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Now here is another passage which you should read and Précis as in Activity
One: Again the Passage will be about 500 words to be shortened to from 120
to 150 words:
Eating Out – Chinese Style!!
The restaurant was almost empty as it was early. Andrew was glad in a way,
he liked to feel he had Diane to himself. They chose a corner table, where
they could look out over the green in front of the Jasmine, one of Passworth’s
few beauty spots. Dusk was falling but they could still see youngsters playing
in the last moments of daylight. The atmosphere was extremely pleasant.
The Jasmine was attractive too. It was light and freshly coloured with Oriental
pictures on the ceilings and walls, and as ever the staff were courteous and
unobtrusive. Andrew ordered from the wide range of dishes; they took dry
sherry for their aperitif.
Diane was an excellent talker and listener and as they drank their sherry and
waited for the meal, Andrew had never felt more happy or relaxed since he
came to Passworth, certainly not with Helen. With her he had felt a great
many things but relaxation wasn’t one of them.
Almost without realising it, he was revealing everything about himself to Diane
in a way impossible at school. About Camberford, his Surrey town, his home
and family, and as he spoke she encouraged him more and more. She liked
listening to him, for when he was at ease he was a good and interesting
talker, intelligent and cultivated, in a fashion quite different from most of her
colleagues. This was what had drawn Diane to him from the start, he was a
“gentleman”, but not in the way Helen saw him, somebody snobby and aloof,
but a person of taste and sensitivity. Helen admired him in a way but didn’t
understand him, Diane was attracted to him because she felt they had a lot in
common.
The two hours went by almost instantaneously. It had been an excellent meal,
prawn chow mein with sweet and sour pork, and a light nectarine dessert,
accompanied by a medium dry Bordeaux. It encouraged the talk even more,
and Andrew had a distinct singing sensation in his head after his second
glass.
But all too soon it was 9 o’clock and Diane looked at her watch.
“I have to go,” she said regretfully. “But,” she added after a pause, and looking
at Andrew in a slightly different fashion. “Would you fancy coming to this
social? The one I’ve got to go to...”
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Andrew stared at her quite at a loss, he just didn’t know what to say. Diane
completely misinterpreted his expression for she went on quickly:
“Don’t feel you’ve got to come, it’ll be a bore really. A lot of Father’s business
acquaintances and hangers-on, you probably know the sort of thing back at
Camberford. But I would appreciate your company...”
“I’d love to come!” exclaimed Andrew. “I haven’t had that sort of do for ages it’ll be a great change from Mrs. Reynolds’ rooms.”
Diane smiled. “I’m glad. I checked with Father so it is quite all right. And lucky
you’ve got a nice new suit on so you don’t even need to change. We can go
straight home without bother.”
(514 Words)
Activity 3
Your task is to rewrite this piece in between 120 and 150 words;
do not include any conversation as that always takes up many
words. (See tips presented earlier.)
Activity 4
Answer the following Questions on the Passage:
What time of the year did these episodes take place? Why do you
think this?
b) How from the Passage might Andrew have felt with Helen?
c) What sorts of girls do you think Diane and Helen are?
d) Give a short description of Andrew
e) Why was Andrew quite willing to go to the social?
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