The Umbrella man. Dip in the pool. The Butler. The Hitchhiker. My Lady Love, My Dove, страница 34

4. Mr. Thornhill’s ring is mentioned several times during the story – “the butterfly imprisoned in ice.” Mr. Thornhill explains it is a “symbol of the resurgence of spring over winter.” What else in the story it could symbolize?

5. Imagine that Miss Treadwell and Mr. Thornhill meet by chance a year after the story. What do you think they would say to each other?

6. What do you think their life would have been happier if Miss Treadwell accepted the proposal?

                         A Bit of Singing and Dancing

Pre-reading task:

Before reading the story look at the title and say what associations the title might bring forth. Try to predict what the story might be about.

Reading:

Read the story carefully and try to understand it in detail. Mind the notes to the text.

Vocabulary focus:

1. Look up and learn the following words.

rim                                        to hoard

cellist                                    lavender

luxury                                   lodger

gull                                       cuff links

will                                       spruce

bewilderment                       incisor

outfit                                    pickles

twilight                                prejudice

morbid                                 to deceive

ease                                      bulky

to conduct                            sacredness

2. Match the words with their definitions:

Relief, funeral, pedlar, lampshade, gale, sin, opportunity, reminder,

equipment, echo, barber, loft, pharmacy, orphan, fault.

Definitions:

1. smth. that makes one remember;

2. a very strong wind;

3. a sound sent back or repeated from a surface;

4. a child, whose parents are both dead;

5. a person who goes from place to place trying to sell small articles;

6. feeling of comfort at the ending of anxiety, pain or dullness;

7. shop where medicines are sold;

8. an offence against God or a religious law;

9. a person who cuts men’s hair;

10. a decorative cover placed over a lamp.

11. a favourable moment or occasion for doing smth.;

12. a room or space under the roof of a building;

13. the set of things needed for a particular activity;

14. a mistake or imperfection; something wrong or incorrect;

15. a ceremony of burying or burning a dead body.

3. Insert the necessary prepositions.

1. I can do any thing I choose, anything at all, for now I’m answerable only … myself.

2. A small thrill went through her as she realized that everything was entirely … … her, she could watch whichever program she chose.

3. But … truth her mother had watched variety shows whereas she herself would have chosen BBC2.

4. ‘I like a bit … singing and dancing, it cheers you …, Esme, it takes you … … yourself.”

5. “We were never allowed to indulge ourselves … rich foods.”

6. Every morning her mother had read two newspapers … cover … cover.

7. It was a long time since she had been … for so long, she could not quite get used … it, this absence … the need to look … her watch, to scurry home.

8. There was no doubt that the things connected with her mother’s will would be settled … her advantage.

9. Mrs. Fanshaw had been very careful, prudent, and so she would not be … want.

10. Mrs. Fanshaw always said … her daughter that they should live … their means.

11. Now, standing … the doorway, smelling lavender polish and dust, she felt as though she wanted to be rid … all memory.

12. Mr. Curry said that his education had been rather elementary, he had a good brain which had never been taxed … the full.

13. I have always been anxious to fill … every hour … the day, I have boundless energy.

14. You should have consulted me, Esme, you take far too much … trust.

15. She thought, he is obviously a very sensitive man, he can read … the lines: and she wanted to laugh … relief, for there was no need to go … details about how dominating her mother was.