Английский язык. Практикум по домашнему чтению (к рассказам Дж. Арчера и Р. Даля)

CLEAN SWEEP IGNATIUS (BY J. ARCHER)

Comments

Augean stables 1. In Greek mythology, a place where King Augeas kept a large number of cattle, and which had not been cleaned for many years. Hercules cleaned the stables by changing the course of the river so that it flowed through them.

clean out/cleanse the Augean stables to do a very difficult job.

Exchequer – the government department that is responsible for the collection of taxes and the paying out of public money.

Ambassador Plenipotentiary – someone having full power to take actions or make decisions; a representative of their government in foreign country.

Breach – an act of breaking, disobeying, not fulfilling a law, promise or duty, agreement

Ferret out – to discover something by searching In extenso (Latin) – at full length

1.Read the first four passages of the story and think on how the story might develop.

2.Write a character sketch and deliver a speech on the criteria of the qualities of a politician you might vote for.

Discuss with your partner willingness or reluctance to vote for a candidate who

•is a person with integrity and honor

•is prepared to tell the truth

•motivates the other people to take action for themselves

•is flexible

•shows concern about ecology, education, social welfare, national health

•is able to carry responsibility

•has strong leadership qualities

3.Make sure you understand the difference between the words in the following pairs:

avoidance – evasion blackmail – extortion

4.Specify the meaning of the following word combinations:

1) ‘…to clean out Augean stables’

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2)cynics pointed out

3)maiden speech

4)a personal coup

5)a perk of citizens

6)to dub smb ‘clean sweep’

7)to pay to go-betweens

8)money end up in Swiss bank accounts

9)on the assumption the audience is over

10)to pass a word

11)he was ready to pounce

12)inconspicuous hotel

5.Try to guess the meaning of these foreign words:

1)entrez

2)persona non grata

3)non jamais

4)d’accord

6.What were the following public officers accused of?

1)The Head of State

2)a minor official

3)a Lebanese financier

4)the Chief of Police

7.What associations occur to you on reading the following?

1)to feel the bristles of Ignatius new broom

2)not a breath of scandal became associated with his name

3)to ferret out the villains

4)he hadn’t bargained for …

5)the bankers froze

8.Complete the collocations below with a verb from the box.

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8)… confident in the deed

9.Give Russian equivalents to the phrases, use the definitions in brackets:

1)to set about his new task with vigor and determination (to begin)

2)to call in for an unscheduled consultation (to ask to come)

3)to go over the budget report (to investigate)

4)to get down to business (to start)

5)to put a case (to present)

6)to sleep over such a decision (to spend time thinking about)

10.Complete the phrases below with a phrasal verb from the box. Work in pairs.

1)…………... about his new task with vigor and determination

2)…………… in for an unscheduled consultation

3)………….. over the budget report

4)………….. down to business

5)…………… put a case

6)…………… sleep over such a decision

11.Prove the fact that nobody expected any changes with the coming of the seventeenth MF.

12.Try to reproduce Ignatius’ speech to Parliament (‘I intend to clean …’).

13.Find the answers to the following questions in the story:

36)What was his major policy statement?

37)What was the reaction to Ignatius speech?

38)What were his responsibilities in the position of Finance Minister?

39)What does the rank of Ambassador Plenipotentiary mean?

40)What was the reason for his unscheduled visit abroad?

41)What reputation do the Swiss Banks have?

42)What sort of ‘a rather unusual request’ was he speaking about to the Chairman?

43)What did Ignatius threaten the chairman with?

44)Do you think that they will allow him to open an account in the bank?

45)What human weakness or strength does the story reveal?

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14.Complete the sentences and arrange them as they go in the

text:

1)‘I suspect …’

2)‘After such a publicity …’

3)‘I am alarmed …’

4)‘He has authorized me to …’

5)‘I go about opening an account with your bank.’

6)‘Get me the names of …’

7)‘You leave me no choice.’

8)‘I intend …’

9)‘You could avoid such embarrassment by …’

15.Tell the story on behalf of the: a) Head of State; b) a Lagos Times journalist; c) the chairman’s personal assistant.

16.Write an interior monologue of Ignatius’ wife.

17.Try to end up the story.

18.Read the article and try to write a similar short article to the newspaper about the case.

‘A finance minister in the current government has been accused of taking bribes. Newspapers have revealed that the minister received a large but unspecified sum of money from a foreign businessman just weeks after his company was awarded a major contract. This is the second corruption scandal concerning minister in recent months, and general election is due within six months.’

19.Fill in the gaps with the right preposition.

1)To lose millions of dollars ……. bribes.

2)In his first major policy statement …….. Parliament.

3)He was not disheartened by the lack of confidence shown ………...

him.

4)The family checked ……… the local hotel.

5)After a change of clothes and the purchase of a return tourist ticket

………. cash, he boarded a Swissair flight unobserved.

6)He arrived ………… the bank.

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7)A gentle tap …… the door elicited ‘Entrez’.

8)I feel sure that our Minister with explain to your Ambassador in the most courteous ……. diplomatic language that we do not have the authority ……. the Swiss law to demand such disclosure.

20.Jot down the details of the description of his ‘clean up policy’.

21.Translate the following sentences into English:

1)Без уведомления Председателя банка и незаметно для старших офицеров Игнатиус покинул страну.

2)Его отсутствие, таким образом, не получило огласки.

3)Не хотите ли присесть? Я заказал кофе для нас двоих, если Вы позволите.

4)Позвольте мне убедить Вас, что я действую от имени моего пра- вительства.

5)Документ не имеет силы в нашей стране.

6)Вы можете выступать в этим коммюнике.

7)Мне не надо долго думать, чтобы принять такое решение.

8)Пусть будет так. Это не изменит политику банка.

9)Мы сообщим прессе, что глава нашего правительства недоволен поведением вашего банка.

10)Председатель протянул руку и увидел с ужасом, как Игнатиус положил руку в карман и вынул пистолет.

11)Игнатиус выступил вперед и приставил дуло в виску председате- ля.

12)Он поднял портфель, положил его на стол, нажал замки и крыш- ка открылась.

22.Develop the following situations:

1)slept soundly for hours

2)boarded the plane unobserved

3)feel safe unless …

4)meticulously scrutinized

5)bolt upright

6)took the pistol awkwardly

7)set about the task enthusiastically

8)written out boldly in hand

9)extracted an envelope with a flourish

10)rows of hundred-dollar bills packed neatly

23.Specify the meaning of the following words and phrases:

1) bank accounts: current account, cheque (AmE: checking) account

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2)a joint account

3)a deposit account

4)a saving account

5)account balance

6)to manage one’s account

7)a debit card / a credit card

8)to be in the black

9)to be in the red

10)overdraft

11)interest rate

24.What does the bank’s rule of confidentiality mean? Do you feel it is always fair to keep to this rule?

25.The title (‘Clean Sweep Ignatius’) contains a shadow meaning.

Which of the following meanings suits the best:

1)a complete removal or change;

2)a complete victory for sb.

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NOT A PENNY MORE, NOT A PENNY LESS

(BY J. ARCHER)

Background information.

The Great Depression

One Thursday afternoon in October 1929, a workman outside an upper floor window of a Wall Street office found himself staring his eyes of four policemen. They reached out to catch hold of him. ‘Don’t jump!’ shouted one of them. ‘I am just washing the window’, explained the surprised worker. To explain this incident, we have to look back at what had happened in Wall Street, the home of New York Stock Exchange where dealers called stockbrokers buy and sell shares.

Owing shares in a business gives you the right to a share of its profits. You can also buy shares at one price and sell them later at a higher one, if the company does well. In 1929 it was a kind of national hobby, had become a sort of fever. Many people bought shares on credit.

The true value of shares in a business firm depends upon its profit. The profits of many firms had been falling for some time and so some cautious investors began to sell their shares. A panic began on Thursday, October 24, 1929 –Black Thursday – 13 mln shares were sold. The following Tuesday-Terrifying Tuesday, October 29 16,5 mln were sold. Thousands of people were ruined, some committed suicide. The collapse was known as the Wall Street Crash. Some people blamed the blindness of politicians, others the greed of investors and stockbrokers. But the main course was that too few Americans were earning enough money to buy the goods that themselves were producing.

The Crash made people uncertain about the future. Many decided to save any money they had instead of spending it on new cars and other gadgets, facilities. So American factories were closing and it caused the high rate of unemployment. By the end of 1921 nearly 8,000 mln Americans were out of work. They had to live on charity and spent hours in ‘breadlines’. The Depression brought ruin and despair to towndwellers and farmers. Many farmers grew desperate and took out their shotguns, banded together, drove away, leaving their farm not to pay debts. They paraded the streets in angry processions waving placards with words: ‘In Hoover we trusted, now we are busted’.

In 1932 the Democratic Party chose F.D.Roosevelt for the election and he succeeded. He took the oaths as President in 1933. For hundred days he sent Congress a flood of proposals for the new laws. The American people had asked for action. In the ‘Hundred Days’ he gave it to them.

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Comments

trophy – a prize given for winning a race, competition, test of skill bulls and bears

a bull – a person who buys shares in expectation of a price rise or who causes such a rise

a bear –a person who sells shares in expectation of a fall in prices Great Depression – a severe economic period of reduced business ac-

tivities and high unemployment in the 30th which followed a crash on Wall Street

Prohibition – the period from 1919 to 1933 in the US when the making, sale, transport of alcoholic drinks was forbidden by law. It caused the criminal activity.

late husband – means that he is dead

ex – in used in connection of titles; the ex-mayor, her third exhusband;

former-still alive but no longer in the same job or position: our former manager

sartorial – neatly and stylish naïveté – the quality of being naïve

genial – in many languages this adjective has a connection with the noun genius, somebody who is brilliant. In English, a genial person may be stupid, because it means jovial, cheerful, easy-going, attributes that have nothing to do with brains.

West End Street – a fashionable place in central London

Harley Street – a street in London where the most expensive doctors work

a Barbican flat – a flat in an area of modern buildings in the city of London

the Lower East Side – a part of Manhattan in New York, one of the poorest parts where immigrants live

Chelsea – an area of London known for its expensive housing and fashionable shops

Dartmouth – a port in Devon, England. Naval officers are trained at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth.

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1. Name the characters and match vices and virtues they possess. Speak to your partner about the results and give your proof.

2.Answer the following questions:

1)What sort of natural gift can Henryk Metelski boast of?

2)Has your opinion about him changed while reading?

3)What temporary jobs did he try?

4)What was the message of considerable importance about?

5)What gave Mrs Rennick a little more confidence?

6)What was ‘Waldorf’ famous for?

7)What wisdom did Henryk discover through his life?

8)What course of action did he suggest to Roger Sharpley?

9)“His personal reputation was never in credit,” – is there proof of that?

10)What was his driving force?

11)How did he treat women?

12)What were their common reasons for marriage with Arlene Hunter?

13)What were the hot points of fierce disagreement between Harvey and Rosalie?

14)Who were the officers in his recruits? What were their tasks?

15)What is meant by a typical Harvey Metcalfe’s touch?

16)After investing his father’s inheritance, Stephen spent the next few days happily watching the shares to climb, even before the expected announcement. What was the announcement about?

17)Richard Elliott leaked stories to the press. What did he expect to get?

18)What lesson did David learn in the Harvard Business School? How did he apply his knowledge?

19)What was the Harvard Business School motto?

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20)What wisdom did Steve get from his father? What was his hobby?

21)What brought Dr. Oakley into prominence: a successful man or a highly successful practitioner?

22)What was the reason for Harvey to have a mild celebration?

23)The American police were keeping an eye on David. Did they blame him for the case?

24)What did Stephen ask the Inspector for? Who were four main punters who lost $1 mln?

25)The more James grappled with the problem, the less he came to grips with it. What was the problem and what was his overriding worry?

26)The Casino’s business is gambling. What’s the difference between Monte Carlo and Las Vegas?

27)What puzzled Stephen when James was performing the role of the Secretary of the University Chest, while the others stared at him in admiration?

28)What can prove that James was a good actor? Why do you think he had chosen that image?

29)What was Harvey’s vision of the year? Why did he call it ‘wonderful?

30)How did they explain the importance of donation?

3.Comment on the change of David’s emotions when he arrived at the office and found the door locked.

4.Describe their relationship with his fellow countryman Gronowich. What lesson did he learn from it?

5.What was every punter’s personal contribution in getting back their money?

6.Whose plan do you appreciate the most?

7.What does the statement “Not a penny more, not a penny less” tell us about the four people involved?

8.What made them believe in the success of their operation?

9.Metelski had come to the world with three main disadvantages. Could you name them and describe the plan he set to improve them?

10.Comprise Hedryk’s biography for a magazine. Mention the following items:

•a family matter

•a way to the top

•a twist of fate

•private life

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