Easy English (начальный этап обучения). Учебно-методическое пособие для студентов младших курсов средних специальных учебных заведений

boy joins the army, because of his love to a girl who wants to be a pilot. But through the book his character and understanding of the situation changes. He understands what it means to be a citizen of the state, to be responsible for your decisions. While in the army, he understands that only a man who can forget his own interests for the sake of his Motherland is a real citizen. At the end of the book he is an officer who understands his duty.

Helpful phrases for retelling a short story

1.I’m going to say a few words about a story I’ve recently read.

5.The scene is laid in (place) in the (time).

6.The plot of the story is interesting/exciting etc.

7.The story tells about a … who … (here the content of the story must be given very briefly).

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10.On the whole, the story is good. It’s worth reading and I recommend you to read it.

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon on the 23rd of April 1564. His father was John Shakespeare, a craftsman and trader. William went to a grammar school where he studied grammar, logics, rhetoric and Latin.

We don’t know much about his early life. In 1582 Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. Their daughter Susanna was born in 1583 and two years later Anne gave birth to twins, Hamnet and Judith.

In 1585 Shakespeare left his hometown and moved to London. He was the co-owner of a playing company Lord Chamberlain's Men. In 1603, the company came under the patronage of King James I and changed its name to the King's Men. In 1596 the company founded their own theater called the Globe – a lot of Shakespeare’s plays were performed on its stage. Shakespeare died in Stratford on the 23rd of April 1616.

Shakespeare had a great ability to summarize the wide range of human emotions in beautiful and laconic verses. His literary heritage includes about 37 plays, 154 sonnets and some poems. He coined more than 1700 English words and created a lot of common expressions, which are widely used in modern English.

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Shakespeare is often called one of the most remarkable storytellers

that ever lived. He wrote comedies and tragedies, chronicles and romances

which have become immortal.

He created a lot of great, memorable and complex characters like

Hamlet, Ophelia, Lady Macbeth, Othello and King Lear. Actors love

playing Shakespearean characters – these roles are usually really difficult,

but very rewarding. The role of Hamlet is often considered to be the top of

an actor’s career.

Vocabulary

Stratford-upon-Avon – Стратфорд-на-Эйвоне

Craftsman – ремесленник Trader – торговец

Grammar school – средняя школа

Twins – двойняшки Co-owner – совладелец

Patronage – покровительство, поддержка Ability – способность

Verses – стихи, поэзия

Heritage – наследие

Coin – придумывать

Widely – широко Remarkable – выдающийся

Immortal – бессмертный Memorable – запоминающийся

Complex – сложный

Rewarding – стоящий, заслуживающий вознаграждения Consider – полагать, считать

Answer the questions:

1.When and where was Shakespeare born?

2.Who was his father?

3.Was Shakespeare married? Did he have children?

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4.What playing company did he belong to?

5.What theater did the company found?

6.When and where did Shakespeare die?

7.What did he write?

8.What kinds of characters did he create?

9.Do actors love playing Shakespearean characters?

O’Henry

O’Henry was born in Greensboro, a little town in North Carolina on the 11th of September, 1862. He was one of the most famous American short story writers. O’Henry’s real name was William Sydney Porter. The works of this writer reflect a specific period in American literature — the turn of the century. His credo was — art should be true, democratic and it should address contemporary life and embrace all aspects of life.

In 1882 at age of 20 O’Henry moved to Texas, where he had various jobs: a bank teller and then a newspaper columnist. In 1894 while working for First National Bank in Austin, O’Henry was accused of stealing $4000.

Not wanting to go to prison for his crime, O’Henry fled to Honduras, and stayed there for six months before returning to the United States. Upon his return, the court tried him and put in prison in Ohio for three years. While in prison, he began writing short stories and it is there that he took the penname O’Henry for his writings.

After O’Henry was released from the prison in 1901 he moved to New York, which was the setting for lots of his stories. All in all, O’Henry wrote more than 250 stories and is most famous for their surprise endings and humor. The best of his works were published in books: “Cabbages and

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Kings”, “The Four Million”, “Heart of the West”, “The Voice of the City”

and others. His works had considerable influence on American literature.

His love for humanity, for the common people, his critical attitude towards

injustice still attract readers of today. O’Henry wrote such classic short

stories as “The Ransom of Red Chief” and “The Furnished Room”.

O’Henry was a born writer of great talent. He was one of the most

widely published American authors and his works were translated into

nearly every language.

In his last years O’Henry had financial and health problems. He died on the 5th of June, 1910 in New York City.

Vocabulary

North Carolina – Северная Каролина (штат в США)

Reflect – отражать

The turn of the century – рубеж веков

Contemporary – современный

Embrace – охватывать

Move – переезжать

Bank teller – банковский служащий

Newspaper columnist – фельетонист

Accuse – обвинять

Steal – воровать

Prison – тюрьма

Crime – преступление

Fled (прош. вр. от flee) – бежать, спасаться бегством

The court – суд

Pen-name – псевдоним

Release – выпускать

Setting – место действия

Considerable influence – значительное влияние

Humanity – человечество

Common – обычный, простой

Attitude – отношение

Injustice – несправедливость

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Answer the questions:

1.When and where was O’Henry born?

2.What was his real name?

3.What was his credo?

4.When did he move to Texas? Did he have various jobs?

5.What happened to him in 1894?

6.What did he do then?

7.When did O’Henry take his pen-name?

8.When did he move to New York?

9.How many stories did he write? What were they famous for?

10.Where were the best of his works published?

11.What still attracts readers of today?

12.What classic short stories did he write?

13.When and where did he die?

Dialogue “Do you like to read?”

-Vic, do you like to read?

-Yes, of course.

-What do you prefer to read?

-I like adventure and travel books. Sometimes I read historical books. What about you?

-I don’t like historical books. I find them boring. I prefer science fiction and fantasy.

-Who is your favourite writer?

-Stephen King. And yours?

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-They are many. It’s very hard to choose. Daniel Defoe, Walter Scott,

Johnathan Swift. “Ivanhoe” is one of my favourite novels.

-Ok. When do you read? When do you find time to read?

-I read in the evening and at weekends.

Dialogue “At the library”

-Hello! I’d like to exchange books.

-Very good. What book are you returning?

-“Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë. Thank you for this book. I enjoyed reading it. The plot is very interesting.

-Of course. Charlotte Brontë is an outstanding author, and her novel “Jane Eyre” made her name famous. Indeed, this book is one of the treasures of world literature. And what would you like to take today?

-Today, for a change, I’d like to read an adventure story. I wonder if you could recommend me something exciting.

-Have you read “The Headless Horseman” by Thomas Mayne Reid?

-No, not yet. But the title sounds promising.

-Well, if you want exciting reading, “The Headless Horseman” is just the thing. The scene is laid in America, in the Wild West, and the time is the 19th century.

-The 19th century… The Wild West… cowboys… sombreros… Yes, I think the book will be interesting.

-You will like it. You will find there brave noble men, beautiful women, a lot of adventures and great love. And – a happy end.

-Oh, I love happy ends! Thank you very much.

-You are welcome.

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Topic 7

Travelling

People began to travel ages ago. The very first travellers were explorers who went on trips to find wealth, fame or something else. Their journeys were very dangerous but still people keep on going to the unknown lands. Nowadays it is not as dangerous and much more convenient.

Millions of people all over the world travel every day. They travel to see other countries and continents, modern cities and the ruins of ancient towns. They travel to enjoy picturesque places just for a change of scene. It is always interesting to discover new things, different ways of life, to meet different people, to try different food, to listen to different musical rhythms.

You can choose the means of transport you like: plane, train, ship, bicycle or you can travel hitch-hiking.

Of course, travelling by air is the fastest and the most convenient way, but it is the most expensive too.

Travelling by train is slower than by plane, but it has its advantages. You can see much more interesting places of the country you are travelling through. Modern trains have very comfortable seats. There are also sleeping cars and dining cars which make even the longest journey enjoyable. Speed, comfort and safety are the main advantages of trains and planes. That is why many people prefer them to all other means.

Travelling by sea is very popular. Large ships and small river boats can visit foreign countries and different places of interest within their own country.

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As for me, I prefer travelling by car. I think it's very convenient. You

needn't reserve tour tickets. You needn’t carry heavy suitcases. You can

stop wherever you wish and spend at any place as much time as you like.

Vocabulary

Explorer – исследователь Wealth – богатство Fame – слава

Ancient – древний Picturesque – живописный Scene - пейзаж

Means of transport – средства передвижения Hitch-hiking – путешествовать автостопом

Expensive – дорогой

Slow – медленный Advantage – преимущество

To travel through – ехать, передвигаться по какой-либо местности Seat – место

Sleeping car – спальный вагон Dining car – вагон-ресторан Safety – безопасность

Foreign – иностранный, зарубежный

Suitcase – чемодан

Answer the questions:

1.When did people begin to travel?

2.Who were the first travelers?

3.Why do people travel nowadays? What do they want to see?

4.In your opinion, why is it interesting to travel? Do you like to travel?

5.What means of travelling do you know?

6.What is your favourite way of travelling?

7.What is the fastest way of travelling?

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8.What are the advantages of travelling by air?

9.What are the disadvantages of travelling by air?

10.What way of travelling is cheaper than travelling by air and popular, too?

11.Why do many people often choose to travel by train?

12.Why do many people prefer travelling by car?

Means of Transport

What way of travelling do you prefer?

Jessica

For me there is nothing like travel by air. It is more comfortable, more convenient and of course far quicker than any other method. There is none of the dust and dirt of a railway or car journey, none of the trouble of changing from train to steamer and then to another train. Besides, flying is a thrilling thing.

Oliver

I think I would like to say a word or two for trains. With a train you have speed, comfort and pleasure combined. From the comfortable seat of a railway carriage you have a splendid view of the whole countryside. If you are hungry, you can have a meal in the dining-car. And if the journey is a long one, you can have a wonderful bed in a sleeper. Besides, do you know any place that is more interesting than a big railway-station? There is the movement, the excitement, the joy of people going away or waiting to meet friends. There are the shouts of the porters as they pull luggage along the platforms to the waiting trains, the crowd at the booking-office getting

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