Chapter III.

A.

1. Active Vocabulary:

1. by a lucky chance p.29 (19) = fortunately

2. to seek smb’s acquaintance p. 29 (13) = to look for smb’s acquaintance

3. the world of letters p.29 (13) = literary world

4. to call a spade a spade p.29 (13) = to speak directly

5. to conceal the embarrassment p.29 (13) = not to show one’s shyness

6. to prevent smb from doing smth p.30 (15) = not to let smb do smth

7. to make the most of smth p.30 (15) = to do the best of the thing

8. to pass for smb p.30 (15) = to try to look like someone else

Note: Bohemia [beu'himiq] - богема

2. Paraphrase using your Active:

1. The young writer was eager to enter the literary world.

2. He used to speak about everything directly.

3. The young man didn’t want anybody to see his shyness.

4. Fortunately his first book was a success and various persons wanted to get acquainted with him.

5. It is quite natural that women do their best to look well.

6. Parents always try not to let their children make the same mistakes.

7. London writers could easily be taken for men of the world.

3. Think of your own sentences with Active Vocabulary.

4. Translate the following passage into Russian:

“We did not think it hypocritical to draw over our vagaries the curtain of a decent silence. The spade was not invariably called a bloody shovel. Woman had not yet altogether come into her own” p.29 (14)

5. Comment on the following.

“I remember that I thought their conversation brilliant, and I used to listen with astonishment to the stinging humour with which they would tear a brother-author to pieces the moment that his back was turned. The artist has this advantage over the rest of the world, that his friends offer not only their appearance and their character to his satire, but also their work.” p.30 (15)

VI. Find English equivalent of the following: (рp. 29 - 31 (14-15))

1. между прочим

2. воспоминания

3. абсурдный

4. боязнь насмешек

5. строгость нравов

6. стать самостоятельным

7. набраться храбрости

8. знаменитость

9. спокойно наблюдать

10. отомстить

11. светский лев

12. светский разговор

13. достоинства

VII. Comment on the use of “would” at the end of the chapter:

“Then we would speak of this publisher and of that, ….. ” p.31 (15)

8. Answer the questions using the given words and word-combinations:

1. How did Maugham describe literary London of his youth? p.29 (13)

world of letters

to seek smb’s acquaintance

Bohemia

the fear of ridicule

culture of chastity

to call a spade a bloody shovel (to exaggerate)

2. Why did the author feel ill at ease in the “hospitable houses of literary”? p.(14)

to screw up one’s courage

celebrated people

to conceal one’s embarrassment

to observe smb at one’s ease

3. What did he think of the “people of the world?” p.30 (15)

to be fascinated by smth

to wipe one’s fingers on smth

to take one’s revenge

to dress fashionably

to be dowdy

to make the most of smth

to prevent smb from doing smth

to be taken for smb

men of the words

to pass for smb

4. What was their “small talk” about? p.30 (15,16)

to listen to smth with astonishment

stinging humour

to tear smb to pieces

the merits of the book

to receive advance

generosity

meanness

mystic brotherhood