Curtis Faces a Difficult Decision

a senior officer; to be responsible for smth; to give smb a write-up; to treat smth seriously; to give one's word to the Establishment Offi­cer; to fill up a form; to have to do with smb's promotion; to go up for an interview; a spare quarter of an hour; a difficult decision to make; to show a responsible attitude; to report impartially on smb's actual work; to give a fair account of smth; not to hesitate to give one's person­al opinion; to be up to the Commission (to decide)

 

Johnson's Chances of Promotion

to have one's good (bad) points; difficult to handle; to put it mild­ly; a nasty temper; unaccountable; to be inconsistent intellectually, in one's behaviour; to see no sense in the way smb goes on; to catch smb going behind one's back; to do smb a dirty trick; no sense of re­sponsibility; to be erratic in one's ideas; a blunder; a risk; a menace; to be more than one can put up with; to go by (of the years); to be fair to smb; to become more sensible; to do a good job as Experimental Officer; to have everything in one to make a good Senior Scientific Of­ficer; to have a lot of experience; to take oneself in hand as to one's ideas and personal behaviour; to come to the conclusion; to move smb up; the risk might be worth taking

 

Johnson Comes to Have it Out With Curtis

Johnson: to aim at an appointment; to have it fixed in one's head; the delay in one's promotion; to be smb's fault; to have strong suspi­cions (about); to be determined to get hold of the confidential report at any price; to expose smb; to burst in; to be beside oneself with anger; to speak in a menacing tone; to demand an explanation; to be convinced that...; to wreck smb's chances of promotion; to want to know where one stands; to take the wrong attitude;

Curtis: to look up at smb in mild surprise; to guess the purpose of smb's visit; to be used to dealing with smb in such a mood; to tell by the look in smb's eye; to mean trouble; to try to calm smb down; not to deny; to admit willingly; to give an account of what was written in the write-up; to draw smb's attention to smth; to give smb a chance to judge for oneself about smth; to conclude by saying that...; in spite of smth; to be perfectly willing to take the risk; to expect smb to re-sspect one's judgement; to catch smb looking over one's shoulder; to lose one's temper with smb; to be unable to check one's anger; to be fed up with smb; to wonder how smb can dare to doubt smb's word; to refuse to put up with smth

 

The Ball of Paper

to jump (towards); to seize the form; to pull away; to crush the form into a ball of paper between one's hands; to let smth fly; to come to rest beside the coffin; to rush forward; to pay no attention to the cry of warning; to be blind to danger; to be deaf to reason; to pick up the ball of paper; to expose oneself to radiation; to be at a loss

 

Johnson Wrecks His Own Chances

to act without delay; to call up Health Physics; to feel sorry for smb; a painful sight; to notice smb touching the film-holder on the lapel; as if to make sure; to contain; a piece of photographic film; be­tween two sheets of lead with windows in the front one; to have the film developed; to tell the amount of radiation; a medical check-up; to be convinced of smth; not a fatal dose; to be a hundred to one (of the chances); to get away with it; not to permit smb to work with smth; to put oneself out of a job; to realize that all is lost; a heavy blow; to be hard hit by smth

 

SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES

Ex. 17. Translate the following sentences using "what" or "that" ac­cording to the sense.

1 а) Я знаю, что он мог сказать, б) Я знаю, что он сказал прав­ду. 2. а) Главный инженер объяснил нам, что значит практический опыт. б) Главный инженер объяснил молодым специалистам, что опыт в их работе значит многое. 3. а) Я видел, что читала девушка, сидящая рядом со мной. б) Я видел, что она читала научный журнал. 4. а) Мы не могли догадаться, что беспокоило ребенка. б> Мы не зна­ли, что наше молчание очень беспокоило наших друзей. 5. а) Он продолжал отрицать то, что сказал накануне, б) Он продолжал отрицать, что сказал это.

Ex. 18. Translate the following sentences using phrases with "beyond".

1. За последние годы наш город изменился до неузнаваемости. 2. Такое замечательное произведение искусства ни с чем нельзя сравнить. 3. То, о чем вы меня просите, не в моей власти. 4. Мы без сомнения справимся с заданием в срок. 5. Радость, которую он испы­тывал в ту минуту, нельзя описать словами. 6. То, что вы говорите, недоступно их пониманию. 7. Цель, которую он наметил, была недосягаема. 8. Он полагал, что его действия вне подозрения. 9. Ва­ши часы уже нельзя починить. 10. То, что он предлагает, не уклады­вается в голове (не поддается разумному объяснению).

 

Ex. 19. Translate the following sentences using the verb "tell".

1. Вы можете определить расстояние отсюда до противоположного берега озера? 2. Я никогда не различаю братьев, они так похожи друг на друга, 3. По выражению его лица я понял, что он чем-то недо­волен. 4. Этого актера всегда можно узнать по голосу. 5. По вашим часам очень трудно определить время. Они очень маленькие.

 

GRAMMAR EXERCISES

Modal Verbs

I. Must* (in the meaning of supposition of high probability)

Ex. 20. Study the meaning of the verb "must" and the tense relations expressed by the forms of the infinitive.

1. She must be about twenty five now. She went to school with my sister. 2. It's five o'clock. He must be working in the garden.   3. Something must have hap­pened. He has never been late before. 4. The visitor is still here. He must have been waitingfor an hour.

1. Должно быть, ей сейчас около двадцати пяти лет. Она училась в школе с моей сестрой. 2. Сейчас пять часов. Он, должно быть (вероятно), работает в саду. 3. Должно быть, что-то случилось. Он раньше никогда не опазды­вал. 4. Посетитель все еще здесь. Он ждет по всей вероятности уже час.

 

Ex. 21. Watch the meaning of the verb "must", translate the sentences into Russian.

1. (a) She must be very careful. The work at the laboratory is very dangerous, (b) She must be very careless if she left, forgetting to lock the flat. 2. (a) She must wait for us at the metro station, (b) She must be waiting for us at the metro station. 3. (a) The matter must be settled before his arrival, (b) The matter must have been settled before his de­parture. 4. (a) She must know nothing about it. It will only make her suffer, (b) She must know nothing about it, if she says the task is easy,

 

Ex. 22. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the infinitive.

1. The roofs and streets are wet. It must... (to rain). 2. The book must... worth reading if he has read it twice (to be). 3. The house must ••• in the middle ages. The walls are very thick and the windows narrow (to build). 4. We must... a wrong turning. I don't recognize the road (to take). 5. Judging by the expression of his face he must... by what he heard (.to impress). 6. Something serious must... him (to delay). He should have been here at least an hour ago. 7. He must... a lot if he was able to show such good results (to practise). 8. You must... the answer by now (to guess). 9. She must... with his rough manner, that's why she lost her temper (to be fed up). 10. She must... very unobserv­ant if she didn't notice the change in him (to be). 11. Judging by his story he must... to many dangers and... his life more than once (to expose; to risk). 12. She must... the shock by now (to get over).

 

Ex. 23. Answer the following questions, using "must", mind the tense form of tlie infinitive.

M o d e l: Why didn't he come? (to be ill)

He must have been ill.

1. Why isn't he here? (to delay) 2. What would you say he is, judg­ing by his appearance? (to be a painter) 3. How old was he when he set out on his first expedition to the North? (thirty) 4. Why are they never seen together now? (to quarrel) 5. What's all that knocking in the next room? (to fix a shelf to the wall) 6. Where is she? (to wait for us at the entrance to the Museum) 7. How did he manage to arrive so soon? (to come by plane) 8. What accounts for their delay? (the fog) 9. Why didn't he join in the discussion of the problem? (to have no interest in the sub­ject) 10. Why is the photograph so pale? (the film; to expose to light) 11. Why was he so impolite? (to be annoyed with smb for disturbing him)

 

Ex. 24. Paraphrase the following sentences using "must".

1. It looks as if he were out of practice, that's why he lost the game. 2. I see a crowd of people before the door. No doubt something has hap­pened. 3. He has obviously been working at this Research Institute for a long time. Everybody seems to know him. 4. Evidently* they were getting ready for another experiment. They wanted no strangers at the laboratory. 5. Obviously he was speaking from his own experience. He sounded very convincing. 6. Judging by the frosted windows the weather to-day is surely far from warm. 7. Evidently she was ashamed of her behaviour.

 

Ex. 25. Translate the following sentences using "must".

1. Вы, должно быть, только что вернулись из деревни. Вы пре­красно выглядите. 2. По всей вероятности он забыл, что раньше он придерживался другого мнения. 3. Я не думаю, чтобы он сердился на вас. Он, должно быть, был в плохом настроении. 4. Сейчас еще рано звонить ему. Вероятно он еще спит. 5. Какой прекрасный теле­визор. Должно быть вы за него много заплатили. 6. Ты, должно быть, очень голоден. Ведь ты не ел с утра. 7. Я плохо себя чувствую. У ме­ня, должно быть, температура. 8. Не случайно вас остановил мили­ционер. Вы, должно быть, превысили дозволенную скорость (лимит скорости). 9. Он, должно быть, давно болен. Он все время жаловался на плохое самочувствие. 10. Она, должно быть, задумалась и не заметила, как проехала свою остановку.

 

Ex. 26. Study how negation is expressed in the following sentences, trans­late them into Russian.

1. Nobody must have noticed him leave. 2. He must have left the door unlocked on purpose. 3. He thought that he must have taken the wrong train, because the names of the stations they were passing seemed unfamiliar. 4. The news must have never reached him. He never says a word about it. 5. He must have failed to see his mistake, for he didn't stop to correct it. 6. He must have refused the offer. 7. He denied having spoken to her on the subject. 8. He seemed to be a very quiet child. He must have given you no trouble at all. 9. They must have been unwilling to leave so early. 10. They treated our offer with sus­picion. They must have misunderstood our intentions. 11. Such a pos­sibility must have never occurred to him. 12. He must have failed to prove his point. 13. They must have missed the train. They had left too late.

 

Ex. 27. Change the following sentences making them opposite in mean­ing, make all other necessary changes.

1. The student must have given the right answer. The teacher was pleased. 2. Everybody must have noticed her turn pale. 3. He must have recognized me for he nodded my way. 4. She must have taken her­self in hand. She never said a word. 5. He must be very observant. He always notices a new dress when I have one. 6. He must have admitted the truth. 7. He must have kept his promise. 8. She must be very patient with children, they like her. 9. They must have caught the train.

 

Ex.. 28. Translate into English.

1. Должно быть, он не смог прийти в условленное время. 2. Долж­но быть, вы были несправедливы к нему. 3. Вероятно, ему не сооб­щили, что собрание перенесено. 4. Должно быть, вы не наблюдательны, если вы не заметили у нас никаких перемен. 5. Вероятно, он еще ни­чего не знает о своем новом назначении. 6. Должно быть, не удалось установить фактов и обсуждение вопроса было отложено. 7. Веро­ятно, на этот раз ему это не сошло с рук. 8. Цифры, должно быть, "е были проверены. Они вызвали большое сомнение. 9. Вероятно, он еще неопытен в решении таких вопросов. 10. Должно быть, не было смысла дожидаться его приезда. 11. Мои слова, должно быть, "е убедили его. Он продолжал спорить. 12. Должно быть, ему не Удалось доказать свою точку зрения. У него расстроенный вид.

 

II. Can (could) in the meaning of supposition with implied surprise, disbelief, great doubt

Ex. 29. Study the meaning of the verb "can (could)" and the tense rela­tions expressed by the forms of the infinitive.

1. It can't* (couldn't)** be true.   2. Can (could) it be true? 3. He can't (couldn't) have said such a thing.   4. She can't (couldn't) have failed to get in touch with them. 5. Can (could) he have reserved rooms in the hotel? 6. Can (could) he have lailed to get her on the phone? 7. Who could have thought that he wouldn't come?

1. He может быть, чтобы это была правда. 2. Неужели это правда? 3. Не может быть, чтобы он ска­зал такую вещь. (Он не мог сказать такую вещь) 4. Не может быть, чтобы ей не удалось связаться с ними. 5. Неужели он забронировал ком наты в отеле? 6. Неужели он не дозвонился ей? 7. Разве кто-нибудь мог подумать,что он не придет?

Ex. 30. Translate the following sentences into Russian, mind the meaning of the verb "can (could)".

1. I can't open the door, it seems to have got stuck. 2. Something must have happened. He can't be late. 3. Can he use the car in your absence? 4. Can he have used the car in my absence? 5. Who could have thought that he could leave without letting us know? 6. When he was young he could cover great distances on foot without getting tired. 7. He offered his help in good time. Nothing could have been more useful to her at the moment. 8. He couldn't have received the news with indiffer­ence. 9. You can't judge of things you don't understand. 10. He can't have failed to notice you. 11. Can they have failed to let her know that they were not coming? 12. A person of common sense can't have acted like this. 13. He is over eighty but can still read without glasses. 14. It was more than I could put up with. 15. With the best will in the world I couldn't show him more respect.

 

Ex. 31. Express doubt, surprise or disbelief using the verb "can (could)"* according to the model, give reasons for your disbelief, surprise etc.

M o d e l I: It looks as if she were still sleeping.

Can she be still sleeping?

She can't be still sleeping. It's time she were at work.

1. He seems to be still writing his course-paper. 2. They say he is a fair man. The film is said to be very bad. 4. It seems she is silent on the matter for fear of making him angry. 5. He is said to be good com­pany. 6. He appears to be still waiting for her. 7. They say she is com­pletely cured. 8. Leave me alone. I am tired. 9. He is still hesitating about our offer. 10. They say he is still a student. 11. They say he is very experienced.

 

M o d e l II: They say he put his idea into practice.

Can he have put this idea into practice?

He can't have put his idea into practice. It's quite im­practicable.

1. I hear they treated her unkindly. 2. Everybody thinks her remark was intended for you. 3. He is said to have given up music. 4. Believe it or not, she hesitated before accepting his proposal of marriage. 5. I hear people say he has made a good doctor. 6. He was appointed secretary of the committee, they say. 7. He is said to have been promoted again. 8. She seems to have missed the joke. 9. I hear he sharply criticized your suggestion. 10. They put him off with some excuse and they gave the job to a different man. 11. He has guessed about our intentions, I think.

 

Ex. 32. Translate the following sentences according to the model.

M o d e l I: He может быть, чтобы он не пришел в условленное время.

Не can't have failed to come at the appointed time.

1. He может быть, чтобы она не заметила, что он был расстроен. 2. Не может быть, чтобы он не проверил аппарат перед включением. 3. Не может быть, чтобы она не поняла, какую цель мы преследовали. 4. Не может быть, чтобы он не предусмотрел эту трудность. 5. Не может быть, чтобы они не убедили его. 6. Не может быть, чтобы она не изменила своего мнения после нашего разговора.

 

M o d e l II: Неужели телеграмма не дошла до них?

Can the telegram have failed to reach them?

1. Неужели он не смог доказать свою точку зрения? 2. Неужели она не поняла его шутку? 3. Неужели он не проверил багаж прежде чем отправить его на станцию? 4. Неужели она так и не увидела раз­ницы между оригиналом и копией?

 

Ex. 33. Paraphrase the following sentences using "can (could)"; mind the form of the infinitive.

1. It is impossible that he should put pleasure before duty. 2. Is it possible that he should have broken the appointment? 3. I don't believe that he failed to reach his purpose. 4. It's hardly likely that he should have been denied what he had a right to. 5. It is unbelievable that she should have said nothing to account for her absence. 6. Is it possible that he should have guessed what they were after? 7. It's very doubtful that they should have come to the same conclusion. 8. Is it possible that he should be of the same opinion? 9. Are they still arguing?

 

Ex. 33. Translate into English using "can (could)".

1. Неужели ты засветил пленку? 2. Не может быть, чтобы он так разговаривал с вами. Он умеет держать себя в руках. 3. Вряд ли он примирился с такой ситуацией. 4. Неужели он не признал свою ошиб­ку? 5. Разве 'мог кто-нибудь подумать, что ему удастся опять выйти сухим из воды?! 6. Неужели он не догадался о ваших намерениях? 7. Не может быть, чтобы он не смог доказать своей правоты. 8. Не может быть, чтобы она не заметила, что он остался при своем мне­нии. 9. Разве мог кто-нибудь подумать, что он вернется в спорт после автомобильной катастрофы. 10. Не может быть, чтобы ошибка оста­лась незамеченной.

 

Ex. 35. Test translation.

1. Цель переговоров была достигнута. Обе стороны подписали соглашение о дальнейшем развитии внешней торговли. 2. В результате наблюдений, проведенных над планетами, польский астроном Копер­ник (Copernicus 1473—1543) пришел к выводу, что земля и другие пла­неты движутся вокруг солнца. 3. После проверки результатов опыта ученые-медики убедились, что новый метод лечения сердечных заболе­ваний эффективен. 4. Если бы он был более наблюдателен во время проведения опыта, он бы не пропустил такую важную деталь. 5. Он уже хотел сказать ей о своей неудаче, но во-время сдержал себя, увидев, что она и без того чем-то расстроена. 6. Он подумал, что ему лучше не высказывать своего отношения к данному вопросу, по­скольку он еще недостаточно хорошо изучил его. 7. Не беспокойтесь о билетах, я обо всем позабочусь сам. 8. Вам бы лучше не беспоко­ить его своими вопросами. Он очень занят. 9. Их требования совер­шенно справедливы. В этом нет никакого сомнения. 10. По моему мне­нию вы не совсем справедливы в своем отношении к нему. Необходимо учесть, что он работает у нас недавно и поэтому у него еще нет дос­таточного опыта. 11. Не может быть, чтобы она не признала того, что ошибка произошла по ее вине. 12. Он успешно сдал вступитель­ные экзамены, и его приняли в институт. 13. Справедливости ради, нам следует признать, что без его помощи нам бы не удалось уста­новить истину. 14. Он обещал прийти сегодня пораньше, но его все нет. Должно быть, важные дела задержали его на работе. 15. Задержка в поставке товара произошла из-за неблагоприятной погоды. 16. Вес­ной у студентов нет ни минуты свободного времени. Они заняты под­готовкой к экзаменам. 17. Пойдем с нами в кино, у нас есть лишний билет. 18. У него большой опыт работы, и его вполне можно назначить на должность директора фирмы. 19. Судя по его ответу он, должно быть, догадался о наших намерениях. 20. После тщательного изуче­ния нового метода мы пришли к выводу, что его стоит применить (внедрить) в нашей работе. 21. Не может быть, чтобы он не учел наши замечания. Он всегда прислушивается к мнению своих товарищей. 22. У него, должно быть, не было веских аргументов, поэтому он не осмелился выступить против нашего предложения. 23. Я не в настроении сегодня говорить о делах. Я бы предпочел послушать музыку. 24. Не может быть, чтобы он ушел без разрешения. Это на него не похоже. 25. Поезд должен быть в пять часов, так что есть еще время, чтобы проверить, все ли готово к отъезду. 26. Странный она человек, постоянно чем-то недовольна. 27. Будьте осторожны в обращении с огнем. Не подвергайте себя опасности. 28. Не может быть, чтобы он отказался от своих слов.

 

PRECIS WRITING*

Ex. 36- Learn to write a precis. Use the following as a model.

M o d e l: a) Read the passage and give it a title.

From Switzerland comes news of a robot telephone which can an­nounce its number, the name of its absent owner and its willingness to record automatically any information given to it. When the called per­son returns, he has to push a button and the phone recites what has been said to it during his absence.

(55 words)

b) Give brief answers to the following questions in your own words as far as possible.

1. What can an automatic Swiss telephone do? An automatic Swiss telephone gives its absent owner's name and number. 2. What is it meant for? It is meant to record messages. 3. How does the owner learn the mes­sage? The telephone repeats the message when the owner returns.

 

c) Write a precis summing up the answers (in 20 words).

An automatic Swiss telephone gives its absent owner's name and number, and records messages to repeat them when he returns.

(20 words)

 

Ex. 37. a) Read the passage; b) Do the assignments following the pas­sage.

a) The hidden face of the moon has so long been a mystery that the first successful attempt to show it will probably go down in history as one of the most important steps man has made to enlarge his knowledge of outer space. What the voyage of Columbus was to the world in the fifteenth century, the journey of the rocket, Lunik 3, might well be to the twentieth.

Lunik 3 was shaped like a cone and weighed about 614 pounds. It travelled from the earth to the south side of the moon and continued its journey for some 400 miles beyond the other side before the moon's attraction made it change its path, making it turn round. When this occurred, the rocket was in a direct line between the sun and the moon and a great number of things happened. At a signal from the earth, the rocket stopped turning and a cover opened at its nose. Two cameras ap­peared, one of which magnified* the moon two and a half times more than the other. The film that was used to take the pictures had special markings on it so that the photographing of the moon's far side could be controlled from the earth. When the pictures had been taken, they were developed automatically by a special device** designed to work under conditions of weightlessness.*** Now it was time for the rocket to move again, and another signal from the earth set it turning once more, for there was danger that if it remained still, its underside would freeze and its topside become too hot and so do irreparable harm to the delicate instruments within. The rocket then continued its journey round the moon, and on its way back to earth began to send the photographs that had been taken, with the help of a special television-camera which translated the lines on the pictures into radio signals. In this way, the hidden face of the moon became known to everybody. Those few who had expected to hear of strange animals or lost civilizations may have been disappointed. But for most people, the photographs solved an age-old mystery and gave the first really exciting glimpse of outer space.

b ) 1. Give the passage a title.

2. Give brief answers to these questions in your own words as far as possible. Use one complete sentence for each answer, a. With what voyage is the journey of the rocket, "Lunik 3", compared? b. Why did the rocket turn round and face the moon when it reached the other side? c. What caused the rocket to stop turning? d. How were the photographs taken by the cameras in the rocket sent back to the earth?

3. Describe in not more than 80 words everything that happened to the rocket from the moment it left the earth to when it sent back photographs. Use your own words and do not include any­thing that is not in the passage.

SPEECH EXERCISES

Ex. 38. Retell in narrative form.

STOLEN FAME

When Paul і rushed to Jane among the crowd leaving the train and dragged her into a small restaurant near the station, Jane at once saw that Pauli was very nervous.

When they were seated in a quiet corner Pauli said to the waiter:

"Two coffees, please." Jane said: "I've got your telegram. Now, please, what is the matter?"

Pauli watched the waiter go back to the counter, then took a news­paper out of her handbag. She passed it to Jane with her finger marking one of the pages. It was the news of Framm's discovery.

"I've read it on the train," Jane said. "What does Brad have to say about it?"

"That's just the point," Pauli tried hard to be calm. "He refuses to do anything. But it is... it is his own discovery... Brad's... and Hugo Framm has stolen it. It's Brad's work, not Framm's at all."

"That's pretty serious," Jane said at last. "How are you going to prove it?"

"I have hundreds of proofs. Pages and pages of Brad's notes. I have been copying them for him every night when he came home from the la­boratory — every night for months. And I know his work well enough to realise that all the conclusions are the same."

Jane's silence made her exclaim: "You do not think I speak the truth? You think it is impossible!" But Jane was convinced that Pauli was speaking the truth.

"Of course not. I just can't get over it — the idea of Brad doing all the work and Framm getting all the fame."

"Oh, no... I'm not going to let that happen. Something must be done. Do you think I would stand by and see my husband ruined?"

(after "Nothing So Strange" by J. Hilton)

 

Ex. 39. Answer the following questions, using the active vocabulary of the text. Sum up your answers.

Atom For Peace

1. Why did Roentgen's discovery of X-rays open a new era in medi­cine? 2. How do X-rays help to diagnose a case? 3. What diseases are treated by X-rays? 4. Is there any cure for leukemia*? 5. Why should you have your lungs X-rayed from time to time? 6. What does an X-ray room look like? 7. Why do doctors, nurses and technicians working there wear special clothes? 8. What is the purpose of the screen? 9. What other safety measures are taken in an X-ray room?