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THE PROMISE by W. S. Maugham

Dorokhova L.V., Malykhina O.N.

READING FOR MEANING

Voronezh 2015
Учебно-методическое пособие для студентов 2 курса очной и заочной форм обучения факультета иностранных языков, обучающихся по направлению 050100.62 «Педагогическое образование», профили «Иностранный язык» (английский/немецкий языки, английский/французский языки).


PART ONE. SHORT STORIES TO READ AND DISCUSS

Dear students,

In this part we suggest you read and discuss with your group some short stories by well-known authors, both classical and contemporary. Your instructor will specifically tell you which story to read. We hope the assignments that we offer might help you to better understand the meaning of the story and the author’s implications and thus to make a good interpretation of the story. The tasks marked with the asterisk (*) are optional.

 

THE ESCAPE by W. S. Maugham

1. Define the following words and expressions and reproduce the situations in which they are used.

 

fickle

common sense

hazard

to go right

as hard as nails

to be in a quandary

to lose one's temper

to be sb's first consideration

 

2*. Find synonyms of the following words and expressions in the text.

to escape; to have enough experience; unavoidable; to make secret plans; the near future; slightly pleased; to break up with sb; determination

 

3*. Fill in the prepositions and particles.

to make … one's mind; to fall … love … sb; to marry … sb; to feel sorry … sb; tear well … in sb's eyes; to be pleased … sb; limits … sth.

 

4. Give a summary of the text.

5. Comment on the title of the text.

 

6. Answer the following questions (using your active vocabulary):

a) Speak about the ways men employ to extricate themselves from tiresome romantic relationships.

b) Give character sketches of Roger Charing and Ruth Barlow.

c) Enlarge on the development of their relationship.

d) What plan did Roger Charing work out to dispose of Ruth? Do you approve of his methods?

e) On what key is the story written: lyrical, dramatic, pathetic or ironical? Give examples to justify your point of view.

f) Have you ever been in a similar situation? How did you feel and behave?

 

7. Interpret the story.

 

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER by W. S. Maugham

 

1. Define the following words and expressions and reproduce the situations in which they are used.

 

to bring sth home to sb

to reconcile oneself to sth

a black sheep

unscrupulous

to wash one's hand of sb/ sth

to go too far

to be in/ have high spirits

not to bring oneself to do sth



 

2*. Fill in the prepositions.

to explain … sb; to provide … sb; to beg … sth; to depend … sb/ sth; to approve … sb/ sth; to make a point … doing sth; to sympathize … sb; to look forward … sth; to become engaged … sb; to burst … laughter.

 

3*. Find the words in the text that collocate with the following ones.

trouble; shocked; income; a fresh start; to cash; gaiety; habit.

 

4. Give a summary of the text.

 

5. Answer the following questions (using your active vocabulary)

a) How does the famous fable correspond with Tom and George Ramsay's life story?

b) What are the main characters like?

c) How can you account for the narrator's reaction at the end of the story?

d) Who do you have sympathy with: George or Tom Ramsay? Why?

e) What do you think of the idea that “industry is rewarded and giddiness is punished”? Does it apply to the modern world?

 

6. Interpret the story.

 

LOUISE by W. S. Maugham

1. Define the following words and expressions and reproduce the situations in which they are used.

 

to do sth behind sb's back

to look upon sb as sth

to excel in sth

to be out of the question

to give way to sth

to come to an end

to sacrifice oneself for sb

to be as good as one's word

 

2*. Fill in the prepositions and particles.

 

… the bottom of one's heart; to propose … sb; to dote … sb; … coincidence; to give in … sb;… death's door; to insist … sth; a war breaks ...; must … no account do sth; … chance; … great distress

 

3*. Complete the collocations from the text.

 

… sth plain; to leave sb …; … acquaintance; … a secret; … sb warm; … a shock; ...sb trouble; … one's mind; to be … postponed; to ruin sb's …

 

4. Give a summary of the story.

5. Give a character sketch of Louise.

 

6. Answer the following questions (using your active vocabulary)

a) What method did Loise use to manipulate and bring other people round to her way of thinking?

b) What were the relations between the narrator and Louise? How was the narrator able to cope with Louise's selfishness?

c) Comment on the end of the story. Why do you think Louise died on that particular day?

 

7. Interpret the story.

 

THE PROMISE by W. S. Maugham

 

1. Define the following words and expressions and reproduce the situations in which they are used.

 

to attribute sth to sb

to catch sight of sb/ sth

to be on the point of doing sth

to become notorious for sth

to take advantage of sb

in the twinkling of an eye

to make short work of sb/ sth

to get on with sb

to be suited to sb/ st

to occur to sb

 

2*. Find English equivalents of the expressions in the text.

 

Разгар сезона; заводить часы; поразительная расточительность; лицемер; обладать остроумием; предсказывать беду; экономная домохозяйка; смутно знать; догадываться/ подозревать; иметь значение; держать обещание.

 

3. Find words and expressions in the text which describe a person's character or behaviour. Say which of them are positive and which are negative.

 

4. Answer the questions (using your active vocabulary)

a) Where is the scene laid? How did the narrator feel in this situation?

b) What was the narrator's opinion of Elizabeth Vermont?

c) Speak of Elizabeth Vermont's life. What made her so notorious?

d) What changed her life and behaviour beyond recognition?

e) How did Elizabeth treat her husband's love affair? What decision did she make and why?

f) In what tone is the story written (ironical, lyrical, sympathetic, mocking, ect.)? What is the author's attitude to the main character?

 

5. Give a summary of the text.

6. Interpret the story.

 

THE VERGER by W. S. Maugham

1. Define the following words and expressions and reproduce the situations in which they are used:

 

To take pains

To be appointed

To fuss

To be unconscious of

To compliment on

To fulfil one’s duties

To make no difference

To be put upon

A heavy heart

To go into business

 

2*. Find words and expressions in the text that suit the following definitions.

· to be involved in and have influence over many different activities, often in a way that people do not approve of (idiom);

· to try to prevent people from discovering particular facts (phrasal verb);

· without fault and therefore impossible to criticize (adjective);

· lack of knowledge, understanding or information about something (noun);

· when someone tells their employer that they are leaving their job (noun);

· a situation that is not as good as the one you were in before (noun);

· you make a lot of money very quickly (idiom)

 

3. Answer the questions (using your active vocabulary):

a) For how long had Edward worked as St Peter’s church?

b) Speak on the personality of Edward.

c) What did the verger think of the new vicar?

d) What did the vicar become aware of?

e) Did it really make no difference to him that he had to leave his position?

f) What made him go into business?

g) Prove that his business was a success.

h) How did Foreman accept the idea of investing the money?

 

4. Comment on the following:

“I’m too old a dog to learn new tricks”.

“Strange how things come to you when you least expect them”.

5. Speak about the significance of education. Does success always come with education?

6. Interpret the story.

 

THE CONSUL by W. S. Maugham

1. Define the following words and expressions and reproduce the situations in which they are used.

 

to deal with sb

to sack sb

to pay through the nose

gorgeous

to pay a visit to sb

to wash one's hands of sth

to remain steadfast in sth

to convince sb

to put up with sb

the last straw

 

2*. Find synonyms of the following words in the text.

 

Great anger (n); strange (adj); a very enthusiastic (e.g. collector) (adj); old and in a bad condition (adj); an unimportant thing (n); to take sth away from sb (v); to get (e.g. knowledge) (v); to consider sth/ sb as sth (phrasal verb); as stated by (phrase); shocking and unacceptable (adj); to control oneself (v).

 

3. Answer the questions (using your active vocabulary)

a) Speak about Mr Pete: his appearance, character, job, interests.

b) Who was Mrs Yu? Why did she turn to the consul?

c) What did Mr Pete advise her to do? Did she take the advice?

d) What was Mr Pete's attitude to the matter?

e) What prompted Mrs Yu to pay another visit to the consul? What was his reaction?

f) How did Mrs Yu account for her unwillingness to leave? Do you find her reasons plausible and convincing?

g) What did Mr Pete mean saying “Women are simply bloody”? Do you share this point of view? Why? Why not?

h) What do you think can bring people together and ensure a long and happy marriage?

 

4. Make a summary of the story.

5. Interpret the story.

 

MR KNOW-ALL by W. S. Maugham

 

1. Define the following words and expressions and reproduce the situations in which they are used.

 

my heart sank

to betray the fact

to put on airs

a good mixer

to drop a subject

heated argument

to tell with half an eye

to be about to do sth

to catch sb out

 

2*. Find synonyms in the text.

 

to accept, tolerate sth (phrasal verb); to consider sb/ sth as sth (phrasal verb); rudely (adv); to make sb feel relaxed (phrase); extremely annoying (adj); to persuade (phrase); to make sb upset and annoyed (v); to become red in the face (v)

 

3*. Complete the collocations from the text.

 

… traffic; to … ... board; … visitor; … ball; … paid; to … an opportunity; to … one's word for it; … appeal; a story …

 

4. Answer the following questions (using your active vocabulary).

a) Why was the story teller dismayed at the thought to share the cabin with Mr Kelada?

b) What was Mr Kelada like? What was so irritating about him?

c) What kind of talk took place at the table one day? Who was involved in it?

d) How did Mr Kelada manage to avert the scandal? Was it easy for him? How does it characterize him?

e) Did the story teller change his attitude to Mr Kelada?

f) Have you ever met people like Mr Kelada? What is your attitude to them?

 

5. Make a summary of the story.

6. Interpret the story.

 






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