- •The Happy Man
- •Vocabulary practice
- •I. Learn the following words and phrases:
- •II. There are many combinations with self- to characterize people, their behaviour. Look through the following list of them, translate them into Russian. Use some of them to describe Dr.Stephens.
- •III. Fill in prepositions or adverbs where necessary:
- •IV. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following:
- •Reading comprehension
- •I. Say who made these utterances and under what circumstances:
- •II. Answer the following questions:
- •Discussion
- •Writing
IV. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following:
Распоряжаться чужими жизнями; можно только предполагать; ошибки часто непоправимы; темный плащ судьбы; совершенно незнакомый человек; меня воспитывали; взглянул мельком; порядком поношенный костюм; я случайно узнал; я подумал немного; зарабатывать достаточно, чтобы свести концы с концами; я не имел ни малейшего понятия; смутное воспоминание; ей там было уютнее; бог свидетель.
Reading comprehension
I. Say who made these utterances and under what circumstances:
1. "Once I knew I advertised well".
2. "I hope you don't mind my coming to see you like this".
3. "I was brought up by two old aunts. I have never been anywhere".
4. "It's a means of livelihood".
5. "It is madness to give up a good safe job for an uncertainty".
6. "It's a great risk".
7. "You changed my whole life for me".
8. "Oh, I'm sorry for that".
9. "Poor I have been and poor I shall always be but by heaven I've enjoyed myself".
II. Answer the following questions:
1. What happened one day when the author was still a young man?
2. What can you say about the visitor: his appearance, his behaviour?
3. What was the aim of his visit? Was the author surprised?
4. Did the author and Dr .Stephens meet later?
5. What did the author learn about Dr. Stephen's life in Spain?
Discussion
1. Give a character sketch of Dr. Stephens.
2. How does his visit to the author characterize him? Did he really need the author's advice?
3. What did Dr. Stephens mean saying: "I wouldn't exchange the life I've had with that of any king in the world"?
4. Read the following statements and give your reasons of agreement or disagreement:
a) "You can go all through your life thinking and dreaming about the things you want to do. Sooner or later you have to make your choice. Somehow it seems better to fail than not to try at all".
b) "He, who seizes the right moment, is the right man".
Writing
Comment on the following statement using the facts from Dr. Stephens's life-story: "No one knows what he can do till he tries".