FOCUS ON LANGUAGE			English
	QUOTES FROM LITERATURE				17
					January 2013
	Class discussions on the issue FAMILY may well be fuelled by a few		FAMILY IDIOMS
	quotes from literature providing children with food for thought as well
	as supplying them with the material useful to develop some of the		it runs in the family – an ability or talent that is
	exam skills. In this article you will find extracts from the classical novel		passed on through the generations
	by John Galsworthy The Forsyte Saga and a modern classic The Giv-		He has two daughters, both very athletic, just like
	er by Lois Lowry. Before offering the texts for thorough consideration it		their mother. It runs in the family.
	might be a good idea to give a brief overview of the novels in the form		your own flesh and blood – a member of your
	of the tasks provided.		family, do not forget it!
			You should take better care of your younger sister.
	Fill in the gaps with the correct forms of the words provided in brackets.		She is your own flesh and blood.
	The Forsyte Saga is John Galsworthy’s 1__________________ (MONU-		bad blood – hostility or unfriendliness between two
	MENT) chronicle of the lives of the moneyed Forsytes, a family whose values		families or family members
	are constantly at war with its 2__________________ (PASSION). The story		There is bad blood between the two brothers. They
	of Soames Forsyte’s 3___________________ (MARRY) to the beautiful and		haven’t spoken to each other in two years.
	4_________________ (REBEL) Irene, and its effects upon the whole For-		blood is thicker than water – family ties are
	syte clan. The Forsyte Saga is a brilliant 5_________________ (SOCIETY)
			stronger than any others, despite arguments.
	satire of the acquisitive sensibilities of a comfort-bound class in its final glo-		His housekeeper had looked after him for many
	ry. Galsworthy spares none of his characters, revealing 6________________		years but he still left all his money to his only son.
	(THEY) weaknesses and shortcomings as clearly as he does the tenacity and		Blood is thicker than water, you know.
	perseverance that define the 7_________________ (STRONG) members of		close-knit – closely joined together by ties of love,
	the Forsyte family.		friendship, or common interest; close.

The Joneses are a close-knit family.

Answers: 1. monumental; 2. passions; 3. marriage; 4. rebellious; 5. social; 6. their; 7. strongest

THE GIVER IN A NUTSHELL

Fill in the gaps with the words provided (some words can be used twice): debate, controversial, community, controversy, individuality, utopia, dystopia, lows, adults, memories.

Lois Lowry published The Giver in 1993. At the time, she had already won a Newbery Medal for her earlier novel, Number the Stars, in 1990. But, because two is always better than one, she won a second Newberry for The Giver. And, because anything intended for young adults that mentions sex or government is often labeled “_______________” it was banned.

The Giver tells the story of a young boy named Jonas living in a highly controlled _______________ some time in the future. The novel fits into a larger genre of cautionary tales called “dystopian literature.”

A ________________ is a society in which everything is perfect, so a

_______________ is the opposite: everything has gone wrong.

The novel explores Jonas’s encounter with ________________ of “the past,” a time much like ours, in which people still had the freedom of choice.

Despite the initial _______________, The Giver is one of the most popular books for young _______________ today. Also, it seems to come up even in college-level Philosophy and Political Science classes, and you don’t want to be caught out of the loop. So read it.

The Giver explores an age old ____________: Freedom, or safety? Individuality, or the greater good?

Emotional highs and _____________, or the steady middle ground? And the novel gives a pretty clear answer, too: freedom, _____________ highs and _____________.

We hope that the quotes that follow will grab the attention of the readers and teachers, elicit questions and answers, and may well lead to reading the books in class or for pleasure. ª

like one of the family – as if someone (or a pet) were a member of one’s family.

We treat our dog like one of the family.

a chip off the old block – a son or daughter who is just like their father in character, looks or temperament

He’s as stubborn as his father – a chip off the old block in other words.

child’s play / kids’ stuff – an easy task that requires little effort

Getting Jack to undertake this difficult assignment should be child’s play / kids’ stuff. He’s already very keen on the idea.

a confirmed bachelor – a man who has decided on principle never to marry

David’s a confirmed bachelor – lots of girlfriends, but nothing serious.

a blind date – an arranged meeting between two people of the opposite sex who haven’t met before

They’ve been married for fifteen years and, do you know, they first met on a blind date.

a passing fancy – temporary liking for someone or something

I don’t like my daughter’s new boyfriend. I just hope he’s a passing fancy.

my old man / my old woman – a slightly derogatory term for husband / wife

My old man spends most afternoons at the bookmakers.

old wives’ tales – traditional beliefs which are proved wrong by science

If you think this blend of herbs can cure you of this, well, that’s an old wives’ tale, I’m afraid.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk

	English			FOCUS ON LANGUAGE
18					In the extract that follows some sentences have been removed. Please fill in
	January 2013				the gaps with the clues provided:
					1. who now but seldom left the corner of her brother Timothy’s green draw-
					ing-room
	FAMILY IDIOMS				2. no branch of which had a liking for the other
					3. in full plumage
	Henpecked husband is a man habitually snubbed				4. who chanced to be present at the house of old Jolyon Forsyte
					5. surrounded by the effigies of three generations of Forsytes
	by his wife.
					6. not only delightful in itself
	Муж, который находится под каблуком своей
					7. old Jolyon’s granddaughter
	жены, подкаблучник.
	(To be) tied to one’s mother’s apron strings				Those privileged to be present at a family festival of the Forsytes have
	means (to be) dominated by one’s mother or de-				seen that charming and instructive sight – an upper middle-class family
	pendent on one’s mother.				A.___________. But whosoever of these favoured persons has possessed the
	Держаться за материнскую юбку = маменькин
					gift of psychological analysis (a talent without monetary value and properly
	сынок.
					ignored by the Forsytes), has witnessed a spectacle, B.____________, but
	A marriage portion is a bride’s dowry.				illustrative of an obscure human problem. In plainer words, he has gleaned
	Приданное невесты.				from a gathering of this family – C.____________, between no three mem-
	To be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth is				bers of whom existed anything worthy of the name of sympathy – evidence of
					that mysterious concrete tenacity which renders a family so formidable a unit
	a colloquial expression meaning to be born in afflu-
					of society, so clear a reproduction of society in miniature…
	ent circumstances, to be a rich parents kid.
					On June 15, eighteen eighty-six, about four of the afternoon, the observer
	Родиться в рубашке, родиться под счастливой
	звездой.				D.___________ in Stanhope Gate, might have seen the highest efflorescence
	To marry a fortune is to take as a husband a rich				of the Forsytes.
					This was the occasion of an ‘at home’ to celebrate the engagement of Miss
	and well-respected man.				June Forsyte, E.____________, to Mr. Philip Bosinney. In the bravery of light
	Выйти замуж за		богатого человека, удачно		gloves, buff waistcoats, feathers and frocks, the family were present, even
	выйти замуж.
					Aunt Ann, F.___________, where, under the aegis of a plume of dyed pampas
	Mr. Right is smb’s future husband.				grass in a light blue vase, she sat all day reading and knitting, G.____________.
	Будущий муж, суженый, избранник.				Even Aunt Ann was there; her inflexible back, and the dignity of her calm old
	To name the day is to appoint the day of marriage.				face personifying the rigid possessiveness of the family idea.
	Назначить день свадьбы.				Answers: A. 3, B. 6, C. 2, D. 4, E. 7, F. 1, G. 5
	The happy day is		a day of wedding.		Restore the meaning to the paragraph below by putting the words in brack-
	День свадьбы.

ets into the correct grammar forms.

Marriage of convenience is a legal marriage for legal or social reasons, not for love.

Брак по расчёту.

Bluebeard is a man who has many wifes.

“СиняяБорода”; человек, которыйженилсямного раз.

A man’s better half is a man’s wife.

Лучшая половина, жена.

The answer to a maiden’s prayer is a handsome man, single, a dream of any young girl or woman.

Мечта девушки, красивый холостяк, завидный жених.

Black sheep of the family or Bad egg is the worst member of the family (proverb: There is a black sheep in every flock)

Больная (паршивая) овца в стаде. В семье не без урода.

Cupboard love is an affection sustained by the thought of what one can get out of a situation for oneself.

Корыстная любовь, любовь с расчтёом.

Love in a cottage is love in hunter’s cabin made of branches and straw.

Бескорыстная любовь = рай в шалаше.

“Well,” Father said, “I’m going to keep 1____________ (try). I may ask the committee for permission to bring him here at night, if you don’t mind. You know what the night-crew Nurturers are like. I think this little guy 2____________ (need) something extra.”

“Of course,” Mother said, and Jonas and Lily nodded. They 3____________

(hear) Father complain about the night crew before. It was a lesser job, nightcrew nurturing, assigned to those who 4____________ (lack) the interest or skills or insight for the 5____________ (many) vital jobs of the daytime hours. Most of the people on the night crew had not even been given spouses because they lacked, somehow, the essential capacity to connect to others, which 6____________ (require) for the creation of a family unit.

“Maybe we could even keep him,” Lily suggested sweetly, trying to look innocent. The look 7____________ (be) fake, Jonas knew; they all knew. “Lily,” Mother reminded her, smiling, “you know the rules.”

Two children – one male, one female – to each family unit. It 8__________

(write) very clearly in the rules.

Lily giggled. “Well,” she said, “I thought maybe just this once.”…

The ritual 9____________ (continue). “Jonas?” Father asked. “You’re last, tonight.”

Answers: 1. trying 2. needs 3. had heard 4. lacked 5. more 6. was required 7. was 8. was written 9. continued

By Julia Raskina, Head of the Foreign Languages Dept.,

School No. 1567, Cambridge ESOL Oral Examiner