Would you like to drive?

“Would you like to drive?”

Mor was startled. It was nearly fifteen years since he had driv­en a car, and he had never possessed one of his own.

“I haven’t driven for a long time,” he said, “and I don’t know whether I could now. Anyway, I haven’t got a driving licence.”

“That doesn’t matter,” said Miss Carter, “no one will know — and we’re not in a real roqd anyway. Would you like to?”

“I might harm your beautiful car,” said Mor. But that he would like to, he would like to very much indeed, drive the Ri­ley. Before he could say any more, Miss Carter skipped out of the car and they changed places. She seemed very elated and watched Mor with delight as he looked doubtfully at the dash­board. He could remember nothing.

“How do I start it?” he asked.

“There’s the ignition, it’s switched on, there’s the starter, there’s the gear lever. You remember how the gears go? There’s the clutch, the foot-brake, the accelerator. The hand-brake’s in

front here.” Miss Carter was perched sideways in her seat with the gleeful air of a little boy who sees his father about to make a mess of things.

Mor felt large and awkward. He fiddled a little with the gears.

He began to remember. He started the engine. Then ginger­ly he put the car into first gear and released the clutch. With a jolt the Riley leapt forward. Mor immediately put his foot on the brake and the engine stalled. Miss Carter rocked with laugh­ter. She had drawn her feet up and clutched her skirt about her ankles.

“Damn!” said Mor. He tried again and was more successful. The Riley glided very slowly forward and Mor navigated her round a turning in the path. A tree brushed the roof. Almost si­lently they sailed through the thickest part of the wood. Miss Carter was grave now, she was looking ahead. As he felt the big car purring quietly along under his control Mor felt like a king. He experienced a deep and intense joy. His body relaxed. He was continuous with the car, with the slowly moving woodland, with the thick green carpet of the unrolling bridle path. They drove for a minute without speaking.

(by Iris Murdoch)

TEXT WORK

1. Match the words:

1. Hood

2. Saloon car (AmE: sedan)

3. To set off

4. Tank

1. to start a journey

2. a rubber or iron hoop around

the wheel

3. receptacle for storing

4. as many miles as you like

5. Tyre (AmE: tire) e. closed car for 4—7 people

6. Unlimited mileage f. covering over a car engine

2. Write out from the text all the words and word combi­nations connected with the topic "Driving a Car”. Quote sentences in which they are used.

3. Which words go together according to the text:

to rock path *

to release with laughter

to start

bridle

gleeful

air

the engine the clutch

4. Retell the text on the part of Mor.

TEXT 3

FLEUR AT THE WHEEL

“What time does that train get down?”

“Twelve twenty-three.”

“Then we can do it in a car. Have you any money?” Adrian felt in his pockets. “Only eight and six,” he said ruefully. “I’ve got just eleven bob. Awkward! I know! We’ll take a cab to young Fleur’s: if her car’s not out, she’d let us have it, and she or Michael would drive us.”

At South Square Michael was out, but Fleur in. Adrian, who did not know her so well as Hilary, was surprised by the quick­ness with which she. grasped the situation and produced the car. Within ten minutes, indeed, they were on the road with Fleur at the wheel.

“I shall go through Dorking and Pulborough,” she said, lean­ing back. “I can speed all the way after Dorking on that road. But, Uncle Hilary, what are you going to do if you get Captain Ferse?”

At that simple but necessary question the brothers looked at each other. Fleur seemed to feel their indecision through the back of her head, for she stopped with a jerk in front of an im­perilled dog, and, turning said:

“Would you like to think it over before we start?” Adrian left it to Hilary to answer. ‘

“Let’s-get on,” said Hilary, “it’s a case of making the best of what turns up.”

“When we pass a post-office,” added Adrian, “please stop. I want to send a wire to Dinny.”

Fleur nodded. “There’s one in the King’s Road. I must fill up, too, somewhere.”

And the car slid among the traffic.

“What shall I say in the wire?” asked Adrian. “Anything about Petworth?”

Hilary shook his head.

“Just that we think we’re on the right track.” When they had sent the wire there were only two hours left before the train ar­rived.

“It’s fifty miles to Pulborough,” said Fleur, “and I suppose about five on. I wonder if I can risk my petrol. I’ll see at Dork­ing.” From that moment on she was lost to them, though the car was a closed saloon, giving all her attention to her driving.

The two brothers sat silent with their eyes on the clock and the speedometer.

“I don’t often go joy-riding,” said Hilary, softly: “What are you thinking of, old man?”

“Oh, what on earth we’re going to do.”

“Our niece drives well,” said Hilary in a low voice.

“Look at her neck. Isn’t that capability personified?”

For several miles after that they drove in silence.

Fleur’s voice came back to them. “I must fill up. Uncle Hi­lary. There’s a station close here.”

“Right-o!”

The car drew up before the filling station.

“It’s always slow work to Dorking,” said Fleur stretching: “We can get along now. Only thirty-two miles, and a good hour still. Have you thought?”

“No,” said Hilary, “we’ve avoided it like poison.”

They started again, trailing through the traffic of Dorking’s long and busy street.

“Clear at last,” said Fleur, turning her head, “if you really want to catch him, you shall,” and she opened out to full speed. For the next quarter of an hour they flew along ... And then the car, which had been travelling very smoothly, began to grate and bump.

“Tyre’s gone” said Fleur, turning her head: “That’s torn it.” She brought the car to a standstill, and they all got out. The off hind tyre was right down.

“Jack her up, Adrian,” said Hilary, taking his coat off. “I’ll get the spare wheel off.”

Fleur’s head was lost in the tool-box, but her voice was heard saying: “Too many cooks, better let me!”

Adrian’s knowledge of cars was nil, his attitude to machin­ery helpless; he stood willingly aside, and watched them with admiration. They were cool, quick, efficient, but something was wrong with the jack.

“Always like that,” said Fleur, “when you’re in a hurry.” Twenty minutes was lost before they were again in motion.

“I can’t possibly do it now,” she said, “but you’ll be able to pick up his tracks easily, if you really want to. The station’s right out beyond the town. ”

Through Billingshurst and Pulborough and over Stopham bridge, they travelled at full speed.

“Better go for Petworth itself,” said Hilary, “if he’s heading back for the town, we shall meet him.”

“Am I to stop if we meet him?”

“No, carry straight on past and then turn.”

But they passed through Petworth and for the mile and a half to the station without meeting him.

“The train’s been in a good twenty minutes,” said Adrian, “Let’s ask.”

A porter had taken the ticket of a gentleman in a blue over­coat and black hat. No, he had no luggage. He had gone off, towards the Downs. How long ago? Half an hour, may be. Regaining the car hastily they made towards the Downs,

“I remember,” said Hilary, “a little further on there’s a turn to Sutton. The point will be whether he’s taken that or gone on up. There are some houses there somewhere. We’ll ask, they may have seen him.”

Just beyond the turning was a little post-office, and a post­man was cycling towards it from the Sutton road.

Fleur pulled the car to a walk alongside.

“Have you seen a gentleman in a blue coat and bowler hat making toward Sutton?”

“No, Miss.” ,

“Thank you. Shall 1 carry on for the Downs, Uncle Hilary?” Adrian said under his breath: “Homewards.”

(John Galsworthy)

Comprehension questions:

1. Had the two brothers, Adrian and Hilary, enough time to reach the station Captain Ferse’s train was due to pass at twelve twenty-three?

2. Why did they decide to go to their niece’s place?

3. Where did the Monts live? Did they find the Monts in?

4. Within how many minutes were they on their way to the station? Who was driving the car?

5. What route was Fleur going to take?

6. Was the traffic usually very heavy on the road after Dork­ing?

7. What did Fleur suggest her uncles should do before they started?

8. What made Fleur stop her car with a jerk? Whom did he want to send a wire to?

9. Why did FleUr decide to stop in the King’s Road?

10. What did Hilary want Adrian to say in his wire?

11. How many hours were left before the train arrived when they started again?

12. How many miles was it to Pulborough, from the King’s Road and how many more on ?

13. Why did Fleur open out to full speed when they were on the road again?

14. What did Hilary want Adrian to do to help him to get the spare wheel off?

15. How many minutes had the train been in when they reached the station?

TEXT WORK ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

1. Give Russian equivalents of:

a bob; do it in a car; rueful; the car is out; speed all the way; to make the best of what turns up; she was lost to them; a closed saloon; go joy-driving; capability personified; avoid smth like poison; to grate and bump; the off hind tyre; to pick up some­body’s tracks; to head for.

2. Find in "Fleur at the Wheel" expressions synonymous

with the following:

1. We can get there by car. 2. Somebody is using the car.

3. Fleur got the car out of the garage. 4. They were on the road with Fleur driving the car. 5. The car travelled through the traf­fic. 6. There were only ten minutes left before the train arrived.

7. I don’t often go motoring for pleasure. 8. What in the world are you going to do? 9.1 wonder if my petrol will last me to Pul- borough? 10. The car went easily through the traffic. 11. For the next quarter of ah hour they travelled at full speed. 12. She stopped the car. 13. The tyre is flat. It must be a puncture.

14. Adrian knew next to nothing about cars. 15. They were making for the town. 16. Drive straight on and then turn! 17. Re­turning to their car (seats) they made for the Downs. 18. Adri­an said in a whisper: “Homewards.”

DIALOGUE 2 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■