Читаем и обсуждаем. Домашнее чтение. Учебно-методическое пособие

actor Jude Law. He was a bit shy and quiet at first but when we started chatting he relaxed and we found we had a lot of things in common – we both like books and the cinema. He was generous too – he wanted to pay for everything. I really enjoyed the evening. When it was time to go he asked my telephone number and said he wanted to meet again. We walked out of the restaurant and went to look for a taxi. And then something happened, and I knew it was impossible for me to go out with him. He said ‘At last!’ and took out a packet of cigarettes. That was it, I am afraid. I could never have a boyfriend who was a smoker. I think perhaps for my next date I’m going to choose the man myself. I don’t think another person can really choose a partner for you.

B.Retell one description close to the text. Say whether you agree with Charlotte’s opinion about other people’s choosing a partner for you. Why?

C.Get to work as a teacher in class: practise the vocabulary you’ve chosen in the text.

III.Work at the Vocabulary “Appearance”

1.age - to be a girl of 20 (years old) to be about 20

to be young, middle-aged, elderly

to be in one’s early/ middle/ late forties

to be n the prime of one’s life (≠ past one’s prime)

2.pretty/ nice/ beautiful/ handsome

good-looking/ attractive/ sexy/ with a lot of sex appeal refined features/ tidy/ neat

to have special aura about

untidy/ scruffy/ ugly/ fugly (= fat+ugly)

3.general build – short, tall, of medium/ average height, (almost) a dwarf

well-built/ athletic/ hunchbacked/ to stoop (stooping), a straight back slender ≠ slim, thin ≠ skinny/ fat/ overweight/ heavy/ plump/ muscular/

chubby (tubby, with a tummy)

4.complexion – dark, pale, (un)healthy, tanned

5.hair – hair-do/ haircut

to plait one’s hair/ to wear one’s hair in a plait/ pigtails/ fringe short/ long/ shoulder-length

straight/ wavy/ curly/ frizzy with a middle (side) parting bald ≠ thick

brown/ blond(e)/ fair/ red/ ginger/ grey/ dark/ mousy 6. face – moustache/ beard/ goatee

mouth (tongue, lips) forehead (high, brown)

jaw (upper, lower) strong/ square, chin cheeks (cheekbones), dimples in the cheeks

a scar/ a birth-mark/ a wart/ freckles/ pimples/ wrinkles nose (to be snub-nosed/ aquiline/ hooked)/ nostrils

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eyebrows (bushy)/ eyelashes

eyes (to be crossed-eyed, boss-eyed)

7.hand/ arm/ shoulder tattoo

to be bony

8.legs/ feet

long-legged (crooked/ bow/ hairy) clumsy/ to be lame/ to limp (in the left leg) a finger/ a thumb/ a toe

9. voice/ laughter

to speak in a soft/ hoarse voice

10.clothes – to look smart/ elegant/ sophisticated/ cute/ tidy-looking/ well-dressed/ to be in jeans

IV. Read the description of Aunt Lucy.

My favourite relative is Aunt Lucy.

She is my mother’s elder sister. She is forty years old, but she looks

younger than that. She has dark hair and is slim with green eyes. She

wears glasses.

She likes fashionable clothes. Her favourite colours are green and blue.

She has a nice a nice green jacket that she wears. It becomes her. She

doesn’t wear very much jewellery apart from a silver ring.

She has a nice voice. She sings in a folk group in the town where she

lives. She is a teacher at a high school there and her students like her.

I think she is a very good person.

V.Read the following comments a teacher wrote on the description.

Your description is very accurate, but you need to make your writing more interesting.

For example, you say your aunt ‘looks younger’. How much younger? A bit? Years? You tell me she has ‘dark hair,’ but you don’t say whether it is curly or straight, thick or shiny. Is it long or short? And what else can you say about her eyes? Are they soft and gentle or bright and sparkling? Are they more or less striking because of her glasses?

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You talk about the jacket she wears and tell me that it’s green. What else can you say about it? Is it new? What is it made of? Why does it become her? And what about the ring? Why does she always wear it? Because it was a gift?

You comment on her voice, good, but don’t use ‘nice’. Is it deep or soft and gentle?

And finally why do her students like her? What do they say about her?

VI. Read the outline of the description.

Outline

I suppose the first thing anyone notices about my …. is her/ his …. . She/ he’s got … and … . She/ he is not very … but … .

What I like most about her/ him is the way she/ he … . Once you get to know her/ him betteryou realise she/ he … .

She/ he always wears … . She/ he’s also got … .

But the most distinctive thing about her/ him is … . She/ he is … . I suppose that’s why she/ he is my favourite relative.

VII. Read the description of Sarah. In seven lines of the text there is an extra incorrect word which shouldn’t be there. Find it and correct the lines.

I suppose the first thing one notices about Sarah is her long black hair and her dark brown eyes. She has a lovely smile and doesn’t generally wear much make-up. She’s not very tall, but she is quite slim and has got some very slender arms and hands.

What I particularly like about her is the way she thinks of carefully about what she says and always makes interesting, intelligent comments. She’s got a great sense of humour and when I’m with her I can never stop to laughing. Once you get to know her a little, however, you realise that she is not as quite as confident as she first seems.

She loves wearing clothes from the 60s and has lots of long dresses with ‘hippy’ patterns and bead necklaces to go with them. She’s also got some silver bracelets which she wears all the time and you always know where she is because you can to hear them clinking together!

The most distinctive thing about her is her laugh. She is actually a very cheerful person and she has a very optimistic view of the world. After I’ve been with her for a little while I am always feel great!

VIII. A) Try to write a description of someone you know (relative, friend, celebrity, etc.) in 200-240 words. Follow the teacher’s advice and use the outline given in point V.

B) Read the descriptions, choose the best.

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IX. Paired activities: a question-answer talk – your ideal of a handsome man/ beautiful woman.

X.Talking points.

A.A portrait riddle – a description of a person (well-known/ celebrity) for the group to guess (some pictures are welcome).

B.Your own portrait (try to be fair).

C.They say first impressions are always important, aren’t they? Your first impression of smb to prove or contradict this saying.

XI. Writing. (to hand in)

A.Notice “Wanted”

B.Advertisement “Looking for a partner”

Assignment II

I. Work at ‘Flavour and Taste’ (used metaphorically to characterize people and their behaviour).

1. salty

e.g. Sam’s vocabulary includes some quite salty language (R = резкая речь, часто с оскорблениями);

2. sweet

e.g. a pretty, sweet girl (R = милая, приятная, добрая, с хорошим характером) Would you like to come with us? – That’s sweet of you (R = любезно, мило)

Let’s keep things sweet (R = не доставлять хлопот)

A sweet voice (R = мелодичный, спокойный)

3. bitter

e.g. He is still bitter about the way he is treated (R = тяжело переживать, чувствовать себя несчастным)

It is a bitter blow (R = очень неприятное событие) Bitter argument (R =резкий спор)

Bitter memory (R = горькое воспоминание)

4. bitter-sweet

e.g. a bitter-sweet tale (R = как положительные, так и отрицательные эмоции)

5. sour

e.g. a sour man (R = выглядеть расстроенным , несчастным)

6. acid

e.g. an acid tongue/ voice (R = едкий, язвительный, недружелюбный)

7. bland

e.g. a bland person/ contest (R = глупые, скучные, неинтересные люди или предметы)

8. dry

e.g. dry facts (R = без интересной, новой информации)

dry sense of humour (R = необычный, тонкий, забавный)

9. spicy people/ things (R = пикантные, острые, интереснее, чем другие)

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10.peppery people/ mood (R = раздражительный, сварливый, особенно о пожилых

людях)

11.juicy

e.g. a juicy secret/ gossip (R = захватывающая, интересная информация, часто о личной жизни)

12. unsavory manners/ characters (R = отвратительные, неприятные, морально неприемлемые)

II. Parentheses.

We use additives to show that the next part adds, gives more specific information on, to what has been said in the previous part.

Additives

1.also, too, as well, besides, along with, in addition to, at that, plus

Remember! Don’t use ‘also’ in requests, commands, short answers.

E.g. Take me to the park too/ as well. – Me too.

2.apart from, let alone, not counting, not to mention, to say nothing of

3.what’s more, more than that (this), moreover, above all, furthermore, on top of that, to crown it all, to make things (still) worse

Exercise I. Translate into Russian, repeat the sentence, give a sentence of your own.

1.Above all, remember to send an email when you arrive there.

2.He showed no talent for anything, apart from playing the flute.

3.It was a good idea, and a very good one, at that.

4.The baby can’t even walk, let alone run.

5.My house burnt down, my car was stolen, and to crown it all, I lost my job.

6.The new system is cheaper, and what’s more, it’s better.

7.I was always happy at Oxford. Besides, you were there.

8.I’ve never been to an airport, to say nothing of a plane.

9.She was a kind woman, as well as very sensible. (Cf: As well as being kind, she was very sensible).

10.Please, don’t speak again. Furthermore, whatever I do, show no surprise.

11.In addition to giving a general instruction to computers, the course provides practical experience.

12.She has a dog, a cat, a parrot to take care of, not counting her children.

13.Why on top of everything else, did you ride a motorbike?

14.In every era of history there have been curious people – astronomers, geologists, Arctic voyagers not to mention humble historians.

15.She broke my favourite cup. To make things still worse, she said it was the cat.

16.Julia is intelligent. Plus, she is a loving mother. Plus, she is the most beautiful woman

I’ve ever met.

17.Ann, you are my daughter, my baby, and above all, I love you.

18.They are proud of Frank. He has a big powerful car, some shops, to say nothing of

several hotels.

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19.In some minutes I realized that Miss Fisher, apart from her ugly face, was very, very boring. She talked about nothing and said nothing interesting.

Exercise II. Use different linking words to express addition (no less than 10).

The hotel was miles from the sea. The rooms in the hotel were dirty.

Exercise III. Make up a dialogue in analogy.

Waiter: - How was the meal, Madam?

Lady: - Terrible! The soup was too salty, there were few vegetables. Your personnel was slow!

Waiter: - But apart from that? Lady: - It was nice, thanks.

Writing. Describe a character from fiction, films, cartoons, etc. Focus on their appearance. Use additives.

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STORY.

R. STOUT.

Officer and Lady

It was a dark night. Bill Farden took the instrument from his pocket. The window opened. He was inside the house.

There was no sound.

He switched on the light. It was a dining room.

He first took linen; the second was silver, old family silver.

Should he leave at once? No. He entered the kitchen, opened the refrigerator and took out a dish of peas, some beef, a chicken, cold potatoes, and a strawberry cake. It was idiotic. But he was hungry.

He started eating the cake, when he heard the footsteps, the noise of the opening door... It was a woman in a blue nightgown. Bill pressed the damp sponge against her nose and mouth.

Now he had the taste of danger. A moment later he was on his way up. He went on to the top of the stairs and entered the room.

He was not alone, he heard the breathing. But there was something curious about that breathing. Most irregular. Surely not the breathing of a sleeper! He noticed a movement under the sheets. He saw the face of a man - a man terrified with fear. The chloroform tube was empty, so he filled his mouth with the corner of a sheet and tied his hands and feet. He found two silver cigarette cases, scarf pins, rings, a jeweled photograph frame, and ninety-four dollars and put everything into his pocket.

He was in the house for thirty minutes, and already had a full bag below, his stomach was full, too and his pockets were full up with money and jewelry. He was proud. On with the dance!

He entered the next door.

First he thought it was unoccupied. Then he heard faint breathing. He came up to the bed. There, under the silk cover, he saw a sleeping child.

It was a girl of eight or nine; her arm was under her head, and her soft brown hair spread over the pillow, her sweet red lips were opened a bit.

Bill stood still and gazed at her. He felt all of a sudden big and dirty and clumsy and entirely out of place.

There was a small dressing table, a desk, and two or three chairs, all in pink. The wall was white, with pink flowers and animals.

Bill looked at the beautiful sleeping child, and at the child's beautiful room and off came his cap.

'My little girl would have a place like this' he said half aloud. Bill had no little girl or big one either, and he was unmarried.

He stood there looking down and thinking that a creature could be so helpless without incurring the contempt of a strong man.

Perhaps, physical force was not the only power worth having. Here was this little child lying there helpless before him - helpless, and yet far more secure from injury at his hands than a powerful man.

No, force was not made to be used against helpless beings like her. What would he do if she should awake and cry out? He would talk to her and quiet her.

But if she would not be quieted? Force, then? No. In that case he would drop a kiss on her soft brown hair and make his escape. He put an extremely clumsy kiss on a lock of her hair and turned to go.

'Hands up!' The words came from behind him in a thin voice.

The sweet helpless child was sitting up in bed, a little revolver in her hand. 'Lord above us!' said our hero.

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'I would advise you to put your hands up before I count ten,' said the sweet, helpless child calmly. 'One, two, three —'

'Really, now,' Bill said. 'Little girl, I won't hurt you.'

'I see you don't take me seriously. I am Major Wentworth of Squadron A of the Girls' Military Auxiliary. Four, five, six —' Bill was speechless.

'Seven, eight, nine —' Up went his hands above his head.

'That's better,' said the sweet, helpless child. 'Now turn your back.' Bill did so. She stood there in her pink nightgown. She looked so tiny, but the muzzle of the revolver wavered not a fraction.

'Look here, little girl,' Bill began, 'I ain't going to hurt you.' 'Call me Major Wentworth,' was the reply.

'All right, major. But come, what's the use —'

'Stop! If you move, I'll shoot. I wonder what's the matter with Hilda?' 'Is Hilda a big woman in a blue nightgown?'

'Yes. Have you seen her? Oh! Where is she? Is she hurt?'

'Nope.' Bill said. ‘Kitchen floor. Chloroform. I was eatin' strawberry cake when she came

in.'

'I suppose I must call my father.'

'He is helpless, too. You see, major, we're all alone. Tell you what I'll do. There's a bag full of silver down. I'll agree to leave it there —'

You certainly will,' the major nodded. 'And you'll leave the other things too. I see them in your pockets. Since my father is tied up I suppose I must call the police myself.'

The little devil was going to call the police!

'My little girl's mama is dead, too,' he said suddenly. The major stopped to look at him.

'My mother isn't dead. She's gone to the country. Do you have a wife?'

'Been dead three years. Got sick and died. Broke my little girl's heart, and mine, too.' 'What is your little girl's name?'

'Her name? Oh, her name. Why, of course her name's Hilda —'

'Indeed!' The major looked interested. 'The same as cook. How funny! How old is she?' 'Sixteen,' said Bill.

'Oh, she's a big girl, then!'

'You might call the cops. Of course, Hilda's at home hungry, but that doesn't matter to you. She'll starve to death. I didn't tell you she's sick. I was just walkin' past here and thought I might find something for her to eat —'

'You ate the strawberry cake yourself,' put in the major.

'The doctor won't let Hilda have cake,' Bill retorted. 'And I was hungry myself. I suppose it's no crime to be hungry —'

'You took the silver and other things.'

'I know. I'm a bad man. I wanted to buy nice things for Hilda. She never has much to eat. If I'm arrested she'll starve to death.'

'I don't want to cause suffering,' the girl declared. 'I feel strongly for the lower classes. I suppose little would be gained by sending you to prison.'

'It's an awful place,' Bill said. 'You have been there?'

'Off and on.'

'You see! It has done you no good. No, I might let you go. Empty your pockets. Put the things on the dressing table.' Bill obeyed.

'Go, please. I'm sleepy, and you've given me a lot of trouble. I shall have to revive Hilda.'

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Bill went. Major's voice said: 'Keep your mouth closed. Head up! Arms at your side. Breathe through your nose. Chest out forward! Lift your foot and come down to the heel. Head up!'

As he reached the street corner the command came: 'Halt! About face! Salute!' Bill halted, but he did not salute. It was too much. Instead, he ran across the street, and was off like a shot. And as he ran he replied to her command to salute, as man to man: 'Go to hell!'

TASKS

I. Give the morphological analysis of the following words.

Add some more words with the same prefixes and suffixes.

II.Grammar

A)Give some sentences in the Imperative Mood (e.g. Lift your foot.) – No less than 6 cases. Put the sentences into Indirect Speech using different verbs.

B)Compare grammar structures with ‘it’ (e.g. It was too much).

Compare grammar structures with ‘there is’ (e.g. There’s a bag full of olives). Make up some sentences based on the plot of the text.

C)Pronouns – He put something into his pocket.

III. Write out adjectives (features of the character) – no less than 4. Comment on their use.

IV. Active Vocabulary. Reproduce the situations with the words and wordcombinations from the book. Make up sentences (or a situation) of your own.

the taste of danger (adventure; real life); add salt to taste; to be in good/ bad taste; tastes differ out of place (≠ to feel at ease; to make oneself at home)

to escape

to use force against

to call the police, to send a burglar to prison to starve to death

it’s no crime to (≠ to be a crime); saying – Crime doesn’t pay to cause suffering (trouble, an accident)

to feel strongly for smb to do smth good (≠ harm)

to obey smb (≠ disobey); obedient off and on

to be off like a shot

a muzzle of the revolver/ dog

V.Talking points

A) Describe the place, time, atmosphere, characters (a few sentences)

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B)Write down 5 sentences, some of which are true, some are false. Read them out in class and get your mates to agree or disagree proving their point of view with facts from the text.

Parentheses to use

to my mind, in my opinion, personally I feel, I suppose that, I’m sure, as far as I can see to tell the truth, to be frank, to be honest, truly

to be fair

(un)fortunately, thankfully, luckily

funnily enough, to my surprise (delight), not surprisingly, strange to say to put it mildly, to put it plainly

VI. Writing. Write an entry in the diary (make your own choice).

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