Models: a) He was just going to pitch the postcard in the fire when suddenly he decided not to.
e.g. She wanted to put a coin into the slot but changed her mind as she had very little money. She was just going to put a coin into the slot when she remembered that she had very little money and decided not to.
b) How was it that he had never noticed the most significant fact about the postcards?
e.g. He could not understand why he had never noticed before that Bilson was left-handed. How was it that he had never noticed that Bilson was left-handed?
c) It isnt a pleasant experience, I can tell you.
e.g. Thats not the first time he has acted this way, I can tell you
1. Ben was on the point of dialing his telephone number to have the matter out with his brother, but then he thought better of it.
2. The tickets were sold out a month ago. Why on earth was the theatre half empty?
3. Daniel has a very good memory for names and dates. How did it happen that he forgot about my birthday?
4. The weather forecast was "cloudy with occasional showers". He was about to start off when suddenly he decided to stay at home.
5. Jane was just about to throw the old envelope into the waste-paper basket when suddenly she changed her mind.
6. So you are a professional singer. How could it have happened that you had never told me about this before?
7. How can you account for the fact that we have lived in the same town for two years and have never met?
Translate the following sentences into English using the phrases
And word combinations from the text.
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.
, , .
³ .
, , .
, -
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, , .
, , .
, , , .
³ , .
11. Explain what is meant by:
projections of his own personality or, in different forms, the antithesis of it;
to experiment with acquaintances;
otherworldly, indeed;
too ready to escape into an ambiguous world;
the words came haltingly;
growing pains;
inclined to under-value parish churches;
languorous with semicolons and subordinate clauses;
sharp and incisive with main verbs and full stops;
so ordinary as perhaps to be disguised;
if she senses that she's getting a rise out of you she'll go on;
he could not bring himself to look at the picture.
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Paraphrase the following sentences using the essential vocabulary.
1. Can you tell me how the accident happened?
2. A good job that you enjoy doing is hard to find.
3. She held a large round thing in her hand.
4. Your suggestion pleases me in every way.
5. I can't do anything with him.
6. I am against this trip.
7. His first reaction was one of shock and resentment.
8. Are you listening to what is being said?
9. I was relieved to hear his words.
10. What reason do you have for thinking that he is to blame?
Choose the right word.
object(s) - subject(s); to object - to oppose; to obtain - to come by; to happen - to come about; to yield - to give in
1. How did you... that scratch on your cheek?
2. It's difficult to... first editions of Shakespeares works.
3. I haven't been able... that record anywhere; can you... it for me?
4. The accident... last week.
5. How did it... that you did not report the theft until two days after it occurred?
6. After months of refusing, Irene... to Soames and agreed to marry him.
7. Mr Davidson had never been known... to the force of temptation.
8. Jane must stop... to her desire for chocolate.
9. Such things are not fit... of discussion.
10. There were many... of delight and interest claiming his attention.
11. His strange clothes were the... of great amusement.
12. The... of the painting is the Battle of Waterloo.
13. Ruth had... his writing because it did not earn money.
14. Like many of the scientists he had been actively... to the use of the bomb.
15. I... most strongly to this remark.
READING COMPREHENSION
Recalling
1. What was written in the first postcard?
2. Why was Walter Streeter glad that he did not have to answer the postcard?
3. Should a writer grudge the time and energy to answer letters?
4. What impression did the second postcard make on Walter Streeter?
5. Why did he dismiss the faint stirrings of curiosity?
6. Should a writer avoid making new acquaintances?
7. What difficulties did the writer have with his work and how did he try to reassure himself?
8. What did Walter Streeter do with the first two postcards and why did he keep the third
9. What odd coincidence did Walter Streeter notice?
10. Do you happen to know of any odd coincidences?
11. What thoughts and feelings did the third postcard provoke?
12. What did his friend say?
13. Why did a wave of panic surge up in him when Walter Streeter
read the fourth postcard?
14. What was the outcome of his visit to the police?
ATTENTION CHECK
1. Speak on the overall tone of the passage, specifying the setting and the timespan of the story, plot development 
and the characters involved. Observe the stylistic means the author employs to keep the reader in suspense:
a) the words and phrases denoting emotional reaction;
b) the incongruity between the banal contents of the postcards and the importance Walter Streeter attaches to them;
c) the contrast in mood and length between the passages separating one postcard from another;
d ) the word order.
2. Analyze the content of the postcards and bring out the message that they have in common. Comment on the specific intonation of the postcards (which are supposed to reveal the character of the anonymous correspondent and his attitude towards Walter Streeter):
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a) absence of greeting;
b) the vocabulary and set expressions;
c) lexical and syntactical repetitions (in the first postcard)
d) negative and interrogative sentences;
e) the play on words (in the second and fourth postcards).
3. Indicate the lexical means used to depict the character of Walter Streeter:
a) which words and phrases help the reader to understand his character? Is the description a complete one?
b) what does Walter Streeter himself feel about his own work? Enlarge on the function of inner reported speech and various repetitions;
c) is there a lot of figurative language in the story? Give examples of the epithet, metaphor, simile;
d) what is the author's attitude towards Walter Streeter? Sympathetic? Indifferent? Unsympathetic? Justify your answer.
REORGANIZATION
1. Write the plan of the text. Retell the story according to your plain.
2. Make up and act out dialogues between:
1). Walter Streeter and his friend whom he showed the postcard from York Minster;
2). Walter Streeter and the police officer about the postcard business.
