Lesson 12 (pp.170 – 189). October 3rd – May 17th

Ex.1 a) Find the English equivalents of these words and phrases in the text. Read and translate into Russian the sentences in which they are used.

editor of the Monthly	to weep copiously
a reminiscent chill	the belief that moves mountains
a blight	a very abstruse letter
in the best of taste	a four-leaf clover
utterly dejected	a vantage point
evanescent	to eat smth up in chunks

b) Find the English equivalents of these words and phrases in the text. Read and translate into Russian the sentences in which they are used.

целый чемодан чего-л.	клякса
распаковать багаж	спасение души
поднять суету вокруг чего-л.	размазня, недотёпа
неправдоподобный	старый чудак
всеведущий, всезнающий	клевать носом

c) Give your variant of translation of the following sentences:

1. It doesn't seem possible, does it, that so sophisticated a person, just four years ago, was an inmate of the John Grier Home?

2. You men ought to leave intrigue to women; you haven't a light enough touch.

3. Did you ever hear about the learned Herr Professor who regarded unnecessary adornment with contempt and favoured sensible, utilitarian clothes for women? His wife, who was an obliging creature, adopted 'dress reform.' And what do you think he did? He eloped with a chorus girl.

4. Life is monotonous enough at best; you have to eat and sleep about so often. But imagine how deadly monotonous it would be if nothing unexpected could happen between meals.

5. Do you believe in free will? I do - unreservedly. I don't agree at all with the philosophers who think that every action is the absolutely inevitable and automatic resultant of an aggregation of remote causes. That's the most immoral doctrine I ever heard - nobody would be to blame for anything.

6. My Dear, Dear, Daddy! Haven't you any sense? Don't you know that you mustn't give one girl seventeen Christmas presents? Think how embarrassing it would be if we should ever quarrel! I should have to engage a moving-van to return your gifts.

7. The mother isn't very strong and is extremely ineffectual and pious. She sits with her hands folded, a picture of patient resignation, while the daughter kills herself with overwork and responsibility and worry; she doesn't see how they are going to get through the rest of the winter - and I don't either.

8. But anyway, Daddy, I trust the good Lord will reward you suitably. You deserve ten thousand years out of purgatory.

9. I have quite a feeling of tenderness for it as I look back through a haze of four years. When I first came to college I felt quite resentful because I'd been robbed of the normal kind of childhood that the other girls had had; but now, I don't feel that way in the least. I regard it as a very unusual adventure.

10. This new book is going to get itself finished -and published! You see if it doesn't. If you just want a thing hard enough and keep on trying, you do get it in the end. I've been trying for four years to get a letter from you--and I haven't given up hope yet.

Ex.2 Listen to the tape (Judy’s letter to Daddy-Long-Legs written on January 9^th - pp.178-179) and say if the statements below are true or false. Correct the false statements.

1. Judy suggests her guardian to do something that that will ensure him eternal salvation.

2. The family Judy asks for consists of mother and father and six children.

3. The support of the poor family falls upon the oldest daughter, who is twenty-four.

4. All the six children live with their parents and try their best to earn their living.

5. The oldest daughter in the family dressmakes for $1.50 a day and embroiders centrepieces in the evening.

6. Judy calls the girl a jelly-fish for her inability to improve her life somehow.

7. Judy asks her guardian for help, because he is a very kind person and has a lot of money.

8. Judy thinks that humility or resignation is simply impotent inertia.

Ex.3 Discuss the following points:

1. In what sort of mood did Judy start her new year of studies? Have her interests and preferences changed a bit since the previous year?

2. What was the publisher’s opinion of Judy’s book? How did the girl react to his letter? Did she get upset, offended, or did she take it easy? What did she do with her work? Did her distress last long?

3. “No one can ever accuse me of being a pessimist!” Do you really consider Judy an optimist? What does “being an optimist” mean for you? Can you say you are an optimist?

4. Do you think Judy proves to be a philosopher? Speak about the problems she thinks about. Do you share her ideas, or can you argue with her in some points? Do you consider Judy a shrewd and witty girl? Prove your answer with the quotations from the text of the book.

5. “Thank you, Daddy, a thousand times. I think you're the sweetest man that ever lived - and the foolishest!” How did Daddy-Long-Legs congratulate Judy on Christmas, and how did she? Do you think that their relations become more and more resembling family ones?

6. “Do you wish to do something, Daddy, that will ensure your eternal salvation?” What did Judy ask her guardian about? How does this request characterize her? Do you think it speaks of her kindness, or this is the first attempt to abuse her guardian’s goodness?

7. “Youth has nothing to do with birthdays, only with alivedness of spirit”. Comment on this statement of Judy’s. Do you share her opinion, or disagree with it? What’s your “spiritual age” as you consider it to be?

8. “Give the Home my love, please--my truly love”. Has Judy’s attitude to the asylum changed in the course of time? Comment on her confession about it. Was this life experience of use for the girl?