It is next to impossible to – почти невозможно

to leave much to be desired – оставлять желать лучшего

behind the wings (scenes) – за кулисами

to be on (at a theatre) – идти (в театре)

operette ['ƒp‚'ret‚] – оперетта

Names of Plays

“Inspector General” (by Gogol) – «Ревизор»

“The Cherry Orchard” (by Chekhov) – «Вишневый сад»

“The Seagull” (by Chekhov) – «Чайка»

“Resurrection” (by Tolstoy) – «Воскресение»

“The Power of Darkness” (by Tolstoy) – «Власть тьмы»

“The Lower Depths” (by Gorky) – «На дне»

“The Philistines” (by Gorky) – «Мещане»

“Poverty is no Vice” (by Gorky) – «Бедность не порок»

“Talents and Admirers” (by Ostrovsky) – «Таланты и поклонники»

“The Doverless Girl” (by Ostrovsky) – «Бесприданница»

“No Accounts are Needed between Near Relatives” (by Ostrovsky) – «Свои люди – сочтемся»

“The Lost Son” (by Arbusov) – «Потерянный сын»

“The School for Scandal” (by Sheridan) – «Школа злословия»

“King Lear” (by Shakespeare) – «Король Лир»

“The Taming of the Shrew” (by Shakespeare) – «Укрощение строптивой»

“All is Well that Ends Well” (by Shakespeare) – «Все хорошо, что хорошо кончается»

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (by Shakespeare) – «Сон в летнюю ночь»

Names of Operas

“Evgene Onegin” (by Tchaikovsky) – «Евгений Онегин»

“The Queen of Spades” (by Tchaikovsky) – «Пиковая дама»

“The Mermaid” (by Dargomyzhsky) – «Русалочка»

“Prince Igor” (by Borodin) – «Князь Игорь»

“The Snow-Maiden” (by Rimsky-Korsakov) – «Снегурочка»

“The Tsar’s Bride” (by Rimsky-Korsakov) – «Царская невеста»

“The Marriage of Figaro” (by Mozart) – «Женитьба Фигаро»

“The Barber of Seville” (by Rossini) – «Севильский цирюльник»

Names of Ballets

“Swan Lake” (by Tchaikovsky) – «Лебединое озеро»

“The Sleeping Beauty” (by Tchaikovsky) – «Спящая красавица»

“The Nutcracker” (by Tchaikovsky) – «Щелкунчик»

“Don Quihot” (by Minkus) – «Дон Кихот»

“The Bronze Horseman” (by Gliere) – «Медный всадник»

“Cinderella” (by Prokofiev) – «Золушка»

“The Flame of Paris” (by Asafiev) – «Пламя Парижа»

“Merry Wives of Windsor” (by Oransky) – «Виндзорские проказницы»

At the Theatre

There are 6 theatres in Novosibirsk. The Siberian Bolshoy, as it is called in Russia’s press, has become internationally famous. The first performance of the Siberian Theatre of Opera and Ballet was given on Victory Day in 1945 to celebrate the surrender of nazi Germany.

I am a theatre-goer and every month my friend and I visit theatres. Last Saturday my friend bought in advance two tickets for an evening performance of the ballet “Swan Lake” by Tchaikovsky. We arrived at the theatre long before the performance began for there were three of us and we were one ticket short. A notice on the box-office of the theatre said: “Sold Out”. So we stood at the entrance asking people as they were going in if they had a spare ticket. At last we managed to buy a ticket.

We left our coats in the cloak-room and I got a programme from the usher to see what the cast was. I was very glad to find out that Krupenina and Berdishev were in the leading parts. When we arrived at the hall we saw many people walking down the gangway looking for their seats. The orchestra were tuning their instruments. We found our seats which were in the stalls, and went to look over the theatre. There were many people in the pit, the dress-circle and the gallery.

At 7 sharp the lights went out. The conductor appeared and the overture began. After the overture the curtain went up. I was in raptures at what I saw on the stage. The setting and the dancing were superb. The ballet seemed to me a fairy-tale. When the curtain fell the house burst into applause. I applauded so much that my hands ached. During the first interval we went to the refreshment room.

When the last curtain fell cries of “encore” sounded all over the theatre. The dancers received call after call and were presented with large bouquets of flowers. The performance was a great success with the public.

I. Answer the questions to the text above.

1. Which is the best theatre in Novosibirsk? Why do you think it is the best? 2. How often do you go to the theatre? When was the last time you went to the theatre? 3. What play (opera, drama, ballet) did you see (hear)? Who wrote it? What actors (dancers, singers) were in it? 4. Where are the best seats in the theatre, at the front or at the back? Is it the same in the cinema? 5. What is the price of admission? 6. Why do people buy the programme at the theatre? 7. When do actors receive calls? 8. Which plays that are on now in your city are a success? 9. When do you book seats for the theatre? 10. What kind of play do you prefer, a comedy or a tragedy? Who is your favourite playwright (a scriptwriter)? 11. At what time do performances begin? Is there an interval after every act? 12. How long do intervals last? What do people usually do during the interval? At what time do performances end? 13. What plays (operas, ballets) do you know in the repertoire of the drama (Opera House) theatre? 14. Which of them have already had a long run? Is it an easy thing to get a ticket for such plays?

II. Give English equivalents to each of the following words. Use them in short situations of your own.

Зрительный зал, билетер, касса, сцена, декорации, первые ряды партера, амфитеатр, галерка, дневной спектакль, иметь успех, аплодисменты, увертюра, антракт, репертуар.

III. Explain the meaning of the following words, expressions. Use them in situations of your own.

a theatre-goer, to book seats, a theatre, a theatre programme, stalls, a matinee, the cast, the play has had a long run.

IV. Complete the following sentences.

1. During the interval we _____________. 2. It’s not at all easy to book _____________. 3. The last act of the tragedy produced ____________. 4. If it were not a matinee, I _____________. 5. If there are no tickets in the box-office, we _______________. 6. If you had a programme, you ______________. 7. I like operas, where ____________. 8. We bought a programme from ________________. 9. The dancers received calls ______________. 10. The conductor appeared and the _____________.

V. Retell the text.

VI. Express your agreement or disagreement with the following statements, using one of the given expressions. Give your reasons.

Expressions of agreement: Expressions of disagreement:

1. I quite agree with you. 1. Oh, no, I disagree with you.

2. Yes, indeed. 2. You are wrong.

3. That’s right. 3. On the contrary.

4. Right you are.

5. I’m of the same opinion.

6. I think (hope, suppose, expect) so.

1. So you will book tickets yourself. 2. I think that Pokidchenko will be a great success in this play. 3. I think that the overture to the opera “Carmen” is one of the best. 4. The play was first-rate from beginning to end. 5. You prefer musical comedy to drama, don’t you? 6. They say the opera “War and Peace” is on at the Opera House. 7. You like matinees, don’t you? 8. There was a storm of applause after the end of the play. 9. Chekhov is a modern playwright.

VII. Render the following dialogues: a) in pairs; b) in indirect speech. Compose your own dialogues.

1

– Hallo, Tanya. Where have you been to?

– To the Vakhtangov Theatre.

– What was on?

– “An Irkutsk Story” by Arbusov. Have you seen it?

– At the theatre you mean? No, I haven’t. I saw the Okhlopkov production on television last night and I quite enjoyed it. Did you like the play?

– Immensely.

– Have you got the programme about you? I’d like to see what the cast was. Was the acting good?

– Very good. The applause was endless and Borisova who played the leading part received call after call.

– You speak so enthusiastically of the show that I suppose I’ll have to see it too.

– It will be on next week. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it tremendously.

– I hope I shall.

2

– Yesterday I called on you and your sister told me that you had gone to the Opera House. What was on?

– “Romeo and Juliet” by Prokofiev. It was superb.

– How did you manage to book seats? I know tickets are hard to get for this show. Whenever this ballet is on there’s always a notice on the theatre “Sold Out”.

– Yes, it’s usually extremely crowded, but it’s easier to get tickets for a matinee. As for me I got the tickets at the advance box-office.

– Where were your seats?

– In a box very close to the stage. But you know I was a bit unfortunate that time. I was a couple of minutes late through my own fault. When the lights were almost out I discovered that I had left my opera-glasses in my coat-pocket. I rushed to the cloak-room to get them and when I returned the curtain had already gone up, and I wasn’t allowed in. Latecomers must wait till the interval. So I watched the first act from the balcony.

– You were really unlucky.

VIII. Speak on the following topics.

1. Your first visit to the theatre.

2. A play that is popular now.

3. Why you like opera more than musical comedy.

4. A play that you find dull.

5. A play that has impressed you.

6. Why you like going to the theatre.

7. What you talk about with your friend after the curtain has fallen.

8. Your favourite playwright.

9. Theatres of Novosibirsk.

IX. Make up stories to illustrate the following sayings.

1. Art is long and time is fleeting. 2. A good laugh is sunshine in a house. 3. Music is the universal language of mankind. (Longfellow) 4. Concealed talent brings no reputation. (Erasmus) 5. Talent is work.

X. Render the following jokes in indirect speech.

1

– Yesterday evening the play went splendidly, better than ever before.

– Hm. Is that so? Who was playing your role then?

2

At an opera theatre during the rehearsal of a love scene the producer adresses the singer who is a hopeless actor:

– You sing so that one can think you have never been in a similar situation.

– I have, but I wasn’t singing at that time.

3

During an opera the spectator turns to his friend:

– That singer is driving me mad.

– Shall we go then?

– Certainly not. In the third act he is killed and I can’t deny myself the pleasure of seeing that.

4

Bernard Shaw got an invitation to see a new play. After the performance the producer asked the writer: “What’s the difference between comedy, drama and tragedy?” “Young man,” answered Bernard Shaw, “the fact that you don’t know the difference between comedy, drama and tragedy is, for me, personally – comedy, for the spectators – drama, and for you – tragedy”.

5

Bernard Shaw missed the beginning of the performance. The attendant opening the door of the box asked him to sit down without making noise. “What, has the audience already gone to sleep?” asked Show.

6

– There is nothing more irritating for an actor than to hear the steps of spectators entering the hall during the performance.

– No, there is something worse.

– What?

– To hear the steps of spectators leaving the hall.

7

– I think all geniuses are selfconfident.

– Not at all. I, for example, am not.

XI. Riddles.

1. When is a manager of a theatre like an astronomer?

(when discovers a new “star”)

2. What musical instrument should we never believe in?

(a lyre)

3. What word of three syllables tells you at what time you should dance?

(at-ten-dance)

4. What islands are very good singers?

(the Canaries)

XII. Find a picture of a theatre and describe it.

XIII. Translate into Russian and retell the texts.

The British Theatre

Theatre organization in Great Britain is such that only a few theatres have their own permanent companies. Theatres in Great Britain are of two main types: subsidized and commercial.

Subsidized theatres (supported by a subsidy from the state or the local authorities) have a permanent company of directors, actors, designers, etc., and each season stage several productions which are presented in the repertoire. The most well-known of them are: the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-on-Avon, the Aldwich Theatre in London, the National Theatre. As a rule most provincial towns of a certain size have a subsidized theatre.

Commercial theatres are those which receive no subsidy either from the state or from the local authorities. They are privately owned theatres. A commercial theatre is simply a building with no resident company; it is run by a manager. Commercial theatres are governed by “the long run system”. The manager engages a director to stage a particular production. Then the director chooses actors and the play is rehearsed for a few weeks by a company of actors working together mostly for the first time. Then the production opens. Since only one production is put on at a time, it is presented every evening (sometimes there are two performances of the same production each evening) and runs as long as enough tickets are sold to make it commercially profitable – which may last for several years. When the income from the sale of tickets falls, the play is taken off and the theatre manager arranges for another production to be staged, usually by a different director who generally chooses different actors.

London Theatre

London today is one of the greatest centres of drama in the world with something like 50 theatres. Most of the London theatres are of the commercial type. They are nearly all situated in the West End (39 theatres are usually open there annually).

Still standing on its site is the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, which was opened in 1663. It is one of the groups of very large theatres including the Coliseum, one of the biggest in London, and the principal home of operetta, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. These theatres are chiefly devoted to large-scale musical productions.

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s theatre in London is the Aldwich Theatre where the Company appears from June to March. Its repertoire consists of some modern plays so well as other classics (along with the plays of Shakespeare).

The National Theatre is a complex consisting of three theatres situated on the South Bank of the Thames beside Waterloo Bridge.

The Olivier Theatre, the largest (1600 seats) is the theatre of classical repertoire.

The Lyttleeton (890 seats) is the theatre for new writing.

The Cottesloe Theatre, the smallest of the three (about 400 seats), is intended to be used for experimental writing and productions.

Opera and ballet are traditionally much less popular than drama in Great Britain and there are relatively few Opera Houses there. The main Opera House is the above mentioned Royal Opera House (opera and ballet) known as Covent Garden, it is situated in the district.

CINEMA

Topical Vocabulary

Cinema (Кинематограф. Кино.)

to go to the cinema (pictures), movies (Am.) – ходить в кино

cinema-goer/fan – любитель ходить в кино/кинозритель

to see the film – посмотреть фильм

(film) actor/actress – (кино)актер/актриса

film star/movie star – кинозвезда

all-star film – фильм с первоклассным составом исполнителей

to star in the film – сниматься в фильме в главной роли

to play the title role, to play the main/leading part – играть главную роль

main characters – главные герои (фильма)

to produce a film – создать фильм

producer, director – постановщик фильма, режиссер

to make/shoot a film – снимать фильм

script/scenario – сценарий

scriptwriter – сценарист

screen – экран

to screen (a play) – экранизировать (пьесу)

screen version (of a novel) – экранизация (романа)

wide-screen film – широкоэкранный фильм

to release a film – выпустить фильм на экраны

to revive a film (a revival) – показывать старый фильм (показ старого фильма)

to advertise a film – рекламировать фильм

advertisement – реклама

poster – афиша

review – рецензия

Kinds of Films/Pictures (Киножанры)

sound/silent film – звуковой/немой фильм

colour film – цветной фильм

black and white film – черно-белый фильм

dubbed film – дублированный фильм

two-/many-part film/serial – двух-/многосерийный фильм

documentary film – документальный фильм

popular science film – научно-популярный фильм

newsreal/newsfilm – кинохроника/киножурнал

animated cartoon – мультипликационный фильм

Performance/Show (Сеанс)

evening/morning/8 o’clock performance/show – вечерний/утренний/8-часовой сеанс

Seats. Tickets (Места. Билеты в кино/театре)

a seat in the ... row – место в ... ряду

in the front/back rows – в передних/задних рядах

close to/near the screen – близко к экрану

far from the screen – далеко от экрана

to book a seat for/to the cinema – заказать билет в кино

to buy a ticket for the (evening) show – купить билет на (вечерний) сеанс

cheap – дешевый

expensive – дорогой

in advance/beforehand – заранее

line/queue – очередь

to stand in line/to line up for a ticket – стоять в очереди за билетом

public/audience/spectators – (кино) публика/зрители

Phrases to Remember

What’s on (at the cinema) tonight/today?

Что идет (в кино) сегодня вечером/сегодня?

What’s the film like/about?

Что это за фильм?/О чем этот фильм?

Who’s starring in the film?

Кто снимается в главных ролях в этом фильме?

Is the film worth seeing?

Стоит смотреть этот фильм?

The film is a (great) success/hit (Am.) (with the public).

Фильм пользуется (большим) успехом (у публики).

Have you enjoyed the film?

Вам понравился фильм?/Вы получили удовольствие?

This film (picture, movie) is amusing.

Этот фильм занимательный.

funny – смешной, entertaining – развлекательный, informative – познавательный, educational – воспитательный, instructive – поучительный, exciting/thrilling – волнующий, dull/boring – скучный, dragged out – растянутый, disappointing – разочаровывающий.

Suggestions and Invitations

Let’s go to the pictures. – (Давайте) пойдем в кино.

What/How about going to the cinema? – Как насчет того, чтобы пойти в кино?

Can’t we go out to the movies? – Не пойти ли нам в кино?

I’m going to the pictures. – Я иду в кино.

Would you like to join me? – Не хотите ли пойти со мной вместе?

Why not go to the cinema tonight? – Почему бы не пойти сегодня вечером в кино?

Shall we go (out) and see the film? – Пойдем посмотрим фильм.

Possible Replies

Let’s. Why not! – (Давайте) пойдем. Почему бы и нет!

Fine! (That’s) a good idea. – Прекрасно! Хорошая мысль!

I’d like/love to; with (great) pleasure. – С (большим) удовольствием.

I’m always willing/ready. – Я всегда готов.

It suits me fine/perfectly. – Это мне вполне подходит.

It’s very kind of you (to invite me). – Очень любезно с вашей стороны (что вы меня пригласили).

Unfortunately I can’t. – К сожалению, я не могу.

Sorry, I’m (terribly) busy. – К сожалению, я (очень) занят.

Thank you just the same. – Все равно/Тем не менее, спасибо.

I. a) Listen, memorize, reproduce. b) Make up dialogues combining the phrases below.

A: What are you doing this afternoon? Let’s go to the cinema. / I don’t feel like studying tonight. Shall we go out and see a film? / I’ve enough of staying at home. Can’t we go to the pictures for a change?

B: (That’s) a good idea! What’s on today? / I’d love to. What film are they showing at the local movie theatre? / Why not? Is there anything worth seeing?

A: They’re showing a new picture (with N. in the main part). / They’re reviving an old film with Jean Gabin in the leading part. / How about the screen-version of... (with N. in the title role)?

B: I’ve heard it’s a (great) success. I believe we’ll enjoy it. / They say it’s a hit with the public. / An all-star film they say. I hope it won’t be disappointing.

A: Let’s book seats for the 8 o’clock performance. / O.K. I’ll pick you up in half an hour. / Let’s hope for the best. I’ll buy seats for the last show.

B: O.K. It suits me perfectly / Thanks for the invitation. / All right. It suits me fine.

II. Answer the questions. Use the following opening phrases.

I think/believe/guess; If I’m not mistaken; Strictly/frankly speaking; As far as I know/remember; As a matter of fact; It’s hard to say; It depends...

1. How often do you go to the pictures/movies? 2. What kind of films do you prefer? 3. Who is your favourite film star? 4. What picture did you see last? 5. Do you sometimes stand in line/queue for the tickets? In what case? 6. What film are you going to see one of these days? 7. Why would you like to see this film? What have you heard or read about it? 8. What new films have been released lately? 9. How are new pictures advertised in our country? 10. What information of the new picture can you get from the advertisement or poster? 11. Which of the new movies did you like best? 12. Do you ever read any reviews of the new movies? Where?

III. Make up questions.

Ask your friend: 1) what kind of movies he likes to see; 2) if he knows what new movies are on (in town); 3) if he has seen any of these pictures yet; 4) what picture he saw last; 5) if he enjoyed the film; 6) what it is about; 7) what studio it was produced by; 8) if he ever books seats in advance; 9) where he prefers to sit (at the cinema); 10) if he prefers colour or black-and-white films; 11) what he likes best, cinema or theatre; why?

IV. Respond to the invitations. Keep the conversation going. Make use of the following replies.

Let’s; Why not!; Fine!; (That’s) a good idea!; I’d love to/with pleasure; I’m always willing; I don’t mind to; It’s very kind of you; (It) suits me fine/perfectly; I’m afraid I can’t but thanks just the same.

1. Shall we go out and see a film? 2. Can we go to the pictures tonight? 3. Look here, I have two tickets for the new picture. Will you go with me? 4. What about going to the local movie theatre to see that new French film? 5. Let’s book seats for the last evening show. 6. There is a good film on with Jane Fonda starring. Shall we go and see that? 7. I don’t feel like studying tonight. Why not go to the movies for a change?

V. Learn the dialogue by heart.

Advertising a Film

Peter: What are you going to do?

Mike: Oh, perhaps go to the cinema. Would you like to come with me?

Peter: Certainly. I’m always ready to go to the pictures.

Mike: Well, look here. I have two tickets for the new picture. I don’t know what it is like, but here’s what “The Daily News” says about it: “This is the most wonderful picture ever made: more amusing than “Charley’s Aunt”, more exciting than “Cleopatra”, more expensive than “Waterloo”, more beautiful than “Romeo and Julie”.” I don’t believe it, but if you want to go, here are the tickets.

Peter: Oh, that’s fine. Thank you, Mike.

VI. Speak of the film you liked best using the style of the Daily News advertisement.

VII. Learn the dialogue by heart.

Invitation to the Cinema

Maggie: I’ve had enough of staying at home all day. Can we go to the pictures for a change? There’s a good film on with Louis de Funes starring. Shall we go and see that?

Jim: Louis de Funes? Hm, not a bad idea! Do they say in the local paper what time it starts?

Maggie: Ten o’clock. That’s really a bit too late. Besides, we’ve seen enough of Louis de Funes lately (в последнее время). One film after another. What about driving to the West End and going to see the new French film? That starts at five. We can just make it (be in time).

Jim: The film with Anni Girardo you mean? Fine! Let’s go right away (at once).

Maggie: Oh, there’s sure to be a long queue.

Jim: Well, why not stay at home then and watch television?

VIII. Make up a dialogue inviting your friend to the pictures. Be sure to use the following words and phrases.

Can we go?; for a change; starring; (not a bad) good idea; too late; How about; long queue; We’d better stay (go); Why not; I don’t mind.

IX. Read Text A and say some words about English cinemas.

A. Cinema in England

In England the cinema is usually called “the pictures”. The American name, “the movies”, is sometimes used too. The first performance or “showing” as it is called, begins about two o’clock in the afternoon, and the show goes on from then until about half past ten. The cinema is not emptied between the “showing”, so that once you have paid for your seat you can stay in the cinema as long as you like. There is usually one main film, a shorter one, a news film, some advertisements (ads) and a “trailer” telling about the films for the next week. Cinemas used to be more crowded than they are now. Many people used to go to the cinema two or three times a week, but today people like to stay at home to watch television, particularly when it is cold and wet outside. The prices of cinema seats outside London are between three shillings and five shillings. The prices in London are higher.

Films at London cinemas start as early as 12.00 o’clock, and there are often late-night programmes starting between 23.00 o’clock and midnight. Exact times and programmes are advertised in the daily newspaper.

X. Mind different meanings of the words particular, particularly. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. particular – special, often corresponds to the Russian «данный, конкретный»: 1. What should you wear on this particular business day/on this particular occasion? 2. When do the American students start specializing in their particular field of study? 3. Do you go in for any particular kind of sport?

2. particular – hard/difficult to please; corresponds to the Russian «разборчивый»: He is very particular as to what he wears (about what he eats).

3. particular – exact (точный/аккуратный, пунктуальный): The English are very particular about coming on time, about keeping their word/promise, about the time of their meals.

4. in particular – especially; often corresponds to the Russian «в частности»: What’s your opinion of animated cartoons in general and the best Soviet animated cartoon in particular?

5. particularly – especially: 1. The forecast is not nice particularly for those who are not used to rough weather. 2. The film was not particularly thrilling. 3. In Scotland skiing has attracted thousands of fans particularly in recent years. 4. What is particularly good about this novel?

XI. Use the words particular, particularly in different meanings in examples of your own.

XII. Think of 10 questions to Text A.

XIII. Compare the cinema in our country and abroad.

Speech Patterns to Text B

We had better book the tickets in advance.

Нам следовало бы заказать билеты заранее.

It’s pretty hard to make comparisons.

Очень трудно делать сравнения.

XIV. Practise the patterns in examples of your own.

XV. Read Text B and retell it.

B. Everybody Loves Saturday Night

By Michael Saunders

What to do this Saturday night? I’m sure that this question has come up for you and your friends as many times as it has for Canadian and American young people. Saturday night is the night, because tomorrow is Sunday. And on Sunday you can sleep in.

Actually, I don’t think there’s too much difference in what we do and what you do for enjoyment. The easiest thing in Canada is to go to the cinema. Like here, it’s crowded on a Saturday night, and if you want to see the show, you’d better get there early.

One thing is different, however, and that is the price. It’s pretty hard to make comparisons, but a ticket to most movie theatres will cost you about three dollars and fifty cents. Expensive.

Nevertheless, there are ways out. Over the last few years, a new idea in movie-going has sprung up – the 99-cent theatres that show all the great oldies, and the not-so-oldies. Of course, young people make up most of the audience.

Most of you have probably seen the really good Russian film “War and Peace”. Well, so did I – all of it at once at one of our 99 cent theatres. We started at eight o’clock one Saturday evening and went on until about three o’clock on Sunday morning. During the three intermissions, we were served “favourite Russian delicacy”: potato soup and black bread.

Explanatory Notes

the 99 cent theatres – those, where a ticket costs 99 cents

the great oldies – (very) old films which were a great success/hit with the public

XVI. Agree or disagree with the statements. The following phrases may be helpful.

Exactly; That’s right; It’s perfectly true; It’s partly true; On the contrary; I don’t think so; I shouldn’t say so; I quite agree (with you); I can’t agree (with you).

1. One never knows what to do on Saturday night. 2. Going to the cinema is the favourite pastime of most young people on Saturday. 3. There is not much difference in what young people do for enjoyment on Saturday night no matter where they live. 4. Buying tickets in advance is not always convenient. 5. If a film is a success/hit you can never buy tickets at the entrance before the show. 6. Nowadays movie theatres are never crowded on weekends due to television. 7. Many young people in Canada can’t afford going to the pictures because the cost of the tickets is too high. 8. The so-called “99-cent movie theatres” isn’t a very good idea because they show only the great “oldies”.

XVII. Respond to the statements by asking questions so as to get more information. Begin your questions with Who? When? Where? What? What... for? What... about? Who... with?

1. I like Saturday night best of all. 2. We had an extremely good time last Saturday. 3. I saw a very amusing film on Sunday. 4. They say a new science fiction film is on. 5. We had to get to the cinema very early, actually an hour before the performance. 6. Quite unexpectedly for us the tickets for this new serial were very easy to book. 7. I like the idea of a special movie theatre where old films (oldies) are revived. 8. I think I’ll go out and see a new Italian feature film.

XVIII. Say what you (and your friends) do for enjoyment on Saturday night.

XIX. Read Text C.

C. A Drive-in Cinema

One evening I was taken by a friend to a drive-in cinema about 10 miles out of the city. We started as it was growing dark and soon saw cars coming from all directions towards a sky-scraper screen that you could see more than a mile away. Then slowly we drove past the box-office where we paid for admission and turned along a wide drive towards the lines of cars, about 3,000 of them.

We switched off our car lights, and attendants waved us on with electric torches to our place about 100 yards from the enormous screen on which we could see the soundless pictures moving. There was a loud speaker, hooked to a post. My friend unhooked the loud speaker, fixed it inside the car, switched it on, and now the figures on the screen were no longer silent: without leaving the comfort of our car we were at a cinema performance. At the interval a comic figure on the screen announced: “Ice-cream, hot dogs, soft drinks too, sandwiches, coffee, all ready for you.” Car doors opened and people made their way to the refreshment room where they could get the refreshment they wanted on trays which they brought back to the cars. At last the performance ended. A message appeared on the screen: “Please remove the loud speaker before starting your car”, and as midnight was striking we were on the road again driving home.

Explanatory Notes

a drive-in cinema – a cinema in the open air, where people watch films sitting in their cars

a sky-scraper screen – gigantic screen

soft drinks – lemonade, coca-cola, pepsi-cola, etc.

refreshment room – buffet

Words and Phrases

attendants – обслуживающий персонал

electric torch – электрический карманный фонарик

loud-speaker – громкоговоритель

ice-cream – мороженое

hot dogs (Am.) – булочка с горячей сосиской

message – объявление, сообщение

sky-scraper – небоскреб

Phrases to Remember

to pay for admission – платить за вход/въезд

to switch on/off car lights – включать/выключать фары машины

to wave on... (to...) – зд. показать жестом (куда поставить машину)

to hook/to remove a loud-speaker – повесить/снять громкоговоритель

XX. Answer the questions.

1. What’s unusual about a drive-in cinema? 2. How big is the screen in a drive-in cinema? 3. How do people find the place for their cars? 4. How many cars can be parked in a drive-in cinema? 5. What is it necessary to do to hear the sound? 6. What can people do during the interval between films? 7. What kind of a message appears on the screen when the performance ends? What for? 8. What conditions are necessary for a drive-in cinema? 9. In what parts of our country are there cinemas in the open air? 10. Have you ever gone to one of them? Tell about it.

XXI. Discussion points: advantages and disadvantages of a drive-in cinema.

AT THE POST OFFICE

Vocabulary

to correspond — переписываться

correspondence — переписка

letter — письмо

private letter — частное письмо

business letter — деловое письмо

ordinary letter — простое письмо

express letter — срочное письмо

registered letter — заказное письмо

note-paper — почтовая бумага

envelope — конверт

at the bottom of the envelope — внизу конверта

to put the letter into an envelope — вложить письмо в конверт

to close the envelope — запечатывать конверт

to open the envelope — вскрывать конверт

post code (Br), zip code (Am) — индекс

stamp — почтовая марка

inland stamp — внутренняя марка

foreign stamp — заграничная марка

to collect stamps — собирать марки

to stamp — наклеивать марку

Syn.: to stick a stamp on

address — адрес

right address — правильный адрес

wrong address — неправильный адрес

return address — обратный адрес

to address — адресовать

letter-box (pillar-box, mail-box) — почтовый ящик

to drop the letter into a letter-box — опустить письмо в почтовый ящик

to send (sent, sent) — посылать

to send a letter by airmail — посылать письмо авиапочтой

to send books by book-post — посылать книги бандеролью

post (Br), mail (Am) — почта, почтовая корреспонденция

to send by post — посылать по почте

to post — отправлять по почте

to enclose — вкладывать в конверт

postcard — почтовая открытка

picture postcard — художественная открытка

postman — почтальон

post-office — почтовое отделение

department — отдел, отделение

counter — прилавок, окно

clerk — почтовый служащий

to deliver — доставлять, вручать

delivery — доставка

timely delivery — своевременная доставка

late delivery — поздняя доставка

morning (evening) delivery — утренняя (вечерняя) доставка

e.g. The letter came by evening delivery.

to sign — расписываться в получении

telegram — телеграмма

phototelegram — фототелеграмма

priority telegram — «молния»

reply-paid telegram — телеграмма с оплаченным ответом

form — бланк

to fill in a form — заполнить бланк

parcel — посылка

parcel post — прием и выдача посылок

to send parcels insured and otherwise — посылать посылки с объявленной ценностью и без объявленной ценности

wrap — завернуть

weigh — весить, взвешивать

weight — вес

money order (postal order) — денежный перевод по почте

to send a money order — посылать денежный перевод

to cash a money order — получать деньги по денежному переводу

receipt — квитанция

to get a receipt — получать квитанцию

subscribe — подписываться (на газету, журнал)

subscription — подписка

savings-bank — сберегательный банк

to draw out — брать деньги из сбербанка

COD — cash-on-delivery — наложенным платежом

I. Read and translate the text.

At the Post-Office

Anybody who wants to buy stamps or envelopes, to send a telegram, to get a postal order, should go to the post-office. There is a post-office in every town and nearly every village, large towns, of course, have more than one. As for me, I study in Moscow and I often get letters, postcards, telegrams and parcels from my parents, who live in the Caucasus.

I get my letters post-restante at the post-office, near our Institute. The procedure is the following: I go up to the counter that has the notice: Letters Post Restante, Stamps, Postcards, Forms on Sale. I ask the clerk if there are any letters for me. If there is a parcel addressed to me I’m given a special form to fill it in.

I write my name and address, go to the parcel post and say that I’m the addressee. The clerk asks for my passport, checks it up with the form, returns me my passport and hands me the parcel.

Sometimes I write letters at the post-office. I put the letter into an envelope, address it (write the address on it), stick a stamp on it and drop the letter into the letter-box (pillar-box).

If I want to send my letters by airmail and registered post I put some roubles worth of stamps on the envelope and give it to the clerk dealing with registered letters. The clerk weighs the letter, cancels the stamps and writes out a receipt.

You can buy all kinds of stamps, postcards and envelopes there. You can also buy postal orders to send money by post.

At the post-office you can send all kinds of telegrams (phototelegrams, reply-paid telegrams).

One can send parcels insured and otherwise there. You may have your parcels wrapped and tied then and there (тут же, на месте).

Besides you can subscribe there to different papers, journals and magazines published in Russia and other countries.

There is also a savings-bank where you can put in or draw out your money whenever you want.

There are some telephone booths near the wall of our post-office. You can telephone your friends in Moscow and also book a trunk-call to any city in Russia or abroad.

You may sit down comfortably and write a letter or telegram. Tables and chairs are provided for this purpose.

II. Answer the questions.

1. How often do you call at the post-office? 2. Where is the Head-Post-Office in your city? 3. How many times a day are letters delivered? 4. What can you buy at a post-office? 5. What do you have to fill in when you want to send a parcel? 6. What do you usually send as printed matter? 7. What do you buy a postal order (a telegram form) for? 8. How much per word does an ordinary (priority) telegram cost? 9. On what occasions do you get or send telegrams? 10. Do you often get letters? 11. Do you like to write letters? 12. Where do you drop your letters? 13. What does “to get letters post restante” mean? 14. What does the post-office clerk give you when you send a registered letter? 15. What does “to send a letter by airmail” mean? 16. What can you do at a post-office? 17. Which newspapers and magazines have you subscribed to? 18. What does the inside of a post-office look like? 19. What departments are there at the central post-office?

III. Translate the following into English.

Посылка, письмо, доставка, фототелеграмма, марка, почта, денежный перевод, почтовый ящик, авиапочта, заворачивать (в бумагу), доставлять, квитанция, бланк, почтовый служащий, художественная открытка, заграничная марка, сберегательный банк, брать деньги с вклада, посылать посылку с объявленной ценностью и без нее, подписаться на, заказное письмо, взвешивать, переписываться, получить денежный перевод.

IV. Express the following in one word.

1. To exchange letters; 2. A man who collects or delivers the post; 3. Mail sent by air; 4. The writing on a letter showing where it is to be sent; 5. A box for posting letters; 6.A card converging that the money has been paid; 7. A person who works at a post-office; 8. A card conveying a message by post; 9. A message sent very quickly by telegram.

V. Read and translate the dialogues. Render one of the dialogues.

1

A: How much does the stamp for a letter to Warsaw cost?

B: ...

A: Please, give me two stamps and two envelopes.

B: You haven’t got any change, have you?

A: No, I’m sorry I haven’t. Can I register the letter?

B: Yes, of course. A letter by registered post costs ...

A: Please, give me another ... worth of stamps.

B: ... change.

2

A: How long do letters take to get to St. Petersburgh?

B: Three days at least.

A: It won’t do then. I’ll have to send a telegram. What is the rate for ordinary telegrams?

B: ... per word.

A: Isn’t there a cheaper rate now?

B: No, not now. In a fortnight’s time greeting telegrams for Christmas will be sent at a cheaper rate. Perhaps you’ll try a phototelegram?

A: No, a phototelegram will be too slow, for it will not go immediately to the addressee. Please, give me a form for the telegram.

3

A: I want to send these books to Vilnius C.O.D. (cash-on-delivery). How can I do it?

B: Bring you books and fill in a special form.

A: What is the rate for air-mail?

B: It all depends on the weight.

A: Must I have it wrapped and tied?

B: Bring it along. We shall do it right here.

A: I’m afraid I’ll have to put it off till tomorrow for I haven’t got enough money on me and I cannot draw out any from the savings-bank. It is closed already.

B: Oh, any time you like. We are open from 8 a.m. till 8 p.m.

4

A: How can I send these 10 books to St. Petersburgh?

B: You can send them by book-post or by parcel-post, sending a book-parcel is less expensive. They charge much more for ordinary parcels.

A: What must I do to send a parcel?

B: Wrap the parcel and fill in a form.

A: Where can I buy a form?

B: To your left, please. Window 10.

A: Thank you. And where can I wrap the book-parcel?

B: At the counter right there.

A: Do they also weigh the parcel?

B: They do it at the same counter when the parcel is wrapped.

A: Do they stick stamps on a book-parcel?

B: By all means. After the parcel is weighed.

A: Thank you.

VI. Translate the following into English.

1. Вы уже отправили телеграмму? — Да, надеюсь, что ее доставят вовремя. 2. Будьте добры, опустите письмо в почтовый ящик. 3. Если тебе удастся достать эти книги, вышли мне их бандеролью и предупреди открыткой. 4. Скажите, пожалуйста, где можно отправить заказное письмо? 5. Если вы хотите отправить заказное письмо, вам придется пойти на почту. 6. Дайте мне, пожалуйста, марок на 1 фунт и четыре конверта. 7. Нужно ли взвешивать посылку перед отправлением? 8. Когда придет почтальон, спросите, нет ли письма для меня. 9. Заполнив бланк, она подошла к окну надписью «Денежные переводы» и подала бланк почтовому работнику. 10. — Мама просила меня послать телеграмму тете, а я не знаю, как это сделать. — Я охотно помогу тебе. Давай подойдем к окну с надписью «Телеграммы». Возьми телеграфный бланк. Теперь заполни его. Сначала пиши адрес тети, потом – текст телеграммы, а немного ниже — свой адрес. — Сколько это будет стоить? — Это зависит от количества слов в телеграмме. — Телеграмма стоит 2 фунта . Вот вам квитанция и сдача. 11. Я познакомилась летом в Париже с одной француженкой, и теперь мы переписываемся. 12. Если пойдешь на почту, сбрось, пожалуйста, письмо в почтовый ящик. 13. Я собираюсь послать деловое письмо в Москву и вспомнил, что индекс изменился. 14. Если ты хочешь, чтобы письмо не потерялось, пошли его заказным. 15. Таня вложила фотографию в конверт, написала обратный адрес с индексом и наклеила марку. 16. Заказное письмо доходит до Москвы за 5 дней. 17. Мне нужно зайти на почту, чтобы купить 3 конверта по 3 рубля. 18. Мы подписались на газету «Аргументы и факты», ее доставляют 1 раз в неделю. 19. Служащая дала мне заполнить бланк, чтобы послать посылку, а сама стала заворачивать и взвешивать ее. 20. Я сниму деньги со счета в банке, чтобы купить билет на самолет. 21. В конце зимы начнется подписка на газеты и журналы. 22. Завтра в это время он получит деньги переводом.

VII. Read the dialogue and act it out.

A Telegram Comes

Ellen: Mike!

Mike: Yes?

Ellen: Would you mind answering the door, I’m washing my clothes.

Mike: Okey.

Mike: ... Guess, what’s come.

Ellen: How should I know?

Mike: Well, have a guess.

Ellen: A letter? A parcel?

Mike: No.

Ellen: A bill, then.

Mike: Wrong again, have another go.

Ellen: I haven’t the faintest idea. Are you going to tell me or not?

Mike: I’m, if you promise to wash my socks.

Ellen: Oh, all right, what is it?

Mike: A telegramme for Father.

Ellen: A telegramme! Who from?

Mike: How should I know? Oh, here’s Father. Guess what’s come for you.

Mr Innes: I’ve no idea. I only hope it isn’t a bill.

Mike: No, it isn’t, it’s a wire.

Mr Innes: A wire? Here, let me have it... Oh, good!

THE PRESS