SHORT STORIES FOR READING AND DISCUSSION. Пособие по английскому языку для студентов I и II курсов

Transcription

1 МИНИСТЕРСТВО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ МОСКОВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ АКАДЕМИЯ СОЦИАЛЬНОГО УПРАВЛЕНИЯ Кафедра иностранных языков М.Д. Горбачева SHORT STORIES FOR READING AND DISCUSSION Пособие по английскому языку для студентов I и II курсов АСОУ 2011

2 УДК 371 Горбачева М.Д. Short Stories for Reading and Discussion: Пособие по английскому языку для студентов I и II курсов. АСОУ, с. Пособие Short Stories for Reading and Discussion является дополнением к учебно-методическому комплексу по иностранному языку. Целью пособия является формирование у студентов умений самостоятельного чтения и ознакомление обучающихся с современной английской литературой. В пособие включены короткие рассказы, которые могут быть использованы как на аудиторных занятиях, так и для самостоятельной работы студентов. После каждого рассказа предлагаются задания для проверки понимания прочитанного и активизации словарного запаса обучающихся. Пособие предназначено для студентов I и II курсов АСОУ. Одобрено методическим советом Протокол 5 20 июня 2011 г. Рекомендовано кафедрой Протокол июня 2011 г. Рецензент: Казначеева Л.М., канд. филол. наук, доцент кафедры иностранных языков АСОУ Горбачевса М.Д., 2011 АСОУ,

3 T e x t 1 THE DOG Linda Robinson was very thirsty so she went into a café. There was an old woman in the café. She was sitting at a table near the door. At her feet, under the table, there was a small dog. Linda bought a large glass of lemonade and some biscuits. She sat down at the table next to the old woman. The old woman sat quietly. She looked lonely. Linda decided to talk to the old woman. She said, It is very hot today. Yes, but it is nice and cool inside the café, replied the old woman. Linda looked at the little dog and she asked, Does your dog like people? Oh, he is very friendly. Linda wanted to give the dog one of her biscuits so she asked, Does your dog like biscuits? They are his favourite food, said the old woman. Linda was afraid of dogs so she said, Does your dog bite? The old woman laughed and said, No. My dog is very tame. He is afraid of cats. Linda took a biscuit from her plate and she put it near the dog s mouth. However, the dog didn t bite the biscuit, it bit Linda s hand. Linda jumped out of the chair and screamed in pain. In an angry voice, she shouted at the old woman, You said that your dog didn t bite. The old woman looked at Linda and at the dog. Then she said, That s not my dog. Words and word-combinations: 1. to be thirsty испытывать жажду; 2. biscuit печенье, кекс; 3. quietly тихо; 4. to look lonely выглядеть одиноким; 5. to reply отвечать; 6. to be friendly быть дружелюбным; 7. to be afraid of бояться кого-либо, чего-либо; 8. to bite (bit, bitten) кусаться; 9. to be tame быть прирученным; 10. to scream in pain закричать от боли; 11. to shout at smb. закричать на кого-либо. 1. Answer the questions. 1. Why did Linda go to a café? 2. Who was sitting at the table near the door? 3. Who did Linda see under the table? 3

4 4. Why did she think it was the old woman s dog? 5. What did Linda buy at the café? 6. Why did Linda decide to talk to the old woman? 7. What did they talk about? 8. What was the dog s favourite food? 9. Did the dog like people according to the old woman? 10. Was Linda afraid of dogs? 11. What questions did Linda ask the old woman? 12. Was the old woman s dog tame? 13. Was it friendly to Linda? 14. What did the dog do when Linda gave it a biscuit? 15. What did the old woman say about this dog? T e x t 2 CALL ME MOTHER A friend of mine and her new husband were enjoying a romantic evening at a restaurant. They were still in love and sat looking into each other s eyes. But soon they noticed an elderly lady dining alone at the opposite table. She was gazing at them with love and admiration. They smiled back politely and the old dear came up to their table. I m sorry to trouble you, she began sadly. I have never seen such a beautiful couple in my life. I ve been watching you all the evening. You know, my dear, your wife looks so much like my daughter. She was killed last year and I ve been so miserable ever since. I miss her terribly. I wonder if you will be able to do me a great favour? The couple said that they would do so. It will give me so much joy if just as I leave you will say Goodbye, Mum! Certainly they couldn t refuse her this. A few minutes later the old lady stood up to leave and the two diners did as she had asked. Soon their bill was brought. They checked and rechecked it and finally made the manager explain why it was so massive. Your bill includes the old lady s meal, was the answer. She expected her daughter to pay for her. Isn t that natural? Words and word-combinations: 1. to gaze пристально глядеть; 2. admiration восхищение; 3. a couple супружеская пара; 4. to be miserable быть несчастным; 5. to do smb. a favour оказывать услугу, любезность; 6. to expect ожидать, рассчитывать. 4

5 1. Answer the questions. 1. On what occasion did the couple go to the restaurant? 2. Who was dining at the opposite table? 3. Why did the lady come up to the couple? 4. What trick did the elderly lady use to arouse their sympathy? 5. Did the trick work? 6. What favour did the lady ask for? 7. When did the couple realize that they had been cheated? 8. How did the manager explain why the bill was so massive? 9. If such an incident happened to you would you forgive the woman? 10. What do you think of the words Trust but check? 2. Discuss the following. 1. Do you sometimes go to a restaurant? 2. How often can you afford to eat out? 3. On what occasion do you usually go to a restaurant? 4. Which national cuisine do you prefer? 5. Which restaurant is your favourite one? 6. Are you satisfied with the quality of the food and the service at that restaurant? 7. If you go to a restaurant with your friend(s), who usually pays the bill: the one who invites or each person pays his/her bill himself/herself? 8. Do you, as a rule, check the accuracy of the bill? Give your reasons for that. 9. Do you usually tip the waiter? 10. How much tip do you leave? Is there any special rule about the amount of the tip? T e x t 3 THE BEST DRIVER Can you guess the last line of this story? One of the largest construction companies in the States wanted a truck driver and advertised for one in the national newspapers. A week later ten candidates applied for the job. They all brought excellent references from their former employers and were invited to the first interview. Not all the applicants were successful and after the first interview there were only three candidates on the final shortlist. The Personnel Manager asked the first man: How near can you drive to the edge of a precipice without going over? The driver said, Within an inch. Very well, said the manager, you can go now and I ll let you know about the chances to get the job. 5

6 The second man answering the same question said, I can drive within half an inch of the edge, in fact I have done it more than once. When the third man came, the manager said: Well, my man, and how near can you drive to the edge of a precipice without going over? Indeed, sir, I have never tried and I don t want to. Ah, said the manager, Explain the meaning of the following phrases in your own words. 1. wanted a truck driver; 2. apply for a job; 3. excellent references; 4. not all the applicants were successful; 5. I will let you know. 2. Answer the questions. 1. In what area of business did the company work? 2. Which vacancy did the company advertise? Where did the company advertise the job? 3. How many candidates applied for the position? 4. What did they bring with themselves? 5. Who gave them the references? 6. Who interviewed them? 7. How many applicants remained on the shortlist after the first interview? 8. How many questions did the manager ask each candidate? 9. What was the answer of the first candidate? Did the answer satisfy or disappoint the manager? 10. What answer did the second candidate give? Was the manager pleased with the answer? 11. What was the third driver s answer? 12. Which of the candidates was offered the job? 3. Discuss the following. 1. What is your opinion of the employment practice? 2. What is the aim of a job interview for both a candidate and an interviewer? 3. What advice would you give to an applicant before his/her first interview? 4. How do people usually look for a job? T e x t 4 WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? Why or why not? Does a lot of money REALLY make you happy? Sally Burgess tries to answer the million-dollar question. 6

7 Mark Larsen won over nine million pounds on the lottery two years ago. At first, life was fantastic and Mark had some fun he spent a lot of money on a big new house and five new cars. Then the problems started. Some friends began to ask him for money. He had a lot of arguments with his wife and they divorced. Now he says, I haven t got any friends and I feel lonely. Life was better when I didn t have much money. Many people think that money brings happiness. However, according to Professor Michael Argyle, this is not true. In Britain, we are richer but unhappier than fifty years ago. The USA is the richest country in the world but Americans are not the happiest people in the world. Professor Argyle has found that very poor people and very rich people are unhappier than those in between. For example, very poor people in the developing world live in overcrowded houses without any running water and with no electricity. However, there are also many millionaires with personal problems. A lot of young people who get rich very quickly are at risk. Because of this, a few young millionaires are changing their lifestyles. Richard Cross, a multi-millionaire computer analyst from California, is an example. His house shows no signs of his wealth. There is a small garden and there are only two cars parked outside his house. I want my kids to live a normal life, says Richard. So what can make us happy? According to Professor Argyle, you should have one close relationship and some close friends. You should do a little sport and have a lot of contact with other people. Other people make you happy, not money! 1. Are the statements below true or false? 1. Mark Larsen was happier when he was poorer. 2. British people are happier than in the past. 3. Millionaires and very poor people are often unhappy. 4. Richard Cross has not got much money. 5. It s a good thing to have friends. 6. A lot of money makes you very happy. 2. Match the words to make phrases from the article. 1 have 2 feel 3 bring 4 get 5 a normal 6 close Make your own sentences with the phrases. a rich b life c relationships d arguments e happiness f lonely 3. Answer the questions. 1. Why did Mark Larsen become unhappy? 2. What kind of personal problems do you think millionaires could have? 7

8 3. What kind of lifestyle do a few young millionaires choose? Why? 4. According to Professor Argyle, what makes people happy? Do you agree with his opinion? 5. What can make YOU happy? 8 T e x t 5 WHATEVER HAPPENED TO UNCLE OSCAR? I would like to tell you what happened to my uncle Oscar, or I would rather try to understand it and explain it to you. My uncle Oscar was a very nice man. Every morning on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday he usually took the seven-forty-five (7.45) bus and started for work. He went to the bank early in the morning as he was an accountant (and by the way, a very good one). He worked hard all day long and returned home rather late. My uncle was forty-seven years old, married and had two children. His wife s name was Agatha. Aunt Agatha was fond of talking and always talked too much and in a very loud voice. That s why I think Uncle Oscar seldom had much to say. Their two children, Elizabeth and Julian, were not very pleasant. Both of them were large and loud like their mother. And they were selfish and greedy too. They didn t think about their father much. He was a little quiet man, who spoke little and went about unnoticed. He liked music but didn t play any musical instrument. He practically never went to the theatre or to the cinema and he didn t visit exhibitions or museums either. Uncle Oscar didn t go in for sports. You could never see him in the sitting room in front of the television watching sports programmes. Uncle Oscar never complained about his boring life. I knew he had a hobby. He had a very good collection of stamps and he was happy only when he worked on his stamp collection. His children took no interest in their father s hobby. But I, his nephew, did. Uncle Oscar showed me some stamps and explained that they were really very expensive. Then on the 14 th of October 1971 Uncle Oscar got up as usual at six-fortyfive, made his own breakfast (Aunt Agatha, Elizabeth and Julian were still in bed; they never got up before 8), left the house and went to the bust stop. Some people who were at the bus stop that day didn t see him at all. The others were not so sure. They couldn t say anything definite. But that was the kind of person Uncle Oscar was: other people seldom noticed him. One thing was certain, he never got to the bank that morning. 1. Answer the following questions: 1. Who is the narrator of the story? 2. How many members were there in Uncle Oscar s family?

9 3. How old was Uncle Oscar? 4. What was his job? 5. Who talked a lot in his family? Who was always quiet? 6. Do you think Uncle Oscar s children loved their father? Why? 7. What was Uncle Oscar s hobby? 8. Why was Uncle Oscar s life boring? 9. Uncle Oscar didn t go in for sports, did he? 10. Where did Uncle Oscar go on the 14 th of October? Did he get there? 2. Say what you think of: a) Uncle Oscar; b) his wife; c) his children; d) the kind of life Uncle Oscar led; e) say whether you think Uncle Oscar was happy. 3. What do you think the end of the story is? 4. Uncle Oscar s hobby was collecting stamps. What about other people s hobbies? Say whose hobbies they are and describe them in the most detailed way. a) visiting museums, exhibitions, galleries; b) playing the piano (the violin, the guitar); c) going in for sports; d) painting; e) listening to the radio, watching TV; f) watching video films; g) going to jazz or pop concerts. T e x t 6 BRITISH WAYS Here are some facts about life on the continent. People seldom speak about weather. Sunday papers appear on Monday. Some people like cats, others don t. People are proud of the things they know. They try to show off their knowledge. You can offend people in many ways: if you laugh at them or make jokes about their life and jobs. People either tell you the truth or lie. On Sundays even the poorest person puts on his best suit and tries to look nice and respectable. 9

10 Many continentals think life is a game. People have good food. Now find in the text and read out the same information about the British ways. You might already know a lot about the English language and the people who speak it. Here are some facts about British ways if you compare them with the life on the continent. In England many things are the other way round. On the continent people seldom speak about weather. If they do, it usually means they have no other topics to discuss. In England, if you don t repeat the phrase It s a nice day today, isn t it? two hundred times a day people are surprised and think that you are very dull. On the continent Sunday papers appear on Monday; in England (the country is really hard to understand) they appear on Sunday. On the continent some people like cats, others don t, but in England cats are very special animals. Everyone loves them and takes care of them. On the continent people are proud of the things they know. They try to show off their knowledge and often quote Greek and Latin writers. In England only those who don t know them or who haven t read them do it. You can offend people on the continent in many ways, for example, if you laugh at them or make jokes about their life and jobs. But the English take everything with a sense of humour. You can easily offend them only if you tell them they have no sense of humour. People on the continent either tell you the truth or lie, in England they hardly eve lie, but they don t tell you the truth either. On Sundays on the continent even the poorest person puts on his best suit and tries to look nice and respectable. In England even the richest man dresses in some old clothes and doesn t shave. Many continentals think life is a game; the English think cricket is a game. On the continent people have good food. In England people have good table manners. 1. Speak about the differences between British and continental ways of life. 2. Do you think the writer of the text has a good sense of humour? Prove your point of view. T e x t 7 A DOG AND THREE DOLLARS I have always believed that a man must be honest. Never ask for money you haven t earned, I always said. 10

11 Now I shall tell you a story which will show you how honest I have always been all my life. A few days ago at my friend s house I met General Miles. General Miles was a nice man and we became great friends very quickly. Did you live in Washington in 1867? the general asked me. Yes, I did, I answered. How could it happen that we did not meet then? said General Miles. General, said I. We couldn t meet then. You forget that you were already a great general then, and I was a poor young writer whom nobody knew and whose books nobody read. You do not remember me, I thought, but we met once in Washington at that time. I remember it very well, I was poor then and very often I did not have money even for my bread. I had a friend. He was a poor writer too. We lived together. We did everything together: worked, read books, went for walks together. And when we were hungry, we were both hungry. Once we were in need of three dollars. I don t remember why we needed these three dollars so much, but I remember well that we had to have the money by the evening. We must get these three dollars, said my friend. I shall try to get the money, but you must also try. I went out of the house, but I didn t know where to go and how to get the three dollars. For an hour I was walking along the streets of Washington and was very tired. At last I came to a big hotel. I shall go in and have a rest, I thought. I went into the hall of the hotel and sat down on a sofa. I was sitting there when a beautiful small dog ran into the hall.it was looking for somebody. The dog was nice and I had nothing to do, so I called it and began to play with it. I was playing with the dog, when a man came into the hall. He wore a beautiful uniform and I knew at once that he was General Miles. I knew him by his pictures in the newspapers. What a beautiful dog! said he. Is it your dog? I did not have time to answer him when he said, Do you want to sell it? Three dollars, I answered at once. Three dollars? he asked. But that is very little. I can give you fifty dollars for it. No, no. I only want three dollars. Well, it is your dog. If you want three dollars for it, I shall be glad to buy your dog. General Miles paid me three dollars, took the dog and went up to his room. Ten minutes later an old man came into the hall. He looked round the hall. I could see that he was looking for something. Are you looking for a dog, sir? I asked. Oh, yes! Have you seen it? said the man. Your dog was here a few minutes ago and I saw how it went away with a man, I said. If you want, I shall try to find it for you. 11

12 The man was very happy and asked me to help him. I shall be glad to help you, but it will take some of my time and I am ready to pay you for your time, cried the man. How much do you want for it? Three dollars? answered I. Three dollars? said the man. But it is a very good dog. I shall pay you ten dollars if you find it for me. No sir, I want three dollars and not a dollar more, said I. Then I went to General Miles s room The General was playing with his new dog. I came here to take the dog back, said I. But it is not your dog no I have bought it. I have paid you three dollars for it, said the General. I shall give you back your three dollars, but I must take the dog back, answered I. But you have sold it to me, it is my dog now. I couldn t sell it to you, sir, because it was not my dog. Still you have sold it to me for three dollars. How could I sell it to you when it was not my dog? You asked me how much I wanted for the dog, and I said that I wanted three dollars. But I never told you that it was my dog. General Miles was very angry now. Give me back my three dollars and take the dog, he shouted. When I brought the dog back to its master, he was very happy and paid me three dollars with joy. I was happy too because I had the money and I felt I had earned it. Now you can see why I say that honesty is the best policy and that a man must never take anything that he has not earned. 1. Find in the text English equivalents for the following words and expressions. Быть честным; приятный человек, которого никто не знал; даже на хлеб; к вечеру; отдохнуть; мне было нечем заняться; сразу догадался; через десять минут; готов заплатить; я должен забрать собаку; вернул собаку хозяину. 2. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text and use them in sentences of your own. Earn some (a lot of, little) money; become great friends; be in need of smth.; wear a uniform; it takes (took, will take) smb. some time to do smth.; be angry with; with joy Answer the questions. 1. Whom did the author meet at his friend s house one day?

13 2. Did General Miles recognize the author? Why couldn t he? 3. Prove that the author s youth was very hard. 4. Why did the boy find himself in the hotel one day? 5. Who ran into the hall suddenly? 6. Why did the boy sell the dog to General Miles for three dollars? 7. What happened ten minutes later? 8. What brilliant idea came to the boy s mind? 9. How did he manage to take the dog back? 10. How did the boy s behaviour prove his words, Never ask for money you haven t earned? 4. Comment on the proverb: Honesty is the best policy. Say how you understand it and illustrate it by examples. Give your reasons and try to prove your point of view beginning with: As far as I know The matter is. I m sure that. I suppose that I believe that To sum it up Moreover 5. Act out the dialogues between: 1) General Miles and the boy; 2) The boy and the old man. 6. Retell the story on the part of 1) General Miles; 2) The old man; 3) the boy s friend. 7. Give the gist of the story in not more than ten sentences. 8. Reproduce the scene in General Miles room using Indirect Speech. T e x t 8 AN UNFINISHED STORY A week ago someone told me an incident. He said he wanted me to write a story on it, and since then I have been thinking it over. I don t see what to do. The incident is as follows. Two young fellows were working on a tea plantation in the hills and they had to fetch the mail from a good way off so that they only got it at rather long intervals. One of the young fellows, let us call him Adams, used to get a lot of letters by every mail, ten or twelve and sometimes more, but the other, Brown, never got one. He used to watch Adams enviously as he took his packet and 13

14 started to read, he was eager to have a letter, just one letter, and one day, when they were expecting the mail, and idea came into his head. He said to Adams: Look here, you always have a packet of letters and I never get any. I ll give you five pounds if you let me have one of yours. I don t mind, said Adams. So Adams agreed to sell one of his letters, and when the mail came in he at once handed Brown his letters and told him he could take any letter he liked. Brown gave him a five-pound note, looked over the letters, chose one and returned the rest. In the evening Adams joined Brown for a whisky and soda. For some time they were silent. Then Adams, eager to find out about the letter, broke the silence, saying: By the way, what was the letter about? I m not going to tell you, said Brown. Adams was rather surprised and upset. He said: Well, tell me at least, who it was from? That s my business, answered Brown. They had a bit of an argument, but Brown stood on his rights and refused to say anything about the letter that he had bought. Adams got angry, and as the weeks went by he did all he could to make Brown let him see the letter. Brown continued to refuse. At last Adams felt he could not stand it any longer and made up his mind to talk the matter over with Brown once again. One day he followed Brown into his office and said: Look here, here s your five pounds, let me have my letter back again. Never, said Brown. I bought and paid for it, it s my letter and I mean to keep it. That s all. I m not a writer of the modern school and that is why, perhaps, I can t write it just as it is and leave it. It s against my principles. I want a story to have form, and I don t see how I can give it that if you are unable to give the story the right kind of end. 14 Vocabulary: 1. fetch приносить, пойти за, приводить. 2. agree соглашаться: He agreed to help us. I can t agree with you. аgreement согласие, договор; to come to an agreement прийти к соглашению. 3. hand вручать, давать: Hand the papers to the secretary please. hand in подавать, сдавать: He was to hand in his course paper by the end of the month. 4. rest остаток, остальные: the rest of the story (the day, the time, the money); The rest of the students have already come. 5. join присоединяться: May I join you in the game? to join the army (a sports club) вступать (в), стать членом. 6. upset

15 1) опрокидывать, перевертывать: to upset a glass (a cup, a boat); 2) расстраивать планы, намерения: to upset plans, arrangements; 3) расстраивать, огорчать: The news upset her. We were all upset by the bad news. 7. аrgue 1) спорить, обсуждать: They can argue for hours. 2) утверждать, доказывать: Copernicus argued that the Earth moved round the sun. аrgument довод, доказательство, аргумент. 8. right право: You have no right to speak to me like that. Have the right to work (rest) иметь право на труд (отдых). 9. refuse отказываться: They refused our help. He refused to join us. refusal отказ. 10. stand выносить, выдерживать, переносить: I can t stand the cold. 11. follow следовать, идти за чем-либо: What season follows winter? He followed his elder brother in everything. follow smb s example (advice) следовать чьему-либо примеру (совету); as follows следующее: The plan is as follows. to follow the newspapers (the speaker) следить (за сообщениями в газетах, выступающим). 11. mean 1) значить, иметь значение, означать: What does this word mean? Your help means a lot to us. 2) думать, намереваться, иметь в виду: I didn t mean anybody when I said it. He didn t mean anything bad when he said it. 1. Paraphrase the following. 1. They had to fetch the mail from a good way off. 2. Adams used to get a lot of letters by every mail. 3. He was eager to have a letter. 4. I don t mind. 5. In the evening Adams joined Brown for a whisky and soda. 6. For some time they were silent. 15

16 7. They had a bit of an argument. 8. One day he followed Brown into his office. 2. Agree or disagree with the following. Use the expressions: I fully agree with you. I couldn t agree more. I think it is right. I don t quite agree with you. I couldn t disagree more. I don t think it s right. 1. Two old women were walking on a tea plantation. 2. Brown used to get a lot of letters. 3. Brown used to watch Adams enviously. 4. Adams didn t agree to sell any letters to Brown. 5. Brown paid 10 pounds for the letter. 6. Brown refused to give any information about the letter. 7. Adams paid 5 pounds to Brown and got his letter back. 3. Answer the questions. 1. Why did the two young men get the mail at rather long intervals? 2. How many letters did Adams use to get? 3. What do you think Brown felt when Adams was reading his letters? 4. Why did Brown ask Adams to sell a letter to him? 5. Why did Brown refuse to say anything about the letter he had bought? 6. Why do you think Adams wanted to have at least some information about it? 7. What do you think about keeping correspondence? 8. Can you compare receiving letters and sms? 9. Why do so many people send messages to each other? 16 T e x t 9 TO KILL A MAN She moved through the big rooms and wide halls of her house. She was looking for a book of poems she had put somewhere and only now remembered. She opened the door of the dining-room and went in. The room was dark and she turned on the lights. As the light came on she stepped back and cried out. In front of her, near the wall, stood a man. In his hand was a gun. Oh, she said. What do you want? I think I want to get out. I ve lost my way here, he answered ironically. What are you doing here? Just robbing, Miss, that s all. I didn t expect to find you in, as I saw you with your old man in an auto. You are Miss Setliffe, aren t you? Mrs. Setliffe saw his mistake but she was pleased. Now please show me the way out, the man said.

17 And what if I cry out for help? asked the woman. I must kill you then, he answered slowly. You see, Miss, I can t go to prison. A friend is waiting for me outside, and I promised to help him. I ve never met a robber before, the woman said, and I can t tell you how exciting it is. Won t you stay a few minutes and talk? I want you to explain the whole thing to me. You don t look like a robber at all. Why don t you work? I did my best, but there s no work for me in this city, he said bitterly. I used to be an honest man before I started looking for a job. And now I must go. But Mrs. Setliffe didn t want to lose her robber. Such things did not happen often in her life. Turning to the man she said: I can t really make you stay, but, come, sit down, and tell me all about it here at the table. She took her seat at the table and placed him on the other side of it. She saw him look about the room, then put the gun on the corner of the table between them. But he was in a strange house and did not know that under the table, near her foot, was an electric bell. It s like this, Miss, he began. I m not a robber and I didn t come here to steal. You see, I had a little mine once, and old Setliffe took it away from me. I had nothing left. And as my friend needs money badly I just came to take something back from your father. I am really taking what is mine. I feel you are right, she said. But still robbery is robbery. I know that, he answered. What is right is not always legal. That s why I must go. No, wait. The woman suddenly took up the gun. At the same time she pushed the bell with her foot. A door opened behind him, and the man heard somebody enter the room. But he did not even turn his head. Without saying a word, he was looking at the woman, into her hard cold eyes. Thomas, she said, call the police. The servant left the room. The man and the woman sat at the table, looking into each other s eyes. She enjoyed this moment. She already saw the newspapers with the story of the beautiful young Mrs. Setliffe who had caught a dangerous robber in her own house. When you are in prison, she said coldly, think of the lesson I ve taught you. Now, tell the truth. I didn t believe a single word of your story. You lied to me. He did not answer. Say something, she cried. Why don t you ask me to let you go? Yes, I ll say something. You looked so kind and soft and all the time you had your foot on the bell. Do you know what I m going to do? I m going to get up from this chair and walk out of that door. But you re not going to shoot. It isn t easy to kill a man and I m sure you can t do it. With his eyes on her he stood up slowly. She began to pull the trigger. 17

18 Pull harder, he advised. Pull it, and kill a man. At the door the man turned round. He spoke to her in a low voice as he called her a bad name. Vocabulary: 1. lose 1) терять, потерять: to lose a book (a ticket; one s voice); to lose one s way заблудиться; 2) проигрывать: to lose a game (a competition, a war). 2. expect ожидать; рассчитывать, надеяться: I didn t expect to see you today. We expect you to help. 3. be (dis)pleased быть (не)довольным: She was pleased with his answer. We are pleased to see you. 4. promise обещать, обещание: He promised to come soon. give (make) a promise обещать; a promising writer (singer) многообещающий писатель (певец). 5. look 1) выглядеть, казаться: to look happy (sad, ill, old, tired, pleased); How did he look when you saw him last? He looked tired. 2) походить, быть похожим на: In his suit he looks like a foreigner. What does she look likе? Как она выглядит? 6. honest честный; be honest with smb быть откровенным с кем-либо; dishonest бесчестный. 7. make заставлять: to make smb work (read, speak, cry); to make smb angry (happy) рассердить кого-либо (сделать кого-либо счастливым). 8. own собственный: My brother has a family of his own. He told the story in his own words. 9. need нуждаться в; необходимость, нужда: She didn t need our help. How much time do you need to do the work. 10. badly сильно, очень: He is badly ill. We need your help badly. 11. feel 1) чувствовать, ощущать: 18

19 What did you feel when you first travelled by air? 2) считать, полагать: We felt that he was right. 3) чувствовать себя: How do you feel? I feel well (better, ill, all right). feeling чувство, ощущение: I had a feeling somebody was watching me. 12. suddenly вдруг, неожиданно, внезапно. 13. even даже: He didn t even look at me when I entered. 1. Answer the questions. 1. What for did the woman enter the dining-room? 2. Why did she cry out when she turned on the lights? 3. What did the man say to the woman? 4. Why was she pleased? 5. Why did the man say he couldn t go to prison? 6. Why didn t Mrs. Setliffe want to lose the robber? 7. What did the man tell Mrs. Setliffe about himself? 8. What did she Mrs. Setliffe do after she heard the man s story? 9. How did the man react? 10. Why didn t Mrs. Setliffe kill the man? 11. Say whether you think the man did right when he came to old Setliffe s house to take back what he believed to be his own. 12. Explain why the man didn t turn to the police for help. 13. Give a description of Mrs. Setliffe as she looked to the man at the beginning of the story and at the end of it. 14. Explain how it happened that Mrs. Setliffe s fine words fooled the man for some time. 15. Explain why the man was so sure that Mrs. Setliffe wouldn t shoot. 2. Give character sketches of a) Mrs. Setliffe; b) the man who came to rob old Setliffe; c) old Setliffe. beautiful mean sincere arrogant cruel thoughtful strong-willed aggressive brave calm decisive dishonest violent wise evil 3. Tell a story to illustrate each of these proverbs: A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed. Друг познается в беде. Appearances are Deceptive. Внешность обманчива. 19

20 T e x t 10 THE GREEN DOOR Rudolf Steiner, a young piano salesman, was a true adventurer. Few were the evenings when he did not go to look for the unexpected. It seemed to him that the most interesting things in life might lie just around the corner. He was always dreaming of adventures. Once when he was walking along the street his attention was attracted by a Negro handing out dentist s cards. The Negro slipped a card into Rudolf s hand. He turned it over and looked at it. Nothing was written on one side of the card; on the other three words were written: The Green Door. And then Rudolf saw, three steps in front of him, a man throw away the card the Negro had given his as he passed. Rudolf picked it up. The dentist s name and address were printed on it. The adventurous piano salesman stopped at the corner and considered. Then he returned and joined the stream of people again. When he was passing the Negro the second time, he again got a card. Ten steps away he examined it. In the same handwriting that appeared on the first card The Green door was written upon it. Three or four cards were lying on the pavement. On all of them were the name and the address of the dentist. Whatever the written words on the cards might mean, the Negro had chosen him twice from the crowd. Standing aside from the crowd, the young man looked at the building in which he thought his adventure must lie. It was a five-storey building. On the first floor there was a store. The second up were apartments. After finishing his inspection Rudolf walked rapidly up the stairs into the house. The hallway there was badly lighted. Rudolf looked toward the nearer door and saw that it was green. He hesitated for a moment, then he went straight to the green door and knocked on it. The door slowly opened. A girl not yet twenty stood there. She was very pale and as it seemed to Rudolf was about to faint. Rudolf caught her and laid her on a sofa. He closed the door and took a quick glance round the room. Neat, but great poverty was the story he read. Fainted, didn t I? the girl asked weakly. Well, no wonder.you try going without anything to eat for three days and see. Heavens! cried Rudolf, jumping up. Wait till I come back. He rushed out of the green door and in twenty minutes he was back with bread and butter, cold meat, cakes, pies, milk and hot tea. It is foolish to go without eating. You shouldn t do it again, Rudolf said. Supper is ready. When the girl cheered up a little she told him her story. It was one of a thousand such as the city wears with indifference every day a shop girl s story of low wages; of time lost through illness; and then of lost jobs, lost hope and unrealized dreams and the knock of the young man upon the door. 20

21 Rudolf looked at the girl with sympathy. To think of you going through all that, he exclaimed. And you have no relatives or friends in the city?! None whatever. As a matte of fact, I am all alone in the world too, said Rudolf after a pause. I am glad of that, said the girl, and somehow it pleased the young man to hear that she approved of his having no relatives. Then the girl sighed deeply. I am awfully sleepy, she said. Rudolf rose and took his hat. How did it happen that you knocked at my door? she asked. One of our piano tuners lives in this house. I knocked at your door by mistake. There was no reason why the girl should not believe him. In the hallway he looked around and discovered to his great surprise that all the doors were green. In the street he met the same Negro. Will you tell me why you gave me these cards and what they mean? he asked. Pointing down the street to the entrance to a theatre with a bright electric sign of its new play, The Green Door, the Negro told Rudolf that the theatre agent had given him a dollar to hand out a few of his cards together with the dentist s. Still it was the hand of Fate that showed me the way to her, said Rudolf to himself. 1. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and expressions. Истинный искатель приключений; в поисках неожиданного; раздающего визитные карточки; в трех шагах от него; проходил мимо негра во второй раз; тем же почерком; что бы ни обозначали слова; закончив осмотр; некоторое время колебался; была готова упасть без сознания; быстро оглядел комнату; неудивительно; одна из многих историй; неосуществленные мечты; настройщик; рука судьбы. 2. Give the Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text and use them in sentences of your own. Dream of smth.; attract smb s attention; see smb. do smth.; walk up (down) the stairs; look at smb. with sympathy; approve of smth.; by mistake; to one s surprise. 3. Answer the questions. 1. What did Rudolf Steiner do and what was his favourite occupation? 2. Who attracted Rudolf s attention as he was walking along the street? 21

22 3. What was written on the card which Rudolf got and on the card which he picked up? 4. What happened when Rudolf was passing the Negro the second time? 5. What did Rudolf do next? 6. Whom did he see behind the door? 7. Why was the girl so pale and weak? 8. In what way did the young man help the girl? 9. What did the girl tell him about herself? 10. How did Rudolf explain to the girl his unexpected visit? 11. What was the real reason why Rudolf had got the card with the worlds The Green Door? 4. Discuss the following. 1. Why does the author call the girl s story one of a thousand such as the city wears with indifference every day? 2. Try to imagine the girl s life described by the author as follows: It was a story of low wages, of time lost through illnesses, of lost jobs, lost hopes and unrealized dreams. 3. Why did Rudolf knowing the real reason for his meeting with the girl still called it the hand of Fate? 5. Give a summary of the story in not more than ten sentences. 6. Retell the story on the part of 1) Rudolf Steiner; 2) the girl. T e x t 11 NO STORY I was doing work on a newspaper. One day Tripp came in and leaned on my table. Tripp was something in the mechanical department. He was about twenty-five and looked forty. Half of his face was covered with short, curly red whiskers that looked like a door-mat. He was pale and unhealthy and miserable and was always borrowing sums of money from twenty-five cents to a dollar. One dollar was his limit. When he leaned on my table he held one hand with the other to keep both from shaking. Whisky. Well, Tripp, said I, looking up at him rather impatiently, how goes it? He was looking more miserable than I had ever seen him. Have you got a dollar? asked Tripp looking at me with his dog-like eyes. That day I had managed to get five dollars for my Sunday story. I have, said I; and again I said, I have, more loudly, and four besides. And I had hard work getting them. And I need them all. 22

23 I don t want to borrow any, said Tripp, I thought you d like to get a good story. I ve got a really fine one for you. It ll probably cost you a dollar or two to get the stuff. I don want anything out of it myself. What is the story? I asked. It s a girl. A beauty. She has lived all her life on Long Island and never saw New York City before. I ran against her on Thirty-fourth Street. She stopped me on the street and asked me where she could find George Brown. Asked me where she could find George Brown in New York City! What do you think of that?! I talked to her. It s like this. Some years ago George set off for New York to make his fortune. He did not reappear. Now there s a young farmer named Dodd she s going to marry next week. But Ada her name is Ada Lowery couldn t forget George, so this morning she saddled a horse and rode eight miles to the railway station to catch the 6.45 a.m. train. She came to the city to look for George. She must have thought the first person she inquired of would tell her where her George was! You ought to see her! What could I do? She had paid her last cent for her railroad ticket. I couldn t leave her in the street, could I? I took her to a boarding-house. She has to pay a dollar to the landlady. That s the price per day. That s no story, said I. Every ferry-boat brings or takes away girls from Long Island. Tripp looked disappointed. Can t you see what an amazing story it would make? You ought to get fifteen dollars for it. And it ll cost you only four, so you ll make a profit of eleven dollars. How will it cost me four dollars? I asked suspiciously. One dollar to the landlady and two dollars to pay the girl s fare back home. And the fourth? I inquired. One dollar to me, said Tripp. Don t you see, he insisted, that the girl has got to get back home today? And then I began to feel what is known as the sense of duty. In a kind of cold anger I put on my coat and hat. But I swore to myself that Tripp would not get the dollar. Tripp took me in a street-car to the boarding-house. I paid the fares. In a dim parlour a girl sat crying quietly and eating candy out of a paper bag. She was a real beauty. Crying only made her eyes brighter. My friend, Mr. Chalmers. He is a reporter, said Tripp, and he will tell you, Miss Lowery, what s best to do. I felt ashamed of being introduced as Tripp s friend in the presence of such beauty. Why er Miss Lowery, I began feeling terribly awkward, will you tell me the circumstances of the case? Oh, said Miss Lowery, there aren t any circumstances, really. You see, everything is fixed for me to marry Hiram Dodd next Thursday. He s got one of the best farms on the Island. But last night I got to thinking about G-George- 23

24 You see, I can t help it. George and I loved each other since we were children. Four years ago he went to the city. He said he was going to be a policeman or a railroad president or something. And then he was coming back for me. But I never heard from him any more. And I I liked him. Now, Miss Lowery, broke in Tripp, you like this young man, Dodd, don t you? He s all right, and good to you, isn t he? Of course I like him. And of course he s good to me. He s promised me an automobile and a motorboat. But somehow I couldn t help thinking about George. Something must have happened to him or he would have written. On the day he left, he got a hammer and a chisel and cut a cent into two pieces. I took one piece and he took the other, and we promised to be true to each other and always keep the pieces till we saw each other again. I ve got mine at home. I guess I was silly to come here. I never realized what a big place it is. Tripp broke in with an awkward little laugh. Oh, the boys from the country forget a lot when they come to the city. He may have met another girl or something. You go back home, and you ll be all right. In the end we persuaded Miss Lowery to go back home. The three of us then hurried to the ferry, and there I found the price of the ticket to be a dollar and eighty cents. I bought one, and a red, red rose with the twenty cents for Miss Lowery. We saw her aboard her ferry-boat and stood watching her wave her handkerchief at us. And then Tripp and I faced each other. Can t you get a story out of it? he asked. Some sort of a story? Not a line, said I. I m sorry, he said quietly. There was disappointment in his tone. Tripp unbuttoned his shabby coat to reach for something that had once been a handkerchief. As he did so I saw something shining on his cheap watch-chain. It was the half of a silver cent that had been cut in halves with a chisel. What?! I exclaimed looking at him in amazement. Oh, yes, he replied. George Brown, or Tripp. What s the use? I produced a dollar from my pocket and unhesitatingly laid it in his hand. 1. Find in the text English equivalents for the following words and expressions. Сотрудничать в газете; рыжие бакенбарды; чтобы они не дрожали; с нетерпением; по-собачьи преданными глазами; чтобы получить материал; он не вернулся; первый встречный, у которого она спросит; паром; подозрительно; оплатить обратный билет; чувство долга; поклялся себе; трамвай; обстоятельства дела; все готово к женитьбе; не могу не думать о ; убедили; расстегнул потрепанное пальто; без колебаний. 2. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text and use them in sentences of your own. Look pale (miserable, unhealthy); borrow smth.; run against smb.; make one s fortune; look disappointed; make a profit of ; feel ashamed of smth; (do- 24

25 ing smth.); feel awkward; hear from smb.; be true to smb.; look at smb. in amazement. 3. Answer the questions. 1. Describe Tripp and say how he made his living. 2. What was Tripp in the habit of? 3. Why did Chalmers look up at Tripp impatiently when he came in? 4. What did Tripp tell Chalmers about the girl he had met in the street? 5. Why did Chalmers refuse to write a story about the girl? 6. Describe Ada and explain why Chalmers felt ashamed in her presence. 7. Why did Tripp ask Ada if Dodd was good to her? 8. What made Chalmers give Tripp the dollar in the end? 4. Discuss the following. 1. Why didn t Tripp tell Ada who he was? What do you think prevented him from returning to his native village? Do you consider his behaviour in this situation right? Give your grounds. 2. Do you think this story is happy or sad? Is the unexpected end of the story typical of O. Henry? Could you think of another end of the story? 3. Comment on the title of the story. 4. Describe Tripp s life in New York during those four years. 5. Retell the story on the part of 1) Tripp; 2) Mr. Chalmers; 3) Ada Lowery. 6. Give a summary of the story in not more than fifteen sentences. T e x t 12 AT THE DOCTOR S Doctor: Would you like to come in? Patient: Thank you. (He coughs.) Doctor: That cough sounds really very bad. How long have you had it? Patient: For about 2 weeks. But it s all right. Doctor: I think I should listen to your chest and to your lungs. Take off your shirt. Breathe in deeply, that s right and again, please, and once more, please. Sit down. I m going to take your blood pressure. Patient: Can I put my shirt on? It s rather cold in here. Doctor: Oh, certainly, you can. Sorry about the cold. The central heating is broken. Well, Do you ever take any exercise? Patient: Not regularly. Sometimes I do. But I hardly ever do morning exercise. Doctor: You should take more exercise. All right. Now I want to take your pulse. Stand up, please, and touch your toes. Do you smoke? Patient: Oh, yes, I do, Doctor. About ten cigarettes a day. 25

26 Doctor: You shouldn t smoke at all. You should stop immediately. Now, I want to take your temperature. OK. That s all right. Well, there you are then. Take this medicine 3 times a day after meals. Patient: But, Doctor, I didn t come about my cough. Doctor: You didn t? Patient: No, it s my feet, Doctor. My feet hurt every time I walk. Doctor: Take your shoes off! Let me see. Do they hurt now? Patient: Oh, yes, they hurt. It awfully hurts here. I ve had this pain for about 2 weeks. Doctor: I see And these shoes How long have you had them? Patient: The shoes? Oh, for about 2 weeks, Doctor. Oh, yes. I see, Doctor. It s silly of me. Thank you, Doctor. Goodbye. 1. Answer the questions: 1. Why did the patient come to see the doctor? 2. Why did the doctor begin to listen to the patient s chest and lungs? 3. Why was it cold in the doctor s room? 4. Was the patient a healthy man? 5. What was wrong with the man? 2. What people do if: - they have a headache; - they can t sleep; - they have a toothache; - they have a pain in the heart; - they have a cold; - they have a stomachache. to go to the dentist; to call a doctor; to go to bed; to take some medicine; to have a walk outdoors; to drink warm milk; to drink warm milk with honey or butter. 3. Comment on the proverb: Good health is above wealth. 26 T e x t 13 Read the text from Groucho Marx s autobiography. Which of these titles do you think is the best? Why? - A Night at the Theatre; - My First Date; - Young Love. Love hit me when I was twelve. I was still in shorts but little hairs were starting to grow on my upper lip. A young girl, Lucy, lived in the flat above ours. She was pretty with lovely, brown hair and perfect teeth. One day, after I