ASSIGNMENT I (winter)

МЕТОДИЧЕСКИЕ УКАЗАНИЯ

Чтобы добиться наиболее эффективных результатов в овладении языком, необходимо заниматься языком ежедневно. Студент-заочник должен выполнить все упражнения, прилагаемые к текстам, основным и дополнительным.

Приступая к выполнению задания, следует начать работу с текста. Ознакомившись с творческим путем автора, нужно внимательно прочесть текст. После этого рекомендуется выполнить ряд упражнений, помогающих раскрыть содержание текста. К ним относятся такие упражнения, как "Answer the following questions", "Express the same idea in a different way" и т. д. Следует также выполнить упражнения, которые предусматривают работу над стилистическими особенностями текста. На этом завершается первый этап работы над текстом.

Второй этап — работа над словарем. Тщательно проработав словарь, студент-заочник выполняет ряд упражнений типа "Fill in the blanks", "Choose the correct word", "What words and word combinations may imply the same meaning?", "Give the Russian for...", "Find corresponding English equivalents" и т. д. Эти упражнения имеют целью закрепление лексических единиц.

После того как материал текста отработан и проведена работа по первичному закреплению словаря, можно переходить к выполнению упражнений грамматического характера (упражнения на артикли, предлоги и на грамматические явления, которые встречаются в тексте).

Упражнения на предлоги идут под рубрикой А и В. В первую подгруппу включены предложения с активной лексикой, а во вторую—предложения с предлогами, в которых, по мнению авторов, студенты часто допускают ошибки.

Работа завершается выполнением упражнений творческого характера, способствующих главным образом развитию навыков устной речи. В эту группу входят такие упражнения, как "Reproduce the text in the name of...", " Imagine", "Make up dialogues, situations", "When and under what circumstances would you use the following?", "Write a letter", "Suggested topics for oral and written compositions" и т.д.

При выполнении любых упражнений студент-заочник должен по возможности использовать словарь, обязательный для активного усвоения, из ранее проработанных заданий и книг для самостоятельного чтения; только тогда словарь будет прочно усвоен.

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Assignment I

TEXT FOR INTENSIVE READING Th. Dreiser

(1871—1945)

Theodore Dreiser was born in a poor family and after his school years he had to support himself by doing odd jobs. He worked in a laundry, was a rent collector for a rich owner of apartment houses. For several years he worked as newspaper reporter in Chicago, St. Louis, Cleveland and Pittsburg. Then he moved to New York, where he obtained work as magazine editor.

From the very beginning of his literary work, he opposed the writers who idealized America. Boycott by publishers, hostile criticism, persecution by the law, all these Dreiser had to overcome in order to reach his public. His life was a constant battle for realistic literature.

The fate of two women described by Dreiser in his first two novels, Sister Carrie (1900) and Jennie Gerhardt (1911) was a challenge to the moral claims of the American society. The Financier (1912) and The Titan (1914) together with The Stoic (published posthumously in 1947) formed The Trilogy of Desire. The Genius (1915) dealt with the fate of an artist, showing the destructive influence of bourgeois environment upon the hero's creative abilities.

An American Tragedy (1925), Dreiser's masterpiece, is a story of a life mutilated by the conditions of the American social system. The significance of the novel was in the exposure of the tragic character of American life with its contrast of poverty and wealth, social inequality, corrupt morals and a political system, all of which contribute to the ultimate fate of the hero who ends his life in the electric chair.

In 1927 Dreiser was a guest of the Soviet Government. He described his visit to the USSR in Dreiser Looks at Russia (1928). The economic crisis of 1929—1932 was considered by Dreiser as a sign of the inevitable doom of American capitalism and he set forth his views in Tragic America (1931), a description of the gross injustice of American capitalism. He became a member of the Communist Party of the USA, in August, 1945.

Besides those works mentioned above, Dreiser published several collections of short stories. Dreiser's work is a manifestation of critical realism in American literature. His novels and

short stories give a truthful picture of American society of his time.

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AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY

Book II Chapter VII

In so far as his life at Mrs. Cuppy's went, he was not so very happily placed there, either. For that was but a commonplace rooming and boarding house, which drew to it, at best, such conservative mill and business types as looked on work and their wages, and the notions of the middle class religious world of Lycurgus as most essential to the order and well-being of the world. From the point of view of entertainment or gaiety, it was in the main a very dull place.

At the same time, because of the presence of one Walter Dillard— a brainless sprig who had recently come here from Fonda, it was not wholly devoid of interest for Clyde. The latter—a youth of about Clyde's own age and equally ambitious socially—but without Clyde's tact or discrimination anent the governing facts of life, was connected with the men's furnishing department of Stark and Company. He was spry, avid, attractive enough physically, with very light hair, a very light and feeble mustache, and the delicate airs and ways of a small town Beau Brummel. Never having had any social standing or the use of any means whatsoever—his father having been a small town dry goods merchant before him, who had failed—he was, because of some atavistic spur or fillip in his own blood, most anxious to attain some sort of social position.

But failing that so far, he was interested in and envious of those who had it—much more so than Clyde, even. The glory and activity of the leading families of this particular city had enormous weight with him—the Nicholsons, the Starks, the Harriets, Griffiths, Finchleys, et cetera. And learning a few days after Clyde's arrival of his somewhat left-handed connection with this world, he was most definitely interested. What? A Griffiths! The nephew of the rich Samuel Griffiths of Lycurgus! And in this boarding house! Beside him at this table! At once his interest rose to where he decided that he must cultivate this stranger as speedily as possible. Here was a real social opportunity knocking at his very door— a connecting link to one of the very best families! And besides was he not young, attractive and probably ambitious like himself—a fellow to play around with if one could? He proceeded at once to make overtures to Clyde. It seemed almost too good to be true.

In consequence he was quick to suggest a walk, the fact that there was a certain movie just on at the Mohawk, which was excellent—very snappy. Didn't Clyde want to go? And because of his neatness, smartness—a touch of something that was far from humdrum or the heavy practicality of the mill and the remainder of this boarding house world, Clyde was inclined to fall in with him.

But, as he now thought, here were his great relatives and he must watch his step here. Who knew but that he might be making a great mistake in holding such free and easy contacts as this. The Griffiths—as well as the entire world of which they were a part—as he guessed from the general manner of all those who even contacted him, must be very removed from the commonalty here. More by instinct than reason, he was inclined to stand off and look very superior—more so since those, including this very youth on whom he practised this seemed to respect him the more. And although upon eager —and even—after its fashion, supplicating request, he now went with this youth—still he went cautiously. And his aloof and condescending manner Dillard at once translated as "class" and "connection". And to think he had met him in this dull, dubby boarding house here. And on his arrival—at the very inception of his career here.

And so his manner was that of the sycophant—although he had a better position and was earning more money than Clyde was at this time, twenty-two dollars a week.

"I suppose you'll be spending a good deal of your time with your relatives and friends here,"

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he volunteered on the occasion of their first walk together, and after he had extracted as much information as Clyde cared to impart, which was almost nothing, while he volunteered a few, most decidedly furbished bits from his own history. His father owned a dry goods store now. He had come over here to study other methods, et cetera. He had an uncle here— connected with Stark and Company. He had met a few—not so many as yet—nice people here, since he hadn't been here so very long himself—four months all told.

But Clyde's relatives!

"Say, your uncle must be worth over a million, isn't he? They say he is. Those houses in Wykeagy Avenue are certainly the cats. You won't see anything finer in Albany or Utica or Rochester either. Are you Samuel Griffiths' own nephew? You don't say! Well, that'll certainly mean a lot to you here. I wish I had a connection like that. You bet I'd make it count."

He beamed on Clyde eagerly and hopefully, and through him Clyde sensed even more how really important this blood relation was. Only think how much it meant to this strange youth.

"Oh, I don't know," replied Clyde dubiously, and yet very much flattered by this assumption of intimacy. "I came on to learn the collar business, you know. Not to play about very much. My uncle wants me to stick to that, pretty much."

"Sure, sure. I know how that is," replied Dillard. "That's the way my uncle feels about me, too. He wants me to stick close to the work here and not play about very much. He's the buyer for Stark and Company, you know. But still a man can't work all the time, either. He's got to have a little fun."

"Yes, that's right," said Clyde—for the first time in his life a little condescendingly. They walked along in silence for a few moments. Then:

"Do you dance?" "Yes," answered Clyde.

"Well, so do I. There are a lot of cheap dance halls around here, but I never go to any of those. You can't do it and keep in with the nice people. This is an awfully close town that way, they say. The best people won't have anything to do with you unless you go with the right crowd. It's the same way up at Fonda. You have to 'belong' or you can't go out anywhere at all. And that's right, I guess. But still there are a lot of nice girls here that a fellow can go with—girls of right nice families— not in society, of course,—but still, they're not talked about, see. And they're not so slow, either. Pretty hot stuff, some of them. And you don't have to marry any of 'm, either." Clyde began to think of him as perhaps a little too lusty for this new life here, maybe. At the same time he liked him some. "By the way," went on Dillard, "what are you doing next Sunday afternoon?"

"Well, nothing in particular, that I know of just now," replied Clyde, sensing a new problem here. "I don't know just what I may have to do by then, but I don't know of anything now."

“Well, how’d you like to come with me, if you’re not too busy. I’ve come to know quite a few girls since I’ve been here. Nice ones. I can take you out and introduce you to my uncle's family, if you like. They're nice people. And afterwards – I know two girls we can go and see— peaches. One of 'em did work in the store, but she don't now—she's not doing anything now. The other is her pal. They have a victrola and they can dance. I know it isn't the thing to dance here on Sundays but no one need know anything about that. The girls' parents don't mind. Afterwards we might take 'em to a movie or something—if you want to—not any of those things down near the mill district but one of the better ones—see?"

There formulated itself in Clyde's mind the question as to what, in regard to just such proposals as this, his course here was to be. In Chicago, and recently—because of what happened in Kansas City—he had sought to be as retiring and cautious as possible. For—after that and while

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connected with the club, he had been taken with the fancy of trying to live up to the ideals with which the seemingly stern face of that institution had inspired him—conservatism—hard work— saving one's money—looking neat and gentlemanly. It was such an Eveless paradise, that.

In spite of his quiet surroundings here, however, the very air of the city seemed to suggest some such relaxation as this youth was now suggesting—a form of diversion that was probably innocent enough but still connected with girls and their entertainment—there were so many of them here, as he could see. These streets, after dinner, here, were so alive with good-looking girls, and young men, too. But what might his new found relatives think of him in case he was seen stepping about in the manner and spirit which this youth's suggestions seemed to imply? Hadn't he just said that this was an awfully close town and that everybody knew nearly everything about everybody else? He paused in doubt. He must decide now. And then, being lonely and hungry for companionship, he replied: "Yes,—well—I think that's all right." But he added a little dubiously: "Of course my relatives here—"

"Oh, sure, that's all right," replied Dillard smartly. "You have to be careful, of course. Well, so do I." If he could only go around with a Griffiths, even if he was new around here and didn't know many people— wouldn't it reflect a lot of credit on him? It most certainly would—did already, as he saw it.

And forthwith he offered to buy Clyde some cigarettes—a soda— anything he liked. But Clyde, still feeling very strange and uncertain, excused himself, after a time, because this youth with his complacent worship of society and position, annoyed him a little, and made his way back to his room. He had promised his mother a letter and he thought he had better go back and write it, and incidentally to think a little on the wisdom of this new contact.

Look up and remember the pronunciation of the following words

ambitious		contact
anent		commonalty
consequence		sycophant
forthwith		condescendingly
		Words and word combinations
smart adj
caution	n
dubious	adj
imply v

1. delicate airs — деликатные манеры

2. to have (enormous) weight with somebody иметь (огромное) значение для кого-либо

3. to make overtures to somebody — заискивать перед кем-либо

4. too good to be true — слишком хорошо, чтобы поверить

5. to fall in with somebody — зд. проводить время, дружить с кем-нибудь

6. to watch one's step — следить за каждым своим шагом

7. to impart information to somebody — сообщить что-то кому-нибудь

8. It's not the thing to do. — Этого не полагается делать.

9. all told — в общей сложности, в общем

10. to live up to one's principles — жить согласно своим принципам

Vocabulary notes

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1. to cultivate vt— 1) to break up land and prepare it for crops

e.g. This was government land which had never been cultivated by white men. (Doris May Lessing)

2) to improve and strengthen; give care, thought and time to a thing in order to make it

better, as to cultivate the mind, a good accent, manners (i.e. learn how to behave), t о cultivate a
p e r s о n' s	f r i e n d s h i p (i.e. try to become his friend, usually in order to get some advantage)
e.g. (1) Harold March and the few who cultivated the friendship of Home Fisher ... were
conscious of a certain solitude in his very sociability. (G. Chesterton)
(2) He	felt disposed seriously to cultivate acquaintance with Miss Helstone. (Ch.

Bronte)

cultivated adj—as с u l t i v a t e d land (i.e. land that is dug up and planted with crops, not pasture land or waste land)

a cultivated man (i.e. one who has polished manners, who is interested in art, literature and similar things)

e.g. (1) 1 reached that part of the country which is enclosed and cultivated. (W. Godwin)

(2) After she had gone Pyle said, "What a charming cultivated woman. And she spoke English so well." (G. Greene)

cultivation n—1) cultivating, as to be en g a g e d in the c u l t i v a t i o n of the soil (of crops, roses)

e.g. 1) Daniel devoted his free time to the cultivation of new species of roses.

2) In fact, frost was very rare in the thermal belt, as was proved by the successful cultivation of certain orange and lemon trees. (J. London)

2) the state of being cultivated e.g. (1) This field has been under cultivation for hundreds of years. (A. Hornby)

(2) When he ordered gasoline-tractors for the cultivation of the flat lands, he ordered a round score. (J. London)

2. relaxation n—1) relaxing or being relaxed, as r el a x a t i o n of the m u s c l e s, of d i s c i p l i n e, etc.

e.g. She grudged every word which caused the slightest relaxation in her speed although her head seemed throbbing from the rate at which they were walking. (E. Gaskel)

2) recreation, amusement e.g.

1. The Economic Attache said nervously, "I guess these boys deserve a little relaxation." (G. Greene)

2. If we work hard at times, it will be only so that we'll have more time to play ... and we'll play so hard that we'll be glad to work for relaxation. (J. London)

3. He walked into the bar, impervious to the air of general relaxation that seemed to bubble about him with sounds of conversation. (M. Wilson)

Syn. fun, gaiety

to relax vt and i—1) to allow or cause to become less tight or rigid, as to	r e l a x the	m u
s c l e s, e f f o r t s, a t t e n t i o n
e.g. (1) The pressure of the iron band on her head never relaxed. (J. London)
(2) Now the tension relaxed and he sank back in his chair weak and	powerless.	(E.
Gaskel)

2) make less strict or severe; abate, as to relax discipline

e.g. (1) March discipline relaxed, and the draft was already marching raggedly as

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it passed the first houses of the village. (R. Aldington)

(2) His severity relaxed. (A. Hornby)

3. devoid adj—entirely without; empty, as a country devoid of inhabitants; a person

who is devoid of sense (i.e. foolish)

e.g. (1) The place was not wholly devoid of interest for Clyde. (Th. Dreiser)

2. Clare had never come into close contact with those who were devoid of belief in anything but mockery... (J. Galsworthy)

2. Her accidental presence had stopped the fight and she had seen them disfigured, blood-stained, devoid of their dignities. (J. Galsworthy)

Note. – Be careful not to confuse with to be deprived of.

to deprive vt – to take away from a person or thing something that is necessary, valuable or desirable; prevent from using or enjoying

e.g. (1) ...He- was stung even to madness by the idea of being deprived of the object dearest to his heart. (W. Godwin)

2. Yet the family was always "hard up", never very well clothed, and deprived of many comforts and pleasures which seemed common enough to others. (Th. Dreiser)

2. Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town; and by that means has deprived the British Court of its brightest ornament. (J. Austen)

4. smart adj—1) clever; skilful, as a smart student

e.g. (1) But here in North Georgia a lack of the niceties of classical education carried no shame provided a man was smart in the things that mattered. (M. Mitchell)

2. "You think you're smart, don't you?" Theo accused Ren. "You think because you once came top, you know everything." (G. Gordon)

2. I think you're smarter than I am. I never know when you'll laugh at me or scold me. (M.

Wilson)

2. bright in appearance; new looking, as a smart motor-car

e.g. (1) Crossing the street to catch his bus, he saw her drive by in her smart two-seater. (G. Gordon)

(2) The large ruby pin would look very smart upon one of the fine frilled shirts. (W. Thackeray)

3. fashionable

e.g. (1) Looking at Doreen's serious face, her dark brown hair neatly curled under the smart hat, she felt a gush of love and gratitude for all that Doreen meant to her. (D. Cusack)

2. She would be the smartest-dressed girl in Kansas City beyond the shadow of a doubt. (Th. Dreiser)

2. In Lycurgus among the younger members of those smarter families existed a ... dinner and dance club called the "Now and Then". (Th. Dreiser)

smartly adv

e.g. A tall long-faced woman, smartly dressed, said something that sounded rude and brushed the box aside. (J. Lindsay)

smartness n

e.g. (1) And because oihis neatness and smartness ... Clyde was inclined to fall in with him. (Th. Dreiser)

(2) He found himself in the dining-car opposite a thin blond woman with an air of smartness such as he hadn't seen a long time. (M. Wilson)

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5. caution n—1) carefulness; taking care not to do foolish or dangerous things

e.g. (1) The butler came to lay the table for dinner, and seeing his master apparently asleep exercised extreme caution in his movements. (J. Galsworthy)

(2)When you cross a busy street, you should use caution. (A. Hornby)

(3)Billy went .slowly, displaying extreme caution. (J. London)

2) a warning against danger or Foolishness; a warning that blames a person for wrong behaviour in the past and advises him to behave well in future.

e.g. (1) A sign with "Danger!" on it is a caution. (A. Hornby)

(2) "My dear sir," replied Mr. Collins, "I am particularly obliged to you for this friendly caution." (J. Austen)

to caution vt—to give caution; warn

e.g. (1) I cautioned him against being late (not to be late). (A. Hornby)

(2) "You had better see about your program and your dance before all the others are gone." cautioned Sondra. (Th. Dreiser)

cautious adj—having or showing caution; taking care not to make mistakes or get into danger

e.g. (1) A cautious thinker does not believe things without proof. (A. Hornby)

2. "Professor Fox?" His secretary's voice always came now as a cautious question as if she were not sure that he was still there (M. Wilson)

2. He went along the outlying streets with the cautious tread of an explorer. (Th. Hardy) cautiously adv

e.g. Occasionally a red eye would wink green, a brightly-lit train would crawl cautiously and

heavily over the vibrating bridge. (R. Aldington)
precaution n—an action to avoid risk or to bring success, as t о take					precautions	against
fire
e.g.	(1) Seeing his unmistakable old bowler in the hall, she took the precaution of
removing her own hat before going to the drawing room. (J. Galsworthy)
(2)	"Why didn't you get pneumonia? . . . Because you were more careful of risks and took
more precautions?" (J. London)
6. dubious adj—1) (of persons) feeling doubt or uncertainty
e.g.	(1) I feel dubious (as to) what to do. (A. Hornby)
(2) Clyde was still dubious about the wisdom of taking the car. (Th. Dreiser)
2)	(of	persons)	inspiring	doubt; probably not very good or reliable, as a		dubious
character	(i.e. a shady individual, one whom it is unwise to trust)
e.g. I don't feel like trusting him. He seems to be of a dubious character.
3)	(of	things	or actions) doubtful; capable of		two interpretations,
one of which is bad, as a			dubious	compliment
e.g.	(1) James looked at			his daughter-in-law. That unseen glance of his was cold and
dubious.	(J. Galsworthy)

(2) One afternoon came a caller at her door, and that evening came Billy with dubious news. (J. London)

dubiously adv

e.g. (1) “Yes, - well – I think that’s all right”. But he added a little dubiously: “Of course my relatives here - - “ (Th. Dreiser)

(2) "It's a nice little ring. You can have it for thirty pounds." Bart picked it up dubiously.

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(D. Cusack)

7. to imply vt—to mean without saying directly, hint at or suggest e.g. (1) Silence sometimes implies consent. (A. Hornby)

(2) Supremalist painting was, as its name implies, the supreme point of modern art. (R. Aldington)

(3) The tone, implying as it did uncertainty . . . was sufficient to alarm Roberta. (Th. Dreiser)

Syn. to hint at

e.g. Why hadn't she told him or even hinted at the way Hugo felt? (M. Wilson)

implication n—the act of implying; what is implied; something hinted at or suggested but not expressed

e.g. (1) What are the implications of this statement? (i.e. What may be implied from it? What does it suggest?) (A. Hornby)

(2) "There isn't anybody I could find to handle such an outfit the way I'd want." The remark and the implications in Turnbull's manner were very clear: (M. Wilson)

EXERCISES