Step 10
1. Read Chapter 11(pp.149-163).
2. Study the Master Vocabulary and sketch the episodes where each word or word combination is used.
Secretive – p.149
A miser – p.149
Selfconscious – p.150
At the hoarding(s) – p.150
To summon smb. – p.151
Bellicose – p.151
To pacify smb. – p.151
To mellow – p.152
To be called up – p.154
To chuck smb. / smth. – p.154
A fugitive – p.158
To collide with – p.162
3. Read & translate: p.150 from “At the beginning of September…” up to p.151 “…for tea or bed.”
4. Comment on the expression “corn in Egypt” and make up a couple of your own sentences to contain it.
5. Answer the questions.
What gave Harold Seaton a sense of still being part of the world when it no longer needed his labour?
What was Seaton remarkably clever and quick at, apart from figures?
What tools could be seen in Seaton’s tool chest?
At what times did an aura of calm descend over the Seatons’ house?
Brian copied his father, thumping and batting Vera, didn’t he?
What games did Brian and his pals enjoy playing when rain and cold came?
Did Brian have staying power before his sister and brothers’ tears or didn’t?
Why was Brian afraid of a vendor’s shouting “Special” under the windows?
What was Harold Seaton’s attitude towards war?
Bert and Brian took little Midge in the pram in order to chuck her in the locks, didn’t they?
What was Doddoe’s threat if Bert ever voted Conservative?
How did the Seatons prepare to see Christmas in?
What illness was Brian laid up with the weekend before Christmas?
6. Give a synopsis of the events in Ch.11.
7. Comment on the grammar:
Seaton was a secretive man, and his dark complexion may have beenmore than skin deep … (p.149).
Brian watched him sawthe remaining hard gut … (p.149).
His creative world was the result of necessity finding its own level in a man who might otherwise have madehis family suffer too much … (p.149).
Step 11
1. Read Chapter 12-13(pp.163-182).
2. Study the Master Vocabulary and sketch the episodes where each word or word combination is used.
To fix smth. up – p.164
For fear of (doing) smth. (skidding, drawing notice to smth., smb.) – p.164, 179
To impersonate smb. – p.167
Approved school – p.167, 168
A game-keeper – p.168
To be astounded (stunned) – p.168
To tell smb. off – p.169
To donate smth. – p.172
To mutiny – p.175
To acquiesce (in) – p.175
To hold smb. within the bounds of discipline – p.176
An air-raid shelter – p.177
To repel smb. – p. 178
3. Read & translate: p.177 from “Brian’s idea of war…” up to the end of the passage.
4. Agree with or challenge the following statements.
The Doddoes were avid readers, as well as the Seatons; the parents were always encouraging their offspring in buying books and were awfully sorry that some of their children kept away from them.
Johnny was absolutely unlike his father Seaton, that’s why both of them treated each other with contempt.
All the schoolboys couldn’t refrain from scoffing at Johnny when he appeared in woman’s attire.
Ada was a submissive, timid blonde of forty who was unable to stick up for her own kids.
When the radiogram man called around to the Doddoes’ for money, he was let in, given a hearty snap, and money, of course.
War means nothing but pain; it is a lamentable business.
5. Answer the questions.
Who was Dave and where were Dave and Brian going to one day and what were they talking about?
What book was like corn in Egypt for Brian then? Did her get it and what were the consequences?
How was the Doddoe family reduced then and who was gaffer of the kids for the time being? What kind of boy was Johnny?
What was Doddoe’s habitual way of getting the grub for the family? Do you blame him for it?
What was unusual about the class in Chapter 13?
What was Brian’s idea of war? What’s yours?
Give a synopsis of the events in Ch. 14-15.