Hello students. I’m proud of you for completing years 1 and 2 of our American English course. In order for you to become a strong intermediate American English learner, you need to be able to read, understand, and discuss abridged American English short stories. In this lesson, throughout Year 3 of your studies, you will read, listen to, and write about popular American English short stories. Please follow the directions below closely.
- Study the American English vocabulary below.
Words in This Story
broker – n. a person who helps other people to reach agreements, to make deals, or to buy and sell property such as stocks or houses
secretary – n. a person whose job is to handle records or letters for another person in an office
rush(ed) – v. to move or do something very quickly or in a way that shows you are in a hurry
chain(s) – n. a series of usually metal links or rings that are connected to each other in a line and used for supporting heavy things, for holding things together or for decoration
rush – n. a situation in which a large number of people move to or toward one place at the same time usually to do a specific thing or to search for something
- Listen to the story.
- Watch the video and read along.
- Take the short story quiz.
Take the quiz: https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-romance-of-a-busy-broker-o-henry/3390721/p1.html?isEmbedded=True
- Write a summary of the short story you just read and listened to in the comments section below. Click here to read an article that teaches you how to summarize a story. Remember to let us know who the characters of the story are, what they do, and what the story is about.
About the Author
Dear teacher,
Story was “ The Romance of a business broker “ by VOA lesson.
Pitcher, who worked in the office of Harvey Maxwells, broker, usually allowed his face to show no feelings. He was interested to Mr. Maxwells’s secretary because she was very beautiful. “Mr. Pitcher,” she said, “ did Mr. Maxwells talked to you yesterday about getting an other secretary?” “Yes, he did” Pitcher answered. Many people interested but no one appeared. This day was Harvey Maxwells busy day. Beside his table stood a Marchine. From this came a long, narrow, and endless pie of paper, bring him business news
as soon as it happened. Men begun to the office and speak to him some were happy, some were not, some were in hurry, some were full of anger. Pitcher said to Maxwells “ you told me yesterday to have someone sent here this morning “ “ are you losing your mind Pitcher,” said Maxwells. “ why should I tell you any things like that?” Miss Leslie is a perfect secretary. She can keep the job as long as she want it. Pitcher said to men in office that Maxwells was more forgetful every day.
Thank you.
Hello maestro,
My score in the quiz is 4/4.
Thank you.