KLEVINA M.N., MALYKHINA O.N.
READING ESSENTIALS
THE FUR COAT byChris Culshaw
Mrs. Melrose was taking the night train from London to Glasgow. It was three oclock in the morning and she was trying to sleep but couldnt. The heater wasnt working. The compartment was very cold. Mrs. Melrose had a very expensive fur coat. She wrapped it around her and curled up on the seat. There was only one other person in the compartment a woman.
At about half past three in the morning Mrs. Melrose left the compartment to get a drink. When she came back she got a nasty shock. The other woman was wearing her fur coat.
Mrs. Melrose said, "How dare you! Give me back my coat at once, or Ill call the guard!"
The other woman just smiled and said it was her coat. So Mrs. Melrose ran out to get the guard.
The guard didnt know what to do. He had no idea who the real owner of the fur coat was. He said, "When we get into Glasgow Id better take you both to the police."
An hour later Mrs. Melrose and the other woman were in Glasgow Central Police Station. A young policewoman was trying to find out who owned the coat.
"Its mine!" said Mrs. Melrose. "Look inside and you will see my name and address on the label."
When the policewoman looked inside the coat she couldnt find any label. The other woman had taken it out.
The policewoman said, "I must take this coat away and examine it."
She left the room and came back a few minutes later. She looked at both the women and said, "I am afraid the owner of this coat is in very serious trouble. When I was examining the coat I found this inside the lining."
The policewoman held up a small plastic bag full of white powder. She said, "This is a very dangerous drug. The owner of this coat may go to prison for a long time."
When she heard this, the other woman stood up and said, "Oh... well... perhaps I was wrong. It wasnt my coat after all." Then she left the police station as fast as she could.
Mrs. Melrose was very upset. She said, "This is my coat. But I dont know anything about those drugs. That woman must have put them in the lining."
The policewoman handed Mrs. Melrose her coat. She smiled and said, "Dont worry, Mrs. Melrose. I am sure you are the real owner of this coat. And by the way I didnt find anything in the lining. This is a packet of salt I borrowed from the canteen."
1. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text. Reproduce the situations in which they are used. Use them in the sentences of your own.
| heater | to examine |
| compartment | lining |
| to wrap smth around smb | to be full of smth |
| to get a nasty shock | to be upset |
| to own (owner) | by the way |
| to find out | to borrow smth from smb |
2. Choose the correct answer
1) Why couldnt Mrs Melrose fall asleep?
1. There was another woman in the compartment who didnt let her sleep.
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2. She was afraid that someone might steal her expensive coat.
3. The temperature was too low in the compartment.
2) Why did Mrs Melrose leave the compartment early in the morning?
1. She was thirsty.
2. She was hungry.
3. She needed exercise.
3) Why did Mrs Melrose invite the guard to the compartment?
1. She couldnt find her coat.
2. She asked him to take her and the other woman to the Central Police Station.
3. She wanted him to make the other passenger return the coat to her.
4) What did the policewoman of the Central Police Station say she had found inside the coat?
1. A plastic bag with a drug.
2. A plastic bag with salt.
3. A label with Mrs Melroses name and address.
5) Why was Mrs Melrose very upset?
1. The policewoman had played a trick on her.
2. She realized that she was in serious trouble.
3. She realized that she would never get back her coat.
3. True or false?
1. Someone took Mrs Melroses coat while she was looking for the guard.
2. The policewoman of the Central Police Station knew at once whose coat it was.
3. The policewoman invited Mrs Melrose to examine the coat together with her.
4. The other woman had put some drugs inside the coat.
5. The policewoman returned the coat to Mrs Melrose.
4. Answer the following questions (using your active vocabulary):
1. Why was Mrs Melrose shocked when she came back to the compartment?
2. Who helped Mrs Melrose to get her coat back?
3. Why did the other woman leave the police station?
4. Why did the policewoman play a trick? Was she right?
5. Retell the story on the part of 1) Mrs Melrose 2) the other woman 3) the guard 4) the policewoman 5) the fur coat
6. Translate the sentences using the words and expressions from Task 1
1. . 2. , , . 3. ? - . 4. , . 5. , . 6. , ? 7. , . 8. , . 9. ? 10. . 11. . 12. ?
STEPMOTHER (after J. Greenwood)
I was born at Number Nineteen, Tummill Street, London. My mother died when I was five years old. She died fifteen minutes after my sister Polly was born.
As my father worked from morning till night, he had no time to look after Polly and me, so he married again soon. He married Mrs. Burke, who was much younger and more good-looking than my mother.
But I did not like my stepmother and she did not like me. So we began to hate each other; but she did not show her hatred when my father was at home.
She beat me very often and she made me work very hard. From morning till night she found work for me to do. I looked after the baby. When she was awake, I took her for a walk, carrying her in my arms, and she was very heavy. I cleaned the rooms, went shopping, etc. There was always work for me to do.
One day a woman came to see my stepmother and they drank a lot of gin. All the money that my father had left for our dinner was spent. When the woman went home, my stepmother said to me in tears, "Oh, what shall I do, Jimmy, dear, what shall I do? Your father will come home soon, and there's no dinner for him. He will beat me cruelly! What shall I do, what shall I do?"
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I was sorry for her, she had tears in her eyes, and she called me "Jimmy, dear" for the first time. I asked her if I could help her and she said at once, "Oh, yes, you can help me! When your father comes home in the evening, Jimmy, dear, tell him that you lost the money he left for our dinner."
"How could I lose it?" I asked in surprise.
"You can tell him that I sent you to buy some food. Suddenly a big boy ran against you and the money fell out of your hand and you could not find it. That will be very easy to say, Jimmy, dear, please, say it to our father!"
"But he'll give me a good beating for it!"
"Oh, no, he won't! I shall not let him beat you, you may be sure! Here is a penny for you, go and buy some sweets with it!"
So I went off and spent my penny on sweets.
When I came back and opened the door, my father was at home waiting for me with his waist-belt in his hand. I wanted to run out of the room, but he caught me by the ear.
"Stop a minute, young man!" he said. "What have you done with the money?"
"I lost it, Father," said I in fear and looked at my stepmother.
"Oh, you lost it! Where did you lose it?"
"In the street, Father. Ask Mrs. Burke, she knows!"
I told him what my stepmother had asked me to tell him. I was not much surprised that he did not believe my story.
But my stepmother's words surprised me very much.
"Yes, he told me the same thing," she said, "but he is a liar! He has spent your money on sweets. I can't beat him, he is your child, but you can give him a good beating!"
And she stood by while my father beat me with his belt till the blood showed. I hated my stepmother so much now that I wanted to see her dead.
1. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text. Reproduce the situations in which they are used. Use them in the sentences of your own.
| from morning till night | in surprise |
| to look after smb | to spend money (time) on smth |
| to marry smb | to wait for smb |
| hatred | to catch smb by (the ear) |
| make smb do smth | to give smb a good beating |
| take smb for a walk | to surprise smb |
| to be sorry for smb |
2. Answer the following questions (using your active vocabulary):
1. Why did Jimmys mother die?
2. Why did the boys father have to marry again?
3. What were the relationships between Jimmy and his stepmother?
4. Why did the boy decide to help his stepmother though he disliked her?
5. Why did the boys father was waiting for him with the belt in his hand?
6. Why do you think father didnt believe his son?
3. Make up the dialogue between Jims father and his wife when he came home from work.
4. Retell the story on the part of 1) the stepmother 2) the father 3) Jimmy 4) Polly 5) their neighbour
5. Translate the sentences using the words and expressions from Task 1
1. . 2. . 3. . 4. ? 5. . 6. , . 7. . 8. ? . 9. ? 10. , . 11. . 12. .
THE SCHOOL-TEACHER (after A. Cronin)
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Three months passed. Little by little Andrew got used to this strange town, surrounded by the mountains, and to the people most of whom worked in the mines. The town was full of mines, factories, churches and small dirty old houses. There was no theatre, not even a cinema the workers could go to after work. But Andrew liked the people. They spoke little and worked much. They liked football, and what was more interesting, they were fond of music, good classical music. He often heard the sound of a piano, coming from this or that house.
It was clear to Andrew now, that Doctor Page would never see a patient again. Manson did all the work, and Mrs. Page received all the money. She paid out to Manson less than one sixth of that twenty pounds and sixteen shillings a month. Almost all of it Andrew sent to the University to pay his debt.
But at that time the question of money was not important to him. He had a few shillings in his pocket to buy cigarettes and he had his work, and that was more than enough for him.
He had to work hard and to think much for he saw now that the professors at his University had given him very little to know about practical medicine.
He thought about all that walking in the direction of Riskin Street. There in Number 3 he found a small boy of nine years of age ill with measles. "I am sorry, Mrs. Howells," Andrew said to the boy's mother. "But you must keep Idris home from school." (Idris was Mrs. Howells' other son.)
"But Miss Barlow says he may come to school."
"Oh? Who is Miss Barlow?"
"She is the teacher."
"Miss Barlow has no right to let him come to school when his brother has measles," Andrew said angrily.
Five minutes later he entered a classroom of the school. A very young woman of about twenty or twenty-two was writing something on the blackboard.
She turned to him.
"Are you Miss Barlow?"
"Yes." Her large brown eyes were looking at him in a friendly way.
"Are you Doctor Page's new assistant?"
Andrew reddened suddenly.
"Yes," he said, "I'm Doctor Manson. You know Idris's brother has measles and so Idris must not be here."
"Yes, I know, but the family is so poor and Mrs. Howells is so busy. If Idris stays at home, he won't get his cup of milk.
And, Doctor Manson, most of the children here have had measles already."
"And what about the others? You must send that boy home at once."
"Well, Doctor," she interrupted him suddenly. "Don't you understand that I'm the teacher of this class and here it's my word that counts?"
"You can't have him here, Miss Barlow. If you don't send him home at once, I'll have to report you."
"Then report me, or have me arrested if you like." She quickly turned to the class. "Stand up, children, and say: 'Good-bye, Doctor Manson. Thank you for coming.' "
Before Andrew could say a word the door closed quietly in his face.
1. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text. Reproduce the situations in which they are used. Use them in the sentences of your own.
| to get used to smth (to doing smth) | to pay ones debt |
| to be fond of smth | to have (no) right to do smth |
| a patient | to interrupt smb |
2. Choose the correct answer
1) What was strange about the town?
a) Most of the citizens were unfriendly
b) There was little entertainment
c) Most people living there worked in factories
2) How much did Andrew Manson get for his job?
a) no money at all
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b) 1.6 shillings
c) a bit more than 20 pounds a month
3) What did Andrew think about his job?
a) he realized he lacked practical knowledge
b) it was boring and tiresome
c) it was tiresome and underpaid
4) The boys mother told Andrew that
a) her son had measles
b) her son had to stay at home
c) her son was allowed to go to school
5) Miss Barlow looked
a) young and friendly
b) middle-aged and friendly
c) young and hostile
6) Miss Barlow and Andrew
a) became friends at once
b) had an argument
c) were disappointed with each other
3. True or false?
1) Andrew hated the town and its citizens.
2) The citizens of the town were interested in sport and classical music.
3) Andrew saved all his money for the future.
4) Andrew disliked his job.
5) The boy in the street had a catching disease.
6) Andrew didnt want the boy to go to school.
7) Miss Barlow thought she had a right to allow the boy to come to school.
8) Miss Barlow behaved in a very rude manner.
9) Andrew threatened to arrest Miss Barlow.
4. Answer the following questions (using your active vocabulary):
1) What do we learn about the town where Andrew lived and about his job?
2) Who did Andrew see in Risking Street and how did it make him feel?
3) Why did he go to school and who did he meet there?
4) What kind of conversation took place between him and Miss Barlow?
5) What arguments did Miss Barlow give to support her opinion?
6) What was the result of Andrew and the teachers talk?
7) What do you think is going to happen next? Think of the end of the story.
5. Retell the story on the part of 1) Andrew 2) Miss Barlow 3) one of the pupils in Miss Barlows class
6. Translate the sentences using the words and expressions from Task 1
1. . 2. . 3. ? 4. . 5. . 6. .
POST HASTE (after Colin Howard)
"I say, I'm pleased to see you," said the little man standing by the letter-box.
"Oh, hallo," I said, stopping. "Simpson, isn't it?"
The Simpsons were newcomers to the town, and my wife and I had only met them once or twice.
"Yes, that's right," answered Simpson.
"I wonder if you could lend me some money". I put my hand into my pocket. "You see," he continued, "my wife gave me a letter to post, and I've just noticed it isn't stamped. It must go tonight it really must! And I don't think the post-office will be open at this time of night, do you?"
It was about eleven o'clock and I agreed that it wouldn't.
"I thought, you see, I'd get stamps out of the machine," explained Simpson, "only I find I have no small change about me."
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I haven't either," I said.
"Oh, dear, dear," he said.
"Maybe somebody else has," I said.
"There isn't anyone else".
We both looked up and down the street, but there was nobody to be seen.
"Yes, well," I said, intending to move off. But he looked so unhappy standing there with the blue unstamped envelope, that I really couldn't leave him alone.
"I'll tell you what," I said, "You'd better walk along with me to my place it's only a few streets off and I'll try to find some change for you there."
"It's really very good of you," said Simpson.
At home, we managed to find the money he needed. He thanked me and left. I watched him take several steps up the street and then return to me.
"I say, I'm sorry to trouble you again," he said. "The fact is we're still quite strangers round here and well, I'm rather lost, to tell you the truth. Will you tell me the way to the post-office?"
I did my best. It took me several minutes to explain to him where the post-office was. At the end of that time I felt as lost as Simpson and decided to go along with him. I led the way to the post-office. Simpson put a penny into the automatic stamp-machine. The coin passed through the machine, but with no result.
"It's empty," I explained.
Simpson was so nervous that he dropped the letter on the ground and when he picked it up there was a large black spot on its face.
"Dear me," he said. "My wife told me to post the letter tonight. After all it's not so important but you don't know my wife. I had better post it now."
Suddenly I remembered that I had a book of stamps at home. "It will be posted," I said. "But we'd better hurry, or we'll miss the midnight collection."
It took rather a long time to find the book of stamps. But when we found it, we saw after all that it was empty. The fast thing I could advise him to do was to post the letter unstamped. "Let the other man pay double postage on it in the morning".
I took him firmly by the arm and accompanied him to the post-office in time for the midnight collection. He dropped in his letter, and then, to finish off my job, I took him home.
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"I'm so grateful to you, really," he said when we reached his home. "That letter it's only an invitation to dinner to Mr... Dear me!".
"Why, what's the matter?"
"Nothing. Just something I've remembered."
"What?"
But he didn't tell me. He just opened his eyes and his mouth at me like a wounded goldfish, hurriedly said Good-night", and went inside.
All the way home I was wondering what it was he had remembered.
But I stopped wondering the next morning, when I had to pay the postman double postage for a blue envelope with a large black spot on its face.
1. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text. Reproduce the situations in which they are used. Use them in the sentences of your own.
| the letter-box | to walk along with smb |
| a newcomer | to trouble smb |
| to lend smth to smb | a stranger |
| to post a letter | to be lost |
| small change | to explain smth to smb |
| to leave smb alone | to take smb home |
| to look unhappy |
2. Choose the correct answer
1) Simpson needed money
a) to buy a stamp
b) to post the letter
c) to give it to his wife
2) The narrator couldnt help Simpson because
a) he had no money either
b) the post-office was closed
c) the machine didnt work
3) They went to the narrators place
a) to take another envelope
b) to look for some change
c) because Simpson was lost
4) The narrator had to accompany Simpson to the post-office because
a) Simpson didnt know the way
b) the narrator needed to post the letter
c) the narrator wanted to get his money back
5) They went to the narrators house again
a) to get more money
b) because they had left the letter there
c) to get a stamp
6) In the end, Simpson
a) posted the letter without a stamp
b) didnt post the letter at all
c) lost the letter
7) The next morning the narrator
a) received Simpsons letter
b) posted Simpsons letter
c) answered Simpsons letter
3. True or false?
1) It was the first time the narrator had seen Simpson.
2) The letter couldnt be posted as it didnt have a stamp.
3) The narrator offered some money to Simpson.
4) Simpson bought the stamp at the post office.
5) The narrator took Simpson to the post office two times.
6) The letter contained the dinner invitation for the narrator.
7) The narrator had to pay double charge for the letter.
4. Answer the following questions (using your active vocabulary):
1) How did the narrator meet Simpson and what problem did the latter have?
2) In what ways did the narrator try to help Simpson?
3) Why was the narrator confused at the end of the story? What had Simpson failed to tell him?
4) What is your response to the story? Do you find its ending unusual/ boring/ predictable/ unexpected/foolish/strange?
5. Retell the story on the part of 1) the narrator 2) Simpson 3) the third person
6. Translate the sentences using the words and expressions from Task 1
1. ()? 2. , , ? 3. . 4. ? 5. . - , . 6. , ? 7. , . 8. ! .
LOST LOVE (by Jan Carew)
These things happened to me nearly ten years ago. I lived in a city, but the city was hot in summer. I wanted to see the country. I wanted to walk in the woods and see green trees.
I had a little red car and I had a map, too. I drove all night out into the country. I was happy in my car. We had a very good summer that year. The country was very pretty in the early morning. The sun was hot, and the sky was blue. I heard the birds in the trees.
And then my car stopped suddenly.
Whats wrong? I thought. Oh dear, I havent got any petrol. Now Ill have to walk. Ill have to find a town and buy some petrol. But where am I?
I looked at the map. I wasnt near a town. I was lost in the country.
And then I saw the girl. She walked down the road, with flowers in her hand. She wore a long dress, and her hair was long, too. It was long and black, and it shone in the sun. She was very pretty. I wanted to speak to her, so I got out of the car.
Hello, I said. Im lost. Where am I?
She looked afraid, so I spoke quietly.
I havent got any petrol, I said. Where can I find some?
Her blue eyes looked at me, and she smiled.
Shes a very pretty girl! I thought.
I do not know, she said. Come with me to the village. Perhaps we can help you.
I went with her happily, and we walked a long way.
There isnt a village on the map, I thought. Perhaps its a very small village.
There was a village, and it was old and pretty. The houses were black and white and very small. There were a lot of animals. The girl stopped at a house and smiled at me. Come in, please, she said.
I went in. The house was very clean, but it was strange, too. There was a fire and some food above it. I felt hungry then.
Thats strange, I thought. They cook their food over a wood fire! Perhaps they have no money.
I met her father and mother, and I liked them. They were nice people, but their clothes were strange.
Sit down, said the old man. Are you thirsty after your walk?
He gave me a drink, and I said, Thank you. But the drink was strange, too. It was dark brown and very strong. I didnt understand. But I was happy there.
I asked about petrol, but the old man didnt understand.
Petrol? he asked. What is that?
This is strange, I thought. Then I asked, Do you walk everywhere?
The old man smiled. Oh, no, we use horses, he said.
Horses! I thought. Horses are very slow. Why dont they have cars?
But I didnt say that to the old man.
I felt happy there. I stayed all day, and I ate dinner with them that evening. Then the girl and I went out into the garden. The girls name was Mary.
This is nice, she said. We like having visitors. We do not see many people here.
We spoke happily. She was very beautiful. But after a time, she began to talk quietly, and her face was sad.
I cannot tell you, she said. You are only a visitor here. We have to say goodbye
tonight. You have to go now.
I didnt understand. I loved her. I knew that. And I wanted to help her. Why did 1 have to go? But Mary said again in a sad voice, You have to go. It is dangerous here.
So I said, Ill go to the next town and find some petrol. Then Ill come back.
She didnt speak.
I love you, Mary, I said. And Ill come back to you. You wont stop me.
She said goodbye to me at the door. Her face was very sad, and I was sad, too. I didnt want to go.
It was midnight. The night was very dark, but I walked and walked. I was very tired when I saw the lights of a town. I found some petrol, and then I asked the name of the village. But the man at the garage gave me a strange look.
What village? he asked.
I told him about the village. I told him about the old houses and the people with strange clothes.
Again he gave me a strange look. He thought, and then he said, There was a village there, but it isnt there now. There are stories about it strange stories.
What do people say about it? I asked.
He didnt want to tell me, but then he said, There was a big fire in the village. Everybody died. There arent any people or houses there now.
How did it happen? I asked. And why?
Oliver Cromwell killed them; he said. He was angry with the villagers because they helped the king in the war.
This isnt right, I thought. That war happened 350 years ago!
Then I remembered the strange clothes, the long hair, the food over the fire, and the old houses. And I remembered, too, about the horses.
But I dont understand, I cried. I saw the people and the village. I spoke to some people there!
The man looked quickly at me, and then he spoke.
Theres an interesting story about the village. For one day every ten years, it lives again but only for one day. Then it goes away again for another ten years. On that one day, you can find the village. But you have to leave before morning, or you will never leave.
Can this be right? I thought. Perhaps it was. Mary said, You have to go. She loved me, but she said, We have to say goodbye. She was afraid for me. Now I understand, I thought.
I went back to the village, but it wasnt there. I looked again and again, but I couldnt find it. I saw only flowers and trees. I heard only the sound of the birds and the wind. I was very sad. I sat down on the ground and cried.
I will never forget that day. I remember Mary, and I will always love her.
Now, I only have to wait two months. The village will come back again. On the right day, I will go back. I will find her again, my love with the long, black hair. And this time, I will not leave before morning. I will stay with her.
1. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text. Reproduce the situations in which they are used. Use them in the sentences of your own.
| petrol | to have visitors |
| to be lost | to give sb a strange look |
| to feel hungry | to leave |
| to be thirsty |
2. Find in the text the expressions which mean the following. Pay attention to the prepositions. Make up a short story using some of these expressions or use them in the sentences of your own.
-, , , , -, -, , - , -, .
3. True or false?
1) The narrator went to the countryside because he wanted to enjoy nature.
2) The narrator run out of petrol and came to the nearest town to buy some.
3) In the town he saw a beautiful girl.
4) The girl walked him to the village which wasnt shown in the map.
5) The girls house and her parents seemed strange to the narrator.
6) The narrator learnt the name of the village from a man who had sold him some petrol.
7) The man said the village had been burnt 350 years ago.
8) The village existed one day every two months.
9) The narrator was going to return to the village and stay there forever.
4. Answer the following questions (using your active vocabulary):
1) How did the narrator meet Mary?
2) Why was he surprised when the girl told him about the village?
3) What was unusual about Marys parents, their house and their way of life?
4) What did Mary tell the narrator at night? What did he feel when he heard it?
5) What did the narrator learn from the man in the town?
6) What decision did the narrator make and why?
5. Retell the story on the part of 1) third person 2) the narrator 3) the girl
6. Act out a dialogue between Mary and the narrator when they were saying goodbye to each other.
7. Translate the text using the words and expressions from Task 1 and Task 2.
. . , . . . - .- ? , .. - (sat navs), , . ?- . , , - . , . . , , ? J
THE GIFT OF THE MAGI (by OHenry)
One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. Every day, when she went to the shops, she spent very little money. She bought the cheapest meat, the cheapest vegetables. And even when she was tired, she still walked round and round the shops to find the cheapest food. She saved every cent possible. Della counted the money again. There was no mistake. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And the next day was Christmas.
She couldnt do anything about it. She could only sit down and cry. So she sat there, in the poor little room, and she cried.
Della lived in this poor little room, in New York, with her husband, James Dillingham Young. They also had a bedroom, and a kitchen and a bathroom all poor little rooms. James Dillingham Young was lucky, because he had a job, but it was not a good job. These rooms took most of his money. Della tried to find work, but times were bad, and there was no work for her. But when Mr James Dillingham Young came home to his rooms, Mrs James Dillingham Young called him Jim and put her arms round him. And that was good.
Della stopped crying and she washed her face. She stood by the window, and looked out dully at a grey cat on a grey wall in the grey backyard. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only one dollar and eighty-seven cents to buy Jim a Christmas present. She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result. Twenty dollars a week doesnt go far. Expenses had been greater than she had been calculated. They always are. Only one dollar and eighty-seven cents 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 of being owned by Jim.
Suddenly, Della turned round and ran over to look in the glass on the wall. Her eyes were shining brightly, 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 Jims gold watch. It once belonged to his father, and, before that, to his grandfather. The other special thing was Dellas hair.
So now Dellas beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a coat for her. And then she did it up again nervously and quickly. Once she faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet.
Then she put on her old brown coat, and her old brown hat, and with a whirl of skirts and with the brilliant sparkle in her eyes, she fluttered out the door and down the stairs to the street.
She walked along by the shops, and stopped when she came to a door with Madame Eloise Hair on it. Inside there was a fat woman. She did not look like an Eloise.
Will you buy my hair? Della asked.
I buy hair, Madame replied. Take your hat off, then, and show me your hair. The beautiful brown hair fell down.
Twenty dollars, Madame said, and she touched the hair with her hand.
Quick! Cut it off! Give me the money! Della said.
The next two hours went quickly. Delia was happy because she was looking round the shops for Jims present.
At last she found it. 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 gold chain for The Watch. Jim loved his watch, but it had no chain. When Della saw this gold chain, she knew immediately that it was right for Jim. She must have it. The shop took twenty-one dollars from her for it, and she hurried home with the eighty-seven cents.
When she arrived home, she looked at her very short hair in the glass. What can I do with it? she thought. For the next half an hour she was very busy. She got out her curling irons, lighted the gas and went to work.
Within forty minutes her head was covered with tiny, close-lying curls that made her look wonderfully like a truant schoolboy. She again looked at her reflection in the mirror long, carefully, and critically. If Jim doesnt kill me, she said to herself, before he takes a second look at me, hell say I look like a Coney Island chorus girl.
At seven oclock the dinner was nearly ready and Della was waiting. When she heard his step on the stair she turned white for just a moment. Oh, I hope he thinks that Im still beautiful! she thought.
The door opened and Jim came in and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. Poor fellow, he was only twenty-two and to be burdened with a family! He needed a new coat and he was without gloves.
Jim stopped inside the door. His eyes were fixed upon Della and there was an expression in them that she could not read, and it terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that she had been prepared for. He just watched her, with that strange look on his face.
Della ran to him. Jim, darling, she cried, dont look at me like that. I had my hair cut off and sold it because I couldnt have lived through Christmas without giving you a present. It will soon be long again you wont mind, will you? I just had to do it, Jim. My hair grows awfully fast. Say Happy Christmas, please. I have a wonderful present for you!
Youve cut off your hair? asked Jim.
Yes. I cut it off and sold it, Della said. But dont you love me any more, Jim? Im still me without my hair, aint I.
Jim looked round the room. You say your hair is gone? he said, almost stupidly.
Yes. I told you. Because I love you! Shall I get the dinner now, Jim?
Suddenly Jim put his arms round his Della. Then he took something from his pocket and put it on the table. I love you, Della, he said. It doesnt matter if your hair is short or long. Nothing could make me like my girl any less. But if you unwrap that package, youll see why you had me going a while at first.
Excited, Della pulled off the paper. Then she gave a little scream of happiness. But a second later there were cries of unhappiness. Because there were The Combs the combs for her beautiful hair. When she first saw these combs in the shop window, she wanted them. They were beautiful combs, expensive combs, and now they were hers. But she no longer had her hair!
Della picked them up and held them. Her eyes were full of love. But my hair will soon be long again, Jim.
And then Della remembered. She jumped up and cried, Oh! Oh! She ran to get Jims beautiful present, and she held it out to him. Isnt it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. Now youll want to look at your watch a hundred times a day. Give it to me! Give me your watch, Jim! Lets see it with its new chain.
Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head, and smiled.
Dell, he said, lets put our presents away and keep them a while. Theyre too nice to use just at present. You see, I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now, lets have dinner.
And this was the story of two young people who were very much in love.
1. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text. Reproduce the situations in which they are used. Use them in the sentences of your own.
| to save (money) | to flutter out |
| to count smth | to look round |
| expenses | be covered with |
| to be worthy of smth | to turn white |
| to pull down ones hair | to be burdened with smb |
| to take a (mighty) pride in smb\ smth | to (dis)approve of smth |
| to belong to smb | to go a while |
| to falter | to obey |
2. Answer the following questions (using your active vocabulary):
1. Why was Della saving money?
2. Did she save enough money for a Christmas present?
3. How did Jim and Della live (their relations, financial position)?
4. What were the possessions they were proud of?
5. What decision did Della take to get the money?
6. What did she do after she had had her hair cut?
7. What did Della fear for when she was waiting for Jim?
8. How did Jim behave when he saw Dellas hair cut short?
9. How did Jim get the money for the Christmas present?
10. What do you think the title means?
3. Retell the story on the part of 1) Della 2) Jim 3) the hairdresser 4) the butcher/ the neighbor
4. Translate the sentences using the words and expressions from Task 1.
1. , . 2. , . 3. . 4. : ? 5. , . 6. ? 7. , . 8. , , . 9. , , . 10. . 11. , . 12. 20, . 13. . 14. .
A DOG AND THREE DOLLARS (by Mark Twain)
I have always believed that a man must be honest. Never ask for money you have not earned, I always said.
Now I shall tell you a story which will show you how honest I have always been all my life.
A few days ago at my friends house I met General Miles. General Miles was a nice man and we became great friends very quickly.
Did you live in Washington in 1867? the general asked me.
Yes, I did, I answered.
How could it happen that we did not meet then? said General Miles.
General, said I. We could not meet then. You forget that you were already a great general then, and I was a poor young writer whom nobody knew and whose books nobody read. You do not remember me, I thought, but we met once in Washington at that time.
I remember it very well. I was poor then and very often I did not have money even for my bread. I had a friend. He was a poor writer too. We lived together. We did everything together: worked, read books, went for walks together. And when we were hungry, we were both hungry. Once we were in need of three dollars. I dont remember why we needed these three dollars so much, but I remember well that we had to have the money by the evening. We must get these three dollars, said my friend. I shall try to get the money, but you must also try.
I went out of the house, but I did not know where to go and how to get the three dollars. For an hour I was walking along the streets of Washington and was very tired. At last I came to a big hotel. I shall go in and have a rest, I thought.
I went into the hall of the hotel and sat down on a sofa. I was sitting there when a beautiful small dog ran into the hall. It was looking for somebody. The dog was nice and I had nothing to do, so I called it and began to play with it.
I was playing with the dog, when a man came into the hall. He wore a beautiful uniform and I knew at once that he was General Miles. I knew him by his pictures in the newspapers. What a beautiful dog! he said. Is it your dog? I did not have time to answer him when he said, Do you want to sell it?
Three dollars, I answered at once.
Three dollars? he asked. But that is very little. I can give you fifty dollars for it.
No, no. I only want three dollars.
Well, it is your dog. If you want three dollars for it, I shall be glad to buy your dog.
General Miles paid me three dollars, took the dog and went up to his room.
Ten minutes later an old man came into the hall. He looked round the hall. I could see that he was looking for something. Are you looking for a dog, sir? I asked. Oh, yes! Have you seen it? said the man.
Your dog was here a few minutes ago and I saw how it went away with a man, I said. If you want, I shall try to find it for you.
The man was very happy and asked me to help him. I shall be glad to help you, but it will take some of my time and
I am ready to pay you for your time cried the man. How much do you want for it?
Three dollars, I answered.
Three dollars? said the man. But it is a very good dog. I shall pay you ten dollars if you find it for me.
No sir, I want three dollars and not a dollar more, said I.
Then I went up to General Miless room. The General was playing with his new dog. I came here to take the dog back, I said.
But it is not your dog now I have bought it. I have paid you three dollars for it, said the General.
I shall give you back your three dollars, but I must take the dog back I answered.
But you have sold it to me, it is my dog now.
I could not sell it to you, sir, because it was not my dog.
Still you have sold it to me for three dollars.
How could I sell it to you when it was not my dog? You asked me how m uch I wanted for the dog, and I said that I wanted three dollars. But I never told you that it was my dog.
General Miles was very angry now. Give me back my three dollars and take the dog, he shouted.
When I brought the dog back to its master, he was very happy and paid me three dollars with joy. I was happy too because I had the money, and I felt I earned it.
Now you can see why I say that honesty is the best policy and that a man must never take anything that he has not earned.
1. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text. Reproduce the situations in which they are used. Use them in the sentences of your own.
| to become great friends | to sell sth |
| to be hungry | to take sth back |
| to need sth | to be angry |
| to look for sth/sb | a master |
| a uniform |
2. Choose the correct answer
1) When the narrator and General Miles first met
a) the narrator was an unknown writer
b) they became friends quickly
c) they were at the narrators friends house
2) How did the narrator find himself in the hotel?
a) he had been looking for three dollars and got tired
b) he had been following a dog
c) he wanted to meet General Miles
3) What did the narrator do with the dog?
a) sold it for three dollars
b) lent it to General Miles
c) set the dog free
4) When the master of the dog came
a) he asked the narrator to help him
b) he wanted to buy the dog from General Miles
c) he was ready to pay fifty dollars to get his dog back
5) Why was General Miles angry with the narrator?
a) he felt that the narrator had cheated him
b) he regretted paying the money for the dog
c) he didnt like the dogs master
6) Why was the narrator happy at last?
a) Because he had helped two men and a dog
b) Because he had got acquainted with General Miles
c) Because he had got three dollars
3. True or false?
1) The narrator and General Miles first met in Washington.
2) The narrator and his friend needed three dollars to buy some bread.
3) General Miles liked the dog and decided to buy it.
4) The master of the dog asked the narrator to help him find the dog.
5) The narrator did not give General Miles his three dollars back.
6) General Miles was happy to receive his money back.
7) The narrator felt he had earned the money in an honest way.
4. Answer the following questions (using your active vocabulary):
1) In what conditions did the narrator live in Washington?
2) In what circumstances did the narrator meet General Miles?
3) How did the narrator earn his three dollars?
4) Do you agree that honesty is the best policy? Do you think the narrator behaved honestly?
5. Retell the story on the part of 1) third person 2) General Miles 3) the dog
6. Act out a dialogue between 1) the narrator and the master of the dog b) the narrator and General Miles when a) they first met b) the narrator came to Generals room to take the dog back
7. Translate the sentences using the words and expressions from Task 1
1. ? - , . 2. . 3. ? , . 4. , . 5. . 6. , . 7. (rejected) . .
THE COP AND THE ANTHEM (after OHenry)
Winter was coming, and Soapy, one of the many thousands of New York pickpockets, felt uneasy. knew that the time had m for him to look for shelter. Soapy's desires were not great. Three months in prison was what he wanted. There he was sure of little food and bed, safe from the winter wind and the cold.
For years prison had been his shelter during the winter. Now the time had m again.
Having decided to go to prison, Soapy at n set about fulfilling his desire. There were many easy ways of doing this. The pleasantest was to dine well at some expensive restaurant, and then, after saying that he could not , b quietly arrested b policeman and sent to prison b the judge.
Soapy got u and walked out of the square and across the level sea of asphalt, where Broadway and Fifth Avenue flow together. stopped at the window of brightly lit cafe. Soapy was freshly shaven, and his coat and tie were decent. But his boots and trousers were shabby. "If I n reach table in the restaurant without being seen", he thought, "everything will b all right. The upper part of me that will show above the table will raise no doubt in the waiter's mind. roasted duck, two bottles of wine, u of coffee, and cigar will make m happy for the journey to m winter quarters".
But just as Soapy entered the restaurant door, the head waiter's fell u n his shabby trousers and boots. So long hands turned him round and pushed r to the sidewalk.
Soapy turned off Broadway. had to think of another way of getting to prison. At a corner of Sixth Avenue he saw brightly lit shop window. Soapy took bbl-stone and threw it at the glass and broke it. l m running around the comer, policeman at their head. Soapy stood still, with his hands in his pockets, and smiled when he saw the policeman's blu coat.
"Where is the mn that has done it?" shouted the policeman.
"Do u think I have done it?" said Soapy in friendly way.
The policeman did not understand Soapy's hint. Men who break windows do not usually remain to speak to policemen. They run away. Just then the policeman saw man hurrying to catch r. lub in hand, he rushed after that mn. Soapy had failed again.
n the opposite side of the street was small and cheap restaurant. Soapy entered it, sat down at table, and ate beefsteak and an enormous apple-pie. "Now ll blue-coat, I cannot . I have n mn", said Soapy. "And don't keep gentleman waiting".
"No bIue-coats for u", said the waiter, and seazing Soapy b the collar threw him out of the restaurant. Soapy got u and beat the dust from his clothes. was in despair. sudden fear seized him that some magic was keeping him from arrest and prison.
"Disorderly conduct", was his last resort. Soapy began to ll at the top of his voice. He danced and howled like madman. policeman who was standing nearby turned his back to Soapy, and remarked to passer-by: "It is n of those University lads. They are celebrating their traditional holiday. They are noisy, but they mean n harm. We have instructions to let them in ". Soapy stopped in despair. buttoned his thin coat against the cold wind and the rain, and walked n.
was just passing cigar store, when he saw well-dressed mn entering that store and leaving his wet umbrella at the entrance. Soapy stepped in, took the umbrella, and slowly continued his way. The man saw him. turned and followed hastily. " umbrella", he said sternly.
"Oh, is it yours?" said Soapy. "Why don't u ll policeman? I took it. Why don't u cll blue-coat? There stands n at the corner."
The umbrella owner slowed his steps.
"Of course", said he, "That is, - u know how these mistakes occur - I - if it's your umbrella, I hope ull excuse me - I picked it u this morning in restaurant if you recognize it as yours, - I hope ull..."
The ex-umbrella man retreated. Soapy walked n muttering insults against the policeman who did not want to arrest him. At last he reached street where there was little traffic and few pedestrians. At quiet corner he suddenly stopped. There was an old church in front of him. Through n window soft light shone, and he heard the sweet music of the organ which made him approach the iron fence. The moon was above, cold and beautiful, and the music made Soapy suddenly remember those days when his life contained such things as mothers and roses, and collars. Soapy listened to the music, looked at the moon, and murmured to himself. "There is time yet. I will reform. I will bm n honest man. I will get out of the mire. I m still young. I will b somebody in the world. I will - "
Soapy felt hand n his arm. looked quickly around into the broad face of policeman.
"What are u doing here?" asked the blue-coat.
"Nothing", said Soapy.
"Then m along," said the policeman: "Thinking of robbing the church, eh?"
"Three months' imprisonment", said the judge in the Police Court next morning.
1. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text. Reproduce the situations in which they are used. Use them in the sentences of your own.
to feel uneasy hint
