Home Reading 1 Year 1 Term

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Unit 1
THE FILIPINO AND THE DRUNKARD1
W. Saroyan
This loud-mouthed guy in the brown coat was not really mean2, he was drunk. He took a
sudden dislike to the small well-dressed Filipino and began to order him around the waiting-
room, telling him to get back, not to crowd among the white people. They were waiting to
get on the boat and cross the bay to Oakland. He was making a commotion in the waiting-
room, and while everyone seemed to be in sympathy with the Filipino, no one seemed to
want to come to his rescue, and the poor boy became very frightened.
He stood among the people, and this drunkard kept pushing up against him and saying: "I
told you to get back. Now get back. I fought twenty-four months in France. I'm a real
American. I don't want you standing up here among white people.
The boy kept squeezing politely out of the drunkard’s way hurrying through the crowd, not
saying anything and trying his best to be as decent as possible. But the drunkard didn't leave
him alone. He didn't like the fact that the Filipino was wearing good clothes.
When the big door opened to let everybody to the boat, the young Filipino moved quickly
among the people, running from the drunkard. He sat down in a corner, but soon got up and
began to look for a more hidden place. At the other end of the boat was the drunkard. He
could hear the man swearing. The boy looked for a place to hide, and rushed into the
lavatory. He went into one of the open compartments and bolted the door. The drunkard
entered the lavatory and began asking others in the room if they had seen the boy. Finally he
found the compartment where the boy, was standing, and he began swearing and demanding
that the boy come out.
"Go away," the boy said.

The drunkard began pounding on the door. "You got to come-out some time," he said. "I'll
wait here till you do."
"Go away," said the boy. "I've done you nothing."
Behind the door the, boy's bitterness grew to rage.
He began to tremble, not fearing the man but fearing the rage growing in himself. He brought
the knife from his pocket.
"Go away," he said again. "I have a knife. I don't want any trouble."
The drunkard said he was a real American, wounded twice. He wouldn't go away. He was
afraid of no dirty little yellow-faced Filipino with a knife.
"I will kill you," said the boy. "I don't want any trouble. Go away. Please, don't make any
trouble," he said earnestly.
He threw the door open and tried to rush beyond the man, the knife in his fist, but the
drunkard caught him by the sleeve and drew him back. The sleeve of the boy’s coat ripped,
and the boy turned andthrust the knife into the side of the drunkard, feeling it scrape against
the ribbone3. The drunkard shouted and screamed at once, then caught the boy by the throat,
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and the boy began to thrust the knife into the side of the man many times. When the
drunkard could hold him no more and fell to the floor, the boy rushed from the room, the
knife still in his hand.
Everyone knew what he had done, yet no one moved. The boy ran to the front of the boat,
seeking some place to go, but there was no place to go, and before the officers of the boat
arrived he stopped suddenly and began to shout at the people.
“I didn’t want to hurt him, why didn’t you stop him? Is it right to chase a man like a rat? You
knew he was drunk. I didn't want to hurt him, but he wouldn’t let me go. He tore my coat and
tried to choke me. I told him I would kill him if wouldn’t go away. It is not my fault. I must
go to Oakland to see my brother. He is sick. Do you think I'm looking for trouble when my
brother is sick? Why didn't you stop him?"
NOTES:
1
drunkard — пьяный
2
mean — грубый, зловредный
3
ribbone — ребро
COMPREHENSION CHECK
I. Find in the text English equivalents for the following words and expressions:
1. невзлюбил, 9. тебе все равно придется выйти,

2. сесть на корабль, 10.горечь сменилась яростью,
3. казалось, все ему 11.дважды ранен,
симпатизировали, 12.зажав нож в руке,
4. продолжал толкать его, 13.поймал за рукав,
5. старался не попадаться ему на 14.никто не двинулся с места,
пути, 15.деваться было некуда,
6. не оставлял его в покое, 16.пытался задушить меня,
7. был хорошо одет, 17.это не моя вина.
8. искать более укромное место,
II. Give Ukrainian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text:
1. come to one's rescue, 6. hold smb/smth,

2. try one's best to do smth, 7. shout at smb.,
3. demand that smb. do smth, 8. chase smb.,
4. fear smth, 9. let smb. go,
5. make some trouble, 10.hurt smb.
III. Questions on the text:
1) How did it happen that the boy and the American found themselves in the same room?
2) In what condition was the man?
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3) What did he begin to do?

4) Did anybody try to save the Filipino when the man began to tease him?
5) How did the man explain his behaviour?
6) What did the poor boy do?
7) Why did the boy rush into the lavatory?
8) What made the Filipino bring the knife out of his pocket?
9) He warned the man of the possible trouble, didn't he?
10) What happened when the boy opened the door?
11) What did the Filipino accuse the people of?
IV. Discuss the following:
1) Give a character sketch of the drunkard. Find in the text the words and phrases he used to
hurt the boy and to praise himself.
2) Do you think the man would have behaved so if he hadn't felt the silent support of the
people? Do you agree that silence is sometimes more dangerous than words?
3) Comment on the words "the boy's bitterness grew to rage." Why did the boy feel
bitterness? Why did he fear the rage growing in him?
4) How would you qualify the boy's behavior if you were a fair judge? Was the man's death
the Filipino's fault?
5) What is the main problem raised in the text? Is it acute nowadays? Does it exist in this
country? Give examples.
6) Where do the roots of the problem of race discrimination lie? What do you think must be
done to eliminate this phenomenon? Why is it dangerous?
V Retell the story on the part of
1) the boy,
2) one of the passengers,
3) a police-officer.
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UNIT 2
THE BRAMBLE BUSH
Ch. Mergendahl
As Fran Walker, one of the nurses of the Mills Memorial Hospital, was sitting between
rounds behind her duty desk, she often recollected her childhood, which would return1 to her
as it had existed in reality — bewildering, lonely, and frustrating.
Her father, Mr. Walker, had owned a small lumber business in Sagamore, one of Indiana's
numerous smaller towns, where Fran had lived in a large frame house on six acres of unused
pasture land. The first Mrs. Walker had died, when Fran was still a baby, so she did not
remember her real mother at all. She remembered her stepmother, though — small, tight-
lipped, thin-faced, extremely possessive of her new husband and the new house which had
suddenly become her own. Fran had adored her father, tried desperately to please him. And
since he desired nothing more than a good relationship between his daughter and his second
wife, she had made endless attempts to win over her new mother. But her displays of
affection had not been returned. Her stepmother had remained constantly jealous, resentful,
without the slightest understanding of the small girl's motives and emotions.
Fran felt herself losing out, slipping away into an inferior position. She began to
exaggerate — often lie — about friends, feelings, grades at school, anything possible to keep
herself high in her father's esteem, and at the same time gain some small bit of admiration
from her mother. The exaggerations, though, had constantly turned back on her, until
eventually a disgusted Mrs. Walker had insisted she be sent away to a nearby summer camp.
“They award a badge of honour there,” she had said, “and if you win it – not a single untruth
all summer – then we’ll know you’ve stopped lying and we’ll do something very special for
you.”
“We’ll give you a pony,” her father had promised.
Fran wanted the pony. More than that pony, she wanted to prove herself. After two months
of nearly painful honesty, she finally won the badge of honour, and brought it home clutched
tight in her fist, hidden in her pocket while she waited, waited, all the way from the station,
all during the tea in the living-room for the exact proper moment to make her announcement
of glorious victory.
“Well?” her mother had said finally. “Well, Fran?”
“Well –“, Fran began, with the excitement building higher and higher as she drew in her
breath and thought of exactly how to say it.
“You can’t hide it any longer, Fran.” Her mother had sighed in hopeless resignation. “We
know you didn’t win it, so there’s simply no point in lying5 about it now.”
Fran had closed her mouth. She’d stared at her mother, then stood and gone out to the yard
and looked across the green meadow where the pony was going to graze. She had taken the
green badge from her pocket, fingered it tenderly, then buried it beneath a rock in the garden.
She had gone back into the house and said, “No, I didn’t win it,” and her mother had said
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“Well, at least you didn’t lie this time,” and her father had held her while she had cried and
known finally that there was no further use in trying.
Her father had bought her an Irish setter as a consolation prize.
COMPREHENSION CHECK
I. Give Ukrainian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text
and use them in the sentences of your own:
1) bewildering, 9) eventually,
2) frustrating, 10) to stop lying,
3) to adore smb, 11) to do smth special for smb.,
4) a good relationship, 12) to prove oneself,
5) to make endless attempts, 13) to draw in one’s breath,
6) to display of affection, 14) to stare at smb.,
7) to exaggerate, 15) a consolation prize
8) to keep oneself high in smb’s esteem,
II. Find in the text English equivalents for the following words and expressions:
1) вспоминать детство, 10) чувствовала, что проигрывает,

2) один из множества городков в штате 11) завоевать хоть небольшое проявление
Индиана, любви,
3) рубленный дом, 12) выходило ей боком,
4) с поджатыми губами, 13) значок честности,
5)имеющая необычайную власть над 14) зажатый в кулаке,
своим мужем, 15) ждать подходящего момента,
6) отчаянно стараться угодить кому-либо, 16)объявить о свой блистательной победе,
7) взять верх над кем-либо, 17) нет смысла лгать,
8) не имея ни малейшего понятия, 18) дальнейшие попытки бесполезны
9) оставаться злой и ревнивой,
III. Answer the questions:
1. Where did Fran Walker spend her childhood?

2. What can you say about her parents?
3. Describe Fran’s stepmother.
4. Why did Fran do her best to win her stepmother’s affection though she didn’t like the
woman?
5. What was the new mother’s attitude towards her stepdaughter?
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6. What was the reason of Fran’s exaggerations? What do you think she said about her
friends, school, etc?
7. What way out did Fran’s stepmother find to make the girl stop lying?
8. Which phrase in the text proves that it wasn’t easy for the girl to win the badge?
9. Fran was eager to announce her victory, wasn’t she? Prove it by the text
10. It was only once that Fran’s stepmother believed her. When? Was it of any use?
1. Give a character sketch of the girl’s stepmother.

2. Analyse relationship between the girl and her stepmother. What prevented them from
becoming friends? Do you think stepmother may have become mother for the girl?
3. Whose side did Fran’s father take? Give your grounds.
4. Why was it so difficult for the girl to announce her victory? Which words of her
stepmother killed all her three-month hopes and expectations?
5. What did the girl bury beneath a rock in the garden? Was it only the badge?
6. Why was Fran’s childhood “bewildering, lonely and frustrating”?
V. Retell the story on the part of
1) Fran Walker,
2) her stepmother,
3) one of the teachers at the summer camp.

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UNIT 3
SUCCESS STORY
By J. G. Cozzens
I met Richards ten or more years ago when I first went down to Cuba. He was a
short, sharp-faced, agreeable chap, then about 22. He introduced himself to me
on the boat and I was surprised to find that Panamerica Steel was sending us both
to the same place.
Richards was from some not very good state university engineering school.
Being the same age myself, and just out of technical college I saw at once that
his knowledge was rather poor. In fact I couldn't imagine how he had managed to
get this job.
Richards was naturally likable, and I liked him a lot. The firm had a contract for
the construction of a private railroad. For Richards and me it was mostly an easy
job of inspections and routine paper work. At least it was easy for me. It was
harder for Richards, because he didn't appear to have mastered the use of a slide
rule. When he asked me to check his figures I found his calculations awful.
"Boy," I was at last obliged to say, "you are undoubtedly the silliest white man in
this province. Look, stupid, didn't you ever take arithmetic? How much are seven
times thirteen?" "Work that out," Richards said, "and let me have a report
tomorrow."
So when I had time I checked his figures for him, and the inspector only caught
him in a bad mistake about twice.
In January several directors of the United Sugar Company came down to us on

business, but mostly pleasure; a good excuse to get south on a vacation. Richards
and I were to accompany them around the place. One of the directors, Mr.
Prosset was asking a number of questions. I knew the job well enough to answer
every sensible question – the sort of question that a trained engineer would be
likely to ask. As Mr. Prosset was not an engineer and some of his questions put
me at a loss. For the third time I was obliged to say, "I'm afraid I don't know,
sir.We haven't any calculations on that".
When suddenly Richards spoke up.

"I think, about nine million cubic feet, sir", he said. "I just happened to be
working this out last night. Just for my own interest".
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"Oh," said Mr. Prosset, turning in his seat and giving him a sharp look. "That's
very interesting, Mr. -er- Richards, isn't it? Well, now, maybe you could tell me
about ….".
Richards could. Richards knew everything. All the way up Mr. Prosset fired
questions on him and he fired answers right back. When we reached the head of
the rail, a motor was waiting for Mr. Prosset. He nodded absent-mindedly to me,
shook hands with Richards. "Very interesting, indeed," he said. "Good-bye, Mr.
Richards, and thank you."
"Not, at all, sir," Richards said. "Glad if I could be of service to you."
As soon as the car moved off, I exploded. "A little honest bluff doesn't hurt; but
some of your figures...!"
"I like to please," said Richards grinning. "If a man like Prosset wants to know
something, who am I to hold out on him?"
"What's he going to think when he looks up the figures or asks somebody who
does know?"
"Listen, my son," said Richards kindly. "He wasn't asking for any information he
was going to use. He doesn't want to know these figures. He won't remember
them. I don't even remember them myself. What he is going to remember is you
and me." "Yes," said Richards firmly. "He is going to remember that Panamerica
Steel has a bright young man named Richards who could tell him everything, he
wanted, – just the sort of chap he can use; not like that other fellow who took no
interest in his work, couldn't answer the simplest question and who is going to be
doing small-time contracting all his life."
It is true. I am still working for the Company, still doing a little work for the
construction line. And Richards? I happened to read in a newspaper a few weeks
ago that Richards had been made a vice-president and director of Panamerica
Steel when the Prosset group bought the old firm.
COMPREHENSION CHECK
1) ten or more years ago, 9) just the sort of chap he can use,
2) a sharp-faced chap, 10) introduce smb to smb,
3) being the same age, 11) master smth,
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4) just out of technical college, 12) come on business,

5) found his calculations awful, 13) accompany smb.,
6) take arithmetic, 14) be likely to do smth,
7) every sensible question, 15) shake hands with smb.,
8) be of service, 16) take a lot (some, no) interest in smth.
II. Give English equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text:
1) представиться к-л., 8) ряд /несколько вопросов,

2) плохие знания, 9) поставить к-л. в тупик / сбить с толку,
3) вообще-то / на самом деле, 10) посмотреть на к-л. внимательно /
4) рутинная бумажная работа, проницательно,
5) проверить данные / расчеты, 11) к-л вопросами,
6) поймать к-л. на ошибке, 12) рассеянно кивнуть к-л.,
7) уважительная причина, 13) ухмыльнуться, усмехнуться
1) Describe Richards (age, appearance, education, manners)

2) Why was the author surprised that Richards had managed to get the same job?
3) What kind of work were the young men to do?
4) How did they cope with it?
5) Why did the author call his colleague stupid? Did it annoy Richards?
6) Why did the young men find themselves in the company of Mr. Prosset?
7) Why was the author unable to answer Mr. Prosset's questions?
8) What did Richard do and how did he explain his behaviour to the author later?
9) What made Mr. Prosset give Richards a sharp look?
10) What opinion had Mr. Prosset formed of the two young men, judging by the way he said
good-bye to them?
11) Why did the author explode?
12) Whose theory proved to be right?
1) Explain why Richards took little trouble to do his job properly.

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What was Richards' ambition? Do you approve of his behaviour? Give your reasons.
2) What to your mind is more important: to have good knowledge in the field you work or the
ability to be equal to the situation?
3) Can we say that Richards was a good "phsycologist"? In what way did it help him?
4) Who had more advantages to win the top job: Richards or his friend? Do you agree that
hard work plus knowledge always leads to success?
5) Give a character sketch of a) Richards, b) the other young man, c) Mr. Prosset
6) Whom do you think are the author's sympathies with? Prove your choice.
1) Richards,
2) his friend,
3) Mr. Prosset.
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UNIT 4
HUNTING FOR A JOB
BY S.S. MCCLURE
I reached Boston late that night and got out at the South Station. I knew no one in Boston
except Miss Bennet. She lived in Somerville, and I immediately started out for Somerville.
Miss Bennet and her family did all they could to make me comfortable and help me to get
myself established' in some way. I had only six dollars and their hospitality was of utmost
importance to me.
My first application for a job in Boston was made in accordance with an idea of my own.
Every boy in the Western states knew the Pope Manufacturing Company, which produced
bicycles. When I published my first work "History of Western College Journalism" the Pope
Company had given me an advertisement, and that seemed to be a "connection" of some
kind. So I decided to go to the offices of the Pope Manufacturing Company to ask for a job. I
walked into the general office and said that I wanted the president of the company.
"Colonel Pope?" asked the clerk.

I answered, "Yes, Colonel Pope."I was taken to Colonel Pope, who was then an alert
energetic man of thirty-nine. I told Colonel Pope, by way of introduction, that he had once
given me an advertisement for a little book I had published, that I had been a College editor
and out of a job. What I wanted was work and I wanted it badly.
He said he was sorry, but they were laying off hands. I still hung on. It seemed to me that everything
would be all up with me', if I had to go out of that room without a job. I asked him if there
wasn't anything at all that I could do. My earnestness made him look at me sharply.
"Willing to wash windows and scrub floors?" he asked.I told him that I was, and he turned to
one of his clerks. "Has Wilmot got anybody yet to help him in the downtown' rink?" he
asked. The clerk said he thought not.
"Very well", said Colonel Pope. "You can go to the rink and help Wilmot out for tomorrow."
The next day I went to the bicycle rink and found that what Wilmot wanted was a man to
teach beginners to ride. I had never been on a bicycle in my life nor even very close to one,
but in a couple of hours I had learnt to ride a bicycle myself and was teaching other people.
Next day Mr. Wilmot paid me a dollar. He didn't say anything about my coming back the
next morning, but I came and went to work, very much afraid that I vrould be told I wasn't
needed. After that Mr. Wilmot did not exactly engage me, but he forgot to discharge me, and
I came back every day and went to work. At the end of the week Colonel Pope sent for me
and placed me in charge of the uptown' rink.
Colonel Pope was a man who watched his workmen. I hadn't been mistaken when I felt that
a young man would have a chance with him. He often used to say that "water would find its
level", and he kept an eye on us. One day he called me into his office and asked me if I could
edit a magazine.
"Yes, sir," I replied quickly. I remember it flashed through my mind that I could do anything
I was put at - that if I were required to run an ocean steamer I could somehow manage to do
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it. I could learn to do it as I went along'. I answered as quickly as I could get the words out of
my mouth, afraid that Colonel Pope would change his mind before I could get them out.
This is how I got my first job. And I have never doubted ever since that one of the reasons
why I got it was that I had been "willing to wash windows and scrub floors". I had been
ready for anything.
COMPREHENSION CHECK
1) got out at, 6) scrub floors,

2) to make me comfortable, 7) in a couple of hours,
3) in some way, 8) kept an eye on us,
4) application for a job, 9) it flashed through my mind,
5) wanted it badly, 10) be ready for anything.
II. Give English equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text and
use them in the sentences of your own:
1) направиться куда-либо, 10) нанимать на работу,

2) помочь устроиться, 11) увольнять,
3) гостеприимство, 12) назначить заведующим,
4) было необычайно важно, 13) издавать журнал,
5) в соответствии с, 14) вымолвить,
6) рекламировать, 15) передумать,
7) энергичный человек, 16) с тех пор не сомневался.
8) без работы,
9)никогда в жизни не ездил на
велосипеде,
III. Paraphrase the sentences using phrases from the text:
1) Miss Bennet and her family received him very warmly.

2) Everybody tried to help him to find some kind of job.
3) Their concern and hospitality were very important to him.
4) He told Colonel Pope that he was unemployed and needed any job very much.
5) The man thought that everything would be lost for him if he didn't find a job.
6) He had never ridden a bicycle in his life.
7) Mr. Wilmot neither employed the journalist nor dismissed him.
8) The boss made him responsible for the uptown rink.
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9) It suddenly occurred to him that his willingness to do any job had helped him to get his
first job.
IV. Questions on the text:
1) Who was the only person the author knew in Boston?

2) In what way was he received? Why was it of great importance to him?
3) What made the young man apply for a job to the Pope Company?
4) Describe Colonel Pope. What was his answer to the young man's story?
5) Why did the man still hang on though he found out that the company was laying off
hands?
6) What question did the Colonel ask him?
7) Describe the young man's job and say whether he coped with it.
8) Why did the man continue to work for Mr. Wilmot though he hadn't engaged him?
9) What happened at the end of the week?
10) What job was the young man offered in the long run?
11) What idea flashed through his mind?
12) What helped the man to get his first job?
V. Discuss the following:
1) Say if you agree or disagree with the statement "water would find its level". How do you
understand it? Give examples in support of your opinion.
2) Give a character sketch of the main hero. Compare him with the heroes of the story
"Success Story."
3) Is the problem of unemployment acute nowadays? Why? Is this problem interconnected

with the problem of wasted lives? Give your grounds.
VI. Retell the text using the following:
to start for, to make smb. comfortable, to get oneself established, to be of utmost importance
to smb., application for a job, to give smb. an advertisement, alert, by way of introduction,
out of a job, to want badly, to lay off hands, to hang on, earnestness, to look sharply at,
willing, to scrub floors, to ride, to engage, to discharge, to place in charge of, to have a
chance with, to keep an eye on, to edit, to flash through one's mind, to run an ocean steamer,
to get the words out of one's mouth, to change one's mind, to doubt.
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UNIT 5
A FOUL PLAY
by R. Ruark
In 1943 Lieutenant Alexander Barr was ordered into the Armed Guard aboard the merchant
ship, like many other civilian officers with no real mechanical skills – teachers, writers,
lawyers.
His men were the rag-tag' of merchant service and knew very little of it. Lieutenant Alec
Barr had his crew well in hand except one particularly unpleasant character, a youngster
called Zabinski. Every ship has its problem child, and Zabinski was Alec's cross. If anybody
was drunk and in trouble ashore, it was Zabinski. If anybody was smoking on watch, or
asleep on watch, it always was Zabinski. Discipline on board was hard to keep and Zabinski
made it worse.
Alec called the boy to his cabin. "I've tried to reason with you'," he said. "I've punished you
with everything from confinement to ship' to extra duty. I've come to the conclusion that the
only thing you may understand is force. I've got some boxing gloves. Navy Regulations say
they should be used for recreation. We are going to have some.
"That's all right", Zabinski said smiling. Alec announced the exhibition of boxing skills. A
lot of people gathered on deck to watch the match.
It didn't take Lieutenant Barr long to discover that he was in the ring with a semi-
professional. They were fighting two-minute rounds. But from the first five seconds of the
first round Alec knew that Zabinski could knock him out with a single punch if he wanted to.
But Zabinski didn't want to, he was toying with his commander, and the snickers' grew into
laughter.
In the third round Alec held up a glove. "Time out!", he said. "I'm going to my cabin, I'll
soon be back". He turned and ran up to his cabin. In the cabin there was a safe. Alec's duty
was to pay wages to his personnel. Alec Barr opened the safe and took out a paper-wrapped
roll of ten-cent coins. He put this roll of silver coins into his glove and returned on deck.
"Let's go!" he said and touched gloves with Zabinski. It had pleased Zabinski before to allow
the officer to knock him from time to time because it gave him a chance for a short and
painful punch. But now the silver-weighted glove crashed into the boy's chin and Zabinski
was out. He was lying on the floor motionless.
Alec Barr looked briefly at the boy. "Somebody, throw some water on him!" he said coldly
to the seamen. And he went up to his room to clean his cuts' and put the roll of coins back to
the safe.
After that Lieutenant Alexander Barr had no more personnel trouble aboard ship.
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COMPREHENSION CHECK
1) with no skills, 6) please smb.,

2) reason with smb., 7) from time to time,
3) punish smb. with smth, 8) crashed into,
4) come to the conclusion, 9) have trouble with smb.
5) take smb. (not) long to do smth,
II. Give English equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text and
use them in the sentences of your own:
1) был назначен, 8) демонстрация боксерских умений,

2) на борту торгового корабля, 9) на ринге,
3) держал команду корабля в подчинении, 10) отправить в нокаут одним ударом,
4) «трудный» ребенок, 11) выплачивать зарплату,
5) спать на вахте, 12) завернутый в бумагу,
6) поддерживать дисциплину, 13) лежать без движений.
7) наряд вне очереди,
1) Why was Alexander Barr being a civilian officer ordered aboard the merchant ship?
2) Explain the phrase "He had his crew well in hand.
3) What proves that Zabinski was a problem child?
4) What sort of measures did Lieutenant Barr use to reason with the youngster?
5) Did Alec Barr really mean to have some recreation when he spoke about boxing?
6) Why was Zabinski smiling when he accepted Lieutenant's suggestion?
7) Did it take Barr long to discover Zabinski's boxing skills?
8) What was the reaction of the seamen who had gathered on deck to watch the match?
9) Why did Barr ask for the time out?
10) What was Zabinski's tactics during the match? Prove that he didn't expect a change in the
course of the match.
11) What did Alexander Barr do after he had knocked the boy out?
16
12) Did the result of the match help Lieutenant to keep discipline on board?
1) Supposing Zabinsky guessed something wrong in Lieutenant's behaviour. How do you

think he would have acted?
2) What kind of methods did Alexander Barr use trying to reason with the boy?
Were they proper methods? Which methods to your mind should he have applied? Could
Barr's methods of keeping discipline be justified?
3) Comment on the title of the story. Is the word "foul" used in its direct or figurative
meaning?
4) Give a character sketch of

1) Zabinski,
2) Lieutenant Barr
1) Alexander Barr,
2) Zabinski,
3) one of the sailors.
17
UNIT 6
THE DINNER PARTY
N. Monsarrat
There are still some rich people in the world. Many of them lead lives of particular pleasure.
But rich people do have their problems. They are seldom problems of finance, since most
rich people have enough sense to hire other people to take care of their worries. But there are
other, more genuine problems. They are the problems of behaviour.
Let me tell you a story which happened to my uncle Octavian a full thirty years ago. At that
time I myself was fifteen. My uncle Octavian was then a rich man. He was a charming and
accomplished host whose villa was an accepted rendezvous of the great. He was a hospitable
and most amiable man—until January 3, 1925.
There was nothing special about that day in the life of my uncle Octavian, except that it was
his fifty-fifth birthday. As usual on such a day he was giving a party, a party for twelve
people. All of them were old friends.
I myself, aged fifteen, was deeply privileged. I was staying with my uncle at his exquisite
villa, on holiday from school, and as a special concession on this happy day, I was allowed
to come down to dinner. It was exciting for me to be admitted to such company, which
included a newspaper proprietor of exceptional intelligence and his fabulous1 American wife,
a recent prime-minister of France and a distinguished German prince and princess.
At that age, you will guess, I was dazzled. Even today, 30 years later, one may fairly admit
that the company was distinguished. But I should also stress that they were all old and
intimate friends of my uncle Octavian.
Towards the end of a wonderful dinner, when dessert had been brought in and the servants
had left, my uncle leant forward to admire a magnificent diamond ring on the princess's
hand. She was a handsome woman. She turned her hand gracefully towards my uncle.
Across the table, the newspaper proprietor leant across and said: "May I also have a look?"
She smiled and nodded. Then she took off the ring and held it out to him. "It was my
grandmother's — the old empress," she said. "I have not worn it for many years. It is said to
have once belonged to Genghis Khan."
There were exclamations of delight and admiration. The ring was passed from hand to hand.
For a moment it rested on my own palm, gleaming splendidly. Then I passed it on to my
neighbour. As I turned away again, I saw her pass it on.
It was some 20 minutes later when the princess stood up and said: "Before we leave you,
may I have my ring back?" ... There was a pause, while each of us looked expectantly at his
neighbour. Then there was silence.
The princess was still smiling, though less easily. She was unused to asking for things twice.
The silence continued, I still thought that it could only be a practical joke, and that one of
18
us—probably the prince himself—would produce the ring with a laugh. But when nothing
happened at all, I knew that the rest of the night would be dreadful.
I am sure that you can guess the sort of scene that followed. There was the embarrassment of
the guests—all of them old and valued friends. There was a nervous search of the whole
room. But it did not bring the princess's ring back again. It had vanished— an irreplaceable
thing, worth possibly two hundred thousand pounds—in a roomful of twelve people, all
known to each other.
No servants had entered the room. No one had left it for a moment. The thief (for now it
could only be theft) was one of us, one of my Uncle Octavian's cherished friends.
I remember it was the French cabinet minister who was most insistent on being searched,
indeed, in his excitement he had already started to turn out his pockets, before my uncle held
up his hand and stopped him. "There will be no search in my house," he commanded. "You
are all my friends. The ring can only be lost. If it is not found"— he bowed towards the prin-
cess— "I will naturally make amends2 myself."
The ring was never found, it never appeared, either then or later.
To our family's surprise, Uncle Octavian was a comparatively poor man, when he died
(which happened, in fact, a few weeks ago). And I should say that he died with the special
sadness of a hospitable host who never gave a single lunch or dinner party for the last thirty
years of his life.
NOTES:
1
fabulous—зд. Известная, роскошная
2
make amends (for) — зд. Возместить ущерб
COMPREHENSION CHECK
I. Find in the text English equivalents for the following words and expressions:
1) вести жизнь, 11) общество было избранным,

2) состоящую из одних удовольствий, 12) великолепное кольцо с бриллиантом,
3) проблемы, связанные с деньгами, 13) передавали из рук в руки,
4) очаровательный хозяин, 14) выжидательно посмотреть,
5) место, где обычно встречались великие 15) смущение гостей,
мира сего, 16) старые, проверенные друзья,
6) радушный и хороший человек, 17) незаменимая вещь,
7) устраивал прием на 12 персон, 18) больше всех настаивал на обыске,
8) мне оказали особую привилегию, 19) выворачивать карманы,
9) человек необычайного ума, 20) ни тогда ни потом.
10) я был ослеплен,
19
II. Give Ukrainian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text
1) hire smb,
2) have enough (much, little, no) sense to do smth,
3) be allowed to do smth, admire smth,
4) have a look at,
5) be (un) used to doing smth,
6) to smb's surprise.
1) How old was the author of the story which happened to his uncle?
2) What kind of man was uncle Octavian?
3) In what way did he want to celebrate his fifty-fifth birthday?
4) Describe the guests.
5) Why did the boy consider himself to be deeply privileged?
6) What was peculiar about all those people present at the party?
7) What did the princess tell the guests about her ring?
8) Why did the boy think it was a joke when the ring had disappeared?
9) What attempts were made to find the ring?
10) Could the servants take the ring?
11) Why didn't uncle Octavian allow the guests to be searched?
12) Why did he tell the princess he would make amends though it was clear he wasn't the
thief?
13) What was the reason of uncle Octavian's not giving parties in the last years of his life?
1) What did the author mean saying that rich people do have their problems?
2) "Problems of behaviour"—what are they? Have you ever run across them? What do you
know about them? Discuss the situations you find most interesting. In what way are these
problems connected with the text?
3) Why does the author stress many times that the guests were close, valuable friends?
4) Do high moral principles and well-being always go together?
5) Why did the author say that his uncle had died with sadness? What kind of sadness was it?
Was it more than sadness, perhaps?
6) Think of another end of the story.
V. Retell the text on the part of
1) uncle Octavian,
2) one of the guests.
20
UNIT 7
THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER
By W. Somerset Maugham
When I was a very small boy I was made to learn by heart certain of the fables-of La
Fontaine, and the moral of each was carefully explained to me. Among those I learnt was
"The Ant and the Grasshopper", which is devised to bring home to the young the useful
lesson that in an imperfect world industry is rewarded and giddiness punished. In this
admirable fable (I apologize for telling something which everyone is politely, but inexactly,
supposed to know) the ant spends a laborious summer gathering its winter store; while the
grasshopper sits on a blade of grass singing to the sun. Winter comes and the ant is
comfortably provided for, but the grasshopper has an empty larder: he goes to the ant and
begs for a little food. Then the ant gives him her classic answer:
"What were you doing in the summer time?"

"Saving your presence, I sang, I sang all day, all night."
"You sang. Why, then go and dance."
I do not describe it to perversity on my part, but rather to the inconsequence of childhood,

which is deficient in moral sense, that I could never quite reconcile myself to the lesson. My
sympathies were with the grasshopper and for some time I never saw an ant without putting
my foot on it. In this summary (and, as I have discovered since, entirely human) fashion I
sought to express my disapproval of prudence and common sense.
I could not help thinking of this fable when the other day I saw George Ramsay lunching
by himself in a restaurant. I never saw anyone wear an expression of such deep gloom. He
was staring into space. He looked as though the burden of the whole world sat on his
shoulders. I was sorry for him: I suspected at once that his unfortunate brother had been
causing trouble again. I went up to him and held out my hand.
"How are you?" I asked.

"I'm not in hilarious spirits," he answered.
"Is it Tom again?"
He sighed.
"Yes, it's Tom again."
"Why don't you chuck him? You've done everything in the world for him. You must
know by now that he's quite hopeless."
I suppose every family has a black sheep. Tom had been a sore trial to his for twenty
years. He had begun life decently enough: he went into business, married and had two
children. The Ramsays were perfectly respectable people and there was every reason to
suppose that Tom Ramsay would have a useful and honourable career. But one day, without
warning, he announced that he didn't like work and that he wasn't suited for marriage. He
wanted to enjoy himself. He would listen to no expostulations. He left his wife and his
21
office. He had a little money and he spent two happy years in the various capitals of Europe.
Rumours of his doings reached his relations from time to time and they were profoundly
shocked. He certainly had a very good time. They shook their heads and asked what would
happen when his money was spent. They soon found out: he borrowed. He was charming
and unscrupulous. I have never met anyone to whom it was more difficult to refuse a loan.
He made a steady income from his friends and he made friends easily. But he always said
that the money you spent on necessities was boring; the money that was amusing to spend
was the money you spent on luxuries. For this he depended on his brother George. He did
not waste his charm on him. George was a serious man and insensible to such enticements.
George was respectable. Once or twice he fell to Tom's promises of amendment and gave
him considerable sums in order that he might make a fresh start. On these Tom bought a
motorcar and some very nice jewellery. But when circumstances forced George to realize
that his brother would never settle down and he washed his hands of him, Tom, without a
qualm, began to blackmail him; It was not very nice for a respectable lawyer to find his
brother shaking cocktails behind the bar of his favourite restaurant or to see him waiting on
the box-seat of a taxi outside his club. Tom said that to serve in a bar or to drive a taxi was a
perfectly decent occupation, but if George could oblige him with a couple of hundred pounds
he didn't mind for the honour of the family 'giving it up. George paid.
Once Tom nearly went to prison. George was terribly upset. He went into the whole
discreditable affair. Really Tom had gone too far. He had been wild, thoughtless and selfish,
but he had never before done anything dishonest, by which George meant illegal; and if he
were prosecuted he would assuredly be convicted. But you cannot allow your only brother to
go to goal. The man Tom had cheated, a man called Cronshaw, was vindictive. He was
determined to take the matter into court; he said Tom was a scoundrel and should be
punished. It cost George an. infinite deal of trouble and five hundred pounds to settle the
affair. I have never seen him in such a rage as when he heard that-Tom and Cronshaw had
gone off together to Monte Carlo the moment they cashed the cheque. They spent a happy
month there.
For twenty years Tom raced and gambled, philandered with the prettiest girls, danced, ate
in the most expensive restaurants, and dressed beautifully. He always looked as if he had just
stepped out of a bandbox. Though he was forty-six you would never have taken him for
more than thirty-five. He was a most amusing companion and though you knew he was
perfectly worthless you could not but enjoy his society. He had high
spirits, аn unfailing gaiety and incredible charm. I never grudged the contributions he
regularly levied on me for the necessities of his existence. I never lent him fifty pounds
without feeling that I was in his debt. Tom Ramsay knew everyone and everyone knew Tom
Ramsay. You could not approve of him, but you could not help liking him.
Poor George, only a year older than his scapegrace brother, looked sixty. He had never
taken more than a fortnight's holiday in the year for a quarter of a century. He was in his
office every morning at nine-thirty and never left it till six. He was honest, industrious and
worthy. He had a good wife, to whom he had never been unfaithful even in thought, and four
daughters to whom he was the best of fathers. He made a point of saving a third of his
22
income and his plan was to retire at fifty-five to a little house in the country where he
proposed to cultivate his garden and play golf. His life was blameless. He was glad that he
was growing old because Tom was growing old too. He rubbed his hands and said:
"It was all very well when Tom was young and good-looking, but he's only a year
younger than I am. In four years he'll be fifty. He won't find life so easy then. I shall have
thirty thousand pounds by the time I'm fifty. For twenty-five years I've said that Tom would
end in the gutter. And we shall see how he likes that. We shall see if it really pays best to
work or be idle."
Poor George! I sympathized with him. I wondered now as I sat down beside him what
infamous thing Tom had done. George was evidently very much upset.
"Do you know what's happened now?" he asked me.
I was prepared for the worst. I wondered if Tom had got into the hands of the police at
last. George could hardly bring himself to speak.
"You're not going to deny that all my life I've been hard-working, decent, respectable and
straightforward. After a life of industry and thrift I can look forward to retiring on a small
income in gilt-edged securities. I've always done my duty in that state of life in which it has
pleased Providence to place me."
"True."
"And you can't deny that Tom has been an idle, worthless, dissolute and dishonourable
rogue. If there were any justice he'd be in the workhouse."
"True."
George grew red in the face.
"A few weeks ago he became engaged to a woman old enough to be his mother. And now
she's died and left him everything she had. Half a million pounds, a yacht, a house in London
and a house in the Country."
George Ramsay beat his clenched fist on the table.
"It's not fair, I tell you; it's not fair. Damn it, it's not fair." I could not help it. I burst into a
shout of laughter as I looked at George's wrathful face, I rolled in my chair; I very nearly fell
on the floor. George never forgave me. But Tom often asked me to excellent dinners in his
charming house in Mayfair, and if he occasionally borrows a trifle from me, that is merely
from force of habit. It is never more than a sovereign.
COMPREHENSION CHECK
I. Copy out from the story English equivalents for the following words and word
combinations:
1) трудолюбие; 12) обладать невероятным обаянием;

2) легкомыслие; 13) исполнительный;
3) благоразумие; 14) трудолюбивый;
4) здравый смысл; 15) верный;
5) респектабельный; 16) безупречный;
6) беспринципный; 17)сочувствовать (симпатизировать)
23
7) легко заводить друзей; кому-л.;

8) беспечный; 18) прямой;
9) эгоистичный; 19) беспутный;
10) негодяй; 20) бесчестный
11) занимательный собеседник;
II. Describe each of the brothers using the above-mentioned words and word
combinations. Say which of the brothers you sympathize with and why.
III. Translate the following expressions into English\Ukrainian:
1. мне тщательно объясняли 17.значительные суммы денег

2. make smb do smth 18.burst into laughter \ tears \
3. не раздавив его 19.начать заново
4. in spite of smth 20.to blackmail
5. на днях 21.всегда был в прекрасном настроении
6. cause trouble 22.You couldn’t help liking him
7. смотрел в никуда 23.лучший из отцов
8. enjoy oneself 24.good-looking
9. занялся бизнесом 25.бездельничать
10. borrow smth from smb 26.was prepared for the worst
11. уважаемые люди 27.это несправедливо
12. turn to smb for smth 28.nearly fell on the floor
13. семейная жизнь не для него 29.приглашает на обеды
14. wash one’ hands of smb \ smth \ 30.from force of habit
15. когда деньги закончатся
16. be upset
IV. Read the following sentences and passages. Write out the italicized words and
translate them into Ukrainian:
1. Among the forms to be filled out in applying for admission to the University of Wisconsin
is a personal-data sheet. In response to the request to "List Your Personal Strengths", one
eighteen-year applicant wrote: "Sometimes I am trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly,
courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent." Where the form said:
"List of .Your Weaknesses", he wrote: "Sometimes I am not trustworthy, loyal, helpful,
friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent."
2. John was a silent, rather sullenman, he was by nature reserved.
3. Bill was a timid man, shy and clumsy in company.

24
4. It would be foolish to deny that he had amiable traits. He was without pretence,
a hearty fellow, really good-natured.
5. "Thank you, George, you're most reliable" said Jane.
6. She was so extraordinary common-place-a thin faded woman of about fifty.
V. Answer the following questions:
1. What kind of person will never arrest anyone's attention? (take a risk, spend more than he
can afford, take anything to heart, lose his temper, do a silly thing, disobey instructions,
waver in the face of danger, fail his friend)
2. What kind of people are often lonely? (are usually surrounded by friends, are easily
forgotten, are quick to see the point, think only of themselves, feel uneasy in company, keep
their thoughts to themselves, easily lose their patience, enjoy other people's confidence)
3. What kind of people are called good mixers, poor mixers, colourful, discreet, just,
business-like, level-headed, sympathetic, revengeful, squeamish, persistent, haughty,
humble, placid, broad-minded, vulgar, vain, ambitious?
4. What do you call a person who can't keep a secret? (can appreciate a piece of art, feels
deeply, pokes his nose into other people's affairs, intrudes his views on others, is always sure
of himself, is mostly in high spirits, gets annoyed easily, keeps on forgetting things, is unlike
others, says what he thinks, has no moral principles)
5. What traits of character would you appreciate in a wife (a husband), a mother (a father), a
son (a daughter), a bosom friend? What traits would you detest most?
6. What traits of character are required to make a good teacher, a good doctor, a good
lawyer, a good journalist? What traits might prevent one from becoming a good specialist in
those fields?
25
UNIT 8
THE LUNCHEON
By W. Somerset Maugham
I caught sight of her at the play and in answer to her beckoning I went over during the
interval and sat down beside her. It was long since I had last seen her and if someone had not
mentioned her name I do not think I would have recognized her. She addressed me brightly.
"Well, it's many years since we first met. How time flies! We are not getting any younger.
Do you remember the first time I saw you? You asked me to luncheon."
Did I remember?
It was twenty years ago and I was living in Paris. I had a tiny apartment in the Latin
Quarter and I was earning barely enough money to keep body and soul together. She had
read a book of mine and had written to me about it. I answered, thanking her, and presently I
received from her another letter saying that she was passing through Paris and would like to
have a chat with me; but her time was limited and the only free moment she had was on the
following Thursday. She asked me if I would give her a little luncheon at Foyot's. Foyot's is
a restaurant at which the French senators eat and it was so far beyond my means that I had
never even thought of going there. But I was flattered and I was too young to say no to a
woman. I had eighty francs to live on till the end of the month and a modest luncheon should
not cost more than fifteen. If I cut out coffee for the next two weeks I could manage well
enough.
I answered that I would meet her at Foyot's on Thursday at half past twelve.
She was not so young as I expected and in appearance imposing rather than attractive.
She was in fact a woman of forty, and she gave me the impression of having more teeth,
white and large and even, than were necessary for any practical purpose. She was talkative,
but since she seemed inclined to talk about me I was prepared to be an attentive listener. I
was startled when the menu was brought, for the prices were a great deal higher than I had
expected. But she reassured me.
“I never eat anything for luncheon," she said.
"Oh, don't say that!" I answered generously.
"I never eat more than one thing. I think people eat too much nowadays. A little fish,
perhaps. I wonder if they have any salmon."
Well, it was early in the year for salmon and it was not on the menu, but I asked the waiter if
there was any. Yes, they had a beautiful salmon, it was the first they had had. I ordered it for
my guest. The waiter asked her if she would have something while it was being cooked.
"No," she answered, "I never eat more than one thing. Unless you had a little caviar.' I never
mind caviar."
26
My heart sank a little. I knew I could not afford caviar, but I could not tell her that. I
told the waiter by all means to bring caviar. For myself I chose the cheapest dish on the
menu and that was a mutton chop.
"I think you're unwise to eat meat," she said. "I don't know how you can expect to work after
eating heavy things like chops. I never overload my stomach."
Then came the question of drink.
"I never drink anything for luncheon," she said.
"Neither do I," I answered promptly.
"Except white wine," she went on as though I had not spoken. "These French white wines
are so light. They are wonderful for the digestion."
"What would you like?" I asked her.
"My doctor won't let me drink anything but champagne." I think I turned a little pale. I
ordered half a bottle. I mentioned casually that my doctor had absolutely forbidden me to
drink champagne.
"What are you going to drink, then?"
"Water."
She ate the caviar and she ate the salmon. She talked gaily of art and literature and music.
But I wondered what the bill would come to. When my mutton chop arrived she said:
"I see that you're in the habit of eating a heavy luncheon. I'm sure it's a mistake. Why don't
you follow my example and just eat one thing? I'm sure you'd feel much better then."
"I am only going to eat one thing," I said, as the waiter came again with the menu. She
waved him aside with a light gesture.
"No, no, I never eat anything for luncheon. Just a bite, I never want more than that. I can't eat
anything more unless they had some of those giant asparagus. I should be sorry to leave Paris
without having some of them."
My heart sank. I had seen them in the shops and I knew that they were horribly expensive.
My mouth had often watered at the sight of them. "Madame wants to know if you have any
of those giant asparagus," I asked the waiter.
I hoped he would say no. A happy smile spread over his broad face, and he assured me that
they had some so large, so splendid, so tender, that it was a marvel.
"I'm not in the least hungry," my guest sighed, "but if you insist I don't mind having some
asparagus.
I ordered them.
"Aren't you going to have any?"
"No, I never eat asparagus."
"I know there are people who don't like them."
We waited for the asparagus to be cooked. Panic seized me. It was not a question now
how much money I should have left for the rest of the month, but whether I had enough to
pay the bill. It would be terrible to find myself ten francs short and be obliged to borrow
from my guest. I could not bring myself to do that. I knew exactly how much money I had
and if the bill came to more I made up my mind that I would put my hand in my pocket and
with a dramatic cry start up and say my money had been stolen. If she had not money enough
to pay the bill then the only thing to do would be to leave my watch and say I would come
back and pay later.
27
The asparagus appeared. They were enormous and appetizing. The smell of the melted butter
tickled my nostrils. I watched the woman send them down her throat and in my polite way I
talked on the condition of the drama in the Balkans. At last she finished.
"Coffee?" I said.
"Yes, just an ice-cream and coffee," she answered.
It was all the same to me now, so I ordered coffee for myself and an ice-cream and coffee for
her.
"You know, there's one thing I thoroughly believe in," she said, as she ate the ice-cream.
"One should always get up from a meal feeling one could eat a little more."
"Are you still hungry?" I asked faintly.
"Oh, no, I'm not hungry; you see, I don't eat luncheon. I have a cup of coffee in the morning
and then dinner, but I never eat more than one thing for luncheon. I was speaking for you."
"Oh, I see!"
Then a terrible thing happened. While we were waiting for the coffee, the head waiter,
with a smile on his false face, came up to us bearing a large basket full of huge peaches.
Peaches were not in season then. Lord knew what they cost. I knew too — a little later, for
my guest, going on with her conversation, absent-mindedly took one. "You see, you've filled
your stomach with a lot of meat and you can't eat any more. But I've just had a snack and I
shall enjoy a peach."
The bill came and when I paid it I found that I had only enough for a quite inadequate
tip. Her eyes rested for a moment on the three francs I left for the waiter and I knew that she
thought me mean. But when I walked out of the restaurant I had the whole month before me
and not a penny in my pocket.
"Follow my example," she said as we shook hands, "and never eat more than one thing for
luncheon."
"I'll do better than that," I answered. "I'll eat nothing for dinner tonight."
"Humorist!" she cried gaily, jumping into a cab. "You're quite a humorist!"
But I have had my revenge at last. Today she weighs twenty-one stone.'
COMPREHENSION CHECK
I. Find in the story the English for:
1) заметить кого-либо, 13) ничего не иметь против,

2) рядом с чем-либо, 14) у меня слюнки текли,
3) как летит время! , 15) не могу позволить себе,
28
4) сводить концы с концами, 16) ничуть,

5) справиться с чем-либо, 17) занимать у кого-либо,
6) быть пораженным, 18) мне было все равно,
7) разуверять, 19) перекусить,
8) в меню, 20) счет,
9) великодушно, 21) чаевые,
10) перегружать (желудок), 22) следовать чьему-либо примеру,
11) пищеварение, 23) отомстить,
12) сердце упало, 24) весить.
II. Fill each gap with a word or word combination in italics in an appropriate form.
couldn’t afford to water on the menu digestion a tip time flies

to overload to have one’s revenge
1. It’s many years since we first met. How __________!

2. For myself I chose the cheapest dish __________.
3. ‘I never __________ my stomach’, she said.
4. These French wines are wonderful for __________.
5. My heart sank. I knew I __________ caviar.
6. I had seen asparagus in the shops, my mouth often __________ at the sight of them.
7. When I paid the bill I had only enough for quite an inadequate __________.
8. But I __________. Today she weights twenty-one stone.
III. Replace the italicized words and word combinations with a synonym in an
appropriate form.
to be startled
to borrow from
to manage well enough
beside
wouldn’t mind
to keep body and soul together
it was all the same to me
1. I went over during the interval and sat down next to her.
2. I was earning barely enough money to make both ends meet.
3. I thought if I cut out coffee for the next two weeks I could do well enough.
4. I was struck when the menu was brought.
5. My guest sighed, ‘If you insist I won’t object to having some asparagus’.
6. It would be terrible to be obliged to take money from my guest if I didn’t have enough to
pay for the bill.
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7. It made no difference to me now, so I ordered coffee for myself and an ice-cream and
coffee for her.
IV. Which of the verb tenses in the sentences below is used to describe?
a) an action that happened before another past action?

b) an action in progress (going on) around a particular past moment?
c) a completed action connected with the present?
d) a single past action?
1. I’ve just had a snack and I shall enjoy a peach.

2. She ate the caviar and she ate the salmon.
3. It was twenty years ago and I was living in Paris.
4. Foyot’s was far beyond my means that I had never even thought of going there.
V. Use the verbs in brackets in an appropriate tense (active or passive)
1. The prices were a great deal higher than I __________. (to expect)
2. The waiter asked if she would have something while it __________. (to cook)
3. I think I __________ a little pale. (to turn)
4. I mentioned casually that my doctors absolutely __________ me to drink champagne. (to
forbid)
5. While we __________ for the coffee, the head waiter came up to us with a basket full of
huge peaches. (to wait)
6. You see, you __________ your stomach with a lot of meat and you can’t eat any more. (to
fill)
7. I __________ my revenge at last. Today she weighs twenty-one stone. (to have)
8. When I __________ out of the restaurant I had the whole month before me and not a
penny in my pocket. (to walk)
Reading Comprehension and Discussion Tasks
VI. Answer the following questions:
1. Where did the author catch sight of the woman? Why wouldn’t he have recognized her if
somebody hadn’t mentioned her name?
2. Did he remember where he had first met her? Where was he living at that time? How
much was he earning?
3. Why did she write to him? Where would she like him to give her a little luncheon? Why
had he never thought of going to Foyot’s?
4. Why did he agree to meet her at Foyot’s?
5. What did she look like? What was unusual about her appearance?
6. Why was the author prepared to be an attentive listener?
7. Why was he startled when the menu was brought? How did she reassure him?
8. What did she repeatedly say throughout the luncheon?
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9. What did she order first? Why did his heart sink?
10. What did he order for himself? What did she say about his choice?
11. What was she going to drink?
12. What did she talk about while she ate the salmon and the caviar?
13. Why did she say she wanted to have asparagus? Why did the author say he never ate
asparagus?
14. Why did panic seize him? What did he decide to do if he didn’t have enough money to
pay the bill?
15. What terrible thing happened while they were waiting for the coffee?
16. What did she say she believed in?
17. Could he pay the bill? Why did he know she thought him mean?
18. Why did she say he was a humorist? Was he?
19. Has he had his revenge at last? What sort of revenge is it?
20. Act out the scene of the luncheon.
21. Act out an inner monolog of the author during the luncheon.
VII. Discuss the following:
1. Make guesses about the woman’s background.

2. Why do you think she wrote to the author? Do you think many people send letters to
writers? Could you write to a writer? What writer could you send a letter to and what would
you write about?
3. Why do you think she asked him to give her a luncheon at Foyot’s? Why did she order the
most expensive things? Why did she repeatedly say she never ate anything for luncheon? Did
she really mean it or was it a trick?
4. ‘She gave me the impression of having more teeth, white and large and even, than there
were necessary for any practical purpose’. Why do you think the author pays special
attention to the description of the woman’s teeth?
5. What do you think is the author’s attitude to the reading public: good-humored, ruthless,
ironical or skeptical?
6. Does S. Maugham, in your opinion, try to convey any message in the story or does he only
try to amuse the reader? How did you find the story?
VIII. True or false?

1. She asked him if he would give her a book of him.
2. She talked gaily of art and literature and music.
3. He would meet her at a restaurant on Thursday at twelve.
4. She was young and attractive.
5. She thought people ate too much nowadays.
IX. Discuss in pairs or in small groups
1. People with foibles are often not conscious of them.

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2. The author’s attempts at keeping up his pretence of friendliness while he was mentally
preoccupied with the expense of the luncheon.
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

1. Although the author was not a vindictive man he was very happy to see the twenty one
stone lady who had impoverished him twenty years ago, and says he had finally had his
revenge. What makes him says this?
2. There are quite a few places where the author uses the expressions ‘my heart sank’, ‘panic
seized’ etc. What was the reason for this?
3. Locate instances of irony in the story.
APPRECIATION
1. The author is a humorist
a. How does the story reflect his sense of humour?
b. What makes his lady friend remark—‘you are quite a humorist’?
c. Give instances of the author’s ability to laugh at himself.
2. How does the first person narrative help in heightening the literary effects of the story?
LANGUAGE WORK
X. Pick out the words and phrases in the text that indicate that the author was not
financially well off.
XI. Retell the story as if you were
1) the lady,
2) the writer
3) Retell the story keeping close to the text.
XII. Act out the scene in the story where the young man and the lady are in the
restaurant. *
XIII. As a lady, write a letter to the writer. Tell him what you think about his stories.
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UNIT 9
JIMMY VALENTINE'S REFORMATION
By O. Henry
Jimmy Valentine was released' that day.

"Now, Valentine," said the warden', "you'll go out today. Make a man of yourself. You are
not a bad fellow really. Stop breaking open safes and be honest."
"Me?" said Jimmy in surprise. "Why, I've never broken a safe in my life." The warden
laughed. "Better think over my advice, Valentine."
In the evening Valentine arrived in his native town, went directly to the cafe of his old friend
Mike and shook hands with Mike. Then he took the key of his room and went upstairs.
Everything was just as he had left it. Jimmy removed a panel in the wall and dragged out a
dust-covered suitcase. He opened it and looked fondly at the finest set of burglar's' tools. It
was a complete set made of special steel. The set consisted of various tools of the latest
design. Over nine hundred dollars they had cost him.
A week after the release of Valentine there was a new safe-burglary in Richmond. Two
weeks after that another safe was opened. That began to interest the detectives. Ben Price, a
famous detective, got interested in these cases. "That's all Jimmy Valentine's work. He has
resumed business. He has got the only tools that can open any safe without leaving the
slightest trace."
One afternoon Jimmy Valentine came to Elmore, a little town in Arkansas. A young lady
crossed the street, passed him at the corner and entered a door over which was the sign "The
Elmore Bank". Jimmy Valentine looked into her eyes, forgot what he was and became
another man. She lowered her eyes and blushed slightly. Young men of Jimmy's style and
looks were not often met in Elmore. Jimmy called a boy who was standing on the steps of
the bank and began to ask him questions about the town and the people of the town. From
this boy he learnt that this girl was Annabel Adams and that her father was the owner of the
bank.
Jimmy went to a hotel and registered as Ralf Spencer. To the clerk he said that he had come
to Elmore to start business. The clerk was impressed by the clothes and manner of Jimmy
and he was ready to give Jimmy any information. Soon Jimmy opened a shoe-store and
made large profits. In all other respects he was also a success. He was popular with many
important people and had many friends. And he accomplished the wish of his heart. He met
Miss Annabel Adams and she fell in love with him too. Annabel's father, who was a typical
country banker approved of Spencer. The young people were to be married in two weeks.
Jimmy gave up safe-burglary forever. He was an honest man now. He decided to get rid of
his tools.
At that time a new safe was put in Mr. Adams' bank. The old man was very proud of it and
insisted that everyone should inspect it. So one day the whole family with the children went
to the bank. Mr. Adams enthusiastically explained the workings of the safe to Spencer. The
two children were delighted to see the shining metal and the funny clock. While they were
thus engaged Ben Price, the detective, walked into the bank and stood at the counter
33
watching the scene. He told the cashier that he was just waiting for the man he knew.
Suddenly there was a loud scream from the women. Unseen by the elders, May, the smallest
girl had shut herself in the vault.
"It's impossible to open the door now," said Mr. Adams in a trembling voice, "because the
clock of the safe hasn't been wound. Oh, what shall we do? That child – she can't stand it for
long because there isn't enough air there!"
"Get away from the door, all of you," suddenly commanded Spencer. And it must be
mentioned that Jimmy happened to have his suit-case with him because he was going to get
rid of it that day. Very calmly he took out the tools and in ten minutes the vault was opened.
The others watched him in amazement. The little girl, crying, rushed to her mother.
Jimmy took his suit-case and came up to Ben Price whom he had noticed long before.
"Hello, Ben", he said, "Let's go. I don't think it matters much now." And then suddenly Ben
Price acted rather strangely. "I guess, you are mistaken Mr. Spencer," he said. "I don't seem
to recognize you. I think your fiancee' is waiting for you, isn't she?" And Ben Price turned
and walked out of the Bank.
COMPREHENSION CHECK
1) be honest, 11) approve of smb/smth,

2) say smth in surprise, 12) give up smth for ever,
3) shake hands with smb., 13) be proud of smth,
4) a set of tools, 14) insist that smb. should do smth,
5) get interested in smth, 15) say smth in a trembling voice,
6) become another man, 16) stand smth for long,
7) register at a hotel, 17) it must be mentioned,
8) be impressed by smth, 18) watch smb/smth in amazement,
9) be a success, 19) be mistaken,
10) fall in love with smb., 20) recognise smb.
II. Translate the following words and expressions:
1. стань человеком, 15.сокровенное желание

2. неплохой парень, 16.должны были пожениться
3. обдумай мой совет 17.избавиться от инструментов
4. покрытый пылью чемоданчик 18.принцип работы сейфа
5. посмотрел с любовью 19.наблюдал за происходящим
6. последней модели 20.громкий крик
7. возобновить занятие 21.пока взрослые не видели
8. не оставляя ни малейших следов 22.часы не были заведены
9. слегка покраснеть 23.чемоданчик случайно оказался с ним
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10.молодые люди с такой внешностью 24.не думаю, что теперь это имеет значение
11. владелец банка 25. он повел себя странно возлюбленная
12. открыть дело
13.получать хорошую прибыль
14.пользоваться популярностью среди
важных персон
1) What kind of man was Jimmy Valentine? (age, looks, occupation)

2) Where did he go immediately after the release?
3) What was the first thing he did on entering his room?
4) There were a number of safe-burglaries in Richmond. Why did Ben Price get interested in
them? Why did he suspect Jimmy?
5) How did Jimmy happen to meet Annabel Adams? What did he manage to find out about
her?
6) Why did Jimmy register at the hotel under another name?
7) Explain the phrase, "In all respects Jimmy was a success."
8) What final decision did Jimmy make that proved that he wanted to give up his old
business forever?
9) How did the child happen to find himself in the vault? Why was it dangerous?
10) Why did all the present watch Jimmy in amazement while he was opening the safe?
1) By the time the incident happened Jimmy had completely changed his way of life. What
did he risk when he showed everybody his skill? What could the price of this action have
been?
2) Analyse Ben Price's behaviour through the cause of events. Why do you think he said he
did not recognize Valentine? In what way does it characterise him?
3) Think of another end of the story supposing
a) Jimmy didn't meet the girl,

b) Ben Price revealed everything to the people present in the bank.
IV. Retell the story on the part of
1) Jimmy,
2) Ben Price,
3) Annabel
35
UNIT 10
THE GIFT OF THE MAGI

(adapted version)
by O. Henry
One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. She had been scrimping and saving every
penny she could for months, and this was the meager result. Three times Della counted it.
One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.
There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della
did it. She finished her cry and dabbed at her cheeks with a cloth. She stood by the window
and looked out dully at a gray cat walking on a gray fence in a gray backyard. Tomorrow
would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 to buy Jim a present. The twenty dollars a
week earned by Jim didn’t go far. Expenses had been far greater than she had calculated.
They always are. Only $1.87 to buy a present for Jim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had
spent planning for something nice for him. Something fine and rare and sterling—something
just a little bit near to being worthy of the honor Della felt of being Mrs. James Dillingham
Young.
There was a single mirror propped between the windows of the small room. Suddenly she
whirled from the window and stood before the glass. Her eyes were shining brilliantly, but
her face had lost its color within twenty seconds. Rapidly she pulled down her hair and let it
fall to its full length.
Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a
mighty pride. One was Jim's gold pocket watch that had been his father's and his
grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.
So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her, rippling and shining like a cascade of brown
waters. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. And then she did
it up again nervously and quickly. She faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or
two splashed on the worn red carpet.
On went her old brown jacket; on went her old brown hat. With a whirl of her skirts and with
the brilliant sparkle still in her eyes, she fluttered out the door and down the stairs to the
street.
Where she stopped the sign read: "Madame Sofronie, Hair Goods of All Kinds.” One flight
up Della ran, arriving out of breath.
“Madame, will you buy my hair?" asked Della. "I buy hair," said Madame. "Take yer hat off
and let's have a sight at the looks of it." Down rippled the brown cascade. "Twenty dollars,"
said Madame, lifting the mass with a practiced hand. "Give it to me quick," said Della.
36
Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings. Della was busy ransacking the stores
for Jim's present.
She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jim and no one else. There was no other like
it in any of the stores, and she had turned all of them inside out. It was a platinum fob watch
chain, simple and chaste in design. It would be beautiful with his pocket watch. As soon as
she saw it, she knew that it must be Jim's. It was like him. Quietness and value—the
description applied to both. Twenty-one dollars they took from her for it, and she hurried
home.
When Della reached home her bliss gave way to a little prudence and reason. She took out
her curling iron, and went to work repairing the damage made by generosity added to love.
Within forty minutes her head was covered with tiny, close-lying curls that made her look
like a young school child.
At 7 o'clock the coffee was made, and the frying-pan was on the back of the stove, hot and
ready to cook the chops.
Jim was never late. Della doubled the fob chain in her hand and sat on the corner of the table
near the door that he always entered. "Please God,” she whispered, “make him think I’m still
pretty."
The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. Poor
fellow, he was only twenty-two- and the responsibility of a family. He needed a new
overcoat and he was without gloves. Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as an Irish
setter dog at the scent of quail. His eyes were fixed upon Della. Della wriggled off the table
and went for him.
"Jim, darling," she cried, "don't look at me that way. I had my hair cut off and sold because I
couldn't have lived through Christmas without giving you a present. I just had to do it. My
hair grows awfully fast. Say `Merry Christmas!', and let's be happy. You don’t know what a
nice - what a beautiful, nice gift I’ve got for you.”
"You've cut off your hair?" asked Jim, with a peculiar expression on his face.
"You needn't look for it," said Della. "It's sold, I tell you--sold and gone, too. It's Christmas
Eve, boy. Be good to me, for it went for you." Maybe the hairs of my head were
numbered,” she went on with sudden serious sweetness, “but nobody could ever count my
love for you. Shall I put the chops on, Jim?”
Out of his trance Jim seemed quickly to wake. He wrapped his arms tenderly around Della.
Jim drew a package from his overcoat pocket and threw it upon the table. "Don't make any
mistake, Dell," he said, "about me. There's isn’t anything in the way of a haircut that could
make me like my girl any less. But if you’ll unwrap that package you may see why you had
me going a while at first. ” Her fingers tore at the string and paper. And then an ecstatic
37
scream of joy; and then, alas! a quick feminine change to hysterical tears and wails,
necessitating the comforting powers of her husband.
For inside the package lay the hair combs, the set of combs that Della had worshipped long
in a Broadway store window. Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jeweled rims--just
the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair. They were expensive combs, and her heart
had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession. And now,
they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned the beautiful combs were gone. She
hugged them to her chest, and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile
and say: "My hair grows so fast, Jim!"
And then Della leaped up like a little spooked cat and cried, "Oh, oh!"
Jim had not yet seen his beautiful present. She held it out to him eagerly upon her open palm.
The dull precious metal seemed to flash with a reflection of her bright and ardent spirit.
"Isn't it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. You'll have to look at the time a
hundred times a day now on your beautiful watch. Give it to me. I want to see how it looks
on it."
Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch and put his hands under the back of his
head and smiled. "Dell," said he, "let's put our Christmas presents away and keep 'em a
while. They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your
combs. And now suppose you put the pork chops on."
********
The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the
Babe in the manger. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones. And here I have lamely
told to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a tiny apartment who most
unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to
the wise of these days, let it be said, that of all who give gifts, these two were the wisest. O
all who give and receive gifts such as they are the wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They
are the magi!
Vocabulary Checkpoint
1. cut back (phrasal verb) To cut back is to reduce salary or spending which is
usually done in times of recession or slow business. It can be used as a phrasal verb
or as a noun.
2. groceries (noun) Groceries, as a countable noun, are food provisions. We usually
consider these as essential food items (milk, eggs, rice, vegetables, etc). As a noncountable
noun, grocery is used to describe the store where groceries are purchased.
38
3. watch chain (noun) A watch chain is a chain that attached to an old-fashioned

pocket-watch. The other end of the chain was attached to a waistcoat button hole so
that the watch would not be lost if it fell out of the pocket.
4. Too bad (adjective) (colloquial) Too bad is an expression which is similar to it's a
shame, or it's a pity. It expresses a feeling of disappointment at not being able to do
something.
5. wigs (noun) A wig is a false hair covering for the head. Wig makers pay for real hair
by its length. A person like Della, with extremely long hair, would be able to get a good
price for cutting it short. Other words such as hairpiece and toupee (pronounced too
pay) are also commonly used to describe smaller coverings that are not full wigs.
6. shocked (adjective) To be shocked is to be very surprised. It is also a noun
(shock) and a verb (to shock).
7. strange (adjective) Strange means unusual. In this case it refers to the way Jim
looks at Della in an unexpected manner.
8. possessions (noun) Possessions are personal belongings. The things that we
own. It is related to the verb possess which means to hold, to keep or to own.
9. sacrificed (verb) Here sacrificed is used as a verb. To sacrifice something is to
give away something valuable in order to help somebody else. It can also be used as
a noun, together with the verb "to make", e.g. He made a big sacrifice to help his
family.
10. valuable (adjective) When something is valuable it is either worth a lot of money,
or it has strong emotional value and is something that can not easily be replaced.
I. Setting
What is the setting of the story? Think about time and place.
Character
How many characters are in the story?
Can you name them?
Which character speaks the following lines and what do these lines tell us about
their character?
• And now I think we should have our dinner.
• Will you buy my hair?
39
• I sold the watch to get the money to buy the combs.

• You've cut off your hair?
• Isn't it perfect, Jim?
• What could I do with a dollar and eighty-seven cents?
• Don't you like me now?
• You won't care, will you?
Re-tell the story by putting the lines in order.
Check your answers in the answer key.
Plot
What is the climax of the story?

What is the resolution of the story?
Conflict
What are some of the possible conflicts that could arise in a story like this?
Think back to the anxieties of Jim and Della (the answers to the character exercise could help
you here).
Write a short dialog based on one of the possible conflicts that could arise.
You might like to develop this into a short dramatic performance for the rest of
the class.
II. Theme
You will probably find most of the following synonyms for theme: topic, idea,
subject, issue, point.
The last word, point, is a good way to think about theme. The theme is the point,
or reason, for writing a story. Some people think of theme as the message or meaning.
Major and Minor Themes
A story usually has one main theme and several minor themes. Below is a list of
some common general themes in literature around the world. Think of some
stories or movies that you are familiar with and try to identify some of the themes
in them. Eight of these themes can be found in The Gift of the Magi.
Explain how O.Henry uses each theme you identify .
• Art • Death • Faith

• Justice • Loss • Nature
• Beauty • Fear • Freedom
• Knowledge • Love • Peace
• Bravery • Family • The Future
• Law • Money • Poverty
40
• Giving • Religion • Hope

• Pride • Heroism • War
• Greed • Sacrifice • Identity
• Sacrifice • Honesty • Wisdom
• Growing Up • Truth • Independence
Ranking: Major and Minor Themes
Rank the eight themes identified above from 1-8 with 1 being the main theme in
the story and 8 the least important minor theme. There are many possibilities,
depending on your personal beliefs. Compare and contrast your choice for
main theme with other people.
EXERCISES
III. Exploring specific themes: Sacrifice & Wisdom
Sacrifice
Many teachers in the USA feel that sacrifice, or giving up something for
someone else, is the main theme in The Gift of the Magi. Both Della and Jim make
sacrifices so they can buy Christmas gifts for each other. Who made the greatest
sacrifice, Della, by selling her hair or Jim, by selling his watch? Why?
Wisdom
At the end of the story, O.Henry seems to be saying two different things.
And here I have told you the story of two children who were not wise. Each sold the most
valuable thing he owned in order to buy a gift for the other. But let me speak a last word to
the wise of these days: Of all who give gifts, these two were the most wise.
• Who are the two children?

• Why does O' Henry refer to them as "children"?
• How were they unwise?
• How were they wise?
Themes & proverbs
Usually, an authors theme can be stated in terms that resemble familiar sayings
or proverbs.
Look at these English sayings. Are there similar sayings in your language. If not,
can you translate them easily into your language?
• Love is the greatest gift of all.
• Money can't buy you love.
• A gift must come from the heart.
• Beauty comes from within.
41
Which of the four sayings best describes the main theme of The Gift of the
Magi?
IV. FOLLOW-UP
Important dates
Christmas is a very special occasion for millions of people around the world.
However, many people think that Christmas has become too commercial and it
is easy to forget the true spiritual meaning of a special occasion.
Think about all the special events in your country or region. Make a list of all the
special dates that you celebrate during each year. Pay careful attention to the
ones that you or your family celebrate most.
Write a short description of what you do on one of those special occasions.

Don't forget to include the names of the people who join in the celebration and
places you visit. Especially, write about the things you do on those days that
are connected to the real meaning of the celebration and why you do them.
Which is the most important day of the year for you?

42
UNIT 11
A DAY’S WAIT
E. Hemingway
He came into the room to shut the windows while me were still in bed and I saw he looked
ill. He was shivering, his face was white, and he walked slowly as though it ached to move.
«What’s the matter, Schatz?»
«I’ve got a headache».
«You better go back to bed».
«No, I am all right».
«You go to bed. I’ll see you when I’m dressed».
But when I came downstairs he was dressed, sitting by the fire, looking a very sick and
miserable boy of nine years. When I put my hand on his forehead I knew he had a fever.
«You go up to bed,» said, «you are sick».
«I am all right», he said.
When the doctor came he took the boy’s temperature.
«What is it?» I asked him.
«One hundred and two.»
Downstairs, the doctor left three different medicines in different coloured capsules with
instructions for giving them. He seemed to know all about influenza and said there was
nothing to worry about if the fever did not go above one hundred and four degrees. This was
a light epidemic of influenza and there was no danger if you avoided pneumonia.
Back in the room I wrote the boy’s temperature down and made a note of the time to give the
various capsules.
«Do you want me to read to you?»
«All right. If you want to,» said the boy. His face was very white and there were dark areas
under his eyes. He lay still in the bed and seemed very detached from what was going on.
I read about pirates from Howard Pyle’s «Book of Pirates», but I could see he was not
following what I was reading.
«How do you feel, Schatz?» I asked him.
«Just the same, so far,» he said.
I sat at the foot of the bed and read to myself while I waited for it to be time to give another
capsule. It would have been natural for him to go to sleep, but when I looked up he was
looking at the foot of the bed.
«Why, don’t you try to go to sleep? I’ll wake you up for the medicine.»
«I’d rather stay awake.»
After a while he said to me. «You don’t have to stay in here with me, Papa, if it bothers
you.»
«It doesn’t bother me.»
«No, I mean you don’t have to stay if it’s going to bother you.»
I thought perhaps he was a little light-headed and af ter giving him the prescribed capsules at
eleven o’clock I went out for a while…
At the house they said the boy had refused to let any one come into the room.
43
«You can’t come in,» he said. «You mustn’t get what I have.» I went up to him and found
him in exactly the same position I had left him, white-faced, but with the tops of his cheeks
flushed by the fever, staring still, as he had stared, at the foot of the bed.
I took his temperature.
«What is it?»
«Something like a hundred,» I said. It was one hundred and two and four tenths.
«It was a hundred and two,» he said.
«Who said so? Your temperature is all right,» I said. «It’s nothing to worry about.»
«I don’t worry,» he said, «but I can’t keep from thinking.»
«Don’t think,» I said. «Just take it easy.»
«I’m taking it easy,» he said and looked straight ahead.
He was evidently holding tight onto himself about something.
«Take this with water.»
«Do you think it will do any good?»
«Of course, it will.»
I sat down and opened the «Pirate» book and commenced to read, but I could see he was not
following, so I stopped.
«About what time do you think I’m going to die?» he asked.
«What?»
«About how long will it be before I die?»
«You aren’t going to die. What’s the matter with you?»
«Oh, yes, I am. I heard him say a hundred and two.»
«People don’t die with a fever of one hundred and two. That’s a silly way to talk.»
«I know they do. At school in France the boys told me you can’t live with forty-four degrees.
I’ve got a hundred and two.»
He had been waiting to die all day, ever since nine o’clock in the morning.
«You poor Schatz,» I said. «It’s like miles and kilometres. You aren’t going to die. That’s a
different thermometre. On that thermometre thirty-seven is normal. On this kind it’s ninety-
eight.»
«Are you sure?»
«Absolutely,» I said. «It’s like miles and kilometres. You know, like how many kilometres
we make when we do seventy miles in the car?»
«Oh,» he said.
But his gaze at the foot of the bed relaxed slowly. The hold over himself relaxed too, finally,
and the next day he was very slack and cried very easily at little things that were of no
importance.
Примечания:
Schatz (нем.) – дорогой

102 градусов по Фаренгейту = 38,9 градусов по Цельсию
so far — пока
44
VOCABULARY NOTES
1. to shiver υi дрожать, as shiver with cold
Syn. to tremble, to shudder, to start; to tremble is the most general

word; shuddering/starting is generally the result of (great) fear or disgust, е.g. He seemed
perfectly calm, only a slight trembling of his voice and hands showed he was excited. Keith
shuddered at the sight of the dead body. The child was shivering with cold. She started when
they came in.
2. ache n (a continuous, not sharp or sudden, pain). Usually used in compounds: headache,
toothache, stomachache, earache, backache, е.g. I had a bad headache yesterday. Some
people have (a) bad earache when the plane is losing height. But: to have a sore throat, eye,
finger, etc., е.g. I can't speak loude?, I have a sore throat.
Syn. pain n to feel (have) a bad (sharp, slight) pain in ..., е.g. I feel a sharp pain in my right
knee. My leg gives me much pain.; painful adj болезненный, тяжелый
Ant. painless, е.g. It was a painful (painless) operation.
to ache υ i/t болеть (чувствовать боль) — to be in continuous pain, e, g. My ear aches.

After climbing the mountain he ached all over.
Cf.: hurt υt/i причинять боль, е.g. It hurts the eyes to look at the sun. My foot hurts (me)
when I walk.
3. medicine n 1. лекарство, е.g. What medicine (s) do you take for your headaches? 2.
медицина, e.g. He is fond of medicine, he wants to become a surgeon.
medical adj, е.g. He studies at a Medical Institute. He is a medical student. My medical

knowledge leaves much to be desired. You'd better consult your surgeon.
4. condition n 1. состояние; to be in (a) good (bad) condition, е.g. After the thunderstorm
our garden was in a terrible condition, quite a number of trees were broken. Every parcel
arrived in good condition (nothing was broken or spoiled).; to be in no condition to do
smth., е.g. He is in no condition to travel. The ship was in no condition to leave harbour, He
can sing very well, but tonight he is in no condition to do it, he has a sore throat.
2. условие; under good (bad) condition(s), е.g. The unemployed live under very hard
conditions.; on condition that = if, е.g. I will do it on condition that you give me the time I
need.; conditional adj, е.g. Conditional sentences contain "if or its synonyms.
5. foot n (pl feet) 1. нога (ниже щиколотки, ступня), е.g. The boy jumped to his feet. A
dog's feet are called paws.; 2. фут (около) 30,5 см, pl часто без изменений, е.g. The boy
was too tall for his age and he was three foot two in his shoes.; 3. подножие, нижняя часть,
основание, as the foot of the mountain, at the foot of the page, the foot of the bed, е.g. This
45
boy is at the foot of his class.
Ant. top, head, as the top of the mountain, the top (head) of the page, at the head of the bed,
etc. е.g. This boy is at the head of his class.
on foot (= walking, not riding), е.g. When people are having their walking holiday they
cover long distances on foot. (Cf.: by train, by bus, etc.)
footnote n сноска
6. prescribe υi прописывать лекарство, е.g. Doctor, will you prescribe a tonic for me?
What can you prescribe for my headache (cold, etc.) ?
prescription n рецепт; to make up a prescription for smb., е.g. Please call in at the chemist's
and have this prescription made up for me; to write out a prescription.
7. bare adj 1. обнаженный, голый, непокрытый (usu. about some part of our
body), е.g. His head was bare.
Syn. naked (= having no clothes on), е.g.Victorine was shocked when she learned that she
would have to sit for the painter quite naked.
barefoot adj predic, adv = with bare feet, without shoes and stockings, е.g. Children like to
go (run, walk) barefoot.
barefooted adj, attr. Barefooted people were standing on the bank.
bare-legged (-armed) adj = with bare legs (arms), е.g. When we speak of bare-legged
children we mean children wearing shoes, but no stockings; bare-footed children wear
neither shoes nor stockings.
bare-beaded, adj = without a hat, е.g. It's already too cold to go bare-headed.
2. пустой, голый, лишенный чего-л., as a bare room (with little or no furniture), bare walls
(without pictures or wallpaper), bare trees (without leaves), bare facts (only facts; nothing
but facts).
Cf.: a bare room (no furniture), an empty room (no people), a vacant room (a room in
which either no one is living at present or no one is working; a room which can be
occupied), е.g. After the piano was taken out, the room seemed quite bare. I thought I heard
voices in the next room, but it was empty. "Won't you look for a vacant room in which we
could have a consultation?" — "I'm told that all the rooms are occupied."
8. refuse υt/i отказывать(ся), е.g. She refused my offer. She can't refuse her children
anything. He refused to do what I asked him.
46
N о t e: In the meaning of sacrificing smth., parting with smth., the English verb to give up is
used, е.g. He gave up the idea of going there. Roger promised to give up smoking, but he
didn't keep his promise.
refusal n, е.g. He answered her invitation, with a cold refusal,
9. like adj похожий, подобный, е.g. They are as like as two peas. What is he like? (= What
sort of person is he?) What does he look like? ( = What kind of appearance has he got?) How
does she look today? (= What is her appearrance today?) It looks like gold. (= It has the
appearance of gold.) It looks like rain. It was just like him to take the biggest piece of cake.
There is nothing like home.
like prep or adv подобно, как, е.g. I can't do it like you. They are behaving like little
children, I've never heard him sing like that.
Note: to act like means to do smth. in the same way or in the manner of other
people, е.g. She can play like a real pianist.; to act as means acting in the capacity of smb.,
e g. Some of our students act as guides during summer.
alike adj predic одинаковый, похожий, подобный, е.g. The houses in this street are alike.
(Cf.: The houses in this street are like those in the next street.)
likeness n сходство, е.g. I cannot see much likeness between the twins.
unlike adj непохожий, е.g. She was unlike all other girls.
unlike prep в отличие от, е.g. Unlike other girls she was not at all talkative.
NOTES ON STYLE
A. The terms style, stylistic are generally used in two different meanings. In lexicology the
term functional style is used which may be defined as a system of expressive means peculiar
to a specific sphere of communication. Otherwise speaking, the choice of words and of
modes of expression depends on the situation in which the process of communication is
realized, whether it is a friendly talk, an official letter or report, a poem, a scientific article,
etc. According to the situation (or the sphere of communication) we may distinguish formal
(bookish, learned) and informal (colloquial) words. The former are peculiar to fiction,
scientific prose, lectures, official talks; the latter are used in everyday talks with friends and
relatives. One should also keep ip mind that there are a great number of words that are
independent of the sphere of communication, i. e. that can be used in a lecture, in an informal
talk, in a poem, etc. Such words are stylistically neutral (е.g. bread, word, book, go, takes,
white, etc.).
Students should be warned against taking the term colloquial as a kind of encouragement to
use words thus marked as much as possible. The term implies that the words
47
called colloquial are limited by their sphere of usage and, if used in a wrong situation (е.g. in
a student's composition, in a conversation with an official acquaintance or with one higher in
authority), may produce the impression of impoliteness or even rudeness.
E. g. He is a jolly chap. = Он парень что надо, (chap n, coll.; jolly adj, coll.) The
stylistically neutral way of putting it is: He is a good (fine) man.
How are the kids? = Как ваши ребята? (kid n, coll.) The stylistically neutral way How are
your children?
I'm all right. = Co мной все нормально. (all right coll.) The stylistically neutral way I feel
(am) quite well.
Compare:
Neutral Colloquial Bookish
begin start commence
continue go on proceed
end, finish be over (through) terminate
buy get purchase
Note also that such abbreviations as I'm, I've, I'll, you'd, you're, etc. are characteristic of
colloquial style. Therefore, students will be well advised to avoid them in their compositions,
essays, precis, etc.
B. The term style may be also used with reference to the manner of writing of some
particular author. E. g. Hemingway's style is characterized by laconism and lack of detail.
The syntax of his sentences is very simple, the dialogues are almost monosyllabic and
seemingly unemotional. Yet, through the austere form the author manages sometimes to
create a narration of great tension.
ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY
1. ache υ, n 7. prescribe υ
2. flue n barefoot adj predic, adv
3. painful adj 8. medicine n
avoid υ 9. prescription n
4. foot n bare-headed adj
5. pneumonia n 10.miserable adj
bare adj 11.shiver υ
6. medical adj condition n
48
12.naked adj t 14.pain n

13.remble υ 15.vacant adj
epidemic n fever n
16. to live (work) under good (bad)
to have (got) a headache condition (s)
17.to give smth. up 20.to stay (be) awake
to take one's (or smb.'s) temperature flushed by the fever (anger,
so far excitement, etc.)
to make a note (notes) of smth. to be in no condition to do smth.
to bring down the fever 21.on condition that
18.at the foot (head) of the bed 22.to flush with
to be in (a) good (bad) condition to write (put) smth. down
19.to read to oneself (aloud) 23.to take smth. easy
to go to sleep (cf.:to fall asleep)
I. Copy, transcribe and give Ukrainian equivalents of these words:
ache, fever, medicine, capsule, purgative, germ, acid, influenza, various, pneumonia, area,
pirate, natural, bother, prescribe, bush, brush, worry, thermometer, absolutely, relax.
II. Give the four forms of the verbs:
shut, overcome, lie (лежать), lay (класть), wake, freeze, worry, die,
III. Answer the questions:
1. What were the symptoms of the boy's illness?

2. Why did it seem to the father that the doctor knew all about influenza?
3. What worried the boy? Since when?
4. Why did the boy prefer to stay awake?
5. What were the symptoms of the boy's nervous strain that the father took for the symptoms
of his illness?
6. Wouldn't it have been more natural if the boy had told his father about his fears? Why?
7. Do you like the boy's behaviour? How does it characterize him?
8. How would you explain the contrasts in the boy's behaviour on the first and the
second day of his illness?
9. Why did the author introduce the description of the father's walk?
10. Do you find the situation described in the story true to life? (Give your reasons.)
11. Do you think you would have behaved in the same way in the boy's place?
12. What do you consider to be the point of the story?
49
Begin when possible your answers with:
I believe; I think; I'd like to say; In my view; As I see it; I don't think it would...; This is my
way of looking at it.
IV. Study Vocabulary Notes and a) write derivatives or compounds of:
refuse, prescribe, pain, ache, condition, bare, like.
b) Give the opposite of:
to read aloud, in good condition, at the foot of the bed (mountain, page), the girl had shoes
on, the seat is occupied, the trees are covered with leaves, to be asleep.
c) Give English equivalents of these words and use them in sentences of your own:
голый (2 words), дрожать (2 words), отказаться (2 words).
V. Fill in
a) ache, hurt, pain, painful:
— What... you?
— I can't say I feel any sharp ... in some definite place, I just... all over.
— Does it... you to move your arms, legs or head?
— My head ... all the time, it ... me to look at the light and each movement is ... .
— Well, I must examine you. Don't be afraid, it won't be ... .
— But, doctor, each touch gives me ....
— Well, try and take it easy.
b) in, on:
— Your child's health is ... a rather bad condition, he must be thoroughly examined in the
policlinic.
— But, doctor, he is ... no condition to leave the house, he's too weak.
— Perhaps we'd better take him to hospital then.
— Oh, doctor, isn't it possible to keep him at home?
— Well, only ... condition that you follow all my instructions.
c) refuse, give up:
1. In spite of his father's wish he ... to leave the Medical Institute as he was fond of medicine
50
and didn't want to ... . 2. I decided to break with him after he had ... to help me when I was in
great need of help. 3. Though she regularly ... his proposals he couldn't... his dream of
marrying her sooner or later. 4. If she asks me for any favour I'll never ... her. 5. If I were
you I wouldn't... my plan so easily.
d) like, as:
1. The children jumped and squealed (визжали) ... little puppies. 2. The girl tried to behave
... a grown-up person. 3. She was invited to this conference ... a specialist in medicine. 4. He
works ... a doctor in one of our hospitals. 5. You just listen to him, he speaks ... a real doctor,
though he doesn't know anything about medicine. 6. ... your doctor, I don't allow you to get
up for some more days.
VI. Retell the text in reported speech following the outline given below:
1. The boy looks ill.

2. The father calls for a doctor.
3. The doctor diagnoses the illness and leaves instructions.
4. The boy seems detached from what is going on around him.
5. The father goes for a walk.
6. The boy's state troubles his father.
7. The father finds out what worries the boy.
8. The boy relaxes.
Use the vocabulary of the text and the words:
to ask (about, if, why), to wonder (whether, why, what...), to say (that), to tell smb. (about
smth.), to add (that), to answer (that), to reply (that), to inquire after (smb.'s health), to
declare (that).
VII. Make up three short dialogues, using the phrases listed below:
a) to have a headache, to have a fever, to take one's temperature, had better, to have a
prescription made up;
b) to consult a doctor, a light epidemic of flu, to prescribe the medicine for, to be light-
headed, would rather, to do good;
c) to take smth. easy, to keep from doing smth., there is nothing to worry about, on condition
that, to be of no importance.

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1

"Go away," the boy said.

1. невзлюбил, 9. тебе все равно придется выйти,

1. come to one's rescue, 6. hold smb/smth,

III. Questions on the text:

3) What did he begin to do?

IV. Discuss the following:

V Retell the story on the part of

1) вспоминать детство, 10) чувствовала, что проигрывает,

III. Answer the questions:

1. Where did Fran Walker spend her childhood?

IV. Discuss the following:

1. Give a character sketch of the girl’s stepmother.

V. Retell the story on the part of

3) one of the teachers at the summer camp.

In January several directors of the United Sugar Company came down to us on

When suddenly Richards spoke up.

"Not, at all, sir," Richards said. "Glad if I could be of service to you."

4) just out of technical college, 12) come on business,

1) представиться к-л., 8) ряд /несколько вопросов,

III. Questions on the text:

1) Describe Richards (age, appearance, education, manners)

IV. Discuss the following:

1) Explain why Richards took little trouble to do his job properly.

V. Retell the story on the part of

"Colonel Pope?" asked the clerk.

1) got out at, 6) scrub floors,

1) направиться куда-либо, 10) нанимать на работу,

III. Paraphrase the sentences using phrases from the text:

1) Miss Bennet and her family received him very warmly.

IV. Questions on the text:

1) Who was the only person the author knew in Boston?

V. Discuss the following:

3) Is the problem of unemployment acute nowadays? Why? Is this problem interconnected

VI. Retell the text using the following:

1) with no skills, 6) please smb.,

1) был назначен, 8) демонстрация боксерских умений,

III. Questions on the text:

IV. Discuss the following:

1) Supposing Zabinsky guessed something wrong in Lieutenant's behaviour. How do you

4) Give a character sketch of

V. Retell the story on the part of

1) вести жизнь, 11) общество было избранным,

III. Questions on the text:

IV. Discuss the following:

V. Retell the text on the part of

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

"What were you doing in the summer time?"

I do not describe it to perversity on my part, but rather to the inconsequence of childhood,

"How are you?" I asked.

1) трудолюбие; 12) обладать невероятным обаянием;

7) легко заводить друзей; кому-л.;

III. Translate the following expressions into English\Ukrainian:

1. мне тщательно объясняли 17.значительные суммы денег

2. John was a silent, rather sullenman, he was by nature reserved.

3. Bill was a timid man, shy and clumsy in company.

5. "Thank you, George, you're most reliable" said Jane.

6. She was so extraordinary common-place-a thin faded woman of about fifty.

V. Answer the following questions: