2. Read and translate the text:

A Good Start

Bill liked painting more than anything in life. He started painting when he was 15 and people said that as a painter he had quite a lot of talent and had mastered most of the technical requirements. At 22 he had his first one-man show when he was discovered by the critics and his pictures were all sold out. With the money he could afford to marry Leila, rent a studio and stop being a student. To complete his education he went to Italy but after 5 months ail the money was spent and he had to return.

Bill never had another show like the first one, though he became a better painter. The critics did not think him modern

enough and said he was too academic. From time to time he managed to sell some of his paintings but eventually things had got very tight and he was obliged to lock for a job.

The day before he went for an interview with his uncle Bill was especially gloomy. In the morning he went up to one of his unfinished pictures in the studio but he felt he couldn't paint. He threw down his brush and a bright red spot appeared on the board already covered with black and yellow paint from his previous work. The board had been used to crctect the floor and was at that moment a mixture of bright colours.

When Bill left, Leila got down to cleaning the studio. She took up the board and put it against the wall to clean the floor. At that moment Garrad, Bill's dealer, came in. Bill had asked him to come, look at his work and arrange a show but the dealer had for some time been uncertain on the matter. So he was looking around the studio, explaining how the gallery was booked up for a year and how he could not really promise Bill a show yet for two years or зо.

Suddenly the board against the wall attracted his attention.

"Leila, my dear," he exclaimed. "I felt that there must be something like this. Tell me, why is he keeping it away from us?"

Leila was too shocked to answer. Eut Garrad went on: "I think it's wonderful. I never doubted Bill would catch up with the modern trends. How Leila, are there more pictures for a full show? I must go now but I'll be ringing him up. I'm going to change the whole plan and show his new work in the autumn. Tell him not tc waste time. As to this one if he wants to sell it. I'll buy it myself."

Leila stayed in the studio till Bill came back. She was tec excited to tell him the story clearly and Bill could not understand anything at first. When he realized what had happened he shook with laughter. "You didn't explain the whole thing about the board tc him. did you?" he managed to say at last.

"No. I didn't. I couldn't really. I believe I should have, but it would have made him look too silly. I just said I didn't think you'd sell it."

What was Bill to do?

3. Pick out from the story English equivalents for the following

5. Eventually things got very tight and 5111 was obliged tc icok fo'r a job. 1. One morning he came up to one of his unfinished Pictures with the feeling of great inspiration. 6. The board had been used to protect the floor. 9. Leila was the first person to understand that Hill had created a masterpiece. 10. Before Garrad saw the beard with mixture of bright colours, he was ready to arrange the show of Hill's pictures at the gallery. 11. Leila was not surprised by Garrad's reaction to the new picture. 12. Bill thought it fair that his new picture impressed the dealer so much.

7. Answer the questions on the text:

1. What did Bill like more than anything in life? 2. When did he start painting and what happened when he was 22? 3. Where did Bill go to complete his education? 4. Was he single at that time?

5. Was Bill a successful painter after his return from Italy? Why?

6. How did Bill manage tc paint a "masterpiece", that was not typical for him? 7. What did Leila do with the board while she was cleaning the studio? 8. Who was the first person to appreciate Bill's new masterpiece? 9. What did Garrad suggest doing? 10. What was Leila's reaction tc Garrad's suggestion? 11. What did Bill dc when he realised what had happened?

3. Befell the story on the part of: 1) Bill, 2) Leila. 3) Garrad.

9. Think of your own ending of this story.

UNIT 10. WAGER WITH DESTINY :EY E.E. GATTI)

1. Study these words and word-combinations:

wager - пари; ставка

destiny - судьба

trail - тропа; след

shabby - потрепанный, потертый

dime - монета в 10 центов

to disturb - беспокоит;. , зелновать, нарушать покой

to capture - захватывать гялей

hence - отекла; следовательно

to bear (bore, borne⁵ - терпеть, выносить

magnificent - изумительный, великолепный

to sear - выжигать. опалить entry - запись

innceer.t - невинны:'!, невиновный

to sentence - осуждать, приговаривать

embezzlement - растрата

to tamper (with: - подделывать -"документ';} rags - гнев, ярость to betray - предавать то suspect - подозревать guilty (of) - виновный

safety catch - предохранитель Су револьвера? to bend (bent) - сгибзтьСся?, гнутьСся?

revulsion - внезапное сильное изменение с чувств и т.д.?

to accuse - об'Еинять

murderer - убийца

to sob - рыдать, всхлипывать

to lick - лизать; колотить, бить

charge - I? забота, попечение; ответственность; 2? обвинение delirious - С находящийся? в бреду late - покойный, унерщий

superstitious Г, sJ^Lbpa ^ysilfs$] , суеверный gambler - игрок coincidence - совпадение fate - судьба

to succeed - добиваться успеха will - завещание

conscience L |э И S"j _ совесть

executor [ I<Cf Z £ tsj <-< "f э7 - душеприказчик