Sets of tasks

Task Set 1

(Chapters 1-3)

I. Study the active vocabulary:

• split up (p. 1)

• have a row (p. 1)

• weird adj. (p. 1)

• keep in touch with smb. (p. 1)

• zap verb (through the channels) (p. 4)

• indulge in smth. (p. 6)

• clutter noun (p. 7)

• feel washed-out (p. 7)

• bother with smb/smth (p. 9)

• shallow adj. (p. 9)

• get smth (=to understand) (p. 9)

• make a difference (p. 11)

• crap, to be crap at smth.(p. 12)

• give smb. a hard time (p. 13)

• be on the lookout for smth/smb. (p. 13)

• dement (p. 13)

• thump smb.(p. 14)

• tough smth. out (=to endure, to withstand) (p. 15)

• potty adj. (Br.=slightly crazy) (p. 16)

II. Complete the sentences (using the units from the active vocabulary):

1. There’s no need _______________ about this trifle. Try to be calm and patient.

2. Jim and Mary have been quarrelling so much recently that their friends are afraid they might ____________.

3. He returned to France so that he could _____________a glass of good wine.

4. There’s nothing interesting on the programme today, so I guess we’ll be _______________the channels the whole evening.

5. She’s a really __________ girl. If you meet her you’ll definitely see that something is wrong with her.

6. Soon all the________ will be hushed. The children will go to sleep.

7. She’s definitely had a hard day, she looks completely________________.

8. You don’t need _________________him. He is simply not worth it.

9. She’s not a broad-minded person. Frankly speaking, she’s just ______________.

10. Whatever happens, I try _____________________with my nearest and dearest.

11. At the moment nothing can be changed. It doesn’t matter whether she’ll agree to the terms or not. It_________________.

12. Tom is _______________dancing. Whenever he practises it he is bound to step on somebody’s feet.

13. John disliked going to college. He was a _____________ fellow and other students used to ________________ after the classes.

14. She’s so beautiful. Whenever she appears at a party she ____________ every guy.

15. She’ll definitely __________it_______. She is a very strong and determined woman.

16. The police are _____________________ a dangerous criminal who managed to escape from prison.

17. I don’t ___________! How could he do such a thing?

18. We got ______________by the enemy. They attacked from ambush (засада).

III. Match the synonyms:

split up weird clutter dement thump tough out get smth.

turmoil, fuss break up comprehend odd, queer beat drive crazy overcome

IV. Answer the following questions:

1. What bothers Marcus at the beginning of the story? Why is the atmosphere so tense?

2. What are the recent events that occurred in the life of Marcus and his mom?

3. Who’s Will? What’s his occupation?

4. Why does Marcus dislike going to school?

5. What incident (at school) makes Marcus’ life even worse?

V. Comment on the following passages:

1. – How are you, anyway, Chris?

– Oh, you know. A bit washed-out.

– Been burning the candle at both ends?

– No. Just had a baby (p. 7).

2. “He’s a right little devil at the moment, mind you, and he’s not too sure what to make of Imogen, but……he’s lovely.” Will had met Barney before, and knew for a fact he wasn’t lovely, so he chose to ignore the non sequitur (p. 8).

VI. Prepare character sketches of the following personages:

1. Will

2. Marcus