Text 6. Alex's day off
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Alex's day off
| Alex usually comes home for weekends. He arrives straight after classes on Saturday as he doesn't want to spend more time under his officer's eye than required. At home he feels happy and relaxed. Its atmosphere takes his mind off his problems. A nice dinner is ready for him. He is usually hungry as a hunter. His mum is pleased to see how he fills his boots.She never gets disappointed with him in this respect. In no time his dishes are clean. And Alex's sister Natasha doesn't need much time to wash them up. Alex goes for a walk. He wanders about the city for a while. It will be a miracle if Natasha tides everything up before he is back home safe and sound. This 'dragon' doesn't want him to come in with his dirty boots on and she doesn't want mud all over the carpet. She is as good as gold, when she doesn't complain that she must cope on her own and Alex does as he pleases. But she often gets bees in her bonnet. Alex usually sits in front of the TV set in the evening. There is sometimes a good programme on. Then he has some light supper and makes a couple of phone calls to arrange a meeting with his friends. After that he goes to bed and sleeps 10 solid hours. His mother wakes him up with a nice hot cup of tea next morning. He gets himself ready for breakfast. At about midday Alex's father and he go to a garage to see their almost new car. A closer inspection of it tells a different story: the car needs some minor repairs. Alex loves this job. He is not new to it himself. He knows a lot more about cars than most of his friends. Alex drives very well. He had some driving lessons from his father and then at a special school. His teacher's hair didn't go completely grey and Alex in fact learnt to drive without too much difficulty. He passed his driving test the very first time. He often has a nice little drive around the city. Alex always enjoys himself when he is with his dad. When at home Alex sometimes helps his sister for a change. Then he gets dressed and leaves home to meet his friends. They pop in one of their places for a couple of drinks. As they are often short of money, they treat themselves to some tea or coffee. They sometimes go to a disco. Alex can't dance very well. When everybody dances, he just sits and looks miserable. His friends have a very good time on the other hand. They make the most of their time. Alex is too shy to invite anybody to dance with him. At least good music cheers him up.... It's starting to get late and Alex returns to his old quarters. | straight [streıt] прямо, сразу require [rı΄kwaıə] требовать relaxed [rı΄lækst] отдохнувший, расслабленный atmosphere [΄ætməsfıə] атмосфера hungry as a hunter[΄hLntə] голодный как волк fill one's boots есть get disappointed[ֽdısə΄poıntıd] разочаровываться respect отношение in no time очень быстро dishes посуда wander [΄wo:ndə] бродить miracle [΄mırəkl] чудо tidy up[΄taıdı] прибирать safe and sound цел и невредим dirty[΄də:tı] грязный mud [mLd] грязь complain [kəm΄pleın] жаловаться cope [koup] справляться please хотеть, нравиться get bees in one's bonnet[΄bonıt] иметь причуды couple [΄kLpl] пара solid [΄solıd] непрерывный garage [΄gæra:з] гараж minor [΄maınə] мелкий completely[kəm΄pli:tlı] полностью pop in заглянуть, заходить treat [tri:t] позволять miserable [΄mızrbl] несчастный on the other hand с другой стороны make the most of one's time использовать время наилучшим образом at least [li:st] по крайней мере cheer up[΄tòıə] ободрять |
Переведите следующие слова и словосочетания на английский язык; проверьте свои ответы по контрольным ответам и повторите их по образцу.
| 1. приходить сразу после уроков | 1. come straight after classes |
| 2. больше времени, чем требуется | 2. more time than required |
| 3. чувствовать себя расслабленным | 3. feel relaxed |
| 4. голодный "как волк" | 4. hungry as a hunter |
| 5. есть | 5. fill one's boots |
| 6. разочаровываться | 6. get disappointed |
| 7. в этом отношении | 7. in this respect |
| 8. очень быстро | 8. in no time |
| 9. бродить по городу | 9. wander about the city |
| 10. прибирать | 10. tidy up |
| 11. цел и невредим | 11. safe and sound |
| 12. грязные ботинки | 12. dirty boots |
| 13. грязь | 13. mud |
| 14. жаловаться | 14. complain |
| 15. хотеть, нравиться | 15. please |
| 16. справляться самостоятельно | 16. cope on one's own |
| 17. иметь причуды | 17. get bees in one's bonnet |
| 18. пара | 18. couple |
| 19. 10 часов без перерыва | 19. 10 solid hours |
| 20. мелкий ремонт | 20. minor repairs |
| 21. полностью седой | 21. completely grey |
| 22. без очень большого труда | 22. without too much difficulty |
| 23. заглянуть | 23. pop in |
| 24. иметь мало денег | 24. be short of money |
| 25. позволять себе | 25. treat oneself to |
| 26. выглядеть несчастным | 26. look miserable |
| 27. с другой стороны | 27. on the other hand |
| 28. использовать время наилучшим образом | 28. make the most of one's time |
| 29. скромный | 29. shy |
| 30. приглашать | 30. invite |
| 31. по крайней мере | 31. at least |
| 32. ободрять | 32. cheer up |
Прочитайте вопросы и ответы к тексту. Ответьте на вопросы самостоятельно и сверьте свои ответы с контрольными.
| 1. When does Alex come home at weekends? | 1. He arrives home straight after classes on Saturday. |
| 2. How does Alex feel at home and why? | 2. At home he feels happy and relaxed, its atmosphere takes his mind off his problems. |
| 3. Alex is usually very hungry, isn't he? | 3. Yes, he is usually hungry as a hunter. His mum is pleased to see how he fills his boots. |
| 4. Does he eat quickly? | 4. Yes, in no time his dishes are clean. Alex's sister doesn't need much time to wash them up. |
| 5. What does he do on Saturday evening? | 5. Alex goes for a walk. He wanders about the city for a while. When he is back home safe and sound, he sits in front of the TV-set. Then he has some light supper and makes a couple of phone calls to arrange a meeting with his friends. After that he goes to bed. |
| 6. When is Alex's sister as good as gold? | 6. When she doesn't complain that she must cope on her own and Alex does as he pleases. |
| 7. How does Alex's mother wake him up? | 7. His mother wakes him up with a nice hot cup of tea. |
| 8. What do Alex's father and he do in the afternoon? | 8. At about midday Alex's father and he go to their garage. |
| 9. Does Alex know how to repair cars? | 9. Alex is not new to it. He knows a lot more about cars than most of his friends. |
| 10. Who taught Alex how to drive? | 10. He had some driving lessons from his father and then at a special school. |
| 11. Was it difficult for Alex to pass his driving test? | 11. Alex learnt to drive without too much difficulty. He passed his driving test the very first time. |
| 12. Does Alex like to be with his father? | 12. Yes, Alex always enjoys himself when he is with his dad. |
| 13. What do Alex's friends and he do on Sunday evening? | 13. They pop in one of their places for a couple of drinks. They sometimes go to a disco. |
| 14. What do they treat themselves to? | 14. They treat themselves to some tea or coffee. |
| 15. Does Alex dance? | 15. Alex can't dance very well. When everybody dances, he just sits and looks miserable. Alex is too shy to invite anybody to dance with him. |
| 16. Do his friends have a good time? | 16. They make the most of their time. |
Закройте вопросы в задании 2, оставьте открытыми ответы. По ответам восстановите вопросы и проверьте себя.
