Exercise 81

Danyel:

Why did the chicken cross the road?

School friend:

Dunno. So why did it cross the road?

Danyel:

To get to the other side.

School friend:

You know? Your sense of humour’s the absolute pits.

Exercise 82

We’ll get the bus because the trains are on strike. We’re happy because the buses aren’t on strike. She fell because the slope was very steep. You’ll be quite safe because the steps aren’t steep. They came to visit because I’d baked a cake. She ought to go to hospital because she’s very ill. They were disappointed because I hadn’t baked a cake. The boy stumbled because there was slippery ice on the pavement. I know the ice is slippery, for the boy stumbled on it. The audience will be bored silly, for in this performance there’s nothing new.

Exercise 83

After a day of awful rain, the sun has come back to shine. The Tonkin family has gone east, to visit Mont Saint-Michel.

Mark:

Why is Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, not Brittany?

Demelsa:

Because the place was captured by the Franks at the end of the Roman Empire.

Danyel:

And why is Mont Saint-Michel its name?

Elen:

Because the angel Michael appeared many centuries ago and ordered to build a church on it.

Danyel:

Really?

Elen:

Well, maybe. It’s what people believe.

Demelsa:

And St Michael’s Mount was given to the church of Mont Saint-Michel by the king beyond Tamar. That’s why its name is English. But this mount is much bigger of course.

Exercise 84

My neighbours are much happier since they started learning Cornish. I can’t understand why you’re still seeing the boy, since it’s clear enough he’s cheating on you. Since it’s only raining a little, perhaps we can run over there very quickly. Since you ask, I’ll tell you. Well, to tell the truth, since you ask …

Exercise 85

It’s nearly the end of the family’s holiday in Brittany. Since their stay in the country was very pleasant, they want to come visiting again soon, and to explore more of the places that are so picturesque. Demelsa is determined to learn Breton seriously for next time. She’s hardly thought about the GCSE exams since she arrived in this land full of interesting things. But she’s remembered them now! Did she pass them? And pass them well? In a few days’ time she’ll know at last …