Топики по английскому языку. Топики Тексты для чтения Экзаменационные вопросы Цветкова И. В. Клепальченко И. А
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Part I "Can a man — I mean, a gentleman — call a woman a pig?" The little man spoke to the whole group. Nobody answered. The little man looked at each of the men in turn and spoke to one of them. "I ask you, Mr Treloar, can any man call any woman a pig?" Treloar, who was sitting next to him, did not answer at once. "I think," he began slowly, "that it - it depends on the lady." The little man looked angrily at him: "You mean ..." "Yes, I mean that I have met a woman who was worse than a pig. If you wish, I shall tell you the story and then ask you what you think of her. "Miss Caruthers shall » call her (though that is not her real name). It was on a boat sailing the Southern seas and it happened a few years ago. Her father was a high official whose name you all know very well, and that is the reason why I don't mention it. "Miss Caruthers was charming. No, that is not the word. She was wonderful. She was a beautiful young woman, and a lady. She was with her mother and two maids at that time. They were going East to join her father there. "She — excuse me for repeating it — was wonderful. There was nothing she could not do better than any woman and — most of the men. She could sing, play, dance, swim! Nobody could compete with her. "But her swimming! She was very beautiful, as I have told you, small and thin. But she also had strength. She could stay under water for two minutes. No man on board, except Dennitson, could get as many coins with one dive. On the deck there was a big tank filled with six-feet sea water. We used to throw small coins into it. She would dive from the bridge — this was not an easy thing to do — and fetch up not less than forty-seven coins from the bottom of the tank. "She was a sea-woman, really. But she was a landwoman too. She could ride, she could play tennis, she could do anything. She was a wonder. And she was clever, witty, charming. All the men were in love with her. I myself was in love with her. She was always surrounded by men, young and old, who were ready to do everything she wished. "She ran the ship, she ran the voyage, she ran everything, and she ran Dennitson. He was in love with her like all of us. But she liked him better than the others, and that feeling was growing. What would have happened we shall never know, because we came to Colombo" and something else happened. "You k'now Colombo, and how the native boys' dive for coins in the bay full of sharks. Of course they risk to do it only with the smaller and less dangerous sharks. It is really surprising how they know sharks and can feel the presence of a real killer — a tiger shark, for instance. Whenever such a shark appears, all the boys get hurriedly out of the water. "It was after lunch, and Miss Caruthers was as usual surrounded by her admirers. Old Captain Bentley had just been whistled up " and had given her permission (he had never allowed this before ... nor since14 for the boys to come up on deck. You see, Miss Caruthers was a swimmer, and she was interested. She took all our small coins and herself threw them into the water. She gave extra rewards to the best swimmers, in short, she ran the whole show. (After J. London) 1 Under the Deck Awnings ['o:niijz] "Под палубным тентом" 2 Treloar [tri'laua] 3 Caruthers [кэ'глЭэг] 4 on a boat sailing the Southern ['злЭэп] seas на пароходе, который плыл по южным морям 5 that is the reason why I don't mention it поэтому-то я и не называю его имени 6 a big tank filled with six-feet sea water большой бассейн глубиной в шесть футов, наполненный морской водой 7 used [ju:st] to throw имели обыкновение бросать 8 would dive обычно ныряла 9 She ran the ship, she ran the voyage Она управляла кораблем, она командовала путешествием 10 What would have happened Чем бы все это кончилось 11 Colombo [ka'l/vmbou] Коломбо 12 native boys мальчики-туземцы 13 had just been whistled up его только что подозвали (свисткам — намек на то, что Мисс Карутерс стоило только свистнуть, чтобы он явился) 14 he had never allowed this before... nor since он никогда этого не разрешал ни до... ни после этого случая UNDER THE DECK AWNINGS Part II That was a pretty sight. Among the boys there was a little fellow who could dive wonderfully, much better than the other boys. He could make the swallow-dive more beautifully than I had ever seen it. He dived again and again. We all watched him with delight, especially Miss Caruthers. He was not older than twelve or thirteen, but he was certainly the cleverest among the boys. He was their favourite and leader, though some of them were older than he. He was a beautiful boy, active and brave. He was so healthy, fresh and young, so full of life, that it was a pleasure to look at him. "This was the boy. And it was he who gave alarm in the middle of the sport. All the boys hurried to get out of the water. They were all frightened and swam towards the ship as quickly as they could. They hurriedly climbed onto the deck. Now all of them were standing near the rail and looking down into the water. "What's the matter?" asked Miss Caruthers. "A shark, I think," Captain Bentley answered. "Are they afraid of sharks?" she asked. "Aren't you?" he asked back. She shuddered, looked down into the water. "Not for the world would I risk to dive if there was a shark nearby," she said and shuddered again. "They are terrible! Terrible!" "Captain Bentley made a sign to the boys to go away. But Miss Caruthers stopped him. "One moment, please, Captain." "And then she turned to us and asked: "Who will lend me a half-crown and a sovereign?" "Immediately all of us were holding out the coins to her. "She held up the halfcrown so that the boys could see it. But none of them moved. She offered the coin to each of the boys, and each of them shook his head and smiled. Then she threw the coin into the sea. With sad faces they watched its silver flight through the air, but not one moved to follow it. "Don't do it with the sovereign," Dennitson said to her in a low voice. "But she held up the gold coin before the eyes of the boy who had made the swallow-dive. "Don't do it," Dennitson said. If s a fortune to him. He may risk his life to get it." "Wouldn't you?" she asked. "Dennitson shook his head. "She was silent for a moment. She had forgotten the boy, and was thinking of Dennitson. "For me?" she said in a low voice. "To save your life — yes. But not to get the coin." "She turned back to the boy. Again she held the coin before his eyes. "It is difficult to say why she did it. It was unexpected for all of us. Suddenly the gold coin flashed in the sunshine. Before a hand could stop him, the boy was over the rail and making a beautiful swallowdive after the coin. "In the clear water from the high deck, we saw everything. The shark was very big and in an instant it cut the boy in half. "There was a murmur among us and then there was silence. Miss Caruthers was the first to speak. Her face was very white. "I ... never thought," she said, and laughed a short, hysterical laugh. "She turned to Dennitson, and then from one to another of us. Her lips were trembling. But nobody moved. "Mr Dennitson," she said, "please take me to my cabin." "He did not even change the direction of his look. His face was dark. Captain Bentley made a strange sound in his throat. That was all, that and the silence. "She turned away and began to walk slowly down the deck." Treloar had finished his story. He turned his head, looked at the little man and asked coldly. "Well, what can you say to that?" The little man opened his mouth and then closed it. "I have nothing to say," he said. "Absolutely nothing." (After J. London) 1 a pretty sight красивое зрелище 2 could make the swallow-dive мог нырять "ласточкой" 3 it was he who gave alarm in the middle of the sport и именно он дал сигнал тревоги в самом разгаре игры 4 he asked back ответил он вопросом на вопрос 5 Not for the world would I risk to dive, if there was a shark nearby Ни за что на свете я бы не рискнула нырнуть, если бы поблизости была акула 6 Who will lend me a half-crown and a sovereign fsovrin]? Кто мне одолжит полкроны и соверен? (полкроны — серебряная монета достоинствам в 2,5 шиллинга; соверен — золотая монета достоинством в 1 фунт стерлингов; обе монеты вышли из употребления) 7 shook his head отрицательно покачал головой 8 watched its silver flight следили за полетом серебряной монеты 9 in a low voice тихо 10 It's a fortune ['fo:tjan] to him. Для него это целое состояние. 11 Wouldn't you? ... А вы бы рискнули? ... 12 cut the boy in half перекусила мальчика пополам 13 was the first to speak заговорила первой HOW WE KEPT MOTHER'S DAY We decided to have a special celebration of Mother's Day. We thought it a fine idea. It made us realise how much Mother had done for us for years, and all the efforts and sacrifices that she had made for our sake. So we decided that we'd make it a great day, a holiday for all the family, and do everything we could to make Mother happy. Father decided to take a holiday from his office, so as to help in celebrating the day, and my sister Ann and I stayed home from college classes, and Mary and my brother Will stayed home from High School. It was our plan to make it a day just like Christmas or any big holiday, and so we decided to decorate the house with flowers. We asked Mother to do it, because she always does it. The two girls thought it would be a nice thing to dress in our best for such a big occasion, and so they both got new hats. Father had bought silk ties for himself and us boys. We were going to get Mother a new hat too, but it turned out that she liked her old hat better than a new one. After breakfast we decided that we would hire a motor car and take Mother for a beautiful drive away into the country. But on the very morning of the day we changed the plan a little bit. We all felt that it would be nicer to have a definite purpose. It turned out that Father had just got a new rod the day before, and he said that Mother could use it if she wanted to: in fact, he said it was practically for her, only Mother said she would rather watch him fish than fish herself. So we got everything arranged for the trip. Mother cut up some sandwiches and packed all up in a basket for us. When the car came to the door, it turned out that we couldn't all get in. Father said that he could stay at home and work in the garden. The girls said that Mother had only to say the word and they'd gladly stay at home and work. In the end it was decided that Mother would stay at home and have a lovely restful day round the house. It turned out anyway that Mother didn't care for fishing and also it was just a little bit cold and fresh out-of-doors, though it was lovely and sunny, and Father was afraid that Mother might take cold if she came. We had the loveliest day. Father and the boys fished, the girls met quite a lot of people. We all had a splendid time. It was quite late when we got back. We sat down to dinner. It was grand. When it was over all of us wanted to help clear the things up and wash the dishes, only Mother said that she would really much rather do it. When we all kissed Mother before going to bed, she said it had been the most wonderful day in her life and I think there were tears in her eyes. (After S. Leacock) 1 to keep Mother's Day отмечать (праздновать) День Матери 2 for our sake ради нас 3 it turned out... оказалось, что 4 we got everything arranged for the trip мы все подготовили к поездке LOOKING BACK ON EIGHTY YEARS In my long life I have seen many changes in our habits and customs. The world I entered when at the age of eighteen I became a medical student was a,world that knew nothing of planes, motor-cars, movies, radio or telephone. When I was still at school a lecturer showed us boys a new machine which reproduced the human voice. It was the first gramophone. The world I entered was a world that warmed itself with coal fires, lit itself by gas and looked upon a bathroom as a luxury out of the reach. It was a very cheap world. When I entered St Thomas's Hospital I took a couple of furnished rooms for which I paid 18s a week. My landlady provided me with a solid breakfast before I went to the hospital and high tea when I came back at half-past six, and the two meals cost me about 12s a week. I was able to live very comfortably, pay my fees, buy my necessary instruments, and clothe myself. I had enough money to go to the theatre at least once a week. The pit, to which I went, was not the orderly thing it's now. There were no queues. The crowd collected at the doors, and when they were opened there was a struggle, with a lot of pushing and elbowing and shouting to get a good place. But that was part of the fun. Travelling was cheap, too, in those days. When I was twenty I went to Italy by myself for the six weeks of the Easter vacation. I spent five years at St Thomas's Hospital. I was an unsatisfactory medical student, for my heart was not in it. I wanted, I had always wanted, to be a writer, and in the evening, after my tea, I wrote and read. I wrote a novel, called Liza of Lambeth sent it to a publisher, and it was accepted. It appeared during my last year at the hospital and had something of a success. It was of course an accident, but naturally I did not know that. I felt I could afford to chuck medicine and make writing my profession; so three days after passing the final examinations which gave me my medical qualifications, I set out for Spain to learn Spanish and write another book. Looking back now, after these years, and knowing as I do the terrible difficulties of making a living by writing, I realise that I was taking a fearful risk. It never occurred to me. I abandoned the medical profession with relief, but I do not regret the five years I spent at the hospital, far from it . They taught me pretty well all I know about human nature, for in a hospital you see it in the raw. People in pain, people in fear of death, do not try to hide anything from their doctor, and if they do he can generally guess what they are hiding. (After S. Maugham) 1 a luxury ['lAkJari] out of the reach недосягаемая роскошь 2 18$ a week 18 шиллингов в неделю 3 high tea "большой чай", ранний ужин с чаем 4 pay fees зд. платить за обучение 3 by myself сам, один 6 Liza of Lambeth "Лиза из Ламберта" (одно из ранних произведений Моэма) 7 to chuck разг. бросить, оставить 8 to make a living by writing зарабатывать на жизнь писательским трудом 9 far from it зд. наоборот 10 in the raw [ro:] без прикрас, в чистом виде, как есть THE COP AND THE ANTHEM On his bench in Madison Square, Soapy moved uneasily. Winter was coming and it was the time for him to look for shelter. Soapy's desires were not great. Three months in prison was what he wanted. There he was sure of a little food and a bed, safe from the winter wind and the cold. For years prison had been his shelter during the winter. Now the time had come again. And that is why he moved uneasily on his bench. Having decided to go to prison, Soapy at once set about fulfilling his desire. There were many easy ways of doing this. The most pleasant was to dine well at some expensive restaurant, and then, after saying that he could not pay, be quietly arrested by a policeman and sent to prison by the judge. Soapy got up and walked out of the square and across the level sea of asphalt, where Broadway and Fifth Avenue flow together. He stopped at the window of a brightly lit cafe. Soapy was shaven, and his coat and tie were decent. But his boots and trousers were shabby. If he could reach a table in the restaurant and nobody saw him, he thought, success would be his. The upper part of him that would show above the table would raise no doubt in the waiter's mind. A roasted duck, two bottles of wine, a cup of coffee, and a cigar would make him happy for the journey to his winter quarters. But just as Soapy entered the restaurant door, the head waiter's eyes fell upon his shabby trousers and boots. Strong hands turned him round and pushed him to the sidewalk. Soapy turned off Broadway. He had to think of another way of getting to prison. At a corner of Sixth Avenue he saw a brightly lit shop window. Soapy took a stone and threw it at the glass and broke it. People came running around the corner, a policeman at their head. Soapy stood still, with his hands in his pockets, and smiled when he saw the policeman's blue coat. "Where is the man that has done it?" shouted the policeman. "Do you think I have done it?" said Soapy in a friendly way. The policeman did not understand Soapy's hint. Men who break windows do not usually remain to speak to policemen. They run away. Just then the policeman saw a man who was hurrying to catch a car. Club in hand, he rushed after that man. Soapy had failed again. On the opposite side of the street was a small and cheap restaurant. Soapy came in, sat down at a table, and ate a beefsteak and an enormous apple-pie. "Now call a policeman. I cannot pay. I have no money," said Soapy. "And don't keep a gentleman waiting." "No cop for you," said the waiter, and seizing Soapy by the collar threw him out of the restaurant. Soapy got up and beat the dust from his clothes. He was in despair. His last hope was to be caught for "disorderly conduct". Soapy began to yell at the top of his voice. He danced and cried like a madman. A policeman who was standing nearby turned his back to Soapy, and remarked to a passer-by: "It's one of those University lads. They are celebrating their traditional holiday. They are noisy; but they mean no harm". Soapy stopped in despair. He buttoned his thin coat against the cold wind and the rain, and walked on. At last he reached a street where there was little traffic and few pedestrians. At a quiet corner he suddenly stopped. There was an old church in front of him. Through one window a soft light shone, and he heard the sweet music of the organ which made him come closer. The moon was above, cold and beautiful, and the music made Soapy suddenly remember those days when his life was full of such things as mothers and roses, and ambitions and friends, and pure thoughts, and clean collars. The organ music set up a revolution in him. There was time yet. He was still young. He would get out of the mire. He would be somebody in the world. He would — Soapy felt a hand on his arm. He looked quickly around into the broad face of a policeman. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "Nothing," said Soapy. "Then come along," said the policeman. "Three months' imprisonment," said the judge in the Police Court next morning. (After O. Henry) 1 The Cop and the Anthem ['аепЭэт] "Полицейский и хорал" 2 Having decided to go to prison... Решив попасть в тюрьму... 3 set about fulfilling his desire приступил к осуществлению своего плана (желания) 4 to flow together сливаться 5 would raise no doubt [daut] in the waiter's mind не вызовет никаких сомнений у официанта 6 quarters ['kwo:t8z] зд. квартира, убежище 7 sidewalk ['saidwoik] амер. тротуар 8 Club in hand С дубинкой в руке 9 to keep waiting заставлять ждать 10 beat the dust from his clothes стряхнул пыль с одежды 11 disorderly conduct [dis,o:dali 'kondekt] нарушение общественного порядка, хулиганство 12 to yell at the top of his voice вопить во все горло 13 they mean no harm они безобидны 14 mire['maia] трясина, болото 15 Police Court [pa'li:s ,ko:t] полицейский суд (по мелким делам) |