Vocabulary Training

I. Understanding Word Meaning from Context.

Choose a word or a word group that has the same meaning as the word in bold.

1. When the climbers reached the top they were exhausted.

a. very happy b. very hungry c. very tired d. very enthusiastic

2. He’s got flabby since he gave up running.

a. weak b. fat c. thin d. unhealthy

3. While he was speaking his expression was deadpan.

a. mean b. funny c. angry d. without emotion

4. The company intends a slow-down in expansion.

a. plans b. fears c. avoids d. predicts

5. It is reasonable to assume that the economy will continue to improve.

a. hope b. doubt c. think d. agree

6. Obviously, they don’t want to spend too much money.

a. maybe b. unfortunately c. surely d. evidently

II. The nouns “scale(s)”, “shift” and “line” all have several meanings which are quite different. Look up their meanings in a dictionary. Point out the meanings in which they are used in the text. What nouns can also be used as verbs?

Illustrate any of the meanings of each word with your own examples (make up three sentences).

III. The words “to stare” and “to gaze” basically have the same meaning (“to look”). Can you explain and illustrate the difference in meaning between them?

IV. Note that the words “leap”, “bite” and “wound” can be both nouns and verbs. Look up the meanings of these words as nouns and as verbs and illustrate them with examples of your own.

V. a) One of the meanings of the suffix –ish in adjectives is “a low intensity of a quality”. It is often added to the names of colours.

What word with this suffix can you find in the text?

What words do you get if you add this suffix to other names of colours (yellow, green, grey, brown, black, blue, white, pink)?

These adjectives are helpful when describing something of uncertain colour. E.g. greyish eyes.

Think of an example of your own.

b) The suffix –ish can also be used to describe the age of a person approximately. E.g. He looks thirtyish.

In the text the age of the tourists is not stated. What expression is used to describe their age?

VI. Note that the verb “try” is used twice in the text in different combinations:

1) They had been trying to move for two years. = They had been making an effort to move.

2) 'You could try asking him,' the man said. = You could do it and see if asking him will help you.

Make sure you understand the difference. Now illustrate it with examples of your own.

VII. In what meaning is the verb “mean” used in the following sentence from the text?

Can you ask this boy what he means to do with the fish?

How can you paraphrase it?

VIII. Explain the following words in English. Use an explanatory dictionary if necessary. If a word has several meanings, point out the meaning in which it is used in the text.

1) to fade 2) to stink 3) thud 4) to shrug

5) to fidget 6) clue 7) bulk 8) drawl

IX. Note how each of the following idioms is used in the text:

1) to make smth of smb/smth; 2) to make (both) ends meet; 3) to make way for smth/smb; 4) can’t help doing smth; 5) to be within reach (opposite: to be out of reach).

Now use each of these idioms in an example of your own. Try to relate them to your own experience.

Recounting and Interpreting Details

1. What did the boy want to do with the fish?

2. Why did the woman want to buy the fish?

3. Why did her husband feel uncomfortable throughout the episode?

4. What was Manuel’s attitude towards the tourists? Find details in the text to support your point of view.

5. First Manuel didn’t smile while speaking with the woman and later he started smiling. Why? Was he being friendly? Find the corresponding paragraph and comment on it.

6. When the couple went away from the boy they seemed to be arguing. What might they argue about?

7. What can you say about Manuel? What is his role in the story?

8. The woman in the story performed a kind act: she gave some money to the boy and tried to save the fish. Does the narrator seem to support her? Find as many details to prove your point of view as you can.

9. The story begins and ends with the same fish being caught. What is the function of this “frame” composition?

10. Look up the meaning of the term “leitmotif” in the Glossary of Literary Terms. Can you find any leitmotif in the story? What words impart a certain mood to this story?

Creative Follow-up Work

Tell the story shortly from Manuel’s perspective. Think of “asides” (remarks) that he might pronounce as the tourists were approaching or as they were walking away.