In this reading, there are three primary objectives:
1—You will develop your awareness of the use of articles.
2—You will increase your reading comprehension.
3—You will expand your working vocabulary.

These objectives are facilitated by the following activities:
1—Reading the following part of the radio broadcast script.
2—Seeing photographs from the movie that illustrate the story.
3—Noticing required articles by interactively revealing articles after the "mouseover" of highlighted spaces.
4—Accessing short vocabulary definitions of selected words and phrases (those underlined in blue).
5—Getting vocabulary definitions from the internet for words you choose.
6—Checking your reading comprehension by doing the interactive quiz at the end (self-testing).

And, I hope you have some fun too! —Skip Reske

Move mouse cursor

over blank highlights

to show correct article (a/an or the) and over words in blue to show definition

It's A Wonderful Life

End of last part:

POP: George, when you get out of college, I don't suppose you'd come back toBuilding and Loan?

GEORGE: Oh, no, now, Pop, I - I - I - I just couldn't. I - I couldn't face being cooped up rest of my life in shabby little office. I-- Oh, I'm sorry, Pop. Now, I - I didn't mean that, but it's just this business of nickels and dimes. I'd go crazy. I - I want to do something big. Something important.

Act 1 - Part 2

POP: Insmall way, we are doing something important, George. In that shabby little office, we help people figure out how they can own their own homes.

GEORGE: I know. I know, Pop. I - I just wish I felt that I-- I-- But I just feel like if I didn't get away, I'd never live my own life.

POP: You're right, boy. You get yourselfeducation. Then -- get out of here.

GEORGE: Aw, thanks Pop! I think you'repretty great guy.

POP: Well, thanks, George. I'm glad to hear it. Look, why don't you go on over to Harry's dance? You'll havegood time.

GEORGE: Well, I don't know, maybe I will drop in. Yeah, maybe I will.

CLARENCE: So George Bailey went todance. Is that important, Joseph?

JOSEPH: Why, yes, because it was atdance where he met Mary Hatch.

Mary and George dancing

CLARENCE: Ah-ohhh...

JOSEPH: And three hours later, he was walking her home. George and Mary were feeling pretty good, Clarence. Asmatter of fact, wonderful...

[SOUND: FOOTSTEPS -- INDISTANCE,DOG BARKS]

GEORGE AND MARY: (singing) "Buffalo Gals, can't you come out tonight? Can't you come out tonight? Can't you come out tonight? Buffalo Gals, can't you come out tonight... aaaaaaannnnnnnnd dance bylight ofmoon?"

GEORGE: Terrific!

MARY: Beautiful!

GEORGE: Oh, just likeorgan.

MARY: At least.

GEORGE: Hey, you know - you know something? If it wasn't me talking, I'd say you wereprettiest girl in town.

MARY: Well, why don't you say it?

GEORGE: I don't know. Maybe I will. Hey, how old are you, anyway?

MARY: Eighteen.

Mary

GEORGE: Eighteen?!

MARY: Too young or too old?

GEORGE: No, no, no that's just right. It sorta fits you. Hey, look where we are!

MARY: Hm? Oh,old Granville house.

GEORGE: Yeah, I gotta throwrock!

MARY: Oh, no, George. I love that old house.

GEORGE: Well, don't you know about deserted houses? You - you makewish and then throwrock!

MARY: George, but it's suchlovely old place. I wish I lived there.

Old Granville house

GEORGE: In there? I would never live in there! Now, watch. Watch this. Here we go.

[SOUND: GLASS BREAKS INDISTANCE]

GEORGE: How about that, huh? Pretty good, huh? Brokewindow, huh?

MARY: What did you wish, George?

GEORGE: Oh... I don't know. Not just one wish.whole lot of them. Mary, I'm planning to leave this little town and I'm gonna seeworld! Italy, Greece,Parthenon,Coliseum. And then I'm coming back here and go to college and see what they know. And then I'm gonna build things. I'm gonna build skyscrapers hundred stories high and bridgesmile long, and then I'm gonna - gonna-- ... Hey - hey, Mary? What is it you want? What do you want, huh? Do you wantmoon? All you gotta do is just sayword and I'll--

MARY: Okay. moon. I'll take it. Then what?

George and Mary

GEORGE: Then what? Well - well, then you could swallow it... and - and it'd melt like chocolate, you know? Andmoonlight would shine from your fingers andends of your hair and-, uh... Do you think I'm talking likecrazy person? Am I talking too much?

OLD MAN: (walking by) Yes! You are talking too much! Why don't you kiss her instead of just talking so much?!

GEORGE: What?

OLD MAN: [WALKING AWAY AND TALKING TO HIMSELF] Aw, what'spoint of being young if you can't enjoy it?!

GEORGE: Well, hey! Hey, justminute, mister! Hey, you come on back here, I'll show you some kissing that'll--

[SOUND: CAR PULLS UP NEXT TO GEORGE AND MARY]

Uncle Billy arrives

UNCLE BILLY: George! George!

GEORGE: Hey, Uncle Billy! Look here, I'm gonna kiss Mary! Watch!

UNCLE BILLY: George! Get incar, quick! Your father's had stroke!

GEORGE: What? What?

UNCLE BILLY: George, get in , hurry!

JOSEPH: Well, George's father died that night, Clarence. So, of course, George couldn't go to Europe. But, that fall, just as he was ready to leave for college,directors ofbuilding and loan hadmeeting. They were going to choose someone new to takeplace of George's father...

[SOUND: BOARD OF DIRECTORS TALKING]

DR. CAMPBELL: What was that you said, Mr. Potter?

POTTER: I said, as long as Peter Bailey's dead, let's closeBuilding and Loan. We don't need it.

Old Man Potter

UNCLE BILLY: Now waitminute--

POTTER: No, you waitminute! Peter Bailey was notbusinessman. Ideals without common sense can ruintown. What do we get?lot of discontented and lazy people, a lot of rabble, instead ofmoney-saving working class.

GEORGE: Now hold on, Mr. Potter!

POTTER: Oh, I meant no disrespect, George, but--

GEORGE: Now, waitminute there. Why my father ever started this building and loan, I'll never know.

Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this "rabble" you're talking about, they do most ofworking and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die incouple of decent rooms andbath? Anyway, my father didn't think so! People were human beings to him. But to you,warped, frustrated, old man, they're cattle. Well, in my book, he diedmuch richer man than you'll ever be.

POTTER: I'm not interested in your book. I'm talking aboutBuilding and Loan.

Watch a video clip from the movie. Speakers/headphones required.
Slow internet connection (dial-up)
Fast interner connection (DSL or cable)

GEORGE: You're talking about something you can't control and you just can't accept that -- that's what you're really talking about. Well, this town needs this institution, if only to have some place where people can borrowfew dollars without dealing with someone like you who hates people! Now, let's go, Uncle Billy!