READ AND DISCUSS: HOME-READING

VII TERM

Part I. Speaking about character

I. Vocabulary File 1: personality adjectives

1. Divide the words into 3 groups: positive, negative, neutral
considerate stable skeptical cautious fussy
competitive conceited good-natured unimaginativ modest
talkative depressed quite-natured e forward-
practical sad quite, calm spontaneous looking
traditional calculating shy, timid trustworthy welcoming
reserved co-operative nervous melancholy sophisticated
serious outgoing curious attractive narcissistic
trusting optimistic sociable distant provincial
tough emotional safe cheerless chatty
hard-headed stylish creative tolerant demanding
success-driven narrow-minded ambitious arrogant adventurous
down-to-earth confident logical romantic thick-skinned
strong-willed awkward boring, dull lonely (un)reliable
stubborn brave dependable popular moody
intelligent easy-going impulsive patriotic (in)sincere
inquisitive aggressive generous independent self-centered
frank pessimistic sporty gloomy thoughtful/less
carefree (un)selfish sunny emotional obstinate
obedient reasonable energetic sensible devoted
(dis)honest open-minded sensitive logical loyal
sympathetic kind-hearted hypocritical reckless jealous
courageous serious naive suspicious miserable
greedy, mean bossy categorical absent-minded secretive
strict bad-tempered embarrassed silly, stupid cowardly
flexible (hot) light-minded argumentative lazy
(im)patient (im)polite (ir)responsible smart listless
shrewd thrifty rude // ruthless stingy sly, cunning
weak-willed broad-minded naughty enthusiastic gentle
haughty tactful/less pushy commonplace merciful
cheerful envious attentive decent money-thirsty
hostile witty proud well-read business-like
industrious showy unfair evil well-bred
ignorant experienced wise double-faced self-possessed
revengeful heartless deceitful capricious
mysterious
2. Match the adjectives with their definitions

(1) confused a person who doesn’t do what he says he will

(2) nervous worries and thinks too much about detail
(3) bad –tempered worries about what might happen
(4) loyal is uncertain about what to do, what to think
(5) ambitious someone who likes giving things to others
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(6) haughty people who show their feeling easily
(7) miserable has belief in one’s own value and abilities
(8) self-confident a happy, smiling person
(9) unreliable behaves badly, doesn’t obey
(10) generous has a strong desire to be successful, powerful, rich
(11) emotional is faithful to people, places and things
(12) fussy in low spirits
(13) cheerful unhappy, tired and not interested
(14) suspicious likes to work with other people
(15) co-operative doesn’t trust people

3. Complete the sentences with one of the adjectives:

a) easily led e) stingy i) modest m) naive q) happy

b) boastful f) confident j) embarrassed n) naughty
c) jealous g) shy k) narrow-minded o) stupid
d) hospitable h) courageous l) pessimistic p) moody

1) Sammy always thinks that everything will go wrong with him, he is very…
2) Betty finds it hard to make friends because she is…
3) … people feel good about themselves and aren’t afraid to speak to others.
4) Tim felt very – when he saw his girlfriend speaking to another boy.
5) I was – when I told a joke in front of the whole class and nobody laughed.
6) A person who changes quickly from being happy to being unhappy for no reason is…
7) People who live in small communities can be a bit… and afraid to accept new ideas.
8) If you don’t stop being – you won’t get your ice-cream!
9) He is rather - and never stops telling you how wonderful he is.
10) I wish you were not so - . Why can’t you pay for the coffee for once?
11) Going out in the rain without a jacket was a… thing to do.
12) They are very - . They let us stay in their house and then lent us a car.
13) Why be so..? Everybody feels proud of you.
14) If you are… you don’t show that you are afraid of some danger.
15) You have little experience, you believe all people are kind and honest when they aren’t.
16) Your actions are often influenced by others.
17) Jack was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

4. Unscramble the letters to make adjectives that can describe personality

1. usaljeo – j (the first letter) 6. swie – w

2. cmaronti – r 7. ervesrde – r
3. ohstne - h 8. lcttafu – t
4. iginnttelle – i 9. bellreisou – r
5. pentindende – i 10. wothtrstury – t
1) I’m quite a … person. I don’t like to show my feelings.
2) She’s so … . She’s always dreaming of her boyfriend giving her flowers and chocolates.
3) I encourage my children to be … . I think it will make them more confident when they are
older.
4) John is a very … person. He never says anything hurtful to anybody.
5) Helen is very … . I can tell her anything and she won’t tell anybody else.
6) Sally is very … . She always does well in her exams.
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7) My boyfriend is so … . He doesn’t like me to go out with my friends.
8) Sally is becoming quite … . She goes out late, doesn’t do her homework and never helps at
home.
9) He’s a very … . He’ll always give you his true opinion.
10) She’s so … . She gives great advice.

5. Look at the two groups of adjectives below. Those in group A are favourable, those
in group B are unfavourable. Pair the adjectives in group A with their opposites in
group B
A B
1. amusing a) stupid
2. calm b) disagreeable
3. cheerful c) boring
4. clever d) humourless
5. even-tempered e) hypocritical
6. generous f) lazy
7. good-looking g) mean
8. hard-working h) miserable
9. pleasant i) moody
10. polite j) narrow-minded
11. self-confident k) plain
12. sensitive l) quick-tempered
13. sincere m) rude
14. tolerant n) shy
15. witty o) unfeeling

Which five adjectives in group A do you think are the most important in a friend? Which five
adjectives in group B describe people you dislike most?

6. Complete the sentences with a suitable adjective. The first letter is given

1. Paul is very a… . He always tells funny stories.

2. Kate is completely u… and always thinks of others before herself.
3. She is very c… . She never stops talking.
4. I wish she were not so j… . She hates me to talk to my friends.
5. Jack is very a… . He can’t discuss anything without getting angry and shouting.
6. He won’t tell you a lie. He is too h… .
7. Children must be o… when parents instruct them.
8. You should be r… so as not to make the wrong decision.
9. Robert is w…, he is the heart and soul of the company.
10. Pat is d…, indeed. I fall asleep when she is talking.
11. Jack is s…, he always has his own way.
12. One must have initiative and be c… to start a business.
13. You must be more r… when dealing with short-tempered people.
14. Parents should be mild and p… when talking with kids.
15. She has a very o… outlook on life, she never expects anything to go wrong.
16. That’s the second plate you’ve broken this week. Why are you so a… .
17. She is 100 % r… . I’d leave my money, car, anything for her to look after.
18. When she was a child, her parents were s… to her, they used to send her to bed at 9 sharp.
19. She was so s… when I told her my problems, I felt better afterwards.

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 7. Choose the best alternative to complete these sentences

1. She is a very … person – always smiling and in a good mood.

a) cheerful c) glad
b) delighted d) pleased
2. He is a very … person – I do wish he were more easy-going.
a) bad-tempered c) sensitive
b) furious d) responsible
3. Don’t tell her off – she is very … and she can start to cry.
a) responsible c) sensitive
b) sensible d) reliable
4. When his wife started seeing more of the tennis coach, he became very … .
a) arrogant c) jealous
b) envious d) selfish
5. The twins keep pretending to be each other – they’re such … children!
a) evil c) naughty
b) miserable d) wicked
6. Thank you for my beautiful present. It was very … of you to buy it for me.
a) charitable c) loyal
b) generous d) reliable
7. You have to be quite … to stand up in front of the audience.
a) selfish c) self-conscious
b) self-confident d) self-satisfied
8. He is very … little boy – his parents give him everything he asks for.
a) conceited c) discriminating
b) generous d) spoilt

8. Qualities of mind. Check the meaning and pronunciation of these adjectives in

your dictionary.

Determined, strong-minded, well-adjusted, adventurous, confident, dependable, lonely,

stubborn, brilliant, popular, awkward, impulsive

Complete the sentences with one of the adjectives in the box above

1. A ... person is exceptionally intelligent or skillful.

2. A ... person is very unwilling to change his mind.
3. An ... person is shy and easily embarrassed in a social situation.
4. An ... person is willing to take risks and try new things.
5. A ... person knows what he wants to do and won't let anything stop him doing it.
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6. A ... person can resist temptation.
7. A ... person is a person most people like.
8. A ... person is unhappy because he has no one to talk to.
9. An ... person does things suddenly, without thinking first.
10. A... person is calm and good at controlling her emotions.
11. A ... person is someone you can rely on.
12. A ... person is very sure of himself.

9. A. Underline the most suitable word

1) Please don't push. It's very bad-tempered/rude/unsympathetic

2) Jack hats spending money. He's frank/greedy/mean
3) Our teacher is very tolerant/proud/strict and won't let us talk in class
4) Helen never does her homework. She is rather gentle/lazy/reliable
5) I didn't talk to anyone at the party because I felt shy/confident/lonely
6) When Harry saw his girlfriend dancing with Paul he felt selfish/jealous/sentimental
7) I didn't like people who are sociable/pushy/courageous
8) Thanks for bringing us the present. It was very grateful/adorable/thoughtful of you
9) Teresa never gets angry with the children. She is very brave/generous/honest

B. Match the ends in the box with the descriptions

1 You always arrive on time a bad-tempered
2 You are always happy b determined
3 You do what you say you will do c lazy
4 You say exactly what you think d reliable
5 You cry easily and your feelings are easily hurt e frank
6 You don't think about the needs of others f cheerful
7 You have a strong wish to get what you want g mean
8 You are not willing to spend money h selfish
9 You easily become angry with others i considerate
10 You think about the needs of others j honest
11 You tell the truth and obey the laws k punctual
12 You understand the feelings of others l sympathetic
13 You try to avoid work if you can m sentimental

10. Complete each sentence with a word from the box

1 I think I'll stay here on my own. I didn't feel very... a ambitious

2 Diana wants to get to the top in her company. She is b greedy
very...
3 It's not... to stare at people and say nothing c polite
4 I think you are very... to write a novel d sociable
5 Thank you for giving me a hand. It was very... e brave
6 Peter refused to change his mind, although he is wrong. f imaginative
He is very...
7 It was very... of Sheila to put out the fire on her own g proud
8 Our neighbours look down on us. They are a bit... h stubborn
9 Don't eat all the cakes! You really are becoming very... i grateful
10 If you lend me the money, I'll be... j tolerant
11 I'm very ... of my new computer k persistent
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 12 My parents don't mind my crazy hairstyle. They are l arrogant
very...
13 You have patience and stick to a problem, trying m kind
various approaches, until you get a solution. You are...

11. Is it possible to judge somebody’s character by their behaviour?

A) Read the descriptions and write down adjectives to match them

1. Dick sometimes doesn’t tell the truth because he doesn’t want to hurt someone’s feelings.
2. When Bill has to decide something, he thinks first of himself.
3. Uncle Bob always gives money to charity.
4. Jack is 28, but he puts in very little effort at work.
5. Vicky does things suddenly, without thinking first.
6. Aunt Polly likes to poke her nose into everybody’s affairs.
7. Elena came top in all her exams, but she didn’t tell anyone.
8. Once Hans has decided to do something, it’s impossible to make him change his mind.
9. When we go out for a meal with Andy, he always insists on paying.
10. Ann is not fixed in her opinion. She’s always ready to consider new ideas.
11. Tom does well in his job, he wants to get to the top of the company by the time he is 30.
12. Huckleberry Finn never let a friend down.
13. Maria never does any work, she just sits around doing nothing all day.
14. It’s impossible to say anything to his aunt. One word and she starts crying.
15. Pete has got lots of money, but he hates spending it.
16. Little Ben always hides behind his mother when guests come.
17. Jane wants calmly for things and doesn’t worry if things are not on time.
18. Ann is always very understanding if you have a problem and will make you laugh when you
are feeling down.
19. She is the kind of person who always acts logically when there’s a problem.
20. Mary always says what she thinks. This is usually a gold thing, but sometimes when she gets
into an argument, she starts shouting and people get upset.

B) How can you characterize a person who:

1. gives her or his last to other people / never lends you money?
2. likes talking with other people? / hates communicating?
3. looks on the bright side of things? / looks on the black side of things?
4. has a high opinion of himself? / never praises himself?
5. easily flies into a rage? / never loses temper?
6. tells the truth to others? / cheats others?
7. is practical in approach to life? / dreamy in it?
8. finds a lottery ticket worth 10 hundred and returns it to the owner?
9. marries a girl and a month later starts a love affair with her best friend?
10. cancels an important meeting because of a bad dream last night?
11. comes to his friend’s birthday party without a present?
12. thinks that Shakespeare is a basketball player?
13. catches a thief in the street and brings him to the police-station?
14. always keeps a promise? / doesn’t remember things?
15. has good manners?
16. enjoys being with other people? / finds it difficult to meet new people?
17. shows his feelings easily?

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18. worries and thinks too much about detail?
19. is interested in other people and their business?

C) Decide what kind of person said each sentence.

1. I watch only TV programs that teach me something.

2. I always thank people for presents they give me.
3. She often makes promises that she doesn’t keep.
4. I give money to anyone who asks me.
5. Jane doesn’t get annoyed or try to rush people.
6. I stayed with the company even when they treated me badly.
7. I’m much more adult and grown up now. Yes, I seem a lot more mature these days.
8. I never do anything unusual or unexpected.
9. Ladies first!
10. I’ve got used to 10 hours’ work every day.
11. I’m always sorry for people who are in trouble.
12. I just love cucumbers with milk, Picasso’s paintings and freckled faces.
13. I can’t control myself when I should keep quite.
14. I don’t care for him. He is inferior to me, you know.
15. Whatever she may say, I won’t lose my temper.
16. Darling! I never grudge you anything, be it clothes, money, a car.
17. Whatever you may ask me to do for you, I will do it. Whatever you may say, I will forgive
you.

12. Self-adjectives: Use some of the self-adjectives in sentences of your own

a) Why are you so selfish and self-centred? Why don’t you think about what others want for a
change?
b) Stop complaining! You are being so self-pitying!
c) He is full of himself! He talks about himself like he runs the whole company self-handedly.
He is self-important!
d) She's always moralising! She is so self-righteous.
e) I can’t work from home. I’m not self-disciplined enough, I’d never get any work done!
f) He put his whole self into the job, working day and night.
g) I’m feeling much better but I’m still not quite my old self.
h) Under a stressful cross –examination they began to reveal their true selves/ better selves.
i) It’s always the same with him – self, self, self.
j) I could never be an actor, I’m too self-conscious.
k) The young girl felt very self-conscious about the large spot on her chin.
l) I know it’s very self-indulgent, but I’m going to have another piece of cake.
m) He’s proud of being a self-made man.
n) He is usually self-collected, but this time he is shaking with rage!
o) She is 81 now, but she’s still self-reliant. She does everything for herself and refuses our
offers to help her.

II. Vocabulary File 2

1. Memorize the following:

A)

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a sweet-tooth – сладкоежка
a cry-baby – плакса
a yes-man – подпевала
a know-all – всезнайка (= a smart Alec)
a chatter-box – болтун
a big mouth
a loud-mouth – горлопан
a lazy-bones – лентяй
a Nosey Parker – любопытная Варвара (=
Peeping Tom)
a butter-fingers – растяпа, размазня
a homebody – домосед
a busy-body – докучливый, назойливый
человек
a kill-joy – брюзга
a trouble-maker – склочник, смутьян
life and soul of the party – душа компании /
общества
a good mixer – общительный человек
a wet blanket – кисляй
a day dreamer – мечтатель, фантазер
a dare-devil – отчаянный, бесшабашный
a rolling stone – не сидящий на одном месте
a golden boy – юноша с будущим
a pain in the neck – ужасная зануда
a lone wolf – единоличник
a tomboy – девчонка-сорванец
a name-dropper – хвастающий своими
связями
a slow coach – копуша
a clock-watcher – нерадивый работник
a tear-away – сорвиголова,
агрессивный человек
a gate-crasher – незванный гость
an early-bird – ранняя пташка
a wise old bird – тертый калач
a fence-sitter – выжидающий, в
нейтральной позиции
Jack of all trades – мастер на все руки
Doubting Thomas – Фома Неверующий
sleepy head – соня
a social-climber – карьерист
a fat head –болван, тупица
all talk and no action – человек не дела
a cold fish – безразличный
a fat cat – важный, имеющий хорошую
должность
a paper tiger – бумажный тигр
(опасный внешне)
a shrinking violet – трус, паникер
a fair-weather friend – друг до первой
беды
a dark horse – человек-загадка
a wolf in sheep’s clothing – волк в
овечьей шкуре

B)
double-faced – двуличный
lion-hearted – бесстрашный
chicken-hearted – трус
pig-headed – упрямый
bottled-up – скрытный
black-hearted – злобный
low-spirited – унылый, подавленный

C)
to have a finger in every pie – вмешиваться
to keep smb. under one’s thumb – командовать
to keep one’s hands in pockets – бездельничать
to have cold feet – струсить
to lead a cat and dog life – жить как кошка с собакой
to keep one’s head – сохранять спокойствие
to turn a blind eye – не замечать
to give smb. the cold shoulder – неприветливо отнестись
to wear one’s heart upon one’s sleeve – душа нараспашку
to twist smb. round one’s little finger – одурачить

D)

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wet behind the ears – неопытный и наивный
nuts – глупый, тупой, чокнутый
a stuffed shirt – самодовольный, напыщенный
a couch potato – проводит много времени, лежа у ТВ
tight-fisted – прижимистый
an armchair critic
an egghead – интеллектуал, очень умный
a quick-study – быстро схватывающий
a (real) go-getter – очень способный
an eager beaver – готовый добровольно выполнить любую работу

Remember!
1. to take the mickey out of smb – to laugh at them and make fun of them, often in a
friendly way (she isn’t afraid to take the mickey out of her boss and the people above her, she
takes the mickey out of herself too).
2. an old fogey – smb who has old-fashioned views and doesn’t like change. You needn’t
be old to be one. (Young people today don’t have any respect. – Oh, don’t be such an old
fogey! You are only 31!)
3. to bitch about smth/smb – to complain. (When the boss was out they sat around and bitched
about him)
to make bitchy comments – say unkind or unpleasant things about smth/smb
to be bitchy – the meaning has nothing to do with sex!
4. to get a lot on your plate – to have lots of work to do. (I’ve already got a lot on my plate,
and my boss is constantly breathing down my neck to get things finished and do more. It’s
really annoying!
5. to have the aura of (confidence, modesty, optimism, sincerity, generosity, passion ...).
6. to have guts – be brave
to be gutless – to give in easily and not stand up for what you believe in.
7. to get the giggles – to laugh uncontrollably, usu. about something silly. (We just got the
giggles and I was desperately trying to keep a straight face, which just made things worse.)
8. to vent one’s frustrations or anger – to express your feelings in a strong way. (Thanks for
listening to all my problems. I really needed to get things off my chest. – Don’t worry. If you
ever need a shoulder to cry on or you just want to vent your frustrations, I’m here.)

2. Read the sentences and translate the underlined phrases

1. He is 16 now and he is going through a bit of a rebellious phrase. He’s dyed his hair and got a
piercing!
2. Your pronunciation is amazing. You must have a very good ear for language.
3. We are running round like headless chickens. But Alice is her usual self-cool, calm and
collected. She’s totally unflappable.
4. Peter tried to put on a brave face, but I could see that deep down he was really upset.
5. I’ve got a lot on my plate at work at the moment and I’m still finding my feet.
6. My boss is really domineering and he never listens to a word anyone else ever says. He is so
dictatorial. He gives me only icy looks.
7. She is absolutely fanatical about yoga and aerobics!
8. She’s still really sharp and keeps up to date with things.
9. It’s all “Oh, leave him be! Leave him have what he wants, he is only 3, my little prince”.
10. He is a complete nobody. I don’t know why he is famous.
11. I guess I was what one might call a spoilt child, for I was an only child and I got whatever I
wanted. I had a rather weak-minded mother and by contrast a very domineering father.
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12. He is an egomaniac! Honestly, he is power mad.
13. I think he is a bit of a bully, to be honest. He likes to push people around. He can be quite
intimidating.
14. He is such a winger. He is forever going on about his petty little problems.
15. He is very laid-back. He never loses his temper.
16. He is a bit of a weirdo. He never seems to look you in the eye.
17. He’s got an aura about him. He is very charismatic.
18. Sam is a go-lucky person and worries about nothing.
19. He is very straight with people. I’ll give him that. He’s very direct. He always says what he
thinks.
20. There was a teething problem. At first she was pretty hopeless on the computer and didn’t
know any of the software. Now she’s fine.
21. Don’t be a scrounger! Buy your own coffee!
22. He has no interest whatsoever in anything except watching football, but I don’t think I can go
through my life like that.
23. He never gives a straight answer. He is really shifty.
24. He comes across as a bit dull. He hasn’t got the spark to get elected.
25. He is just so bad, if not worse.
26. He is such a brat. He needs a good slap!
27. I really don’t like the way he eyes you up and down while he is speaking to you. – I know, he
gives me the creeps.
28. To be honest you are being overprotective. I mean he is 18 now and you smother him!
29. I can’t stand him! He really fancies himself! He speaks like he’s God’s gift to women.
30. He seems frighteningly ambitious. I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody so keen to climb the
career ladder.
31. She is very direct. She doesn’t mince her words. She tells you exactly what’s on her mind.
She can be really insensitive sometimes. Some of the things she says are very harmful.
32. It’s not often I’m lost of words, but I did get a bit tongue-tied when I tried to talk to him.
33. I’ve been wracking my brains trying to remember the name, but it’s completely slipped my
mind.
34. Some students feel embarrassed when they speak in front of the whole class.
35. I think that Nick’s action was rather out of character.

3. Use a bit/a bit of (a) to soften negative adjectives and nouns. It makes them sound
slightly less strong.
1. Jack seems down-to-earth.
2. He is very competent but dull.
3. The affair left a bitter taste in her mouth.
4. He is a know-all! He thinks that he knows everything about everything.
5. Don’t get me wrong. I do like him, but he is difficult to talk to.
6. He is cheeky sometimes - answering back all the time!
7. He left jealous when he saw his girlfriend laughing and talking with his best friend.
8. Few students wanted to join in the activities. They seemed apathetic.
9. Jack is a lazy slob. He never lifts a finger to help.
10.I didn’t go to the party as I felt under the weather.
11.I think he fancies himself as a ladies' man, Casanova. Love them and leave them.
12.He is generally quite serious, but he can be a clown at times.

4. A) What type of person

1. is too interested in other people’s affairs?
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2. stops being your friend when you are in trouble?
3. is very shy and easily frightened?
4. seems friendly and nice but is actually dangerous and threatening?
5. seems to be dangerous but in fact is not?
6. is not enthusiastic about things and stops other people from enjoying themselves?
7. hides their feelings and experiences?
8. tries to show that they are cleverer than other people?
9. is a wealthy and powerful person?

B) Guess what is typical of people you are reading about

1. Dorian is so pushy.
2. Bob can be patient.
3. Henry seems to be extravagant.
4. David is quite broad-minded.
5. Vicky is a good mixer.
6. Paul is absolutely weak-willed.
7. Jane is stingy.
8. Margaret is always frank.
9. Bob is so envious.
10. They are argumentative.

5. Feelings – say in your own words.

1. I didn't go to the party as I felt a bit under the weather.
2. Pete agreed to sign the form but he looked ill-at-ease.
3. You look rather out of sorts. Why not see a doctor?
4. When Sam told me he was my lost brother I was completely taken aback.
5. I feel nervous, I have butterflies in my stomach.
6. When the teacher praised me I was pleased as punch.

6. What do we mean saying:

a loser, a complete snob, a hypocrite, a fashion victim, an absolute macho, a slob, a weirdo,
a man with a sick sense of humour, down-the-earth, a go-getter, a moron, jumpy, an egomanic,
obsessed with, a party animal, tight-fisted, a smug, a bully, to take people at face value.

III. Word-building
1. Study the following examples and point out the way of word-building
1. He is useless to go shopping with. He just gets really impatient and keeps asking me if I am
ready to leave yet.
2. I can’t stand the guy. I think he’s just a thoroughly dislikeable piece of work!
3. Have you heard the way he talks to his girlfriend? He treats her like dirt. He is so disrespectful
to her.
4. Why doesn’t the boss get rid of him? The guy’s completely incompetent. He doesn’t know
what he is doing.
5. She strikes me as being a very uncaring person. She seems not to worry about other people’s
feelings at all.
5. You are just so indecisive! Just make up your mind which one you want so that we could go
out of here and go home.
6. Don’t be so unsociable. It’ll be nice to go out and meet a few new people for a change.

12
7. He’s got this painfully slow way of expressing himself. I suppose you could say he’s quite
inarticulate.
8. I’ve tried talking to my friend about it, but he is being really uncooperative. He just seems
unwilling to help.

2. Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to form a word that
fits in the space in the same line.

I’ve always been a(n) (1) – sort of person. impulse

You might think that’s a rather (2) – way to live and I’ve had some child
(3) – moments. embarrass
Once, for example, I was in a great (4) – with the most beautiful relate
girt in the world – or so I thought, when she suddenly (5) –. appear
She didn’t answer the phone and was never in when I called round.
I was so (6) – . frustrate
In fact, after three days I became quite (7) – . depress
We hadn’t had an (8) – or anything. argue
A week passed and the tension in me was (9) – . I had to do bear
something so I hired aircraft to drop thousands of papers over the town
with the message Geremy.

IV. Reading
1.
1) A: What is your brother like? Do you get on?
B: Not really. He's so fussy about everything! For example, he won't eat any vegetables
except peas. If you suggest going somewhere, he never wants to. He's just so difficult to please.
I'm the exact opposite. I'm really easy-going.
2) A: What’s her boyfriend like?
B: He’s awful! I don't know what she sees in him. He's really big-headed, he's always
showing off and saying, how good he is at everything, and he's so mean! Do you know what he
bought her for her birthday? A bar of chocolate!
3) A: What’s her new boyfriend like?
B: He’s gorgeous, really good-looking. He looks like a film star, but he's quite quiet. He
doesn't really say anything.
4) A: What is his girlfriend like?
B: Really nice! She's very chatty and out-going. She's very easy to get on with. She's also
really sporty. She plays football and hockey. She's really fit. Honestly, I don't know what she
sees in that fat slob. She should be with me!
2. The Importance of Appearance

Society places great value on appearance and most people care about how they look. Indeed,
we often judge others by their appearance. However, there is a danger of placing too much
importance on how someone looks, as it does not always indicate the kind of character they
have, or what skills they may possess. There is no doubt that appearance is important. For
example, if you go to a job interview without having made an effort to look smart, then you will
probably not be offered the job. Moreover, someone's appearance can give us useful information
about that person. When we see a person wearing a suit, we suspect they are professional. This
can inspire confidence. Nevertheless, there is a danger of falsely judging someone by their
appearance. For instance, not all punks are hooligans and untrustworthy. People who judge
solely by appearance may suspect that they are. In conclusion, although appearance is important,

13
we must also consider other factors, such as personality, when forming opinions about people.
There is some truth in the saying: 'Never judge a book by its cover.

3.
I come from a fairly close-knit family, although we don't always get on too well. I am very
close to my grandmother, Emma, especially as we have a lot in common, but I've recently fallen
out with my grandfather, John. Their son is my father, Bob. He's quite old-fashioned, and we
don't always see eye to eye; I know I should look up to him as a role model, but the fact is I don't
respect him very much. On the other hand, I worship my mother, Maureen; she's kind, caring and
very tolerant of others. I have one younger sister, Sally, who I'm quite fond of, and I admire my
brother-in-law, Andrew, who is a very talented painter. I have a precocious nephew, Tony, who
I'm a bit fed up with, and a lovely little niece, Claudia, whom I adore. My father has a sister, my
aunt Sue. I respect her, as she's had to put up with a lot of hardship in life, especially being
married to my uncle Stanley, who treats her terribly. I must confess I loathe him. I also despise
his son, my cousin Stuart, who takes after his father. My elder cousin Claire, on the other hand, I
idolise.

4.
We all tend to make quick decisions about someone the moment we see them. We glance at
a stranger in the street and within seconds calculate their age, decide what sort оf person they are,
and, microseconds later, decide whether or not we find them attractive. We jump to conclusions
about people simply on the basis of what they look like. If we meet someone who resembles a
friend, we are ready to like them. If they look like someone we can't stand, we are inclined to
dislike them. But first impressions are not always correct, and most of us have been proved wrong
about someone at some time in our lives.
I remember taking an instant dislike to a teacher at school because she had very long hair, three
weeks later she was my favourite teacher. So why do we do keep on paying attention to our first
impressions? The main reason is that it is practical to do so. We just don't have the time to find
out what the hundreds of people we come into contact with every day are really like.

People are not cardboard cut-outs; they are complex individuals each with their own life
history and personality. It takes time to discover this. The result? Everybody jumps to conclusions
about everybody else. Faces and clothes offer clues, of course, but sometimes these are deliberately
misleading.. Everyone can exploit their appearance, though women have more choices than men,
with a greater range of clothes, hairstyles and cosmetics to choose from. But everyone can create
their own image. Everyone can disguise their real self if that is what they want to do.
5. People closest to me?
Well, the two people that I’m closest to are my mum and my boyfriend Nick.
Mum and I have been through some difficult times, especially when I was about 14 to 15,
but now that I don’t live at home any more, we get on much better. I always talk things through
with her.
I met Nick a year ago. He is a very affectionate and generous person, and he’s also really
good fun to be with. The only thing is that I don’t see him as often as I want to because he lives
about an hour away from me. I spend a lot of time with my friend Kerri. We see each other at
least twice a week. We’ve known each other since were totally share the same sense of humour.
She is one of those people that are always cheerful and look on the bright side of life.
I used to be quite close to a boy called Adam, who I met at uni, but about 6 months ago he
met his girlfriend and now he ignores his old friends and spends all his life with her. When we
out together he tries to phone her every five minutes, which is really irritating.

14
 My family? – well, I’ve got two sisters, but the age gap between us is so big that I’m not
really close to either of them. I see Helen about once every six months, but Laura’s very selfish.
She only cares about herself and her career. She didn’t even call me when I happened to break
my leg and was in hospital for a week! How insensitive it is!

6. Translate into Russian and reproduce close to the text.

She’s absolutely adorable. I think she’s pretty, she makes me laugh a lot, she tells terrible
jokes but I like the way she tells them. She’s a bit naughty sometimes and I curse her when she
wakes me at 6 a.m., but when I hear her singing in the morning, well, all is forgiven. She can
twist me round her little finger, of course. A great sense of humor, easy-going. Last but not least
she is considerate and unselfish and never makes me do anything I don’t want to.
Mike is so cheerless and predictable. The kind of person who remembers birthdays and
anniversaries, but who makes you angry because there is nothing spontaneous about him. His
ideas of fun are so unadventurous. He can be quite boring and can repeat the same old stories.
Well, the first few years were OK, but after that I’ve just had enough! Reliable, stable,
dependable, punctual, practical, calm, sensible, but down-to-earth! Far from romantic!
7. Appearances are deceptive
Appearances are deceptive. It is a common truth; practically everyone has met at least
someone whose character and appearance differ radically.
When one sees a tall, broad-shouldered youth, one expects him to be strong-willed and
brave. One thinks, “A model to follow!” How often a good-looking individual turns out to be
petty, weak-willed or even cowardly. Then one thinks, “A mediocrity!”
At the same time everyone knows that a lot of great people were of a poor build: short and
unattractive. It didn’t stop them from being intelligent and courageous. Ingenuity doesn’t depend
on one’s complexion or constitution.
Plump or fat people create an impression of generous and kind personalities. Strangely
enough, not rarely they may be thrifty or even greedy. One usually thinks, “A scrooge!”
On the other hand, thin or slim nervous ladies often tend to be lavish. They like to buy and
never think twice when they pay. One thinks, “I would call her open-handed and Mother would
call her a spendthrift.” Yes, mothers are always stricter in judgements.
Has it ever happened to you that you come to an important office and see an important boss?
You immediately evaluate his looks: Round-faced, small narrow eyes, dimples on the cheeks and
an upturned nose. What a kind-hearted person, “A simpleton!” You tell the boss of your troubles
and expect immediate help. But the boss is rude, harsh and willful. You never get your help and
think, “A stone heart and an iron fist.”
When someone sees a pretty blonde with curly hair, a straight nose and a high forehead, one
thinks that the beauty is intelligent and nice. It may be disappointing to think later, “What a
stupid, capricious, impolite bore!”
On the contrary, when one sees a skinny brunette with ugly irregular features – a hooked
nose, close-set eyes and thin lips, strange thoughts come to one’s head, because it is the image of
evil people – cruel and cunning. It may be a relief some time later to find her a clever, gentle and
well-bred lady and think, “What charm! A heart of gold!”
We all make snap judgements about strangers. Within a few seconds after we meet someone,
we draw rather large conclusions. We may decide whether it is someone’s nature to be warm or
cold, friendly or hostile, anxious or calm, happy or troubled. We often ask and quickly answer
certain questions: Will I enjoy talking to him at this party? Will she make an interesting friend?
Will he / she make a good boss / sales manager / secretary / lover for me? If we never get to
know the person better, we may change our friends. But we may not have the chance.

15
 Nature likes to play tricks on us. But don’t you think it is a present on the part of nature?
Life becomes not a boring routine, but a brilliant kaleidoscope of characters and appearances
which often clash.

8. Chalk and Cheese

Connor and Bess are completely different from each other. They’re both seventeen years
old, but that’s about all they’ve got in common!
For a teenager, Connor comes across as very confident. He finds it easy to talk to people and
is never lost for words. He’s a good sense of humour and really enjoys making people laugh.
As far as clothes go, Connor dresses in quite an unusual way and buys a lot of his outfits in
second-hand markets and charity shops. He often changes his hairstyle too.
Connor is really good fun to be with. He’s up for anything, and when you go out with him,
you end up doing some crazy things. Having said that, he isn’t that reliable. We often make plans
to go out at the weekend, but he’s always phoning me at the last minute to change the
arrangement.
Unlike Connor, Bess hates being the centre of attention and isn’t particularly interested in
fashion. When it comes to clothes, Bess usually plays it safe. And whilst Connor regularly
changes his hairstyle, Bess’s hair has looked the same since I first met her.
When Bess is with her close friends, she tends to be very talkative, but she often gets
tongue-tied in social situations. However, she’s a very good friend. She always thinks of others
and she never lets you down.
Connor and Bess are complete opposites. Nevertheless, I get on well with both of them –
and surprisingly, perhaps, they get on well together.

9. Astrological signs.

1. ARIES (Fire)
21th March- 20th April
energetic, straightforward, brave, selfish, impatient, quick-tempered
2. TAURUS (Earth) 21st April - 21st May patient, practical, fond of art, stubborn, lazy,
fond of money
3. GEMINI (Air) 22nd May-21st June clever, amusting, good at languages, unreliable,
restless, superficial
4. CANCER (Water) 22nd June - 22nd July sensitive, cautious, home-loving, too
emotional, moody, self-pitying
5. LEO (Fire) 23rd July -22nd August generous, broad-minded, good at organising,
snobbish, fond of power, vain
6. VIRGO (Earth) 23rd August -22nd September quiet, tidy, independent, fussy, too
critical, likely to worry
7. LIBRA (Air) 23rd September -22nd October charming, tactful, peace-loving, not
decisive, easily influenced, superficial
8. SCORPIO (Water) 23rd October -22nd November passionate, determined, clever,
jealous, stubborn, secretive
9. SAGITTARIUS (Fire) 23rd November -22nd December tolerant, sincere, cheerful,
tactless, careless, noisy
10. CAPRICORN (Earth) 23rd December -20th January reliable, careful, patient,
inflexible, pessimistic, mean
16
 11. AQUARIUS (Air) 21st January -18th February friendly, progressive, idealistic, odd,
rebellious, unreliable
12. PISCES (Water) 19th February -20th March emotional, sensitive, gentle, vague, easily
confused, not practical

a) People born at different times in the year have different astrological signs. Do you know
your sign? Look at the chart opposite and find the adjectives describing the characteristics of
these people, some good, some bad.
First, do you think you are like your sign? Do you agree with the good points and the bad
points? Does it give you a good description of any of your friends and relations?
b) People of signs belonging to the same element (fire, earth, air, water) are supposed to
have some characteristics in common. Compare your sign to the two related signs and make as
many comparisons as you can, like this:
e.g. Aries people are like Leo people because Aries people are usually selfish and Leo
people are often vain.
c) Now find opposites among the signs. These are frequently found with signs just before
and after your own signs. Make sentences like this:
e.g Capricorn people are different from Aquarius people because Capricorns are usually
reliable and Aquariuses often unreliable.

13. Read what the seven people say about the kind of people they're attracted to. Do
you think you would make a good partner for any of them? Why/why not? Are you similar
to any of these people? In what way?

I'm really attracted to Scandinavian girls - tall, blonde, sporty, out-going, the complete
opposite of me! I used to like older girls, but I've had a few bad experiences, so now I'm looking
for something different. My ideal partner now would be five or six years younger than me. I also
want somebody who is independent, who doesn't always need to be near me, and I think that the
girls I've met from Sweden or Norway or Denmark tend to be very strong-willed. The only thing
I'm worried about is that perhaps they would find me a bit quiet and shy. I'm not very confident
about myself, so that could be a problem. Alfonso (Mexico)

I don't really have a type. The most important thing for me is that my partner is nice and
sensitive and caring. I'd never go out with someone who was selfish or big-headed. It doesn't
really matter to me whether somebody is good-looking or not, so long as they're not too ugly! I'd
never go out with a man who didn't look after himself, though. It's important that he's healthy,
that he watches what he eats and that he's fairly fit! Rie (Japan)

I want someone who likes clothes. I work in the fashion industry in Milan, so the way
someone dresses is really important to me. I'd never go out~ With someone who didn't care about
the way they looked. I used to like really good-looking men, but I've changed my mind about
that, because they tend to be so big-headed! I also really love music, so I'd never go out with
someone who didn't like music. If I'm honest, I'm also attracted to younger men, so I'm looking
for someone who's maybe in their early twenties. Chiara (Italy)

I'm a married man, so I'm the wrong person to ask a question like this to, really. When I was
single, I used to think I wanted somebody who was easy to talk to, somebody who understood
me and how I was feeling, somebody who was serious and religious, like I am - and then I met
my wife, and she was everything I was looking for, and more! I can't believe how lucky I've
been, but then I have to say that, or she'll kill me! Lauren (Cameroon)
17
 To be honest, I'm too old now to be fussy, really. I want anybody who will have me! I used
to worry about the kind of person that was right for me and I used to think I wanted somebody
who was slim and sexy and intelligent and who had her own money and her own job and things
like that, but now I've reached my forties and I'm still single, I've lowered my standards! It's
taken me a long time, but I've realised that I'm not the best-looking man in the world, or the
richest, and so I'd be happy just meeting someone who liked me! Sad, isn't it! Thorsten
(Germany)

I know this sounds strange, but all I really want is someone with nice hands! I used to go out
with this man who played the piano, and he had really beautiful hands - long, slim fingers, but
really strong as well. Mm! I'd never go out with somebody who had short, fat, little fingers. I just
couldn't. Seon-Hee (Korea)

My daughter met a smooth-talking fellow and really fell for him. He isn’t working now and
he isn’t even looking. He keeps saying that the jobs he wants don’t pay enough. In the meantime
he borrows from my daughter, drives her car, eats every meal at my table, and his clothes are
washed in my machine! He never mentions marriage, but my daughter looks at him like he is
God and she calls this love. Would I be wrong to ask this guy what his intentions are? (Russia)

14. Read the letters 1 – 3 which were sent into a teenage magazine problem page and
match them with the replies A –C. Do you agree with all the replies? Why? Why
not?
I.
1. My mum won’t stop nagging me. She nags about my clothes, my hair, my room. I haven’t
spoken to her for the last few days because I can’t stand it anymore. What do you think I
should do?
2. My parents disapprove of my boyfriend. He is a really kind and sensitive person, but because
he is scruffy, my parents think he’s no good. I don’t want to argue with them, but I don’t
want to stop seeing my boyfriend either. What shall I do?
3. I’m mad about football. My friends come round a couple of times a week to watch matches
and football videos and we play in the local team every weekend. My girlfriend used to really
like it too, but now she says she’s fed up. I think we’re going to break up and really like her.
What can I do?
II.
A) You don’t have to be a genius to understand it’s your friends your girlfriend is fed up
with, not you or footfall. Why don’t you suggest going to watch a few matches on your own?
B) You need to reassure your parents. They are worried about you. Sit down with them and
talk. Explain how nice your boyfriend is and say how serious you are about each other. Then
ask them to invite him round for dinner and let them get to know him.
C) Stop sulking! Not speaking doesn’t help anybody. You don’t say exactly what it is she
doesn’t like. Is your room very untidy? What’s wrong with your clothes? Do you actually
know? Make up your mind to find out. Sit down and talk things through.

V. Writing

1. What qualities must a person possess to make a perfect career of a:

guide librarian actor company secretary

journalist manager pet-sitter
18
doctor teacher child-care worker

2. Write a job advert concerning the following points:

1. We are looking for…

2. We need (age, experience, skills)
3. Duties
4. Salary

3. Introduce yourself using the adjectives beginning with the letters your name consists
of

4. Write a character reference:

One of your friends has applied for a job teaching English abroad. They will also supervise
pupils aged 10-16 outside school and organise games and activities. You have been asked to
provide a character reference (250 words) for your friend.
You should say how long you have known your friend and include a detailed description of
their character. You should also give reasons why he or she would be suitable for the job.

VI. Speaking

Active Vocabulary:
She tends to …
She is in the habit of + doing
She comes across as + adj.
People find her/ consider her + adj.
People regard her as adj.
She can be (lazy) at times
If you ask me what she is like I can say that …
She is the kind of person who …
What attracts me most in her is …
It is the way she speaks that attracts me most …
In addition to being + adj, she is also …

Speak on

1. My family and people closest to me.

2. Here I am! Your (motto, things you are proud of, what you would like to change in yourself,
how you see yourself in 5 years’ time).
3. Profile (celebrity, public figure…).
4. Appearances are deceptive.

VII. Literary analysis: A portrait of a character (fiction)

I. Establish the personalities of the characters.

There are major (central) and minor characters.
The major character is the protagonist.
His opponent (the character against whom the protagonist struggles) is the antagonist. The
protagonist may embody a complex mixture of both positive and negative traits.
The fictions they serve. Are they (ir)relevant for the main line of the story?
19
 II. Methods of presenting characters (characterization).
We learn about the characters from:
1) the author’s direct commentary, from what the author tells us about them.
From time to time the writer interrupts his narrative and reveals through a number of
personal comments the nature of the characters. The author tells us directly what our attitude to
the character ought to be, sometimes pressing his views on the reader.
2) characterization through the use of names.
Some speaking names suggest particular connotations and give much food for our thought
and fancy.
Literary or historical allusions often aid as a means of association.
The name can (not) be in accord with the personality.
The absence of personal names can imply much too.
3) characterization through appearance.
In the world of fiction details of physical appearance and clothes often provide essential
clues to the character. They may help to identify the character’s age, health, background,
occupation, economic and social status, whether the character is rich or poor, strong or weak,
calm or agitated, happy or sad. (Appearance can answer smb’s true character and show their
worth)
By common agreement, certain physical attributes have become identified with certain kinds
of inner psychological states. For example, tall and thin characters are associated with
intellectual and aesthetic types. Fat characters are famous for laziness, self-indulgence,
congeniality.
Silent speech (gestures, walking, body language)
4) characterization through speech (actual and inner speech).
Real life is filled with talk. People talk about themselves and between themselves. We pay
attention to the way they speak, to their thoughts, feelings and aspirations, to what they are told
about by others. It may serve to reveal their station in life, environment, age, temperament,
nature. Give examples of typical statements, the philosophy they are based on. Do they manifest
somebody’s rich experience in life, wisdom or originality? Do their casual remarks come from
their outlook, life credo?
The task of characterization through speech isn’t a simple one. In evaluating what a
character says about himself and others, one always faces the problem of trustworthiness and
reliability. Some characters are careful and guarded in what they say and don’t tell us exactly
what is on their minds. We must infer from their words and the way they speak what they
actually mean.
5) characterization through behaviour, actions.
Remember that the English say, “Actions speak louder than words.” Try to size somebody
up according to their deeds.
Prove your point of view with facts to show that the most impressive method of revealing
characters, their nature, attitude to people and things is through action.

20
 Think over the motivation of somebody’s behaviour, the motives that drove smb to act like
that. If somebody is wrong, can you understand, excuse and justify the person?
6) most authors employ the combination of some methods. They can show smb through
both their actions and conversation.
Using indirect methods of describing a character is usually much more effective and
interesting than a direct statement.
III. Characters can be:
1) flat – represent a particular, dominating trait (or at most a very limited number of some
features), certain types of people, a generalized image (eg. The hard-boiled detective, the winner,
the loser, the rich uncle, the henpecked husband, the submissive (or nagging) wife, the kill-joy,
the social-climber...).
2) round – possess a number of different traits, sometimes even contradictive.
a. They can’t be characterized with one or two definitions.
b. They are not necessary more alive or convincing than flat ones.

3) dynamic – develop and change. They may develop in different ways

a. People themselves change as the result of their experiences
b. Own knowledge of smb changes when in the course of the narration they are revealed to
us in a new aspect.

4) static – leave the plot as they entered it, largely untouched by the events that took place.

IV. All types fall into four classes:

a) National (typical Frenchman…)
b) Occupational (actress, teacher…)
c) Social (the hostess, the bachelor, the week-end guest…)
d) Personality (the tactless man, nervous Nelly…)

V. The author’s attitude to his characters.

Does the writer treat his characters with understanding, sympathy, antipathy, regret,
kindness, humour, irony, ...?
What role do the characters play in conveying the author’s message?
Is any character the writer’s mouthpiece?
Back up your answer with facts.
VI. Your personal approach to the characters? (to one of them including minor ones)
Do you think the author created true to life characters? Are they believable or exaggerated
(overdone)? Did the writer manage to catch some typical features of a certain type and create a
generalized image? Whose side are you on? Do you admire, envy, blame, sympathize (with), feel
antipathy for them, pity and regret for them, do them credit, justify them...? do the characters
remind you of anybody you know? What would you do if you were in their place?
VII.Active vocabulary

21
 1. Educational, cultural, territorial, professional background and environment. To belong to
some social class but differ in education, in ambitions. A representative of the upper/ lower
walks.
2. To portray characters that represent different types of contemporary people (businessmen,
upstarts, money-thirsty people, crooks ...) to resort to generalization, to typify some traits,
system of values, to create the image of, to be typical of smb. Real people with unique
personality. Complexity of human nature.
3. The author describes, shows, introduces, laughs (at), exposes some negative traits,
ridicules some faults, focuses the reader’s attention (on), makes the reader think, lets the
reader realize, brings home to the reader that...
4. To possess a thorough knowledge of human psychology
To lay special stress (on), to highlight
To speak against/ in smb’s favour
To show smb’s worth
To be an enigma to smb
To be on smb’s side, to side (with), to appeal to smb on every side, to show smb’s charm
To force, press, intrude one’s views (on)...
To justify, to do smb justice/credit, to sympathise (with), feel antipathy, pity for smb, to
blame, to regret, to be impressed (by)
5. No one matches Ann in beauty
To be the embodiment of (power …)
The writer endows Ann with …
6. What catches/holds/excites my eye/attention/interest/curiosity/ imagination is ...
I came to understand that ...
Part of me thinks that ...

Part II. Texts

William Saroyan

Old Country Advice to the American Traveller

One year my uncle Melik travelled from Fresno to New York. Before he got aboard the train
his uncle Garro paid him a visit and told him about the dangers of travel.
When you get on the train, the old man said, choose your seat carefully, sit down, and do not
look about.
Yes, sir, my uncle said.
Several moments after the train begins to move, the old man said, two men wearing
uniforms will come down the aisle and ask you for your ticket. Ignore them. They will be
impostors.
How will I know? my uncle said.
You will know, the old man said. You are no longer a child.
Yes, sir, my uncle said.
Before you have travelled twenty miles an amiable young man will come to you and offer
you a cigarette. Tell him you don’t smoke. The cigarette will be doped.
Yes, sir, said my uncle.
On your way to the dinner a very beautiful young woman will bump into you intentionally
and almost embrace you, the old man said. She will be extremely apologetic and attractive and

22
your natural impulse will be to cultivate her friendship. Dismiss your natural impulse and go on
in and eat. The woman will be an adventuress.
A what? my uncle said.
A whore, the old man shouted. Go on and eat. Order the best food, and if the diner is
crowded, and the beautiful young woman sits across the table from you, do not look into her
eyes. If she speaks, pretend to be deaf.
Yes, sir, my uncle said.
Pretend to be deaf, the old man said. That is the only way out of it.
Out of what? My uncle said.
Out of the whole ungodly mess, the old man said. I have travelled. I know what I’m talking
about.
Yes, sir, my uncle said.
Let’s say no more about it, the old man said.
Yes, sir, my uncle said.
Let’s not speak of the matter again, the man said. It’s finished. I have seven children. My
life has been a full and righteous one. Let’s not give it another thought. I have land, vines, trees,
cattle, and money. One cannot have everything – except for a day or two at a time.
Yes, sir, my uncle said.
On your way back to your seat from the diner, the old man said, you will pass through the
smoker. There you will find a game of cards in progress. The players will be three middle-aged
men with expensive-looking rings on their fingers. They will nod at you pleasantly and one of
them will invite you to join the game. Tell them, No speak English.
Yes, sir, my uncle said.
That is all, the old man said.
Thank you very much, my uncle said.
One thing more, the old man said. When you go to bed at night, take your money out of your
pocket and put it in your shoe. Put your shoe under your pillow, keep your head on the pillow all
night, and don’t sleep.
Yes, sir, my uncle said.
That is all, the old man said.

The old man went away and next day my uncle Melik got aboard the train and travelled
straight across America to New York. The two men in uniforms were not impostors, the young
man with the doped cigarette did not arrive, the beautiful young woman did not sit across the
table from my uncle in the diner, and there was no card game in progress in the smoker. My
uncle put his money in his shoe and didn’t sleep all night the first night, but the second night he
abandoned the whole ritual.

The second day he himself offered another young man a cigarette which the other young
man accepted. In the diner my uncle went out of his way to sit at the table with a young lady. He
started a poker game in the smoker, and long before the train ever got to New York my uncle
knew everybody aboard the train and everybody knew him. Once, while the train was travelling
through Ohio, my uncle and the young man who had accepted the cigarette and two young ladies
on their way to Vassar formed a quartet and sang a song.

The journey was a very pleasant one.

When my uncle Melik came back from New York, his old uncle Garro visited him again.
I see you are looking all right, he said. Did you follow my instructions?
Yes, sir, my uncle said.

The old man looked far away in space.

23
 I am pleased that someone has profited by my experience, he said.

Tasks

I. Work at the Topical Vocabulary on the topic Travelling: pick out the words from the
text.

II. Active Vocabulary:

A) People’s behaviour
to do smth intentionally
to bump into smb
to nod at smb
to look into smb’s eyes
to embrace smb (≠ to ignore)
to invite smb to …
to offer smth – to accept smth
to start a game of …
to cultivate (smb’s friendship)
to pretend (to be deaf)
to dismiss the natural impulse to
to give smth another thought
to abandon the whole ritual
to follow smb’s instructions
to profit by (smb’s experience)
B) People’s character
an impostor = an adventuress
to be amiable
to be apologetic

C) Imagine how those people behaved on the train.

III. Talking points.

1. What did Uncle Carro tell his nephew about a) the dangers of travel?
b) the way out of them?
2. What kind of person do you think the old man was?
3. What is the message of the story?

Home-assignment (for assessment):

When do you usually seek other people’s advice?
(appr. 250 words)

N. K. Hoffman
Birthday

She was sitting on my mother’s grave, eating ice-cream. I wanted to kill her.
“Hi, kid,” she said. “Nice day, isn’t it?” She licked the strawberry scoop, between the
chocolate scoop and one that looked like coffee. Then she closed her eyes and let the sun shine
on her face.
24
 How could she eat ice-cream on a morning when there was still ice across the puddles, and
slush along the streets? I had stepped in a puddle on my way here with the flowers, broke
through the ice, and splashed water on my shoes and socks. My feet were freezing. It was my
twelfth birthday, and nobody had given me a card or a present at breakfast – maybe they forgot.
“Get off there!” I yelled.
”Oh, now,” she said, “now.”
She looked familiar, and I didn’t know why.
“Go on!” I yelled, wanting to push her off the grave.
“Lexi,” she said.
I stopped. She said my name as if it belonged in her mouth. Most everybody called me
Alexandra, except Daddy. He called me Lexi. He said it was what my mother had planned to call
me before I was born. When my stepmother, Candace, called me Lexi, I yelled at her to stop it.
“Lexi,” said this woman, looking at me. Her eyes were brown, like mine. She licked the
chocolate scoop. “Want a bite?”
I felt so cold inside I couldn’t even speak. I shook my head. Her hair was brown like mine,
too.
“I wanted to talk to you about the flowers,” she said. She held out the ice-cream to me. “Are
you sure you don’t want some?”
I looked at my mother’s gray granite tombstone. MOIRA ALONZO, it said. BELOVED
WIFE AND MOTHER. The day she was born and the day she died. She had died the day I was
born.
“I don’t want any ice-cream,” I said.
“Yes you do. Everything you do says so. Lexi, I’ve been dead for twelve years now, and you
only started bringing me flowers six months ago.” We both looked down at the frozen roses from
yesterday, and the dozen pink and white carnations I was carrying today.
“I’m sorry I didn’t bring them before,” I said.
“I don’t want them now, honey,” she said. “They aren’t really mine. They smell funny. They
smell like you’re thinking about somebody else when you’re buying them and bringing them
here.”
I looked at the carnations and sniffed them. They smelled like carnations always smell.
“By the time they get here, the flowers have turned to knives,” she said. “I would rather not
have my grave covered with weapons.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Lexi,” she said, her voice soft. “Every evening you buy flowers and put them in the
refrigerator where everyone in the house will see them. You’re spending all your energy trying
to hurt someone, and that’s like eating ice-cream in the snow.”
I thought about Candace, who wanted me to call her Mummy. She was always trying to
touch me. She wanted to hug me every time I came home. It was enough to make me want to
leave home forever.
“What you do is up to you, of course,” she said. “Happy birthday, honey.” She offered me
the ice-cream again, and this time I took it from her. She smiled and disappeared.
I put the carnations at the grave and licked the ice-cream, from the bottom scoop. Definitely
coffee, my favourite flavour. It tasted good, but now my tongue was freezing, as well as my
whole body. I tasted the other two scoops anyway. It was the best ice-cream I’d ever had.
Still holding the ice-cream, I picked up the frozen roses. Then I looked at the carnations.
School would start in half an hour and I had to go home and collect my lunch and change
my shoes and socks. I hesitated a long time, looking at the pale flowers against the dark earth
and grass of the winter grave. At last I collected the carnations too. I left the ice-cream in the
little vase on the grave.
I put the roses in the trash by the cemetery gate.

25
 I took the carnations home and put them, in a glass, then placed them on the desk in my
bedroom. Maybe everybody else forgot it was my birthday. My mother and I knew it.

Tasks

I. Practise the pronunciation of the following words.

strawberry scoop granite carnations cemetery

chocolate tombstone covered with weapons
puddles beloved energy
familiar dozen honey

II. Read the text.

III. Revision of A) the articles

at_breakfast
to look like_coffee
to eat_ice-cream (to offer the ice-cream again)
closed her eyes
_nice day, isn’t it?
in the snow
_school will start in half an hour

B) grammar
to smell funny
to taste good
I’d rather (not) have
Every time (when) I come home

IV. Topical Vocabulary: find about 10 words on the following topics

the weather, the environment (e.g. ice, slush… )

V. Active Vocabulary: find the following words and word-combinations in the text,
reproduce the situations from the text, and make up your own sentences.
to look familiar
favourite flavour
to hurt smb
what you do is up to you
to touch smb
to hug smb
to turn to (knives)
to hesitate
to place smth/ misplace

VI. Talking points.

1. Is the description of the place in harmony with the girl’s feelings? Consider the impact of the
atmosphere (use the topical vocabulary).
2. Speak on the life of that motherless girl (use your fantasy, feel free).
26
3. Comment on the sentence ‘That’s like eating ice-cream in the snow’.
4. Is it really a bedtime horror story? Why?

Home-assignment (for assessment):

1) a letter to Lexi
2) a letter to Candace, Lexi’s stepmother
3) a letter to the writer N.K. Hoffman
(choose one letter)

Right Place, Wrong Person

I. Read the texts
The Place is Perfect, the Weather is Wonderful,
but if you’re with the wrong person, a holiday can be a disaster…

Joe 28, a flight attendant

Last October I went on holiday to Thailand for two weeks with my girlfriend, Mia. The
holiday began well. We spent two days in Bangkok and saw the Floating Market and the Royal
Palace. But things went wrong when we left Bangkok. I wanted to stay in hotels, which were
basic but clean, but Mia said they were too uncomfortable and so we stayed in quite expensive
hotels. I wanted to experience the local atmosphere but Mia just wanted to go shopping. I
thought I knew Mia very well, but you don’t know a person until you travel with them. It was
awful! We argued about everything.
For our last four days we went to Ko Chang, a beautiful island. It was like being in paradise.
The weather was lovely and the beaches were wonderful, but we just sunbathed without
speaking. We spent our last night in Bangkok and we went for a drink with some Australians.
They were really friendly and Mia started flirting with one of the boys. That was the end. When
we arrived at Heathrow airport the next day we decided to break up.
I took hundreds of photos, but when I got home I didn’t show them to anyone.

Laura 26, a nurse

Last spring my best friend Isabelle and I booked a holiday in Venice. We rented a small
apartment for a week with a fantastic view of the canals. At the last moment another friend,
Linda, asked if she could come too. We felt sorry for her because she had problems with her
boyfriend, so we said yes.
Venice was magical and the weather was perfect, but the holiday was a disaster for one
simple reason: Linda was so mean! She has a good job so she is not poor, but she just didn’t
want to pay for anything. When we went sightseeing she didn’t want to go to any museums or
galleries that cost money. When we went on a gondola she complained that it was very
expensive. When we went to have lunch or dinner she always wanted to go to cheap restaurants
or she bought pizzas and ate them in the flat. But the night I invited her and Isabelle out on my
birthday she chose the most expensive things on the menu! The worst thing was that although
Isabelle and I paid for the apartment, Linda never once bought us a coffee or a drink.
I’d love to go back to Venice one… but without Linda.

Mia
It was a really terrible holiday. It was my fault, I mean I wanted to go to Thailand, but I
knew before I went that I didn’t really want to have a serious relationship with Joe. And the
holiday just showed how different we are. He irritated me all the time. He wanted to stay in some
27
really cheap hostels, because he thought the hotels were too expensive. I didn’t want a 5-star
luxury, but when I go on holiday I want to be comfortable. The places where Joe wanted to stay
were very basic and had very small rooms. There’s nothing worse than being in a very small
room with someone when you are not getting on very well. Another thing I didn’t like was that
Joe got very jealous. When you’re travelling, part of the fun is talking to other travellers, but he
hated it if I talked to other people, especially other men. And then he kept taking photos!
Hundreds of them. Every time we saw a monument he said, ‘Go and stand over there so I can
take a photo.’ I hate being in photos. I just wanted to enjoy the sights. The holiday was all a big
mistake. Never go on holiday with a boyfriend if you are not sure about the relationship. It’s sure
to be a disaster!

Linda
Oh, it was a wonderful holiday. I loved every moment! Venice is just a paradise. We did
everything – we went on a gondola, we saw all the museums, and we had some fantastic meals.
And you know, everyone says that Venice is expensive, but I didn’t think it was – it wasn’t an
expensive holiday at all. I thought it was quite reasonable. We all got on very well. I think I’m
going to suggest to Isabelle and Laura that we go on holiday together again next year…

II. Grammar
- hundreds of photos (2 hundred books)
- the right/ wrong/ very/ same/ only place (≠ an only child)
- to keep taking photos
- to suggest that we go (should go, our going) ≠ to offer to do
- there is nothing worse/ better than…
- the worst thing (another thing I don’t like) is …
- not expensive at all ≠ quite/ rather expensive/ a fairly/ rather an expensive hotel
- he hated it if I talked to other people

III. Prepositions
- to go on holiday to … for … weeks with … (on business, on duty, on a date)
- to go by train (car, plane, bus), on a gondola (≠ in my car, on Nick’s bike)
- to go/ invite smb out on one’s birthday
- to pay for
- in the photo/ the sun/ the sky
- on the menu/ programme/ shopping list
- for one reason

IV. Active Vocabulary. Reproduce the situations from the text, make up sentences of
your own.
- to get on together; to get on with smb
- to argue with smb; about/ over smth; to be argumentative
- to irritate (irritating; irritated)
- to break up
- things go hard (bad)/ fine (well/ swimmingly) – How are things going? How is it going?
- fault (your only fault is…; to be smb’s fault; to find fault with smb; faultless)
- a disaster (a terrible/ absolute disaster)

28
 - that’s the end! (to come to an end; to put an end to; for hours on end; at the end of the book ≠
in the end he arrived)
Everyday English: Your spelling is the end! I said: “I won’t give you a hand! End of story!”

V. Write out adjectives to characterize places (9) and people (3).

VI. Topical Vocabulary. – Holidays. Practise the topical vocabulary. Make up an

exercise to do it in class: 2 sentences in English to translate into Russian
2 sentences in Russian to translate into English
2 questions
your own ideas
- to book a holiday (seats, a table, a room in a hotel)
- to rent a flat (an apartment) ≠ to hire a bike (boat, skies)
- to stay in a hostel /hotel, at a campsite, with friends
- to cost money (to be costly)/ a 5-star luxury; a life of luxury; to spend money on luxuries; it’s
a luxury to…; luxurious things
- to experience the local atmosphere (time, news, papers); to speak with locals
- to go shopping (walking, sailing, surfing, camping, sightseeing)
- to enjoy sights (museums, the Royal palace, views of the canals)
- to sunbathe (the sunny beaches of the island); to sun oneself; to be sunburnt
- to take photos
- to flirt with smb (flirtations); fig. – to flirt with some idea
- to love every moment
- to be in paradise (it is paradise to relax in…); to live in a fool’s paradise

VII.Talking points
1. Give a detailed description of Mia’s (Joe’s) holiday.
2. Did Linda have a great time in Venice? Give facts.
3. Why did Linda irritate her friends? Do you sympathize with them?
4. What did Mia and Joe have in common? How did they differ?
5. How can you characterize these holiday-makers? (use adjectives!)
6. Support or challenge the following statements:
- You don’t know the person until you travel with them;
- If you are with the wrong person, a holiday can be a disaster.

Home-assignment (in writing for assessment): Have you ever had a holiday that you
didn’t enjoy very much? What happened? Whose fault was it?

Channing Pollock

The Strange Doctor

Their first summer in New England, a man and his wife are motoring along a strange
country road to keep a dinner engagement. They are late, so the husband is driving at the top
29
speed. In spite of this he notices a large house in bad repair with a sign announcing that a doctor
lives here.
Half a mile farther on, something goes wrong with the car and it crashes against a tree. The
driver, unhurt, lifts his wife from the wreckage, and finds her unconscious and seriously injured.
The road is lonely one; the husband has seen no other cars and few houses. Desperately, he
remembers the doctor’s sign half a mile away. Gathering the slight figure in his arms, he
alternately walks and runs back to that house and rings the bell. A tall, grey-haired man opens
the door and says he is the doctor. There is no one else in the house.
Together, they carry the woman into a dusty, disordered consulting room, and lay her upon
the operating table. She has not regained consciousness, and, examining her with evident skill,
the doctor declares that her scull is fractured, and the only chance of saving her life is to operate
at once. The husband hesitates but has no choice. “You’ll have to act as anaesthetist,” the doctor
says: “There’s no one else here.” Weak, ill and shocked, the man obeys, but, when his wife has
been etherized, the doctor, knife in hand, advises, “You’d better wait outside. I can get on alone
now.”
Pacing the porch, occasionally looking from the darkness into the lighted room, the husband
hears steps, and is shocked at the sight of three men, two of them armed and the third carrying a
rope. They are advancing slowly towards the door.
“For God’s sake, wait!” the husband begs. “My wife’s skull has been opened; any delay now
must mean her certain death.”
Whispering, one of the men asks, “What do you take us for?”
“Thieves.”
“No,” the man answers. “We are attendants from a neighbouring insane asylum. The man
operating on your wife is mad. He escaped only two hours ago.”

I. Grammar. Revise Irregular verbs from the text.

to see to take to drive to understand to fight

to go to get to run to mean to let
to find to keep to know to bring to hurt

II. Active Vocabulary

- strange (street/ lamp; to feel strange; a stranger; to be a/ no stranger to love/ pity/ fear)
- to go wrong/ right with (What’s wrong? To be the kind of person nothing goes wrong with);
to get out of bed on the wrong side; don’t get me wrong!
- to crash against smth (my plan crashed; with a crash)
- to be unconscious ≠ to come round (to be a matter of conscience; a clear/ guilty conscience);
to have smth on your conscious; Have you conscience to … (tell lies?)
- evident (skill); evidently
- a lonely place/ heart (to be alone); to leave smb/ smth alone’ a lone mother/ wolf
- the only chance (a slim/ fat/ no chance); by chance; a chance meeting/ companion; to take a
chance ≠ to take chances (= do risky things)
- to hesitate about smth (at nothing); hesitation; to be hesitant; hesitant attempts; He who
hesitates is lost
- to do an operation; to operate on smb; to be operated on against smth
- to choose (between …; do as you choose; to choose to do smth); to make the right/ wrong
choice; to be choosy; pick and choose; beggars can’t be choosers; Hobson’e choice

30
- at the sight of (at first sight; to be/ look a sight; to go sightseeing); out of sight-out of mind;
to know smb by sight
- to take smb for (to mistake a name/ address)
- to escape from prison/ a cage; to escape punishment; to have/ get a narrow escape
- from force of habit(to force smb to do smth; to force the lock; a forced smile/ laugh); love
can’t be forced
- to recover from
- under the care of

III. Check facts. Choose the correct answer.

1. Their first summer in New England, a man and his wife
a) are walking along a strange country road;
b) are driving along a strange country road

2. The husband notices a house with a sign announcing that

a) an artist lives there;
b) nobody lives there;
c) a doctor lives there

3. Half a mile father on

a) the car crashes against a tree;
b) the car breaks;
c) the car crashes another car

4. The drive’s wife

a) is not seriously injured;
b) is unconscious and seriously injured;
c) is not injured

5. The husband runs back to the house and rings the bell. A tall man opens the door and says
a) he is a doctor;
b) the doctor is not at home;
c) he cannot help

6. The doctor declares that

a) there is no chance of saving the woman’s life;
b) he has to operate on the injured woman;
c) the woman will be alright

7. When the doctor is performing the operation

a) three thieves try to get into the house;
b) three men come to take him to an insane asylum.

31
 IV. Choose the best end to the story and use your fantasy on how to finish it. Then
read what happened actually.
A) To save his wife the lets the three men interrupt the operation.
B) To save his wife the husband doesn’t let the three men interrupt the operation.

The ending: The three men agree to wait until the operation is over. Staring through the
windows, they see the operation finished and then spring upon the madman, who, fighting and
screaming, is taken away. The head-keeper promises to bring back doctors and nurses, which he
does. The wife recovers sufficiently to be taken to New York, where she is placed in a hospital,
under the care of a prominent physician. Carefully examining her fractured skull, this doctor
says, “Your wife will get well and be perfectly normal again, but I can’t understand it! Only one
operation I know could have saved her, and only one man ever performed that operation
successfully. That does not explain anything, because that particular man went mad years ago,
and now is in an asylum somewhere in New England.”

V. Talking points.
1. An interview with the physician from New York (the surgeon’s friend);
2. Years later: an interview with the famous surgeon whose mother suffered from that accident

VI. Everyday English: Care

1. Do as you please, I don’t care. (R = мне все равно)
2. May I keep a snake? – You may keep a camel, for all I care. (R= по мне, так хоть
верблюда)
3. How’s your test? – Why do you care? (R = Вам-то что за дело?)
4. Your boyfriend can’t make money. – Who cares? He loves me. (R = Подумаешь? Что с
того?)

Home-assignment .
1. Get ready for Quiz on the Active Vocabulary.
2. Write an article in the local newspaper (matter-of-fact report; an article for a
yellow paper).

VIII TERM

H.E. Bates

Go, Lovely Rose

“But who is she with ?” said Mr Carteret.

“A young man. She met him on the aeroplane,” Mrs Carteret said. ”Now go to sleep.”
Outside the bedroom window the moon was shining brightly.
“Nobody told me there was a young man on the aeroplane,” said Mr Carteret crossly.
“You saw him,” Mrs Carteret said. ”He was there when you met her at the airport.”
“I don’t remember,” said her husband.
32
 “Yes, you do. You noticed his hat. You said so. It was a light green…”
“Oh dear!” said Mr Carteret. ”That man? But he’s too old for her. He must be nearly forty.”
“He’s twenty-eight, dear. Now go to sleep.”
“I can’t sleep,” said Mr Carteret. ”Three o’clock in the morning and I can’t get to sleep.”
“Just lie still, dear, and you’ll soon fall asleep,” said his wife.
It was a warm night in July. A gentle wind whispered in the trees outside the bedroom
window. It sounded like a car coming. Mr. Carteret sat up and listened. But it was only the wind.
‘Where are you going now?’ said Mrs. Carteret. ‘I’m going downstairs for a drink of water. I
can’t sleep. I can never sleep in moonlight – I don’t know why. And it’s very hot too.’
‘Put your slippers on,’ said Mrs Carteret sleepily.
He found his slippers and put them on. He went down to the kitchen and turned on the tap.
The water was warmish. He let the water run until it was cool enough to drink. Then he opened
the kitchen door and went out into the garden. The moon shone on his roses. Mr Carteret could
see the shape and colour of every flower. There they were: red and yellow and white, very soft
and sweet-smelling. Each flower was wet with dew.
He stood on the short green grass and looked up at the sky. The moon was very bright. It
was like a strong, white electric light shining down on the garden.
The wind whispered again in the trees. Again Mr Carteret thought it was a car coming.
Suddenly he felt helpless and miserable.
‘Sue,’ he said aloud, ‘Sue…where are you? What are you doing? Susie, Susie, you don’t
usually stay out so late.’
Susie. He always called her Susie when he was specially pleased with her. Usually he called
her Sue. When he was cross with her, he called her Susan.
He remembered her nineteenth birthday, three weeks before. She was getting ready to fly off
to Switzerland for a holiday.
‘How lovely she is!’ everyone said. ‘How pretty and grown-up! And she’s going to
Switzerland all by herself! How wonderful!’
But Mr Carteret did not think his daughter looked grown-up. To him she looked smaller and
more girlish then ever. ‘Too young to go away by herself,’ he thought crossly.
He heard the church clock. Half past three. At that moment he heard the sound of a car. This
time he was sure. He could see its lights coming along the road.
‘You’re late, young lady’ he said to himself. He did not feel miserable any more; just a little
cross. He could hear the car coming quickly along the road. Suddenly he began to run towards
the house. He did not want her to find him there. He wanted to get back to bed. His pyjama
trousers were too long. They were wet with dew. He held them up, like skirts, as he ran.
‘This is stupid,’ he thought. ‘What stupid things parents do sometimes!’
At the kitchen door one of his slippers fell off. He stopped to pick it up, and listened again
for the sound of the car. All was quiet. Once again he was alone in the quiet, moonlit garden. His
slippers were wet with dew. His wet pyjama trousers felt uncomfortable on his legs.
‘It didn’t stop,’ he thought. He felt cross and miserable again. “We always walked home
from dances’ he said aloud. ‘That was part of the fun.’
Suddenly he felt frightened. He remembered the corner on the road near his house. ‘It’s a
dangerous corner,’ he said to himself. ‘There are accidents there every week. What if Susie and
this man…’ He did not want to think about it. It was too awful.
‘And who is this man anyway? How do I know he’s a suitable friend for Susie? Perhaps he’s
a married man. Or a criminal.’
All at once he had a terrible feeling about this man. ‘I felt like this when I saw her getting
into the aeroplane,’ he thought. ‘I had a feeling of…of danger… accidents.’ He was shaking
now. He felt cold and sick. ‘She’s had a crash in that man’s car,’ he thought. ‘I’m sure of it’.

33
 Now he was walking backwards and forwards across the dewy, moonlit grass. ‘I’m sure
she’s had an accident,’ he thought. ‘In a minute or two the police will telephone – oh dear! Oh
dear!’
He began to walk up the road in his pyjamas and bedroom slippers. He looked at the sky;
there were lines of gold above the tree-tops. The moon was disappearing. It was almost day. Oh,
were is she?’ he cried, and he began to run.
A few moments later, he thought he saw a pair of yellow eyes looking at him from the road.
He realized that they were the lights of a car. It was standing at the side of the road. He did not
know what to do about it. Should he go up to the car, and knock on the window and say, ‘Susan,
come home? But there was always the chance that some other man’s daughter was in the car.
‘And then what will she think of me – out here in my pyjamas?’
He stopped and watched the light of day filling the sky. ‘What will the neighbours think if
they see me?’ he thought. ‘I must go home and get to bed. I don’ t know why I’m worrying like
this. I never worried like this when she was little.’
He turned and started to walk home. Just then he heard a car engine. He looked round and
saw its lights coming along the road. Suddenly he felt more stupid than ever. There was no time
to get away. He could only hide behind a tree. The long wet grass under the tree made his
pyjamas wetter than ever.
The car passed him. He could not see who was inside. ‘Perhaps it’s Susie,’ he thought. ‘And
now I shall have to go home and change my pyjamas.’ He started walking again. Then he
stopped once more. ‘What if it isn’t Susie?’ he thought. ‘What if something really has happened
to Susie?’
He felt sick and cold and miserable. The blood seemed to whisper and sing inside his ears.
His heart seemed to fill his whole body.
‘Oh, Susie,’ he whispered, ‘Come home safely. Please…’
He realized that the car had stopped outside his house. A moment later he saw Susie. She
was wearing her long yellow evening dress. ‘How pretty she is!’ he thought. He heard her sweet,
girlish voice calling: ‘Goodbye. Yes. Lovely. Thank you.’
‘I mustn’t let her see me now,’ he thought. ‘I must keep out of sight. I must go in through
the back door. Then I can go upstairs and put on dry pyjamas…’
A moment later the car turned and came back along the road towards him. This time there
was no chance to hide. For a few miserable moments he stood there with the lights of the car
shining in his eyes.
‘Look natural,’ he said to himself. ‘And hope that nobody notices me.’
The car stopped and a voice called out:
‘Excuse me sir. Are you Mr Carteret?
‘Yes,’ he said.’ I’m Carteret.’ He tried to sound cool and unworried.
‘Oh. I’m Bill Jordan, sir. I’m sorry we were so late. I hope you haven’t been worried about
Susie?’
‘Oh! No. Of course not.’
‘My mother kept us, you see.’
‘But I thought you went to a dance.’
‘Oh no, sir. We went to dinner with my mother. We played cards until three o’clock. My
mother loves cards. She forgot the time.’
‘Oh, that’s all right. I hope you had a good time.’
‘Oh, we had a wonderful time, thank you. But I thought that perhaps you were worried about
Susie…’
‘No, no. Of course not!’
‘That’s all right then.’ The young man looked at Mr Carteret’s wet pyjamas and looked
away again.’ It’s been a wonderfully warm night, hasn’t it? He said politely.
‘Terribly hot. I couldn’t sleep.’
34
 ‘Sleep! I must get home to bed!’ He smiled, showing beautiful white teeth. ‘Good night, sir.’
‘Good night.’
The car began to move away. The young man waved goodbye and Mr Carteret called after
him:
‘You must come and have dinner with us one evening…’
‘How kind! Yes, please… Good night, sir.’
Mr Carteret walked down the road. ‘He called me sir,’ he thought. ‘What a polite young
man! I like him.’
He reached the garden. The new light of morning shone on his roses. There was one very
beautiful red rose, newly opened and dark as blood.’ I’ll pick it,’ he said to himself, ‘and take it
upstairs for my wife.’ But, in the end, he decided to leave it there.
And then suddenly, a bird began to sing.

Tasks
Assignment I.
I. Grammar
1. The water was cold enough to drink.
She was too young to go away by herself.
2. To sound cool, to look natural, to taste bitter, to smell sweet.

II. Word- building. Write out words with the suffix – ish – . Add some more words with
the suffix:
- In the names of nationalities – British, …
- Adjectives (having the nature of) noun + ish – sheepish, …
- A small degree of quality adjective + ish – thinnish, …
- Colour – brownish, …
- The time of the day numeral + ish – at twoish, …
- Age – fortyish,…

III. Watch out! (the difference between English and Russian)

- to hide (oneself) behind the trees (to dress, wash, feel, behave)
- concentrate, relax, can’t afford_; enjoy, introduce, dry oneself; behave yourself! Make
yourself at home; help yourself to the cakes
- to play cards
- to reach the garden
- to be wet with dew (to shake/ tremble with fear/ cold)
- to listen for the sound (But! To listen to the radio)
- to meet smb on the plane/ train (But! in the car/ taxi)
- to look away

IV. Active Vocabulary – translate into Russian, reproduce the situations from the book,
make up sentences (or a situation) of your own.
- to fall asleep (ill, in love with, out of love with; victim to smb’s charms)
- gentle (adj.) (to do smth gently; to be a/ no gentleman; a gentleman’s agreement)
- moon (to be over the moon about smth; to cry for the moon; to moon over smth/ smb; to
moon around/ about; a soft (pale) moonlight; a moonlight walk; a moonlit garden; to be
moon-struck; moony)
- backwards and forwards
- who is he, anyway?
- to keep out of sight (to know smb by sight; at first sight; out of sight-out of mind)
35
- to wave good-bye to smb (fig. to wave good-bye to one’s dreams and hopes)

Assignment II.
I. Reproduce about 10 lines from the text. Account for your choice.
II. Make up a micro-situation on the Active Vocabulary (no less than 5 sentences). Be
ready to deliver it in class.
III. Retell close to the text a page from Sue’s diary.
Perhaps Sue wrote her diary after the night out with Bill Jordan. Choose suitable words to
complete this page in her diary (one word for each gap)

I’ve just had the most … evening! Bill Jordan took me to his … house for dinner. It was a
lovely …. night, and I wore my favourite … evening dress. Bill … I looked beautiful! I really like
Bill, he’s great fun. His mother’s nice … . She … a fantastic meal, and then we played for hours.
We all had … time – it was three … when we finished!
Then Bill … me home. But guess what? Just … we got to the house, I … Dad in the street.
He was … behind a tree next to the road – in his … and slippers! He looked so stupid! I … Bill
didn’t see him … .

IV. Imagine an entry from Bill’s diary after his date with Sue. Get ready to read it in
class.
V. Character.
A) Comment on the characters’ feelings. Use different adjectives from the list below or add some
more from the self-made list.
afraid embarrassed jealous stupid
amused excited helpless tired
angry/ cross frightened lonely uncomfortable
ashamed frustrated miserable worried
bored fussy (dis)pleased

B) Practise the following:

to be happy
more than happy (= very happy)
more happy than angry (= скорее счастлив, чем сердит)
VI. Talking Points
1. Write down 4 questions for discussion in class
2. Comment on: a) “And then, suddenly, the bird began to sing”
b) the title

Home-assignment (in writing for assessment): Parental love and problems.

Robert Marmorstein

The Name On the Wall

36
 Steve Mason had lived in New York for three years. His address book was filled with the
phone numbers of girls he knew and had dated. Then why, he wondered, was he sitting in a
phone booth about to dial PL 1-2450 - the phone number of a girl he had never seen or even
heard about?
Because he was curious.
He had seen the name Pam Starr and the number PL 1-2450 twice in one week. The first
time had been on the wall of a phone booth on 42nd Street. It was just one of the many names
and numbers written on the phone booth wall. Then a minute ago he saw the name and number
again – this time near a phone in a drugstore. The name Pam Starr was the same. The
handwriting was the same. And beneath it the same person had written, «Quite a chick».
Steve was so curious that he looked up the name in the telephone book. There it was – Pam
Starr, Plaza 1-2450. He was so surprised to see the name and number actually in the telephone
book that he decided to call. He wanted to find out what would happen. It could be an interesting
adventure. He could hear himself telling the whole story to his friends and laughing about it
when it was over. So he took a deep breath, dropped in his dime and dialled PL 1-2450.
He heard two rings; then a soft, pleasant, girl's voice said, «Hello».
«May I speak to Pam Starr?» Steve asked.
«This is Pam,» she answered. «Who is that?»
«Steven Wordsley,» he said using a phoney name. «You don't know me,» he added quickly.
«I've just moved to New York from Chicago.' But before I left, a friend of a friend of mine gave
me your name ... Perhaps we could meet and go somewhere for a drink.’
The girl hesitated. ‘It’s impossible for me to know much about you from a phone call.’
‘That’s right,’ Steve said. But there is no way for you to find out about me except by taking
a chance. So how about a date?» He paused. «Come on. Gamble.' I swear I don't have two
heads.»
She laughed and said, «I'm sure you don't. But I’ve had a couple of blind dates before, and
they’ve been pretty gruesome, if you know what I mean.
Steve had a good idea of what she meant. He could picture this gorgeous doll getting stuck
with some real dogfor a date.
Then she said, ‘I've got an idea. I like your voice, and I think I'll like you. But I might not.
And then again, you might not like me. So why don't we go to a movie? I like foreign ones best.
You pick one out and call me back. Then we'll go out, and even if we don't like each other at
least we can both enjoy the show.»
«Uh, all right, sure,» Steve answered. He was a little surprised by the way she was arranging
the date, but he promised to pick out a movie and call her back. Then he said good bye and hung
up. He felt proud of himself. There was no question in his mind that this chick knew her way
around with men.'
Steve found a Swedish movie that sounded good but he didn’t call her back right away. He
waited two days so he wouldn’t seem too eager. Then he called and made a date for the next
Saturday evening.
At seven-thirty Saturday night Steve went to her address. For a moment he hesitated. But he
was too curious to give up now. So he knocked on the door of her apartment.
She opened the door, and Steve knew he was a loser. The girl had tried to make herself look
attractive, but she couldn't hide her homeliness. She wasn't really ugly, but she was no gorgeous
chick. She smiled weakly at Steve and he couldn’t be sure if it was to apologise for her looks or
to hide her fear that he might turn around and walk away.
Steve covered up his disappointment with a friendly smile. «Hello, Pam. I'm Steve.»
She laughed and said, «I know I'm not the most beautiful girl in the world, but -»
«I wasn't looking for the most beautiful girl in the world,» Steve lied. «Come on, let's go see
the movie.»

37
 He smiled as cheerfully as he could. He had taken a chance on a blind date and had lost. But
he decided to go through with it anyway. This homely girl probably accepted a lot of blind dates'
just so she could go out. And boys who got stuck with her probably thought it was a good joke to
write her name on the walls of phone booths. Still, the girl seemed nice, and the adventure
would be something he could tell his friends.
As they headed for the movie, Steve expected Pam to be nervous, but she acted as relaxed as
if she had been dating him for months.
After the show they went to a restaurant. While they were eating, she talked about her life
in New York.
«Do you go out often'?» Steve asked.
«It's probably luck,» she said, «but I get enough phone calls to keep me busy. I get a lot of
calls from guys I don't know. I'm not sure where they get my name. Maybe from a friend, like
you did. I don't know. Some are nice and some aren't.»
«Well, which am I?” Steve asked.
«Nice,» she laughed.
On their way back to her apartment, Steve lied again and told Pam that his company was
sending him back to Chicago the next week and that he didn't know when he would return to
New York. Steve couldn't decide if she believed his story, but he didn't really care. He had taken
her out and shown her a good time. That was all she could expect with her looks.
When they got to her apartment, they stood in the doorway and said goodnight.
«Thanks for the lovely evening,» she said.
“Yeah,” Steve said, “it was a good movie.”
She smiled and said, “I enjoyed it. I really did.” She seemed to know that she wouldn't be
asked for another date.
Suddenly Steve felt very sorry for her. He decided that it wouldn't hurt him to take an
interest in her, and it would probably mean a lot to her if she thought someone wanted to see her
again.
«I'm kind of sorry I have to leave the town,» he said. “I really would like to see you again.
There's just a chance that I'll get back to New York soon. For a day or so. Maybe we can go out
again. Could I call you?»
For a minute she looked as if she didn't believe what she had heard. Then her smile got
brighter. «Could you? I'd love that! Do you think they'll send you back soon?»
«Sure, sure, you never know,» Steve said. “and when I get back here I’ll definitely call.”
«I’d be so happy to hear from you, she said. “You won't lose my number, will you? But if
you're here only for a day, you could call me at my office. I'll write down my office number for
you right now. Wait just a second.»
She ran into her apartment to get a pencil and some paper. As she ripped a sheet from a pad,
she dropped the pencil on the floor. She got down on her hands and knees and scrambled after
the rolling pencil. Finally she grabbed the pencil and then quickly wrote her name and office
phone number.
Steve watched her sadly. Even before she handed him the piece of paper, he knew that her
handwriting would be the same as the handwriting on the phone booth walls.

Tasks
I. Give the morphological analysis of the following words. Add some words to the list.
Handwriting, pleasant, impossible, homeliness, loser, disappointment, relaxed, finally,
nervous
II. Which of the characters in the story look ugly, homely, gorgeous, chic, attractive,
pleasant, nice? Why?

38
 III. Active Vocabulary.
А) Reproduce the situations from the book and make up sentences of your own.
- to date smb, to make a date; a blind date; to go on a date
- to fake smb’s signature/ results/ illness/ interest; to be a fake; a fake picture
- to be phoney; as phoney name/ address/ accent
- to take a chance ( ≠ to miss, to lose)
- to go through smth (≠ to give up)
- to apologize to smb for smth; an apologetic look/ letter; to make/ send/ accept one’s apology
- to hurt smb; a hurtful remark; (May I take an aspirin? - I guess, I won’t hurt (R = вреда не
будет)); (Does it hurt? Where does it hurt?); to hit where it hurts
- to be a good joke/ it’s no joke to do smth; to play a joke on smb; the joke is on him/ her; to
joke; a joker
- to hang up and then call back (to have a real hang-up about one’s appearance); to hang on/
about
- then again (=however)
- to know the way around with smb/ smth
- curious/ curiosity (Why are you asking? – Just curious (R = просто любопытство))
- to grab
- to pick berries/ mushrooms; to pick smb up; to pick up a stone/ habits/ words; to pick out; to
pick on smb
B) Everyday English
1) Way
a) – Get up!
– No way! (R = не буду; как бы не так! Еще чего! Ну уж нет!)
– Way! (R = будешь!)
b) – John has asked me to marry him. – No way! (R = Ты шутишь?)
– Way! (R = А вот и нет!)
2) Come
а) – I’ve never seen this man before.
– Come on, tell me another! (R = Ну-ну, хватит сочинять)
b) – Bob says he isn’t going/ he doesn’t know us.
– How come? (R = Как это? С чего бы это?)
с) How come you speak English? (R = Откуда/ Как могло случиться, что…?)
d) Come again? (R = Повторите, пожалуйста)
e) I’ll never say sorry, come what may! (R = что бы ни случилось)

IV. Revision
a shoulder, an arm, an elbow, a hand, a fist, a wrist, a palm, a nail
a toe, a tiptoe
a finger, a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, the little
to hand in/ out
to give a hand to smb
on the one hand/ on the other hand

V. Talking points.
39
1. Give a detailed retelling of some parts of the text. Motivate your choice;
2. Ask Steve 5 questions;
3. Ask Pam 5 questions;
4. Compare and contrast the features of the two characters;
5. The feelings you’ve got on the plot and characters.

Home-assignment (choose 1 point):

1. Can you continue the story? How?
2. Do you support or challenge the saying ‘Curiosity killed the cat’?
3. Dates.
4. A good/ bad joke.
O. Wilde

The Nightingale And the Rose

«She said that she would dance with me if I brought her red roses,» cried the young Student;
«but in all my garden there is no red rose.»
From her nest in the Oak-tree the Nightingale heard him, and she looked out through the
leaves and wondered.
«Not a single red rose in all my garden!» the young man cried, and his beautiful eyes filled
with tears. «Ah, on what little things does my happiness depend! I have read all the books the
wise men have written, and all the secrets of philosophy are mine, but I feel unhappy because I
cannot find a red rose for my love.»
«Here at last is a true lover,» thought the Nightingale. «Night after night I sang of him,
though I knew him not; night after night I told his story to the stars, and now I see him. His hair
is dark as the hyacinth-blossom, and his lips are red as the rose of his desire; but passion has
made his face like pale ivory, and sorrow has set her seal upon his brow.»
«The Prince gives a ball tomorrow night,» murmured the young Student, «and my love will
be there. If I bring her a red rose she will dance with me till dawn. If I bring her a red rose, I shall
hold her in my arms, and she will lean her head upon my shoulder, and her hand will be clasped
in mine. But there is no red rose in my garden, so I shall sit lonely, and she will pass me by. She
will take no notice of me, and my heart will break.»
«Here, indeed, is a true lover,» said the Nightingale. «What I sing of, he suffers; what is joy
to me, to him is pain. Surely Love is a wonderful thing. It is more precious than emeralds, and
dearer than fine opals. Pearls and rubies cannot buy it, nor is it sold in the marketplace. It may
not be bought from merchants, nor can it be exchanged for gold.»
«The musicians will sit in their gallery,» continued the young Student, «and play upon their
stringed instruments, and my love will dance to the sound of the harp and the violin. She will
dance so lightly that her feet will not touch the floor, and she will be surrounded by courtiers in
their fine dresses. But with me she will not dance, for I have no red rose to give her»; and he fell
down on the grass, and buried his face in his hands, and began to cry.
«Why is he weeping?» asked a little Green Lizard, as he ran past the Student with his tail in
the air.
«Why, indeed?» said a Butterfly, who was fluttering about after a sunbeam.
«Why, indeed?» whispered a Daisy to his neighbour, in a soft, low voice.
«He is weeping because of a red rose,» said the Nightingale.
«A red rose?» they cried; «how very ridiculous!» And the little Lizard, who was something
of a cynic, burst out laughing.

40
 But the Nightingale understood the secret of the Student’s sorrow, and she sat silent in the
oak-tree, and thought about the mystery of Love.
Suddenly she spread her brown wings for flight, and flew into the air. She passed through
the grove like a shadow, and like a shadow she sailed across the garden.
In the centre of the grass-plot there was a beautiful Rose-tree, and when she saw it she flew
over towards it.
«Give me a red rose,» she cried, «and I will sing you my sweetest song.»
But the Tree shook its head.
«My roses are white,» it answered; «as white as the foam of the sea, and whiter than the
snow upon the mountain. But go to my brother who grows round the old sun-dial, and perhaps he
will give you what you want.»
So the Nightingale flew over to the Rose-tree that was growing round the sun-dial.
«Give me a red rose,» she cried, «and I will sing you my sweetest song.»
But the Tree shook its head.
«My roses are yellow,» it answered; «yellow as the hair of the mermaid, who sits upon an
amber throne; and yellower than the daffodil that blooms in the meadow before the mower
comes with his scythe. But go to my brother who grows beneath the Student’s window, and
perhaps he will give you what you want.»
So the Nightingale flew over to the Rose-tree that was growing beneath the Student’s
window.
«Give me a red rose,» she cried, «and I will sing you my sweetest song.»
But the Tree shook its head.
«My roses are red,» it answered, «as red as the feet of doves, and redder than the great fans
of coral in the ocean-cavern. But the winter has chilled my veins, and the frost has nipped my
buds, and the storm has broken my branches, and I shall have no roses at all this year.»
«One red rose is all I want,» cried the Nightingale, «only one red rose! Is there any way by
which I can get it?»
«There is a way,» answered the Tree; «but it is so terrible that I dare not tell it to you.»
«Tell it to me,» said the Nightingale, «I am not afraid.»
«If you want a red rose,» said the Tree, «you must build it out of music by moonlight, and
stain it with your own heart-blood. You must sing to me with your breast against a thorn. All
night long you must sing to me, and the thorn must reach your heart, and your life-blood must
flow into my veins, and become mine.»
«Death is a great price to pay for a red rose,» cried the Nightingale, «and Life is very dear to
all. It is pleasant to sit in the green wood, and to watch the Sun in his chariot of gold, and the
Moon in her chariot of pearl. Sweet is the scent of the hawthorn, and sweet are the bluebells that
hide in the valley, and the heather that grows on the hill. Yet Love is better than Life, and what is
the heart of a bird compared to the heart of a man?»
So she spread her brown wings for flight, and soared into the air. She swept over the garden
like a shadow, and like a shadow she sailed through the grove.
The young Student was still lying on the grass, where she had left him, and the tears were
not yet dry in his beautiful eyes.
«Be happy,» cried the Nightingale, «be happy; you shall have your red rose. I will build it
out of music by moonlight, and stain it with my own heart-blood. All that I ask of you in return
is that you will be a true lover, for Love is wiser than Philosophy, though he is wise, and
mightier than Power, though he is mighty. His wings are flame- coloured, and his body is
coloured like a flame. His lips are sweet as honey, and his breath is like frankincense.»
The Student looked up from the grass, and listened, but he could not understand what the
Nightingale was saying to him, for he only knew the things that are written down in books.
But the Oak-tree understood, and felt sad, for he was very fond of the little Nightingale who
had built her nest in his branches.
41
 «Sing me one last song,» he whispered; «I shall feel very lonely when you are gone.»
So the Nightingale sang to the Oak-tree, and her voice was like bubbling water.
When she finished her song, the Student got up, and pulled a note-book and a lead-pencil
out of his pocket.
«She is graceful,» he said to himself, as he walked away through the grove, «that cannot be
denied; but has she got feeling? I am afraid not. In fact, she is like most artists; she is all style,
without any sincerity. She only thinks of music, and everybody knows that the arts are selfish.
Still, it must be admitted that she has some beautiful notes in her voice. What a pity it is that they
do not mean anything, or do any practical good.» And he went into his room, and lay down on
his little pallet-bed, and began to think of his love; and, after a time, he fell asleep.
And when the Moon shone in the sky the Nightingale flew to the Rose-tree, and set her
breast against the thorn. All night long she sang, with her breast against the thorn, and the cold
crystal Moon leaned down and listened. All night long she sang, and the thorn went deeper and
deeper into her breast, and her life-blood ebbed away from her.
She sang first of the birth of love in the heart of a boy and a girl. And on the top of the Rose-
tree blossomed a marvellous rose, petal following petal, as song followed song. Pale was it, at
first, as the mist that hangs over the river; pale as the feet of the morning, and silver as the wings
of the dawn. Pale as the shadow of a rose in a mirror of silver, as the shadow of a rose in a water-
pool, so was the rose that blossomed on the top of the Tree.
But the Tree cried to the Nightingale to press closer against the thorn. «Press closer, little
Nightingale,» cried the Tree, «or the Day will come before the rose is finished.»
So the Nightingale pressed closer against the thorn, and louder and louder grew her song, for
she sang of the birth of the passion in the soul of a man and a young woman.
And a delicate flush of pink came into the leaves of the rose, like the flush in the face of the
bridegroom when he kisses the lips of the bride. But the thorn had not yet reached her heart, so
the rose’s heart remained white, for only a Nightingale’s heart can crimson the heart of a rose.
And the Tree cried to the Nightingale to press closer against the thorn. «Press closer, little
Nightingale,» cried the Tree, «or the Day will come before the rose is finished.»
So the Nightingale pressed closer against the thorn, and the thorn touched her heart, and a
sudden feeling of pain shot through her. Bitter, bitter was the pain, and wilder and wilder grew
her song, for she sang of the Love that is perfected by Death, of the Love that dies not in the
tomb.
And the marvellous rose became crimson, like the rose of the eastern sky. Crimson was the
girdle of petals, and crimson as a ruby was the heart.
But the Nightingale’s voice grew fainter, and her little wings began to beat, and her eyes
grew dim. Fainter and fainter grew her song, and she felt that she could no longer breathe.
Then she gave one last burst of music. The white Moon heard it, and she forgot the dawn,
and still remained in the sky. The red rose heard it, and it trembled all over with ecstasy, and
opened its petals to the cold morning air. Echo carried it to her purple cavern in the hills, and
woke the sleeping shepherds from their dreams. It floated through the reeds of the river, and they
carried its message to the sea.
«Look, look!» cried the Tree, «the rose is finished now»; but the Nightingale made no
answer, for she was lying dead in the long grass, with the thorn in her heart.
And at noon the Student opened his window and looked out.
«Why, what a wonderful piece of luck!» he cried. «Here is a red rose! I have never seen any
rose like it in all my life. It is so beautiful that I am sure it has a long Latin name»; and he leaned
down and plucked it.
Then he put on his hat, and ran up to the Professor’s house with the rose in his hand.
The daughter of the Professor was sitting in the doorway winding blue silk on a reel, and her
little dog was lying at her feet.

42
 «You said that you would dance with me if I brought you a red rose,» cried the Student.
«Here is the reddest rose in all the world. You will wear it tonight next to your heart, and as we
dance together, it will tell you how I love you.»
But the girl frowned.
«I am afraid, it will not go with my dress,» she answered; «and, besides, the Chamberlain’s
nephew has sent me some real jewels, and everybody knows that jewels cost far more than
flowers.»
«Well, upon my word, you are very ungrateful,» said the Student angrily; and he threw the
rose into the street, where it fell into the gutter, and a cart-wheel went over it.
«Ungrateful!» cried the girl. «I tell you what, you are very rude; and, after all, who are you?
Only a Student. Why, I don’t believe you have even got silver buckles to your shoes, unlike the
Chamberlain’s nephew»; and she got up from her chair and went into the house.
«What I a silly thing Love is!» said the Student as he walked away. «It is not half as useful
as Logic, for it does not prove anything. It is always telling one of things that are not going to
happen, and making one believe things that are not true. In fact, it is quite unpractical, and, as in
this age to be practical is everything, I shall go back to Philosophy and study Metaphysics.»
So he returned to his room and pulled out a great dusty book, and began to read.
Tasks
Assignment I.
I. Work as a teacher. Practise the pronunciation of some words which cause difficulty.
II. Grammar
- Be happy - you shall have your red rose. I will build it out of music;
- All that I ask of you is... (that you will be a true lover);
- Jewels cost far more (= more than enough) than flowers;
- It is not half as useful as logic;
- The reddest rose in the world (the worst day of my life);
- To prove smth to smb.
- To dream of/ about

III. Word-building. Pick out some words with the suffixes – ful, -ous, -y and prefix –un.
Add some more words you know.

IV. Watch-out!
- to admit - to refuse - to deny;
- lonely – alone;
- to go with, to match, to suit, to fit (to fit to a T), to become; (Nobody can match you in
beauty)
- to be (un)grateful to smb. for smth – to be thankful; I am thankful I am not a man (= glad)

V. Active Vocabulary. Reproduce the situations from the text, make up sentences of
your own.
- to depend on smb /smth; to be (in)dependent of/ on...; it depends;
- till /before/ after dawn (from dawn till night); to dawn on smb;
- to take (no) notice of (a notice-board);
- to suffer from (I cannot suffer fools);
- to be something of a cynic (kind of; sort of);
- to do smb good / harm (more good than harm); to be harmful; harmless as a dove; - Let me
explain – Forget, no harm done. Don’t worry.

43
 - a bride, bridegroom, bridesmaid, the best man (a bridal dress - smth old /nice/borrowed
/blue - to bring luck)
- a thorn (a red thorn in my side); to be thorny

VI. Comprehension of the plot.

1. Write down 6 questions to ask in class;
2. Make up an exercise on Multiple choice (4 sentences).

Assignment II.
I. Translate into Russian: “Well, upon my word, you are ungrateful” up to the end. Pick
out parentheses from the extract (no less than 5).

II. Make up a situation on the Active Vocabulary and Grammar patterns. Get ready
for a quiz.

III. Retell some passage in Indirect Speech.

IV. Pick out names of flowers and trees from the text. Add some more to speak on the
following:
1. Volgograd region flora.
2. The garden of your dream.
3. Your favourite flower.
4. Which flower (plant, tree) are you like? Why?
5. Which flower would you like to be? Why?
6. Flowers – national symbols.

Home-assignment (hand in for assessment):

1. Write a letter to one of the characters or the author of the tale.
2. Comment on the sentence: “In this age to be practical is everything”

Catherine Lim

The Teacher

“Look,” said the teacher to the colleague who was sitting beside him in the staffroom. “Look
at this composition written by a student in Secondary Four. She’s supposed to have had ten years
of studying English, and see what she’s written! I’ll read it to you. The title of the composition is
“My Happiest Day”.” The teacher read, pausing at those parts which he wanted his colleague to
take particular note of:
“My happiest day it is on that 12 July. I will tell you of that happiest day. My father wanted
me to help him in his cakes stall to sell cakes and earn money. He say I must leave school and
stay home and help him. My younger brothers and sisters they are too young to work so they can
go to school. My mother is too sick and weak as she just born a baby.”
Can anything be less correct than this? And she’s going to sit for her exams in three months’
time! And listen to this:
“I very sad because I don’t like to sell cakes. I like to learn at school. But I am scare my
father he will beat me if I disobeyed him so I cannot say anything to him. He ask me to tell my
44
principle of my school that I’m not going to learn anymore. I was scare my principle will ask me
questions. Lucky my mother came home from the hospital where she born the baby and my
mother say to my father that I should learn at school and become nurse later. So I can earn more
money. Sell cakes not earn so much money. She begged my father and at last my father agree. I
think he agree because he was in good mood. If in bad mood like drunk he will beat my mother
up and make trouble in the house. So my mother told me I was no need to stop learning in
school. And that was the happiest day in my life which I shall never forget.”
The teacher said slowly and thoughtfully, “I wonder why most of them write like that? We
teach grammar and usage every day. For my part, I’ve taught them the use of the Tenses till I’m
blue in the face, but they still make all kinds of Tense mistakes! I’ve drummed into them that
when narrating a story, they have to use Past Simple, but I still get awful mistakes such as the
ones you heard just now.”
A week later, the teacher was correcting compositions in the staffroom again. And again he
lowered his head into his hands in despair. It was a different colleague sitting beside him this
time. He showed her a page from an exercise book and said: “What do you think of this as a
specimen of Secondary Four Composition? I give up! I resign!”
“Ah, they’re all like that,” sighed his colleague in sympathy. “You should see the grammar
mistakes I get from my Pre-University students, mind you, Pre-University.”
The teacher read the lines that had given him most pain:
“I would like is become a nurse and successful career so I have a lot of money with
luxuries,” – by the way, I had asked them to write on “My Ambition” – “so I can buy a home for
my mother and brothers and sisters” – this is the only sentence in the whole composition that is
grammatically correct.
Listen to this one, can you make anything of it?
“If I have no ambition to help my mother and brothers and sisters they is sure to suffer for
my father. He don’t care at all. Everytime come back from selling cakes only he must drink and
spend all money on drinks and sometimes he beats my mother.”
“It’s that Tan Geog Feng from Secondary Four C, you know that timid, mousy-looking girl
who looks ready to faint with fright the moment you call on her to answer a question. You know,
I’m getting very worried about the standard of English in my class. I think Tan Geog Feng and
the pupils like her need extra Saturday coaching or they’ll never pass the exams. Three months
away, I tell them. Just three months in which to polish your grammar and vocabulary, and write
the first decent composition in your life!”
The extra coaching did not save the poor teacher from the despair he was experiencing.
"Ah!" he said, shaking his head sadly, “what shall I do? Read this nonsense! Let me see – yes, it
is from that girl, Tan Geog Feng again – that girl will be the death of me. Listen to this! She was
supposed to write a story with the title “The Stranger” and all she did was write a great deal of
trash about her father:
“He canned me everytime, even when I did not do wrong things still he canned me” – ‘she
means “caned” of course – “and he beat my mother even if she sick”. This composition not only
terribly ungrammatical but beside the point. God, I wish I could help her!”
When the news reached the school, the teacher was very upset and said, “Poor girl. What?
She actually jumped from the eleventh floor? Such a shy, timid girl. If only she had told me of
her problems. But she was always too shy and timid to speak up.”

Tasks

I. Phonetic Exercises.
A) Read the following words:

particular mood awful

45
 sympathy trouble shy
upset narrate sick
fright pause beg

B) Read the words. What sound do you hear?

[ӕ] or [e]? exam character can that trash
[i] or [i:]? wish polish timid listen
[ᴧ] or [a:]? mother month drum come

C) Find the following words in the text and write them out:
[stɔ:l], [jᴧŋ], [ə’gri:], [mis’teik], [‘eksəsaiz], [feint]

II. Vocabulary Exercises.

A) Find the English equivalents in the text:
коллега, сидеть дома, соглашаться, вбивать в голову, упасть в обморок от страха,
дополнительные занятия в субботу, приличное сочинение, чепуха, расстроен, не в тему.
B) Read and translate the sentences, where idioms with colours are used.
Definitions of the idioms will help you.
1. We were all expecting him to fail, but he passed with flying colours. (with great success,
distinction)
2. He is rather green and doesn’t have enough experience to teach. (inexperienced, immature,
young)
3. The police caught the criminal red-handed when he was robbing the bank. (to catch smb in
the act of committing a crime, usually a theft)
4. His face was white as paper. (to be pale because of fear or sickness)
C) Guess the colour in the idioms.
The following colours are omitted: red, white, blue, golden, green, black

….. in the face to make a huge but vain effort to win a person’s agreement
get the ………light receive permission to go ahead with a project
a ……. opportunity a great opportunity that might never come again
to be shown the …… card to be dismissed from your job
a …………. lie a harmless lie (told to be polite or to do smth not seriously
wrong)
a …………..sheep a person who is in disgrace or embarrassment to a family
or a group

D) Explain the idioms:

to see things in black and white
to be colourless
E) What does the teacher mean saying:
“I’ve taught them the use of the tenses till I’m blue in the face.”
F) Translate the sentences from the text:
1. “He lowered his head into his hands in despair.”
2. “Listen to this one, can you make anything of it?”
3. “This composition is not only terribly ungrammatical but out of point.”
4. “She was always too shy and timid to speak up.”

III. Text Comprehension.

46
 A) Where are the following sentences from? Name the speaker. In which situation was
each of these phrases used?
I can earn more money. the teacher
You should see the grammar mistakes I get from Tan Geog Feng
my Pre-University students
I’m getting very worried about the standard of teacher’s colleague
English in my class

B) The teacher describes Tan Geok Feng as a “mousy-looking girl”. What does
he mean?
C) List the themes of the compositions that pupils wrote.
D) Answer the questions:
1. What was the happiest day of Tan’s life? Why?
2. What was the girl’s ambition?
3. Who was a “stranger” for Tan? Why?
E) What problems did the girl have?

IV. Talking Points.

A) Do you agree or disagree with the statements about the teacher from the
text? Comment on them:
1. The teacher is very enthusiastic about his subject.
2. The teacher loves his job.
3. The teacher loves his pupils.
4. The teacher loves English.
5. The teacher knows everything about the problems of his pupils.
6. The teacher is a good psychologist.
7. The teacher can explain the material very well.
8. The teacher is attentive and kind.
9. The teacher wants to help his pupils.
10. The teacher is talented.
B) Answer the questions:
1.Why hadn’t the teacher seen the real problems of the girl?
2.What could the teacher have done to help the girl?
3.What can you say about the girl’s personality?
4.What do you think of the teacher(s)?

A. Bierce

The Man And the Snake

Lying upon a sofa Harker Brayton was reading “Marvells of Science.” Reflecting on what
he had read he unconsciously lowered his book without changing the direction of his gaze.
Suddenly something in a dark corner of the room drew his attention. What he saw, in the shadow
under his bed, was two small points of light about an inch apart.  They may have been reflections
of the gas lamp above him, in metal nail heads. He gave them little thought and resumed his
reading. A moment later some impulse made him lower his book again and seek for what he saw
before. The points of light were still there. They seemed to have become brighter than before,
shining with a greenish luster that he had not at first observed. He thought that they had moved a
little – were somewhat nearer. However, he couldn’t reveal their nature and origin and again he
47
resumed his reading. Suddenly something in the text suggested a thought that made him start and
drop the book for the third time to the side of the sofa. Brayton, half rising, was staring intently
under the bed where the points of lights shone, as it seemed to him, much brighter. His attention
was now fully waked, his gaze eager and intensive. It revealed almost directly under the foot of
the bed the coils of a large serpent – the points of light were its eyes! Its horrible head was
directed straight toward him. The eyes were no longer luminous points; they looked into his own
with an evil expression.
***
 A snake in a bedroom of a modern city flat is, happily, not so common a phenomenon as
makes explanation needless. Harker Brayton, a bachelor of 35, a scientist, rich, popular, and
healthy, had returned to San Francisco from remote and unknown countries. He accepted the
invitation of his friend, Dr. Druring, the famous scientist, and was staying at his large old-
fashioned house. Dr. Druring’s interest was reptilia, he kept them in a distant wing of the house
that he used as a combination of a laboratory and museum and that he called the Snakery.
Despite the Snakery Brayton found life at the Druring’s house to be very pleasant.
Except for a slight shock of surprise and a shudder of mere disgust Mr. Brayton was not
greatly affected. His first thought was to ring the bell and call a servant; but then it occurred to
him that the servant would suspect him of fear, which he certainly did not feel.
The reptile was of a species with which Brayton was unfamiliar. Its length he could only
guess; the body at the largest visible part seemed about as thick as his arm. In what way was it
dangerous if any? Was it venomous? Was it a constrictor? His knowledge of serpents did not
enable him to say.
Brayton rose to his feet and prepared to back softly away from the snake, without disturbing
it if possible, and leave through the door. He knew he could walk backwards without mistake. In
the meantime the snake’s eyes burned with a more pitiless malevolence than before.
Brayton lifted his right foot to step backwards. His hand upon the chair was grasping it.
“Nonsense!” he said aloud. “I am not so great a coward as to be afraid.” He lifted his foot a little
higher and put it sharply to the floor – one inch in front of the other.
He heard somewhere the continuous throbbing of a big drum with sounds of far music,
sweet and beautiful, like the tones of an Aeolian harp. The music stopped; or rather it became the
distant roll of a retreating thunderstorm. A landscape, shining with sun and rain, lay before him,
and in the middle of it a huge serpent, wearing a crown, was putting its head out of its large coils
and looking at him with the eyes of his dead mother. Suddenly this enchanting landscape seemed
to rise upward, like the drop scene at a theatre, and vanished. Something struck him upon the
face. He had fallen to the floor; blood ran from his broken nose and lips. In a few moments he
had recovered, and then realized that this fall, by interrupting his gaze, had broken the spell that
held him. He felt that now if he did not look at the snake he would be able to retreat. But the
thought of the serpent within a few feet of his head, yet unseen, perhaps in the very act of
springing upon him and throwing its coils about his throat was too horrible! He lifted his head,
stared again into those sinister eyes, and was again in their slavery.
The snake had not moved and seemed to have lost its power over his imagination; the
wonderful illusions of a few moments before were not repeated. Its black, beady eyes simply
glittered with an expression unspeakably malignant.
Then came a terrible scene. The man, lying upon the floor, within a yard of his enemy,
raised the upper part of his body upon his elbows, his head thrown back, his legs extended to
their full length. His face was white and his eyes were wide open and were staring at the snake.
Strong convulsions ran through his body making almost serpentile movements. And every
movement left him a little nearer to the snake.
***
 Dr. Druring and his wife sat in the library. The scientist was in a very good mood.

48
 “I have just obtained by exchange with another collector,” he said, “a wonderful specimen
of the ophiophagus.”
“What is it?” the lady inquired with little interest.
“Why, what profound ignorance! My dear, a man who learns after marriage that his wife
does not know Greek has the right to a divorce. The ophiophagus is a snake that eats other
snakes.”
“I hope it will eat all yours. But how does it get the other snakes? By charming them, I
suppose?”
“That is just like you, dear,” said the doctor. “You know how irritating to me are
conversations about that common superstition about a snake’s power of fascination.”
The conversation was interrupted by a loud cry, which rang through the silent house like the
voice of a demon screaming in a tomb! They sprang to their feet, the man confused, and the lady
pale and speechless with fear. Almost before the echoes of the last cry had died away, the doctor
was out of the room, springing up the stairs two steps at a time. He rushed at the door without
knocking.
Brayton lay on the floor, dead. His head and arms were partly concealed under the foot of
the bed. They pulled the body away, turning it upon the back. The face was covered with blood
and foam; the eyes were wide open, staring… a dreadful sight!
“Dead,” said the scientist, placing his hand upon his heart. Standing on his knees beside the
man he chanced to look under the bed. “Good God!” he exclaimed, “How did this thing get in
here?”
He pulled out the snake and threw it, still coiled to the centre of the room where it stopped
by the wall and lay without motion. It was a stuffed snake; its eyes were two bright buttons.

Tasks
Assignment I.

I. Phonetics. Practise the pronunciation of the following words.

demon visible origin aeolian harp unconsciously ophiophagous

venomous bachelor lowered enchanting above called
illusion specimen impulse elbow nailhead species
metal luster inquire divorce luminous reptile
cover malevolence tomb knock knees
coward blood recover convulsion scientist

II. Prepositions
- despite the snakery/ in spite of doing smth
- except for a shock ≠ besides/ in addition to
- lying within a yard of the enemy
- in the meantime
- two steps at a time

III. Vocabulary
A) Word-building.
- en-: rich, large, circle, joy
- -fy: simple, identity, test, pure

49
 - -ize: critic, real, summary, analysis
- -en: short, strength, wide, light

B) Active Vocabulary. Reproduce the situations, make up sentences of your

own
- marvels of science (a marvel, to marvel at, marvellous);
- a common phenomenon (pl. – phenomena), superstition (superstitious);
- to be (un)familiar with ≠ to be ignorant(nce); to ignore; (I’ll never shout at you – Sounds
familiar!)
- to reflect on smth; reflection;
- power of fascination; to fascinate; fascinating/ ed with smb/ by smth;
- to draw smb’s attention ≠ to give smth little thought ≠ to pay attention to;
- to reveal (facts, secrets); revealing information; revealing dress;
- to resume (reading);
- to suspect smb of; a suspect; (My dad isn’t a millionaire – I’ve suspected it all along (R = Я
подозревала это с самого начала). You aren’t leaving me, are you? – Why? – Nagging
suspicion)
- a coward (cowardly words); to do smth in a cowardly way;
- evil, sinister, (unspeakably) malignant, pitiless, ill-tempered, disgusting;
- to irritate smb, irritating
- to be in a good (no) mood to…
- to guess (You must be a dentist. – How did you know? – Just a guess.)

C) Find in the text equivalents to the following words and word-combinations.

Размышлять, привлекать внимание, возобновить, заставило его вздрогнуть,
светящиеся точки, обычное явление, дальние страны, известный ученый, старомодный,
тем временем, быть в рабстве, несказанно злобный, быть в хорошем настроении,
прекрасный образец, широко распространенное суеверие, способность зачаровывать,
ужасное зрелище, чучело змеи.

D) Replace the italicized words with the synonyms from the box in an appropriate
form.

to reflect on to seek remote unfamiliar malignant

to gaze to reveal motion to raise to fascinate
to draw smb’s a serpent to occur to smb to vanish to be in a good
attention mood
1. We found ourselves in an unknown place and didn’t know in what direction to go.
2. It didn’t come to my head that his documents were false.
3. The Haddos suddenly disappeared without saying a word.
4. A scientist was thinking over the results of an experiment.
5. All the night helicopters were looking for the fishermen gone into the sea.
6. The new researchers in the field of genetics discovered a mechanism of passing over genetic
information.
7. A prisoner lifted up his head and looked at his enemies.

50
8. When she was walking along the street her attention was attracted by the shop-windows of a
beauty salon.
9. Margaret was charmed by Haddo’s play.
10. An arab worked with venomous snakes.
11. When the police entered the room they saw a man lying on the floor without movement.
12. Now even in far-away villages people are able to watch television.
13. During the last evening Margaret seemed to be in high spirits and Arthur didn’t suspect
anything.
14. Margaret had Oliver’s evil look which suggested that she saw with his eyes.

IV. Talking points

A)Complete the sentences and see how well you remember the text:
1. Suddenly something in a dark corner of the room ____________________ .
2. His gaze revealed almost directly under the foot of the bed ____________________ .
3. A moment later some impulse made him ____________________ .
4. Dr. Druring’s interest was ____________________.
5. He stared again into those sinister eyes, and was again ____________________ .
6. The snake’s black, beady eyes simply glittered with an expression __________________.
7. Strong convulsions ran through his body making ____________________ .
8. And every moment ____________________ .
9. The ophiophagus is a snake that ____________________ .
10. Brayton lay on the floor ____________________ .
11. His face was covered ____________________ .
12. It was ____________________; its eyes were ____________________ .

B) What’s the place like? Is it in harmony with Brayton’s feelings? Consider the
impact of the atmosphere on the man.

V. How superstitious are you? Read the text and do the exercises
Do you believe that you’ll be luckier if you do certain things? Do you avoid doing
something because it may bring you bad luck? I worry about some things, like Friday 13. But a
lot of people are worse than me – my sister, for instance, refuses to walk under ladders or open
her umbrella inside the house, and my brother, who is one of the least superstitious people I
know, often touches wood for luck. He doesn’t even realise he’s doing it. Some people moight
think that in the twenty-first century we shouldn’t be as superstitious as we were in the past, but
I think superstition is one of the most natural human characteristics. The fact we still believe in
these things in the age of computers is fantastic. It shows that we haven’t lost the more mystical
side of our nature.

Exercise I. Underline the six comparison expressions in the article.

Exercise II. Do you believe in any of the superstitions mentioned in this article?
Exercise III. Compare your ideas about superstitions in pairs.
How superstitious are you?
Do you agree that being superstitious is a natural human characteristic?

51
 Assignment II.

I. Make up a situation on the Active Vocabulary.

II. Get ready for a quiz.
III. Retell the text on behalf of – Dr. Druring
Dr. Druring’s wife
The police inspector
Home-assignment (in writing - to hand in):
An article in a newspaper.

H. H. Munro

The Story-Teller

It was a hot afternoon, and the railway carriage was sultry. The next stop was at
Tеmpleсombe, nearly an hour ahead. There were three children in the carriage: a small girl and a
smaller girl and a small boy. An aunt belonging to the children occupied one corner seat. The
opposite corner seat was occupied by a bachelor, who was a stranger to the party. The
conversation of the aunt and the children was rather monotonous. Most of the aunt's remarks
began with “Don’t”, nearly all of the children’s remarks began with “Why?” The bachelor was
silent.
“Don't, Cyril, don't,'' exclaimed the aunt, as the small boy began jumping on the cushions of
his seat, producing a cloud of dust at each jump.
"Come and look out of the window," she added.
The child moved reluctantly to the window.
“Why are those sheep being driven out of that field?” he asked.
“I think they are being driven to another field where there is more grass," said the aunt
weakly.
“But there is lots of grass in that field,'' protested the boy.
“There is nothing else but grass there. Aunt, there’s lots of grass in that field.”
“Perhaps the grass in the other field is better,” said the aunt foolishly.
“Why is it better?” came the quick answer.
“Oh, look at those cows!” exclaimed the aunt.
There were cows and bulls in nearly every field along the line, but she spoke as though she
were drawing the children’s attention to something extraordinary.
“Why is the grass in the other field better?” repeated Cyril.
The frown on the bachelor’s face was deepening. He was an unpleasant man, the aunt
decided in her mind.
The smaller girl began to recite “On the Road to Mandalay.” She only knew the first line,
but she repeated it over and over again in a dreamy but rather loud voice. It seemed to the
bachelor as though someone had had a bet with her that she could not repeat the line aloud two
thousand times without stopping.
The girl was not likely to lose the bet.
“Come over and listen to a story,” said the aunt at last.
The children moved reluctantly towards the aunt’s end of the carriage. Evidently her
reputation as a story teller did not rank high.

52
 In a low voice, interrupted by loud questions of her listeners she began a most uninteresting
story about a little girl who was good, and made friends with everybody because she was good,
and she was suddenly saved from a mad bull by some people who admired her moral character.
“Wouldn’t they have saved her if she hadn’t been good?” asked the bigger of the small girls.
It was exactly the question that the bachelor had wanted to ask.
“Well, yes,” said the aunt in an uncertain voice, “but I don’t think they would have run so
fast to help her if they had not liked her so much.’
“It’s the stupidest story I’ve ever heard,” said the bigger of the small girls.
“I didn’t listen after the first few words: it was so stupid,” said Cyril.
The smaller girl said nothing about the story, but she had long ago began to repeat her
favourite line.
“You don’t seem to be a success as a story teller,” said the bachelor suddenly from his
corner.
The aunt grew angry at this unexpected attack.
“It’s a very difficult thing to tell stories that children can both understand and like,” she said
coldly.
“I don’t agree with you,” said the bachelor.
“Perhaps you would like to tell them a story,” was the aunt’s answer.
“Tell us a story,” asked the bigger of the small girls.
“Once upon a time,” began the bachelor, “there was a little girl called Bertha, who was
extraordinarily good.”
The children’s interest began at once to flicker. All stories seemed dreadfully alike, no
matter who told them.
“She did all that she was told, she was always truthful, she kept her clothes clean, was polite
in her manners.”
“Was she pretty?’ asked the bigger of the small girl.
“Not as pretty as any of you,” said the bachelor, “but she was horribly good.”
Now the children were listening to the story with interest. The word horrible in connection
with goodness was a novelty. It seemed to introduce a ring of truth that was absent from the
aunt’s tales.
“She was so good,” continued the bachelor, “that she won several medals for goodness. She
always wore them pinned on to her dress. There was a medal for obedience, another medal for
punctuality and another for good behaviour. They were large metal medals and they clinked
against one another as she walked. No other child in the town where she lived had as many as
three medals, so everybody knew that she must be an extraordinary child.’
“Horribly good,” repeated Cyril.
“Everybody talked about her goodness, and the Prince of the country got to hear about it,
and he said that as she was so very good she might be allowed once a week to walk in his park,
which was just outside the town. It was a beautiful park, and no children were ever allowed to
walk in it; so it was a great honour to Bertha to be allowed to go there.”
“Were there any sheep in the park?” asked Cyril.
“No,” said the bachelor, “there were no sheep.”
“Why weren’t there any sheep?”
“There were no sheep in the park,” said the bachelor, “because the Prince’s mother had once
had a dream that her son would either be killed by a sheep or else by a clock falling on him. For
that reason the Prince never kept a sheep in his park or a clock in his palace.”
“Was the Prince killed by a sheep or by a clock?” asked Cyril.
“He is still alive, so we can’t tell whether the dream will come true,” said the bachelor,
“anyway, there were no sheep in the park, but there were lots of little pigs running all over the
place.”
“What colour were they?”
53
 “Black with white faces, white with black spots, black all over, grey with white spots, and
some were white all over.”
The story-teller paused for a moment and then went on: “Bertha was rather sorry to find that
there were no flowers in the park. She had promised her aunts, with tears in her eyes, that she
would not pick any of the kind Prince’s flowers, and she had meant to keep her promise, so, of
course, it made her feel silly to find that there were no flowers to pick.”
“Why weren’t there any flowers?”
“Because the pigs had eaten them all,” said the bachelor promptly. “The gardeners had told
the Prince that he couldn’t have pigs and flowers, so he decided to have pigs and no flowers.”
The children were impressed by the wisdom of the Prince’s decision.
“There were lots of other delightful things in the park. There were ponds with gold and blue
and green fish in them and trees with beautiful parrots that said clever things, and humming birds
that hummed all the popular songs of the day. Bertha walked up and down and enjoyed herself
immensely, and thought to herself: "If I were not so extraordinarily good I should not have been
allowed to come into this beautiful park and enjoy all that there is to be seen in it," and her three
medals clinked against one another as she walked and helped to remind her how good she really
was. Just then a big wolf came into the park to see if he could catch a fat pig for its supper.”
“What colour was it?” asked the children.
“Mud-colour all over with a black tongue and pale-grey eyes glaring with hunger. The first
thing that it saw in the park was Bertha; her pinafore was so spotlessly white and clean, that it
could be seen from a great distance. Bertha saw the wolf and that it was stealing towards her and
began to wish that she had never been allowed to come into the park. She ran as fast as she
could, and the wolf came after her with huge leaps and bounds. She managed to reach a
shrubbery of myrtle-bushes and hid in one of the thickest of the bushes. The wolf came sniffling
among the branches, its black tongue lolling out of the mouth and its pale-grey eyes glaring with
rage. Bertha was terribly frightened and thought to herself: “If I had not been so extraordinarily
good I should be safe in the town at this moment.” However, the scent of the myrtle was so
strong that the wolf could not sniff out where Bertha was hiding; and the bushes were so thick
that he could not catch a sight of her. So he thought he would go off and catch a little pig instead.
Bertha was trembling very much at having the wolf sniffing so near her; and as she trembled the
medal for obedience clinked against the medals for good behaviour and punctuality. The wolf
was just moving away when he heard the sound of the medals clinking and stopped to listen;
they clinked again in a bush quite near him. He dashed into the bush, his pale-grey eyes glaring
with triumph and dragged Bertha out and devoured her to the last morsel. All that was left of her
were shoes, bits of clothing and the three medals for goodness.”
“Were any of the little pigs killed?”
“No, they all ran away.”
“The story began badly,” said the smaller of the small girls, “but it had a beautiful ending.”
“It’s the most beautiful story that I have ever heard,” said the bigger of the small girls.
“It’s the only beautiful story I have ever heard,” said Cyril.
A different opinion came from the aunt.
“A most improper story to tell young children! You have undermined the effect of years of
careful teaching.”
“At any rate,” said the bachelor, getting ready to leave the carriage, “I kept them quiet for
ten minutes, which was more than you were able to do.”
“Unhappy woman!” he said to himself as he walked down the platform of Templecombe
station. “For the next six months or so those children will attack her in public with demands for
an improper story!”

Tasks

54
 I. Grammar
1) there is lots of grass ≠ there were lots of delightful things
She began a most uninteresting story
All stories seemed alike, no matter who told them
2) Find some sentences in the text with the verbs in the Subjunctive Mood and Passive Voice.
Reproduce the micro situations with them (no less than 4)

II. Vocabulary
A. “What colour were they? Black, white with black spots; black all over, mud-colour all
over”.
Add some more adjectives you know, explain whose colour it is.
B. “She won several medals for goodness, obedience, punctuality, good behavior, wisdom”.
What other things could you suggest?
C. Active Vocabulary – Give Russian equivalents, reproduce the micro-situations, make up
your sentences/situations of your own
1. to do smth reluctantly (to be reluctant to do, reluctant help / promise)
2. to frown at smb, a frown
to glare at smb, eyes glaring with rage/ hunger
3. horrible dress (man, feeling, accident), to be horribly good
4. to be a success as a story-teller
5. honour, to be an honour to (school), it’s a great honour to do smth, in smb’s honour; honorary
(visit)
6. to make a promise (break, keep)
a promising young singer (scientist)
to promise smb smth (help, support) never: to promise smb to do
to do smth
smb that you will do smth
7. to hum popular songs of the day, humming birds
8. to steal to /out of some place ≠ to dash (I must dash, I’ve got to catch a train)
9. to undermine (the effect of…, results…)
10. anyway, however, at any rate

III. Comprehension – multiple choice (students’ suggestions)

IV. Talking Points:
1. Describe the aunt and her problems
2. What kind of children were there in the carriage?
3. Describe Bertha’s walk in the park.
4. Comment on the story from the aunt’s / the children’s /your own point of view.
5. How did the bachelor differ from the aunt? Could he make a good teacher? Why?
6. Comment on “careful teaching”
“an improper story”

Home-assignment (to hand in for assessment):

My favourite colour /The colour I hate /Colour-blind people /A colourful period of smb’s
(your own) life
(= 250 words)

A.Burrage

The Waxwork
55
 The manager of Marriner’s Museum of Waxworks sat in his office and interviewed
Raymond Hewson. The manager was a youngish man, well-dressed, stout and rather tall.
Raymond Hewson looked different; he was a small pale man with a tired face and thin brown
hair. His clothes, which had been good when new and which were still clean and carefully
pressed, were beginning to show signs of their owner’s losing battle with the world.
The manager was speaking.
“There is nothing new in your request,” he said. “In fact we refuse it to different people –
mostly young idlers who try to make bets – about three times a week. If I permitted it and some
young idiot lost his senses, what would be my position? But you being a journalist alters the
matter.”
Hewson smiled.
“You mean that journalists have no senses to lose?”
“No, no,” laughed the manager, “but they are supposed to be responsible people. Besides, it
can give us publicity. Er – what is your newspaper, Mr. Hewson?”
“I don’t work for any definite paper at present,” Hewson confessed. “However, I would have
no difficulty in publishing the story. THE MORNING ECHO would take it immediately. A
Night with Marriner’s Murderers. No paper will refuse it.”
The manager thought a little.
“And how do you propose to treat it?”
“I shall make it thrilling, of course, thrilling but with a touch of humour.”
The manager nodded and offered Hewson his cigarette case.
“Very well, Mr. Hewson,” he said. “Get your story published in THE MORNING ECHO,
and there will be a five-pound note waiting for you here. But first of all I must warn you that it’s
not an easy job that you are going to take. I shouldn’t take it on myself. I’ve seen those figures
dressed and undressed. I know all about the process of their manufacture. I can walk about the
museum in company as indifferently as if I were walking among manikins, but I should never
sleep there alone among them.”
“Why?” asked Hewson.
“I don’t know. There isn’t any reason. I don’t believe in ghosts. It’s just that I can’t sit alone
among them all night, with their eyes seeming to stare at me. The whole atmosphere of the place
is unpleasant, and if you are sensitive to atmosphere you will have a very uncomfortable night.”
Hewson had known it himself from the moment when the idea first occurred to him. His
soul protested against the prospect, though he smiled at the manager. But he had a wife and
children to keep and for the last months he had not had any regular work and he was living on
his small savings. Here was a chance to earn some money – the price of a special story in THE
MORNING ECHO and a five-pound note promised by the manager. Besides, if he wrote the
story well, it might lead to the offer of a regular job.
“The way of newspaper men is hard,” he said. “I have already promised myself an
uncomfortable night because your Murderers’ den is certainly not a hotel bedroom. But I don’t
think your waxworks will worry me much. I’m not superstitious.”
The manager smiled and rose.
“All right,” he said. “I think the last of the visitors have gone. Wait a moment. I’ll let the
watchmen know that you’ll be here. Then I’ll take you down and show you round.”
He spoke on a house telephone and then said:
“I must ask you not to smoke there. We had a fire alarm in the Murderers’ den this evening.
I don’t know who gave it but it was a false one. And now, if you’re ready, we’ll go.”
They went through an open barrier and down dimly lit stone stairs, which gave a sinister
impression of leading to a prison. In a room at the bottom of the stairs were a few relics of the
Inquisition and other mementos of man’s cruelty to man. Beyond this room was the Murderer’s
den.
56
 It was a long room, ill-lit by electric lights burning behind glass lamps. It was, by design, a
mysterious and uncomfortable chamber – a chamber whose atmosphere made visitors speak in a
whisper.
The waxwork murderers stood on low pedestals with labels at their feet. The manager,
walking around with Hewson, pointed out several of the more interesting of these figures.
“That’s Crippen! I think you recognize him. Insignificant little beast who looks as if he
could not kill a fly. And of course this -”
“Who’s that?” Hewson interrupted in a whisper, pointing.
“Oh, I was coming to him,” said the manager. “Come and have a good look at him. This is
our star. He is the only one in this company that hasn’t been hanged.”
The figure which Hewson had indicated was that of a small, thin man not much more than
five feet tall. It wore little moustaches, large spectacles and a long coat. He could not say
precisely why this kind-looking face seemed to him so disgusting, but he made a step back and
even in the manager’s company he was afraid to look at him again.
“But who is he?” he asked.
“That,” said the manager, “is Dr. Bourdette.”
Hewson shook his head, “I think I’ve heard the name,” he said, “but I forgot in connection
with what.”
The manager smiled.
“You’d remember better if you were a Frenchman,” he said. “For a long time this man was
the terror of Paris. He did his work of a doctor in the daytime and of a murderer at night. He
killed for the devilish pleasure it gave him to kill, and always in the same way – with a razor.
After his last crime he mysteriously disappeared, and ever since the police of every civilized
country have been looking for him.”
Hewson shuddered,. “I don’t like him at all,” he confessed. “Ugh! What eyes he’s got!”
“Yes, this figure’s a little masterpiece. It seems to you that the eyes stare at you? Well, that
is excellent realism, for Bourdette practised mesmerism and was supposed to hypnotize his
victims before killing them. Indeed, it explains how such a small man could do his terrible work.
There were never any signs of a struggle.”
“It seemed to me I saw him move,” said Hewson in a whisper.
The manager smiled.
“You’ll have more than one optical illusion before the end of the night, I expect. I’m sorry I
can’t give you any more light: we keep this place as gloomy as possible. And now come with me
to the office and have a drink of whisky before you return here again.”
The night attendant placed an armchair for Hewson and wished him good night. Hewson
turned the armchair a little so that its back was toward the figure of Dr. Bourdette. For some
reason he liked him much less than his companions. While he was busy with arranging the chair
the attendant’s footsteps had died away and a deep hush fell over the chamber he realized that he
had a difficult night before him.
The dim light fell on the rows of figures which were so like human beings that the silence
and stillness seemed unnatural and even sinister. “It must be like this at the bottom of the sea,”
he thought and decided to use this phrase in his story the next morning. He faced the figures
boldly enough. They were only waxworks. So long as he let that thought dominate all others, he
promised himself that all would be well. It did not, however, save him long from the discomfort
caused by the waxen stare of Dr. Bourdette, which, he knew, was directed upon him from
behind. The eyes of the little Frenchman tormented him, and he with difficulty suppressed the
desire to turn and look. At last Hewson turned his chair round a little and looked behind him.
“He’s only a waxwork like the rest of you,” he said loudly. “You are all only waxworks.”
They were only waxworks, yes, but waxworks don’t move. Not that he had seen any
movement anywhere, but it seemed to him that in the moment or two while he had looked behind
him, there had been some change in the group of the figures in front. Crippen, for instance,
57
seemed to have turned a little to the left. Or, thought Hewson, the illusion was due to the fact that
he had not fixed his chair back into its exact original position.
He took a notebook from his pocket and wrote quickly: “Remember: Deathly silence. Like
being at the bottom of sea. Hypnotic eyes of Dr. Bourdette. Figures seem to move when not
being watched.”
He closed his book suddenly and looked round quickly over the right shoulder. He had
neither seen nor heard a movement, but it was as if some sixth sense had made him aware of one.
He looked straight at Lefroy, which smiled as if to say, “It wasn’t I!”
Of course, it wasn’t he, or any of them. It was his own nerves. Or was it? Hadn’t Crippen
moved during that moment when his attention was directed elsewhere? You couldn’t trust that
little man. When you took your eyes off him he took advantage of it to change his position. That
was what they were all doing. If he had only known it, he would have never come here. He was
leaving. He wasn’t going to spend the night with a lot of waxworks which moved while he
wasn’t looking.
Hewson sat down again. This was very cowardly and very absurd. They were only
waxworks and they couldn’t move; let him hold on to that thought and all would be well. He
swung round quickly and stared at Crippen. Ha! He’s nearly caught Crippen that time! “You’d
better be careful, Crippen – and all the rest of you! If I see one of you move I’ll smash you to
pieces! Do you hear?”
He must go, he told himself. Already had experience enough to write his story, or ten stories
about it. Then, why not go? Yes, but that night attendant upstairs will laugh at him. And the
manager won’t give him that five-pound note which he needed so badly. He thought of his wife.
She must be asleep now or maybe she is lying awake and thinking of him. She’ll laugh when he
tells her what he imagined.
This was too much! The murderers not only moved but they breathed, too. Because
somebody was breathing. Or was it his own breath which sounded to him as if it came from a
distance? This won’t do! This certainly will not do! He must hold on to something which
belonged to the daylight world. He was Raymond Hewson, an unsuccessful journalist, a living
and breathing man, and these figures around him were only dummies, made of wax and sawdust
who stood there for the entertainment of idle visitors. They could neither move nor whisper.
That was better! Now, what was that funny story which somebody told him yesterday?
He recalled a part of it, but not all, for the gaze of Dr. Bourdette burned, challenged and
finally made him turn.
Hewson half turned his chair so as to bring him face to face with the wearer of those
dreadful hypnotic eyes. Then he sat quite still staring before him, like a man found frozen in the
Arctic snows.
Dr. Bourdette’s movements were slow. He stepped off his pedestal with the mincing care of
a lady getting out of a bus and sat down on the edge facing Hewson. Then he nodded and smiled
and said, “Good evening.”
“I hardly have to tell you,” he continued in perfect English, “that before I overheard the
conversation between you and the manager of this establishment, I did not suspect that I should
have the pleasure of a companion here for the night. You cannot move or speak without my
command, but you can hear me perfectly well. Something tells me that you are – shall I say
nervous? My dear sir, have no illusions. I am not one of these contemptible dummies! I am Dr.
Bourdette himself.
He paused, coughed and stroke his legs.”
“Pardon me,” he went on, “but I am a little stiff. And let me explain. Circumstances which I
won’t describe here to you, made it desirable that I should live in England. I was close to this
building this evening when I saw a policeman watching me too curiously. I guessed that he
intended to follow me and perhaps ask me embarrassing questions, so I mixed with the crowd
and came in here. An inspiration showed me a way of escape. I shouted “Fire!” and when all the
58
fools had rushed to the stairs I took the coat which you see on me off my dummy, hid my wax
figure under the platform and took its place on the pedestal.”
“The manager’s description of me, which I had overheard, was biased but not quite wrong.
Of course, I am not dead, although the world thinks otherwise. His description of my hobby,
which I have indulged for years, though through necessity less frequently lately was in the main
true, but quite clearly expressed. You see, the world is divided between collectors and non
collectors. With the non collectors we are not concerned. The collectors collect anything,
according to their individual taste, from money to cigarette packets, from butterflies to match
labels. I collect throats.”
He paused again and regarded Hewson’s throat with interest mixed with disfavour.
“I am obliged to chance which brought us together,” he continued, “and perhaps it would be
ungrateful to complain. But you have a skinny neck, sir, excuse me. I should have never selected
you if I had choice. I like men with thick necks… thick red necks… ”
He fumbled in a pocket and took out something which he tested against a wet forefinger and
then began to pass against the palm of his left hand.
“This is a little French razor,” he said. “They are not much used in England, but perhaps you
know them? The blade, you will see, is very narrow. It doesn’t cut very deep, see for yourself. I
shall ask you the usual question of all polite barbers: ‘Does the razor suit you, sir?’”
He rose up and approached Hewson with the furtive step of a hunting panther. “Will you be
so kind,” he said, “as to raise your chin a little? Thank you. A little more, please. Just a little
more. Ah, thank you! …Merci, m’sieur… Ah… merci… merci…”
At one end of the chamber the ceiling was thick frosted glass which by day let in a few rays
from the floor above. After sunrise they began to mingle with the dim light from the electric
lamps, and this combined illumination added a certain horror to the scene which was terrible
enough.
The waxwork figures stood apathetically in their places, waiting for the crowds of visitors
who would walk among them with cries of admiration or fear. In the middle of them, in the
centre of the room, Hewson sat still, leaning back in his armchair. His chin was lifted as if he
was waiting to be shaved, and although there was not a scratch on his throat nor anywhere on his
body, he was cold and dead. His editors were wrong saying that he had no imagination.
Dr. Bourdette on his pedestal watched the dead man unemotionally. He did not move, nor
was he capable of motion. After all, he was only a waxwork.

Tasks
Assignment I
I. Practise the words whose pronunciation causes difficulty
II. Grammar

he had neither seen nor heard the movement

to kill smb with a razor
he is the only one who hasn’t been hanged (≠ hung)
his clothes (glasses, scissors, brains, thanks, goods, cattle, jeans, etc.) were clean
ever since the police have been looking for him
now that he had seen some movement (≠ now when)
an ill-lit room / well-dressed (long-legged, blue-eyed, broad-shouldered) man

III. Active Vocabulary – reproduce the situations from the book, make up sentences /
situations of your own
a young idler (to idle away the time; idle talk/ visitor, curiosity, threat; to do idly; idleness)
to treat smb /smth; treat oneself to a holiday
to live on small savings
59
in connection with
to look insignificant, a sort of person who can’t kill a fly
to be the terror (envy, pride) of some place
to need money /help badly
to suppress the feeling / desire
pardon me but I am a little stiff
to think otherwise (to alter the matter)
to torment smb/ it’s a torment to do smth
to shudder (I shudder to think that…)

IV. Topical Vocabulary

Pick out words and word expressions to describe a visit to the Museum of Waxworks (no
less than 10): e.g. манекен из воска и опилок; интерес, смешанный с неодобрением;
рассматривать издалека

V. Work at the following adjectives

thrilling, embarrassing, uncomfortable, challenging, disgusting, sinister, mysterious,
hypnotic; to be sensitive (to…), superstitious

VI. Talking Points

Rayomond Hewson (age, appearance, occupation, life story)
Dr Bourdette
Marriner’s Museum of Waxworks

Home-assignment:
1. Comment on R. Hewson’s death
2. A riddle portrait. Introduce some celebrity we could find in the museum of waxworks
(don’t give names)
3. Describe a visit (real or imaginary) to the museum of waxworks. (Use Topical
Vocabulary)
4. Written Practice (to hand in): The Museum of Waxworks in London

Assignment II

I. Talking points
1. Comment on R. Hewson’s death
2. A riddle portrait
3. A visit to the museum of waxworks

II. Revision of grammar

Choose about 20 lines and reproduce the text in Indirect Speech. Use Active Grammar
(hardly-when, it turned out, the first time he had done, if, as if, etc)

III. Creative work

Comment on a) “It was as if some sixth sense had made him aware”.
b) “Dr Bourdette approached Hewson with the furtive step of a hunting panther”
Illustrate it with a story of your own. Give way to fantasy.
c) newspapers and the way to get publicity

60
 Fernando Sorrentino

My Friend Luke

I have a friend who must be the sweetest, shyest person in the world. His name is brittle and
ancient (Luke), his age modestly intermediate (forty). He is rather short and skinny, has a thin
moustache and even thinner hair on his head. Since his vision is not perfect, he wears glasses:
they are small, round and frame-less.
In order not to inconvenience anyone, he always walks sideways. Instead of saying ‘Excuse
me’, he prefers to glide by one side. If the gap is so narrow that it will not allow him to pass,
Luke waits patiently until the obstruction – be it animate or inanimate, rational or irrational –
moves by itself. Stray dogs and cats panic him, and in order to avoid them he constantly crosses
from the one side of the road to the other.
He speaks with a very thin, subtle voice, so inaudible that it is hard to tell if he is speaking at
all. He has never interrupted anybody. On the other hand, he can never manage more than two
words without somebody interrupting him. This does not seem to irritate him; in fact, he actually
appears happy to have been able to utter those two words.
My friend Luke has been married for years. His wife is a thin, choleric, nervous woman
who, as well as having an unbearably shrill voice, strong lungs, a finely drawn nose and a
viperous tongue suffers from an uncontrollable temper and the personality of a lion tamer. Luke
– you have to wonder how – has succeeded in producing a child named (by his mother) Juan
Manuel. He is tall, blond, intelligent, distrustful, sarcastic and has a fringe. It is not entirely true
that he only obeys his mother. However, the two of them have always agreed that Luke has little
to offer the world and therefore choose to ignore his scarce and rarely expressed opinions.
Luke is the oldest and the least important employee of a dismal company that imports cloth.
It operates out of a very dark building with black-stained wooden floors situated in Alsina street.
The owner – I know him personally – is an Arab with a ferocious moustache – a bold Arab, a
vociferous Arab, a violent Arab, a greedy Arab. My friend Luke goes to work dressed all in
black, wearing a very old suit that shines from age. He only owns one shirt – the one he wore for
the first time on the day of his marriage – and it has an anachronistic plastic collar. He also only
owns one tie, so frayed and greasy that it looks more like a shoelace. Unable to bear the
disapproving looks of the Arab, Luke, unlike his colleagues, does not dare work without his
jacket on and in order to keep his jacket in good condition he wears a pair of grey sleeve-
protectors. His salary is ludicrously low, but he still stays behind in the office every day and
works for another three or four hours: the tasks the Arab gives him are so huge that he has no
chance of accomplishing them within the normal hours. Now, just after the Arab cut his salary
yet again, his wife has decided that Juan Manuel must not do his secondary studies in a state
school. She has chosen to put his name down for a very costly institution in the Belgrano area. In
view of the extortionate outlay this involves, Luke has stopped buying his newspaper and (an
even greater sacrifice) The Reader’s Digest, his two favourite publications. The last article he
managed to read in the Reader’s Digest explained how husbands should repress their own
overwhelming personality in order to make room for the actualisation of the rest of the family
group.
There is, however, one remarkable aspect to Luke: his behavior as soon as he steps on a bus.
Generally, this is what happens:
He requests a ticket and begins to look for his money, slowly. He holds up one hand to
ensure that the driver keeps waiting, unsure of what to do. Luke does not hurry. In fact, I would
say that the driver’s impatience gives him a certain amount of pleasure. Then he pays with the
largest possible number of small coins, which he delivers a few at the time, in varying amounts
and at irregular intervals. For some reason, this disturbs the driver, who, apart from having to
pay attention to other cars, the traffic lights, other passengers getting on or off, and having to
61
drive the bus itself, is forced to perform complicated arithmetic. Luke aggravates the problem by
including in his payment an old Paraguayan coin that he keeps for the purpose and which is
invariably returned to him. This way, mistakes are usually made in the accounts and an argument
ensues. Then, in a serene but firm manner, Luke begins to defend his rights, employing
arguments so contradictory that it is impossible to understand what point he is actually trying to
make. Finally, the driver, at the end of the last tether of his sanity and in an act of final
resignation, chooses to throw out the coins – perhaps as a means of repressing his wish to throw
out Luke or, indeed, himself.
When winter comes, Luke always travels with the windows wide open. The first to suffer as
a result of this is Luke himself: he has developed a chronic cough that often forces him to stay
awake entire nights. During the summer, he closes his window and will not allow anyone to
lower the shade that would protect him from the sun. More than once he has ended up with first-
degree burns.
Because of his weak lungs, Luke is not allowed to smoke and, in fact, he hates smoking. In
spite of this, once inside the bus he cannot resist the temptation to light up a cheap, heavy cigar
that clogs up his windpipe and makes him cough. After he gets off, he puts away his cigar in
preparation for the next journey.
Luke is a tiny, sedentary, squalid person and has never been interested in sports. But come
Saturday evening, he switches on his portable radio and turns the volume up full in order to
follow the boxing match. Sundays he dedicates to football and tortures the rest of the passengers
with the noisy broadcasts.
The back seat is for five passengers. In spite of his very small size, Luke sits so as to allow
room for only four or even three people on the seat. If four are already seated and Luke is
standing up, he demands permission, in an indignant and reproachful tone, to sit down – which
he then does, managing to take up an excessive amount of space. To this end, he puts his hands
in his pockets so that his elbows will remain firmly embedded in his neighbours’ ribs.
Luke’s resources are plentiful and diverse.
When he has to travel standing up, he always keeps his jacket unbuttoned, carefully
adjusting his posture so that the lower edge of his jacket hits the face or the eyes of those sitting
down.
If anyone is reading, they are easy prey for Luke. Watching him or her closely, Luke places
his head near the lights so as to throw a shadow on the victim’s book. Every now and then he
withdraws his head as if by chance. The reader will anxiously devour one or two words before
Luke moves back into position.
My friend Luke knows the times when the bus will be fully packed. On those occasions, he
consumes a salami sandwich and a glass of red wine. Then, with breadcrumbs and threads of
salami still between his teeth and pointing his mouth towards the other passengers’ noses, he
walks along the vehicle shouting loudly, ‘Excuse me’.
If he manages to take the front seat, he never gives it up to anyone. But should he find
himself in one of the last rows, the moment he sees a woman with a child in her arms or a weak,
elderly person climb on board he immediately stands up and calls very loudly to the front
passenger to offer his seat. Later he usually makes some recriminatory remark against those that
kept their seats. His eloquence is always effective, and some mortally ashamed passenger gets
off at the next stop. Instantly, Luke takes his place.

*
My friend Luke gets off the bus in a very good mood. Timidly, he walks home, staying out
of the way of anyone he meets. He is not allowed a key, so he has to ring the bell. If anyone is
home, they rarely refuse to open the door to him. But if neither his wife, his son nor the Arab are
to be found, Luke sits on the doorstep until someone arrives.

62
 Tasks

Give a character sketch of Luke (follow the reference)

63