Light reading

The Professor Couldn’t Answer It

Old Mr. Brompton was a very clever man. He was a professor and had a lot of degrees. Yet the other day he could not answer his granddaughter’s question.

“Grandpa”, she said, “I saw something so funny running across the kitchen floor without any legs. What do you think it was?”

The professor thought and thought but at last he had to give it up.¹

“What was it?” he asked.

“Water”, replied the little girl triumphantly.

¹ at last he had to give it up – в конце концов ему пришлось сдаться (отступить)

2.4. Social Morality, Rules and Laws

I. Topical Vocabulary

1. To build up your active vocabulary read the following words and try to memorize them.

law [lɔ:] n	–	закон
to refer [rı'fə:] v	–	ссылаться, иметь отношение
behaviour [bı'heıvjə] n	–	поведение, манеры
descriptive [dı'skrıptıv] adj	–	описательный
prescriptive [prı'skrıptıv] adj	–	предписывающий, нормативный
custom ['kΛstəm] n	–	обычай, привычка
to enforce [ın'fɔ:s] v	–	проводить в жизнь; принуждать; усиливать
penalty ['penltı] n	–	наказание; штраф
enforceable [ın'fɔ:səbl] adj	–	осуществимый; обеспечиваемый применением силы
authority [ɔ: 'θɔrətı] n	–	власть
experience [ık'spıərıəns] n	–	(жизненный) опыт, квалификация, мастерство
to suffer ['sΛfə] v	–	страдать, терпеть
violently ['vo(ı)ələntlı] adv	–	сильно; яростно; жестоко
to refuse [rı'fju:z] v	–	отказывать, отвергать
to guide [gaıd] v	–	вести, руководить
court [kɔ:t] n	–	суд
to back [bæk] v	–	поддерживать; подкреплять
to commit [kə'mıt] v	–	совершать
crime [kraım] n	–	преступление
to pattern ['pætn] v	–	делать по образцу
conduct ['kɔndΛkt] n	–	поведение

2. Match the words combinations in column A with their translation in column B. Mind the translation of the Infinitive.

A		B
1.	to accept the rules	a)	совершать преступление
2.	to break the rules	b)	соблюдать нормы
3.	to suffer penalty	c)	принимать закон
4.	to make laws	d)	терпеть наказание
5.	to enforce the laws	e)	принуждать выполнять законы
6.	to commit a crime	f)	нарушать нормы
7.	to pass a law	g)	принимать правила
8.	to observe the rules	h)	создавать законы