Con Boland Reconstructs the Car

 

to become too small for the family needs; a bright (wonderful, per­fectly, splendid) idea; to come into one's head; to cut the car body in two; to lengthen the car a good two feet; to work day and night; to be in a hurry to finish the job; to hope to give the car a new coat of paint; to have no doubts that...; to hold the whole family; to run well; to one's own taste; to admire; to be proud of

2. On the Way to Vale View

 

to decide to pay smb a surprise visit; to pack the car with the chil­dren; like herrings in a tin; beside oneself with excitement; to risk it; to be (get) stuck; to have a little trouble with the gearbox; (the engine) not to pull properly; not to break down; to manage the hill; to push from behind; to arrive safely

The Bolands Arrive

 

the loud braying of the horn; to attract attention; to belong to smb; to make a terrible noise; to slow down; to pull up at the gate; to switch off; to push in a button; to get stuck; an awful racket; to put smth right; to be unable to tear oneself away from; would rather; to look over with care; to remove a lump of mud

The Tea Party

 

cheerful; in high spirits; to talk of nothing but...; to enjoy oneself; to get lots of pleasure out of doing smth; to push; to pull; with lightning speed; to clear every plate; to have a good time; tasty things; to be in the habit of doing smth; to drink lots of strong black tea

The Accident

 

to have doubts; the functioning of the lamps; to have no time to waste; to use the handle to start the engine; after a couple of swings; to obey; to raise oneself into the driving seat; to pull on one's gauntlets; to give a triumphant nod; smth unexpected; to happen; to sink to the ground with a groan; to shoot outwards; to drop off; to fall to pieces; to come to rest on street level; to come as a surprise to smb; to make a very funny picture; in the front (back); to clutch

After the Accident

 

to pick oneself up; to rub one's head; to be at a loss; to fail to under­stand the reason for smth; to be worried about; to be all right; to remain 'm one's seats; pale, but undisturbed; to hold the baby in one's arms; to cheer up; to brighten; to take smb by the arm; to believe that one's efforts have not been wasted; to point to smth with melancholy pride; (the engine) to be still running; to make a few convulsive beats; to lie in pieces; to be fit for nothing; to know how to deal with the remains; to remove from the road; to drag away; to go home on foot

SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES

Ex. 17. Translate the following sentences using the verbs "to rise" or "to raise" according to the sense.

 

1. Закончив письмо, он встал из-за стола и отнес его секретарю печатать. 2. Как только солнце поднялось, туристы сразу же отпра­вились в путь. 3. Машина промчалась мимо на большой скорости. подняв облако пыли. 4. Во время переговоров были подняты серьезные вопросы. 5. Не следует повышать голос, с детьми надо разгова­ривать спокойно.

 

Ex. 18. Fill in the blanks with "little", "a little", "few", "a few".

 

1. It was to be only a family affair, so... people were invited. 2. I have... doubts but I'd rather not mention them now. 3. I have... money, I can't let you have any. 4. She got... letters with New Year's wishes this year, usually she gets many. 5. "Give the door another coat of paint." "I can't, I've too... paint." 6. I must say I am... worried about his health. 7. He is a very obedient child, his parents have... trouble with him. 8. He hardly said more than... words the whole evening.

 

Ex. 19. Translate the following using "little", "a little", "few", "a few".

 

1. У меня есть немного денег, могу одолжить (дать) тебе. 2. En удлинили пальто на несколько сантиметров, и оно теперь выглядит лучше. 3. Она мало изменилась, ее легко узнать. 4. Нам надо обсу­дить еще несколько пунктов соглашения. 5. Устал? — Да, немного. 6. Мало кто любит рисковать. 7. Он говорит много, а делает мало. 8. Мне в этом доме мало что принадлежит. 9. Он немного знает фран­цузский, обратитесь к нему.

 

GRAMMAR EXERCISES

The Participle

Participle I

Ex. 20. Study the forms of Participle I and the way they are rendered in Russian

non-perfect*	1. He listened in, lying on the sofa. 2. Arriving in Leningrad we went sightseeing at once.   3. She went out closing the door behind her.	1. Он слушал радио, лежана диване. 2. Приехав в Ленинград, мы сразу же отправились осмат­ривать город. 3. Она вышла, закрыв за собой дверь.
non- perfect	4. They went along the path leading to the river. 5. A crowd of children watched the house being painted.	4. Они шли по тропинке, веду­щей к реке. 5. Толпа детей наблюдала, как красили дом.
— t-4 perfect	6. Having packed my things I went to call a taxi. 7. Having been examined** by the doctor, they were allowed to join the sports club.	6. Упаковав вещи, я пошел вызвать такси. 7. После того как их осмотрелврач, им разрешили вступить в спортивный клуб.

 

 

Ex. 21. Give all the possible forms of Participle 1 to the following in­finitives:

 

to put, to open, to strike, to push, to arrive, to hear, to stop, to enter, to finish, to live

 

Ex. 22. Give attributive phrases using Participle I and explain them ' according to the model. Translate the phrases into Russian.

 

Model: (a) a child; to sleep (b) a sleeping child

a sleeping child a child that is sleeping

a fish; to fly a flying fish

a flying fish a fish that can fly (that flies)

 

1. a woman; to smile 2. children; to laugh 3. a look; to understand; 4. a building; to burn 5. a lamp; to stand 6. a man; to know 7. a ship; to sink 8. indifference; to seem 9. a story; to touch 10. a thought; to disturb 11. interest; to grow 12. light; to blind 13. winter; to come 14. a crowd; to cheer 15. a machine; to add 16. a page; to miss 17. a bus; to pass 18. eyes; to search 19. a remark; to cut 20. a look; to question

 

Ex. 23. Open the brackets, using the correct form of Participle I. Trans­late the sentences into Russian.

 

1. She sat in a comfortable armchair (to smoke) a cigarette. 2. (to put) aside the newspaper, she raised her eyes at me. 3. We watched the delegation (to show) into the hall. 4. (to visit) the museum before, I knew my way easily. 5. (to rise), the secretary put down the newspaper. 6. (to stop) before the traffic lights, he saw to his surprise it was almost eight o'clock. 7. (to work) as a taxi-driver for twenty years, he knew every little corner of the town. 8. I felt the car pick up speed, (to look) over at the speedometer, I noticed we were making a hundred. 9. The house (to build) at the corner of the street will be a library.

Ex. 24. Replace the parts in bold type by Participle I (non-perfect form, active) according to the model.

 

M o d e l I She looked down at her son who was sleeping on the sofa.

(attribute)She looked down at her son sleeping on the sofa.

 

1. They passed a group of workers who were repairing the road. 2. He will leave at 10, just in time to meet the train that will arrive at 10.30. 3. It always gives me pleasure to help students who work hard. 4. The windows that face the garden were open. 5. We drove up to the front door of a tall house which stood a little back from the road. 6. Near the dock he ran into asailor who was returning from town. 7. I've received a letter from him which says that he is coming next month. 8. He couldn't fall asleep because of the noise that was coming from the street. 9. He threw aside the letter that was lying on top and picked up the next. 10. She got on the train that was going to Moscow.

 

M o d e l II That night while he was walking down the

(adverbial modifier of avenue he wished most of all to meet her.

time) (While) Walking down the avenue, he wished

most of all to meet her.

1. While she was clearing the table she thought of the uselessness of such parties. 2. When I saw that it was useless to argue with him, I dropped the subject. 3. He got off at Sverdlov Square, and walked fast towards the Bolshoi Theatre, 4. When he arrived at the station, he didn't find anyone to meet him. 5. The girl took a sheet of paper and wrote the first words that came into her head. 6. Then she stopped suddenly, as she remembered the presence of the children. 7. As he pulled up at the house, he was surprised to see no light in the windows. 8. While grandfather was enjoying the smoke he thought over his present situa­tion.9. When he saw them, he stopped to let them catch up with him. 10. As she entered the garden, she saw her father repairing the car.

 

M o d e l III (1) As he was busy, he refused the invitation.

(adverbial modifier of Being busy, he refused the invitation.

reason) (2) She turned to me for help because she did not know how to deal with the problem. She turned to me for help, not knowing hiw to deal with the problem.

1. He saw his mistake and stopped arguing. 2. As she was very tired, she fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow. 3. As he was sure that he was right, he felt calm and undisturbed. 4. She stopped, she didn't know which way to follow. 5. He decided to change his job, because he was not fit for it.

 

M о d e 1 IV He went out and closed the door behind him.

(adverbial modifier of He went out closing the door behind him.

manner or attending

circumstances)

 

1. "I would rather start for the station immediately," she said and looked up at the clock. 2. He sat by the open window and watched the people passing by. 3. She answered all my questions calmly and tried to look indifferent. 4. They stood on the doorstep and watched the car as it drove away. 5. He entered the room, he whistled gaily. 6. He stood before the house where he grew as a child and thought of many things. 7. She lay on the sofa and listened to the radio. 8. He smoked all the time and usually lighted a fresh cigarette from the end of the last.

Ex. 25. Paraphrase the parts in bold type, using Participle I (perfect form, active*)

 

1. After they had repaired the car, they drove on, though it was past midnight. 2. When I packed all my things, I still had enough time to write a few letters. 3. They were old friends, they had been at school together. 4. For an hour or so he watched a lovely film that he knew by heart, as he had seen it at least ten times. 5. When he was told that he would go there by plane, he felt excited, as he had never travelled by air before. 6. When we had reached the top of the mountain, we sank to the ground, too tired to do anything. 7. After he had worked at the Institute for five years, he decided to take a postgraduate course.

Ex. 26. Paraphrase the parts in bold. type using Participle I (passive form).

 

1. The experiment which is being made in our laboratory will be very important for our future work. 2. The letter was written in pencil, it was difficult to read. 3. They looked at the house which was being built on the other side of the river. 4. As he was not allowed to read, he most­ly spent his time listening to the radio. 5. He asked for additional explanation as he was not satisfied with the answer.

Ex. 27. Translate the following sentences using Participle I in the cor­rect form.

1. Дав ему обещание, я не мог не прийти. 2. Прослужив в ар­мии два года, он вернулся взрослым человеком. 3. «Я бы хотела, чтобы меня поняли правильно», сказала она, улыбаясь. 4. Она си­дела молча, уставившись на огонь. 5. Окна, которые выходили на мост, были открыты. 6. Узнав меня, она крикнула, чтобы я оста­новился и подождал ее. 7. Так как он сам был веселым человеком, он умел подбодрить и других. 8. Чтобы успеть на поезд, который прибывает в 8 утра, она должна была встать очень рано. 9. Домик, который стоял в стороне от дороги, принадлежал учителю школы. 10. Он понял свою ошибку и перестал спорить. 11. Подходя к дому, он увидел, как погас свет на первом этаже. 12. Дорога, которая сейчас ремонтируется, будет значительно шире после ремонта. 13. Войдя в комнату, она сразу заметила какую-то перемену. 14. Закон­чив лекцию, профессор оглядел аудиторию, ожидая вопросов. 15. Под­ходя к дому, я вспомнила, что забыла опустить письмо. 16. Узнав меня, он подошел к нашей группе и попросил разрешения присоединить­ся к нам. 17. Будучи в хорошем расположении духа, он был весел и разговорчив.

Participle II

Ex. 28. Study the use of Participle II in the following sentences, state their functions.*

 

1. He seemed frightened. 2. The boys looked at the broken window with frightened faces. 3. Here is a letter addressed to you.

 

Ex. 29. (a) Compare Participle I and Participle II in the following attributive phrases;

(b) translate them into Russian;

(c) explain them according to the model.

 

Model: (1) A burning cigarette: a cigarette that is burning;

a burnt letter: a letter that has been burnt.

(2) a promising student: a student that is talented and promises to become a good specialist.

a promised trip: a trip that has been promised.

 

1. disturbing silence — disturbed silence; 2. a hurting remark — a hurt look; 3. a sinking ship — a sunk ship; 4. a pleasing smile — a pleased smile; 5. a stopping train — a stopped train; 6. a surprising expression — a surprised expression; 7. a frightening look — a fright­ened look; 8. an exciting film — an excited child.

 

Ex. 30. Paraphrase the parts in bold type using Participle II according to pattern 3 in the chart.

 

1. There were a lot of foreign guests at the conference that was held in May. 2. The first thing that attracted his attention was a big vase that was filled with beautiful roses. 3. We sat down on the ground that was covered with dry leaves. 4. I reached for the glass that was held out to me. 5. He looked around the coffee-shop that was packed with people and moved to the table that was marked "Reserved". 6. Entering the station I saw a hurrying man who was followed by a porter. 7. They all had to obey the instructions that were given by the head clerk. 8. He acted on the plan that had been worked out a long time ago. 9. She didn't want to see him for reasons that had already been mentioned.

 

Ex. 31. Translate the following sentences, using Participle II.

 

1. У него был очень испуганный вид. 2. Эта телеграмма пришла вместе с почтой, доставленной утром. 3. Я с трудом нес чемодан, набитый книгами. 4. Он ни за что не хотел тратить деньги, отложен­ные на поездку. 5. Метод, используемый этим рабочим, был подхва­чен всеми. 6. У нее был взволнованный вид. 7. Он оглядел сад с довольной улыбкой. 8. Подходя к столу, он увидел на нем письмо, адресованное ему. 9. Когда я вошел в комнату, он собирал с пола кусочки разбитой чашки. 10. Хорошо одетый незнакомец сразу при­влек наше внимание. 11. Вещи, которые были уже упакованы, лежали на полу около дверей. 12. Сделанный на заказ костюм сидел на нем очень хорошо.

 

A Complex Object With Participle II

 

Ex. 32. Study the following chart, translate the sentences into Russian.

 

1. I usually have	my hair	cut once a month.
2. We shall have	our house	painted in spring.
3. Where did you have	you car	repaired?
4. I want to have	it	done by tomorrow.
5. I've just had	my watch	repaired.
6. He won't have	anything	changed here.

Ex. 33. Answer the following questions using a complex object with Participle II.

 

1. How often do you have your hair cut? 2. When did you last have your hair cut? 3. Where did he have his watch repaired? 4. How often do you have your teeth examined? 5. Where does she have her clothes made? 6. When will they have this job done? 7. When did he have his suit cleaned? 8. Where can I have my coat shortened?

 

Ex. 34. Paraphrase the following sentences according to the model, watch the difference in meaning.

 

Model: (a) I'll make somebody do this job. I'll have this job done.

(b) She wants to shorten her dress. She wants to have her dress shortened.

 

1. He wants his dinner to be served at 5. 2. They'll discuss this prob­lem at the meeting. 3. When does he want to send this telegram? 4. We want to finish this work by the end of the month. 5. The print of the manuscript is too small. He doesn't want to ruin his eyes. 6. I want to do my hair in a new style.

 

Ex. 35. Practise the following according to the model.

 

Model: My hair has grown long. (to cut)

I must have it cut.

 

1. He has a terrible toothache. The tooth has gone too far (to pull out). 2. My watch is five minutes slow (to repair). 3. His suit is already dirty. He mustn't wear it like that (to send it to the cleaner's). 4. There is some trouble with the gearbox (to put it right). 5. We are leaving to­morrow (to pack; all the things). 6. Her teeth are uneven (to straighten). 7. Their house looks ugly (to repaint).

Ex. 36. Translate the following sentences using a complex object with Participle II.

 

1. Когда мы пришли, все ее вещи были упакованы. 2. Вам не­обходимо подстричься. 3. Вам следует отремонтировать свои часы. Тогда вы, может быть, не будете опаздывать. 4. Ей хочется сшить но­вое пальто. 5. Мне только что вырвали зуб. 6. У вас что-то серьезное с рукой. Вам надо показать ее врачу. 7. Мы должны рассмотреть этот вопрос в понедельник. 8. Мне бы хотелось, чтобы мои распоряжения выполнялись.

MIXED BAG

Ex. 37. Open the brackets using the correct form of Participle I or Par­ticiple II.

 

1. (to read) half the book, he fell asleep. 2. The wind (to come) from the North was bitterly cold. 3. She didn't pay any attention to the (to ring) telephone. 4. (to reach) for the sugar, she upset a cup of coffee. 5. They sat around the fire (to stare) at it in silence. 6. I noticed him give her a (to surprise) look. 7. In the middle of the night he woke up (to shake) with cold. 8. She opened the telegram with (to shake) fingers. 9. He wants to have his luggage (to pick up) on the way to the station. 10. I don't really see what can be done about the (to ruin) picture. 11. The path (to lead) to the house was covered with yellow leaves. 12. He walked out of the room, (to leave) the door open. 13. They were worrying about the child (to leave) alone in the house. 14. (to look) forward to that moment for a long time, he felt no pleasure now that it had ar­rived. 15. Why not throw away the (to break) sunglasses, we are not likely to repair them. 16. While waiting for a flight at the airport a passenger can have his hair (to cut), his suit (to press), shoes (to shine).

Ex. 38. Fill in the blanks with Participle II or Participle I in the cor­rect form of the verb in brackets.

 

1.... breakfast they called a taxi to take them to the station (to finish). 2. Everyone turned to the only woman in the room... on the sofa (to sit). 3. She rose and,... me to follow her, walked on,... and.... (to tell, to laugh, to talk). 4.... me in the postman left the parcel with my next-door neighbours (not to find). 5. "I don't know if I see what you mean," he said with a... expression (to hurt). 6.... to the window she threw it open. In the street a.... circus was passing (to cross; to tra­vel). 7.... the gate he sang an old song... at times to admire his work (to paint, to stop). 8. We-stopped at-the freshly... gate (to paint). 9.... the episode I couldn't help laughing (to remember). 10. You needn't repeat the lesson so well... by everybody (to remember). 11. "Do you find this film interesting?" he asked... to her (to turn). 12. We had the roof of our country house... green (to paint). 13. He walked along the street with his collar... up, hands in pockets (to turn).

Ex. 39. Translate the following sentences, using Participle I or Parti­ciple II.

1. Прослушав внимательно его доклад, я понял, какую большую работу он проделал. 2. Слушая внимательно все, о чем он говорил, я одновременно наблюдал аудиторию. 3. Беспокоясь о его будущем, она думала о том, как помочь ему. 4. Она отвечала на вопросы рас­сеянно, все время думая о случившемся. 5. Будучи новым человеком, он пока не задавал вопросы, боясь попасть впросак (сделать ошиб­ку). 6. Он посмотрел на отремонтированную машину с удовлетворе­нием и гордостью. 7. Увидев, что машина замедлила ход, я понял, что они меня подвезут. 8. Успокоившись, она начала рассказывать нам о случившемся. 9. Первое, что он увидел, подходя к дому, — это разбитое окно. 10. Повинуясь приказу инструктора, водитель замед­лил ход. 11. Мы прислушались к тишине, изредка нарушаемой какой-то птицей. 12. Услышав ее имя, он тотчас же вспомнил, где они встре­тились впервые. 13. Его обиженный вид рассмешил всех. 14. Будучи расстроенным, он нечаянно повернул не в ту сторону. 15. Мне бы хо­телось удлинить пальто.

Ex. 40. Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of Participle I or Par­ticiple II. Retell the story.

BUGGING SHOWROOMS

 

It was reported in the press that certain car dealers have been bug­ging* their automobile showrooms so that they can hear what people, who have come to buy a car, are saying while the salesman is in the back office, (to make) it easier for the salesman to know what the inten­tions of the buyers are.

A couple (to leave) alone in the showrooms have been looking at a brown Panda for some time when the salesman comes out of the back office (to say):

"Well, Fanny, how do you like our new Panda?" (to point) at the car.

(to look) at the salesman in great surprise the woman asks: "How did you know my name was Fanny?"

"Your husband McKinley told me."

The husband says: "I never told you her name. And how did you know my name was McKinley (never to meet) me before?"

The salesman says: "Well, honestly, I did not know but I took a wild guess. You look like a Fanny and a McKinley. Now let's talk about the car. You want to have a brown car with brown leather seats."

Fanny says (to look) at the salesman: "You must be a mind reader."

"(to be) in this business for many years I know that certain people like certain colours."

"Let's get out of here," says Fanny (to feel) nervous.

McKinley asks (to turn) to the salesman: "Can I talk to my wife alone?"

"Of course," the salesman answers (to walk) off to the back office and (to leave) the couple alone.

"Let's tell him we'll think it over and be back next Tuesday," Mc­Kinley starts (to whisper) to his wife.

(to rush) out of the back office the salesman shouts: "Could you make it Wednesday? I don't work on Tuesday, and I'd hate to lose the sale."

(after "Bugging Showrooms" by Art Buchwald)

Ex. 41. Test translation.

 

1. На стадионах, принадлежащих спортивному обществу «Дина­мо», часто проводятся международные соревнования. 2. Небрежность шофера часто ведет к аварии. 3. Хотя они начали работать вместе совсем недавно, они уже стали близкими друзьями. 4. Она зашла к подруге на минутку и, как всегда, застряла там на целый час. 5. Если вы хотите отправить письмо авиапочтой, то нужно наклеить еще одну марку. 6. Друзья пришли на вокзал проводить его и поже­лать счастливого пути. 7. Он жалел, что не послушался совета отца и не поступил сразу же в институт иностранных языков. Он потерял два года. 8. Раз он обещал позаботиться о багаже, то вам, по-моему, нечего волноваться. 9. Я бы с удовольствием отвез вас на своей маши­не, но она сейчас в ремонте. Случилось так, что во время тумана мы попали в аварию. 10. Он имел обыкновение насвистывать, играя в шахматы. 11. Он твердо обещал прийти помочь нам упаковать ве­щи, и мы никак не ожидали, что он подведет нас. 12. Когда ей задали вопрос, она сначала растерялась, не зная, что ответить. 13. Журна­лист любезно согласился прочитать нам лекцию о международном положении. 14. Он позвонил на станцию и заказал билеты на поезд с доставкой на дом. 15. Трудно сказать, почему он отказался подчи­ниться распоряжению. 16. Не теряя ни минуты, он перешел к сути дела. 17. Приближаясь к станции, поезд замедлил ход. 18. Он решил не высказывать своей точки зрения, пока дело не будет выяснено до конца. 19. Он рассказал нам о принятых мерах в общих чертах, не вдаваясь в подробности. 20. Почему вы сомневаетесь в его словах? Разве у вас есть основания не верить ему? 21. Наклеив марку и на­писав адрес, она спустилась вниз, чтобы бросить письмо в ящик.

SPEECH EXERCISES

 

Ex. 42. Retell in narrative form.

 

At a quarter to six, Mrs. Alison heard her husband park the car out­side the house and immediately went out to speak to him.

"What's the matter, darling?" he asked. "You look upset."

"I've made a terrible mistake, Jim," she said. "Mrs. Johnson rang me up about half an hour ago. We got talking and then without think­ing, I asked her and her husband to come and have dinner with us this evening."

"Well, that's nothing to get upset about!" Mr. Alison said. "We are sure to have a pleasant evening. Here, I've bought you the book you wanted."

"Oh, thanks, Jim," said Mrs. Alison. "I'd like the Johnsons to come, but I have just discovered that there's hardly any food in the house. You didn't by any chance remember to buy some steak? I asked you to get some on your way home from work three days ago."

"Steak?" Mr. Alison said. "Good heavens, yes. I remember now. As a matter of fact I did get some. You should have reminded me about it. It's in the boot* of the car. It's been there for the past three days!"

 

Ex. 43. Answer the following questions. Sum up your answers.

On Driving

 

1. Does your family have a car? What model is it? 2. Can you drive? 3. Have you got a driver's license? 4. When did you take a course in driving? 5. Are you a good driver? 6. Why should the driver be attentive when at the wheel? What may happen if he is not? 7. What are filling stations for? What service can you get there? 8. What do you do if you have trouble with your car and do not know what exactly has gone wrong? 9. Have you ever made a long trip by car? How did you like it?

The Rule of the Road

 

1. What are the rules of safety first when crossing the street? 2. What are the traffic lights for? 3. What are underground passages for? 4. Where are the underground passages usually built? 5. What is a one-way road? 6. What side of the road do cars keep to when driving: the right or the left? 7. What countries have left-hand driving?

3. Happy New Year to You!

 

1. Has January always been the first month of the year? 2. Is the New Year celebrated at the same time the world over? 3. What are the different ways of celebrating the New Year in different countries? 4. Why is New Year usually a big holiday? 5. Why do people often send postcards with their best wishes to each other on New Year's Day? 6. How is New Year celebrated in your family? 7. Why is New Year especially enjoyed by children? 8. Do you usually see the New Year in at home with the family or with your friends at a restaurant?

 

Ex. 44. Read the following. Answer the questions, using the vocabulary of the lesson, and retell the passage.

 

Traffic in Britain is getting heavier all the time and the roads of most big cities are almost permanently blocked by a slow moving procession of metal cages.* One-way streets and traffic lights have not set­tled the problem. The motorist driving in crowded towns gets very lit­tle pleasure out of it.

Some time ago, a friend of mine who works in a part of the city I do not know very well, invited me to call on him. It took me hours to get there and I drove round and round looking for a place to park my car. At last I parked it in a backstreet. As I was already three quarters of an hour late I hurried off on foot. Walking quickly along the street, I could not help thinking that, nowadays, it is much easier to walk than to drive.

At noon, just as I was leaving my friend's office, it suddenly struck me that I had no idea where I had parked my car. I could hardly go up to a policeman and tell him that I had lost a small green car somewhere! I would simply have to look for it myself. Walking down street after street, I looked over each car closely and was happy to see a small green car just behind an old cart.** But how disappointed I was to discover that though the car was exactly like my own, it belonged to someone else! Feeling quite tired now, I decided to drop the search for a while and went off for lunch. Some time later, I left the restaurant and was walking down the street. Turning the corner, I nearly jumped for joy: my car was right in front of me — and there was no mistake this time. I could not help smiling as I approached it. Stuck on the windscreen was a little ticket which informed me that the car had been visited by a policeman in my absence. On top of all, I had broken the traffic regu­lations!

Questions

1. What's happening on the roads of Britain? 2. What is being done in big cities to settle the traffic problem? 3. Why does the motorist now­adays get so little pleasure out of driving? 4. What business brought the author to a part of the city which he did not know any too well? 5. Why did it take the author hours to reach it? 6. How long did it take him to find a parking place for his car? 7. Where did he park it? 8. Why did he hurry to his friend's office? 9. His friend had every reason to wor­ry, didn't he? 10. What could his friend think seeing that his visitor was so late? 11. What idea suddenly struck the author as he was leaving his friend's office? 12. Had the car been removed in his absence? 13. Why couldn't he tell anybody his sad story? 14. How did he know that the car behind the old cart was not his? 15. Why did he decide to drop his search for a while? 16. How did he happen to find his car? 17. What were his feelings when he discovered his car at last? 18. Why was there a ticket stuck on the windscreen? 19. Why did his spirits sink when he saw it? 20. A ticket on the windscreen meant that he would have to put the matter right with the police, didn't it?

 

Ex. 45. Read the following, answer the questions, retell the text in English.

 

ПУДИНГ НЕ ДЛЯ ВСЕХ

В старой английской.сказке рассказывается, что в ночь на рождество приходит Дед Мороз и приносит всем подарки. Но не все англичане пользуются благосклонностью Санта Клауса (так называют в Англии Деда Мороза).

Среди рождественских рекламных объявлений и советов, запол­няющих страницы лондонских газет, нелегко найти объяснение это­му. Но не подлежит никакому сомнению, что среди обездоленных без­работные, члены их семей, сотни тысяч пенсионеров, инвалидов и бездомных.

Разные люди по-разному нынче встретили рождество. Пятеро мо­лодых искателей приключений Плимутского клуба отправились на вершину самой высокой горы Англии пик Сноудон, поднявшись туда с индейкой и традиционным английским пудингом.

А вот восемь мужчин и женщин из Стивэнджа решили обойтись без индейки. Они провели холодное и голодное рождество, устроив голодовку в центре города, чтобы привлечь внимание к тем миллио­нам людей, которые остались на праздник голодными.

Мрачными красками рисует репортер одной из лондонских газет положение в Излингтоне. Большинство из 54 тысяч домов и квартир Излингтона — это трущобы, где люди живут в невероятной бедности и тесноте. Эти люди тоже никогда не празднуют рождество.

Questions

 

1. What is the old English fairy tale about Father Christmas? 2. Why does Santa Claus ignore the needs of the unemployed, old age pensioners, invalids and the homeless? 3. Why is nothing said about it in the London newspapers? 4. What usually fills the pages of the newspa­pers at Christmas? 5. How was Christmas celebrated by five young mem­bers of the Plymouth Adventurers' Club? 6. What did they take with them to the top of England's highest mountain peak Snowdon? 7. Why did eight men and women from Stevenage decide to do without the tra­ditional Christmas turkey? 8. Why did they hold a hunger strike? 9. What picture did a London reporter give of Islington? 10. Why don't the people living in the slums of Islington ever celebrate Christmas? 11. What is life like for the population of the city slums?

Ex. 46. Read and retell the following.

 

THE DANGER OF LYING IN BED

after Mark Twain

Last year I travelled twenty thousand miles, almost always by rail-me year before, I travelled over twenty-five thousand miles, half bv sea and half by rail; and the year before that I travelled about ten thous­and miles by rail. I suppose, if I added all the little journeys here and there, I may say I have travelled sixty thousand miles during the three years I have mentioned, and never had an accident.

I would say to myself every morning, "Now, I have managed to keep safe so far, and so there is a greater chance that I shall have an ac­cident this time. I will be wise,* and buy an accident ticket.** Then, when I have my accident, I shall be paid something." But I went to bed that night without one bone broken.

I got tired of that, and started buying accident tickets that lasted a month. I said to myself, "One of them must bring me some money."

But I was mistaken. I never got any money. I could read of rail­way accidents every day — the newspapers were full of them; but somehow they never happened to me. I found that I had spent a lot of money on accident tickets, and had nothing for it. I began to look around for somebody who had won money in this way. I found lots of people who had paid the money for a ticket, but not one who had ever had an accident or been paid anything.

I stopped buying accident tickets, and made a study of the problem. The result was very surprising. THE DANGER WAS NOT IN TRA­VELLING, BUT IN STAYING AT HOME.

 

Ex. 47. Use the following words and phrases in situations.

Safety First

 

to be in the habit of driving fast; to go at full speed; heavy traffic; not to slow down at the traffic lights; to break the traffic regulations; to run into a car; to strike (against); to meet with an accident; to be badly hurt; to find oneself in hospital.

On Packing

 

to be thinking of making a trip; to have one's suitcases ready; to do the packing; quite a job; to be in the habit of doing smth; to be good at smth; to take care not to leave anything behind; to have doubts; to make a poor job of smth; to have no system; to search about the place for smth; to empty the suit-case; to start over again; a waste of time; to strike smb (of an idea); to work out a system; to make out a list; to stick to smth in future.

 

Do-It-Yourself

 

to make up one's mind; to have one's room repaired; to be in high spirits; to remove the furniture; to start with the ceiling; to whitewash the ceiling; to throw dirt all over the place; not to like the look of smth; to give smth another coat of paint; to stick the paper to the wall; not to hold' to hang loose; to wonder; to think for a while; to make an effort; to put smth right; to make things still worse; to be upset; a waste of time and energy; to be at a loss; to invite a specialist; to deal with the repairs; to save smb a lot of trouble.

 

4. An Unexpected Visitor

 

to stay at home; to look forward to a quiet evening; suddenly; to hear the door bell; to wonder; not to expect anybody; to turn out; to be pleasantly surprised; without wasting a minute; to make coffee; to lay the table; to have a friendly chat; to tell funny stories; to pass quick­ly (about the time); a cheerful evening.

Take It Easy

 

to reach for smth; in the way; to remove a vase; accidentally; to drop; to break to pieces; to be very sorry; can't help doing smth; 'to calm smb; not to worry; to pick up smth; to stick the pieces together; to look whole again.

 

Ex. 48. Tell the story of each of the pictures.

 

 

 

Ex. 49. Subjects for oral and written composition:

 

1. Retell the story in the person of: a) Andrew Manson; b) Christine; c) Con Boland; d) Mrs. Boland; e) a next door neighbour who hap­pened to see the accident.

2. Give character-sketches of a) Con Boland; b) Mrs. Boland.

3. Give the reasons why Con Boland had decided: a) to reconstruct the car; b) to do the job himself.

4. Give a description of the car after its reconstruction.

5. Describe what Con Boland felt when the car started falling to pieces.

6. Explain why an accident of this kind usually makes people laugh.

7. Tell a story of a similar accident you have seen or read about.

8. The traffic problem in big cities.

9. The dangers of driving fast in big cities.

10. The quickest way to get about town.

11. Public transport services in your town.

12. Describe a trip by car.

 

Lesson Three

 

 

Text: "One Coat of White" by H A. Smith¹

Grammar: The Subjunctive Mood in Simple Sentences and Complex Sentences with Conditional Clauses

One Coat of White

 

Everybody knows by this time that we first met Lautisse on ship­board but few people know that in the beginning Betsy² and I had no idea who he was.

We were on the Queen Elizabeth,³ coming back from our first trip to Europe. It was on the second day that I ran into him sitting in a quiet corner on deck. He gave me a nasty look. I started to back away mum­bling an apology and then his expression changed.

"Wait!" he called out. "You are an American?"

His English was good, and he asked me if I had a moment to help him with a small problem. He wanted to know the name of some United States Senator⁴ for the ship's daily crossword puzzle. I sat down and puzzled over the thing. The definition was, "Senator who crosses a river." I thought of Senator Ford, but there were no Fords on the passenger list, and then I got it — Senator Bridges. There was a Miss Ethelyn Bridges on board.

I didn't see him until next day, just before lunch, when he came into the main lounge, caught me by the arm, and whispered "Look!" In his big hand he was holding a man's wallet made of pigskin. "The prize!" he said. "See what I've won! But for you, though, I would have never solved the puzzle. Come and have a cocktail with me."

I went with him to his state-room, and he got out a bottle of.brandy. He introduced himself as Monsieur Roland and kept thanking me for my help with the puzzle. Then he began asking me some questions about myself and my business, and I told him I sold oil-burners.

We sat there talking, and finally he asked me if I could keep a se­cret, and then he said, "I am Lautisse."

I told Betsy all about it, so after lunch we went up and talked to the ship's librarian, asked him a few innocent questions and then dropped the name of Lautisse. We were greatly impressed by what we heard. We found out that my new friend was probably the world's greatest living painter, that he had given up painting and was heard to say that he would never touch another brush as long as he lived.

Betsy talked me into sending a note to his cabin, asking him around for a drink.

Well, we got to be real friendly. He planned to spend a month in New York, and it was Betsy who suggested that he come up to our place for a weekend.

Lautisse arrived on the noon train Saturday and I met him at the station. We had promised him that we wouldn't invite any people in and that we wouldn't try to talk art to him. Driving out from the sta­tion I asked him if he wanted to do anything in particular, like play croquet or go for a swim or a walk in the woods, and he said that he just wanted to sit and relax. So we sat around all afternoon, and Lautisse looked at a ball game⁵ on television for about five minutes, and couldn't understand it, and I took him to my shop and showed him an oil-burner and he couldn't understand that either. Mostly we sat around and talked.

I was up at seven-thirty the next morning and when I was having breakfast I remembered a job I'd been putting off for some time. Our vegetable garden has a white fence which I built with my own hands five years ago.

That garden fence is my pride and joy, and now that it needed a fresh coat of paint, I wanted to do the job. I got out a bucket half full of white paint and a brush. While I was getting things ready, I heard footsteps and there stood Lautisse. I said I had been getting ready to paint the fence but now that he was up, I'd postpone it. He protested. I took up the brush but he seized it from my hand and said, "First, I show you!"

I'm no Tom Sawyer— I wasn't looking for anybody to paint that fence. I let him finish two sides of the post and then interrupted. "I'll take it from here," I said, reaching for the brush. "No, no!" he said, with an impatient wave of the brush. I argued with him but he wouldn't even look up from his work. 1 went back to the Sunday papers but every now and then I'd get up and go out and watch him for a couple of minutes. He spent three hours at it and finished the fence, all four sections of it. You should have seen him when he walked around the house to the terrace where I was sitting — he had paint all over him.

Some time during the afternoon he asked me if we were anywhere near Chappaqua, and I said it was the next town, and he wanted to know if we had ever heard of Gerston, the sculptor. We had heard of him, of course, and Lautisse said he had once known Gerston in Paris, and would it be possible to get in touch with him? I got Gerston on the telephone for him, but he talked in French, and I have no idea what the con­versation was about.

He went back to town on the 9.03 that evening and at the station shook my hand and said I was a fine fellow and that he hadn't enjoyed himself so much in years, and that he wanted Betsy and me to come to New York and have dinner with him some night.

We didn't hear anything from him or about him for ten days. Then the New York papers got hold of the story. In the interview which Lau­tisse gave there were a few lines about the weekend he had spent with Mr. and Mrs. Gregg.

The day after the story appeared a reporter and a photographer from one of the papers arrived at our place. Besides taking pictures of Betsy and me, as well as of the house, they asked for every single detail of the great man's visit, and Betsy told them of course about the garden fence. They took more pictures of the fence, the paint bucket and the brush and the next morning the paper had quite a story. The headline said: LAUTISSE PAINTS AGAIN.

It gave us a sort of funny feeling, all this publicity,⁶ but we didn't have much time to think about it. People started arriving in large num­bers. They all wanted my garden fence, because it had been painted by the great Lautisse.

"Look, gentlemen," I said. "I'm a businessman, I don't know any­thing about painting. I mean painting pictures. But I do know a thing or two about painting a fence. A mule could have held a paint brush in his teeth and done almost as good a job on that fence as Lautisse did."

In their turn they asked me if I knew that a single painting by Lau­tisse was worth as much as a quarter of a million dollars and whether I realized that my garden fence was a genuine Lautisse. I told them I'd make my decision in the next few days.

Those next few days were bedlam. We had to have the telephone disconnected — there were calls from all over the country. At least another dozen art galleries and museums sent people. By the end of the second day I was being offered twenty-five thousand. The next day fif­ty-When on the fourth day Gerston came in I immediately took up the subject of the fence. He advised me not to sell the fence yet — and let the Palmer Museum in New York exhibit it for several weeks. He also ex­plained what all the excitement was about. He said one reason was that Lautisse had never before used a bit of white paint.

The fence was taken to New York. I went down myself to have a look, and I couldn't keep from laughing when I saw my fence — it had a fence around it.

The exhibition was to end on a Saturday, and Gerston phoned that day and asked if I would meet him at the museum on Sunday.

He led me to the room where my fence had been exhibited, and I did get a shock when we walked in. The fence had been cut up into sec­tions.

"Don't get excited," said Gerston. "Let me show you something." He pointed to a word in black paint at the bottom corner. It took me a few seconds to recognise it. It was the signature of Lautisse.

"But... but I don't get it!" I stammered. "Why... what... where is he?"

"Lautisse sailed for home early this morning," said Gerston. "But last night he came over here, got down on his hands and knees, and signed each of the thirty sections. Now you've got something to sell."

And indeed I did have. Twenty-nine sections of the thirty sections ware sold within a month's time at 10,000 each. I kept the thirtieth, it's hanging now in our living-room.

After it was all over, I went to see Gerston.

"Lautisse was genuinely fond of you and Mrs. Gregg," he said. "He had no idea, when he painted your fence, that it would make such a noise. But when it did, he got a good laugh out of it. And it was his idea to have the fence cut into sections. Then he got down to work and signed each one."

NOTES

1. Smith, Henry Allen, a modern American writer

2. Betsy: the short for Elizabeth

3. the Queen Elizabeth: an ocean-going liner

4. Senator: a member of the Senate, the upper house in US Congress

5. ball game: here— baseball

6. publicity: зд известность

VOCABULARY

apologize vi извиняться to apologize to smb for smth; He aplologized for being late. apology n извинение; Phr. make (offer) an apology приносить извинение

nasty а неприятный, ужасный, отвратительный a nasty look (smell, taste, illness, fall, remark, behaviour, person, etc.); nasty weather; to be nasty to smb отвратительно вести себя по отношению к кому-л

puzzle vt озадачить, ставить в тупик to be puzzled at smth; His question puzzled me. Phr. puzzle over smth ломать себе голову над чем-л; puzzle out разгадать, отгадать (что-л); puzzle n вопрос, ставя­щий в тупик; загадка, головоломка His unexpected disappearance was a puzzle to everybody.

solve vt разрешать, решать (проблему, задачу и т.п.) to solve a problem (a puzzle, doubts, etc.); solution n разрешение, решение (про­блемы и т.п.) They found a good solution to the problem.

introduce vt 1. знакомить, представлять I introduced him to the guests. to introduce oneself представляться 2. вносить, предлагать (на рассмотрение); внедрять в производство и т.п. to introduce a plan (a project, an idea, etc.) for discussion; to introduce a new method (some changes, mechanization, automation, etc.) in one's work; introduction n 1. официальное знакомство, представление As master of the house I was expected to make the introductions; a letter of introduction реко­мендательное письмо 2. введение, внедрение With the introduction of the new method of work the production sped up. 3. предисловие (к книге и т.п.) an introduction to a book (a report, a speech, etc.); intro­ductory а вводный, вступительный; an introductory speech (lecture, chapter, article, etc.)

final а последний, заключительный, окончательный a final deci­sion (game, etc.); final results, etc.; finally adv наконец, в конце концов Не finally agreed to our suggestion.

impress vt производить впечатление, поражать How did the show impress you? impression n впечатление What are your impressions about (of) the trip? Phr. make a good (bad, great, strong, poor. etc.) impression on smb произвести сильное (слабое и т.п.) впечатление на кого-л; be under the impression of a story (a book, a film, etc.) на­ходиться под впечатлением рассказа (книги, фильма и т.п.); impress­ive а производящий глубокое впечатление, впечатляющий, вырази­тельный; an impressive speech (event, building, manner, appearance, etc.)

give up (gave, given) vt отказываться от (чего-л), бросать to give up hope (an attempt, one's idea, a habit, one's friends, music, etc.); to give up smoking (painting, reading, etc.)

suggest vt предлагать to suggest a plan (an idea, a trip, etc.); I sug­gest that he (should) give up this idea. Somebody suggested visiting the museum; suggestion n предложение At the suggestion of the secretary the meeting was postponed. Phr. make a suggestion внести, сделать предложение

fresh а свежий a fresh newspaper (tie, shirt, morning, etc.); fresh butter (bread, tea, air, paint, news, etc.)

postpone vt откладывать, отсрочивать to postpone a meeting (a trip, an exhibition, a visit, etc.) They agreed to postpone the discussion till a later date; postponement n отсрочка The clients agreed to the post­ponement of the delivery of the goods. Phr. make a postponement сде­лать отсрочку, отложить

patience а терпение You need a lot of patience to do the job properly. She has a lot of (no, etc.) patience with children. Phr. lose (one's) pa­tience (with smb) терять терпение, выходить из себя; try smb's patience испытывать чье-л терпение; (im)patient а (не)терпеливый to be (im)patient with smb

possible а возможный, вероятный a possible answer (solution, etc.); It is possible to do the translation in an hour. It is possible that he may come. Phr. as soon (quickly, much, etc.) as possible как можно скорее (быстрее, больше и т.п.); impossible а невозможный, невыполнимый It is impossible for you to solve the problem alone; possibility n 1. воз­можность, вероятность There is no possibility of a mistake (doubt, etc.) 2. pl. возможности, данные There are great possibilities in space flights.

besides prep кроме, помимо Besides English he knows French.

single а один, единственный; отдельный Не did not make a single mistake in the test. She told us every single detail of the incident.

detail n подробность, деталь an important (interesting, etc.) detail Phr. in detail подробно; go into details вдаваться в подробности

worth а стоящий, заслуживающий (внимания и т.п.) Не paid twice as much for the flowers as they were worth. The book is definitely worth reading. It's worth going there.