Marina Nitsinska - Tommy’s house

Illustrator Alexander Tsimailo

© Marina Nitsinska, 2022

© Alexander Tsimailo, illustrations, 2022

ISBN 978-5-0051-9139-7

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

There was a big house in the dense forest between high malachite mountains.

Braided with green ivy, hidden in the heart of the dark wood, it looked mysterious and lonely. Actually, when you approached it, you could see that it was cosy, warm and friendly. The dwelling with its large windows, dark green door and tiled roof resembled a marvellous house in a fairyland.

A little boy Tommy and his family lived in this house. He was a smart child of eight, looking funny with freckles and a snub nose on his round face. His brown hair was slightly curly. The boy looked at the world with bright green eyes and a timid smile.

Tommy could be different almost every day. He was fickle like a leaf in the wind. His mood changed according to the situation. His behaviour varied depending on the expectations of his parents. Sometimes the kid was cheerful and talkative, but pretty soon he became reserved and shy. One day he could be generous and responsive, but the next day he didn’t want to speak and share anything with anyone.

For a boy of his age Tom was very observant, witty, and quite self-centred like most children.

Tommy’s parents took care of him, and of course, they loved their son, but they were too busy at work. That is why he often spent time alone, though he didn’t feel sad or lonely. Tommy wandered about the house, travelling from one room to another. He always found some interesting activities there. Each room had something special for him.

HELPFUL WORDS AND NOTES

malachite[m æ ləkaıt] – малахитовый

braided with ivy[br e ıdıd] [wɪð] [ a ıvı] – оплетённый плющом

dwelling[dw e lıŋ] – дом, жилище

tiled roof[taıld] [ru f] – черепичная крыша

to resemble[rız e mbl] – походить на

кого-либо, напоминать

fairyland[f e ərɪlænd] – сказочная

страна

freckles[fr e klz] – веснушки

timid smile[t ɪ mɪd] [smaɪl] – робкая,

застенчивая улыбка

fickle[f ɪ kl] – переменчивый,

непостоянный

according to smth[ək ɔ dɪŋ] [tu] —

в зависимости от чего-либо

talkative[t ɔ kətɪv] — разговорчивый,

словоохотливый

reserved[rɪz ɜ vd] – сдержанный,

замкнутый

responsive[rɪsp ɔ n(t)sɪv] – отзывчивый, чуткий

observant[əbz ɜ v(ə)nt] – наблюдательный, внимательный

witty[w ɪ tɪ] — остроумный

self-centred[_selfs e ntəd] – эгоцентричный, эгоистичный

to wander[w ɔ ndə] – прогуливаться, бродить

VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR TASKS

I Match the words that go together.

IIHere are several words and expressions from the text (A – I). Match the definition of each of them from the list below (1 – 9).

A timid

B talkative

C self-centred

D fairyland

E freckles

F reserved

G witty

H responsive

I observant

1. only concerned with their own wants and needs and never thinks about other people

2. showing a lack of courage or confidence; easily frightened

3. fond of talking

4. someone who keeps their feelings hidden

5. responding readily and with interest or enthusiasm

6. an imagined ideal place

7. someone who pays a lot of attention to things and notices more about them than most people do

8. showing or characterised by quick and inventive verbal humour

9. small patches of light brown colour on the skin, often becoming more pronounced through exposure to the sun

IIIMake up sentences of your own with the word combinations from exercises I and II.

IVTranslate the sentences using the vocabulary of chapter 1.

1. Его тётя была отзывчивой и щедрой. Она напоминала добрую волшебницу из сказки.

2. Голос мамы менялся в зависимости от её переменчивого настроения.

3. Мальчик бродил по густому лесу и увидел старый дом, оплетённый плющом.

4. Внешний облик девушки с курносым носом, слегка вьющимися светлыми волосами и застенчивой улыбкой производил на всех обманчивое впечатление.

5. По словам её брата, она вовсе не была застенчивой и замкнутой.

6. Его болтливая сестра делилась своими секретами со всеми.

7. Ты заметила того эгоцентричного парня вчера на вечеринке? На самом деле он очень внимательный и остроумный.

DISCUSSION TASKS

I Answer the following questions.

1. Where was the house situated?

2. What did the dwelling resemble?

3. How old was Tommy?

4. Who did he live in the house with?

5. What influenced his mood and behaviour?

6. Did he have a good sense of humour?

7. Did Tommy’s parents spend much time with him?

8. Why was Tommy often alone?

9. Did the boy feel lonely when he stayed alone?

10. What did he do in the house?

IIComplete the following tasks:

1. Describe Tommy’s house.

2. Describe Tommy. Tell about his character.

3. Tell about Tommy’s attitude to the house.

TALKING POINTS

I Describe your place (a flat, a house).

IITell about your dream home.

Lilly was Tommy’s younger cousin. She was almost five. The little girl with pure freedom in her magnificent black eyes and fair tresses visited the house with her mum occasionally.

Lilly asked too many questions with her squeaky voice and made much noise. It irritated Tommy. Dressed in a short yellow skirt and a green t-shirt with flower print, she could whirl in front of the mirror and sing a child’s song.

She had a handmade date bones bracelet 1 1 A handmade date bones bracelet – браслет ручной работы из финиковых косточек on her right wrist. The girl said that it was her talisman. She was in the habit of touching and twisting the glossy brown bones with her tiny fingers. Lilly never took it off and allowed nobody to touch it.

The little girl attracted all parents’ attention and admiring glances, though the boy considered her to be a spoilt, capricious child. When he refused to play with her or to give the little girl some toys, parents often scolded Tommy for his behaviour.

Lilly was a really lively child. Everything in the world aroused her keen interest. She was open to any activity and capable of vivid communication with everyone.

“Tommy, what is your favourite book?”

“I like all books.”

“Well, don’t you have a special book that you would read again and again?!”

“No, I don’t.”

“Tommy, what season do you like most of all?”

“I like winter, though all seasons are good enough.”

“Oh, Don’t you like swimming in the lake and admiring the flowers in your garden in summer?!”

“I do.”

“Tommy, where would you like to travel?”

“The whole world.”

“And what is the place of your dream?”

“There are a lot of them on the planet.”

“Tommy…”

“I have to go.”

Three Lilly’s questions were the little man’s limit of patience. He got tired of her activity very quickly. Usually Tom tried to avoid speaking to the girl. Her emotional reactions made him nervous. The girl could tell him some amusing stories, gushing with admiration, but he stayed aloof. She shared her profound impressions with him, but it didn’t touch him, he just didn’t care. For this reason he hardly ever spent time with her. He often slipped away and hid in one of the rooms when she stayed at the house.

HELPFUL WORDS AND NOTES

squeaky voice[skw i_ kɪ] [vɔɪs] – писклявый, визгливый голос

to irritate[ ɪ rɪteɪt] – раздражать, надоедать

to be in the habit of doing smth[bi] [ɪn] [ðə] [h æ bɪt] [əv] [d u ɪŋ] – иметь привычку делать что-либо

glossy[gl ɔ sɪ] — глянцевый, гладкий

to consider smb to be[kəns ɪ də] [tə] [bi] – считать кого-либо кем-либо, каким-либо

spoilt child[spɔɪlt] [ʧaɪld] – избалованный ребёнок

to scold[skəuld] — ругать (ся), ворчать

lively[l a ɪvlɪ] – живой, активный,

весёлый

to arouse keen interest[ər a uz] [ki n] [ɪnt(ə)rəst] – вызывать большой интерес

to be capable of smth[bi] [k e ɪpəbl] [əv] – быть способным на что-либо