The Umbrella man. Dip in the pool. The Butler. The Hitchhiker. My Lady Love, My Dove, страница 4

1. His  interest quickly turned … outright enthusiasm when the butler suggested … him that a knowledge … wine was a very considerable social asset.

2. Mr. Cleaver bought books … the subject and read them … cover … cover.

3. Mr. Cleaver came to regard himself as an expert … wine, and inevitably he turned … a colossal bore.

4. Smells … cowslips!

5. The dressing should be made … pure olive oil and a little lemon juice.

6. The blood was coming … his face now, his skin was turning scarlet.

7. Mr. Cleaver swung … … his chair and stared … the butler.

8. The butler had caught them … balance.

Reading Comprehension:

1. Decide whether these statements are true or false:

1. Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver had always lived in an elegant London house.

2. The dinner parties which the Cleavers gave were always a great success.

3. Mr. Cleaver was not short of money so he could afford himself those wines that cost a fortune.

4. The butler said that no one could appreciate the taste of the wines because of liberal quantities of olive oil in the salad-dressing.

5. Mr. Cleaver followed the butler’s advice and lessened the quantities of vinegar in the salad-dressing.

6. The butler and a French chef had drunk all those great clarets  themselves and enjoyed them immensely.

2. Answer the following questions:

1. How did the Cleavers begin to “climb the social ladder”?

2. According to Tibbs why were the dinner parties not successful?

3. Why did Tibbs find it difficult to get the best wine in the world?

4. Did Mr. Cleaver become interested in wine? How did it influence his character?

5. How many different things do you need to do to taste wine properly?

6. Why didn’t the Cleavers’ guests appreciate the best wine?

7. How did Mr. Cleaver make fun of his butler in front of the guests?

8. Why did Tibbs leave empty wine bottles on the sideboard for people to see them?

9. What did Tibbs say to leave the guests speechless?

10. What had the butler and the chef done with the best wine?

11. What did both servants do at the end?

Discussion:

1. Was the butler right or wrong to do what he did? Why did he do it?

2. Would you employ a servant if you had enough money? What would be the most important servant for you? A butler, a cook, a driver?

3. Do you think the writer creates sympathy for the butler or for Mr. Cleaver?

Who do you sympathize with?

  The Hitchhiker

Pre-reading task:

Before reading the story “The Hitchhiker” try to predict what it might be about. Discuss with your partner what associations the title of the story can bring forth.

Reading:

Read the following story carefully and try to understand it in detail.

Vocabulary Focus:

1. Look up and learn the following words:

Acceleration                   highway                     witness                 conjuror

Buttercups                      siren                            bargain                grief

Wheel                             guilty                          summons             wrist

Brake                              to rescue                     lighter                  homemade

Jeweler                           amateur                       loser                    pickpocket

2. Find the synonyms to these words in the text:

Horrible, awful – ;                                large, heave – ;

Fools, stupid people – ;                        trousers – ;

Policeman – ;                                        friend – ;

Small – ;                                               good – ;

Prison – ;                                              extremely clever – .

3. Match the words with their definitions:

1. hitchhiker      a. a person who builds walls or buildings

2. offence           b. a small fire that is made outside usually to burn rubbish

3. shoelace         c. to make a quiet, continuous, vibration sound like a contented cat

4. racket             d. an illegal act, a crime