Assignment 13 (chapters 54–57)

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

Active Vocabulary

p. 163

to attach importance

p. 164

inscrutable

sensitive

p. 165

to throw smth. to the winds

p. 168

to vomit

to be seized with terror

p. 171

to be overwhelmed with some feeling

p. 174

nuisance

p. 175

petty

to weep

p. 176

to betray

p. 179

to summon up

p. 181

vanity

p. 182

brat

II. Exercises

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

1. to eject (the contents of the stomach) through the mouth as the result of involuntary muscular spasms of the stomach

2. a person or thing that causes annoyance or bother

3. to aid an enemy of (one's nation, friend, etc.); be a traitor to

4. a child, esp one who is ill-mannered or unruly

5. the state or quality of being inordinately proud of one's appearance, possessions, or achievements; excessive pride or conceit

6. incomprehensible; mysterious or enigmatic

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

1. He ____ us with his hospitality.

2. It was a ____ to move during the semester.

3. He claims to be able to ____ the spirits of the dead.

4. She brought this discreet jewellery just to flatter her ____.

5. The diamond is not ____ even to a very high temperature.

3. Translate the following sentences into Russian.

1. I should seriously consider to which department of the law I was to attach myself.

2. Lava from erupting Vesuvius overwhelmed the city of Pompeii.

3. He was an intolerable little nuisance.

4. The poor woman wept her thanks.

5. Emily wept herself to sleep.

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

Adultery, to grieve, sagacious, to vow, wicked, pranks, to regain one’s spirits, inscrutable, sensitive, to be seized with terror, to betray, vanity

III. Questions for discussion.

1. Compare what Sister St Joseph told Kitty about Waddington’s private life with what he told Kitty himself.

2. Kitty learns about her pregnancy. What was her first reaction? What was the reaction of the nuns? What was Walter’s reaction? Why could not she tell her husband all the truth?

3. Why Walter insisted on Kitty’s leaving Mei-tan-fu? Can we call his aim in having brought her there simple revenge? What had changed in Kitty’s personality during her life in Mei-tan-fu?

Assignment 14 (chapters 58–64)

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

Active Vocabulary

p. 183

restlessness

to induce

p. 184

to resume

p. 185

languid

to twitter

p. 188

incalculable

p. 189

on a pretext

flimsy

it jumps to the eyes

the Annunciation

p. 190

robust

p. 192

resentment

p. 193

the Holy Communion

p. 194

well-bred

p. 199

amend

p. 209

repentance

II. Exercises

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

1. a fictitious reason given in order to conceal the real one

2. to persuade or use influence on

3. announcement of the Incarnation by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary

4. indicating good manners

5. the celebration of the Christian sacrament in which Christ's Last Supper is commemorated by the consecration of bread and wine

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

1. He stopped for a moment and then ____ speaking.

2. The ecological consequences of a nuclear war are ____.

3. The stream became ____ again, so they had to row for some time.

4. You won't be warm enough in that ____ dress.

5. Personal injury of the ambassador became a ____ to occupy more territory.

3. Translate the following sentences into Russian.

1. They resumed their courage.

2. She was in a twitter, partly of expectation, and partly of fear.

3. He would call for help at (=on) the slightest pretext.

4. He gave a flimsy excuse.

5. For the rest of his life he was showing a genuine repentance for committing that adultery.

4. Give your own opinion of the following utterances.

1. A well-bred woman does nothing which shall make people talk of her. (p. 194)

2. … men often have a deeper feeling for their daughters than they have for their sons. (p. 196)

3. There is only one way to win hearts and that is to make oneself like unto those of whom one be would be loved. (p. 196)

III. Questions for discussion.

1. Describe Kitty’s meeting with the Manchu. Specify the latter’s appearance and behaviour. What was Kitty’s looking for in this meeting? Had she find it? What is Kitty’s impression of Waddington now? Comment the last Waddington’s phrase in the chapter LVIII (p. 188). What is Tao?

2. Describe the attitude the nuns took up to Kitty. Why were they excited about her condition? Do you think they misjudged the Fanes’ relations?

3. Discuss the role of chapter LX on the novel. What was known about the Mother Superior’s family before? Comment the phrase: “It is not enough that a religious should be continually in prayer with Jesus; she should be herself a prayer” (p. 192). Do you agree with it? How can it be possible? Comment the phrase: “There is only one way to win hearts and that is to make oneself like those of whom one would be loved.” Have you ever experienced the like?

4. What is Kitty’s attitude to her pregnancy? How did she regard her adultery then? What had changed in her attitude to her husband and to her lover?

5. Comment on Walter’s illness and Kitty’s attempts to give him peace of mind. What were Walter’s last words? Comment them. What could they possibly refer to?

6. Sum up Colonel Yü. What made him stay for hors at Walter’s deathbed?

IV. Extra writing task.

Describe any real event which you were a witness of.