[00:00.800]--- Lesson 9 A cold welcome
[00:06.200]--- First listen and then answer the question.
[00:12.480]--- What does 'a cold welcome' refer to?
[00:20.040]On Wednesday evening, we went to the Town Hall.
[00:24.680]It was the last day of the year and a large crowd of people had gathered under the Town Hall clock.
[00:33.720]It would strike twelve in twenty minutes' time.
[00:38.560]Fifteen minutes passed and then, at five to twelve, the clock stopped.
[00:47.040]The big minute hand did not move.
[00:51.920]We waited and waited, but nothing happened.
[00:57.040]Suddenly someone shouted, 'It's two minutes past twelve! The clock has stopped!'
[01:07.960]I looked at my watch.It was true.
[01:11.440]The big clock refused to welcome the New Year.
[01:16.240]At that moment, everybody began to laugh and sing.
[01:23.840]--- end