IV. Discussion points.

Exercise 8. What do you think about the picture Miss Martha had? Was the picture as good as Miss Martha thought about it?

Active vocabulary

stale bread

stain

garret

occupation

to buy at a sale

marble palace

in the foreground

a customer

purchase

complexion

to seize the opportunity

an architectural draughts man

to draw a plan

a prize competition

to rub

stale breadcrumbs

to make the drawing in pencil

to finish inking

an India rubber

Keys

Ex. 1. a – 9 ; b – 2 ; c – 13.

Ex. 2. a – 1 ; b – 2 ; c – 14 ; d – 11 ; e – 15.

Ex. 3. a – F ; b – T ; c – T ; d – F ; e – T ; f – F.

Ex. 4. 1 - b; 2 - e; 3 - a; 4 - e; 5 - b; 6 - a; 7 - e; 8 - e; 9 - a; 10 - b; 11 - a; 12 - e.

Text 3

І. Reading.

Read the text “The Burglary” and do the exercises given after the text.

The burglary

Sir Jee Dain's career was most successful and brilliant in the history of the Five Towns. Though most of the people of the town hated him he was nevertheless the best known public man and had been three times mayor of the town. The people working with him decided to make him a present. Everybody thought the present should take the form of a portrait and a well-known artist should make it. The artist was found and soon the portrait was ready. A special committee inspected the portrait and said that it was the best masterpiece of modern times. But when the portrait was brought to the Five Towns and shown to the people they saw a mean, little old man. The por­trait was so lifelike that some of the people began laughing, many of them felt sorry not for Sir Jee but for his wife who was loved and respected.

The portrait had been hanging in the dining-room in the house of Sir Jee for about sixteen months when Lady Dain told her husband that if the por­trait remained in the house she would die. "Don't say so. I wouldn't part with the portrait for ten times what it cost."

This was a lie. Jee secretly hated the portrait more than anything or any­one else and avoided looking at it. He would have been almost willing to burn down his house to get rid of the portrait. But then an idea of a less expensive way of getting rid of the portrait came to him.

There had recently occurred a number of burglaries in the town and on the previous afternoon a policeman had caught a man whom everybody con­sidered to be the burglar. The Five Towns congratulated the chief of the police.

Now Sir Jee, mayor of the Five Towns, dismissed the charge against the burglar, William Smith by name, and came to prison to have a private talk with Smith.

When Sir Jee remained alone with William Smith, he said.

"Smith, you know I've dismissed the charge against you, don't you?"

"Yes, governor," Smith answered smiling.

"But what do you want?"

Sir Jee was at a loss. How could he explain to William Smith what he wanted him to do.

"I was hoping I might be of use to you," Sir Jee said diplomatically.

"Well," interrupted Smith. "That's all right. But don't play tricks on me."

"Sit down," said Sir Jee. William obeyed him. "How should you like to commit a perfectly lawful burglary?"

William Smith was surprised.

"In my house there is a large portrait of myself in the dining-room that I want to be stolen."

"Well, why don't you steal it yourself," William suggested.

"I could not tell my friends that the portrait had been stolen if it had not been stolen. The burglary must really take place."

"And what are you going to give me for this job?"

"Give you for the job?" repeated Sir Jee.

"Why, I'm giving you the opportunity to honestly steal a picture that's worth over a thousand pounds in America, and you want to be paid."

"Then, why are you in such a hurry to get rid of it?" asked the burglar.

"I don't like it, and Lady Dain doesn't like it. But it is a present to me so I can't — you see, Mr. Smith."

"And how am I going to take it?" Smith demanded. "According to you, governor, it's known all over the world. It seems to me I might just as well try to sell the Nelson Column."

"Oh, nonsense," said Sir Jee. "Nonsense. You'll sell it in America qwte easily."

"All right, governor. I agree just to oblige you."

"When can you do it?" asked Sir Jee cheerfully.

"Let it be to-morrow night."

The night of the burglary Sir Jee remained at home alone, even the ser­vants left for the holiday as it was Christmas Eve.

Sir Jee again and again thought over the affair. And, after all, burglary was absolutely the only way out and surely it was better than to burn down the house, as in case of fire some fool might cry.

"The portrait, the portrait must be saved."

And the portrait would be saved.

He looked at the hateful thing and wondered, if William Smith would steal the massive gold frame. He hoped that the frame would not be stolen.

"This is the last time I shall see you," said Sir Jee to the portrait.

Then he went to bed leaving one of the windows open for the burglar lo come in.

At about two o'clock in the morning he heard some noise: William Smith had kept his word. Sir Jee was in high spirits: he would never see the portrait again.

He got up early and half-dressed, went down to the dining-room.

The portrait was on the floor with the following words written on it in chalk: "This is no use to me".

It was the massive gold frame that had gone.

As it was later discovered, all the silver had gone too ... Not a spoon was left in the house.

ІІ. Comprehension.

Exercise 1. Find where in the text it is said:

a) that lady Dain didn’t like the portrait;

b) that Sir Jee came to prison to have a talk with Smith;

c) that Smith was not very willing to steal the picture.

Exercise 2. Find in the text the answers to the following questions:

a) What present was made to Sir Jee Dain?

b) Why did Sir Jee want to get rid of the portrait?

c) How did Sir Jee instruct William Smith to steal his portrait?

d) What did W. Smith steal?

Exercise 3. Say whether the following statements are true or false:

a) The citizens of the town decided to make a present to Sir Jee.

b) The citizens of the town liked Lady Dain but did not like Sir Jee.

c) William Smith was an old Friend of Sir Jee.

d) The portrait was a masterpiece and it cost one thousand pounds.

f) Sir Jee left one of the doors open for the Burglar to come in.

Exercise 4. Reading comprehension test

1. Sir Jee Dain was

a) a famous painter;

b) a major of the town;

c) a senator.

2. He did not like his portrait because

a) he did not like art;

b) the portrait revealed that he was a mean, little old man;

c) the portrait was painted badly.

3. The people of the town respected

a) Sir Jee Dain;

b) the painter who painted the picture;

c) Sir Dain’s wife.

4. Sir Dian’s wife

a) liked the portrait very much;

b) hated the portrait;

c) didn’t notice the portrait.

5. Sir Dain wanted

a) to get rid of the portrait

b) to present it to a museum;

c) to keep it at home as a very precious thing.

6. William Smith was

a) a painter;

b) Sir Dain’s friend;

c) a burglar.

7. Sir Dain wanted Smith

a) to steel his portrait;

b) to sell the portrait for him;

c) to improve the portrait.

8. Smith stole

a) the portrait;

b) only the gold frame;

c) the gold frame and all the silver: spoons, forks and knives.