Part II Second Reading

A. Exploring Themes

1. Explain and expand on: (p. 373) «Work on the masterpiece had already begun.»

2. (p. 373) 'We are living in an age of internationalism.' Does anything puzzle you in this word as it is used here?

3. Why are the passages on p. p. 373, 374, 389 — 390 given in italics?

4. What can you say about Mark's revenge on the Egyptian physicist? (p. 384)

5. Why did Henry and Mark cooperate with Saddam Hussein? What was their attitude to him? (p. 388)

B. Judging for Yourself

1. Why do you think Mark told Graham: 'You are a puzzle to me'? (p. p. 377 — 378)

2. Do you think Mark's mother was right not to have greeted her son?

3. Why do you think Mark wanted to see his mother?

4. What do you think about the military production? Do you agree with Louis who said: 'Nobody is doing anything illegal. We all believe in deterrence and the right of every country to defend itself'. (p. 392)

C. Making Connections

1. Did the USSR supply Iraq with arms? What do you know about the military production (ВВП) in the USSR and now? Did this country sell arms to other countries? Why?

Part III Building the Vocabulary

A. Consult the English-English and English-Russian dictionaries

celebrity (p. 369)

inscrutable (p. 369)

vigilence (p. 369)

furtively (p. 370)

intact (p. 370)

brief (p. 371)

novice (p. 372)

to investigate (p. 372)

munitions (p. 372)

gratifying (p. 374)

clandestine (p. 375)

target (p. 377)

impassive (p. 381)

recession (p. 382)

to convene (p. 383)

lavish (p. 383)

retribution (p. 383)

to ingratiate (p. 384)

dissidence (p. 386)

to impose (p. 389)

deterrance (p. 392)

B. Translate the following sentences

p. 371. Graham signed on the dole.

p. 371. Graham decided to set himself up in business.

p. 373. … if he managed to get some real money put behind the project

p. 377. … before he appeared on our doorstep.

p. 379. … they both found it difficult to remain civil even then.

p. 381. Perhaps the whole project had never come to anything.

p. 385. He (Saddam Hussein) does not tend to give much away about himself.

p. 387. Hussein can actually lay hands on this money.

p. 390. Well, we've been making the most of here.

p. 395. But, in a teasing vein

Unit XIII (p. P. 401 — 436) Part I First Reading

A. Thinking about the Chapters

Consider the events taking place in this chapter.

What effect did they have on Michael?

B. Understanding the Plot

1. Where do the events take place? Why did Michael and Fiona have to wait? (p. p. 401 — 402)

2. Why did Michael have to return home? What was his state of mind? What was he thinking about the hospital, about Fiona and himself? Why did he recollect his mother? What did he start doing to take his mind off? (p. p. 402 — 404)

3. In what state was Fiona? Could she talk? What about? What did Michael learn from Dr. Gillam about Fiona's illness? What did he do? What did he start doing trying to distract his mind? (p. p. 404 — 407)

4. What was the telephone call about? What talk took place between Michael and Fiona? How does it characterize Fiona? (p. p. 407 — 408)

5. What was the reason of Dr. Gillam's decision to have a baby? (p. p. 409 - 411)

6. Translate in written form the passage on page 411: 'Well, somebody obviously thinks … Did that mean that I'd made it at last?'

7. How did Fiona look when Michael saw her? Who was to blame due to Michael's thoughts? (p. p. 412 — 413)

8. Whom did Michael meet in the hospital? What did he learn about his mother? About Graham? (p. p. 413 — 415)

9. Where did the nurse take Michael? What did he tell Fiona holding her hand? What did he feel? What happened next? (p. p. 416 -

419)

10. Why did Michael leave the front door of his flat unlocked and slightly ajar after Fiona's death? Who came to him one day and with what information? (p. p. 423 — 425)

11. What political event was mentioned on Michael's departure? What was his way to the Winshaw mansion? (p. p. 425, 429 — 430)

12. Tell about Fiona's funeral (p. 426)

13. Speak on Michael's reconciliation with his mother and what did he learn? (p. p. 426 — 429)

14. Explain the title of the chapter: Nearly a Nasty Accident. How did all the members of the family meet Michael? (p. p. 431 - 433)

15. What were Pyles's prophecies? What took place while he was in search of the sitting room? Who saved him? (p. p. 434 — 436)