Notes on the text

1. Lincoln Cathedral is in the ancient town of Lincoln, North Midlands. The magnificent Cathedral Church of St. Mary, rising to 271 ft, was built between the 11th and 14 th centuries and its honey-coloured stone is said to change colour in varying light;

2. fantasy: a fanciful or imaginative creation, such as science fiction;

3. Gilbert, William Schwenck: (1836-1911), an English dramatist and poet;

4. psychic: having the alleged power of seeing objects or actions beyond the range of natural vision;

5. to send smb to Coventry: to refuse to speak to someone as a sign of disapproval or punishment.

Active words

1. come vi- (esp. up to, down to) to reach; come about to happen;

come by to obtain; come down to lose position, respect or social rank.

come in to become fashionable;

come off - to cease being joined to smth.;

come on (infml) to start; come out to become clear or known;

come to to regain consciousness.

2. objective a- not influenced by personal feelings; fair;

object n 1) a material thing; 2) smth or smb that is the focus of feeling, thought, or action, as an object of pity, admiration, ridicule, delight, curiosity, fear, etc.; 3) purpose; aim;

object vi to be against smth or someone.

objection n a statement or feeling of dislike, disapproval, or opposition

3. ground n- 1)a piece of land for a special use: a football ground; picnic grounds, a playground. 2) pl a reason;

to 'cover much/a lot of ground 1) to travel a certain distance; 2) to deal with many different subjects;

v to suit someone down to the ground (infml) to be just what one wants or likes;

groundless a (of feelings, ideas) without base or good reason;

well-grounded a based on fact;

4. thing n- 1) any material object; 2) a piece of clothing; 3) that which is not material; 4) a subject, matter; 5) a person or animal regarded as an object of pity, affection, or contempt; 6) happening, event; 7) pl possessions, belongings; 8) pl the general state of affairs.

(not) quite the thing (infml) what is considered socially correct, fashionable.

the thing is the most important point is.

5. oppose v - to be or act against. to be opposed to.

opposite n a person or thing that is as different as possible.

opposite a 1) totally different; 2) across from where you are.

opposition n 1) action against; 2) the political parties opposed to the government

6. initial n. usu. pl - a large letter at the beginning of a name;

initial a coming at the beginning, as the initial advantage, attempt, stage, step, symptoms, etc.

initiative n 1) the first step in an undertaking (esp. in the phr. to take the initiative). 2) (u) the ability to do things before others; enterprise.

7. attention n- 1) active focusing of the mind, oft. in the phr. to pay attention to, to attract/to draw smb's attention to; 2) thoughtful consideration, care;

attend vt/i 1) to give one's attention; 2) to be present at. 3) to look after;

attentive a 1) paying attention; 2) courteous, considerate, as an attentive host;

Ant. inattentive

8. reassure vt - to restore confidence or courage; reassurance n

assure vt 1) to promise; try to persuade; 2) to make certain;

assured a also self-assured, self-possessed, confident, asan assured manner

9. yield v/ - I) to give, produce, 2) to give up control (of);

Syn. surrender, give up

yield n that which is produced;

yielding a likely to agree with or give in to others.