Exercise 18. Read and retell the text. Pay attention to the Passive Voice forms. An American in London

One day I was told the following story.

An American in London went sightseeing. He was taken round the

City by a guide and was shown many interesting buildings.

"How long did it take to build this house?" he asked the guide when

they were passing a hotel.

"About six months, " said the guide.

"Six months!" cried the American. "A building like that can be built

in a month in America".

Then he was shown a new building.

"And how long did it take to build that?" he asked.

"This building was built in a month, " said the guide.

"A month!" said the American: "In America a place like that can be

built in two days".

Some minutes later they came to the Houses of Parliament.

"That's not a bad-looking place. When was it built?" asked the

American.

"You may not believe me," said the guide smiling, "but that building

was not there when I crossed the bridge last night".