Part 3 (Chapters IX-XII)

LEXICAL TASKS

1. Transcribe, read, translate the following words and restore the context from the chapters.

1) absurd; 2) anxiety; 3) considerate; 4) disconcert; 5) exhausted; 6) ghost; 7) gratify; 8) inexplicable; 9) ridiculous; 10) vague.

2. Give the three forms of the following verbs.

Beseech, draw, hear, know, lay, mean, meet, pay, rise, seat, show, sing, sink, take, tell, wear, whip.

3. Match the words with their definitions and restore the context from the book. ONE WORD IS EXTRA!

absurd agitation agreeable aloof anxiety beseech considerate crow over smb disconcerted evidently flatter gratify inexplicable ridiculous stern

an uncomfortable feeling in the mind, usu. caused by the fear or expectation that smth. bad will happen; ask eagerly and anxiously; express pride openly, esp. when taking pleasure from someone else’s misfortunes; against reason or common sense, clearly false or foolish; pleasant; painful excitement of the mind or feelings; praise smb too much or insincerely, esp. in order to gain advantage; proved by clear signs; removed or distant either physically or emotionally; satisfy (a desire); silly and unreasonable; that cannot be explained; thoughtful of the rights and feelings of others; thrown into confusion.

4. Complete the following sentences with an appropriate preposition or adverb and explain what the marked expressions mean.

1. All tabloids announced about the millionaire’s engagement … a waitress.

2. I always feel ill … ease in big companies of unknown people.

3. I am not … the least sure that what you suggest is the best way out.

4. In secondary school pupils usually rise … their feet when the teacher enters the class.

5. It doesn’t look very generous of you to crow … the defeated rival.

6. It had never before occurred … Kitty that her father might have his own opinion, different … her mother’s.

7. Kitty’s mother was dreaming to get her daughters … her hands.

8. Mike was taken … by the news Mary had broken to him.

9. The children were so absorbed in the game that they hardly took notice … the mother when she entered the room.

10. The experiment has turned failure due … the bad weather.

11. Treat … other people as you would like them to treat … you: … respect and care.

12. Try not to pay attention … John’s behaviour tonight: he has been a bit hard recently.

13. Why not try to make peace with your brother, … least … your parents’ sake?

5. Substitute the marked expressions with their synonyms from the chapters. (the number in brackets denotes the number of the page). Make all the necessary changes.

1. It didn’t come to your mind to ask somebody or other what my name was? (24)

2. In spite of the rain, the dog didn’t move from the spot where her master had left her. (31)

3. The hospital has never been a very pleasant place to visit. (29)

4. Just look at his face: he is clearly offended! (24)

5. Kitty had only a very unclear idea what her husband’s job consisted in. (26)

6. I shouldn’t be at all surprised if you are absolutely unaware what my name is. (24)

7. Not willing to continue the talk, Tom stood up and left the room. (34)

8. He was evidently astonished. (24)

9. She had known him but a little while and had never paid much attention to him. (24)

10. After all those awful things she had told him the day before, Mary couldn’t make herself approach him and apologize to him. (30)

6. Translate the phrases into English, paying special attention to the underlined words. Make your own sentences with these phrases.

1) внимательный супруг; 2) из-за транспортных пробок; 3) молить о помощи; 4) не двигаться с места; 5) не иметь ни малейшего представления; 6) не обращать внимания на пустяки; 7) нелепая ситуация; 8) нелепый костюм; 9) необъяснимое предчувствие; 10) ни в малейшей степени; 11) относиться к кому-либо с уважением; 12) потакать капризам; 13) приятный собеседник; 14) ради самого себя; 15) сбыть с рук; 16) совершенно обессиленный; 17) суровое выражение лица; 18) чувствовать себя не в своей тарелке.

READING COMPREHENSION TASKS

Recall the Contents of the Story.

1. Where did Kitty meet Walter Fane?

2. How did it happen that Walter started to visit the Garstins?

3. What did Kitty learn about Walter’s profession and whereabouts?

4. With what member of the Garstins’ family did Walter Fane communicate most successfully?

5. What marriage proposals did Kitty get that season?

6. Where were the Garstins going to spend the summer?

7. What way was Walter going to arrange everything if Kitty accepted his proposal?

8. How long had Kitty and Walter been married by the events described at the beginning of the novel?

Questions and Tasks for Analytical Reading.

1. Recall the story of Kitty and Walter’s acquaintance. How did Kitty regard Walter from the beginning? What differed him from her usual companions? Why didn’t she guess Walter was in love with her? Was it that he really didn’t give any sign of affection or that Kitty didn’t notice the signs?

2. What did Walter tell Kitty about China? Did he mention anything sincerely interesting for him? Did he aim at deceiving Kitty not telling her about peculiarities of social life Hong Kong?

3. What did Kitty’s father think about Walter Fane? What can you infer about Mr Garstin himself from the characteristics he gave Walter?

4. Speak about Walter’s portrait (pp. 24, 27). What in his face seemed strange to Kitty? What appealing and what unpleasant features did Walter have?

5. Recall the circumstances under which Walter proposed to Kitty. How did he arrange their talk? Why did Kitty find his proposal “odd”? How did Walter explain the fact that his proposal came quite of a sudden? What made Kitty like him in course of the talk?

6. Why did Kitty accept Walter’s proposal?

7. How did Walter Fane treat his wife? How do you understand the comparison: “he treated her <…> as though she were a fellow-guest in a country house”? How did he treat other people? What in your opinion was more natural for him: to be sentimental or to be reserved?

8. Compare Kitty and Walter: their interests, daily activity, regard of people, manner of speaking, appearance. Did they make a good match?

9. Summon up the prehistory of Kitty’s marriage beginning with her first season and ending with her accepting Walter’s proposal. Make up a monologue.