Яков Аракин - Практический курс английского языка 2 курс

Summary deals with the plot of complete written works, such as a story, novel or play. Gist

deals with the main idea of any thoughtful writing, no matter whether it is a paragraph or a novel. It

is expected to be very short and clear.

In order to write the gist of a story ("A Day's Wait", for example) you have to do the

following:

1. Read the story carefully, paying attention to the characters, general atmosphere and the

author's remarks or statements (е.g. a bright cold day, a pale-faced and shivering boy, the growing

strain), the atmosphere of suspense.

2. Jot down the main points and see how they are linked ( е.g. the boy is ill but he won't go to

bed; he is still worried and keeps staring at the foot of the bed; he can hardly believe that he has no

reason to worry about his health).

3. Point out the author's remarks (the boy was looking at the foot of the bed strangely; that's a

silly way to talk; he had been waiting to die all day; relaxation was very slow).

4. Go over these points, reconsider them carefully and formulate the main idea, е.g. It is a

story telling us how fear and self-pity through ignorance or misleading information may cause worry

and suffering or how remarkably patient the child's endurance may be.

Assignments:

1. Give your own version of the gist of "A Day's Wait" and "How We Kept Mother's

Day".

2. Write the gist of "A Friend in Need". When writing analyse the title of the story.

3. Write the gist of two letters written by Judy and compare them. What is their

message?

LABORATORY EXERCISES (П)

1. Listen to the dialogue "Sports and Games Popular in England". Mark the stresses

and tunes. Repeat the text following the model.

2. Listen to the text "The Football Match", mark the stresses and tunes. Repeat it

following the model.

3. Write a spelling-translation test Check it with a dictionary.

4. Task I: Translate the English sentences into Russian (in writing) and check them with

the key.

Task П: Translate your sentences hack into English (orally) and check them with the

key.

5. Listen to the text "Sport in Great Britain".

Task I: Write down the Russian equivalents given in the exercise. Task II: Listen to the

text again and write down the English equivalents of the Russian phrases.

Task Ш: Write 10 questions on the text Be ready to discuss it in class.

CURIOSITY QUIZ FOR EAGERS

1. Say in what countries the following sports and games are popular:

cricket, surfing, karate, reindeer racing, rugby, baseball, judo (jujitsu), lacrosse, lasso-

throwing, soccer, croquet

II. Which is better — to be a specialist or a generalist?

Divide your class into 2 teams. Match each specific term in column I. with the generic

term in column II. The team which is the first to match the terms correctly wins the score.

I

II

barbell

basket-ball

racket

cricket

wicket

golf

alpenstock

fencing

knockout

figure-skating

bishop

tennis

catcher

ice-hockey

gauntlet

mountaineering

puck

baseball

tee

boxing

spin

chess-playing

spike

weight lifting

III. Read one of the short stories by W. S. Maugham and speak about it in class. Speak

not only on the contents, but also give analyses of the characters, the author's mastership,

methods of characterization, style and language. See Notes on Style, p. 52.

UNIT SEVEN

I SPEECH PATTERNS

1.There is hardly a country in the world where such a variety of scenery can be found.

There is hardly a book by this author which he has not read.

There was hardly a football match which he missed.

There is hardly another team with better opportunities to win.

2.That would make you think you were in Holland.

The teacher made Jack rub out all the ink marks in his textbook.

They couldn't make William Tell bow before the tyrant's cap.

The slightest noise would make him start.

Make him repeat the rule. (Bur: He was made to repeat the rule.)

EXERCISES

I. Change the following sentences to as to use the patterns:

Pattern 1: 1. I don't think there is another hockey-team of equal popularity. 2. There was not

a single world championship he missed. 3. I'm not sure we have a vacancy on our staff. 4. We've no

more time, but you can finish the composition off at home. 5. There was scarcely a living soul at the

stadium. 6. I don't think there is any reason for their losing the game.

Pattern 2:1. The coach forced the athletes to postpone their training. 2. The strangers

wanted Roger to drive up to the back yard, and he obeyed. 3. They will never force Andrew to break

his promise. 4. During the conversation she felt uneasy. 5. He will not break with his bad habits, no

matter what you are saying.

II. Complete tee following, using Pattern 2:

1. What events made you ...? 2. Who could make your friend ...? 3. Which of the experiments

made the scientist...? 4. What kind of lesson makes you .,.? 5. What made Leo Tolstoy ...? 6. The

new coach made us ... .

III. Translate the following sentences into English, using the patterns:

1. Едва ли найдется страна, в которой не побывал бы старый моряк. 2. Едва ли есть

другой город с таким населением, как Токио. 3. Едва ли у них была другая возможность

освободить Овода. 4. Едва ли найдется человек, который не любит представлений кукольного

театра. 5. Ужас! Пожалуй нет другого слова, чтобы описать мое состояние в тот момент. 6.

Пожалуй не было ни одного соревнования по шахматам, которое бы он пропустил. 7. Едва ли

найдется другой тренер, такой внимательный и терпеливый. 8. Что заставило вашего брата

бросить бокс? 9. Двое воришек заставили Оливера лезть через окно. 10. Дориан думал, что

ничто не заставит его нарушить обещание, данное Сибилле Вейн. 11. Игра актера заставляла

зрителя не только чувствовать, но и думать, 12. Что заставило Байрона сражаться на стороне

греческого народа? 13. Что заставило Лэнни вернуться в Стилвелд? 14. Этот эпизод

рассмешил мою сестру, а меня опечалил.

IV. Respond to the following statements and questions, using the patterns.

(Make use of the conversational formulas given in the Reminder.)