4. Читання

Nick's Letter to His Mother

It's a cool November day. There are dark clouds in the sky. Cold wind is blowing from the North. The day is gloomy (похмурий). It looks like rain. Winter is coming. It's cold outside in the street.

Today is Friday. It’s seven o'clock in the evening. Nick, a first-year student is in hall at the moment. He is sitting at his desk and writing a letter to his mother:

"Dear Mummy! I go to classes every day but Sunday. It's evening now and I'm not in class. I am sitting here alone in my room and writing a letter to you. The day is cold and gloomy but it's warm and nice here in my room.

At the moment I'm thinking of our village and of all of you, my dear people. It must be still warm there in the south. And the sun must be setting now. When I think of all of you I try to imagine what each of you is doing at the moment.

What is Daddy doing now, I wonder? He is always busy on the farm but it's late and he must be at home at the moment.

Perhaps he is reading a newspaper now. He likes to look through newspapers in the evening. Mummy, you are always busy with your housework. Are you doing some housework at present, I wonder?

Max is very athletic. He is a good footballer and he is also good at tennis. You can see him at the sports club almost every evening. I don't think he is at home now. Is he playing tennis or football this evening, I wonder?

Anna is a factory worker, but she is certainly not at the factory now. Her weekend is coming. It is Saturday tomorrow. And they don't work on Saturdays and Sundays. She must be on her way home now. Perhaps she is in the train now. Does she come home every weekend?

And what is Helen doing now, I wonder? She isn't at school I think. Is she watching some TV programme at the moment? Perhaps she is. She likes TV so much.

The winter vac is coming in two months and I hope to see all of you soon.

Yours Nick

Завдання до тексту

І. Вжийте підходящі за змістом слова із запропонованих у дужках варіантів:

1. There (are /are no) dark clouds in the sky on a gloomy autumn day. 2. Today cold wind is (following /blowing) from the north. 3. On a gloomy cloudy day it looks like (train /rain). 4. Nick is a (first /second year) student. 5. He lives (at home /in hall). 6. Nick goes to classes every day (and besides on / but) Sunday. 7. Nick is sitting (alone /only) in his room in hall. 8. Late in autumn it is often cold in Moscow but it is (seldom /still) warm in the south at this time. 9. Nick's father gets some newspapers (today /daily). 10. Perhaps Nick's father (reads /is reading) some newspaper at the time when Nick is writing a letter home. 11. Anna is a factory worker and she (works /is working) at the factory five days a week. 12. Helen likes to watch TV and certainly she (watches /is watching) some TV programme tonight.

ІІ. Знайдіть у тексті англійські еквіваленти наступних фраз та словосполучень:

на вулиці холодно; схоже, що піде дощ; мої дорогі; всі ви; кожен з вас; по дорозі додому; вона так любить дивитися телевізійні програми; студент першого курсу; знаходиться у гуртожитку.

ІІІ. Дайте відповіді на питання до тексту:

1. What season is it now? What day is it? 2. Is the day sunny / gloomy? 3. Why does the day look gloomy? 4. Is the wind blowing? 5. Where is it blowing from? 6. Why do you think winter is coming? 7. Is Nick writing a letter in the morning /evening? 8. What time is it? 9. Does Nick's family live in Moscow? 10. Where does his family live? 11. Does he miss his family badly? 12. What does Nick try to imagine while he is writing the letter to his mother?