Part II Second Reading

A. Exploring Themes

1. What is the significance of the titles of the chapters:

Don't Panic, Chaps, A Lady Mislaid,

Carry on Screaming, The Crowning Touch ?

2. How does the author explain Henry's death (with a knife stabbed into his back)? What was Hilary's reaction? (p. 446)

3. What was Mark's death? What does it mean? What is the significance of the note above his mutilated body: A Farewell to Arms! It is the allusion to what novel? (p. 450)

4. What is the significance of 'the bloodshot eye of Thomas Winshaw fixed forever in its last unblinking lifeless gaze? (p. 458)

5. Explain: (p. 465) 'Hilary was crushed by the weight of her own opinion … of ever paid words.'

6. What was the weather like when all got together for reading the will? What's the meaning?

7. Why did Michael recollect the film 'What a Carve Up'?

8. What Tabitha's remarks puzzled Michael and even stopped him in his tracks? (p. 464)

B. Judging for Yourself

1. Why do you think Michael took the role of the detective upon himself?

2. What do you think about Tabitha's behaviour during all these events? What was it? Do you think she behaved as a mad person? What was she humming? What book did she read?

3. Why do you think the names of some films are mentioned? (p. 452)

4. Why did Michael recollect the film 'What a Carve Up!'? (p. 462)

C. Making Connections

1. Do such families exist in Russia? Do you think they can appear in future?

2. Do you think such people as Thomas, Henry, Mark, Dorothy, Hilary and Roddy already exist in this country?

Part III Building the Vocabulary

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

wrathlike (p. 437)

tentative (p. 437)

selfless (p. 437)

forgone (p. 438)

to bail (p. 438)

benignly (p. 441)

indeterminate (p. 442)

homicidal (p. 442)

to snort (p. 443)

animosity (p. 445)

to saunter (p. 449)

mutilated (p. 450)

macabre (p. 450)

assumption (p. 451)

explication (p. 451)

appropriate (p. 451)

eeriness (p. 456)

virulence (p. 457)

impostor (p. 461)

to relish (p. 464)

B. Translate into Russian:

1. p. 439. Your uncle paid Miss Barton, said the solicitor pouring

suave oil on troubled waters.

2. p. 449. Here we started to play sardines.

3. p. 449. I can't put my finger on it.

4. p. 453. Well, perhaps, that's where Miss Barton comes in.

5. p. 453. He has a grudge against the family.

6. p. 455. His replacement isn't quite in the same league.

7. p. 459. That puts us in the clear.

8. p. 461. … told me I was looking under the weather.

9. p. 463. That business with the policeman was all red herring.

10. p. 464. Michael stopped in his tracks.

Unit XV (p. P. 466 — 498) Part I First Reading

A. Thinking about the Chapters

Now you've read the last chapters of the book. What impression did they produce on you? Do you think the author was right to kill Michael? Why? Explain the titles of the chapters: 'Five Golden Hours', 'Back Room Boy', 'With Gagarin to the Stars'.

B. Understanding the Plot

1. How did Michael find himself in Phoebe's room? What did the situation remind him of? What were they talking about? What did they feel for each other and why? (p. p. 466 — 471)

2. What did Michael understand? (p. p. 471 — 473)

Recollect Findlay's words: 'The meaning is in You'. (p. 233)

3. What was Tabitha doing when Michael came to her? What did Michael want to know? How was Tabitha behaving? What did she say about Michael's book? What did Michael finally learn from her? (p. p. 474 — 478)

4. What was Roddy's death? Why? (p. p. 479 — 480)

5. What did Phoebe and Michael want to find in Lawrence's room? Did they find it? What was behind the door? (p. p. 480 — 482)

6. Where did the spirit of adventure take Michael? Where did he find himself and what did he see there? (p. p. 482 — 484)

7. In what state did Michael find Mortimer? How did he explain Michael the reason of his actions? What did he ask Michael to do? Why? (p. p. 485 — 486)

8. What were Phoebe and Michael talking about standing on the terrace of the Winshaw Towers after the massacre? What advice did Phoebe give to Michael? (p. p. 487)

9. Whom and in what state did Phoebe find in Henry's room? (p. 490)

10. How did the author finish his novel? What can you say about Tabitha? (p. p. 491 — 493)

11. What was written in the preface for Michael's novel?