New Concept English II - 9 (12/04/2008)

esson 9 A cold welcome


On Wednesday evening, we went to the Town Hall. It was the last day of

the year and a large crowd of people had gathered under the Town Hall

clock. It would strike twelve in twenty minutes' time. Fifteen minutes

passed and then, at five to twelve, the clock stopped. The big minute

hand did not move. We waited and waited, but nothing happened. Suddenly

someone shouted, ‘It's two minutes past twelve! The clock has stopped!*

I looked at my watch. It was true. The big clock refused to welcome the

New Year. At that moment, everybody began to laugh and sing.