Assignment 15 (chapters 65–70)

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

Active Vocabulary

p. 211

coffin

p. 214

futile

p. 220

to mind one’s own business

p. 221

to yield

to be reluctant to do smth.

p. 226

enigmatic

p. 229

despicable

trifle

p. 230

to keep out of one’s way

to degrade

II. Exercises

1. Paraphrase the following sentences using the active vocabulary

1. to reduce in worth, character, etc.; disgrace; dishonour

2. a box in which a corpse is buried or cremated

3. having no effective result, unsuccessful; pointless, unimportant

4. worthy of being despised; contemptible; mean

5. to give way, submit, or surrender, as through force or persuasion

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

1. It was ____ of him to desert his family.

2. I ____ the right-of-way to the other driver.

3. They dragged the ____ animal into the cage.

4. It's ____ to speculate about what might have been.

5. It would ____ me to marry him. I despise not only himself but every member of his family!

3. Translate the following sentences into Russian.

1. The door yielded to a strong push.

2. I was very reluctant to agree to their conditions, but I didn't really have much choice.

3. He is not a man to trifle with.

4. You can't help thinking badly of any man who would degrade himself like that.

5. She claims to have enigmatic powers, given to her by some mysterious spirit.

III. Questions for discussion.

1. Find the place in chapter LXIX that comes most close to the explanation of the title of the novel. Remember Shakespearean’s lines. Is the view on life different in them? How does it reflect in the novel?

2. Discuss Kitty’s state of mind during Walter’s burial. Was it unusual for you?

3. What is the meaning of human life according to Waddington? What is his opinion about the cause of Walter’s death? What was Kitty’s reaction to it? What was her opinion?

4. What was Kitty’s attitude to the way of life in the convent? What was its weak point according to her? Why the Mother Superior insisted on Kitty’s leaving Mei-tan-fu? What did she think about Kitty at that time?

5. Describe state of Kitty’s mind on her way to Hong Kong. Was it a release?

Assignment 16 (chapters 71–75)

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

Active Vocabulary

p. 231

habiliment

woe

p. 234

to misjudge smb.

p. 235

to make much of smb.

p. 236

tousled

emaciated

p. 237

by Jove

p. 240

amenity

p. 241

to pull one’s legs

p. 243

handicap

p. 244

compunction

II. Exercises

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

1. intense grief or misery

2. to tease, fool, or make fun of someone

3. abnormally thin

4. an exclamation of surprise or excitement

5. a feeling of remorse, guilt, or regret

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

1. What do you ____ this news?

2. He was seen in the ____ of a gardener.

3. She finds it a bit of a ____ to live without a phone.

4. They had no ____ about buying the furniture.

5. His hair was ____ because of the strong wind outside.

3. Translate the following sentences into Russian.

1. Don’t mistake the outward habiliments of things for the things themselves.

2. In amenity of life, his Court had been a Moorish rather than a Gothic Court.

3. In cases of severe mental handicap, constant supervision is recommended.

4. Rescue efforts have been handicapped by rough seas.

5. ‘Woe be to him!’ exclaimed she.

4. Give the corresponding abstract nouns and translate them.

Futile, reluctant, to degrade, wicked, petty, grave.

III. Questions for discussion.

1. Describe Kitty’s meeting with Dorothy Townsend. What was their attitude to each other? Do you think Dorothy knew about her husband’s love affair with Kitty? Sum up the way of live of the Englishmen in Hong Kong.

2. Describe Charlie’s new meeting with Kitty. Why did not he look as Kitty had pictured him? What was his attitude to Kitty now?

3. Describe Kitty’s way of life at the Townsends’. What were the changes in her attitude to Mei-tan-fu and to Hong Kong?

IV. Extra writing task.

Write a short description of every meaningful character of the book.