Assignment 7 (chapters 27–30)

I. Pre-reading task – translate the words from the active vocabulary, write their transcription.

Active Vocabulary

p. 90

humiliation

p. 91

destination

shelter

p. 92

despise

endeavour

p. 93

disdain

p. 94

abandon

p. 95

archway

significance

II. Exercises

1. Find the words in the active vocabulary that match the following definitions.

1. to forsake completely; desert; leave behind

2. a passageway or entrance under it

3. the ultimate end of a journey or voyage

4. consequence or importance

5. something that provides cover or protection, as from weather or danger; place of refuge

2. Fill in with suitable words from the active vocabulary.

1. I ____ him for his cowardice.

2. The ship was sinking and the captain ordered to ____ it.

3. Just point the profitable ____ on the map and you are there!

4. The climbers had to search for a ___ from the snowstorm in a mountain hut.

5. I won’t sign this paper if you don’t show the social ____ of your project.

3. Translate the following sentences into Russian.

1. Imagine you are choosing a holiday destination.

2. This house sheltered him for twenty years.

3. He always sheltered himself behind his father's authority.

4. He endeavoured to remain calm.

5. Haughtiness is founded on the high opinion we entertain of ourselves; disdain, on the low opinion we have of others.

6. They abandoned their native language.

7. After her mother died, she abandoned herself to grief.

4. Explain the meanings of the following lexical units in your own words.

In full bloom, to cast down one’s eyes, torture, to make a scene, for one’s sake, commonplace, to sacrifice, despair, to abandon, significance

III. Questions for discussion.

1. What was Walter’s reaction to Kitty’s consent? Why did he want her to have a talk with her lover before departure? What was the effect of this talk?

2. Describe the way to the inner China. What was Kitty thinking all that way? Can you guess Walter’s state of mind?

3. How did Kitty picture to herself Charlie after she had left him?

4. Describe the arrival of the Fanes to Mei-tan-fu. What was the archway that Kitty admired near the town? Whom had the travellers met first in the town itself? Discuss the possible symbolic significance of the chapter XXX.

Assignment 8 (chapters 31–35)

I. Pre-reading task – translate the words from the active vocabulary, write their transcription.

Active Vocabulary

p. 98

precaution(s)

p. 100

ruthless

p. 101

awe

solitary

p. 102

hoarse

p. 103

wayward

p. 104

nonchalance

p. 105

riot

arson

panic-stricken

II. Exercises

1. Find the words in the active vocabulary that match the following definitions.

1. low, harsh, and lacking in tone or intensity

2. an action taken to avoid a dangerous or undesirable event

3. feeling or showing no mercy; hardhearted

4. wanting to have one's own way regardless of the wishes or good of others

5. a disturbance made by an unruly mob or (in law) three or more persons

6. the act of intentionally or recklessly setting fire to another's property or to one's own property for some improper reason

2. Fill in with suitable words from the active vocabulary.

1. You’d better take all the necessary _____ against your untimely death.

2. ‘Have a mercy! I plead for mercy!’ she cried. But he was ____.

3. ‘It’s mine! Don’t take it!’ he cried greedily in a ____ whisper.

4. He drove down the hill to the _____ little inn which was completely unknown even to the most locals.

5. The whole neighbourhood erupted! It’s a ____! There is no rescue from the mob!

3. Translate the following sentences into Russian.

1. They were awed into silence by the great man.

2. The movement of events is often as wayward and incomprehensible as the course of human thought.

3. He rioted away his whole inheritance.

4. A wall collapsed and ten people were killed in the panic-stricken stampede.

5. We call an anchorite or a hermit a person living solitary.

III. Questions for discussion.

1. Describe Waddington: his job, his peculiar features, manner of speech, behaviour. How had he stated the reason why he had stayed in the town.

2. Sum up all information about the previous doctor in Mei-tan-fu.

3. What was Waddington’s opinion about Charles Townsend? Compare it with Kitty’s opinion.

4. Dwell upon Kitty’s attitude to Charles at first days at Mei-tan-fu. Has it changed? Why?

5. Why Kitty had asked Waddington about Charles again? What had he told her? What was her reaction?

IV. Extra writing task.

Write a dialogue. Try to make it as more true to life as possible. You may study any dialogue from the book or write a verbatim writing.