Question: Teenagers in the UK and the US get to watch some wonderful TV shows. Why not have a look at a few of them yourself and take the chance to practice your English at the same time?

Modern Family

Network: ABC

Number of seasons: 3

The TV drama features two families, modern and traditional. The first is a typical American family with 3 adolescent children. Claire is a traditional mom, while Phil, the father, wants to be friends with his three children; he can name all the songs in the hit film High School Musical.

The second family is made up of a 60- year-old man, Jay, his attractive young Latin American wife, Gloria , and her 11-year-old son, Alex. Jay is 30 years older than Gloria and everyone thinks they are father and daughter.

2 Broke Girls

Network: CBS

Number of seasons: 1

Max Black is a cafe waitress and babysitter in Brooklyn, New York; Caroline Channing is the daughter of a Manhattan millionaire.

Neither of them ever imagined making friends with the other. But when Caroline loses all of her fortune after her father goes to prison, she applies for a job as a waitress in the same cafe and has to learn from Max.

Problems are unavoidable, but luckily, kind-hearted girls can always make things work out. They turn out to be great at helping each other out in their endless struggle against strange customers and picky bosses. Gradually a friendship develops.

True Blood

Network: HBO

Number of seasons: 4

Vampires live on in countless books, movies and television shows. If the Twilight series got you interested in vampire myths, then look no further than True Blood for another exciting adventure. Sookie Statckhouse is a small-town waitress. She is also telepathic . A meet with Bill Compton in a bar turns her life upside down. Bill is a vampire and that night Sookie saves him from a murder attempt. Sookie then becomes involved in a series of murder cases. The love between Sookie and Bill adds a touch of romance to a thrilling story.

Merlin

Network: BBC

Number of seasons:4

King Arthur is one of the most important mythical figures in England. But the BBC tells a slightly different story from the legend. Instead of focusing on Arthur, it is Merlin, the wizard who helps Arthur all the way through his adventures, who takes the lead role. Rather than the wise old wizard who instructs Arthur in the legend, the TV dram turns him into a handsome young man. Merlin meets Arthur in the kingdom of Camelot and believes that he is an arrogant bully . Arthur, likewise, has a less than great opinion of Merlin. The series focuses on how a friendship grows between the two. 1. How many seasons are there of the show?
2. what network?
3. what genre?
4. how many families?
5. how are they different?
6. how many kids in the modern one?
7. who is the mom?
8. what kind of dad do they have?
9. what songs can he list?
10. how much older is Jay then his wife?
11. what is the other show?
12. is it on the same network?
13. which show has more seasons?
14. who are the girls in 2 broke girls?
15. do they have the same job?
16. what network is true blood on?
17. is it about normal people?
18. what is Merlin about? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. Three
2. ABC
3. drama
4. two
5. modern and traditiona
6. Three
7. Claire
8. wants to be their friend
9. all from High School Musical
10. 30 years older
11. 2 Broke Girls
12. no
13. merlin and true blood
14. max and caloine
15. yes
16. HBO
17. no
18. Merlin, the wizard

Question: CHAPTER XV

POLE TO POLE

The waiting in London for July to come was daily more unbearable to Shelton, and if it had not been for Ferrand, who still came to breakfast, he would have deserted the Metropolis. On June first the latter presented himself rather later than was his custom, and announced that, through a friend, he had heard of a position as interpreter to an hotel at Folkestone.

"If I had money to face the first necessities," he said, swiftly turning over a collection of smeared papers with his yellow fingers, as if searching for his own identity, "I 'd leave today. This London blackens my spirit."

"Are you certain to get this place," asked Shelton.

"I think so," the young foreigner replied; "I 've got some good enough recommendations."

Shelton could not help a dubious glance at the papers in his hand. A hurt look passed on to Ferrand's curly lips beneath his nascent red moustache.

"You mean that to have false papers is as bad as theft. No, no; I shall never be a thief--I 've had too many opportunities," said he, with pride and bitterness. "That's not in my character. I never do harm to anyone. This"--he touched the papers--"is not delicate, but it does harm to no one. If you have no money you must have papers; they stand between you and starvation. Society, has an excellent eye for the helpless--it never treads on people unless they 're really down." He looked at Shelton.

"You 've made me what I am, amongst you," he seemed to say; "now put up with me!" 1. who was Shelton speaking to?
2. what never treads on someone unless they are really down?
3. what was unbearable to Shelton?
4. what was he waiting for?
5. did he want to stay there?
6. what did he want to desert?
7. what month was it?
8. who was he meeting for breakfast?
9. did he arrive at the time that he normally does?
10. what did he tell Shelton about?
11. what was the position?
12. which hotel?
13. did he think he would get the position?
14. what was he holding in his hands?
15. who saw the papers?
16. how did he look at them? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. Ferrand
2. Society
3. waiting
4. July
5. no
6. the Metropolis
7. June
8. Ferrand
9. no
10. that he had heard of a position
11. interpreter to an hotel
12. at Folkestone
13. yes
14. papers
15. Shelton
16. with a dubious glance