I’m fond of light/leisure reading.

Я люблю легкое чтение/чтение для отдыха.

The story was so funny, I couldn’t help laughing.

Рассказ был такой смешной, что я не мог удержаться от смеха.

The book is much spoken about, I couldn’t help buying it.

Об этой книге много говорят, я не мог не купить ее.

“Is the book worth reading?” – “I don’t think so, but tastes differ.”

«Стоит читать эту книгу?» – «Не думаю, но о вкусах не спорят.»

Non-Fiction. Periodicals

(Научная литература. Периодические издания)

textbook/manual – учебник, учебное пособие

handbook/reference book – справочник

encyclopaedia – энциклопедия

magazine – журнал (литературно-художественный)

popular science journal – научно-популярный журнал

monthly (daily, weekly) newspaper – ежемесячная (ежедневная, еженедельная) газета

today’s (this week’s, back) issue – сегодняшний (за эту неделю, старый) номер, выпуск (газеты, журнала)

leading article/leader/editorial – передовая статья (в газете, журнале)

editor (in chief) – (главный) редактор

to look up for (some information) – искать (какую-либо информацию)

to look through newspapers (journals) – просматривать газеты (журналы)

Phrases to Remember

My subscription (for…) has run out.

Моя подписка (на…) закончилась.

I’d like to renew my subscription for…

Я хотел бы продлить мою подписку на…

I’m badly in need of a reference book on…

Мне очень нужен справочник по…

I’d like to see some back issues of this newspaper.

Я бы хотел посмотреть старые номера этой газеты.

Bookshops. Libraries

(Книжные магазины. Библиотеки)

newsstand; bookstall – газетный киоск, книжный лоток

bookshop/bookseller’s – книжный магазин

bookseller – продавец книг

bestseller – книга, пользующаяся наибольшим спросом

thriller – захватывающая книга

local library – местная (районная) библиотека

lending library – абонемент

rental shelves – отдел выдачи книг на дом

private library – личная библиотека

repository – книгохранилище

playwright – драматург

reference hall – зал справочной литературы

to lend books – выдавать книги

to borrow books from – брать книги (в библиотеке, у кого-либо)

to select/choose/pick out – выбирать (книги, журналы)

to order/check out (Am.) – заказать (книгу, журнал)

to renew a book – продлить срок пользования книгой

to exchange a book – обменять книгу

to be on the waiting list – быть в списке (очереди)

Phrases to Remember

What’s your field of interest?

Чем вы интересуетесь?

I’m interested in science fiction.

Меня интересует научная фантастика.

Could you give me some advice/suggestions?

Не могли бы вы мне что-нибудь посоветовать/предложить?

His latest book is a great hit/success.

Его новая (последняя) книга имеет большой успех.

As a matter of fact…

Дело в том, что…

Idioms

To turn over a new leaf: to forget the past and start again with the intention of doing better.

e.g. I didn’t want to keep making those same mistakes, so I decided to turn over a new leaf.

To read someone like a book: to understand someone very well.

e.g. I know just why he did that: I can read him like a book.

You can’t tell a book by its cover: you can’t tell what a person or thing is like from its appearance.

e.g. He looks like he’d be able to do the job but I’m sure you can’t tell a book by its cover.

To leaf through: to look through (a book, magazine or newspaper) without reading it carefully.

e.g. Why don’t you just leaf through this book to see whether you want to buy it?

To hit the books (slang): to begin to study; to study.

e.g. If you want to pass that test tomorrow, you’d better hit the books tonight.

I. Read the text.

At a Library

I am a subscriber to our local library. About every fortnight I go there to exchange books. I enter the library and go to the Lending Department. Here I first of all look through the catalogue. Sometimes I look through the author catalogue. Sometimes I look through the subject catalogue. I find the name of an author and the title of an interesting book. I fill in a slip and hand it to the librarian. She goes to the repository to see if the book is there. Soon she comes back and says, “Here is the book you want.” This library has a reference hall where books can be read but not be taken away. The reference hall contains a large number of reference books, such as encyclopaedias, dictionaries, atlases and some other reference books on every possible subject. Reference books are not for continuous reading. We only consult them, we do not read them from cover to cover.

This library has a reading-room where you can sit and read daily papers and all the other important periodicals (the weeklies, monthlies and quarterlies).

II. Answer the questions.

1. How many libraries are there in your city? 2. Are you a subscriber to any library? 3. When did you join this library? 4. How often do you go to the library to exchange books? 5. What department do you usually attend? 6. What do you look through if you don’t know a code of the book? 7. What do you usually do if you cannot find the book you need at the lending department? 8. Do you often go to the reference hall to consult various reference books? 9. Is there a reading room at the library which you usually go to? 10. Is there a library at your University? 11. What kind of books do you borrow from your University library? 12. Have you got a private library? 13. What books do you prefer? 14. What genre of literature do you find fascinating? 15. What do you prefer: classical literature or works by modern writers? 16. Do you read foreign literature in the original? 17. What are your favourite Russian (foreign) writers?

III. Memorize, reproduce.

1

Reader: I’d like to read some books in my leisure time.

Librarian: And what’s your special taste in fiction?

Reader: As a matter of fact, I like modern writers best.

Librarian: Then I would recommend this novel. It is much spoken about at present.

2

Reader: Have you got anything interesting about Africa?

Librarian: Do you mean fiction, adventure stories or reference books?

Reader: Adventures, please, if you have any handy.

Librarian: Here’s one, though I’m not sure it’s really exciting. But as you know tastes differ.

3

Reader: I can’t decide which books to take out.

Librarian: Perhaps I can help you make your choice.

Reader: Do you have any books on the Civil War?

Librarian: Yes, we have several. Here is a good one about military battles.

Reader: Thank you. I’d like to check it out.

4

Mike: Does your family subscribe to any newspaper?

John: Yes, we have a local paper. We could also subscribe to the New York Times for the Sunday edition, but we don’t.

Mike: Then you have to pick it up every Sunday, don’t you?

John: Yes, but I don’t mind.

Mike: Could you ever do without the Sunday paper?

John: I think I could, but my father couldn’t. He always has to have his Sunday Times.

IV. Answer the questions using the following phrases.

I suppose/believe/guess; It seems to me; As far as I know; If I’m not mistaken; Frankly speaking; It depends; (I have) no idea; As a matter of fact.

1. What English (American) writers do you know? 2. Do you like classical or modern writers (poets)? 3. What classical English (American) writers are popular in our country? 4. Can you name some books by modern foreign writers translated into Russian? 5. What other books were written by this writer? 6. What do you know about Bernard Shaw, Irvin Shaw, Irvin Stone? 7. Have you read any books by these writers? 8. Why are the books by Jack London and Ernest Hemingway popular with our young people? 9. What book by English (American) writer would you like to read in the original? 10. When do you think you will be able to read English fiction (magazines, journals) in the original? 11. What books have you read lately?

V. Make up questions upon the model.

Model: Teacher: Ask your friend if he is fond of reading/likes reading.

Student: Are you fond of reading?

Do you like reading?

Ask him: 1) what kind of books he prefers; 2) if he likes poems; 3) how often he goes to the library to exchange books; 4) what kind of reading he can do in the reading room; 5) if he has a subscription to some periodicals; 6) how long he can keep books taken from the library; 7) what newspaper he reads daily; 8) in what case he uses reference books; 9) what kind of books he generally buys; 10) if he likes lending his own books, who to; 11) if he ever borrows books, who from; 12) if he is going to collect a library of his own: when; 13) if he likes science fiction, why; 14) how many fiction books he has at present.

VI. Do you know that…

…according to the UNESCO statistics, the Soviet Union was not only the most-read nation in the world, but also held the lead in publishing translated literature.

…more than 2 000 book titles translated from all the languages of the world were being published annually in the Soviet Union.

VII. Learn the following dialogue by heart.

Discussing Books

Peter: What kind of books are you interested in?

John: I’m interested in everything: fiction, travel books, historical novels, books with social problems and so on.

Peter: Have you read any of the English writers?

John: Well, I have read the books most of us used to read in our school days: a few plays by Shakespeare, some poems by Byron, a novel or two by Dickens.

Peter: Have you got many books of your own?

John: Oh, yes, I’ve got quite a lot. I’ve been collecting them for years. It’s my spare time occupation.

Peter: Could I borrow some interesting book from your private library?

John: Certainly. Come to see me on Sunday and I’ll help you choose some book worth reading.

VIII. Improvise a talk on books using the dialogue from Exercise VII as a model.

IX. Read, translate the dialogues and act out one of them to your choice.

1

Librarian: So now you are a subscriber to our library.

Smith: Yes. You have a good choice of books here.

Librarian: Did you enjoy the book you borrowed last?

Smith: I enjoyed it very much. It was a real thriller.

Librarian: Are you keen on reading historical novels? I could recommend you one that has been a great success lately.

Smith: Well, I’m afraid I’m not much of a reader in that line. I’d rather have something by our contemporary poets.

Librarian: There, I think that would be just the thing for you.

Smith: This is it! Thanks a lot!

2

Brown: Good afternoon.

Librarian: Good afternoon.

Brown: I’d like to become a subscriber to your library.

Librarian: Very well. You have to fill in this library card.

Brown: Here you are.

Librarian: One moment, please. I’ll make out your admission card. Here you are.

Brown: Thank you. I need a number of works on English grammar. Have you got those?

Librarian: This, I am sorry to say, is out at present. We can put you on the waiting list, if you like. As for the rest, I think we have them all. Now please fill in these request slips. Well, here are your books. Sign here, please.

Brown: What are the terms for borrowers in your library?

Librarian: You may borrow not more than five books at a time, and you may keep them for up to ten days. If you wish to keep them longer you have to return them for renewal.

Brown: And what are your hours of lending service?

Librarian: From 12 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, Friday excepted.

Brown: Thank you very much. Good-bye.

Librarian: You are welcome. Good-bye.

X. Practise the patterns in examples of your own. The following words and phrases may be helpful.

to renew the subscription; to check out/pick out...; to look up... (for); to see/look through; to lend; to borrow; back issues; non-fiction books.

Speech Patterns

Do you want me to renew this book?

Вы хотите, чтобы я продлил эту книгу?

What journal do you want me to look through?

Какой журнал вы хотите, чтобы я просмотрел?

XI. Read the following dialogue. Try to imagine the field of interests of the family described in it in general and their literary tastes in particular.

About Leisure Reading

Mrs L.: What do you want to do tonight, Frank?

Mr L.: Let’s stay at home for a change and catch up on our reading. A lot of new magazines have just come in and I want to finish that “whodunit”. By the way, where is the latest Times?

Mrs L.: We didn’t get this week’s issue. Our subscription has run out, I guess. Do you want me to renew it?

Mr L.: Well, we don’t really need it. I prefer to get the Atlantic Monthly instead of another news magazine. By the way, I haven’t seen tonight’s paper yet. Where is it?

Mrs L.: It was delivered about 15 minutes ago. You can read the news now and I’ll go to the Public Library to return a couple of books.

Mr L.: That biography of John Adams is overdue. Will you take that book too, please.

Mrs L.: Do you want to renew it for another two weeks?

Mr L.: No, not now. I’ll check it out again some time. Pick out a couple of light novels and a non-fiction book.

Mrs L.: All right. Maybe they put some new books on the rental shelves.

Mr L.: By the way, dear, will you look up something for me in the reference room? I need some statistics from the new census and we haven’t received any material at the office.

Mrs L.: Where can I find them?

Mr L.: Try the latest World Almanac. The librarian can probably give you some suggestion, too.

Words and Phrases

deliver (mail (Am.)/post) – доставлять (почту)

census – перепись населения

Phrases to Remember

for a change – для разнообразия

let’s catch up on our reading – восполним пробелы в нашем чтении

the book is overdue – книга просрочена

XII. Memorize and practise the formula of politeness.

“Will you kindly let me know when the book is returned?” – “(I will) by all means. Don’t worry.”

XIII. Complete the sentences using the following words and phrases.

rental shelves; reference books; to renew; to prefer; to catch up (on); to deliver; a subscription; to be a hit/success; for a change

1. You don’t often see some really good books on _____________. 2. The latest book by this writer is considered to be _____________. 3. On holidays lots of people try to _____________ on their reading. 4. My friend is fond of travel books but I _____________ science fiction. 5. If you can’t get through the book in two weeks’ time, you can _____________ it. 6. If you need some information, you can look it up in the _____________. 7. Newspapers are generally _____________ early in the morning. 8. I’m not very keen on reading fiction but from time to time I read some light novel _____________. 9. The National Geographic Magazine costs one dollar a copy, so some people prefer to have _____________ ($ 8.00 a year).

XIV. Make up and act out a dialogue using words and phrases from the dialogue of Exercise XI.

Situation: You want to catch up on your reading. Imagine you have a talk with the librarian who gives you a piece of advice.

XV. Describe: a) the library you go to; b) your private library.

XVI. Read Text A and describe the ways people read.

A. On Reading

From A.S. Hornby

My dear friend,

You ask me for advice on reading. That’s a very difficult thing to do. How can I possibly know what will interest other people? If you are fond of detective stories (Agatha Christie, Simenon and other modern favourites), you will read them quickly, you’ll “swallow” them. If a book is on an important subject, and a subject you are interested in, you’ll want to read it more slowly and “digest” it. If the book is in English, that may mean slow progress for you. But I don’t advise you to read too slowly. And don’t start reading a book unless you see, from the first few pages, that you can read it with ease and understanding – “don’t try to run before you can walk”. There are plenty of books that have been rewritten in simple language and shortened too, if necessary. Don’t stop every time you come to a word or phrase you don’t know. Read the whole chapter quickly. Quite often you’ll find the unknown word comes again, perhaps several times, and by the end of the chapter you’ll have found out its meaning by intuition. The need to use a dictionary perhaps ten or twenty times a page makes reading very dull and tiring.

Words

to swallow – глотать; зд. быстро читать

to digest – переваривать; зд. читать вдумчиво

to chew – жевать, обдумывать

XVII. Give your opinion of the recommended method of reading books in English. Try to use this method while reading Text B.

XVIII. Comment on the saying.

“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.”

Say: Do you agree with the suggested “classification”? What is your manner of reading?

Speech Patterns to Text B

She couldn’t afford buying many books.

Она не могла себе позволить покупать много книг.

Why don’t you subscribe to this magazine?

Почему вам не подписаться на этот журнал?

I can’t afford it. It costs too much.

Я не могу себе этого позволить. Это слишком дорого.

He is in the habit of reading detective novels for relaxation.

Он имеет обыкновение читать детективные романы для отдыха.

He has got the habit of rereading books he likes most.

Он привык перечитывать книги, которые ему очень нравятся.

XIX. Practise the patterns in examples of your own.

XX. Read Text B.

B. American Housewives Discuss Books

After Charles Mergendahl

(Mamie, the hostess, has four luncheon guests on a hot summer day.)

“Speaking of heat,” Mamie, the hostess said, feeling it was time for a more serious discussion, “have you read The Heat of the Day by Elizabeth Blinker Owen or Dinker Blowen or something like that?”

“I’m afraid I haven’t read it,” Shelley said.

“That’s all I can do in this heat,” Clo said looking at Shelley, “just read four books a week.”

“And all of them detective stories,” Mamie smiled ironically.

“Well, really, Mamie, I am a member of the Reader’s Club and I think people who run the Club know more about books than you do,” Clo said this because she knew that Mamie could not afford to be a member of the Club.

“Well, really,” Mamie replied, “as to me, I don’t let other people pick out the books for me. Elizabeth Gaudge’s latest book was not a Reader’s Club selection. I read that book twice, and it’s terribly inspirational...”

“Who wants to be inspired?” Clo was feeling pleasantly superior.

“Well, I do!” Mamie looked at Norma. “What do you think, Norma? Don’t you think inspirational books are the only constructive kind of reading?” Norma brightened and said: “Yes, for instance The Robe by Lloyd Douglas.” Mamie looked triumphantly at Clo. She reminded herself to invite Norma Schultz more often. She was an intelligent girl. And sensitive too. She probably had read even some of those serious non-fiction books written by generals and reporters, and about Asia and places like that.

Marjorie smiled modestly over her glasses. “Our bookcase is almost full,” she said.

“Well,” Mamie said politely, “I must say, Marjorie, that you do have the biggest library at home. All those beautiful books, they must give you so much comfort.”

“They do brighten the room so much,” replied Marjorie. “I always thought books were the most wonderful decoration.”

Mamie interrupted her, “I mean inner comfort... for your soul.” Marjorie lowered her eyes. “Really, I haven’t much time to read them. And then I hate to see them all dirtied up, and the jackets tear so easily.”

For a moment there was silence. Shelley was looking into her plate. She knew they were watching her. Finally, it was Mamie, her hostess, who said, “What about you, Shelley? Have you read any good books lately?” “I’m afraid I haven’t. I’m afraid I don’t read much really, and...” “But you must read. Everybody reads,” said Mamie...

The trouble with Shelley Cousins was that she had gone to College and majored in English literature. But she didn’t have an academic mind, and as her own feelings changed, so did the selection of the books she read. She had never been able to get the habit of reading only popular fiction for relaxation, like Clo Morris, or of reading “inspirational” books and magazines like Mamie, or of just collecting books to fill a case, like Marjorie. To her books were really important. Somehow they made up a part of her and worked their way into her very being, like food or drink or love.

Words and Phrases

host/hostess – хозяин/хозяйка дома

luncheon/lunch – обед

heat – жара, жаркая погода

to inspire – вдохновлять, стимулировать

to feel superior – чувствовать превосходство

to brighten – зд. оживляться

to remind – напоминать

sensitive – зд. чуткая, тонкая натура

modest – скромный

comfort – зд. удовлетворение

to interrupt – прерывать

for your soul – «для души»

to hate – ненавидеть

(book) jackets – (книжные) переплеты; обложки

to tear – рвать(ся)

they worked their way into her very being, like... – зд. они были для нее так же необходимы, как...

XXI. Comment on the literary tastes and intellect of the four luncheon guests and their hostess.

XXII. Say: Which of the four guests could have made the following remark: “No furniture is so charming as books, even if you never open them and read a single word”?

XXIII. Mind different meanings of the word like. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. What kind of books do you like? 2. I should like to buy this reference book. 3. She wanted to start collecting books like her brother. 4. She and her brother are very much like each other. 5. What does Ann look like? I haven’t ever seen her. 6. I don’t feel like going anywhere tonight. 7. I’d like to read about travels or adventures or something like that/of this kind. 8. Don’t speak with me like that/in that way/manner.

XXIV. Make up sentences using the word like in different meanings.

XXV. Translate the following sentences.

1. В нашем университете есть библиотека с большим количеством книг разных авторов. 2. Чтобы взять книгу в библиотеке, вы должны быть ее читателем. 3. В отделе абонемента вы можeте просмотреть алфавитный и систематический каталоги. 4. – Заполните листок читательского требования, пожалуйста. – А что я должен написать? – Напишите вашу фамилию, номер читательского билета, шифр книги, фамилию ее автора и ее название. – Большое спасибо. 5. – Чем могу вам помочь? – Мне нужна газета «Московские новости». – Вам следует пройти в читальный зал. Там есть большой книжный шкаф, на полках которого вы найдете подшивки газет, журналов и других периодических изданий. – Спасибо. 6. От всего сердца советую вам прочитать рассказы С. Моэма и роман «Прощай оружие», написанный Хемингуэем. 7. Я сейчас читаю детективы А. Кристи. Они очень захватывающие! Такие книги как раз по моему вкусу. 8. – Андрей только что прочитал «Трое в лодке, не считая собаки» Джерома К. Джерома. Он говорит, что книга очень забавная, полна юмора, а язык книги очень живой и выразительный. – Он читал ее в оригинале? – Я не думаю, это довольно трудно. 9. Библиотекарь посоветовала мне взять рассказы Бредбери. Но я так не люблю научную фантастику. У меня нет терпения читать фантастические книги. Они кажутся мне скучными и мрачными. 10. – Мне нужно заглянуть в библиотеку. Преподаватель порекомендовал справочник. Он может быть мне полезен. – Мы вряд ли найдем его на абонементе, лучше пойти в справочный отдел. – Да, ты права.

XXVI. Agree or disagree with the statements given below. Give your reason. The following phrases may be helpful.

Certainly (not); That’s right; I quite agree; I think so; No doubt about it; I’m perfectly sure about it; Not quite; On the contrary; Just the opposite; I don’t think so; I greatly doubt it.

1. Reading English fiction with a dictionary is terribly dull. 2. If the book is very exciting, you “swallow” it. 3. Nobody reads reference books for relaxation. 4. Reading thick science fiction books is tiring. 5. Very intelligent people don’t read detective stories. 6. Non-fiction books can’t be inspirational. 7. Travel books give you a lot of useful information. 8. Unfortunately many young people are not in the habit of reading poetry. 9. Great book-lovers never lend their books. 10. Lots of people buy books for their bright and beautiful jackets. 11. Bookcases and bookshelves are the best kind of decoration for a living-room. 12. It’s of no use collecting back issues of magazines and newspapers.

XXVII. Speak about: a) your literary taste; b) your favourite writer.

XXVIII. Read the text and describe your local library.

Books and Libraries

There are different kinds of libraries: public libraries, children’s libraries, school libraries, personal libraries, scientific libraries and even travelling libraries.

If you want to borrow books from a library, subscribe to it. But first you must learn the rules of the library.

To register as a library user you will need to bring proof that you are a member of the University and a photograph.

When you enter a library you can see long rows of shelves, and in many libraries readers can go round and choose what they want.

The library is organized around subjects. Each of the departments is devoted to a subject area and contains all books, journals and reference materials related to that area. Journals and books are shelved in alphabetical sequences. The library stock is currently being added. If the book you want is on loan you may reserve this book.

XXIX. Read Text C.

C. Mr Sellyer is Selling Books

One day I went to a bookshop to look through new books. Mr Sellyer showed me to the back of the shop where I could find some interesting books. While I was looking through the books, I could watch Mr Sellyer at work and see some of his methods.

A fashionably dressed woman was standing at the counter and Mr Sellyer was showing a book to her.

“You are quite sure it’s the latest?” the lady was saying to Mr Sellyer. “Oh, yes, Mrs Rassellyeer,” answered the manager. “This is Mr Slush’s latest book. It’s having a wonderful sale.”

I looked at the title, the name of the book was Golden Dreams.

Another lady entered the bookshop. She was in deep mourning and looked like a widow. She asked the manager to show her some new book.

“Something new in fiction?” repeated the manager. “Yes, Madam, here’s a charming thing Golden Dreams. The critics say that it’s one of the sweetest things written by this author.”

“Is it a good book?” asked the lady.

“A charming one,” said the manager. “It’s a love story – very simple and sweet and wonderfully charming. My wife was reading it aloud only last night. She was crying all the time while she was reading it.”

The lady bought Golden Dreams and left the shop.

“Have you any good light reading for vacation time?” asked the next customer. “Yes,” said Mr Sellyer. “Golden Dreams is the most humorous book of the season. My wife was reading it aloud only yesterday. She was laughing all the time while she was reading it.”

The lady paid for the book and went out.

So every customer who entered the shop went away with Golden Dreams. To one lady the manager sold Golden Dreams as the reading for a holiday, to another as the book to read after the holiday, another bought it to read on a rainy day and the fourth as the right book for a fine day.

When I was leaving the bookshop, I went up to the manager and asked him, “Do you like the book yourself?”

“Dear me!” said the manager. “I’ve no idea of the book. I’ve no time to read every book I’m selling.” “And did your wife really like the book?” “I’m not married, Sir,” answered the manager smiling.

Words and Phrases

fashionably dressed – модно одетая

counter – прилавок

in deep mourning – в глубоком трауре

customer – покупатель

Phrases to Remember

The book sells well (is having a wonderful sale).

Эта книга имеет большой спрос.

It’s the right book for those who want to start reading English in the original.

Это подходящая книга для тех, кто...

XXX. Say what’s the main idea of this humorous story.

XXXI. Discuss the problems of book-sales: a) in what case the books sell fast; b) why some books are unsold for months and years.

XXXII. Comment on the sayings.

1. “The person who doesn’t read has no advantage over the person who cannot.” 2. “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”

XXXIII. An appraisal of a book or film. Work in groups of three. Here are two appraisals of a book. Read them carefully. Compare their organization, and the way they present points.

1

I once read a book called “The Collector”. “It is about a man who kidnaps a girl, and she eventually dies. It’s quite a horrible story, but I liked it. Ferdinand Clegg is very inhibited with women, he doesn’t know how to talk to them, so he kidnaps a girl he’s seen in the town. He keeps her in a cottage and takes her photograph. In the end she dies but he didn’t kill her. It was written by John Fowles. I liked it very much.

2

“The Collector” is a novel written by John Fowles. It was first published in 1963, and it is a sort of horror story. It is one of the most sinister books I have ever read. It holds your attention from the start and becomes more shocking as it progresses. “The Collector” is a good title. The “hero”, Ferdinand Clegg, collects butterflies, but he adds to his collection the girl of his dreams, Miranda, who is an art student. We learn enough about his background, an orphan brought up by his aunt and uncle, to have some understanding of his behaviour. He is a very lonely character and painfully shy, especially with women. We see him following Miranda from a distance, fascinated by her every move. There is a turning point when he wins some money, and his plans become a reality. He buys a remote country cottage, captures Miranda and keeps here there just to look at and admire. All he wants of her is to take her photograph. She is his latest and most precious “butterfly”. One of the most interesting aspects of the story is the portrayal of Miranda, as she tries to handle the bizarre situation she finds herself in. Her behaviour goes to extremes – from trying to understand Ferdinand and be his friend to violence and trying to escape. In the end she falls ill and dies, while he does nothing to help. The reader feels all Miranda’s hopes and fears until the final dreadful outcome. This is a book which, once you have started, is impossible to put down.

Divide the second version into paragraphs. What is the purpose of each paragraph? What tense is used to tell the story and describe the characters? Why, do you think?

Underline any words or expressions which you think are useful to describe a book or film (example: a novel written by).

Why are the words “hero” and “butterfly” in quotation marks?

XXXIV. Prepare your own appraisal of a book.

XXXV. Comment on the joke.

A Close Translation

Smith: My cousin translates scientific articles from German into English. Now, for instance, he is translating an article by Einstein.

Black: Is he really translating so great a scientist?

Smith: Yes, he is. And an exceptionally good translation I consider it.

Black: Do you? Is there anything particularly good about it?

Smith: Certainly there is. It is a perfectly close translation.

Black: A close translation? How can you judge about it?

Smith: Why! In all the places where I don’t understand Einstein in the original I don’t understand him in my cousin’s translation either.

XXXVI. Read the poem (consulting a dictionary by O. Holms. Try to make a free translation of the poem (in writing) or its rhymed version (if you can). Express the main idea in brief.

If all the trees in all the woods were men

And each and every blade of grass – a pen,

If every leaf on every bush and tree turned to a sheet of paper;

Every sea were changed to ink and all the living tribes

Had nothing to do but act as scribes,

And for ten thousand ages, day and night,

The human race should write and write and write,

Till all the pens and paper were used up,

And the huge inkstand was an empty cup,

Still would the writers gather round its brink

Call for more pens, more paper and more ink.

XXXVII. Translate the sentences from Russian into English.

1. Ты уже прочитал детектив, который взял на прошлой неделе? – Да. 2. Ты читал эту книгу в оригинале или в переводе? – В оригинале. Я читал ее вчера с двух до пяти и не посмотрел новый фильм, о котором ты говорил мне. 3. Я никогда не читал книг Хемингуэя. 4. Я видел вчера в библиотеке Олега, он обменивал книги. 5. Я только что закончил читать эту книгу и собираюсь взять в библиотеке еще что-нибудь. 6. Чтобы записаться в библиотеку, необходимо принести паспорт, библиотекарь заполнит ваш формуляр и даст вам читательский билет. 7. Мне нужно сходить в библиотеку сдать сборник стихов и продлить срок пользования двумя книгами, они нужны мне для реферата. 8. Вам нужен справочник? Заполните листок читательского требования. 9. Я вчера была в отделе абонемента областной библиотеки и нашла очень интересную книгу Герберта Уэллса – научную фантастику. 10. Он не смог взять этот роман, он был на руках; у них есть в книгохранилище один экземпляр, но им можно пользоваться только в читальном зале. 11. На какой срок можно брать книги в юношеской библиотеке? – Можно брать 5 книг сразу на 10 дней. 12. Он потерял свой читательский билет. 13. Что нужно писать в листке читательского требования? – Вашу фамилию, номер читательского билета, шифр книги, фамилию автора и название книги.

XXXVIII. Using additional material hold a round-table talk “Famous Writers and Poets”.

AT THE THEATRE

Vocabulary

theatre – театр

hall – (зрительный) зал

stage – сцена

pit – амфитеатр

stalls – партер

box – ложа

gallery – галерка

dress circle – бельэтаж

curtain – занавес

wings – кулисы

footlights – рампа

row – ряд

foyer – фойе

aisle – проход (между рядами)

lobby – вестибюль

cloak-room – раздевалка, гардероб

usher – билетер

company – труппа

producer – режиссер

Honoured artist – Заслуженный артист

People’s artist – Народный артист

cast – состав исполнителей

tour – гастрольная поездка

leading role, title role – главная роль

costume – костюм

scenery – декорации

sets – декорации (данной сцены)

drama – драма

playwright – драматург

acting – игра, исполнение

applause – аплодисменты

to applaud – аплодировать

to burst into applause – разразиться аплодисментами

play-goer (theatre-goer) – театрал

audience – публика, зрители

opera-glasses – бинокль

first night – премьера

matinee – утренний спектакль

dress rehearsal – генеральная репетиция

puppet theatre – кукольный театр

Opera and Ballet House – Оперный театр

overture – увертюра

composer – композитор

orchestra – оркестр

conductor – дирижер

encore – браво, бис

superb – великолепный

first-rate – первоклассный

to stage – ставить (пьесу)

the scene is laid – действие происходит

the lights went up (down) – огни зажглись (погасли)

to be a success (with the public) – иметь успех (у публики)

to be a great hit with the audience – иметь успех у публики

to be a failure with – не иметь успеха у публики

“All Sold Out” sign – объявление «Все билеты проданы»