Glossary

title – the name of a book, play, film, etc.

cover – the outside part of a book, magazine, etc.

attract smb’s attention – if smth attracts your attention, it interests you so that you want to look at it.

browse – spend time pleasantly in a shop looking at things.

paperback – a book with a thick paper cover (a hardback has a hard cover).

readable – easy or interesting to read.

gift – a thing that you give to smb, e.g. for their birthday, syn present.

author – the writer of a particular book, play, etc.

look through smth – read smth quickly, syn skim smth.

chapter – one of the parts into which a book is divided.

fascinating – very interesting.

Test yourself. Cover the glossary words and look at the meanings. What are the words?

Note: There are many adjectives consisting of well + past participle, e.g. well written (of a book, article, etc.), well informed (= knowing a lot about a subject), well known (=famous).

Exercise 14. Choose the correct sentences ending.

Model: Who is the author / gift?

1. The cover attracted my chapter / attention.

2. The author was well known / well written.

3. I read the second title / chapter.

4. The book looked very readable / well informed.

5. I wanted the cheaper one, so I bought the hardback / paperback.

6. I was in a bookshop the other day, just attracting / browsing.

Exercise 15. Complete the text. Use the first letter as the prompt.

My cousin has just written a reference book. He’s not well known, he’s a good (1) a____________. His book might attract a lot of (2) a____________ because it’s called “How to make a lot of money by doing very little” – isn’t that a great (3) t____________! It’s being published in hardback and (4) p___________. I read the first (5) c___________ about selling things on the internet, and it’s really (6) f____________ - I couldn’t put it down. On the front (7) c___________ there’s a picture of my cousin in bed with his laptop; it’s a bit silly. But it’s a funny book and it’s (8) well w___________.

Exercise 16. Choose the right word.

1. I don’t like reading history or biographies; I prefer _______________ myself.

a) description b) fiction c) invention d) narration

2. That book has been out of _____________ for a long time.

a) copy b) press c) print d) publication

3. You have to pay a __________ if you do not return your library books on time.

a) fee b) fine c) penalty d) tax

4. Most of the poet’s earlier work was published under a _____________.

a) misnomer b) namesake c) nickname d) pseudonym

5. His new book received good ____________ from the critics.

a) comprehension b) flavours c) reviews d) understanding

6. He bought the book for half price because its ___________ was torn.

a) coat b) coating c) cover d) skin

7. I have just read a lovely ____________ about a man who devoted his life to monkeys.

a) fiction b) history c) production d) story

8. The first ______________ of a book can sometimes be very valuable.

a) copy b) edition c) title d) type

9. This is a good _________________ of his delight in unusual words and phrases.

a) case b) example c) expression d) passage

10. I can’t read this book without my glasses. The ___________ is too small.

a) handwriting b) letter c) print d) typewriter

11. Ask the publishers to send you their latest ___________ of English text-books.

a) booklet b) catalogue c) index d) prospectus

12. I’m reading a book about _______________ of Henry VIII.

a) the existence b) the life c) the living d) the road

13. Because Shakespeare mainly wrote plays, he is usually regarded as ___________.

a) an author b) a dramatist c) a novelist d) a writer

14. He knows most of Franko’s poems by _____________.

a) head b) heart c) memory d) mind

Writing task: write your answers and ask another student.

1. What kind of books do you find most fascinating?

2. What kind of reference books do you use most often?

3. Do you enjoy browsing in bookshops?

4. Are you ever attracted to a book just by the cover?

5. Do you have more paperbacks or hardbacks? Why?

Speaking task: agree or disagree with the following statements. Explain why you think so.

1. I don’t understand people who read detective stories. In my opinion, it’s a waste of time.

2. Reading takes too much time. Nowadays you can get all the necessary information from newspapers,

TV, radio or the internet.

3. Only books which will be reread all the time are worth buying and having in a home library.

4. “Never lend books, for no one ever returns them; the only books I have in my library are the books

that other people have lent me.” (Anatole France)

5. “These books can do - not these alone: they give new views to life, and teach us how to live” (George Grabbe)

6