
MANAGER:   Well, I'll speakthe housekeeper about it, sir, but I'm sure. . . .
ALBERT:   And that hall porter's another one. Cheeky devil. You should get ridhim, too.
   Doesn't know howtreat guests with respect. And look atmoney I'm paying !
MANAGER:   Well, I'm very sorry, sir, but George has been with ustwenty yearswe've
   never had any complaints about him until now.
ALBERT:   And another thing! What are you goingdo about those foreignersnumber 27? 
   Carryingall nightthat funny language! Shouting, they were. It shouldn't be
   allowed.
MANAGER:   If you like , sir , I'll haveword with themask thembelittle more
   considerate.
ALBERT:   Yes , do that , will you , then maybe I'll get some sleep.
MANAGER:   I'm very sorry you've been disturbed, sir. But are you enjoying your stay apart
   from that?
 
ALBERT:   Well ,don't think muchthe restaurant.can't getdecent platefish
  chips. It's all saladfancy stuff. Andserviceterrible, too.
 
MANAGER:   Well. sir, I'm surewaiters trybe as helpful as they can, but they are
   very busy at dinner.
ALBERT:   Well , you should get some more , shouldn't you?
   You should be ableafford it. You're charging enough this year, aren't you?
MANAGER:   I'm very sorry you feel that way about it, sir. If there's anything elsecan do
  make your stay here more pleasant, please don't hesitateask me.
ALBERT:   Don't worry , I'll tell you all right !

           Additional Information

    The timedayabout 7. 30the evening. You areyour way homeare presentlya subway train whichabout full. At onethe stops ,young manhis eaily twenties getsthe trainsits down nexta middle-aged woman readingbook.

The man looks like he might have been drinkinglittle. Afterfew minutes, he reaches,intopocket forcigarettelights up. There are signsthe subway which prohibit smoking.People usually obeysigns , since itboth dangerousinconsiderate not to. The woman turri~the manvery politely says, "Excusc me, sir, but you aren't supposedsmokethe subway. "

The man ignores her, so she once again says. "Excuse me, sir, but people don't usually smokethe subway. " The man looks atwomansays, "Why don't you mind your own business,lady?" The woman closes her book, very calmly stands up, looks straight atmansays, "I thinksafetyallpassengerseveryone's business, young man. " She then turns tc walk away, when suddenlyyoung man jumps upgrabs her byarmturns her around. The woman yells.

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