Д. Абрагин - Английские сказки для девочек / English Fairy Tales for Girls

Упражнения, комментарии и словарь

© Абрагин Д. Л., адаптация текста, комментарии, упражнения

© Матвеев С. А., адаптация текста, комментарии, упражнения

© Лаптева Е. В., адаптация текста, комментарии, упражнения

© Кульбицкая И. В., иллюстрации © Салтыков М. М., иллюстрации

© ООО «Издательство АСТ», 2017

Адаптация текста, составление упражнений, комментариев Д. Л. Абрагина.

Иллюстрации И. В. Кульбицкой

There was once a very rich merchant, who had six children, three sons, and three daughters. His daughters were extremely beautiful, especially the youngest. When she was little, everybody admired her and called her “the Little Beauty”; so that, as she grew up, she still went by the name of Beauty, [1] she still went by the name of Beauty – её все так же называли «Красавица» which made her sisters very jealous.

The youngest, as she was the most beautiful, was also better than her sisters. The two eldest had a great deal of pride, because they were rich. They went out every day to parties, balls, plays, concerts, and so forth, and they laughed at their youngest sister, because she spent the greatest part of her time in reading good books.

As it was known that they were great fortunes, [2] they were great fortunes – они были богатыми several eminent merchants proposed to them, but the two eldest said they would never marry unless they could meet with a duke, or an earl at least. Beauty very civilly thanked them that courted her and told them she was too young yet to marry, but chose to stay with her father a few years longer.

All at once [3] All at once – Неожиданно the merchant lost his whole fortune, excepting a small country house at a great distance from town, and told his children with tears in his eyes they had to go there and work for their living. The two eldest answered that they would not leave the town for they had several lovers, who they were sure would be glad to have them, though they had no fortune; [4] for they had lovers, who they were sure would be glad to have them, though they had no fortune – поскольку у них есть возлюбленные, которые не оставят их, несмотря на их бедность but the good ladies were mistaken, for their lovers slighted and forsook them in their poverty. As they were not beloved because of their pride, everybody said, “They do not deserve to be pitied.” “But”, added they, “we are extremely concerned for Beauty; she was such a charming, sweet-tempered creature, spoke so kindly to poor people, and was of such an affable, obliging behaviour.” Nay, several gentlemen were ready to marry her, though they knew she had not a penny, but she told them she could not think of leaving her poor father in his misfortunes and was determined to go along with him into the country to comfort and attend him. Poor Beauty at first was sadly grieved at the loss of her fortune. [5] was sadly grieved at the loss of her fortune – сильно горевала о потере благосостояния “But,” said she to herself, “I must try to make myself happy without a fortune.”

1. Переведите на русский язык:

merchant, to admire, jealous, pride, fortune, eminent, to propose, to marry, duke, earl, civilly, to court, excepting, poverty, to deserve, extremely, misfortune.

2. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. How many children did the merchant have?

2. Were the merchant’s daughters beautiful?

3. What was the youngest daughter called?

4. Where did the eldest sisters go out everyday?

5. How did the youngest sister spend the greatest part of her time?

6. Who proposed to the sisters?

7. What happened to the merchant all at once?

8. What did people say about Beauty and her sisters?

9. Did anybody want to marry Beauty?

10. What did Beauty decide?

3. Какие утверждения верны?

1. The merchant had seven children.

2. The youngest daughter was the ugliest.

3. The two eldest daughters had a great deal of pride because they were rich.

4. One day Beauty decided to marry an eminent merchant.

5. All at once the merchant lost his whole fortune.

6. The eldest sisters were not beloved because of their pride.

7. Nobody was concerned for Beauty.

8. Several gentlemen were ready to marry Beauty, though they knew she had not a penny.

4. Вставьте правильные предлоги (at, to).

1. They went out __________ parties, balls, plays, concerts, and so forth every day.

2. They laughed __________ their youngest sister, because she spent the greatest part of her time reading good books.

3. The merchant lost his whole fortune, excepting a small country house __________ a great distance from town.

4. Beauty spoke kindly __________ poor people.

When they came to their country house, the merchant and his three sons applied themselves to husbandry and tillage, [6] applied themselves to husbandry and tillage – занялись ведением хозяйства и вспахиванием земли and Beauty rose at four in the morning and made haste to clean the house and cook dinner for the family. In the beginning she found it very difficult, for she had not been used to work as a servant, but in less than two months she grew stronger and healthier than ever. After she had done her work, she read, played the piano, or sung while she spun.

On the contrary, her two sisters did not know how to spend their time; they got up at ten and did nothing but wander about the whole day, lamenting the loss of their fine clothes and acquaintance. “Look at our youngest sister,” said they, one to the other, “what a poor, stupid, mean-spirited creature she is, to be contented with such an unhappy situation.”

The good merchant was of quite a different opinion; he knew very well that Beauty was better than her sisters, in her person as well as her mind, and admired her humility, industry and patience, for her sisters not only left her all the work of the house to do but insulted her every moment.

The family had lived about a year in this retirement when the merchant received a letter with an account that the vessel on board of which he had some goods safely arrived. This news made the two eldest daughters happy and they immediately flattered themselves with the hopes of returning to town, [7] flattered themselves with the hopes of returning to town – стали тешить себя надеждой о возвращении в город for they were quite weary of a country life, and when they saw their father ready to set out, they begged him to buy them new dresses, ribbons, and other trifles; but Beauty asked for nothing for she thought that all the money her father was going to receive would not be sufficient to purchase everything her sisters wanted.