Immigrant workers in Britain

 

If we go into a cafe in London we may well find a Negro sitting alone at a table there. The waiters will not, as in many cafes in America, refuse to serve him. He comes, perhaps, from East Africa or the West Indies. Let us call him Davy.

If we start chatting with Davy he may tell us about himself, about his present situation and about his countrymen. He will tell us that there are about 10,000 coloured people in London, mostly seamen, students and unemployed. And they all can hardly make both ends meet. When they look for a job the Labour Exchanges* either refuse to recommend them or advise them to find jobs in another district.

When he calls at a factory for a job he may be told "all our jobs are taken" — yet a "Hands Wanted" notice** hangs outside the office. There is no use starting an argument about it. Davy has found that only the lowest paid jobs and the heaviest kinds of work are open to him. He had quite a good education, but he had no chance of getting a job in England as a clerk, not even as a bus conductor.

He had great difficulty in getting somewhere to live. He now lives in a room not fit to live in with ten other Negroes; each of them pays twice as much as a white family will pay for the whole room.

Employers say that white workers are very particular who works beside them; landlords*** say that white workers don't like Negroes liv­ing in the same building. There is little truth in it. If we call on some Saturday night at a dance hall in the East End attended by young peo­ple, Negroes and white, we see that they meet in easy friendliness. They don't seem to mind chatting and dancing with each other at all.

There have, it is true, been some British trade unions who were aga­inst the employment not only of coloured men but of German antifas­cists before and during the war, of Poles and Italians since the war. Not, though, because they were coloured or foreigners, but because employers gave the foreign workers lower wages and used it as an excuse to cut the British workers' wages or to get rid of the higher paid workers.

(from "The British Scene" by George Bidwell)

Ex. 49. Use the following words and phrases in situations.

My First Job

to graduate an institute; to look forward to; to be full of new plans and ideas; to be eager to do smth; to make use of one’s knowledge; to turn out; to be different from what one expected; to ask for advice; to be on the safe side; to pick up things quickly; to be satisfied with оne’s job; to manage; to be determined to do smth well

The Employment Situation In Capitalist Countries

an article in the newspaper; to attract attention; the headline; to deal with; poor conditions of life; to raise prices; to cut wages (payment); to keep a family; to be unable to do smth; to make both ends meet; on top of all; an employer; to close a factory; to lose one's job; to join the army of millions of the unemployed

At the Shoe Shop

 

to need a pair of walking shoes; to be no good; worn out shoes; сan’t do without; a shoe shop; to hurry to serve; an attendant; to try оn; a size larger (smaller); the exact size; to receive a new stock of shoes; to satisfy a customer; to like smth particularly; to smb's taste; not to mind paying a little extra; to wear well; it pays to buy an expensive thing; to be satisfied; excellent service

Sending a Telegram

 

the New Year; to send a telegram; to dictate smth over the telephone; either... or; to go to the Post Office; a rush of customers; would rather; to make use of smth; to save time; to dictate the words; to count smth; to pay by post

Fire In the House

 

to leave a child alone; not to be safe; to pick up a box of matches; to burn the matches; to enjoy the new game; dangerous; to catch fire; to get frightened; to start crying; to attract attention; a neighbour; to catch the smell of smoke; to break the door; to rush in; to burn brightly; to save the child; to call the fire brigade; to put out the fire

 

Caught In the Rain

 

to wake up; a bright Sunday morning; not to lose a minute; to pick up one's things; to rush to the station; to reach a place; to change (about the weather); not to expect; to rain cats and dogs; to get wet through; to ruin one's dress; to carry an umbrella about; to be on the safe side

How to Do Business

 

a new product; to appear in (on) the market; to attract buyers; to be in good taste; to sell at reasonable prices; a rush of customers; to have enough to satisfy smb's needs; to receive orders; to reach an agree­ment; to do excellent business in smth

Ex. 50. Tell the story of the picture, using the words and phrases giv­en below.

 

 

 

Boss: Say, couldn't we find a job for the fellow's

other leg?

 

an efficiency engineer; a machine tool; to catch smb's attention; to oc­cur to smb; to be dissatisfied (with); to be idle.

Ex. 51. Subjects for oral and written composition.

 

1. Give a character-sketch of Danny.

2. Write a story of Danny's childhood.

3. Describe Danny's attempts to find a job.

4. Imagine Danny's life after he got the money, giving the story:

a) a realistic end; b) a happy end (Hollywood style).

5. Explain why Danny believed money to be the most important thing in the world.

6. Mr. Black's methods of doing business.

7. Explain the title of the story.

8. Unemployment in capitalist countries.

 

 

That's not for us! It's for university graduates.

Lesson Two

Text: The Car That Was (after "The Citadel" by A. J. Cronin¹) Grammar: The Participle

 

The Car That Was

 

Christine and Andrew went into the sitting-room. Suddenly there came the loud braying² of a Klaxon from outside. Only one motor horn in Aberalaw³ could sound like that. It belonged to Con Boland.⁴

Hearing the car slow down and pull up at the gate, Christine and Andrew came out to meet the Bolands. The family had arrived in the reconstructed motor car — Con at the wheel in a bowler hat and enorm­ous new gauntlets, with Mary and Terence beside him; the three other children sat close around Mrs. Boland, who had the infant in her arms, in the back, all packed like herrings in a tin.

Suddenly the horn began again: "Krr — krr — krr — krr —" Con had accidentally pushed the button in switching off and now it was stuck. The Klaxon would not stop.

"In the name of God," Con cried, "I'm wastin'⁵ juice.⁶ What's hap­pened?"

"It's the button, Father," Mary told him calmly. She took it out with her little fingernail. The racket stopped.

"Ah, that's better," Con sighed. "How are ye, Mr. Manson, my boy? How d'you like the old car now? I've had her lengthened a good two feet. Isn't she⁷ grand? Mind you, there's still a little trouble with the gearbox, but she never⁸ broke down. We didn't quite manage the hill, as ye might say!"

"We only stuck a few minutes, Father," said Mary.

"Ah! Never mind," said Con. "I'11 soon put that right when I repair her again. How are ye, Mrs. Manson? Here we all are to wish ye a merry Christmas⁹ and take our tea with ye!"

"Come in. Con," Christine smiled. "I like your gloves!"

"Christmas present from the wife," Con answered admiring the gauntlets. "Ah! What's gone wrong with this door?"

Unable to open the door he threw his long legs over it, climbed out helped the children and wife from the back, looked over the car with care — fondly removing a lump of mud from the windscreen — then tore himself away to follow the others to Vale View.¹⁰

They had a cheerful tea party. Con was in high spirits, proud of his car. "You'll not recognise her when she has a coat of paint." Mrs. Boland, as was her habit, drank lots of strong black tea. The children began upon the chocolate biscuits and ended with a fight for the last piece of bread. They cleared every plate upon the table with lightning speed.

But Con and his family could not stay long. Outside the light was failing and Con, worried about his "juice", had doubts which he did not care to express about the functioning of his lamps.

The Bolands were on the point of leaving when Con delivered the invitation: "Come out and see us start."

Again Andrew and Christine stood at the gate while Con packed the car with the children. After a couple of swings¹¹ the engine obeyed and Con, with a triumphant nod towards them pulled on his gauntlets. Then he raised himself proudly into the driving seat.

At that very moment the car gave out a groan and sank to the ground. The wheels shot outwards, there was the sound of pieces dropping off; then the body of the car came to rest on the street level. In the front was Con clutching the wheel, in the back his wife, clutching the baby.

Andrew and Christine gave out a shriek of laughter. Once they began they could not stop. They laughed till they were weak.

"In the name of God,".Con said, rubbing his head and picking himself up, "she failed me." Seeing that none of the children were hurt that Mrs. Boland remained, pale but undisturbed, in her seat, he looked with sadness at the car lying in pieces. For a moment he seemed at a loss. Then his face brightened. He took Andrew by the arm and pointed with melancholy pride to the bonnet, beneath which the engine still made a few convulsive beats. "See that, Manson! She's still runnin'"

Somehow they dragged the remains into the back yard of Vale View. The Boland family went home on foot.

"What a day!" Andrew exclaimed when they had calmed down at last. "I'll never forget that look on Con's face as long as I live."

NOTES

1. Cronin, Archibald Johnson, born in 1896. An English physician and novelist, he was educated at Glasgow University. He was in general practice in South Wales (1921—24), and in London (1926—30). He is the author of "Hatter's Castle" (1931), 'The Stars Look Down" (1937), "The Keys of Kingdom" (1941), "The Green Years" (1944), "Shannon's Way" (1948), "Adventures in Two Worlds" (1952), "The Crusader's Tomb" (1956), "The Northern Light" (1958), "A Song of Sixpence” (1964) and other books.

2. The sound made by Con Boland's motor horn was loud and ugly, very much like the braying of an ass (ослиный рев).

3. Aberalaw: an imaginary mining town in South Wales.

4. Con Boland, dentist, who was to become Andrew Manson's life­long friend.

5. Along with a heavy Irish accent Con Boland had a carelessness of speech which the author gives through the exact letter expression of the pronounced words: "ye", for "you", "wastin" for "wasting", "runnin" for "running".

6. juice (sl): electric current; зд. ток от аккумулятора

7. she: the pronoun will often be used when speaking of the moon, a ship, etc.

8. never: used for emphasis's sake, a stronger form of not, rather colloquial. E.g. 1) That will never do! Это никуда не годится! 2) Never mind! He обращай внимания! 3) He never said a word against the plan. Он ни слова не сказал против плана.

9. Christmas: also Xmas, a religious holiday; рождество Christmas Eve: Dec.24th; Christmas Day: Dec.25th. There's a custom to make presents at Christmas as well as send Christmas cards wishing a person "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year".

10. In England it is a tradition for suburban houses to have names, not numbers. People of high social position have country houses with names, that is why a house with a name seems "better" than a house with a number.

11. The car didn't have a starter and Con Boland would start the engine running with the help of a special handle (заводная ручка).

VOCABULARY

belong vi 1. принадлежать (быть собственностью) Everything in our country belongs to the people. 2. принадлежать, быть членом (об­щества, клуба, семьи и т. п.) What sport club do you belong to?

close a 1. близкий a close friend (relative, contact, etc.) 2. присталь­ный, тщательный a close look (translation, etc.); close adv близко, рядом He sat close to the window. closely adv пристально, вниматель­но, тщательно to read (watch, examine, study, etc.) smth closely

accident n 1. несчастный случай, катастрофа, авария Не was bad­ly hurt in a railway accident. Phr. meet with (have) an accident попасть в катастрофу, потерпеть аварию 2. случай, случайность I met him quite by accident. accidentally adv случайно, нечаянно

stick (stuck) 1. vi (lit. & fig.) застревать Their car got stuck in the mud. The words stuck in her throat. 2. vt наклеивать, приклеивать You must stick a stamp on the letter before you post it. Phr. stick to the word (friends), one's principles, etc.) быть верным слову (друзьям), придерживаться принципов и т. п.

waste vt тратить (попусту, зря) to waste time (money, energy, words, etc.) on smb/smth waste n пустая трата (времени, денег и т. п.) It's (a) waste of time arguing (to argue) with him.

repair vt ремонтировать, чинить to repair a car (a watch, a road, a house, etc.); The car is under repair = The car is being repaired. The shop is closed for repairs.

wish vt 1. желать, хотеть What do you wish to have for your birth­day? 2. (по)желать to wish smb luck (a pleasant journey, a Happy New Year, etc.); wish n желание, пожелание

care n 1. внимание, осторожность You should do your work with care. Take care not to break the glass. 2. забота, попечение, ответственность The children were left in (under) our care when their parents went away on a holiday. Phr. take care of smb/smth (по)заботиться о; при­сматривать за кем-л/чем-л to take care of one's family (one's children, one's parents, one's/smb's health; the tickets, one's luggage, etc.); care vt/vi 1. проявлять интерес, не быть безразличным; быть склон­ным, хотеть (чаще употребляется в отриц. и вопр. контексте) I don't care what they say behind my back. She does not seem to care about anything. I don't much care about going there now. Would you care to see the new film? 2. любить, нравиться, увлекаться (чаще употреб. в отриц. контексте) I don't think she really cares for him. He does not care for meat.

cheer 1. vt приветствовать громкими возгласами; поощрять одоб­рительными восклицаниями The people cheered the cosmonauts as they drove along the streets. 2. vt/vi утешать(ся), ободрять(ся) The,good news cheered everybody. He cheered up when he saw us. Phr. Cheer up! He унывай! cheerful а веселый, бодрый, жизнерадостный a cheerful person (face, voice, smile, word, etc.); cheerless а безрадостный, унылый a cheerless room (place, day, etc.)

habit n привычка a good (bad, strange, old, harmful, etc.) habit; There are many things that you do from habit. Phr. be in the habit of doing smth иметь обыкновение что-л делать; get into the habit of doing smth приобрести привычку

clear vt 1. очищать, чистить; убирать, прибирать In winter the streets have to be cleared of snow. Please clear the table. 2. clear up выяснять; распутывать (дело) to clear up a matter with smb

speed n скорость, быстрота Не drove the car at a speed of one hun­dred kilometres an hour. Phr. at full speed полным ходом; на полной скорости; with lightning speed с быстротой молнии, молниенос­но; speed-limit n дозволенная скорость; speed (sped) 1. vi спешить, идти поспешно; мчаться (о машине) The car sped past. 2. speed up ускорять (работу, производство и т. п.) to speed up work (produc­tion, etc.)

worry vt/vi беспокоить(ся), волновать(ся) What is worrying you? Don't worry about such little things. Everything will be all right, don't worry.

doubt vt сомневаться (в чем-л, ком-л) We never doubted his word (honesty, knowledge, etc.); doubt n сомнение There is no doubt that he can manage the job alone. He is sure to come, there is no doubt about it. doubtless adv == without doubt He will doubtless help us with the problem.

deliver vt 1. доставлять, вручать (почту и т. п.) to deliver letters (parcels, goods, railway tickets, etc.) 2. произносить (торжественно) to deliver a speech (an invitation, etc.); to deliver a lecture (a report, etc.) прочесть лекцию (доклад и т. п.) delivery n поставка, доставка

obey vt слушаться, повиноваться, подчиняться to obey smb (smb's orders, smb's instructions, etc.); (dis)obedience n (не)послушание, (не)повиновение, (dis)obedient а (не)послушный, (не)покорный а (dis)obedient child, etc.; to be (dis)obedient to smb

sink (sank, sunk) vi (lit. & fig-.) тонуть, идти ко дну; опускаться; погружаться. Wood does not sink in water. The ship was sinking very slowly. She sank into an armchair. His voice sank to a whisper. Her heart sank.

drop 1. vi падать The temperature has dropped. 2. vt ронять, обро­нить; бросать, опускать Be careful not to drop the box. You have dropped your handkerchief. Please drop these letters in a letter-box. 3. бро­сать, прекращать to drop smoking (a habit, a subject; one's friends, etc.) Phr. drop in (at some place) заходить (куда-л)

fail 1. vt обманывать ожидания, подводить He'll never fail you. The weather failed us. 2. vi ослабевать, терять силы His health (strength, etc.) is beginning to fail. The light was failing 3. vt не исполнить, не сделать, забыть Не failed to come. Don't fail to write to us.

point vt показывать, указывать to point at (to) smth/smb; to point out smb's mistakes (faults, etc.); He pointed out that the task was very important, point n 1. главное, основное,, суть; смысл the point of a story (a speech, a joke, an argument, etc.); I missed the point of the story. His answer was not to the point. There is no point in arguing. 2. пункт, вопрос We have got some points to discuss. Phr. point of view точка зрения be on the point of doing smth собираться сделать что-л

run (ran, run) 1. vi работать (о механизме, машине) I dropped my watch and it does not run. 2. vi ходить, курсировать (о транспорте) Bus 27 does not run here. 3. vt вести, управлять, возглавлять to run a factory (a farm, a picture-gallery, etc.) Phr. run smb down сбить кого-л (машиной); run smb over задавить кого-л (машиной); run into smb/ smth столкнуться, наскочить, наехать на кого-л/что-л

WORD COMBINATIONS

slow down замедлить ход (темп и т. п.)

pull up (at the door, gate, etc.) остановиться у, подъехать к (подъез­ду и т.п.)

like herrings in a tin как сельди в бочке

in the name of (smb) от имени (кого-л)

break down сломаться, выйти из строя (о машине, механизме)

put smth right исправить что-л

go wrong быть в неисправности

tear oneself away (from) оторваться (от)

be in high (low) spirits быть в приподнятом (подавленном) настрое­нии

a coat of paint (dust, etc.) слой краски (пыли и т. п.)

be at a loss быть в недоумении, растеряться

on foot пешком

EXERCISES ON THE TEXT

Ex. 1. Answer the following questions:

 

1. How did Christine and Andrew know that the Boland family was coming to pay them a visit? 2. How did the Bolands arrive? 3. What did the Mansons see when they came out to the gate to welcome their friends? 4. How did Con explain their visit? 5. What was the real reason for the visit? 6. What did Con have to say about his car? 7. Why was he so proud of it? 8. Why didn't the Bolands use the doors to get out of the car? 9. How did the party go? 10. Why was Con eager to start home early? 11. Why did he think it best not to express out loud his doubts about the functioning of the car lamps? 12. How did the family prepare for the trip home? 13. What happened just as Con raised him­self into the driving seat? 14. Why couldn't Christine and Andrew help laughing when they saw the car falling to pieces before their very eyes? 15. Was anyone hurt in the accident? 16. How were Con's efforts re­paid? 17. How did the Bolands reach home that night?

 

Ex. 2. Find in the text the English for:

 

а) 1. гостиная; 2. с ребенком на руках; 3. как сельди в бочке; 4. пожелать веселого рождества; 5. окинуть взглядом; 6. веселое чае­питие; 7. быть в приподнятом настроении; 8. затеять драку из-за последнего куска хлеба; 9. съесть все до последней крошки; 10. с быстротой молнии; 11. сомнения, которые он не пожелал высказать; 12. торжественно пригласить; 13. победоносно кивнуть; 14. натянуть краги; 15. испустить стон; 16. медленно осесть на землю; 17. истери­чески захохотать; 18. потирать голову; 19. подняться с земли; 20. взять под руку; 21. отправиться домой пешком;

б) 1. автомобильный сигнал; 2. замедлить ход; 3. подъехать и ос­тановиться у ворот; 4. сидеть за рулем; 5. на заднем сидении; 6. за­клинить; 7. выключить мотор; 8. удлинить кузов машины на добрых два фута; 9. мелкие неполадки; 10. коробка передач; 11. выйти из строя; 12. вылезти из машины; 13. ветровое стекло; 14. слой краски; 15. шоферское сидение; 17. кузов машины; 18. капот (двигателя); 19. работать (о двигателе).

 

Ex. 3. Give the four forms of the following verbs:

 

sit, sink, stick, drag, drink, nod, rise, raise, tie, stop, throw, tear, obey, run, rub, hurt, put, pull

 

Ex. 4. Complete the following sentences according to the model.

 

Model: 1. There is something wrong with the door, it... (to open). There is something wrong with the door, it won't open.

2. There was something wrong with the door it... (to open). There was something wrong with the door it wouldn't open.

 

1. There is something the matter with the car engine, it... (to run). 2. Give me your pen please, the one I have... (to write). 3. The child was told not to make a noise, but he... (to obey). 4. We told him to drop smoking as it was harmful to his health, but he... (to listen). 5. He was trying hard to build up a fire, but the wood... (to burn). 6. She wanted to write down on paper what she thought and felt, but the right words... (to come).

 

Ex. 5. Use constructions with "won't" ("wouldn't") instead of words in bold type. Make other necessary changes.

 

1. What's gone wrong with the suit-case? I can't open it. 2. We asked him to slow down, but he never listened to us. 3. We used to be friends at school, but when we happened to meet ten years later he didn't even recognize me. 4. She was tired and needed a rest, but she didn't even want to hear of it. 5. We wanted to know the reason for his absence, but he refused to discuss it. 6. He gave the door another push, but it didn't open.

 

Ex. 6. Translate the following sentences using "won't" ("wouldn't").

 

1. Ему следовало бы серьезно заняться своим здоровьем, но он и слышать об этом не хочет. 2. Зная, что ему одному трудно спра­виться с заданием, мы решили помочь ему. Но он ни за что не хо­тел принять нашу помощь. 3. С ней было бесполезно разговаривать на эту тему, она упорно молчала. 4. Эта марка никак не приклеива­ется. Дай, пожалуйста, другую. 5. Я ни за что не заговорю с ним первый. 6. Его явно что-то волновало, но он никак не хотел гово­рить в чем дело. 7. От метро до его дома всего лишь пять минут хо­ду, но он ни за что не пойдет пешком. 8. Его несколько раз пре­дупреждали, чтобы он не ездил на такой скорости, но он и слушать не хотел, пока не попал в аварию.

 

Ex. 7. Translate the following sentences using "once".

1. Стоит только завести разговор на эту тему, и он будет про­должаться до бесконечности. 2. Уж если он принял решение, то ничто не заставит его изменить его. 3. Стоит вам только закурить, и вы пропали. 4. Если вы хоть раз не сдержите свое обещание, они больше не будут верить вам. 5. Стоит вам только понять это пра­вило, все остальное будет легко. 6. Стоит вам только начать читать эту книгу, и вы уже не сможете оторваться, пока не прочитаете ее до конца.