Задания к рассказам из цикла «The Inimitable Jeeves»

Vocabulary

A matter of importance – важный вопрос, важное дело

Admirable – достойный восхищения, превосходный

Appropriate – закономерный, допустимый, уместный

Catch sight of – заметить, увидеть мельком, поймать взглядом

Class distinction – классовое неравенство

Decidedly – решительно, бесспорно, определенно

Desire somebody’s services – нуждаться в чьих-либо услугах

Drop the subject – оставить тему разговора, прекратить разговор на эту тему

Eatery – закусочная, забегаловка

Exceptionally clement – чрезвычайно благоприятный

Fix things – исправить положение, уладить дела

Get flustered with gratification – разволноваться от удовольствия

In aid of some charity – на какие-то благотворительные цели

In every respect – во всех отношениях

Lead a fairly unclouded life – вести вполне безоблачную жизнь

Perpetually – постоянно, то и дело, вечно

Postpone – откладывать, отодвигать

Precisely – точно так, именно, вот именно

Regardless of – независимо от, невзирая на

State the case to someone – изложить суть дела (проблемы) кому-либо

Tea-and-bun shop – закусочная, кафе

When it conies to literature – когда дело доходит до литературы

Exercise 1. Answer the questions.

1) Who is Jeeves? How would you describe him? 2) How did Bertie Wooster start his day? 3) What season was it? What kind of weather? 4) Who phoned Wooster in the morning and what did he want? 5) Where did Bingo take Wooster to meet his new affection? 6) Why did Wooster call this girl “the female poisoner”? 7) Where did Bingo meet Mable? How did he get there? 8) What advice did Bingo need and who did he desire to receive it from? 9) What did Jeeves suggest doing in this situation? 10) Do you think the valet’s advice will work out? Why?

Exercise 2. Read the statements from the text and say if they are true of false. Correct the false ones.

1. Jeeves is the best valet that Wooster ever had.

2. Wooster consulted with Jeeves about horse-racing.

3. When Bingo Little, Wooster’s old friend, rang up on the phone in the morning, Jeeves immediately awoke his master, because it was a very important call.

4. The weather outside was exceptionally pleasant. It was a nice summer day.

5. In the street Wooster suddenly ran into Bingo Little wearing a crimson shirt printed with horseshoes.

6. Bingo invited Wooster to a strange and cheap eatery near the Ritz.

7. The owner of the eatery was Bingo’s new girl-friend.

8. Bingo needed Wooster’s advice to marry Mable or not.

9. Bingo was entirely dependent on his uncle.

10. Jeeves thought Bingo’s uncle to be a rather greed old man who devoted himself only to the pleasures of the table.

Exercise 3. Choose the main events of the story, write them down and according to them retell the story. Try to avoid details.

Exercise 4. Make up dialogues.

In the story you met 4 characters: Jeeves, Wooster, Bingo and Mable. Make up dialogues between two of them ( Jeeves and Wooster in the morning discussing the weather; Wooster and Bingo in the street and in the tea-and-bun shop; Bingo and Mable at a subscription dance; Jeeves and Wooster discussing Bingo’s situation).

Exercise 5. What’s your opinion about the characters of the story? Who do you sympathize with? Why? How could you characterize each of them using only two or three words or adjectives?

Exercise 1. Choose the right explanation or synonym to the words and word expressions in the left column.

Exercise 2. Put the words and word combinations from the box into the appropriate sentence below.

1) All applicants should be treated equally, … of sex, race or religion.

2) The day seemed to be … … for visiting old school friends who lived outside the city.

3) John was the only mechanic I know who could … … with my broken car.

4) If you … … …, madam, I can stay here for long and offer you some more coffee or tea.

5) I don’t think you cousin is a reliable person. … … … to money, he’s always on the rocks (на мели, без гроша).

6) She’s the most competent employee … … … . You can consult with her on any question.

7) They must … be the laziest people I’ve ever known. They don’t work anywhere and even at home they don’t do anything.

8) In modern society there shouldn’t be any … … but still some nations are divided.

Exercise 3. Translate from Russian into English, using the words and expressions from the text.

1) Он вел вполне безоблачную жизнь, пока его отец не умер, и все имение и акции предприятия не перешли к его вдове.

2) Я хотел бы обсудить с вами важный вопрос, но вижу, что вы сейчас заняты. Поэтому отложим наш разговор до лучших времен.

3) Когда дело касается напитков, мы за количество и качество.

4) Когда он вошел в кабинет, они решительно сменили тему разговора.

5) Он разволновался от удовольствия и изложил суть проблемы не начальнику полиции, а младшему сотруднику, который ничем не смог ему помочь.

6) Они постоянно тратят деньги на какие-то благотворительные цели, но народ и все равно не любит.

7) Он не нуждался в услугах камердинера и мог самостоятельно одеться и выйти на прогулку.