Assignment 9 (chapters 36–40)

I. Pre-reading task – translate the words from the active vocabulary, write their transcription.

Active Vocabulary

p. 109

complacency

infatuation

p. 110

to baffle

p. 111

to decimate

p. 112

hilarious

p. 116

to console

p. 117

moved

p. 118

scrutinizing

p. 119

convent

Mother Superior

p. 120

indiscreet

p. 123

lament

to surmount

II. Exercises

1. Paraphrase the following sentences using the active vocabulary

1. a feeling of satisfaction, esp extreme self-satisfaction

2. foolish or extravagant passion

3. o perplex; bewilder; puzzle; to frustrate (plans, efforts, etc.)

4. to destroy or kill a large proportion of

5. a building inhabited by a religious community, usually of nuns; also a school where the teachers are nuns

2. Fill in with suitable words from the active vocabulary.

1. Mother is tired of his ____ with computers.

2. It ____ me that they rejected our offer.

3. At least we can ____ ourselves with the fact that even this winter cannot last for ever.

4. I was truly ____ by his tears.

5. It was ____ of her to say that. No one should know this now.

3. Translate the following sentences into Russian.

1. I'd love to get rid of my infatuation for Jane; it's all hopeless.

2. Typhus fever decimated the school periodically. (E. Gaskell)

3. It's no good lamenting over your past mistakes.

4. She is still lamenting for her husband.

5. He surmounted the next ridge.

III. Questions for discussion.

1. Had Kitty changed her mind about Charles after the talk with Waddington? Why?

2. Waddington said to Kitty: “You and I are the only people here who walk quite quietly and peaceably on solid ground. The nuns walk in heaven and your husband – in darkness.” Comment the phrase. How does it explain new relation between Waddington and Kitty? What role did Waddington played in Kitty’s life at that time? How does this phrase characterise Walter?

3. Remember the scene with a fresh green salad. Why did Waddington call it a suicide? Why Kitty and Walter ate salad every night? Why had Walter said that his wife liked it?

4.Describe the scene with the dead Chinese beggar. Dwell upon its symbolic significance.

5. Waddington asked: “Your husband isn’t here because he cares a damn if a hundred thousand Chinese die of cholera; he isn’t here either in the interests of science. Why is he here?” Comment this phrase. What was Kitty’s reaction? What was the real answer? How this question characterises Walter?

6. Why was it Waddington, not Walter, who had told Kitty about the convent? What was changed in the cinema adaptation of the novel, where Walter was the bearer of a message to Kitty?

7. Sum up what you know about the convent from these chapters.

Assignment 10 (chapters 41–45)

I. Pre-reading task – translate the words from the active vocabulary, write their transcription.

Active Vocabulary

p. 124

appraisal (N)

p. 125

orphan

convert

trivial

parlour

p. 126

dignity

p. 127

austere

demeanour

primness

p. 128

elaborate

p. 129

dormitory

p. 131

quaint

queer

p. 132

to baptize

p. 135

perplexity

p. 136

solicitude

p. 137

to oppress

II. Exercises

1. Find the words in the active vocabulary that match the following definitions.

1. the way a person behaves towards others; conduct

2. planned or executed with care and exactness, detailed; marked by complexity, or detail

3. the state of being puzzled, bewildered, confused

4. quality of showing consideration, concern, attention, etc

5. odd, peculiar, or inappropriate

2. Fill in with suitable words from the active vocabulary.

1. Don’t be anxious about small things! It was no more than a ____ loss.

2. Quiz, charade, forfeit are ____ games.

3. Give an objective _____ of my work, please.

4. His parents were killed during the occupation. He is a war ____.

5. He maintained his ____ and said nothing in answer to John’s rudeness.

3. Translate the following sentences into Russian.

1. A poet is one who can convert ordinary words into a meaningful and effective piece of writing.

2. The trunk is often converted into canoes.

3. His mother was a Serb and he was baptized an Orthodox Christian.

4. To these austere fanatics a holiday was an object of disgust.

5. It is the sun, under whose influence one plant elaborates nutriment for man.

6. If you ask me, there's something a bit queer going on.

4. Explain the meaning of the following lexical units in your own words

precaution, riot, panic-stricken, moved, lament, to surmount, dignity, austere, to baptize

III. Questions for discussion.

1. Describe the convent and its way of life. Why had the nuns stayed in infected Mei-tan-fu? What new things did Kitty learn about her husband? What is her new opinion of hem?

2. Sum up the Mother Superior. Do you picture her as a typical Mother Superior of a Catholic convent?

3. Gather all information about the Sister St Joseph.

4. Translate the passage from “But once within the convent…” till “…Sister St Joseph opened the infirmary door.” (pp. 133–134) in writing.

5. Sum up new information about Walter’s job and Walter’s character (ch. XLIV). What made Kitty sigh “Oh, I’m so worthless”?

IV. Extra writing task.

Write an essay on some memories of your childhood.