Labour 1 The Nemean Lion
Pronunciation
Practice the correct pronunciation of the following words:
Hercule Hercules Poirot Burton |
Lemon Nemean Pekinese Joseph |
Carnaby Amy Hartingfield Augustus |
Preview questions
Agatha Christie is one of the most famous British writers of whodunits. Prepare a short communication about her life and professional activity and report in class. You may want to use the internet to find the information.
At the beginning of the reading there was a special reference to the labors of Hercules? Why? Can you name the twelve Labors of Hercules?
Recall the myth about the Nemean Lion and explain why the title is referred to this ancient legend. What’s the main idea of the story read?
The text is divided into six parts. Skim through the content of each chapter and tell the main idea. How will you head each part?
What are the clue words of the story? Compare your clue words with those of your classmates.
Vocabulary
Explain the following expressions : couldn’t help speaking, to have nothing to do with, to grudge the expense, to be about to do smth, to risk one’s neck for smb. Make up the sentences of your own using these phrases.
Find the synonyms of the following words: to kidnap, a flat, to be terrified, to persuade, wealthy
Give the definition of the following words: labor, pet, fee, charity, self-imposed
Find in the text all the words related to the ‘crime’ and make a list of them with the translation.
Importance – unimportance. Form the words with opposite meaning using the prefixes (un-, ir-, dis-, non-, in-): appearance, usual, rational, real, approve, safely, fortunate, responsible, trained, valid, visibility, natural, like, smoking, complete, repeating, exactly, close, organisation, explained.
Translate from Russian into English using the vocabulary of the text: 1) Пуаро велел своему секретарю позвонить г-ну Хоггину и назначить встречу. 2) Он не привык разбрасываться деньгами. 3) Джозеф обратился к Пуаро и пообещал, что не поскупится на расходы. 4) Пуаро вспомнил своего бывшего клиента, внешность которого очень напоминала Сэра Джозефа. 5) Этот неприметный человек нес ответственность за убийства, ограбления, кражи драгоценностей и многие беды. 6) Когда Пуаро поднялся по ступенькам, он остановился, чтобы восстановить дыхание. 7) Открыв дверь, Эми немного отступила назад и онемела от изумления. 8) Эми опасалась за свое будущее, и у нее не было влиятельных друзей, которые могли бы оказать ей содействие.
Introduce the main characters of the story. Find their descriptions in the text and complete them with your own words. Figure the Ms. Lemon’s portrait out and continue the brief description found in the text.
Find and write out the vocabulary about ‘dogs’. The race of the kidnapped dogs was Pekinese. Here are other names of dogs’ breeds, make sure you know their Russian equivalents: sheep-dog, Alsatian, lap-dog, dachshund, poodle, Newfoundland, spaniel, bulldog, hound, bloodhound, collie. Do you own a pet? If so, what kind?