THE SOCIAL WORKER The old man lived alone.

About two years previously his little flat had been broken into and ransacked by a gang of youths, and he had lost some of his most precious possessions, including photographs and mementos of his deceased wife. Since then his health had declined, he had gone out much less and had spent a lot of time simply staring out of the window. His only son lived in the north and wrote only at Christmas; he had no other close relatives. Well-meaning neighbours had advised the local social welfare service of his situation, as a result of which Margaret had called for the first time. His hostility had lasted only an instant, for Margaret was down-to-earth and humorous and used to dealing with solitary old people. She arranged for meals to be delivered to him regularly and for a nurse to call occasionally to give him the medical treatment he needed. Margaret sorted out a few legal problems which had been troubling him, and, seeing that habit was causing him to live in a more uncomfortable manner than necessary, suggested improvements in his domestic arrangements. Despite her tactful urging he did not go out to take advantage of the social activities that were available, and during the winter stayed in as much as ever, but he had begun to feel a lot happier since Margaret started to call. On her birthday he gave her a big box of chocolates and took an almost childish pleasure in seeing her unwrap it. What he most valued in their talks were her stories about the other people she and her colleagues met and tried to help in the course of their work. He was often appalled by what he heard. Margaret was careful not to identify the cases but he was obviously hearing about lives going on not many yards from his own flat. He had of course heard similar things innumerable times; of families breaking up, of mothers neglecting their children, of men beating their wives, of sons going to jail or of pregnant daughters being turned out of their homes. It was Margarets calm concern and practical attitude that touched him in a curious way. I dont know how you can stand it, he said to her after she had related one particularly harrowing episode. You old softy, she said. Youve lived among such things all your life. Ive known people in trouble, he said. Plenty. But Ive never gone out and looked for people in trouble, the way you do. Oh, they come to us, usually. Or theyre sent by the Housing Department or the Probation Service or the hospital or the Citizens Advice Bureau, or anybody else who cant do anything for them. We get everyone elses insoluble problems. Theres never much we can do, really, except help people to help themselves. And that reminds me - when are you going to come out and do something, instead of sitting here and being miserable? Oh, Im all right. She looked at him and guessed what he was thinking. If it wasnt for her visits ' She got up to go. He stood and thanked her. If it wasnt for your visits . Yes? What? she smilingly challenged him. Id be dead by now. Oh now, come on Its true. If it hadnt been for your first visit, Id have been dead the following week. Id got the pills ready. I hope youve got rid of them now, she replied ma matter-of-fact tone. Do please think of something you want to do, and do it. And dont think so highly of me. Im no angel. Im only doing the job Im paid for. Have some consideration for me. What do you think its like for me, to be so depended on? She gave him a reproachful smile and left the flat. He stared at the door.

1. Why did Margaret first call? 2. What was the old mans first reaction to Margaret? 3. How was Margaret able to help the old man, and in what respect did she fail (lines 10-17)? 4. He was often appalled by what he heard (line 21) means . . . 5. Careful not to identify the cases (lines 2 1-22) means . . . 6. In a curious way (line 27) could be replaced by . . . 7. Harrowing episode (line 29) means . . . 8. Explain what Margaret means by 'We get everyone elses insoluble problems (line 35). 9. Why does she say that reminds me (line 37)? 10. Summarise the story in not more than 100 words. Exercise 1 Conditionals: IF IT WASNT/HADNT BEEN FOR . . .

If it wasn t for your visits . . . I'd be dead by now' (lines 42, 44) If it hadnt been for your first visit, Id have been dead the following week (line 46). Note these forms of conditional, which we use when the condition is the non-existence of something. (a) Note these examples, and then rephrase each item with IF IT WASN'T FOR or IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR. (i) There is ozone in the upper atmosphere. Plant-life is not destroyed by ultra-violet radiation. IF IT WASN'T FOR OZONE IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE, PLANT-LIFE WOULD BE DESTROYED BY ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION. (ii) My wife gave me a shopping-list. Consequently I didnt forget half the items. IF IT HADNT BEEN FOR THE SHOPPING-LIST MY WIFE GAVE ME, I WOULD HAVE FORGOTTEN HALF THE ITEMS. 1. Theres a home help sent by the local social welfare service. Mrs Bastable is able to cope with her family. 2. There was a home help. Mrs Bastable didnt have to send the other children away after Jonathan was born. 3. We werent freezing cold when the gas was cut off. There was an electric fire. 4. With a ladder and some glasses, I cant see to Hackney Marshes. There are houses in between. 5. The presence of your dictionary meant that I had some idea what the letter was about. 6. They are able to haul all that timber down to the river. Without the elephants this would be impossible. 7. The old man said that it was only television that prevented hint from going mad. 8. Malcolms parents had an accidental meeting in Cambridge. They sot married, and he was born. 9. Godfreys prompt action meant that the fire was not a serious one. 10. Sylvies boy-friend exists. She wont go back to France. (b) The first example may be rephrased. IF IT WERENT FOR THE OZONE, etc. Rephrase the appropriate sentences using WEREN'T instead of WASN'T. (c) Another way of expressing the sentence in the second example is BUT FOR THE SHOPPING-LIST MY WIFE GAVE ME, I WOULD HAVE FORGOTTEN HALF THE ITEMS. Rephrase the sentence relating to the text.

Exercise2 Adjectives in ING with transformation to passive 'He was appalled by what he heard' (line 21). 'One particularly harrowing episode' (line 29) Rephrase each sentence, beginning as directed and using either the -ING or -ED form. Example: Harvey was disconcerted by their attitude. Begin HARVEY FOUND HARVEY FOUND THEIR ATTITUDE DISCONCERTING. 1. There was a bewildering number of things for us to choose from. Begin WE WERE ... 2. They were quite appalled by the dirty condition of the house. Begin THEY FOUND ... 3. The hot weather has been so enervating that I have done no work. Begin I HAVE BEEN TOO ... 4. She was utterly harrowed by the account of the accident. Begin SHE FOUND ... 5. We find it rather disturbing that he should show so much interest in dangerous drugs. Begin WE ARE ... 6. I have always been fascinated by the subject of astronomy. Begin I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND ... 7. He gave us his heartening news and we all cheered. Begin WE WERE SO ... 8. She was disillusioned by the experience. Begin SHE FOUND IT ... 9. The sudden disappearance of half their guests was disconcerting. Begin THEY ... 10. He was depressed by the spectacle of the deserted, rainswept streets. Begin HE FOUND THE DESERTED ... Exercise 3 Miscellaneous transformations based on the text

Rephrase each sentence, following the instructions at the side. Example: The old man lived alone. THE OLD MAN LIVED ON HIS OWN. Use OWN

1. His little flat had been broken into and ransacked by a gang of youths. Begin A GANG ... 2. He had no other close relatives. Begin HE DIDNT ... 3. She habitually dealt with solitary old people. Use USED 4. She arranged for meals to be delivered to him regularly. Use SHOULD 5. Seeing her unwrap it gave him an almost childish pleasure. Use TOOK 6. He had heard of mothers neglecting their children. Use WHO 7. He had heard of pregnant daughters being turned out of their homes. Use PARENTS 8. You old softy, she said, Youve lived among such things all your life. Use CALLED and REMINDED 9. Ive never gone out and looked for people in trouble, the way you do. Begin HE SAID HE l0. She didnt like to be denend on. Use PEOPLE Exercise 5 Vocabularybuilding: transitive verbs with non-person subject. Expand so as to show the meanings of the words in italics. 1. The national holiday commemorates ... 2. Excessive use of the drug stultified ... 3. The burns disfigured . .. 4. The plan underwent . .. 5. The weather has effaced ... 6. Clouds enveloped ... . 7. A rock impeded ... 8. Alcohol aggravated . . . 9. Mice are infesting . . . 10. In order to facilitate ... 11. His unexpected failure nonplussed ... 12. The accident has impaired . . . 13. His remarks will incense . . . 14. An odd smell permeated ...15. The huge wave overwhelmed .. . 16. The disease has not yet infected ... 17. The doctors are trying to stimulate ... 18. . . . impelled him to 3

confess. 19. The boys strange behaviour perturbed ... 20. Unexpected developments have hindered ...