Английский язык. Практикум по домашнему чтению (к рассказам Дж. Арчера и Р. Даля)
.pdf2)“He was looking into the small black eyes of the other man, seeing the two single little specks of excitement dancing – in their centres.” (88)
3)“…the great waves were welling up high and white horses were riding against the wind with plumes of spray behind them as they went.” (89),
4)“A fine electricity of fear was beginning to prickle under the skin of his stomach.” (93)
10.What do you think of the effect of the following simile?
“His small body … resembled, in shape at any rate, a bollard.” (94)
11.Syntactical peculiarities of one’s speech always reflect the emotional state of the speaker. Comment on the structure of the sentences of Mr Botibol’s interior speech.
1)(p.93-94) “Well, he thought, why not? … Have to do it soon, because the time limit was midday.”
2)(p.94-95) “Yes, he told himself … You remember that?”
Pay attention to the sentence length, point out elliptical sentences and repetitions. What the emotional state of the Mr Botibol do these devices reflect?
12. What epithets does the author use to describe his characters? Point out a) epithets with positive and negative shades of meaning, b) epithets creating a visual image. Are there any transferred epithets?
13.Find hyperboles in the text and comment on their stylistic aim.
14.Pick out the literary details depicting the atmosphere at the auction.
Speaking
15.Give an account of the events on behalf of a) Mrs Renshaw, b) the purser, c) Mr Botibol, d) the auctioneer, e) the woman with fat ankles, f) the bony woman.
16.Give a word portrait of Mr Botibol.
17.Act out the conversation between Botibol and the purser.
18.Describe in detail the episodes
1)in the dining-room
2)at the auction
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3)in the cabin
4)on the sundeck
19.Describe Mr Botibol’s feelings at different moments of the
story.
Discussion
What do you think?
A)Why?
1)Why did Mr Botibol take a chair close to the auctioneer?
2)Why were the men at the auction stiff and overshaved?
3)Why did Mr Botibol want to watch Ethel’s face?
4)Why wasn’t it possible to tell Ethel about the loss?
5)Why was it necessary to tell her?
6)Why did Mr Botibol sail through the air spread-eagled?
7)Why did the woman remain motionless? Why did she relax?
8)Why did the second woman’s face become alert? Why didn’t she believe the fat-ankled woman?
B)What did they feel?
1)What did the passengers feel when the ship started rolling? When the movement became more and more violent?
2)What did the purser feel when Mr Botibol kept asking him in an urgent whisper?
3)What did Mr Botibol feel when the auctioneer announced “low field”?
4)What did Ethel feel when she learned about Botibol? When she knew about her bank account?
5)What did the woman feel when she saw Mr Botibol in the water and heard him crying?
6)What did the second woman feel when she heard about a man diving overboard?
21.Imagine yourself in the similar situation. What would you do?
22.What can you guess from Botibol’s interior speech about
1)the husband-wife relations
2)the family budget
3)Ethel’s character
4)Botibol’s emotions at different moments?
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23.Give a character-sketch of Mr Botibol.
24.What is the author’s attitude to the main character? What details make him look grotesque?
25.What human weaknesses does Dahl mock in this story?
26.R. Dahl’s stories are sometimes called fairy-tales for adults. What do you think is the moral of this one?
5)Which of the following points can be considered the message of this story?
6)Gambling is a dangerous thing.
7)You never know what might happen next.
8)Easy money brings no good.
9)Gamblers deserve their lot.
10)One should have courage to face up to one’s failure.
11)Impulsive people look ridiculous.
27.Roleplay.
Imagine there was a police investigation of Mr Botibol’s death. Work in groups. Among you are Ethel, a police-inspector, a detective, the captain, the auctioneer, the purser, the woman with the fat ankles and the bony woman. Try to find out more information about Mr Botibol’s last days, examine the reasons for his leaping off the deck.
Writing
28.Write a key-sentence to each paragraph of the story. With the help of the key-sentences give a summary of the story.
29.Write down and act out Mr Botibol’s inner monologues a) after the auction, b) next morning, c) before leaping off the deck.
30.Rewrite the final episode on the deck as a script for a cartoon.
31.Translate the following text into English.
Первые два дня было ненастно, и внезапное ощущение покоя, ко- торое принесло море, разрядило атмосферу на корабле. Даже самые болезненные пассажиры выбрались на палубу, подставив лицо не греющему январскому солнцу.
Одни пассажиры были спокойны, другие – откровенно самоуве- рены, кое-кто даже шутил насчет еды и качки, чтобы помучить тех, кому и без того было плохо.
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В курительной комнате уже собрались на аукцион. Пассажиры сгруппировались вокруг столиков: мужчины в смокингах, немного скованные, слегка порозовевшие и выбритые до лоска, маялись ря- дом со своими белорукими, безучастными женами.
Мистер Ботибол занял место поближе к столу с отчаянным видом человека, который собирается принять нелегкое решение и не соби- рается отступать.
Когда раздался первый крик о помощи, женщина быстро огляну- лась и увидела в воздухе летящего мужчину в белых шортах и тен- нисных туфлях, орущего и размахивающего руками. Она растеря- лась, что делать: бросать спасательный пояс, бежать звать на помощь или просто повернуться и кричать. Она застыла в напряжении и не- решительности. Потом улыбнулась нежной, доверчивой улыбкой и спустилась вниз в каюту.
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GALLOPING FOXLEY (BY R. DAHL)
Comprehension
1. Are the following statements are true or false?
T F
1)Sometimes Mr Perkins travelled to his office by train.
2)His daily routine depressed him and he needed a change.
3)Perkins was a bank accountant.
4)On his way Perkins was always reading the “Guardian”.
5)In London Perkins regularly came head on with the policeman.
6)One day a pretty woman attracted his attention.
7)Mr Perkins was about 63 years old.
8)Now and then he used to talk to Mr Grummit.
9)Once a stranger nearly knocked him off his feet.
10)It was a fine spring day.
11)The stranger stood out against the rest of the commuters.
12)He turned out to be Perkins’s school friend.
13)Perkins found the man’s face extremely unpleasant.
14)On his way to London Mr Perkins plunged into his school memories.
15)He went to a modern experimental school.
16)It was William’s father who had caused his sufferings.
17)Pekins’s father was a head shorter than Foxley.
18)William adored his father.
19)Once William thought of committing suicide.
20)William was one of the fags at Rapton.
21)He did his best to please his ”boazer”.
22)Perkins always wrote his letters in the unheated lavatory.
23)The boy felt excruciating pain in his behind after the beating.
24)Perkins wanted to embarrass Foxley in public but he failed.
2.Complete the sentences:
1)Mr Perkins had travelled to the City by the 8.12 train for…
2)He liked the process of commuting because …
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3)He liked his fellow commuters who were …
4)When Perkins took his seat by the window he usually …
5)He compared himself with a clock as …
6)On his way to the office Perkins invariably…
7)The walk gave him a sense of.assurance because …
8)In his pocket Perkins carried …
9)One Tuesday after Easter Mr Perkins …
10)The weather was …
11)Mr Perkins immediately became aware that …
12)The stranger was standing …
13)He looked different from the people on the platform as …
14)His countenance was extremely …
15)Mr Perkins was horrified when the man …
16)The sound of the man’s voice reminded Perkins of …
17)When William Perkins was 12 he went …
18)A tall boy gave William’s father a …
19)He didn’t want his own son to …
20)William didn’t know anything about …
3.Explain the following:
1)William Perkins found himself in the same “house” as Foxley.
2)Even worse – he was in Foxley’s study.
3)Foxley was a “boazer” and Perkins was his fag.
4)The straw hat had to be worn at all times outdoors.
Speaking
4.Describe:
a)Mr Perkins’s process of commuting;
b)his fellow commuters.
5.Give a word-portrait.
Speaking for Mr Perkins give word-portraits of the stranger and Bruce Foxley.
6.Answer the following questions:
1)What were Perkins’s duties as a fag?
2)What shows that William was not idle?
3)How did Foxley teach Perkins manners? Why was the boy beaten?
4)Describe Foxley’s ways.
5)Why did Perkins call him “galloping Foxley”?
6)What was William’s attitude to his prefect?
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7)Describe the beating procedure.
8)Give a character sketch of Bruce Foxley.
7. Give a summary.
Speak about fagging in English private schools of the previous century.
Vocabulary
8.Explain the meaning of the words and expressions in italics:
1)…dignified people who stick to their jobs and don’t go gadding about all over the world.
2)…there seemed to be an excess of silk and polish about his person.
3)…he had one of those leathery countenances that you see in advertisements..
4)The stranger was standing plumb in the middle of the platform looking for all the world as though he owned the whole place.
5)I’m sorry, but somehow or other I find it downright offensive.
6)…my whole routine had been thoroughly upset.
7)”Who’s this bounder?” – “Search me,” Grummit said.
8)The cane! That did it!
9)Ripping day, isn’t it.
10)…the eyes were a shade too close together for comfort…
11)I had once contemplated suicide.
12)he never lifted a finger for himself unless absolutely necessary.
13)Foxley knew all about this time lag…
14)You strike me as being an impudent and ill-mannered boy.
15)That low one was a rotten shot.
16)To burn Foxley’s toast was a “beatable offence.
17)All right, I told myself. Here we go.
9.Give equivalents of the italicised phrasal verbs.
1)I sat staring at him for at least a minute before I got hold of myself…
2)…when my digestion started acting up on me as well.
3)I am about to beat you again.
4)…somebody who was wanting to get by us gave my father a great push from behind…
5)But the worst memories of all had to do with the changing room.
6)…old Foxley’s really got it in for you, Perkins.
7)Oh my goodness, how it was all coming back to me now.
8)…if you wanted to you could go ahead and tell him exactly what you thought of him…
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10.Insert prepositions where necessary.
1)I am, … every sense … the words, a contented commuter.
2)The stranger was standing plumb … the middle … the platform.
3)Personally, I mistrust … all handsome men.
4)But the sound … his voice had a sudden and extraordinary effect … me.
5)Then I sort of froze … and sat staring … him … at least a minute before I got hold … myself.
6)Here was this one sitting opposite … me … the carriage.
7)This time, … my relief, the man got … another compartment.
8)When I walked … … the platform, all the umbrellas were rolled …
9)… spite … this, I felt depressed.
10)I looked straight back … him … support … my father.
11)If a chair were … his path he would knock it aside and I would have to run … and pick it … .
12)I had spent my pocket money … a box … special firelighters.
13)It is absolutely impossible to prevent yourself … reaching back and clutching it … your fingers.
14)Through the week, I never had a moment … time … myself.
15)I would get … from my chair, put … my raincoat and set … … this long and lonely trek.
16)…The other hand, you can’t keep a brolly … your head while scrambling about … a woody bank looking … irises.
17)The rest … the day was to be spent … an agony … waiting … the evening to come.
18)I would remind him playfully … some… the things he used to do ...
me.
11.Substitute the italicised words and expressions with their synonyms from the text.
1)In “Contented Commuter” the narrator was giving a perfectly true description of his feelings.
2)Perkins thought that he was becoming exceedingly pleased with himself and his life.
3)The stranger was a biggish, thick and strong man.
4)He lowered his “Times” and glanced at the stranger secretly.
5)“Who’s this cad?” –“I don’t know,” Grummit said.
6)It was an excellent day.
7)The stranger’s face was haughty and his eyes were full of contempt.
8)William’s father seized the guilty boy by the wrist.
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9)The boy turned away and walked in a confident and unhurried manner down the platform.
10)William had to carry Foxley’s messages.
11)The miserable little fags had to serve their “boazers”.
12)Foxley used to saunter across the room in his graceful stylish way.
13)Foxley said that William had moved back in pain and gave him an additional stroke.
14)After the beating the boy felt extremely bad pain in his behind.
15)Foxley used to imitate William’s father saying that the boy gave him an impression of an extremely rude and disrespectful child.
16)It was impossible to keep a brolly over one’s head while moving or climbing quickly over the rough surface of the woody bank.
17)The other fags examined Perkins’s back and said that the low stroke was a bad shot.
18)Then Foxley would open the door and everyone would pretend to be cleaning his teeth.
19)Perkins remembered the fear of those mornings, the wild nervous dusting and scrubbing.
20)The boy even had to polish the bottom of Foxley’s shoes.
21)Closing the door of Foxley’s study with a loud noise was a “beatable offence”.
22)A little mischievous idea began to seize Perkins.
23)Perkins decided to make Foxley feel rather uncomfortable.
24)So he smiled at Foxley and gave him a little polite nod.
Style
12. Look at the following description of Perkins’s fellow commuters:
“…there they all are, good, solid, steadfast people, standing in their right places with their right umbrellas and hats and ties and faces and their newspapers under their arms, as unchanged and unchangeable through the years as the furniture in my own living-room.”
a)Mark the alliteration. What sound is repeated? What is the aim of the repetition? What shade of meaning is repeated in the words good, solid and steadfast?
b)In what way is the word right connected with these three words? What is the effect of the repetition of this word?
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c)Try to imagine the sentence without the repetition of and. What does the repetition add?
d)What is the stylistic effect of the repetition in unchanged and unchangeable?
e)Analyse the simile. What is the implication of the comparison between people and furniture?
f)Speak of the joined effect of all these devices.
13.Point out inversion, lexical and semantic repetitions, parallel constructions and alliteration in the following sentence. What is the stylistic effect of the combination of these devices?
“And good faces they are too, my kind of faces, my kind of people – sound, sedulous, businesslike folk with none of that restlessness and glittering eye that you see in all these so called clever types…”.
14.Pick out all the epithets describing and characterizing Foxley. What attitude of the narrator do they convey?
15.Comment on the stylistic effect of the following similes and metaphors:
1)“it serves as a sort of slipway along which I am gently but firmly launched into the waters of daily business routine”;
2)“when a new face appears on the platform it causes a certain protestant ripple, like a new bird in a cage of canaries”;
3)“I have become a sort of clock”;
4)“the hair I could remember – coarse and slightly wavy, with just a trace of oil all over it, like a well-tossed salad”;
5)“The cane! That did it! I stopped like I’d been shot.”
6)“That curiously crisp, familiar voice, clipping its words and spitting them out very hard and small like a little quick-firing gun shooting out raspberry seeds”;
7)“…seeing everything around me suddenly very bright and flat and far away, like a magic lantern picture, and very big, and very unreal, and a sort of swimming through the water in my eyes”;
8)“it feels as if someone is laying a red hot poker right across your naked buttocks and it is absolutely impossible to prevent yourself from reaching back an clutching it with your fingers”.
16.What is the stylistic aim of hyperbole in the following:
1)“Their lives, like my own, are regulated nicely by the minute hand of an accurate watch.”
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