Unit 3. Appearance and Character

Introductory reading and talk

Appearances are deceptive. It is a common truth; practically everyone has met at least someone whose character and appearance differ radically.

When one sees a tall, broad-shouldered youth, one expects him to be strong-willed and brave. One thinks: 'A model to follow!' How often a good-looking individual turns out to be petty, weak-willed or even cowardly. Then one thinks: 'A mediocrity!'

At the same time everyone knows that a lot of great people were of a poor build: short and fragile. It did not stop them from display­ing intelligence and courage. Ingenuity does not depend on one's complexion or constitution.

Plump or fat people create an impression of generous and kind personalities. Strangely enough, not rarely they may be thrifty or even greedy. One usually thinks: 'A scrooge!'

On the other hand, thin or slim nervous ladies often tend to be lavish. They like to buy and never think twice when they pay. One thinks: 'I would call her open-handed and Mother would call her a spendthrift'. Yes, mothers are always stricter in judgements.

Has it ever happened to you that you come to an important of­fice and see an important boss? You immediately evaluate his looks: 'Round-faced, small narrow eyes, dimples on the cheeks and an up­turned nose. What a kind-hearted person! A simpleton!' You tell the boss of your troubles and expect immediate help. But the boss ap­pears to be rude, harsh and wilful. You never get your help and think: 'A stone heart and an iron fist'.

When someone sees a delicately built pretty blonde with curly hair, blue eyes, a straight nose and a high forehead, one is inclined to think that the beauty is intelligent and nice. It may be disappoin­ting to think later 'What a stupid, capricious, impolite bore!'

On the contrary, when one sees a skinny brunette with ugly ir­regular features — a hooked nose, pointed chin, close-set eyes and

thin lips, strange thoughts come to one's head; because it is the im­age of evil people — cruel and cunning . It may be a relief some time later to find her a clever, gentle and good-mannered lady and think: 'What charm! A heart of gold!'

Another general misconception lies in the fact that children are always expected to resemble their parents. And parents like it when children take after them. Relatives like to compare moles, the shape of noses, etc. The greatest compliment is: "They are as like as two peas'. The greatest disappointment is to find nothing in common. We want to deny people their exclusiveness, we don't want to admit that nature has selected other options from an enormous genetic fund developed over generations. Why do we like our copies? Who knows!

Nature likes to play tricks on us. But don't you think it is a pre­sent on the part of nature? Life becomes not a boring routine, but a brilliant kaleidoscope of characters and appearances which often clash.

Exercise 1. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following Russian words and phrases.

1. характер и внешность сильно различаются; пример для подражания; храбрый; посредственность; широкоплечий; человек сильной воли; круглолицый; глупый; ямочки на щеках; грубый; высокий лоб; форма носа; транжира; стройная блондинка; очарование; хрупкий; быть строгим в суждениях; умный; невежливая зануда; тощая брюнетка.

2. простак; генетический фонд; жадный; быть похожим на родителей; прямой нос; умный (сообразительный); глубоко посаженные глаза; пухлый; вздернутый нос; каменное сердце и железный кулак; волнистые волосы; трусливый; острый подбородок; строение тела; капризный; оценивать внешний вид; маленькие узкие глаза; эксклюзивность; уродливые неправильные черты лица; щедрый.

Exercise 2. Look at the list of adjectives and divide them into 3 categories:

attractive boring educated fragile independent unhappy famous noble greedy bouncy

lonely modest smart curious attentive stupid short progressive small cheerful

mysterious strong fat curious young stupid tall serious ugly gloomy

clever polite brave honest great wise thin sad poor stern

pleasant shy careless lazy free dull lovely slow tidy firm

a) adjectives describing a person’s appearance;
b) adjectives describing a person’s character;

c) adjectives describing other qualities.

Exercise 3. Choose the correct word: just, to make progress, snub, stubborn, moustache, efficient, beard

1. This court (судья) is a………………….. person.

2. As………………. as a donkey (осёл)

3. This girl is very pretty, slim. She has dark hair and …………..nose.

4. He …………………………………. at his new work, however it is very new him.

5. Father Frost has a big white………………………

6. Witness (свидетель) said, that this guy with ……………… was a robber.

7. I am very satisfied with this new manager, he is very ……………. and he has time to do his job.

Exercise 4. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. Brenda's father is only forty but he is bald and rather stout.

2. Though retired John travels a lot and goes in for lawn ten­nis. He is grey-haired but looking at him and being aware of his life-style you'll never say he is in his late sixties.

3. Jack's wife was fat and stooping. She walked tottering and used a stick. You couldn't believe that she was just in her early fifties.

4. Nora is tall and slender and very attractive. Her good looks appealed to me as soon as I saw her. Is she really in her mid fifties?

5. My brother has grown thinner and his illness took some colour off his cheeks, his hair is touched with grey at the temples and it makes him look older.

6. I bumped into my old friend yesterday when walking in the park. These seven years have brought favourable changes in him. Though he is over fifty he looks as if he were forty five.

7. The girl was delicately-built, very slender, with full lips and deep-set eyes. They looked sad and made you feel sorry for her.

8. She was a lovely little girl of about five, plump, with an up­turned nose and dimpled rosy cheeks. Her hazel eyes and silky long hair added to her attraction.

9. Melancholy and perplexed, the woman was sitting at the ta­ble. Her faded eyes were grave and she looked upset.

10. Cruel but very clever and shrewd, he was quite an extraor­dinary person.

Exercise 5. Translate the sentences from Russian into English.

1. Широко расставленные глаза Дэнни излучали тихий ясный свет.

2. У Марка были темные волосы и романтическое очарование человека, который приехал из Испании.

3. Эмили очень удивилась. Она была по-британски упрямой и раньше не считала Индию интересной и красивой страной.

4. Рэйчел была слегка старомодной, но, в то же время, очень симпатичной. У нее были близко посаженные глаза слегка на выкате, однако они не портили ее бледного овального лица.

5. Его с трудом можно было назвать даже симпатичным: он был непропорционален и слишком высок; его волосы были слишком короткими, а руки слишком длинными.

6. Офицер носил такую же темно-зеленую форму, что и солдаты, а два действующих солдата, которые стояли, прислонясь к стене рядом с ним, были одеты в синие рубашки с короткими рукавами.

7. Напротив Рени стоит миниатюрная женщина, не выше пяти футов. Она одета в пальто и черную кепку. Ей, должно быть, около семидесяти лет, но об этом трудно судить наверняка.

8. Он был очень упрям. Мы все знали, что его невозможно переубедить, и ничто не заставит его изменить свою точку зрения.

9. Она не могла контролировать свою ревность, и друзья иногда называли ее Отелло, несмотря на то, что она была женщиной.

10. Фил выглядел очень утомленным. Он не спал вчера ночью, потому что должен был уладить кое-какие дела в госпитале, и не мог отдохнуть даже пару часов.

Exercise 6. Read and translate the text