Byrne Draws His Own Conclusions

a narrow escape; to suffer shock, to be overconfident, selfish, ambi tious; to have no principles; to aim at a successful political career; to be prepared to pay any price; to betray the interests of the constituents; to ignore the needs of the constituency; to promote one's selfish aim; one's true ambition; one's step-by-step progress in Parliament; not to change; not to be influenced by smth; to take the warning; to be more careful in the future.

 

SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES

Ex. 19. Fill in the blanks with "avoid" or "escape" according to tin sense. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. The best way to... influenza during a flu epidemic is to... crowd* 2. He wondered how that particular detail could have... his attention.

1.

3. She usually walked home from the office to... the rush hour crowds in the underground. 4. She's a very observant person, nothing ever seems to... her notice. 5. As usual the boy had got away with his tricks and... punishment. 6. The title of the book... my memory. 7. Only when the car had passed did he realise how close he had been to danger and how lucky he was in... it. 8. Several times the Gadfly had narrowly... being caught by the police. 9. He didn't ask any personal questions... embar­rassing his visitor. 10. For some time now he had been... our company. 11. There could be no mistake about the hissing sound, it was gas... from the container. 12. They say that the only way to get the best of an argument is to... it.

Ex. 20. Translate the following sentences using the verbs "to choose" or "to elect" according to the sense.

1. Собрание единодушно выбрало тов. Иванова председателем студенческого научного общества. 2. Из всех предложенных тем он выбрал именно эту, т. к. проблема развития жизни на земле его всегда очень интересовала. 3. Не так-то легко выбрать в подарок подходя­щую книгу. Здесь надо учесть и вкус, и интерес, и, даже, возраст. 4. Кого выбрали делегатом на профсоюзную конференцию от вашей группы? 5. Если бы ей предложили начать сначала, она бы выбрала ту же самую профессию — профессию учителя. 6. Нашего профес­сора выбрали депутатом в местный совет.

 

GRAMMAR EXERCISES

Verbals (Revision)

Ex. 21. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of a verbal (gerund, par­ticiple or infinitive).

A. 1. (a) I heard the door behind me... (b) The gates were... only twice a day. (c) I waited for the door... (to open). 2. (a) She didn't an­swer him, suddenly...of her brother's warnings, (b) I don't like... him of his duties, (to remind) 3. (a) The town has changed to a... degree. (b) The first moment he was so much... that he couldn't speak, (to sur­prise). 4. (a) Nobody noticed the... look on her face. (b) I don't want you... her by any word or action, (c) Her... remarks were not left un­noticed. (to hurt). 5. (a) Nobody would listen to the stories... by him so many times, (b) Michael was amusing Kate by... her little stories about some of the guests, (to tell). 6. (a) I don't mind... I am hungry. (b) All the students... to the sports society were expected to take part in the competition, (c)... his mistake he felt much easier, (to admit). 7. (a) She spoke in an... voice, (b) She definitely looked... (to annoy).

B. 1. I felt the weight... from my shoulders, (to lift). 2. It was not the sort of thing... over the telephone, (to say). 3. He watched passen­gers... and... the train, (to enter, to leave). 4. They watched the ship... (to load). 5. He didn't give her time to answer questions... to her. (to put). 6. I won't waste time in... to the point, (to come). 7. He looked around the room with a... eye. (to practise). 8. After... a few words with the stranger she understood that he was a foreigner, (to exchange). 9. He heard the sound of the dinner table... (to set). 10. I was not sorry... the interview with the visitor, (to spare). 11. She didn't like... direct ques­tions and on such occasions she usually lied. (to ask). 12. He moved stead­ily... neither left nor night, (to look). 13. His arms were beginning to feel the strain of... two heavy bags. (to carry). 14. He took the deci­sion without,.. me. (to consult). 15. He showed no surprise as though he were used to... like that. (to treat). 16. "Can you remember... terribly happy?" (to be). 17. You have been really kind. It makes me... ashamed for what I said to you earlier this evening, (to feel). 18. He denied... in the matter, (to concern). 19. They were very angry at... to leave. (to tell). 20. He was keen on... the prize, (to win). 21. He is coming. There is no... trouble, (to avoid). 22. He avoids... money, (to borrow). 23. Would you mind... me a favour? (to do).

 

Ex. 22. Paraphrase the following sentences so as to make them simple.

1. I suggest that we should exchange opinions on the matter. 2. Eve­rybody expected that the meeting would be cancelled on account of the chairman's illness. 3. He looked at her for some minutes and didn't speak. 4. If we put our heads together, we might solve the problem. 5. I wouldn't say such a thing if I weren't sure. 6. He looked as if he were a professor. 7. I remember that he confirmed the arrangement. 8. Before she said anything she hesitated for just a minute as though she were choos­ing her words. 9. She took his arm and insisted that he should dance with her. 10. She could feel how her heart was beating fast. 11. There was a period of silence which was broken only by coughs.

 

Ex. 23. Complete the following.

1. Closing his eyes, he... 2. While listening to the report, the people in the hall... 3. Having walked about two hours we... 4. When asked, the boy... 5. Having been in the country for only a course of weeks, we... 6. If properly used, the machine... 7. Taking the floor, the chairman...

 

Ex. 24. Translate the following sentences into English. Make use of the suggestions in brackets.

1. Он изложил свою точку зрения настолько ясно и логично, что мы не могли не поддержать его (couldn't help). 2. Нам очень хотелось бы встретиться с этим художником (to be keen on). 3. Его сильная рука схватила меня и не дала мне упасть (to save from). 4. Избегая встречи со мной, он тем самым показал, что чувствует себя виноватым (to avoid). 5. Мы с нетерпением ждали встречи с этим замечательные ученым (to look forward to). 6. Он очень хорошо улаживает такие дела (to be good at). 7. Никто не возражал против включения этого вопроса в повестку дня (to be against). 8. Собрание не могло обвинить пред­седателя в том, что он нарушил процедуру голосования (to accuse of). 9. Они уговорили его дать два концерта в нашем городе (to talk into). 10. Его можно простить за то, что он не узнал вас (to excuse for). 11. Он не сознавал, что был болен (to be unaware).

 

Ex. 25. Test translation.

1. Школьный выпускной бал всегда является торжественным со­бытием. 2. На собрании нам предстояло выбрать новый состав коми­тета. Никаких возражений не было, и все проголосовали за это пред­ложение. 3. На все вопросы докладчик отвечал очень уверенно. Было очевидно, что он хорошо осведомлен по данному предмету. 4. Она сознавала всю серьезность создавшегося положения. Надо было при­нимать срочные меры. 5. Если бы не поддержка товарищей, ему бы не добиться таких хороших результатов. Своим успехом он во многом обязан им. 6. Она хорошо знала, что в трудную минуту всегда может рассчитывать на поддержку друзей. 7. Мне кажется, что нельзя пол­ностью доверяться человеку, который избегает трудностей и боится ответственности. 8. Напрасно вы сомневаетесь в ее искренности. Она всегда говорит то, что думает. 9. С ним можно быть вполне откровен­ным. Он уже не раз доказал, что ему можно доверять. 10. Ей доверили очень ответственное задание, и можно быть уверенным, что сна с че­стью с ним справится. 11. Очень жаль, что такая важная деталь ус­кользнула от вашего внимания. 12. Как случилось, что команда, за которую вы болеете (которую вы поддерживаете), потерпела пораже­ние? Может быть, члены команды были слишком уверены в успехе? 13. Выступления товарищей были явно не в его пользу. Они под­вергли его поведение резкой критике. 14. Она старалась говорить спокойно, чтобы ке выдавать своего волнения. 15. Он не раз подводил нас своими пустыми обещаниями. Теперь его слова уже никого не могли ввести в заблуждение. 16. Ей было обидно, что она ошиблась в своих надеждах.

 

PRECIS WRITING

Ex. 26. a) Read the passage, b) write 3-5 questions covering the basic points of the passage, c) give a title to the passage and write a precis.

The British State is a capitalist state. Not only is economic power firmly in the hands of the capitalist trusts, the entire constitutional and state apparatus remains firmly in their hands no matter which gov­ernment rules. The British constituticnal system is one which has de­veloped over the years as an expression of the rule of capitalism and for the protection of the capitalist social order.

Traditionally the Tory Party is the business men's party. In fact, however, the Labour Government also administered the country in the interest of big business. It functioned as the second party of capitalism in the so-called traditional British two-party system.

Despite the democratic rights won by the struggles of the people the real power in Britain is concentrated in the hands of the great trusts and banks and the tiny section of rich property owners. They control the land, industry, finance and trade. The State is their state, the judges, the higher civil servants, the diplomats, the generals and the police chiefs are drawn from their social circles. They own the newspapers, dominate the broadcasting system. Democracy under present conditions is re­stricted for the majority of the people by the power and the privilege of the wealthy few.

The trusts and the state apparatus become one at all imporlant and commanding points. The directors of the trusts, landowners and bankers, staff the Cabinet, Parliament* and Lords,** and sit in the key positions of the State. Men of their social class staff the state apparatus, the armed forces, the police and the judiciary. And when the top-ranking men in these positions reach retiring age they formally join the trusts as direc­tors of highly-paid servants. Their political instrument for controlling the state is the Tory Party.

 

(after "The British Political System" by J. Gollan)

SPEECH EXERCISES

Ex. 27. Answer the following questions using the active vocabulary. Sum up your answers.

A Meeting

1. How often are meetings held in your group? What does it depend on? 2. What kind of arrangements are made? 3. How do you let people know of the day and time of the meeting? What is done in case a meeting is postponed or cancelled? 4. What can the reason for a postponement be? 5. What are the duties of a chairman? 6. Who usually takes the min­utes* at your meetings? Why is it necessary that minutes should be taken? 7. How many points (items) are there on the agenda as a rule? 8. What do you do if you want to take the floor? 9. How long are you allowed to speak in debate? 10. In what case is a vote taken? 11. What happens if there is an equal number of votes for and against a motion?

 

The General Election

1. What is the voting age set by the Constitution? 2. What are the purposes of the election campaign? 3. How often are elections to the Su­preme Soviet held in our country? 4. What is a constituency? 5. How are candidates chosen to the local Soviet (the Supreme Soviet)?