Reading modern British literature. Part 1. Учебное пособие

3.Just hang ___ one minute.

4.I don’t mind sharing a toilet ___ him.

5.Clare ___ a fit ___ ambition iced the cake and adorned it ___ glace cherries.

6.This is one of the times I wouldn’t be stopping ___ forever.

7.Thinking of this she was seized ___ a feeling __ panic, as though everything were slipping ___ her.

Discussion

1.Answer the questions.

1.What do people in the tribe await from ancestors?

2.What is a cultural disintegration? Give example of it from the text.

3.What was the article that John had read about?

4.Where did Clare find a new lodger?

5.What room did Clare make ready for a new lodger?

6.What new information from the aunts’ youth and great-grandmother’s life did

Clare find in the writing-room?

7.Why did Clare save the matter of the Dance until the weekend?

8.Did the aunts enjoy their dance on June 9th in 1912? Why?

2.Make a literary translation of the extract (in writing): p. 87 from “What

had she written in here, great-grandmother?” up to “... and tidied the contents of the desk away.”

3. Using the vocabulary under the study (ex. 1,2) make up and act out the talk between:

1)John and Clare;

2)the aunts and Clare;

3)Clare and Mrs. Hedges.

6.Speak about:

1)Margaret’s departure;

2)John’s visit to Clare;

3)The aunts’ dance in 1912.

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7. Retell the chapter as if you were:

1) Clare; 2) John; 3) Aunt Anne.

Chapter 8

Comprehension exercises

1.Say if the following statements are true or false according to the text.

1.Maureen fell in love with John.

2.Clare played a leading role in the school production of Macbeth.

3.John and Maureen came to Clare’s school to see the play.

4.Clare was an odd girl.

5.Maureen was thoughtful towards Clare.

6.Clare was born in 1979.

Vocabulary exercises

1.Translate and transcribe the following words from the text: prodigious, curlers, muddled, fruition, cumbersome, first night, going-over, desertion.

Explain the words in English (give their definitions). Read and translate the sentences, containing them.

Find Russian equivalents to the following word-combinations from the text: to get off to smth.; to interfere with smth.; to rave at smb.; to be accused by smb. оf smth.; to carry on; to pop along to; to console with smth.; to put smth. into words. Say in what situations they were used in the text. Use them in the sentences of your own.

2.Translate the following sentences from Russian into English using the words and word-combinations from ex.1, 2.

1.Я не могла выразить словами то впечатление, которое на меня произвела премьера спектакля.

2.Я не люблю вмешиваться в чужие разговоры, но чтобы прервать их ссору, мне пришлось на них накричать.

3.В углу комнаты стоял громоздкий шкаф.

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4.Меня обвинили в ограблении музея.

5.Весь город наблюдал за этой запутанной историей пять лет.

6.Он был уверен, что такого наслаждения он еще не получал. Музыка растворялась в его душе и заставляла улыбаться.

3. Insert necessary prepositions and other functional words. Translate the

sentences.

1.It was not so much that they did not get ___ as that John’s presence somehow

induced ___ Maureen a state ___ tension that gradually spread ___ anyone ___ range.

2.He observed everything ___ interest.

3.She bought it ___ the market ___ Kampala ___ an Indian grocer.

4.Presently a driver came, the bus quivered ___ life, moved ___ ___ Oxford

___ grey streets.

5.She went ___ ___ the churchyard, ___ the silence and ___ the street again.

6.She stood ___ herself ___ the bus stop, and waited to go home.

Discussion

1.Answer the questions.

1.How had Maureen’s behaviour changed since John appeared in Clare’s house?

2.Why did she behave in such a way in Clare’s opinion?

3.Speak about the dress rehearsal of a school production of Macbeth.

4.What is the secret of successful acting in Clare’s opinion?

5.Why was John the only representative of Norham gardens at the school play?

6.What strange things happened to Clare during the first night of the school play?

7.What did Clare do with the shield when she returned home?

8.What did the doctor prescribe Clare?

9.Where and why did Clare go instead of school?

2.Make a literary translation of the extract (in writing): p. 99 from “It was snowing hard.” up to “... and switched out the kitchen lights, and went upstairs to bed.”

3.Explain the following sentences or paraphrase them.

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1.Time and tide wait for no man.

2.The candlewick dressing-gown no longer came down to breakfast, nor the

hair curlers.

3.I’ve upset her cataloguing system.

4.Clare, off-stage in the gym, waited through the incantations of the witches for her first scene.

1) Clare; 2) John; 3) Maureen.

Chapter 9

Comprehension exercises

1.Say if the following statements are true or false according to the text.

1.John liked the school production, especially Lady Macbeth.

2.John was the only child in the family.

3.Clare liked the idea of going to London with John at the weekend.

4.Clare didn’t remember her parents.

5.Clare enjoyed the chameleon.

2.Make the right choice.

1.John and Clare went to London by... .

a)bus;

b)train;

c)car.

2.What didn’t Clare and John visit in London?

a)Westminster Abbey;

b)the Tower;

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c)the Zoo.

3.When Clare’s parents died Clare stayed with ... .

a)her great-grandaunts;

b)her aunt Mary;

c)her grandmother.

4.What animals did Clare and John see at the Zoo?

a)orangutan, bear, elephant and snakes;

b)orangutan, elephant, parrots and snakes;

c)orangutan, tigers, elephant and snakes.

Vocabulary exercises

1. Translate and transcribe the following words from the text: to placate; to

escort; outing; lethargic; misdemeanor; diffidence; compunction; frivolity; to hibernate;

frenetic; to endear.

Explain the words in English (give their definitions). Read and translate the

sentences, containing them.

Find Russian equivalents to the following word-combinations from the text: to

be cross with smb.; to feel peculiar; to be directed by weather; to arrive at an idea; to

whistle for a wind; to draw attention to smb./ smth.

Say in what situations they were used in the text. Use them in the sentences of

your own.

2. Say in one word. Choose a word from ex.1 to match the following

definitions:

1)a minor wrong doing;

2)make (someone) less angry or hostile;

3)a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad;

4)to cause to be loved or liked;

5)to accompany someone;

6)a trip taken for pleasure, especially one lasting a day or less;

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7)the quality or state of being unassuming in the estimation of one’s abilities;

8)fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way;

9)(of an animal or plant) spend the winter in a dormant state;

10)if you are ..., you do not have much energy or enthusiasm;

11)if you refer to an activity as a ... , you think that it is amusing and rather silly, rather than serious and sensible.

3.Translate the sentences from Russian into English.

1.Почему ты такой вялый сегодня? – Я плохо себя чувствую.

2.Погода завтра благоприятна для метеозависимых людей.

3.Я хочу на экскурсию в Москву. Ты будешь меня сопровождать?

4.Увидев лающую на него собаку, тигр так рассвирепел, что работники зоопарка с трудом его успокоили.

5.Мне пришла в голову потрясающая идея. Давай сходим в однодневный поход. – По-моему, это не очень хорошая идея, если учесть, что у меня сейчас совершенно нет свободного времени на такие легкомысленные поступки, как поход.

6.Мальчик подрался со своим одноклассником и за этот проступок был наказан.

7.Её улыбка расположила к ней всех присутствующих.

8.Как можно привлечь внимание молодого человека, который тебе нравится?

9.Он из тех студентов, которые «находятся в спячке» между сессиями.

10.Учительница рассердилась на Джона, потому что тот не был готов к занятию и не чувствовал при этом ни капли угрызения совести.

4. Insert necessary prepositions and other functional words. Translate the

sentences.

1.Sitting ___ her desk, waiting ___ whatever came next, she could not remember whereabouts they might be.

2.She had, ___ a moment, felt suspended ___ time.

3.Clare, listening ___ weather forecasts ___ an interest ___ the intermediate present, heard that milder weather was expected ___ the weekend, and was pleased.

4.A group ____ middle-aged women stood ___ front ___ the orangutans and shrieked ___ laughter.

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5.The chameleon was ___ the top ___ a small dead tree, motionless, holding up a limb that ended ___ a two-fingered foot.

6.Back ___ Norham Gardens, they drank hot soup ___ the kitchen, and thanked each other ___ a day.

Discussion

1.Answer the questions:

1.Why did Aunt Susan suggest Clare going to London?

2.Why didn’t Maureen go with Clare and John to London?

3.What did Clare and John visit in London? Did they enjoy the trip?

4.What did you learn about Clare’s parents?

5.What dream did Clare have at night?

6.Whom did she see in her dream? What did the people from the dream want from her? Did she give it to them?

2.Make a literary translation of the extract (in writing): p. 113 from “They moved to the next tank.” up to “... antique, bloodless, and quite remote.”

3.Make up and act out a dialogue between:

1)Clare and John discussing their trip to London;

2)Clareand John discussing her dream;

3)Clare and aunt Susan discussing her trip to London.

4.Retell the chapter as if you were:

1) Clare; 2) John; 3) in the third person singular.

Chapter 10

Comprehension exercises

1.Say if the following statements are true or false according to the text.

1.Clare was attentive to the teachers’ words during the lessons.

2.Liz took offence at Clare.

3.Maureen went to the health resort for a week.

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4.Linda showed to Clare her photos.

5.Clare didn’t stay long at Mrs. Hedges’ place.

2. Say who made these utterances and in connection with what. Convert

them into indirect speech.

1.“A curious piece of self-deception, when you come to think about it”.

2.“I’d like to see a bit more colour contrast”.

3.“Well, there is no need to be rude”.

4.“And don’t you get near me or you’ll be having it next”.

5.“I’ve been saving since I was seventeen”.

Vocabulary exercises

1. Translate and transcribe the following words from the text: brocade;

incandescent; panic-stricken; to reassure; sullen; sloping; facetious; frustrated; commotion.

Explain the words in English (give their definitions). Read and translate the

sentences, containing them.

Find Russian equivalents to the following word-combinations from the text: to attend to smb.; up and down; to go down with; to clatter to the floor; to reach for smth.; suit yourself!; in sight; in snatches; to drag smb. away; to lift a finger; to knock spots off.

Say in what situations they were used in the text. Use them in the sentences of

your own.

2.Say in one word Choose a word from ex.1 to match the following definitions:

1)emitting light as a result of being heated;

2)a lot of noise, confusion, and excitement;

3)bad-tempered and sulky;

4)to outdo smb. easily;

5)to fall or move with much noise;

6)feeling or expressing distress and annoyance resulting from an inability to change or achieve something;

7)a thick, expensive material, often made of silk, with a raised pattern on it;

8)to say or do something to remove the doubts and fears of (someone);

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9)treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humour;

10)to begin to suffer from (an illness);

11)affected with panic; very frightened.

3. Insert necessary prepositions and other functional words. Translate the

sentences.

1.What are you doing rattling around __ that attic __ this hour ___ the morning?

2.She told the aunts __ Mrs. Hedges and took the bus __ school, walking the last part among children who whooped __ the snow and threw snowballs __ each other.

3.Later, during a lesson, English or History or something, she stared ___ ___

the window again and was astonished ___ the tumultuous noise of rooks.

4.She ran up the steps and in ___ the front door, calling, and came face ___ face __ John __ the foot __ the stairs.

5.John looked __ her, puzzled, and went away __ the twilight __ his head buried __ a vast scarf.

6.Clare threw bread __ __ them and stood __ the open window, listening __ the rush __ their wings.

Discussion

1.Answer the questions:

1.What did Clare do in the attic?

2.How did Maureen spend the previous evening?

3.What new things did Clare notice in the portrait of the great-grandfather?

4.How did the aunts’ dreams differ from Clare’s?

5.Why was the house silent after the breakfast that day?

6.Why didn’t Mrs. Hedges come the day after it had snowed hard?

7.Why did Clare become panic-stricken? What dream did she see?

8.Why did Clare go to Mrs. Hedges’ house?

9.What did Clare see when she returned home from Mrs. Hedges? Where were

the people?

10.Why did Clare go back to Mrs. Hedges?

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11.What happened to Clare on her way to Mrs. Hedges?

2.Make a literary translation of the extract (in writing): p. 130 from “She opened the front door into darkness.” up to p. 131 “No one there at all.”

3.Explain or paraphrase the following quotations from the text.

1.She’s having the train coming right down from the shoulder yoke.

2.The house was locked in its own silence all day.

3.Exercise books came back to her with long comments in red ink – irritated or

puzzled.

4.Speak about:

1)Clare’s day at school;

2)the changes in weather and the surroundings that Clare noticed when she was

at school;

3)Clare’s visit to Mrs. Hedges.

5. Retell the chapter as if you were:

1)Clare; 2) John; 3) Mrs. Hedges.

Chapter 11

Comprehension exercises

1.Say if the following statements are true or false according to the text.

1.Clare went to the church with John to show him the inscriptions on the walls.

2.Clare saw butterflies, birds, snakes, leeches and other creeping creatures in

the forest.

3.The men in the village were interested in the tape-recorder.

4.Clare had a broken leg and many bruises.

5.Clare stayed in the hospital for two weeks.

2. Say who made these utterances and in connection with what. Convert

them into indirect speech.

1.“Don’t worry, soon have you all fixed up”.

2.“They don’t want it any more”.

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