Яков Аракин - Практический курс английского языка 2 курс

this excitement. The soil was hardly worth the toil.

EXERCISES

I. Change the sentences, using the patterns:

P a t t e r n 1 : 1. The explorers could not reach the southern boundaries of the desert

because of the scorching heat and lack of fresh water. 2. The day was foggy; the fishermen could not

see the coast-line. 3. It's wet outdoors. Put on my raincoat, it'll save you for a while. 4. He couldn't

take part in the conference because he was ill. 5. She could not make a good speech because of her

poor knowledge of English.

P a t t e r n 2 : 1. Amy did not say a word and left the room. 2. You can hardly realize

what an ocean-going ship is if you haven't been inside. 3. They will not come to see us if they are not

invited. 4. He could listen to long verses in Latin, though he did not understand a word. 5. He would

mark rhythm with his right foot, though he never realized what he was doing.

P a t t e r n 3 : 1. Owing to the smallness of our boat it was easy to navigate in such

shallow waters. 2. It was impossible to move on because of the rainy season in the tropics. 3. We

could hardly recognize the place after the hurricane. 4. It was easy to change our plans owing to his

quick arrival. 5. I could not recognize your sister because of her new hairdo.

P a t t e r n 4 : 1. I don't think you are right taking so much trouble over the problem. 2.

That sacrifice of his was almost useless. Just to think of all the efforts made! 3. What's the fare? I'm

afraid it is more expensive than your luggage. 4. She had made a long way to come there, but the

conference was of little value to her. 5. The manuscript turned out to be a variant of the original. I

was sorry I wasted so much time translating it.

II. Complete the following sentences, using the patterns. Make nse of the

words and phrases in brackets:

P a t t e r n 1 : 1. Various reasons ... (to do optional subjects). 2. Her illness ... (to

qualify for this post). 3. My neighbour's silly remarks ... (to enjoy the performance). 4. His advice ...

(to get into trouble). 5. The windy weather ... (to take us for a drive).

P a t t e r n 2 : 1. You can't leave Great Britain ... (to see the Lake District). 2. She will

not take any medicine ... (to consult a doctor). 3. You shouldn't leave ... (to have a snack). 4. She

can't speak about the news ... (to get excited). 5. You won't be able to pass your exam ... (to work

hard).

P a t t e r n 3 : 1. Her manners ... (unpleasant to deal with). 2. Lack of rainfalls...

(difficult to plough). 3. Likeness of their names ... (easy to remember). 4. I don't find it... (to bother

him). 5. We find it... (to make use of tape-recording).

P a t t e r n 4 : 1. The picture is of little value, it... (money). 2. The results of the

expedition ... (efforts). 3. The trip is ... (trouble). 4. The decorations are ... (time). 5. The victory

was ... (sacrifice). 6. The medicine is ... (money).

III. Translate the following sentences into English. Use the patterns:

P a t t e r n 1 : 1. Примите лекарство, оно предохранит вас от простуды. 2. Что-то

помешало Тому сказать Бекки, что там в пещере он видел индейца Джо. 3. Что помешало вам

воспользоваться этой возможностью? 4. Она рассказывала смешные истории, чтобы мальчик

не плакал. 5. Фрэнк понимал, что только быстрые действия спасут его от разорения.

P a t t e r n 2 : 1. Молли уехала из города, никому не сказав о своих подозрениях.

2. Герт спросил, какое право имеет Лэнни строить планы, не советуясь с ним. 3. Не глядя на

него, Герт сказал: «Можешь идти». 4. Не говоря ни слова, Лэнни вышел.

P a t t e r n 3 : 1. Множество специальных терминов делают его доклад трудным

для понимания. 2. Заботы и тревоги сделали ее лицо трудноузнаваемым. 3. Яркие метафоры

делали его примеры легкими для запоминания. 4. Все находят, что с ним легко иметь дело. 5.

Я нахожу, что с вашим старшим братом приятно поговорить.

P a t t e r n 4 : 1. Едва ли эта марка стоит денег, которые вы заплатили за нее. 2.

Дело не стоит хлопот. 3. Упаковка дороже, чем товар. 4. Едва ли эта поездка стоит

потраченного времени. 5. Джеймс Форсайт считал, что свежий воздух не стоит тех денег,

которые платят за загородные дома.

IV. Respond to the following statements, using the patterns. (Make use of the

conversational formulas given in the Reminder.):

A.1. Alexander Popov was unable to perfect his invention because of the lack of money. 2.

Little David was afraid of the Murdstones, he could not read his lesson well in their presence. 3.

Lanny realized that Mabel might get into trouble. He wanted to save his sister. 4. You can't possibly

start on a sea voyage if the weather report is unfavourable.

B.1. You must see the Lake District with your own eyes to be able to appreciate its beauty. 2.

My uncle dislikes Mary though he has never seen her. 3. Passengers should not be reminded to pay

their fares. 4. I hope, you will translate all these sentences and never consult a dictionary.

C.1. There was something strange about the Gadfly's manner of speaking. 2. Latin grammar

is logical, that's why it is easy to understand. 3. Byron's verses are well-rhymed, you can learn them

by heart quite easily. 4. If you know Swedish you'll find little difficulty in understanding Norwegian

because these languages are of common origin.

Reminder: Just so. Quite so. I quite agree here. Naturally. Certainly. Sure. I think so. Looks

like that. I disagree with you. You are wrong. You are mistaken. There's something in what you say,

but... . Certainly not. Impossible! It's unfair. It's unjust.

V. Think of short situations in which you can use these patterns.

TEXT. SEEING PEOPLE OFF By Max Beerbohm69

On a cold grey morning of last week I duly turned up at Euston70 to see off an old friend who

was starting for America.

Overnight we had given a farewell dinner, in which sadness was well mingled with festivity.

69 Max Beerbohm(1872-1956): an English essayist, critic and caricaturist

70 Euston: a railway-station in London

And now, here we were, stiff and self-conscious on the platform; and framed in the window

of the railway-carriage, was the face of our friend; but it was as the face of a stranger — a stranger

anxious to please, an appealing stranger, an awkward stranger.

"Have you got everything?" asked one of us, breaking the silence.

"Yes, everything," said our friend, with a pleasant nod.

There was a long pause.

One of us, with a nod and a forced smile at the traveller, said:

"Well"

The nod, the smile, and the unmeaning monosyllable were returned conscientiously.

Another pause was broken by one of us with a fit of coughing. It was an obviously assumed

fit, but it served to pass the time. There was no sign of the train's departure.

A middle-aged man was talking earnestly to a young lady at the next window but one to ours.

His fine profile was vaguely familiar to me. The young lady was evidently American, and he was

evidently English; otherwise I should have guessed from his impressive air that he was her father.

In a flash I remembered. The man was Hubert Le Ros. But how he changed since last I saw

him! That was seven or eight years ago, in the Strand. He was then (as usual) out of engagement, and

borrowed half-a-crown. It seemed a privilege to lend anything to him. He was always magnetic. And

why his magnetism had never made him successful on the London stage was always a mystery to

me. He was an excellent actor.

It was strange to see him, after all these years here on the platform of Euston, looking so

prosperous and solid. It was not only the flesh he had put on, but also the clothes, that made him

hard to recognize. He looked like a banker. Anyone would have been proud to be seen off by him.

"Stand back, please!"

The train was about to start and I waved farewell to my friend. Le Ros did not stand back. He

stood clasping in both hands the hands of the young American.

"Stand back, sir. please!"

He obeyed, but quickly darted forward again to whisper some final word. I think there were

tears in her eyes. There certainly were tears in his when, at length, having watched the train out of

sight, he turned round.

He seemed, nevertheless, delighted to see me. He asked me where I had been hiding all these

years: and simultaneously repaid me the half-crown as though it had been borrowed yesterday. He

linked his arm in mine, and walked me slowly along the platform, saying with what pleasure he read

my dramatic criticism every Saturday. I told him, in return, how much he was missed on the stage.

"Ah, yes," he said, "I never act on the stage nowadays."

He laid some emphasis on the word "stage," and I asked him where, then, he did act.

"On the platform," he answered.

"You mean," said I, "that you recite at concerts?"

He smiled.

"This," he whispered, striking his stick on the ground, "is the platform I mean."

"I suppose," he said presently, giving me a light for the cigar which he had offered me, "you

have been seeing a friend off?"

He asked me what I supposed he had been doing. I said that I had watched him doing the

same thing.

"No," he said gravely. "That lady was not a friend of mine. I met her for the first time this

morning, less than half an hour ago, here," and again he struck the platform with his stick.

I confessed that I was bewildered. He smiled.

"You may," he said, "have heard of the Anglo-American Social Bureau."

I had not. He explained to me that of the thousands of Americans who pass through England

there are many hundreds who have no English friends. In the old days they used to bring letters of

introduction. But the English are so inhospitable that these letters are hardly worth the paper they are

written on.

"Americans are a sociable people, and most of them have plenty of money to spend. The

AA.S.B. supplies them with English friends. Fifty per cent of the fees is paid over to the friend. The

other fifty is retained by the AA.S.B. I am not, alas, a director. If I were, I should be a very rich man

indeed. I am only an employee. But even so I do very well. I am one of the seers-off."

I asked for enlightenment.

"Many Americans," he said, "cannot afford to keep friends in England. But they can all