STORIES IN INTERMEDIATE ENGLISH APRIL

MAY 2020

MINOANS
Jane and Jerry are two students. They are now seniors at the same high school. Jerry likes
history a lot and reads a lot of history books. Jane finds history boring. But Jane has an exam
on history next week, and she has to study for it.
- Jerry, could you please help me with this? This is so boring! I don’t want to read this history
textbook!
- Why? History is fun!
- For you, it’s fun. For me, it’s like a torture! Why do they even have history classes at school?
Do we really have to know all of history?
- Well, history is important for understanding the present. So, how can I help you? What part of
history are you studying?
- I’m studying the mini…minions.
- Minions? You mean the Minions from the cartoon movie Despicable Me?
- No, look at this word. How do you pronounce it?
- Oh! It’s Minoans not Minions.
- Yes! So, who are these Minoans, and why do I need to know about them?
- Minoans are a very interesting civilization. They lived on the island of Crete.
- But where is the island of Crete?
- It’s to the south of the Aegean Sea. The Aegean Sea lies between Turkey and Greece.
- Okay, so what’s the big deal about them?
- The Minoans built several cities in Crete and also on the smaller islands nearby. Their
civilization was highly developed. They lived in the same time period with Ancient Egyptians.
- Wow! So, was their civilization as developed as the Ancient Egyptian civilization?
- Yes, of course! They did not build pyramids, though, like the Egyptians. But they built many
large and complex palaces.
- Palaces?
- Yes, these palaces were so large that some people thought they were labyrinths.
- So, people walked in and could not get out? Like a maze?
- Exactly! In fact, there is a myth about this. A monster lived in this maze. The monster was half-
man and half-bull. It could stand up like a man but it had the head of a bull. When people got
lost inside the maze, this monster found them, killed them and ate them!
- Horrible!
- But the Minoans were also artists. They made beautiful pictures of dolphins, flowers and bulls.
- What happened to the Minoans? How did their civilization end?

torture = işkence
the present = günümüzü
Despicable Me = Aşağılık ben
Minoans = Minoslular
civilization = uygarlık
Crete = Girit
Aegean = Ege (ıCİİyın)
what’s the big deal = why is it important?
highly developed = epey gelişmiş
Ancient Egyptians (EYNşınt ıCİPşınz) = Eski Mısırlılar
though (dhou) = ancak
palace = saray
were so large that = öyle büyüktü ki
labyrinth (LÂBrint) = labirent
maze = labirent
myth = efsane
bull = boğa
- Their civilization ended because of a natural disaster.
- A natural disaster? Like an earthquake?
- Yes, in a way. There was an island to the north of Crete. Its name was Thera.
- What happened to that island?
- That island had a large volcano. One day, the volcano erupted.
- But, so what? This happened in Thera.
- But the eruption caused a tsunami in the Aegean Sea. Large waves hit the island of Crete.
- Oh my God! What happened to the people? Did they all die?
- No, of course some of them survived. But the Minoans had lost their power after this disaster.
Other people invaded the island. The Minoan Civilization came to an end.
- A tsunami destroying a civilization! Like Atlantis!
- Exactly! The legend of Atlantis perhaps comes from the Minoans.
- Thank you for telling me about the Minoans. I thought their history was very boring. But now I
understand that their history is very interesting.
- You’re welcome!

natural disaster = doğal felaket

earthquake (örthkweyk) = deprem
in a way = bir bakıma
to erupt = püskürmek, patlamak
wave = dalga
to survive = sağ kalmak
to invade = istila etmek
legend = efsane, destan

TRUE or FALSE?
1- Jane and Jerry both are freshmen.
2- Jane finds history boring but Jerry loves it.
3- For Jane, studying history is like torture.
4- Jerry says that studying history is important for understanding the future.
5- Jane is studying for an exam on Minions.
6- The island of Crete is to the north of the Aegean Sea.
7- The Aegean Sea lies between Turkey and Italy.
8- The Minoan civilization was as developed as the Ancient Egyptian civilization.
9- The Minoans built large and complex pyramids.
10- If you walk into a maze, you cannot get out easily.
11- The monster inside the labyrinth was half-man and half-lion.
12- The Minoans made beautiful pictures of dolphins, flowers and bulls.
13- The Minoan civilization came to an end because of a volcano eruption on the island of
Crete.
14- A volcanic eruption in the sea can cause large waves in the sea.
15- When the tsunami hit the island of Crete, nobody survived.
16- The legend of Atlantis comes from the Ancient Egyptians.
Who was Barbara Cartland?

Barbara Cartland was born in 1901 (nineteen oh-one) and died in 2000 (the year two thousand)
at the age of 99. She was an English novelist who wrote romance novels. She was one of the
best-selling authors of the 20th century. She was a prolific writer and she wrote 723 novels. Her
novels were translated into 38 languages, including Turkish. Barbara Cartland also wrote plays,
music, poetry, magazine articles and operetta. More than two billion copies of her books were
sold.

Barbara was born to an upper middle-class family. She went to a private girls’ school. Her father
was killed in the First World War, and her two brothers were killed in the Second World War.
Barbara became a society reporter after graduation.

Barbara received 49 marriage proposals but declined all of them. Finally, she accepted the 50th
offer and married a British Army officer.

novelist = romancı
prolific = bol bol üreten
were translated = çevrildi
More than two billion copies = iki milyardan fazla nüsha
were sold = satıldı
society reporter = sosyete muhabiri
graduation = mezuniyet
marriage proposal = evlilik teklifi
offer = teklif
to decline = geri çevirmek
officer = subay
Barbara Cartland’s step-granddaughter was Diana Spencer. Diana loved reading her novels.
Diana later married Prince Charles and became Princess Diana. But unfortunately, Diana did
not invite Barbara Cartland to her wedding, and Barbara Cartland was heartbroken. The picture
below shows young Diana reading Barbara Cartland novels.

Barbara Cartland published her first novel in 1923 (nineteen twenty-three). She specialized in
19th-century Victorian era romance. Her novels all featured portrait-style artwork in the cover.

Barbara Cartland was one of London's most prominent society figures. She usually wore a pink
chiffon gown, plumed hat, blonde wig, and heavy make-up. She was one of Britain's most
popular media personalities.
step-granddaughter = üvey torun
heartbroken = kalbi kırılmıştı
to publish = yayınlamak
to specialise = uzmanlaşmak
19th-century Victorian-era = 19. Yüzyıl Kraliçe Viktorya çağı
book cover = kitap kapağı
to feature = tipik özelliği olmak
prominent = önde gelen
chiffon gown = şifon elbise
plumed hat = tüylü şapka
wig = peruk
make-up = makyaj
TRUE or FALSE

1- Barbara Cartland died at the age of 100 years.

2- Barbara Cartland wrote spy novels.
3- Barbara Cartland was a prolific writer.
4- Only two million copies of her books were sold.
5- Barbara Cartland was born into a poor family.
6- She went to a public school.
7- Barbara lost her two brothers in the Second World War.
8- Barbara first worked as a society reporter.
9- Barbara received 50 marriage proposals during her life and declined all of them.
10- Barbara’s husband worked in the British Army.
11- Princess Diana was Barbara Cartland’s niece.
12- Princess Diana liked to read Barbara Cartland novels.
13- Barbara Cartland was very happy because Diana invited her to her wedding.
14- Barbara Cartland usually wore a plumed hat and a blonde wig.
15- Everybody in London society knew Barbara Cartland.
Are there Japanese words in English? Let’s learn the most commonly used Japanese
words in English. Some of these words are also used in Turkish.

ARTS
anime = cartoon = çizgi film
manga = comic = çizgi roman
bonsai = art of tending miniature trees = minyatür ağaç bakım sanatı
haiku = short poem = kısa şiir
ikebana = flower rearrangement = çiçek düzenleme
kabuki = traditional Japanese theater = geleneksel Japon tiyatrosu
karaoke = amateur singer accompanying music = amatör şarkıcının müzik eşliğinde şarkı
söylemesi (kara = boş oke = orkestra)
origami = artistic paper folding = sanatsal kağıt katlama
kimono = traditional Japanese dress = geleneksel Japon kıyafeti
geisha = traditional Japanese woman artist who dances, sings and plays music = dans eden,
şarkı söyleyen ve çalgı çalan geleneksel Japon kadın sanatçı

FOOD
ramen = noodle soup = erişteli çorba
sake = alcoholic drink from rice = pirinçten yapılan alkollü içki
satsuma = a type of tangerine = bir çeşit mandalina
sushi = vinegared rice stuffed with fish or vegetables = sirkeli pirinçten yapılan balık ya da
sebzeli dolma
teriyaki = grilling meat or fish in soy sauce = soya sosu ile et ya da balık ızgarası
hibachi = small grill = ufak ızgara
wasabi = a hot spice = acı bir baharat
SPORTS
Martial arts (dövüş sanatları)
aikido
judo
karate (kara = boş + te = el)
sumo
dojo = a place for learning martial arts = dövüş sanatlarını öğrenme merkezi
kendo = Japanese martial art with swords = kılıçlı Japon dövüş sanatı
katana = traditional Japanese sword = geleneksel Japon kılıcı
shiatsu = a kind of massage = bir çeşit masaj

CULTURE
kamikaze = suicide crash = intihar dalışı
harakiri or seppuku= suicide by pushing a sword into belly = karnına kılıç sokarak intihar etme
ninja = covert agent in feudal Japan = Orta Çağ Japonyasında gizli ajan
samurai = Japanese knight = Japon dövüşçü
shogun = a Japanese lord = Japon derebeyi
sensei = teacher, master = hoca, usta
rickshaw = human-pulled vehicle = insan tarafından çekilerek götürülen taşıt
sayanora = goodbye = hoşça kal
sudoku = number replacement puzzle = sayı yerleştirme bulmacası
tsunami = large waves caused by earthquakes = depremin meydana getirdiği büyük dalgalar
tycoon = wealthy businessman = zengin iş adamı
MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Jane and Jerry are studying together. Jerry has an exam on geography in two days. Jane is
helping her.

- What topics are on the exam?

- The exam is on the geography of the Mediterranean Sea.
- This is very interesting. I love the countries around the Mediterranean Sea.
- Yes, it is an interesting topic but it is also very difficult.
- What do you need to know on the Mediterranean Sea?
- Our teacher gave us some sample questions. Look at this one: Which islands lie in western
Mediterranean Sea? Which countries do they belong to?
- Wow! This is a difficult question! Let’s look at the map.
- Okay. The largest island in western Mediterranean is Sicily. It is a triangular island.
- Yes, that is right! Italy looks like a boot, and it is kicking Sicily.
- There are also two other islands in the middle.
- Yes, that’s right! The one to the north is Corsica, and the one to the south is Sardinia.
- Sardinia looks as big as Sicily. Are you sure Sicily is the largest island? Perhaps Sardinia is
larger?
- No, Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is larger than Sardinia.
- Hmm. You are right. Sardinia is a little smaller than Sicily.
- So, which countries do these islands belong to? They all belong to Italy, isn’t that correct?
- No, Sicily and Sardinia belong to Italy, but Corsica belongs to France.
- Does Corsica belong to France? Really?
- Yes, of course. Napoleon, the great French general, was born in Corsica.
- I didn’t know that. This is very interesting.
- There are also smaller islands to the west. These islands belong to Spain.
- What are their names? What are the names of these islands?
- Their names are Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza.
- I heard about Ibiza. Many tourists go to Ibiza.
- That’s right. Ibiza has a lively nightlife.
- Have you ever been to Ibiza?
- No, but I watched a documentary about Ibiza. I’d like to go there someday.
- How about the Central Mediterranean? I don’t see any islands there. Is there any?
- Yes, there is one small but important island there.
- Which one? I can’t see it.
- It’s the island of Malta.
- Oh, now I see it. It is to the south of Sicily, and to the north of Libya. Which country does it
belong to?
- It belongs to itself! It is an independent country.
- Oh! That’s very interesting! Which language is spoken there?
- The Maltese language and English.
- The Maltese language? Is it similar to Italian?
- No, in fact, it is similar to Arabic.
- Really? I didn’t know that Maltese was similar to Arabic.
- Unlike Arabic, Maltese is written with the Latin script.
- Okay, let’s move onto eastern Mediterranean. Which islands are important there?
- The two largest islands are Cyprus and Crete.
- There are also many smaller islands between Turkey and Greece.
- Yes, the Aegean Sea is full of islands.
- Which is larger - Cyprus or Crete?
- Cyprus is larger than Crete.
- Which countries do they belong to?
- Crete belongs to Greece. Cyprus is divided between the Greek republic in the south and the
Turkish republic in the north.
- I think this is enough for islands. I am so tired! I need to get a cup of coffee now. Would you
like one?
- Coffee? No, I prefer tea, please.
- With sugar?
- No, but with lemon.
- All right, I’ll make the coffee and the tea right away.

in two days = iki gün sonra

topic = konu
Mediterranean Sea = Akdeniz, medi = orta terra = dünya
sample = örnek
Sicily = Sicilya
triangular = üçgen gibi
to kick = tekmelemek
Majorca [mıYORka]
Menorca [mıNORka]
lively nightlife = canlı bir gece hayatı
documentary = belgesel
someday = a day in the future
central = merkezi, orta
independent = bağımsız
Maltese [malTİİZ]
unlike = aksine, farklı olarak
script = yazı
Kıbrıs [ SAYPrıs]
republic = cumhuriyet

GREGOR SAMSA
1985 (nineteen eighty-five)

Henry and Tom are both students at high school. Their literature teacher has given the class an
assignment: to read and discuss Kafka’s story “The Metamorphosis”. Henry is a hard-working
student and he likes literature. He has already read the story and is ready to discuss it. Tom is a
lazy student, and after reading the first page he fell asleep. He has not yet read the story, and is
not ready to discuss it in class.

Teacher: Yes, who can tell us about Kafka? Who was Kafka? Henry, can you tell us about him?
Henry: Of course, Mrs. Wilson. Franz Kafka was a German-speaking writer from Prague. He
was born in 1883 (eighteen eighty-three) and died in 1924 (nineteen twenty-four). Prague is
today the capital of the Czech Republic, but then it was part of the Austria-Hungarian Empire.
Tom: Was he German?
Teacher: No, Henry said he was a German-speaking writer from Austria-Hungary.
Tom: But the book was in English.
Teacher: Of course, it was in English! This was a translation! I know you cannot read German!
Henry, please continue.
Henry: Yes, Mrs. Wilson. Franz Kafka was one of the most important writers of the 20th
century. In his stories, life is a nightmare. Surreal things happen, and the person suffers from
these.
Teacher: Excellent, Henry! I think you have analyzed Kafka very well. You are going to get
good grades in literature! Now, who can tell us about the story “The Metamorphosis”. How about
you, Tom? You’ve read the book, haven’t you?
Tom: Well, I tried to read it but I couldn’t.
Teacher: So, you didn’t do your assignment? Tom, you’re not going to get good grades! Why
didn’t you read the story? It’s not a very long story.
Tom: No, it’s not long but it’s silly. It’s boring.
Teacher: Tom! How can you say that! Please read the first line.
Tom: Okay, I will read the first line: “As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy
dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.”
Teacher: Well, what do you think about the opening line of the story?
Tom: Me? Nothing! It’s silly. How can somebody transform into a gigantic insect? I don’t want
to read this stupid story.
Teacher: Tom, you should do your assignment. Perhaps Henry can help you. Can you help him,
Henry?
Henry: Certainly, Mrs. Wilson. I will read the story together with Tom.
literature (LİTrıçır) = edebiyat
assignment (âSAYNmınt) = ödev
metamorphosis (metaMORfısıs) = dönüşüm
Czech (çek) = Çek
Austria-Hungarian Empire (AASTria hanGEriyın empayr) = Avusturya-Macaristan
İmparatorluğu
century (SENçıri) = yüzyıl
nightmare (NAYTmeyr) = kâbus
surreal (sörRİyıl) = gerçeküstü
to suffer = acı çekmek
to analyze = analiz etmek
gigantic (cayGENtik) = dev
insect = böcek

“As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself
transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.”
"Gregor Samsa bir sabah bunaltıcı düşlerden uyandığında, kendini yatağında dev bir
böceğe dönüşmüş olarak buldu."
After class, Henry asks Tom.

Henry: Hey, Tom. When do you want to sit with me? We can read the story together.
Tom: I don’t wanna read that story, and I don’t want your help.
Henry: But Tom!
Tom: You are the teacher’s pet! “Yes, Mrs. Wilson, no Mrs. Wilson, certainly Mrs. Wilson” Go
read your stupid story yourself! If you want, you can go and change your name to Gregor
Samsa. Ha ha ha!
Henry: I’m sorry, Tom. I really wanted to help you.

Teacher’s pet = öğretmenin kuzusu

Years go by. Tom and Henry graduate from school. They don’t see each other after high school
for a long time. They meet each other again at the school reunion in December 2019 (two
thousand nineteen).

Henry: Hi, do you remember me? I’m Henry.

Tom: Henry? Who was Henry? Sorry, I don’t remember you.
Henry: Well, I remember you. We were together in Mrs. Wilson’s literature class.
Tom: Yes! I remember you! You are Gregor Samsa!
Henry: No, I am Henry. Gregor Samsa is the name of Kafka’s character from his book “The
Metamorphosis”.
Tom: Yes! I remember you now! You were the teacher’s pet! Hey, what happened to Mrs.
Wilson? That stupid woman!
Henry: Excuse me but Mrs. Wilson was a good teacher. You shouldn’t call her ‘stupid’. Poor
Mrs. Wilson passed away last year.
Tom: She passed away? Well, I’m sorry. So, Henry, what have you been doing?

each other = birbirlerini

school reunion = mezunlar buluşması
to pass away = vefat etmek

Henry: I am a professor of philosophy. I work at the university.

Tom: Professor of philosophy? Wow! Great, man! Are you married?
Henry: Yes, I am. My wife Clare is a secretary.
Tom: So, you married a secretary? Ha ha ha!
Henry: Yes, so what? She works very hard. She is a secretary at the hospital.
Tom: Sorry, man!
Henry: And what have you been doing, Tom?
Tom: I own three restaurants.
Henry: That’s great! I’m happy for you. Are you married?
Tom: Yeah! My wife Susan owns a beauty salon.
Henry: Wow! I should tell my wife. She could perhaps go to her salon and meet your wife.
Tom: Perhaps. Now, let’s go and eat something.
Henry: Sorry, I have to leave. Tomorrow I am teaching my students and I need to read their
assignments. So, I need to catch the bus.
Tom: Too bad, man! Why are you taking the bus? Where is your car?
Henry: I don’t have a car.
Tom: You don’t have a car?
Henry: No, I don’t. As a philosophy professor, I don’t earn a lot.
Tom: Really? So, isn’t this interesting? When we were in high school, you were the most
successful student. You were, in fact, the best student. I was the worst student. I was lazy, and I
never did my homework. And now, years later you have become a professor but you can’t buy a
car. Your wife is a secretary. And look at me! I am successful. I am the king of restaurants! My
wife owns a beauty salon!
Henry: Good night, Tom. I have to go.
Tom: Good night, man! You are an insect like Gregor Samsa! Ha ha ha!

to own = sahibi olmak

beauty salon = güzellik merkezi
to earn = para kazanmak

April 2020. America is under lockdown because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Many
restaurants and beauty salons are closed. Henry is talking with his wife Clare.

Henry: The university is closed. There are no classes at the campus any more.
Clare: Oh my God! Are you going to be fired? Are you going to lose your job?
Henry: No, I am going to do online classes. My students love my classes and they want to
continue. How about your job?
Clare: Don’t worry! The doctors need secretaries, so I am still working. Now we have a lot of
patients, so I am working hard.
Henry: Thank God, we have our jobs during this difficult time. The situation is like a nightmare.
It’s like a page from Kafka’s books!
Clare: Yes! This is a Kafkaesque situation!

lockdown = eve kapanma

pandemic = dünya çapında salgın
to be fired = işten atılmak
situation = durum
Kafkaesque = Kafka gibi

At Tom’s house

Tom: Oh my God! I am losing money! My restaurants are closed, and I have so many debts!
How am I going to find the money?
Susan: What are we going to do? My beauty salon is closed. I am not earning any money!
Tom: But we have to pay our debts. What can we do?
Susan: Nothing! You are the husband! You should find a solution.
Tom: What do you mean “I should find a solution”. We are together in this. Husband and wife!
Susan: No, we are not together. I am not going to live with a man who has no money. I am
leaving you!
Tom: What? Susan, what are you doing? Don’t leave me!
Susan: I don’t love you anymore. You are just an insect! An ugly insect! You are a large insect!
Ha ha ha!!! I’m leaving! Bye!
(Susan slams the door and leaves)
Tom: Oh my God! This is a nightmare! What’s happening? God help me!
(Tom starts hitting the wall. After he hits the wall several times, a book falls on the floor from the
bookshelves)
Tom: What’s that?
(He picks up the book from the floor. It’s “The Metamorphosis” by Kafka)
Tom: Well, this is surreal. But I have nothing to do. I’ll sit here on the couch, and read this book.
Let’s start:
“As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed in
his bed into a gigantic insect.”

debt (det) = borç

solution = çözüm
to slam = kapıyı çarpmak

LADY MARY AND SMALLPOX – PART 1

1713, London, England

Lady Mary Montagu is in her apartment in London. She is with a guest, Lady Jane.

- Welcome, Jane! So nice of you to come and visit me here!

- So nice to see you, Mary. How have you been?
- Great! Thank you!
- How’s your husband?
- He’s fine. He’s very busy in London because the king wants him to do this, to do that…How is
your family?
- Well, so-so.
- Why? What do you mean “so-so”? What happened?
- You remember my younger sister, Elizabeth?
- Yes, of course. Is she all right?
- No, she had smallpox three months ago.
- Oh my God? How is she now?
- She is well now but the smallpox left scars on her face.
- Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. I know Elizabeth is such a pretty girl. I hope the scars are not too
big.
- Unfortunately, they are big scars. She is so unhappy now.
- I’m so sorry for her. This smallpox is so awful. You remember my brother James, don’t you?
- Yes, I do. He died of smallpox, didn’t he?
- Yes, he passed away when he was only twenty. I still remember James and weep. I loved my
brother so much.
- I’m so sorry, Mary. I loved James. You know, he wanted to marry me. He died at such a
young age.
- Well, let’s not talk about death and disease. Would you like some tea?
- Tea? What’s that?
- This is a hot drink from China. Try it.
- Okay. It tastes bitter.
- Add some milk, dear.
- All right. Now it tastes better. Where did you get it?
- We bought it from a merchant in London. His name is Thomas Twining.
- I like it. I think I’m going to have more.
- Of course! I’ll bring you a cup.
so-so = ne iyi ne kötü, şöyle böyle
smallpox = çiçek hastalığı
scar = yara izi
awful = korkunç
to die of = -den ölmek
to weep = ağlamak
at such a young age = böylesine genç yaşta
death = ölüm
disease = hastalık
bitter = acı (tat)
merchant = tüccar

1716, London, England

Lady Mary had the smallpox a year ago. She recovered from the disease but she now has
scars on her face. She is very sad. Her friend, Lady Jane, comes to visit her.
- Mary, how are you my friend?
- I’m very sad, Jane. This smallpox ruined me.
- I’m so sorry, Mary.
- You remember, I was the most beautiful woman in London. All the other women were jealous
of my beauty.
- Yes, I know. Lady Sarah was so jealous of your beauty.
- I think she is now very happy because my face is full of scars. I can’t even look in the mirror!
- Oh, Mary! You’re still beautiful for your husband! Your husband still loves you! That is the most
important thing. Don’t worry about Lady Sarah. She is the most stupid woman in London!
- Yes, my husband still loves me. I shouldn’t worry.
- How is your husband, by the way? Is he still working a lot?
- Edward? Yes, he is still working a lot. In fact, the king made him an ambassador.
- Wow! Is he going to travel to a foreign country?
- Yes! In fact, he is going to travel to Constantinople.
- Constantinople? You mean Istanbul? The capital of the Ottoman Empire?
- Yes, he will be the English ambassador there.
- But what are you going to do when he goes there? Are you going to stay here alone?
- No, of course not. I’m going with him. We will travel together to Istanbul.
- To Istanbul! Are you going to see the sultan? Are you going to talk with the women in the
harem? This is so exciting!
- Yes, this will be an adventure. I want to forget about London and smallpox. I want to get my
mind away from all these things.
- Of course, my dear. Have a safe trip!

to recover = iyileşmek
to ruin = mahvetmek, tahrip etmek
jealous = kıskanç
were jealous of = kıskanıyordu
ambassador = elçi
adventure = macera
1718, Istanbul, Turkey

Lady Mary has been in Istanbul for two years now. Some Turkish women invited her to their
home. Lady Mary learned to speak Turkish, and is chatting with the Turkish women. One of the
Turkish women, Gulbahar, asks her questions.

- Do you miss England, my lady?

- Well, of course I miss it there, it’s my home after all, but not very much. I liked Istanbul. The
climate is much better than in England.
- I’m glad you liked our country, my lady. We are happy to have you here as a guest. Did you
like our food?
- Of course! I loved the Turkish food! So delicious!
- Do you have children, my lady?
- Yes, I have a five-year-old son.
- Where is he? Is he in England?
- No, he is here with me in Turkey. His name is Edward Junior. His father’s name is also
Edward.
- So cute! Have you visited many places in Turkey?
- I have only been to Edirne and Constantinople. Sorry, I know you call this city Istanbul.
- That’s okay, my lady. Our city has many names. Its official name is Dersaadet.
- What does it mean?
- It means “place of happiness”
- Beautiful name! By the way, Gulbahar, I want to ask you a question.
- Of course, my lady. What did you want to ask?
- The Turkish women here are all very beautiful, and they have such a smooth skin. There are
no smallpox scars at all!
- Thank you, my lady.
- But why are there no smallpox scars on your skin? In England, smallpox is such a big problem!
My brother died of smallpox. And I also had smallpox myself, and see, I have scars on my face.
- We have a method to prevent it.
- A method to prevent it? How? Show me please.
- Of course. In fact, today we are going to do that on a young girl here.
- Oh my God! I’m so curious! I want to see this method!

after all = ne de olsa

climate = iklim
Junior = baba ve oğul aynı ismi taşıyorsa oğlana Junior, babaya Senior denir
official = resmî
smooth = düz, pürüzsüz
skin = deri, cilt
to prevent = önlemek
curious = meraklı
Gulbahar takes Lady Mary into a different room. There, a young girl is sitting on a chair in the
middle of the room. An old woman is standing next to her and holding a small bottle and a small
knife. Lady Mary talks to the young girl.

- What a pretty girl! What is your name, my dear?

- My name is Gupse.
- Interesting name. What are you doing here, my dear?
- I don’t understand. My Turkish is not good.
- Oh, sorry. Gulbahar, she doesn’t understand Turkish. Why?
- She is a Circassian girl. Her family came from Circassia only a month ago. That’s why she
cannot speak Turkish well.
- Oh, I see. How about this old woman? What is she going to do?
- Watch and see.

The old woman heats the knife in the flame of a candle. She then takes Gupse’s arm and
makes a small cut with the knife. She then opens the small bottle and rubs a yellow fluid onto
the cut. Lady Mary watches all this with fascination.

Circassian (sörKÂşın) = Çerkes

to heat = ısıtmak
flame = alev
candle = mum
cut = kesi
to rub = (kremi vs) sürmek
fluid = sıvı
with fascination = merakla

- Oh my God! What has just happened?

- The old lady has rubbed some smallpox fluid on the young girl’s arm.
- She rubbed smallpox fluid on her arm? But why? Now the young girl will die of smallpox!
- No, she won’t. This small fluid will protect her from catching smallpox.
- But how can you be so sure?
- Because I had the same procedure myself when I was little. You take a little bit of smallpox
fluid from another person, and then rub it onto a cut. Then you will have a milder smallpox. You
won’t die from it, or get scars from it. There will be only one small scar, and that will be the one
on your arm, but nobody will see it under the clothing.
- Oh my God! That’s why you Turkish women have no smallpox scars! That’s why you have
such smooth skin!
- Of course. You English didn’t know that?
- No!

to protect = korumak
procedure (prıSİİcır) = işlem
mild = hafif
clothing = kıyafet

Lady Mary returns home and tells her husband about what she saw that day.
- Edward, you won’t believe what I saw today.
- What did you see, my darling?
- Turkish women have a method to prevent smallpox. They take a small amount of fluid from a
person with smallpox, and rub it on a small cut on the arm.
- What? What happens then?
- Then the person is protected from smallpox! The person catches only a milder smallpox.
- This is magic!
- Edward, we should do the same for our son.
- The same? You’re crazy!
- No, please, listen to me. My family has suffered a lot from smallpox. You know I myself have
very bad scars on my face because of smallpox. Please, let’s protect our own son.
- Hmm…are you sure?
- Yes! All Turks are getting this procedure! They are ahead of us! We Europeans think we know
everything, but we don’t!
- Okay, let’s do it then. I’m afraid of smallpox coming to little Edward Junior. Let’s protect him!
- Thank you, Edward! Thank you, my husband.
- But what if the people in England hear about this? They will think we are crazy.
- I don’t care!

ahead of us = bizden ileride

1722, London, England
Lady Mary is back in England. There is a severe smallpox outbreak in London. Lady Jane
comes to visit her.

- Oh, Mary! Did you hear about the smallpox outbreak here? How awful! I’m so worried about
my children.
- Don’t worry my dear! Use my method and nothing will happen to them.
- What? The method you learned in Turkey?
- Yes, of course. We call that method “variolation”. ‘Variola’ is the Latin for smallpox, so
variolation means putting a little of smallpox on your skin. It protects you from severe smallpox,
and you only get a milder smallpox.
- But are you sure, my dear? This sounds so crazy!
- The Turks have been doing it and they are getting good results. My son Edward Junior also
had the same procedure and had a very mild smallpox. I recommended this method even to
the king, and the princesses also had variolation. They were protected from smallpox.
- So, what should I do?
- Do what I am telling you to do, my dear! Don’t worry!

outbreak = salgın
variolation = çiçekli hastadan alınan sıvı ile çiçek aşısı uygulama
severe = ağır
result = sonuç
to recommend = tavsiye etmek, önermek
LADY MARY AND SMALLPOX – PART 2
1796, London countryside, England
It’s been many years since Lady Mary Montague passed away. Dr Edward Jenner is in his
country house. He has a guest, Dr John Hunter.

- Thank you for coming, John. I was feeling bored in my country house.
- I love your house! You have a lovely garden!
- Thank you. I’m glad you liked the garden.
- And you have so many books here! What have you been reading?
- I’ve been reading books by Avicenna and William Harvey.
- What are you investigating this time? I know you like to investigate.
- I’m looking for a better method to prevent smallpox.
- But you know, we already have the variolation technique. Lady Mary Montague
introduced this technique from Turkey.
- I know. I even had variolation myself when I was a child, and it protected me from severe
smallpox. But I still got a large scar on my arm. I want to discover a better technique.
- You’re always looking for something better, Edward!
- John, would you like to have some tea?
- Of course! But do you have milk?
- Well, I don’t have any fresh milk at home now, but I can buy some. There is a milkmaid
across the street. She sells milk.
- Don’t bother.
- It won’t even take a minute. Please sit here. I will call the milkmaid, and she will bring us
some fresh milk.

Avicenna = İbni Sina

to investigate = araştırmak
to introduce = tanıtmak, tanıştırmak, yeni bir şeyi getirmek
to discover = keşfetmek
milkmaid = sütçü kız
don’t bother = zahmet etme

Dr Jenner goes out into his garden and calls the milkmaid across the street.

- Sarah, Sarah!
- Yes, Dr Jenner. How can I help you?
- Could you bring us a gallon of milk please?
- Of course, Dr Jenner. It will take me fifteen minutes. I will milk my cow and get you
some fresh milk.
- Thank you, Sarah.

Sarah milks her cow and fills her pail. She brings the pail of milk to Dr Jenner’s home.

- Here is your milk, Dr Jenner.

- Thank you, Sarah. How much?
- Two shillings, doctor. Oh, you have a guest! Who is the gentleman?
- That’s Dr John Hunter.
- Nice to meet you, Sir!
- Nice to meet you, Miss!
1 gallon = 3.79 liters
to milk = süt sağmak
pail = kova, güğüm

Dr Hunter looks at Sarah. She is a little fat but she is very pretty. She has a smooth skin.

- Excuse me for asking, Miss. How old are you?

- You shouldn’t ask a lady her age, doctor!
- Oh, I’m sorry!
- That’s okay, doctor! I’m joking. I am not a lady. I am just a milkmaid. I am five-and-
twenty years old.
- Have you ever had the ‘variolation’?
- Variolation? That’s when they put smallpox fluid from somebody on your arm? No, I’ve
never had that.
- But, how come you have such a smooth skin? You’ve never had the smallpox?
- Never! We milkmaids don’t need variolation. We never catch the smallpox.
- Never?
- No, never. My sisters also never had smallpox. But doctor, do you also take care of
animals? My cow has cowpox.

Dr Jenner is very curious about this.

- Sarah, can you show us your cow, please?

- My cow? You gentlemen from London want to see a milkmaid’s cow? All right, come
with me across the street.

five-and-twenty = twenty-five (old English)

how come = nasıl oluyor da
cowpox = sığır çiçeği

Drs Jenner and Hunter go with Sarah to see her cow. The cow is in a barn.

- This is my cow, gentlemen. Her name is Molly. She gives me a lot of milk! I love my cow.
- Nice to meet you, Molly.
- Moo!
- So, Sarah, you told us your cow had cowpox. Where? Can you please show us?
- Here on the udders. See!
- Yes, that’s very interesting. Humans have smallpox and cows have cowpox. They are
very similar diseases, but cowpox is much milder for cows. And Sarah, you always touch
these udders, don’t you?
- Yes, of course! How do you think I milk my cow?
- That’s why you did not need the variolation.
- What does that mean?
- I need to think about it. Thank you, Sarah. Here is your two shillings. And thank you to
you, Molly!
- Moo!

barn = ahır
udder (Adır) = süt veren hayvanların memesi
Dr Jenner and Dr Hunter go back to their house. Dr Jenner is thinking.

- So, she did not need any variolation because she was always touching the cowpox on
the udders. Perhaps this is a better technique than variolation. Instead of the smallpox
fluid from a person, we should take cowpox fluid from a cow.
- Interesting! Then, what do you call this technique? ‘cowing’?
- ‘cowing’ doesn’t sound very good. We should find a Latin name. What’s the Latin word
for cow?
- The Latin word for cow is ‘vacca’.
- Then let’s call this technique ‘vaccination’.
- Yes, this word sounds better.
- We should do an experiment. We should vaccinate somebody and prove that it works.
- Yes, and when we vaccinate that person, that person will be protected from smallpox.
That person will get a free pass!
- What should we call a person who gets a free pass? ‘free passer’?
- No, that doesn’t sound good. We should find a Latin word, instead.
- Okay, somebody who gets a free pass is called ‘immune’ in Latin.
- Yes, that’s the word! We should call that person ‘immune’. A person who gets a
vaccination becomes immune to that disease.
- Exactly!

instead of = yerine
vaccination = aşılama (asıl kelime anlamı inekten aşılama)
experiment = deney
to prove = kanıtlamak
free pass = serbest geçiş
immune = bağışık
Dr Jenner tries the vaccination on many people. He is very successful, and people who get
vaccination become immune to smallpox. Still, some people in London don’t believe Dr Jenner
and make fun of him. Dr Jenner is now in London, at Dr Hunter's office.

- Edward, look at these newspapers. They are making fun of your technique.
- Don’t worry, John! Soon, they will understand that vaccination is better than variolation.
Soon, everybody in England will get vaccinated, and we will have no more smallpox!
- This is a great discovery for mankind, Edward.

discovery = keşif
mankind = insanlık
1980, Geneva, Switzerland

At the headquarters of World Health Organization. Dr Davies is speaking to the organization

members.

Dr Davies: Dear members of the World Health Organization! I am pleased to announce that our
program of smallpox vaccination has shown excellent results. The last smallpox case was seen
in Somalia in 1977. Since then, there haven’t been any new cases. I will tell you the history of
smallpox. Mankind has suffered from smallpox for centuries. Smallpox killed many people, and
the survivors had bad scars on their skins. People started using the variolation technique to
prevent smallpox first in China. This technique later came to Turkey, and the English Lady Mary
Montague first saw this technique in Istanbul. She introduced this technique to England, and
many people survived from smallpox thanks to her. Later Dr Edward Jenner discovered the
vaccination technique, which was even better. Vaccination spread throughout the world, and
many more people survived the disease. Our WHO made better vaccines, and we vaccinated
everyone in the world. Now, there is no more smallpox. We have eradicated the smallpox.
Mankind has finally eradicated the smallpox disease!

Members: Congratulations! This is great news! Thank you, Dr Davies!

Geneva (ceNİİva) = Cenevre

headquarters (HEDkortırz) = ana merkez
World Health Organization (WHO) = Dünya Sağlık Örgütü
case = vaka
survivor = sağkalan
to survive = sağ kalmak
thanks to = sayesinde
to spread = yaymak, yayılmak (spread-spread-spread)
throughout the world = bütün dünya çapında
to eradicate = kökünü kazımak
Flashdance... What a Feeling

This is a song that Irene Cara sang in 1983 (nineteen eighty-three). This was a song from the
movie ‘Flashdance’. The movie is about a young woman who aspires to become a professional
dancer. During the day she works at a steel mill, meaning she works like a man. She lives only
with her dog in a warehouse. During the evenings, when she gets home after work, she turns
on the music and dances. She finally dances at a dance audition and is accepted to the
conservatory.

to aspire = to want very much

steel mill = çelik fabrikası
warehouse = depo
audition = seçmeler

The song was composed by an Italian composer, Giorgio Moroder. Irene Cara not only sang
this song but also wrote its lyrics. Irene Cara is a Latino singer and dancer, and she also sang
the title song for the 1980 movie Fame.

The Flashdance song is talking about a very powerful music that makes you dance, in a flash!
flash = kıvılcım, ani parlaklık, çok ani olan bir şey

First when there's nothing

But a slow glowing dream .... alev gibi yanan rüya
That your fear seems to hide .... korkun saklar gibi
Deep inside your mind

All alone I have cried

Silent tears full of pride .... gururlu sessiz gözyaşları
In a world made of steel .... çelikten bir dünyada
Made of stone

Well, I hear the music

Close my eyes, feel the rhythm .... ritmi hissediyorum
Wrap around .... etrafıma sarılmasını
Take a hold of my heart .... kalbimi ele geçirmesini

What a feeling .... bu ne duygu!

Bein's believin' .... olmak inanmaktır
I can have it all
Now I'm dancing for my life

Take your passion .... tutku

And make it happen
Pictures come alive .... resimler canlanıyor
You can dance right through your life

Now I hear the music

Close my eyes, I am rhythm
In a flash .... bir anda
It takes hold of my heart
THE LAST LEAF
Written by Bülent Özgönenel, adapted from O. Henry’s story with the same title

“Mr. Stenson! Wake up, Mr. Stenson!”

Mr. Stenson opened his eyes. There was a large oxygen mask covering his face. He looked at
the person that woke him up from his troubled sleep. This was a female voice but he couldn’t
make out anything of the face. He looked harder and then noticed his glasses on the bedside
table. He tried to reach them but it was difficult. He couldn’t move his weak arms and there was
an I.V. in one of the arms. The person standing across him understood what he wanted and
reached for his glasses. She put them on his face. Now he could see better.
“Hi, Mr. Stenson! How are you feeling today?”
“I..I...I am feeling very tired….I can’t see your face.”
“Sorry, Mr. Stenson. I have to wear this face mask and the face shield. That’s why you can’t
see my face well.”
“Why do you have to wear them?”
“Because this is a COVID19 ward. You have COVID19 infection. That’s why I have to wear
protective face mask and face shield.”
“What is your name?”
“My name is Jennifer. I am your nurse and I will be taking care of you today.”
“Thank you. How about my son and my wife? Can they come to visit me?”
“No, Mr. Stenson. I’m sorry. They can’t come into the COVID19 ward. But if you have a
smartphone with video, I can reach them and you can talk to them on the phone.”
“Yes, please. It’s in the drawer.”
“Don’t worry, I’m getting it.”
Nurse Jennifer opens the drawer and takes out the smartphone.
“Do you want me to dial your wife first?”
“Yes, please. Her name is Susan.”
“Calling right now.”
The recipient’s phone rings, and a woman answers the phone.
“Hello, this is Susan Stenson! Larry, is it you?”
“Hi Mrs. Stenson! My name is Jennifer. I’m a nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. I’m
calling on behalf of Mr. Stenson. He wants to talk you.”
“Thank you, dear. How is he doing?”
“He still needs to receive oxygen through the mask. Doctor O’Henry will come to round on him
very soon. He looks fine now. Do you want to say hello to him?”
“Yes, of course!”
Nurse Jennifer holds the phone camera to Mr. Stenson’s face. Mr. Stenson sees his wife’s face.
“How are you my dear? Are you holding up there?”
“It’s so hard. I’m praying every day for your recovery.” Mrs. Stenson starts to weep.
“Don’t cry my little Susie. How is our son?”
“He’s doing okay.”
“Is he still in California?”
“Yes, he is. It’s too risky to travel to New York now. And he is fine there.”
“I know. I’ll call him later.”
“You be good! Get better soon, Larry! I miss you!”
“I’m trying my dear but I feel I’m at the end of it. Be prepared for everything.”
“Why are you talking like that? Please have hope! You will get better!” Mrs. Stenson starts to
weep again.
Nurse Jennifer turns the camera to her face and talks to Mrs. Stenson.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Stenson! I’ll take good care of him. He needs more morale, of course.”
“Thank you, honey. God bless you!”
Dr O’Henry walked towards Mr. Stenson. He too was wearing a face mask and a face shield, so
Mr. Stenson could not make out how he really looked. He sounded like a middle-aged man.
“How are you, Mr. Stenson? How are you feeling today?”
“I’m still breathing very hard. I cough a lot. I still feel tired and feverish”
“You still have a lot of inflammation in your body due to COVID19. You still have fever. But at
least your breathing is still okay. You don’t need to be on the ventilator. You are okay with
oxygen coming from a mask. This is a good thing.”
“Doc, don’t beat around the bush. I know I’m dying.”
“What are you talking about, Mr. Stenson! You are not dying! You will get better.”
“No, I’ve been watching the leaves on that ivy there. I see the leaves falling. When the last leaf
falls away, I know I will die.”
Dr O’Henry is confused. He turns to Nurse Jennifer and asks her.
“What’s he talking about? Which ivy is he talking about?”
Nurse Jennifer notices an ivy branch on the wall, just outside the hospital window. She points at
it.
“I think Mr. Stenson is talking about that ivy. He has been looking at it from his bed all day.”
The doctor turns to Mr. Stenson:
“Come on, Larry! Have hope! With hope and morale, you can beat this damn Coronavirus.
Don’t give up! And please don’t keep looking at that ivy!”
Mr. Stenson doesn’t say anything and keeps staring at the ivy branch on the wall.
That night a hurricane hits New York. Strong gusts of wind hit the hospital windows. It starts
raining heavily. Mr. Stenson can see the leaves of the ivy branch get blown off in the wind one
by one. At eight PM, Nurse Jennifer comes to Mr. Stenson’s bedside.
“I’m leaving now Mr. Stenson. I came to say goodbye. It’s the end of my shift. Jane will take
over now. What have you been doing? Have you still been watching the leaves on the ivy
branch?”
“See, there are only five now. When the last one gets blown off, that will be my end.”
“Come on, Mr. Stenson! Have hope! The last leaf will not move from that branch, and you will
get better.”
“We’ll see…”
Nurse Jennifer leaves, and Nurse Jane takes over the shift. She takes good care of Mr. Stenson
but all through the night he burns with fever and keeps coughing. He keeps looking at the
leaves on the ivy branch. One by one they are blown off until only one is left. He keeps looking
at the last leaf. It doesn’t seem to be moving at all. The wind batters the trees and the windows,
but the last leaf still stays there. Mr. Stenson is surprised that the last leaf has been so strong.
He wonders why but then he feels sleepy and closes his eyes.
When Mr. Stenson opens his eyes the next day, he feels a little better. The hurricane is over.
The sun is shining, and it’s a nice day out in New York. Doctor O’Henry comes to his bedside.
“How are you, Mr. Stenson? Are you feeling better? Your fever broke at last. Your
inflammation markers are much better today.”
“Well, I am feeling better, Doc. And the last leaf on that ivy branch did not get blown away. I’m
feeling much stronger now.”
“Great! If you keep getting better like this, we will be able to discharge you from the hospital
very soon.”
“Thank you, Doc. Thanks to all of you.”
Dr. O’Henry leaves his bedside. A nurse comes to the bedside but he cannot make out her face.
“Hi, are you Jennifer?”
“Oh, no, Mr. Stenson. I’m Mary.”
“Is Jennifer not working today?”
“No, unfortunately she herself has the COVID19 infection, and she is now a patient in this
hospital. That’s why she couldn’t come.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear this. I wanted to thank her. She gave me a lot of support yesterday. I was
too stupid yesterday. I had been looking at the leaves on that ivy, and I thought I would die
when the last leaf was blown off. Well, anyways, the last leaf stays there now. And I did get
better.”
“Mr. Stenson, I need to tell you something about that last leaf.”
“What is it?”
“It’s not a real leaf, Mr. Stenson. Our nurse Jennifer, before she left the hospital last night, she
went and painted a leaf on the wall. Jennifer makes beautiful pictures as a hobby, and so she
was able to paint a life-like picture of a leaf on that wall. I’m sorry I was supposed to keep this a
secret, but I think you need to know.”
“She painted a leaf on the wall so that I could keep my morale always high, thinking the last leaf
had not been blown away? Oh my God! That poor child went out there in the rain and painted
the leaf?”
“Yes, Mr. Stenson. Unfortunately, she also had caught the COVID19, and she very quickly
developed a pneumonia. She is now in the ICU.”
Mr. Stenson was very sad, but he got better. Two days later he was discharged home from the
hospital.
Before he was discharged, he found out that Nurse Jennifer hadn’t been able to make it and
had died of COVID19.

VOCABULARY
he couldn’t make out anything of the face = yüzü çıkartamadı
I.V. (ay-vii) = intravenous = damaryolu
face shield = yüz siperi
ward = koğuş
infection = enfeksiyon
protective = koruyucu
recipient = aranan
on behalf of = birisinin adına
to round = vizit yapmak
to hold up = remain strong
to breathe = nefes almak
inflammation = iltihap
fever = ateş …feverish = ateşli
due to = yüzünden (because of)
don’t beat around the bush = lafı döndürme ve sadede gel
ivy = sarmaşık
Don’t give up! = vazgeçme, teslim olma
hurricane = kasırga
gust of wind = a sudden and strong wind
shift = mesai, vardiya
to get blown off = rüzgarla savrulmak
to batter = vurup durmak
Your fever broke = ateşin düştü
to discharge = taburcu etmek
pneumonia = zatürre
ICU = Intensive Care Unit = Yoğun bakım ünitesi
hadn’t been able to make it = kurtulamadı