Lesson 1, Introduction

1. a) Find the information about the author of the book, Jean Webster, and present a report on her life and creative work.

b) Check how you’ve remembered Jean Webster’s biography. Say if the following statements are true or false and correct the false ones.

1. The author was christened Alice Jane Chandler Webster, and Jean wasn’t her real name.

2. Jean Webster’s mother was a niece of Theodor Dreiser.

3. Jean Webster attended the Lady Jane Grey boarding school in Binghamton, NY. It was at Lady Jane Grey that she changed her name.

4. She changed her name from Alice to Jean when she discovered that her roommate was also named Alice.

5. As an undergraduate Jean Webster wrote a weekly column of "chatty news" for some local newspaper.

6. After graduating from school, Webster earned her living as a free-lance writer and novelist, living in New York City.

7. Jean Webster’s first novel was called “Daddy Long-Legs”.

8. Altogether Webster wrote eight novels and countless unpublished stories and plays, in a style often described as realistic, refreshing, and witty.

9. For seven years Jean Webster was secretly engaged to Glenn Ford McKinney, but he married to another woman, and she waited several years for him to divorce.

10. "Daddy Long-Legs" is a sequel to Webster’s most well-known novel “Dear Enemy”.

11. Jean Webster died young of complications from childbirth.

12. Webster also had a deep interest in many social reform movements and it found reflection in her books.

13. The novel “Daddy Long-Legs” was a best seller and later adapted to the stage by Henry Miller, starring Ruth Chatterton.

14. The firts screen version of “Daddy Long-Legs” appeared in 1930es, and the part of the main heroine was played by Mary Pickford.

2. Make a short report about American system of secondary education and compare the modern one to that of the beginning of the 20th century.

Lesson 2 - “The Blue Wednesday”

Ex.1 Find these words and phrases in the text; read and translate into Russian the sentences in which they are used.

to bear the brunt of	to wear an expression
hardened little orphan	to work hard for one’s board
to be summoned to	to keep track of one’s progress
to give place to	punctilious
so far as she knew	her head was in a whirl of excitement

Ex.2 a) Find these sentences in the text and translate them into Russian.

The first Wednesday in every month was a Perfectly Awful Day – a day to be awaited with dread, endured with courage and forgotten with haste.

Mrs. Lippett detained her with a gesture; it was an oratorical opportunity not to be slighted.

b) Read and translate the sentences. Point out the subordinate attributive clause. Observe the structures and practise them.

1. He was not a man to be slightly refused.

2. The book to be published next year is supposed to become a best-seller.

3. He is the youngest boy to be chosen for the leading part.

4. There are three more games to be played this summer, and out team is likely to to get the cup.

5. The museum to be built here will house a very interesting collection of portraits by some European painters.

6. It is not a novel to be read in a day.

7. She is the only one to be addressed in this situation.

8. We have a problem to be solved immediately.

c) Paraphrase the sentences using a passive infinitive as attri­bute.

Model: A lot of things should be done before we leave. – There are a lot of things to be done before we leave.*

1. A lot of papers should be typed before the boss comes.

2. Some problems should be solved before we sign an agree­ment.

3. A couple of chairs should be fetched.

4. A lot of things should be packed before he arrives.

5. Three students should be asked at the seminar

6. Three tapes should be listened to before we start a class.

7. Lots of rules should be revised before we have a test.

8. Five children should be examined by a doctor.

9. A lot of pictures should be looked through before we find the one we need.

10. Two more people should be invited.

11. Several more calls should be given before we arrange everything.

*Note that an Active Infinitive is also possible in this case. There are a lot of things to do before we leave.

d) Use this structure in the sentences of your own.

Ex.3 a) Find this sentence in the text and translate it into Russian.

Had you not managed to be funny, I doubt if you would have been forgiven.

b) Read and translate the sentences. Name the subordinate clause of condition. Observe the structures and practise them.

1. Had Irene been present, the family circle would have been complete.

2. Had the wanderer remained awake for another half-hour, a strange sight would have met his eyes.

3. Had the play been a bit shorter, I would have liked it much more.

4. Had he come in time, it wouldn’t have happened.

5. Had it not been for rain, where would you have gone?

6. Had it not been for his illness, the family would have moved to the city long ago.

7. Had I told her about it, she would have considered me mad.

8. Had you not be so busy, we would have had dinner together.

c) Finish off the following conditional sentences:

1. Had it not been for the rain...

2. Had it not been for the coming conference...

3. Hadn’t it been for his advice...

4. Hadn’t it been for the announcement on the radio...

5. Had it not been the message that we received...

6. Had the play been a bit longer...

7. Had the car not broken down...

8. Had I known you were there...

d) Start the sentences with the subordinate clause of condition. Observe the inversion.

1. ... the cake wouldn’t have got burnt.

2. ... you wouldn’t have got into trouble.

3. ... he would have got wet through.

4. ... your tour would have cost less expensive.

5. ... he would have driven straight home.

6. ... I would have come earlier.

7. ... she would have married him.

8. ... we would have gone to the party together.

e) Make up a couple of sentences with the subordinate clause of condition. Observe the inversion.

Ex.4 Discuss the following points:

1. Explain in English what the phrase “blue Wednesday” means. What is “to look blue”, “to be blue”? Say why the first Wednesday in every month was a “blue” one for Jerusha Abbott.

2. What can you say about Jerusha? What is she like, in your opinion? Give a short character sketch of this heroine.

3. Is Jerusha’s life a happy one? a calm one? a carefree one?

4. Do you think the opportunity to study at college will change Jerusha’s life completely? In what way?

5. What’s your opinion of the Trustee of the John Grier Home who has got responsible for Jerusha’s fate? Any ideas of who he is and what his true motives are?

Ex.5 Imagine that you are a writer, and your editor asks you to create a novel and gives the idea of this novel in form of an introduction like this one. Say, how you will develop this idea, what your characters will be like, what will happen to the main heroes of the novel.