Unit 2. Success story

(by J.G. COZZENS)

1. Study these words and word-combinations:

chap - парень

to introduce smb to smb - знакомить кого-то с кем-то,

to introduce oneself - представиться

the same - тот же самый, одинаковый

state university engineering school - школа,готовящая строителей

дорог, мостов

poor knowledge - посредственнее знание

at once - сразу

to imagine - представить себе

to manage to get - суметь получить

private railroad - частная железная дорога

mostly - s основном

at least - по крайней мере

to appear - оказываться

a slide rule - логарифмическая линейка

awful - ужасный

at last - наконец

to be obliged to do - быть вынужденным сделать

undoubtedly - несомненно

silly = stupid - глупый

a number of - ряд

sensible - разумный

likely - вероятно

to nod - кивнуть

absent-mindedly - рассеянно

indeed – действительно

not at all - не за что; пожалуйста

аз soon as - как только

to please - доставлять удовольствие

to explode - взорваться

honest - честный

bluff - обман

to hurt - причинять вред, боль

to grin - ухмыляться

like - как, подобно

to hold cut - удерживать, задерживать

to be going tо do smth - собираться что-либо сделать

to look up - посмотреть на

firmly - твердо

2. Read and translate the text:

Success Story

by J.G. Cozzens

I met Richards ten or more years ago when I first went down to Cuba. He was a short, sharp-faced, agreeable chap, then about 22. He introduced himself to me on the boat and I was surprised to find that Panamerica Steel was sending из both to the same job.

Richards was from some not very good state university engineering school. Being the same age myself, and just out of technical college I saw at once that his knowledge was rather poor. In fact I couldn't imagine how he had managed to get this job.

Richards was naturally likable, and I liked him a lot. The firm had a contract for the construction of a private railroad. Fоr Richards and me it was mostly an easy job of inspections and routine paper work. At least it was easy for me. It was harder for Richards, because he didn't appear to have mastered the use of a slide rule. When he asked me to check his figures I found his calculations awful. “Boy,” I was at last obliged to say, “you are undoubtedly the silliest white man in this province. Look, stupid, didn't you ever take arithmetic? How much are seven times thirteen?” “Work that out,” Richards said, “and let me have a report tomorrow.”

So when I had time 1 checked his figures for him and the inspector only caught him in a bad mistake about twice. In January several directors of the United Sugar Company came down to us on business, but mostly pleasure; a good excuse to get south on a vacation. Richards and I were to accompany them around the place. One of the directors, Mr.Prosset was asking a number of questions. I knew the job well enough to answer every sensible question - the sort of question that a trained engineer would be likely to ask. As it was Mr. Prosset was not an engineer and some of his questions put me at a loss. For the third time I was obliged to say, “I'm afraid I don’t know, sir. We haven’t any calculations on that,” when suddenly Richards stroke up.

“I think, about nine million cubic feet, sir,” he said. “I just happened to be working this out last night. Just for my own interest.”

“Oh,” said Mr. Prosset, turning in his seat and giving him a sharp look. “That's very interesting, Mr.. -er-Richards, isn't it? Well, now, maybe you could tell me about …”

Richards could. Richards knew everything, All the way up Mr. Prosset fired questions on him and he fired answers right back. When we reached the head of the rail, a motor was waiting for Mr. Prosset. He nodded absent-mindedly to me, shook hands with Richards. “Very interesting, indeed,” he said. “Good-bye, Mr. Richards, and thank you.”

“Not at all, sir,” Richards said. “Glad if I could be of service to you.”

As soon as the car moved off, I exploded. “A little honest bluff doesn't hurt; but some of your figures ...!”

“I like to please,” said Richards grinning. “If a man like Prosset wants to know something, who am I to hold out on him?”

“What's he going to think when he looks up the figures or asks somebody who does know?”

“Listen, my son,” said Richards kindly. “He wasn't asking to any information he was going to use. He doesn't want to know these figures. He won't remember them. I don’t even remember them myself. What he is going to remember is you and me.” “Yes,” said Richards firmly. “He is going to remember that Panamerica Steel has a bright young man named Richards who could tell him everything, he wanted - just the sort of chap he can use; not like that other fellow who took no interest in his work, couldn't answer the simplest question and who is going to be doing small-time contracting all his life.”

It is true. I am still working for the Company, still doing a little work for the construction line. And Richards? I happened to read in a newspaper a few weeks ago that Richards had been made a vice-president and director of Panamerica Steel when the Prosset group bought the old firm.

Notes:

1) Panamerica Steel - американская корпорация

2) Prosset group - группа акционеров корпорации, которая отстаивала интересы Проссета

3. Pick out from the story the English equivalents for the following words and word-combinations:

приятный парень, с удивлением обнаружил, одного возраста, обладать природным обаянием, обычная канцелярская работа, уметь пользоваться логарифмической линейкой, проверить цифры, заниматься арифметикой, поймать на грубой ошибке, хороший повод, квалифицированный инженер, ставить в тупик, пристально посмотреть, засыпать вопросами, рассеянно кивнуть, способный молодой человек, не интересоваться работой, мелкая работа.

4. Give Russian equivalents for the following expressions. Use them in the sentences of your- own.

sharp-faced, being the same age, just out of technical college, rather poor, to manage to get the job, was obliged to say, came down on business, to accompany smb. around the place, well enough, sensible question, as it was, the head of the rail, shake hands with, to be of service to smb., not like that other fellow, I happened to read, to take a lot of (some, no) interest in smth.

5. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions. Consult the text if necessary.

1. Panamerica Steel was sending us both ... the same job. 2. The firm had a contract ... the construction ... a private railroad. 3. ... Richards and me it was mostly an easy job ... inspections and routine paper work. 4. ... least, it was easy ... me. 5. I just happened to be working this ... last night. Just ... my own interest. 6. All the way ... Mr. Prosset fired questions him. 7. When we reached the head ... the rail, a motor was waiting ... Mr. Prosset. 8. ... soon ... the car moved I exploded. 9. I am still working ... the Company.

6. Complete the sentences, using "will" or "be going to." Don't forget that "will" is used when one announces a decision he has just made or is making spontaneously, whereas "be going to" is used when one talks about the intentions he has been planning before.

1. I hope the firm ... have a contract for the construction of the road. 2. What ... he ... think when he looks up the figures? 3. He isn't asking for any information he ... use. 4. He ... not remember these figures. 5. What he ... remember is you and me. 6. He ... remember a bright young man named Richards. 7. This fellow ... be doing small-time contracting ail his life.

7. Agree or disagree with the following statements. Correct the wrong ones.

1. Richards was a tall, round-faced, agreeable chap, then about. 25. 2. Richards was from some very good state university and I understood at once that his knowledge was brilliant. 3. In January several directors came down to us on business, but mostly pleasure. 4. Mr. Prosset was a well-trained engineer and some of his questions put me at a loss. 5. For the fifth time I was obliged to say that I hadn't any calculations on that point. 6. Richards appeared to know everything. 7. Mr. Prosset shook hands with me and nodded absent-mindedly to Richards. 3. "If a man like Prosset wants to know something, I'm glad to please him", said Richards. 9. He was asking for the information he was going to use. 10. Richards had been made a vice-president and director of Panameria Steel when the Prosset group bought a new firm.

8. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Я познакомился с Ричардсон белее 10 лет назад на корабле и с удивлением обнаружил, что компания направила нас на одну и ту же работу. 2. Ричардc обладал природный обаянием, и он мне очень нравился. 3. Его знания были довольно посредственными, и я не мог представить, как ему удалось получить эту работу. 4. Когда у меня было время, я проверял цифры за негo, и инспектор только дважды поймал его на грубой ошибке. 5. Я знал свою работу достаточно хорошо, чтобы ответить на любой разумный вопрос. 6. Как оказалось, мистер Просет не был инженером, и некоторые его вопросы ставили меня в тупик. 7. Всю дорогу обратно мистер Просет засыпал Ричардса вопросами, и он на них мгновенно отвечал. 8. Он не запрашивал какую-либо информацию, которую собирался использовать. 9. Он не интересовался своей работой и не мог ответить на самый простой вопрос. 10. Я до сих пор работаю на компанию, все еще выполняю мелкую работу.

9. Answer the questions on the text:

1. Describe Richards (age, appearance, education, manners). 2. Why was the author surprised that Richards had managed to get the same job? 3. What kind of work were the young men to do? 4. Why did the author call his colleague stupid? 5. Why couldn't the inspector catch Richards in bad mistakes? 6. How did it happen that the young men found themselves in the company of Mr. Prosset? 7. Why was the author unable to answer Mr. Prosset’s questions? 6. What did Richards do and how did he explain his behavior to the author later? 9. What opinion had Mr. Prosset formed of the two young men, judging by the way he said good-bye to them? 10. Why did the author explode? 11. Whose theory proved to be right? 12. What was Richards' ambition? Do you approve of his behavior? Give your reasons.

10. Discuss the following:

1. What to your mind is more important: to have good knowledge in the field you work or the ability to be equal to situation? 2. Who had more advantages to win the top job: Richards or his friend? Do you agree that hard work plus knowledge always lead to success? 3. Can we sау that Richards was a good "psychologist"? In what way did it help him?

11. Retell the story on the part of: 1) Richards, 2) his friend, 3) Mr. Prosset.