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. For him dealing with irate customers was just a part of the job.

a. high-ranking b. odd c. special d. very angry

2. Tears of anguish filled her eyes.

a. offence b. severe pain c. sudden joy d. regret

3. There was a dilapidated pair of woman’s shoes on the porch.

a. lost, left behind b. very expensive

c. old, in bad condition d. of unusual design

4. His name was always mentioned in almost reverential tones.

a. full of fear b. neglectful c. full of respect d. derisive

5. He smirked unpleasantly when we told him the bad news.

a. replied b. looked c. spoke d. smiled

6. Could you ascertain that she will be coming to the meeting?

a. make sure b. promise c. doubt d. predict

II. a) The word “to prowl” has the basic meaning “to move around”;

b) the word “chipped” has the basic meaning “broken”.

Can you specify their meaning?

c) What is a “satellite dish”. What is it used for?

III. Note that the word “seal” can be both a verb and a noun (besides, there is a homonym “seal”, a sea animal). In the text the word “seal” is used twice. In what context?

IV. Note the frequent use of patterns “to take/give + Noun” instead of the corresponding verbs.

e.g. to walk  to take a walk; to look  to take a look; to decide  to take a decision; to breathe in  to take a breath;

to smile  to give a smile; to yawn  to give a yawn etc.

The nouns in these patterns can be modified: e.g. to give a big smile; to take a deep breath.

Other examples are:

to take a step /a walk; to take a look/a glance; to take a bite /a drink /a sip;

to give a smile/ a shrug/ a cry/ a kiss/ a yawn/ a laugh/ a sigh.

a) Change the following sentences from the text according to this pattern:

• He nodded, still looking at his book.

• I nodded, and Derek, the removal man, turned back to the van.

• Derek snapped shut the padlock on the back of the van, nodded in my direction.

b) Make up three examples with any of the above expressions; let the noun in one of them be modified.

V. Note that the word “store” can be both a verb and a noun. In what meaning is it used in the text? Give two examples with this word (as a noun and as a verb).

VI. a) You can put, get or throw a car into gear. In the text the driver crunched the van into gear. What does it mean in this context? What does the verb “to crunch” mean?

b) Note that there is a noun “crunch” which is used with the definite article in several idioms:

He always says he’ll help but when it comes to the crunch (=when it is time for action or decision) he does nothing.

The crunch came when she returned from America.

In this context “the crunch” means “an important and often unpleasant situation or piece of information”.

Make up an example of your own with either of these idioms.

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

1) vantage point; 2) to act/decide on impulse; 3) at random; 4) to fasten your seatbelt; 5) to be absorbed in (one’s memories/ thought/ one’s book etc.).

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 day of the narrator’s life is described in the story?

2. Why was the removal especially painful for the narrator? What did he do before leaving?

3. Comment on the Paragraphs 3-5.

4. What kind of family did the narrator have several years ago?

5. What kind of boy was the narrator’s son? Cite as many details from the text as you can.

6. Did the father treat his son respectfully? Prove it.

7. Describe the area where the narrator moved with his son.

8. How did the boy feel about the new place?

9. What is the general tone of the story, to your mind? What details contribute to it?

10. Find: several examples of repetitions in the text; a metaphor in Paragraph 2; a symbol in Paragraph 8; a paradox in the paragraph starting with the words “On the third attempt…”; a symbol and anticlimax in the same paragraph. (for any unfamiliar terms see the “Glossary of Literary Terms”). For what purpose does the author use these devices? You may choose several examples and comment on them.

Creative Follow-up Work

Find as many words and expressions related to the topics “driving” and “traffic” in the text as you can. Use them to make up a short story of about 150 words.