- •Chapters 1-2
- •Vocabulary Section
- •1. Work out the suggested list of useful words and expressions, translate into Russian:
- •2. Test your understanding of the text:
- •3. These conversational expressions appear in the text. What do you think they mean?
- •4. Here are some sentences from the text. Explain what the words in bold type mean.
- •5. Match the words on the left with their meanings on the right.
- •6. A) Find the synonym in the right column which suits the meaning of the word in the left one:
- •7. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following expressions:
- •8. Say the same in English:
- •10. Translate the sentences from Russian into English.
- •11. Who said these words? In what way do they characterize the people who said them?
- •12. Find facts from Chapter 1 to support these statements:
- •13. Out of the suggested adjectives pick up the ones which best describe the characters introduced in the first chapters.
- •14. Put the sentences in the correct order according to the Chapter 2.
- •15. Which of the following statements are true and which are false? Write «t» if the statement is true and «f» if it is false. Give reasons for your answers.
- •16. Note down theatrical terms you have come across in the chapters. Post-Reading Discussion Section
- •1. Attention Check:
- •2. Discussion points.
- •Chapters 3-4.
- •Vocabulary Section
- •1. Work out the following expressions. Recall the situations from the text in which they are used.
- •2. Read the following words in transcription, than put them down minding the spelling.
- •3. Test your understanding of the text:
- •4. Match the words from column a with the definitions from b.
- •5. Give the English variant of the following:
- •6. Match the synonyms. Translate them.
- •7. Try to translate the sentences with idioms. Comment on them.
- •8. Give the literary translation to the sentences from the text:
- •9. Translate the following sentences into English.
- •Post-Reading Discussion Section
- •1. Find facts from chapter 3 to support these statements:
- •2. Attention Check:
- •3. Discussion points.
Chapters 1-2
Vocabulary Section
1. Work out the suggested list of useful words and expressions, translate into Russian:
to keep accounts
to know smb inside and out
to set one’s mind on doing smth
to serve the purpose well
to have the nerve to do smth
to make a mess of something
to have a notion of something
to take a weight off somebody's mind
a spot of lunch
to design the sets
in point of fact
to shake one's head in refusal
to be as thin as a rail
to take liberties with something/somebody
to turn people round one's little finger
to put someone at (his/her) ease
to be a treat for somebody
to go on tour
at cost price
to see no point in something/doing something
in somebody's favour
not to sleep a wink
to wring (wrung, wrung) one's heart
now and then
to give something (any) thought
to take one's breath away
Flesh and blood can’t stand it
to arouse a protective instinct
to have much inclination to do smth
to mock
entanglement
perseverance
2. Test your understanding of the text:
a) What does Michael say about the way accounts are kept in their theatre?
they are kept very well
they are kept in the same way as in other theatres
they are in a mess
b) What does Michael mean by the phrase "the way some of those firms in the city keep their accounts is enough to turn your hair grey"?
some firms manage to keep their accounts in amazing order
accounts at some firms are in an awful mess
some firms pay severe penalties for disorder in their accounts
с) Julia believes that Michael's secretary knew him "inside and out". How should we understand that phrase?
she does not know him at all
she is his lover
she knows him very well
d) Looking at the young man's hair Julia wished he "made the most of it". What should he have done to his hair to make it look more attractive to Julia?
had it cut short
had it dyed
- had arranged it so as to show its beauty
e) Julia was known for her "velvet look". What kind of look is that?
piercing
soft
frightening
f) The author says that Jimmie Langton looked like one of Rubens' prosperous burghers. How should we picture him?
lean
robust
businesslike
g) The author characterizes Jane Taitbout as a "stagy actress". What does he imply?
that Jane was a talented actress
that Jane had a great experience of acting
that Jane's acting was unnatural
h) Jimmie Langton said that Julia had "an indiarubber face". What do you think that means?
her face could show any feeling or emotion
her face was not particularly attractive
she had dark complexion
i) In talking to Julia Jimmie Langton says "Now let's come down to brass tacks". Does he mean that they should
go to the races?
talk about the facts which are of fundamental importance?
go and listen to the brass orchestra?
j) When Michael says: "Bricks without straw; that's what we actors are expected to make nowadays", does he mean that actors are expected to
do a good job without the necessary materials?
go into the construction industry?
make a mess of their professional activity?