Numbers: I, for One, Use These Expressions a Lot
Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories.
Today I will tell about …(1) using numbers. Let us …(2) the number one. Numbers
can be …(3). …(4), they are simply numbers. On the other hand, they have
meanings. I …(5) use these expressions a lot.
Many people consider themselves number one, the … (6) person. They are always
…(7) and …(
. It is as if they are the one and only person on …(9). Some
people however, are not so …(10). My brother is such a person. It is true –
…(11). I am not trying to …(12) on you.
First, you have to understand that my brother is …(13). He is such a …(14)
person. All his friends like him. They consider him …(15). Recently, my brother
had a …(16) at the office. It was just …(17). Nothing …(18) right. So he
stopped at a local …(19) -- a …(20) place -- after leaving work. My brother
planned to have a glass of beer with his friends -- a …(21) – before he went
home. But a …(22) turned into one or two, and soon those became …(23).
As my brother was leaving, he ordered a last drink -- one …(24). His friends
became …(25). One by one, they asked him if he …(26) safely.
Now my brother is a …(27) and …(28) person. He is at one with himself. He …(29)
when he has had too much …(30) to drink. So he …(31) for a ride home from a
…(32) friend.
…(33) in the past, my brother had been in love with this woman. She is a great
person -- kind, …(34) and …(35) -- all good qualities …(36) into one. But …(37)
their relationship did not work. He always …(38) say “One of …(40), I am going
to marry this girl.” But that never happened.
For one thing, she did not love him as much as he loved her. It was just …(41).
The situation was …(42) and my brother had to …(43). But even now, he …(44) her
the one that …(45) away.
However, they are …(46) friends. And because my brother …(47) kind to her, she
felt that one good turn …(48) another. He was …(49) to her and she wanted to
help him …(50). So she …(51) him home.
If my brother had …(52) home from the …(53) that night, his …(54) would have
been up. Something bad would …(55) . …(56) he made it home safely. And, he and
the woman are …(57) one. They are back to …(58) they …(59) – being …(60).
This VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, was …(61) by Jill
Moss. I’m Faith Lapidus.
