Assignment 10 Chapter 9 (pp. 219-237)

1. Transcribe, pronounce and translate the following words:

temerity, queue, neuralgia, buoyant.

2. Find the following words and expressions in the text, look them up in the English-English dictionary and translate them into Russian. Reproduce the situations in which they are used:

o get away with sth (p. 219), to look hard at sb (p. 220), to go round (p. 220), to have a tiff with sb (p. 221), to talk sense into sb (p. 221), to be no laughing matter (p. 229), to catch up on sth (p. 229), to back sth up (p.229), to grope for (p. 230), would-be (p. 235).

3. Try to figure out the meaning of the underlined words and expression from the context. Paraphrase and translate them into Russian:

1) “But I had begun to think all sorts of things. That the postman would come at strange times. That some other girl was taking my letters and hoarding them in her room, but that she would have a change of heart and give them back to me.”

2) “This was a case of quack remedy, backed up by ritzy claims: the smoke ball claimed to prevent influenza and to cure coughs …”:

a) the sound that a duck makes;

b) a person who dishonestly claims to have medical knowledge or skills.

3) “The Smoke ball Co. offered a reward of one hundred pounds to anyone who contracted influenza after using their product.”:

a) to become less or smaller, or to make sth less or smaller;

b) to get an illness;

c) to make a legal agreement to work for sb.

4) “After all, she knows I have to sit up and work all night.”

5) “There was an interval of vacancy. The world might have stopped; I don’t know. The next thing I remember was …”:

a) a job that is available for sb to do;

b) a room that is available in a hotel;

c) lack of interest or ideas.

4. Answer the questions and do the tasks:

1) Speak about Carmel and Karina’s relationship. Comment upon Carmel's inner monologue. What did she mean by saying: “Didn’t she know that the winner of one game simply goes on to another, harder game?”?

Explain what Karina meant when she said: “You wanted to get in with Julianne and that set. Oh, pardon me, Julia, I should say.” Why do you think Carmel said nothing to it? Did she admit that Karina was right?

Read and translate the passage on p. 220 from “I’d developed a habit …” up to “… the broken heart”.

2) Why did Sue lock herself in the room and refuse to let anybody in?

3) Why did Carmel keep on putting her hand in the pigeonhole every day?

4) Explain or paraphrase the following: “We said we’re not trained negotiators, we’re tired, we’ve had enough… We talked out Claire’s essay… then she wanted us to talk out her toothbrush.”

5) Why did Lynette give Sue the money? Did she expect to get it back?

6) Comment upon the following:

a) “‘Will she be all right?’ I said. I was frightened.

‘Of course,’ Julia said shortly. ‘They wouldn’t have discharged her if she wasn’t going to be all right.’

Professional solidarity, I thought.”

b) “I didn’t want to be alone with her, in case I had to ask questions and she had to supply answers.”

7) Why did Lynette bring a bottle of whisky? Why did Claire refuse to drink it?

8) What did Julia mean by saying that Lynette’s vices could not remain hidden forever?

9) What did the smoke ball cure?

10) What made Carmel think that Karina might have another life?

11) Why couldn’t Carmel remember when she had had a normal meal? What did she eat? Comment upon the metaphor: “I was narrow, a bar of darkness, a shade.”

12) What odd things happened to Carmel the next day after she had had the whisky? (pp.232-234) Comment upon the following:

“It must be throat deafness, I thought.”

“I was not convinced that the canteen table was quite solid…”

“My walk home then became a journey; not just a trek, but a voyage full of surprises.”

13) What did Carmel hear and see when she came to herself? Dwell upon the way she felt and her state of mind: “I was a machine for breathing, a machine for living.”

14) What is implied by it in the following: “We saw it happening. At first we were pleased for you. But then, we didn’t know how to stop it.”

15) What did Lynette mean saying the following about the milk: “No, it was off this morning, I forgot to put it out.”

6. Fill in the character sketch pages. Compare your notes with your partner.

7. Translate the sentences into English using the vocabulary of ex. 2.

1) Близнецы были похожи только внешне. Сэм часто озорничал, и при этом ему все сходило с рук, а Стив был спокойным, неторопливым, однако, ему часто приходилось отвечать за проступки брата.

2) Вы пропустили много занятий, и вам придется наверстать упущенное за очень короткое время до экзаменов.

3) Из-за аварии в доме не работало электричество, и нам пришлось пробираться по длинному коридору на ощупь.

4) Он говорил не очень убедительно, поэтому никто не поддержал его предложение.

5) Утром дети повздорили, а вечером уже вместе играли в футбол.

6) Он очень упрям. Неудивительно, что никому не удается вразумить его.

7) «Это совсем не смешно,» - сказала миссис Браун, строго посмотрев на учеников.

8. Discuss the following in class:

a) What do you think it is like to be tied to the past? Have you ever tried to get rid of some unpleasant memories?

b) Have you ever regretted anything you did in your life?