Vocabulary

boundary, n line that marks a limit; dividing line.

enchanting, adj charming; bewitching

erudition, n great learning,

e.g. a book that displays great erudition

erudite, adj (fml) having or showing great learning; scholarly

e.g. an erudite work on the history of the Roman Empire

eruditively, adv

expand, v make or become larger

e.g. to expand a short story into a novel; expand sb's life experience

keen (on sth), adj fond of sth.; enthusiastic about,

e.g. keen on going abroad

keep up with sb/sth, v 1. remain level with sb

e.g. I had to work hard to keep up with the other students.

2. keep in advance of (an idea, music, fashion, etc.)

e.g. How do you keep up with the latest styles in popular music?

to keep up with the news

to keep up with the Joneses (not fml) to stay level with social changes, compete with one's neighbours;

to keep up with the times to follow fashion; be fully informed

stir, v excite

e.g. stir sb's imagination

take to sb/sth/doing sth, v 1. (to sth) adopt as a practice or hobby, etc.; get into the habit

e.g. take to gardening when one retires

2. have a liking for

e.g. He will never take to cricket. I have really taken to my mother-in-law.

on the part of sb proceeding from, done, etc. by

e.g. There was no objection on my part.

myth, n story, handed down from older times

e.g. ideas or beliefs about the early history of a race, explanations of natural events, etc.

mythical, adj 1. of myth (~ hero )

2. imaginary (~ wealth)

mythology, n 1. study or science of myths

2. myths collectively: Greek ~; body or collection of myths

e.g. the mythologies of primitive races

mythological, adj of mythology; unreal

legend, n 1. old story handed down from the past, esp. one of doubtful truth: the Greek ~s

2. literature of such stories

e.g. heroes who are famous in ~s.

legendary famous, known only in legends: ~ heroes.

NOTES

footnote, n note at the bottom of a page.

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) Italian poet, author of the Divine Comedy (Divina Comedia), a narrative epic poem.

Focus on vocabulary

1. Transcribe and read out these words.

erudite, peculiarity, mythology, genre, ancient, autobiographical, contemporary

2. Give synonyms.

1. to stir (imagination) 6. to require

2. to expand 7. keen on sth

3. to charm 8. contemporary

4. erudite, a 9. boundary

5. spellbound by a book 10. to get into the habit

3. Form adjectives from the following nouns.

1. myth 4. fantasy

2. legend 5. fiction

3. fable 6. literature

4. Match the verbs on the left with nouns on the right to make as many collocations as possible.

1. to draw a. erudition

2. to expand b. the mind

3. to enrich c. mental ability

4. to excite d. conclusions

5. to develop e. new ideas

6. to broaden f. thinking

7. to improve g. outlook

8. to demand h. life experience

9. to give i. horizons

10. to deepen j. new opinions

11. to discover

12. to reach

5. What is the difference in meaning between imaginary, imaginable, imaginative? Use a dictionary, if necessary, to explain it. Now, choose one of the words to fit into each of the following sentences.

1. We had every __________ difficulty to get here in time.

2. Cindy was an __________ and artistic child.

3. All the characters in the book are __________.

4. This is quite an __________ piece of writing.

5. We tried every means __________, but we couldn’t wake her up.

6. My daughter has an __________ friend.

6. Study the definitions and try to work out what the word is.

1. an ancient story, usu. containing religious or magical ideas which may (try to) explain natural or historical events

2. an old story about great deed and people of ancient times, having a slight possible base in truth

3. a story about fairies, gnomes, etc.

4. a popular story passed on in speech from an earlier time or in a simple society

7. Fill in the blanks with the correct prepositions.

1. to pore … a book

2. to read an autobiography … snatches

3. to be lost … a romance

4. to wade … a manual

5. to be enchanted … Japanese poetry

6. Russia is rich … talented writers

7. to be delighted … Shakespeare’s comedies

8. to keep up … the news

9. to demand erudition … the part of the reader

10. to have a well-stocked library … home

8. Paraphrase the underlined parts of the following sentences.

1. John Milton, the author of Paradise Lost, got into the habit of reading in Latin at the age of ten.

2. Early in life, he was bewitched by the works of Italian poets.

3. John Milton said that the scientific observations of Galileo excited his imagination.

4. Among his contemporaries Milton was known as a man of great learning.

5. If you want to enjoy John Milton’s creations, do not turn the pages of his books without reading much.

9. Say it in English.

1. Научная фантастика раздвигает границы знакомого мира.

2. Приключенческие романы будят воображение.

3. Его эссе обнаруживают огромную эрудицию.

4. Мифы и легенды Древней Греции служили источником вдохновения для многих писателей и художников.

5. Нелегко оценить истинную глубину этого автора.

6. Она просматривает массу газет и журналов, чтобы быть в курсе вех новостей.

7. На полке стояли два-три словаря и несколько книг в мягкой обложке, в основном бестселлеры.

8. Он не читает ничего, кроме шпионских романов и детективов.

9. Настоящая литература должна не только развлекать, но и просвещать.

10. Многие считают, что детские книги обязательно должны иметь образовательную ценность.