16. Read the synopsis of a famous short story. Render the story into English. Последний лист

Две молодые художницы, Сью и Джонси, снимали квартирку на верхнем этаже дома в нью-йоркском квартале Гринвич-Виллидж, где издавна селятся люди искусства. В ноябре Джонси заболела пневмонией. Вердикт врача был неутешителен: «У нее один шанс из десяти. И то, если она сама захочет жить». Но Джонси как раз потеряла интерес к жизни. Она лежала в постели, смотрела в окно и считала, сколько листьев осталось на старом плюще, который обвил своими побегами стену напротив. Джонси была убеждена: когда упадет последний лист, она умрет.

Сью рассказала о мрачных мыслях подруги старому художнику Берману, который жил внизу. Он давно собирался создать шедевр, но пока у него что-то не клеилось. Услышав про Джонси, старик Берман страшно расстроился.

На следующее утро оказалось, что на плюще остался один-единственный лист. Джонси следила за тем, как он сопротивлялся порывам ветра. Стемнело, пошел дождь, еще сильнее задул ветер, и Джонси не сомневалась, что наутро она уже не увидит этот лист. Но она ошибалась: к её великому удивлению, лист-храбрец продолжал сражаться с ненастьем. Это произвело на Джонси сильное впечатление. Ей стало стыдно своего малодушия, и она вновь обрела желание жить. Посетивший её доктор отметил улучшение. Он упомянул, что сосед снизу тоже подхватил воспаление легких, но у бедняги шансов на выздоровление нет. Еще через день доктор заявил, что теперь жизнь Джонси вне опасности. Вечером Сью сообщила подруге грустную весть: в больнице скончался старик Берман. Он простудился в ту ненастную ночь, когда плющ потерял последний лист и художник нарисовал новый и под проливным дождем и ледяным ветром прикрепил его к ветке. Берман все-таки создал свой шедевр.

VOCAB & SPEAKING

1. Idioms

a turn-up for the book

a surprising situation Well, there’s a turn-up for the book- I never thought he’d get a girlfriend.

be a closed book

to be something that you know or understand nothing about (usually + to ) I'm afraid physics will always be a closed book to me.

be an open book 

1. if a person's life is an open book, you can discover everything about it because none of the details are kept secret Like many film stars, he wants to keep his private life private - he doesn't want it becoming an open book.

2. if someone is an open book, it is easy to know what they are thinking and feeling Sarah's an open book, so you'll know right away if she doesn't like the present you've bought her.

be in somebody's good books  (informal)

if you are in someone's good books, they are pleased with you I cleaned the bathroom yesterday so I'm in Mum's good books. (informal)

close the books on someone or something

Fig. to declare that a matter concerning someone or something is finished. (The books here originally referred to financial accounting records.) It's time to close the books on Fred. He's had enough time to apologize to us.

crack a book

Fig. to open a book to study. (Usually used with a negative.) I never cracked a book and still passed the course. Sally didn't crack a book all semester.

cuddle up with a (good) book and curl up (with a (good) book)

to snuggle into a chair or bed comfortably to read a book. I want to go home and cuddle up with a good book. She went home and curled up with a good book.

hit the books and pound the books

Inf. Fig. to study hard. I spent the weekend pounding the books. I gotta go home and hit the books. I have finals next week.

not judge a book by its cover

to not be able to really know about someone or something by simply looking at them She doesn't look very bright, but you can't judge a book by its cover.

take a leaf out of someone's book and take a page from someone's book

Fig. to behave or to do something in a way that someone else would. Don't take a leaf out of my book. I don't do it well.

the oldest trick in the book

a way of tricking someone which is still effective although it has been used a lot before It was the oldest trick in the book - one man distracted me while another stole my wallet.

throw the book at someone

Fig. to charge or convict someone with as many crimes as is possible. I made the police officer angry, so he took me to the station and threw the book at me. The judge threatened to throw the book at me if I didn't stop insulting the police officer.

wrote the book on something

Fig. to be very authoritative about something; to know enough about something to write the definitive book on it. (Always in past tense.) Do I know about misery? I wrote the book on misery!

Complete each sentence with one of the idioms.

1. Ted ……………… unemployment. He's been looking for work in three states for two years.

2. Once the police have arrested you, or so it seemed to us, they will ……………..you in order to make something stick.

3. Surely she hadn't almost fallen for …………………….!

4. Lowestoft College was not very eye catching, in fact it looked a dump but as they say ‘never……………………..’.

5. John did not …………………… until the night before the exam.

6. Thursday's annual Census Bureau report on income, poverty and access to health care ………………….. the economic record of George W. Bush.

7. When it was finally time to board, we got on the train to find out that we’d been put in business class. This was……………………, reclining seats and room to stretch out a little.

8. When you act like that, you're ……………….your sister's…………., and I don't like it! You had better do it your way.

Now use the idioms in your own sentences.