nd his staff began throwing furniture out of the window。 Chairs and tables went flying into the arcade。 One of the thieves was struck by a heavy statue； but he was too busy helping himself to diamonds to notice any pain。 The raid was all over in three minutes； for the men scrambled back into the car and it moved off at a fantastic speed。 Just as it was leaving； Mr Taylor rushed out and ran after it throwing ashtrays and vases； but it was impossible to stop the thieves。 They had got away with thousands of pounds worth of diamonds。
Lesson 7 Mutilated ladies
Children often have far more sense than their elders。 This simple truth was demonstrated rather dramatically during a civil defence exercise in a small town in Canada。 Most of the inhabitants were asked to take part in the exercise during which they had to pretend that their city had been bombed。 Air…raid warnings were sounded and thousands of people went into special air…raid shelters。 Doctors and nurses remained above ground while Police patrolled the streets in case anyone tried to leave the shelters too soon。
The police did not have much to do because the citizens took the exercise seriously。 They stayed underground for twenty minutes and waited for the siren to sound again。 On leaving the air…raid shelters； they saw that doctors and nurses were busy。 A great many people had volunteered to act as casualties。 Theatrical make…up and artificial blood had been used to make the injuries look realistic。 A lot of People were lying 'dead' in the streets。 The living helped to carry the dead and wounded to special stations。 A Child of six was brought in by two adults。 The child was supposed to be dead。 With theatrical make…up on his face； he looked as if he had died of shock。 Some people were so moved by the sight that they began to cry。 However； the child suddenly sat up and a doctor asked him to comment on his death。 The child looked around for a moment and said； 'I think they're all crazy！'
Lesson8 A famous monastery
The Great St Bernard Pass connects Switzerland to Italy。 At 2470 metres； it is the highest mountain pass in Europe。 The famous monastery of St Bernard； which was founded in the eleventh century； lies about a mile away。 For hundreds of years； St Bernard dogs have saved the lives of travellers crossing the dangerous Pass。 These friendly dogs； which were first brought from Asia； were used as watch…dogs even in Roman times。 Now that a tunnel has been built through the mountains； the Pass is less dangerous； but each year； the dogs are still sent out into the snow whenever a traveller is in difficulty。 Despite the new tunnel； there are still a few people who rashly attempt to cross the Pass on foot。
During the summer months； the monastery is very busy； for it is visited by thousands of people who cross the Pass in cars； As there are so many people about； the dogs have to be kept in a special enclosure。 In winter； however； life at the monastery is quite different。 The temperature drops to …30 and very few people attempt to cross the Pass。 The monks Prefer winter to summer for they have more privacy。 The dogs have greater freedom； too； for they are allowed to wander outside their enclosure。 The only regular visitors to the monastery in winter are parties of skiers who go there at Christmas and Easter。 These young people； who love the peace of the mountains； always receive a warm。
Welcome at St Bernard's monastery。
Lesson9
By now； a rocket will have set off on its 35 million mile trip to Mars and scientists must be waiting anxiously for the results。 The rocket will be travelling for six months before it reaches the planet。
It contains a number of scientific instruments； including a television camera。 Any pictures that are taken will have to travel for three minutes before they reach the earth。 If the pictures are successful； they may solve a number of problems about Mars and provide information about the markings on its surface which； nearly 100 years ago； the astronomer； Schiaparelli； thought to be canals。
It will be a long time before any landing on Mars can be attempted。 This will only be possible when scientists have learnt a lot more about the atmosphere that surrounds the planet。 If a satellite can one day be put into orbit round Mars； scientists will be able to find out a great deal。 An interesting suggestion for measuring the atmosphere around Mars has been put forward。 A rubber ball containing a radio transmitter could be dropped from a satellite so that it would fall towards the surface of the planet。 The radio would signal the rate which the ball was slowed down and scientists would be able to calculate how dense the atmosphere is。 It may even be possible to drop a capsule containing scientific instruments on to the planet's surface。 Only when a great deal more information has been obtained； will it be possible to plan a manned trip to Mars。
Lesson10 The loss of Titanic
The great ship； Titanic； sailed for New York from Southampton on April 10th； 1912。 She was carrying 1316 passengers and a crew of 89l。 Even by modern standards； the 46；000 ton Titanic was a colossal ship。 At that time； however； she was not only the largest ship that had ever been built； but was regarded as unsinkable； for she had sixteen water… tight compartments。 Even if two of these were flooded； she would still be able to float。 The tragic sinking of this great liner will always be remembered； for she went down on her first voyage with heavy loss of life。
Four days after setting out； while the Titanic was sailing across the icy waters of the North Atlantic； a huge iceberg was suddenly spotted by a look…out。 After the alarm had been given； the great ship turned sharply to avoid a direct collision。 The Titanic turned just in time； narrowly missing the immense wall of ice which rose over 100 feet out of the water beside her。 Suddenly； there was a slight trembling sound from below； and the captain went down to see what had happened。 The noise had been so faint that no one thought that the ship had been damaged。 Below； the captain realized to his horror that the Titanic was sinking rapidly； for five of her sixteen water…
tight compartments had already been flooded ！ The order to abandon ship was given and hundreds of people plunged into the icy water。 As there were not enough life…boats for everybody； 1500 lives were lost。
Lesson11 Not guilty
Going through the Customs is a tiresome business。 The strangest thing about it is that really honest people are often made to feel guilty。 The hardened professional smuggler； on the other hand； is never troubled by such feelings； even if he has five hundred gold watches hidden in his suitcase。 When I returned from abroad recently； a particularly officious young Customs Officer clearly regarded me as a smuggler。
'Have you anything to declare？' he asked； looking me in the eye。
'No；' I answered confidently。
'Would you mind unlocking this suitcase please ？'
'Not at all；' I answered。
The Officer went through the case with great care。 All the things I had packed so carefully were soon in a dreadful mess。 I felt sure I would never be able to close the case again。 Suddenly； I saw the Officer's face light up。 He had spotted a tiny bottle at the bottom of my case and he pounced on it with delight。
'Perfume； eh？' he asked sarcastically。 'You should have declared that。' Perfume is not exempt from import duty。'
'But it isn't perfume；' I said。' It's hair…oil。' Then I added with a smile；' It's a strange mixture I make myself。' As I expected； he did not believe me。
'Try it！' I said encouragingly。
The Officer unscrewed the cap and put the bottle to his nostrils。 He was greeted by an unpleasant smell which convinced him that I was telling the truth。 A few minutes later； I was able to hurry away with precious chalk…marks on my baggage。
Lesson12 Life on a desert island
Most of us have formed an unrealistic picture of life on a desert island。 We sometimes imagine a desert island to be a sort of paradise where the sun always shines。 Life there is simple and good。
Ripe fruit falls from the trees and you never have to work。 The other side of the picture is quite the opposite。 Life on a desert island is wretched。 You either starve to death