Добавил:
ivanov666
Опубликованный материал нарушает ваши авторские права? Сообщите нам.
Вуз:
Предмет:
Файл:Соединенные Штаты Америки. Учебное пособие
.pdf
III. Paraphrase the following sentences, using the active
vocabulary:
1. I’m not joking, I’m speaking very seriously.
2. Pneumonia has been in the process of growth recently.
3. The boy’s mother doesn’t like him to putter aimlessly with his
computer.
4. The surrounding was far from being healthy; and with
extremely high speed he got used to drugs.
5. Both of the plane’s engines failed simultaneously, which led to
a sudden misfortune.
6. The growth in pay allowed us to add some luxuries to our
lives.
7. If you work seriously, you will succeed.
8. They couldn’t have avoided the accident — the car was
moving at an extremely high speed.
9. Joseph has always been the clown in the class and enjoyed
playing fool at school.
10. For some people any kind of natural unexpected bad event is
the worst fear in life.
11. Please, give us time to relax — we are very tired.
12. The plant fills the air with dirty and dangerous substances.
IV. Below are words from the active, each followed by a group
of synonyms and antonyms. Decide which is a synonym and which
is an antonym referring to the context the word is used in:
disaster: cataclysm, calamity, adversity, welfare, affluence,
accident, failure, success, blow, misfortune, catastrophe, downfall
to devastate: to produce, to create, to construct, to extinguish, to
build, to ravage, to lay waste, to ruin, to destruct, to destroy, to
establish
to increase: to enlarge, to augment, to extend, to decrease, to
expand, to lessen, to develop, to grow, to raise, to multiply, to
subtract, to shrink
earnest: zealous, ardent, eager, solemn, serious, determined, lightminded, idle, cheerful, insincere, casual, foolish
211
V. Translate into English, using the active vocabulary:
1. София была обезоружена серьезностью его тона.
2. Проблема озоновых дыр очень актуальна для современной
окружающей среды.
3. Герой Хью Гранта не умел быть серьезным ни в одной
жизненной ситуации, он только и делал, что дурачился.
4. Для таких блондинок, как Мими, сломать ноготь — уже
катастрофа.
5. Делмару никогда не обогнать Тодда на ска
развивает головокружительную скорость и всегда
приходит первым.
6. Не уроке математики в школе царила совершенно не
рабочая атмосфера — ученики дурачились, смеялись, пели
и рисовали на партах.
7. Врач увеличил дозу с одной до двух таблеток, так как
состояние пациента не улучшилось.
8. Неблагополучная домашняя атмосфера может по
поведение ребенка.
9. Это мой явный недосмотр.
10. С финансовой точки зрения проект был совершенно
провальным.
11. Хорошая рекламная кампания увеличит наши продажи.
12. Река была загрязнена токсическими отходами местной
фабрики.
13. Бомба полностью разрушила старую часть города.
14. Курение может увеличить риск сердечного заболевания.
15. Оставь ее в покое — она еще ребено
ничего плохого.
к и не хотела сделать
чках — Тодд
влиять на
DISCUSSION
I. Comment on the title of the story.
II. Formulate the main message of the text.
III. Sum up the author’s attitude to the problem of
immigration.
212
IV. Agree or disagree. Justify your opinion.
1. The level of a country’s economy depends on the level of the
population.
2. Every megalopolis suffers an environmental and economic
disaster.
3. The most populated areas are the most polluted.
4. Immigration devastates the environment and the quality of
local people’s lives.
V. Answer the following questions:
1. Do you think Russia is overpopulated? Can we say it is
overcrowded with immigrants?
2. What countries are overcrowded? Use facts and figures to
prove your point of view.
3. How does immigration affect a country’s economy?
4. Does the presence of immigrants influence a country’s culture?
In what way?
5. What is the attitude towards immigration in the United States?
Use books and Internet sources to find out the necessary
information.
6. Is there any discrimination of immigrants in the U.S.?
7. What are the living conditions of immigrants?
8. How many immigrants from Russia live in the U.S.?
TEXT 3
A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE
Of all the things that have been placed on earth to try my patience —
and gosh aren’t there a lot? — none has been more successful over the
years than AT&T, the American telephone company.
Given a choice between, say, spilling a beaker of hydrochloric acid
on my lap and dealing with AT&T, I would always choose the
hydrochloric acid as less painful. AT&T has the world’s most
indestructible payphones. I know this for a fact because I have never
had an experience with AT&T from a payphone that did not result in
my giving their equipment a thorough workout.
213
As you are probably gathering, I don’t much like AT&T. But that’s
OK because it doesn’t like me. It doesn’t like any of its customers, as
far as I can tell. It dislikes them so much, in fact, that it won’t even
talk to them. It uses synthesized voices for everything now, which
means that no matter how wrong things go — and you can be certain
they will — you can never get through to a real person. All you get is
a strange, metallic, curiously snotty robotic voice saying things like:
‘The number you have dialed is not within a recognized dialing
parameter.’ It is immensely frustrating.
I was reminded of this the other day when I found myself stranded
at Logan Airport in Boston because the mini-coach company that was
supposed to pick me up and take me home forgot to. I knew that it had
forgotten me, and not broken down or had an accident, because as I
stood at the designated pickup point the familiar Dartmouth MiniCoach van approached and, as I bent to pick up my bags, sailed past
and continued on to the airport exit road and disappeared into the
distance, on a general heading for New Hampshire.
So I went off to find a payphone to ring the mini-coach company —
just to say hello, you know, and let them know that I was there and
ready to go if they would only throw open a door and slow down
enough to let me jump on — and this meant calling AT&T. I gave a
sigh at the prospect. I had just had a long flight. I was tired and hungry
and stranded at a charmless airport. I knew it would be at least three
hours before the next mini-coach was due. And now I had to deal with
AT&T. I approached a bank of payphones outside the airport terminal
with deep foreboding.
I didn’t have the number for the mini-coach company on me, so I
read the instructions for directory inquiries and rang the number. After
a minute a synthetic voice came on and brusquely instructed me to
deposit $1.05 in change. I was taken aback by this. Directory inquiries
always used to be free. I searched through my pockets, but I only had
67 cents. So I conducted a brief resiliency test with the receiver —
yes, still indestructible — grabbed my bags and stalked off to the
terminal to acquire change.
Of course none of the businesses would give change without a
purchase, so I had to buy a copy of the New York Times, Boston Globe
214
and Washington Post — each purchased separately, with a different
note, as no other approach appeared to be allowable — until I had
accumulated $1.05 in assorted silver coins.
Then I returned to the phone and repeated the process, but it was
one of those phones that are very choosy about what coins they take,
and it seemed to have a particular dislike for Roosevelt dimes. It’s not
easy to feed coins into a slot when you have a receiver pressed to your
ear with a shoulder and three newspapers under your arm, and
especially not when the phone is spitting back every third coin you
feed it. After about 15 seconds a robotic voice came on and started
scolding me — I swear it, scolding me, in an irksome synthetic quaver —
and telling me in effect that if I didn’t get myself organized pronto it
would cut me off. And then it cut me off. A moment later it
regurgitated the coins I had deposited. But here’s the thing. It didn’t
return all of them. Between what it had given back and what it
wouldn’t take, I now had just 90 cents.
So I conducted another, slightly more protracted resiliency test and
trudged back into the terminal. I bought a Providence Journal and a
Philadelphia Inquirer and returned to the phone. This time I got
through to directory inquiries, announced the number I wanted and
hastily pulled out a pen and notepad. I knew from experience that
directory inquiries gives a number just once and then hangs up, so you
have to get it down carefully. I listened intently and started to write.
The pen was dry. I immediately forgot the number.
I returned to the terminal, bought a Bangor Daily-News, a
Poughkeepsie Journal and a plastic biro, and returned. This time I got
the number, carefully recorded it and dialed. Success at last.
A moment later a voice on the other end said brightly, ‘Good
morning! Dartmouth College!’
‘Dartmouth College?’ I stammered, aghast. ‘I wanted the
Dartmouth Mini-Coach Company.’ I had used up all my remaining
coins on this call and couldn't believe that I would have to go back
into the terminal yet again to accumulate more. I suddenly wondered
how many of those people in America who come up to you on corners
and ask for spare change were once just people like me — respectable
citizens who had led normal lives and ended up destitute, homeless
and in need of constant small change for a payphone somewhere.
215
‘I can give you the number if you’d like,’ the lady offered.
‘Really? Oh, yes please.’
She rattled off a number, clearly from memory. It was nothing like
the number — not even remotely like the number — I had been given
by AT&T. I thanked her profusely.
‘No problem,’ she said. ‘It happens all the time.’
‘What, they give your number when people ask for Dartmouth
Mini-Coach?’
‘All the time. Was it AT&T you used?’
‘Yes.’
‘Thought so,’ she said simply. I thanked her again. ‘It’s been my
pleasure. And hey — don’t forget to give that phone a really good
pounding before you leave.’
She didn’t say that, of course. She didn’t need to.
I had to wait four hours for the next mini-coach. But it could have
been worse. At least I had plenty to read.
NOTES
I. Pay attention to the difference in the following British and
American terms:
AmE
to call (someone)
(кому-л.)
AmE
enquiries — справочная служба
AmE
AmE
II. Pay attention to the difference in the following British and
American spellings:
Directory assistance; Information
pointball pen
bill
cf. BrE note/banknote — банкнота
cf. BrE to ring (someone) — позвонить
cf. BrE Directory
cf. BrE biro — шариковая ручка
AmE inquiries cf. BrE enquiries
AmE dialing cf. BrE dialling
CULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS
AT&T
Boston Globe
216
dime
New York Times
nickel
payphone
quarter
Washington Post
COMPREHENSION CHECK
I. Translate the following extracts from the text and comment
on them:
1. Given a choice between, say, spilling a beaker of hydrochloric
acid on my lap and dealing with AT&T, I would always choose the
hydrochloric acid as less painful. AT&T has the world’s most
indestructible payphones. I know this for a fact because I have never
had an experience with AT&T from a payphone that did not result in
my giving their equipment a thorough workout.
2. So I went off to find a payphone to ring the mini-coach company —
just to say hello, you know, and let them know that I was there and
ready to go if they would only throw open a door and slow down
enough to let me jump on — and this meant calling AT&T. I gave a
ruptured sigh at the prospect.
3. It’s not easy to feed coins into a slot when you have a receiver
pressed to your ear with a shoulder and three newspapers under your
arm, and especially not when the phone is spitting back every third
coin you feed it. After about 15 seconds a robotic voice came on and
started scolding me — I swear it, scolding me, in an irksome synthetic
quaver — and telling me in effect that if I didn’t get myself organized
pronto it would cut me off. And then it cut me off.
4. I suddenly wondered how many of those people in America who
come up to you on corners and ask for spare change were once just
people like me — respectable citizens who had led normal lives and
ended up destitute, homeless and in need of constant small change for
a payphone somewhere.
5. ‘Thought so,’ she said simply. I thanked her again. ‘It’s been my
pleasure. And hey — don’t forget to give that phone a really good
pounding before you leave.’
She didn’t say that, of course. She didn’t need to.
217
II. Answer the following questions:
1. How do you understand the introductory sentence of the story?
2. It is the first time the author deals with the American telephone
company?
3. Why is he so frustrated with AT&T?
4. What happened to him at Logan Airport? Why did he have to
find a payphone?
5. What did he have to do to accumulate $1.05? Why did he need
that sum of money?
6. What made the author angry when he returned to the payphone
for the second time?
7. Why did he have to buy more newspapers and magazines?
8. Did he manage to write the number of the mini-coach company
when at last he got through? Why?
9. How many times did he try to get the number from directory
inquiries? Did he succeed?
10. Who helped him in the end?
III. Find the following expressions in the text, translate them
into Russian and reproduce the situations in which they are used:
it was supposed to pick me up and take me home
to deposit $1.05 in change
to accumulate $1.05 in assorted silver coins
to feed coins into a slot
if I didn’t get myself organized it would cut me off
this time I got through
she rattled off a number, clearly from memory
ACTIVE VOCABULARY
terminal n — 1. a building or set of buildings at an airport where air
passengers arrive and leave: A second terminal was opened in
2006. 2. a place, building or set of buildings where journeys by
train, bus or boat begin or end: a railway / bus / ferry terminal.
to deposit v — 1. to put or lay somebody/something down in a
particular place: She deposited a pile of books on my desk. 2. to
218
place in a bank or safe: Millions were deposited in Swiss bank
accounts. Guests may deposit their valuables in the hotel safe. 3. to
pay a sum of money as the first part of a larger payment; to pay a
sum of money that you will get back if you return in good
condition something that you have rented: You are required to
deposit $100 in case of damage.
due adj — 1. owed or owing as a debt or right: Our grateful thanks
are due to the police department. You’ll get all the money that is
due to you. 2. proper, correct, suitable: with due care and attention;
with due respect. 3. expected or supposed (to happen, arrive, etc.):
The train from Huntingdon is due to arrive at 7 p. m. The baby is
due by the end of September.
to approach v — 1. to come near to somebody/something in distance
or time: We heard the sound of an approaching car. Winter is
approaching. 2. (somebody about / for something; about doing
something) to speak to somebody about something, esp. to ask
them for something or to offer to do something: She approached
the bank for a loan. Did Danny approach you about lending him a
book? 3. to start dealing with a problem, task, etc. in a particular
way: There are several ways of approaching this problem.
change n — 1. the money that is returned to someone when the
amount they have given is more than the cost of the goods being
bought: If it cost 30 cents and you gave the salesclerk a dollar, you
should get 70 cents change. 2. coins of low value: How much have
you got in change? Can you give me change for a dollar?
receiver n — the part of a telephone that you hold close to your
mouth and ear: to pick up / lift / put down / replace the receiver
to scold v somebody — to speak angrily to somebody, esp. a child,
because they have done something wrong: He scolded them for
arriving late.
to dial v — to make a telephone call (to) by using a dial or a similar
apparatus, e. g. a set of push buttons on a modern telephone
dial tone — the sound made by a telephone receiver to show that
one may now dial the number that one wants
219
WORD COMBINATIONS AND PHRASES
to hang up — to end a telephone conversation by putting the
telephone receiver down or switching the telephone off; to hang
up on somebody — to end a telephone conversation while the
other person is still talking
to try somebody’s patience — to make somebody feel impatient
to get through to somebody — to reach somebody; to make contact
with somebody by telephone
to feed coins into a slot — to throw coins into a small hollow of a
payphone
to cut somebody off — (often passive) to interrupt somebody who is
speaking on the telephone by breaking the connection
to be taken aback — to be shocked or surprised by somebody/
something
ASSIGNMENTS
I. Translate into Russian:
1. I got a scolding from my mother.
2. Let us approach the subject from a different perspective.
3. Can you change a 20 dollar note?
4. As you approach the town, you’ll see the college on the left.
5. She was completely taken aback by his anger.
6. We only exchange notes and traveler’s checks.
7. We have been approached by a number of companies that are
interested in our product.
8. We were cut off in the middle of our conversation.
9. After I hung up I remembered what I’d wanted to say.
10. I tried calling you several times but I couldn’t get through.
11. The next train is due in five minutes.
12. All I get is a busy signal when I dial his number.
13. The receiver had already clicked into place.
14. Where can I change a dollar bill for four quarters?
220
Соседние файлы в предмете [НЕСОРТИРОВАННОЕ]