Топик: Тексты для экзамена 11 класса

Crabbes’s Practice

Sir Arthur Conan Dole ( 1859-1930), born and educated in Edinburgh, became a medical practitioner in 1885. But then he turned to writing and became famous as author of crime and detective stories.

Tom Crabbe had just finished medical college. A brilliant career seemed to be ahead of him , as he had a deep knowledge of medicine. Crabbe went down with his young degree and a still younger wife to Brisport to start practice there.

One day to my surprise I received a telegramme from Mrs. Crabbe requesting me to come to Brisport urgently. When I arrived there I learned about their difficulties: The expenses were heavy , and patients were few. Tom wanted my advice. He said: “ If I could make myself known it would be all right , but no one seems to need my help; they all go to other doctors they know. I wouldn’t mind if these other doctors were good men, but they are not. They are at last half a cenfury behind the day.”

“You should get your name know, ” I advised.

“That’s exactly what I want , if I could only get my name into the Brisport Chronicle it would help me a lot.”

We had been talking over the matter for a while when an idea came to Tom. We drew up a plan of our actions which we revised, modified and at last accepted. Our discussion resulted that night in my moving into the Brisport Hotel.

Next day the weather was fine. The streets of Brisport were crowded with people , I went straight to the river and on my way there saw Tom Crabbe standing on the bridge. There was a boat –house near the river.

“Could I have a boat for an hour?” I asked a man there.

“Of course,” he said. “Would you want me take you down the river?”

“Yes , you’d better ,” I replied. At the end of an hour I said I wanted a bit of exercise – “Let us change places,” I said and stood up.

“Take care , sir,” cried the man, “ Look out.” But I had already fallen over into the water.

Some time later I was “ saved” by the boat-man.

“ He is dead, poor fellow,” said someone.

“Send for the doctor.”

“Feel his pulse.”

“Stop,” said an authoritative voice .”can I be of any assistance?” I am a medical man. What has happened?”

“A man drowned,” cried several voices.

‘ Stand back, make room for the doctor.”

“My name is doctor Crabbe. Take him to the hotel.”

We got to the hotel and I was undressed and put on the best bed. It seemed that news of the accident had travelled fast as there was a crowd in the street. Tom admitted only a few townspeople into the room , but issued bulletins out of the window every five minutes to the crowd below.

“ Quite dead,” I heard him shout. “ no pulse- but we still do our best ; we are obliged to try every thing.”

( After A. Conan Doyle)

It has been well said that every Englishman is an average Englishman : it’s an essential national characteristic.

What is more , no true Englishman would wish it to be otherwise. He prefer his neighbour to be an average Englishman – he prefer to be one himself. He likes what he knows.

To think is not part of the English character. Instead of thoughts , the English have traditions.

The tradition of “the Home” for instance.

Even the French have preferred not to translate this word , but to recognize it as English in origin and spirit by referring to it as “ le home”.

Yet how do the English treat “le home” – which is, theoretically and traditionally regarded as the backbone of their country?