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

11)Carlos made a Martini.

12)Carlos showed them the Cadillac.

13)He put up his Cadillac.

14)Carlos lifted the chopper up in the air.

15)The boy put his glass away and sat at the table.

16)Carlos wound a string round the boy’s wrist.

17)The boy asked the narrator to referee.

18)An elderly woman entered the room.

19)The narrator went to the bar.

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4.Fill the blanks using the words from the text:

1)Clean and unspoiled clothes are called …

2)If a person is lively and full of excitement we may say that he is …

3)An … is a building joined to a larger one.

4)If you drink your tea taking only a little at a time into the front of your mouth, you … it.

5)An agreement by contract to pay money to somebody in case of a misfortune is called…

6)A … is a flat shape with four straight sides forming four right angles.

7)A … is the short thick finger which is set apart from the other four.

8)If you take hold of some object with a rough sudden movement, they say that you … it.

9)…is a feeling of nervous anxiety or worry.

10)A … face is a face covered with small light-brown spots.

11)A small round opening in the middle of the coloured part of the eye is called a …

12)Cutting something off with scissors in short quick strokes you … it.

13)The inward part of a hand is called a …

14)”To …” means to cut with a heavy sharp-ended tool.

5.Insert prepositions where necessary.

1)Carlos bobbed around … the back … the chair and inspected it … safety.

2)He offered a cigarette … the girl.

3)He pulled … a crocodile case and produced a knife which had a scissors … it and he snipped the end … the cigar.

4)The man removed his cigar … his mouth, cocked his head … one side and looked … the boy.

5)I held … my hand … the lighter, but he stood … and came … to do it … me.

6)The boy started shifting… … his seat and stroking … the back of his neck, and finally he placed both hands … his knees and began taptapping … his fingers … the kneecaps.

7)“Do I have to hold my finger … while you chop it …?”

8)He rung … the bell and then there was a knock … the door and a coloured maid came …

9)Carlos pointed … a pale-green Cadillac parked …

10)The man seemed serious … the bet.

11)Carlos began to hammer the nails … the top … the table. Then he tested them … firmness … his fingers.

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12)He wound the string … the boy’s wrist, then he fastened it … the nails.

13)The woman grabbed… Carlos’s wrist, took the chopper … him, threw it … the bed and took hold … the little man … by the lapels … his white suit.

6.Explain the meaning of the italicised phrasal verbs.

“It was getting on towards six o’clock”

“…the American sailors were getting on nicely with the English girls” ”…he was already trying to make something out of this”

“I can’t put up that sort of property” ”let me check up on this bet of yours” “All right,” I said. “Go ahead.”

7. Pick out all the slang words and phrases and give their neutral equivalents.

Style

8. What epithets does the author use to depict his characters?

a)List separately portrait-drawing epithets.

b)What do the following epithets refer to? What attitude do they reveal? Fill the chart.

9.Comment on Carlos’s speech characteristics.

10.Look at the description of the location at the beginning of the story. (”It was getting on….at one another” (71))

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1)What peculiarities of the sentence structure have you noticed? What is the effect of repetition of “and”(polysyndeton) in every sentence of the description? What mood does this device transfer?

2)What is the stylistic effect of the simile “the wind was … making the leaves hiss and crackle as though they were on fire”,

3)What epithets are used in this description? What atmosphere do they create?

4)What is the joined effect of all these devices?

11.Identify the climax of the story. What stylistic devices can you find in this extract? Pay attention to the sentence length, ellipsis, repetitions.

Speaking

12.Tell Carlos’s version of the story.

13.Draw word portraits of all the characters.

14.Describe in detail:

1)the location where the events took place;

2)the scene at the swimming-pool;

3)the conditions of the bet;

4)the boy’s feelings at different moments;

5)the narrator’s doubts;

6)the atmosphere of the betting game;

7)the final episode.

Discussion

15.Do you like betting? What would you put up?

16.What would you have done in the situation described in the story?

17.What sort of person does Carlos seem to be?

18.Give a character sketch of the American boy. What were his best and worst qualities? Do you sympathize with him?

19.What negative human qualities does R. Dahl expose in this story? What is your attitude to the people who like to show off (to boast, to cheat, to risk)?

20.Why didn’t the narrator insist on stopping the betting game?

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Writing

21.Write a short summary of the points you find important. Make a list of questions to it and let your partner answer them.

22.Rewrite the story as a script for a theatre performance.

23.Translate the following text into English.

Мы стояли и потягивали мартини – юноша с веснушчатым лицом и острым носом, в выгоревших коричневых плавках, крупная светло- волосая девушка в светло-голубом купальнике, пожилой человек с бесцветными глазами в безукоризненно белом костюме. Все молча наблюдали за происходящим. Они поспорили, и он поставил на кон машину против мизинца левой руки.

Мы обернулись и увидели черноволосую, довольно старую жен- щину. «Мне очень стыдно за него и жаль, что так случилось.» Она казалась ужасно доброй женщиной.

Она смотрела на нас горестно и печально, так как выиграла у него все. Это заняло у нее много времени, и пришлось изрядно потру- диться. До сих пор у меня перед глазами стоит эта рука: на ней было всего два пальца, один из них большой.

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DIP IN THE POOL (BY R. DAHL)

Comprehension

1.Put the following statements in correct order:

1)Mr B had a sudden idea.

2)Mr B went out on to the deck.

3)Mr Botibol hit the water.

4)The ship started rolling again.

5)Mr B saw no chance to win.

6)The movement of the ship became more violent.

7)Mr B’s plate slid away from his fork.

8)Mr B stood up and moved next to the purser.

9)The eating was finished and the coffee was served.

10)A few passengers left the dining-room.

11)Mr B consulted the purser about the promising numbers.

12)Mr B bought the lowest number.

13)The elevator man said that they had slackened speed since the roll had started.

14)The auctioneer announced the captain’s estimate.

15)Mr B went off to his cabin.

16)Mr B felt panic.

17)Mr B cried for help.

18)Mr B stepped onto the deck wearing his sports clothes.

19)Mr B asked the woman’s opinion of the auction.

20)The woman gave a jump of surprise.

21)The first three numbers were sold.

22)Another woman came onto the sundeck.

23)Mr Botibol went 20 yards away from the woman.

24)The passengers began to feel confident.

2.Agree or disagree with the following statements:

A D

1)The Botibols were quite well-off.

2)Mr Botibol was a handsome man and women admired his figure.

3)Ethel was never angry with Botibol.

4)Mr Botibol understood that he had fallen in love with the woman on the deck.

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5)He wanted to buy a new car to please the woman.

6)Mr Botibol went off to his cabin with a vague apprehension.

7)He made a wise decision to jump off the ship.

8)He decided to stop the ship not to let the woman win.

9)Mr Botibol was sure that the woman would give an alarm.

10)The woman had one of the “high field” numbers and didn’t want the ship to stop.

11)The purser knew nothing about lucky numbers.

12)The woman was not clever enough to realize that Mr Botibol needed help.

13)He woman’s companion persuaded her not to help Botibol.

14)The women wanted to give an alarm and stop the ship to save Botibol.

15)Mr Botibol committed suicide.

16)Ethel lost all the Botibol’s savings.

3.Guess the character:

1)…gave a little scream

2)…sprinkled water on the table cloth

3)…threaded their ways

4)…whispered urgently

5)…bent forward to listen

6)…leaned back to relax his belly

7)…automatically lowered his voice

8)…answered patiently

9)…had become silent

10)…were trying to hear

11)…seemed to relax

12)…remained tense, undecided

13)…called something that was difficult to understand

14)…leaned still farther over the rail

15)…tried to keep the little black head in sight

16)…treaded the deck in a military fashion

17)…turned and looked, but said nothing

18)…spoke less kindly than before

19)…dived in

20)…was wearing a coat of Persian lamb

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21)…came cautiously out on deck

22)…looked around nervously

23)…went off to the cabin

24)…lay still for several minutes

25)…wrote out a cheque

26)…called out

27)…answered patiently

28)…had to catch hold of the back of the chair

Vocabulary

4. Which of the following adjectives would you use to describe Mr

56)gullible

5.Match a word from column A with its synonym from column B:

6.Use words from the text instead of their italicised synonyms.

1)On the morning of the third day the passengers came out of their cabins and moved slowly on to the sun deck.

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2)This sudden calm created a more cheerful atmosphere over the ship.

3)There was a slight suggestion of pleasure in the way the purser spoke about the night.

4)The excitement gradually died down.

5)A few passengers made their ways between the tables and through doorway.

6)Mr Botibol thought that the ship had slowed because of the weather.

7)He dreamed of driving up smoothly to the door in a completely new

Lincoln convertible.

8)The passengers seemed to have noticed that the weather was stormy.

9)With that pleasant thought Mr Botibol went off to his cabin.

10)”Low field” would be sure to win so long as he made sure someone saw him falling.

11)But wait one minute, don’t hurry, William Botibol.

12)And if only the woman appeared to be a pleasant human being, it was certain that she would give an alarm and he could jump overboard free of worries.

13)Mr Botibol’s whispering was more persistent, more worried now.

14)The purser had prepared himself to hear a private secret.

15)Botibol had a desperate look of a man who had made a great decision.

16)Botibol sat slowly down on the narrow bed fixed to the wall.

17)He started to laugh in a silly uncontrolled way.

18)Botibol told the woman that there had been an auction in the small public room after dinner.

19)Almost certainly the ship would be delayed. Even if it were not, he could do a little to help in that direction himself.

20)Now a new fear took hold of him.

21)The woman was not sure what she ought to do: give the alarm or shout very loudly.

22)The thin woman saw the first woman and walked over to her.

7.Insert prepositions where necessary:

1)The dining-room was filled … people eating and drinking … the assured air … seasoned sailors.

2)A few of the passengers glanced … … their food waiting …the next roll, smiling nervously, little glimmers … apprehension … their eyes.

3)Mr Botibol, sitting … the purser’s table, saw his plate sliding … … …

his fork.

4)Botibol seated himself … the chair, then immediately leaned … and began to whisper … the purser’s ear.

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5)The others … the table were watching … the purser … that intent look that you can see … the race track.

6)He staggered and grabbed hold … the rail and held … tight with both hands.

7)The ship slackened speed … account … the weather.

8)Botibol settled himself … his seat … the desperate air … a man who refused to be frightened.

9)He was going to pick the car … … the way … the ship and drive it … home just … the pleasure … seeing Ethel’s face.

10)There were a… least five hundred dollars … his account .. the bank … home.

11)Mr Botibol wrote … a check, handed it … the auctioneer’s assistant and settled back … his chair.

12)The ship was moving fast, making … for the time lost … the night.

13)It was simply not possible to tell … her he had spent almost all … their two years’ savings … a ticket … the ship’s pool.

14)The only woman … sight was an elderly woman who was leaning … the rail staring … the sea.

15)It occurred … him that the woman might be the owner … one … the high numbers … the pool and would have a sound reason … not wishing to stop the ship.

8.Give equivalents to the phrasal verbs in italics.

1)The purser knew what Mr Botibol was driving at.

2)The purser doubted whether the captain had allowed for a really rough night.

3)He would get them to pay him in hundred-dollar bills.

4)We will take the ten numbers on either side to make up the range.

5)If you think this ship is going to cover less than 550 miles you better get in and buy this number.

6)No one’s going to bid you up so long as you hold your breath.

7)The ship was moving fast, obviously making up for the time lost during the night.

8)Do it now and get it over with.

Style

9.What are the implications of the following metaphors:

1)”He glanced around with approval at the remainder of his flock who were sitting quiet.” (p.86)

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