Английский язык для студентов университетов. Чтение, письменная и устная практика (стр. 23 из 42)
15. His constant failures soon became ... every lecturer. Nobody knew what to do in a situation like this.
16. She ... domestic chores: her mother and grandmother did everything in the house.
Exercise 9
Put in the missing prepositions.
1. The teacher demanded that the students should take notes ... coloured ball-point pens.
2. Being a psychologist... training, Richard devoted his life to solving other people's problems.
3. Not everyone likes to share a flat ... somebody: it disturbs one's privacy.
4. Working... her thesis, Ruth learned many interesting facts.
5. The mother always grumbled when her daughter was reading ... her meals.
6. The commuters were at one ... the bus stop, and every person felt as if he or she were an integral part of the crowd.
7. Ruth could not understand why a certain restlessness came ... her.
8. Ruth did not have any worries ... money, because she lived at home with her parents.
9. It was very easy to choose subjects ... dissertations; the professor offered a long list of topics.
10. She would never sit down ... her meal without a book, which, of course, was a bad habit.
11. One day the lecturer returned Ruth's essay with an inscription ... the bottom.
12. Ruth's greed ... books kept her working in the library until nine o'clock.
13. As there was a kettle in the Common Room, some students took ... bringing tea and coffee.
14. The girls were bored ... each other, because they were too different.
15. A lot of students at the university were ... grants, which meant that their studies were subsidized by the government.
16. The girl decided that she would adhere ... a classical style of dressing; she thought it suited her better.
17. Those who win scholarships from the British Council are usually entitled ... half a year abroad.
18. Ruth remembered the day when she met Richard Hirst ... the rest of her life.
19. The girl's talks always consisted ... stories, reminiscences and gossip.
20. Richard congratulated all students ... all possible occasions, as he was a student counsellor.
Exercise 10
Find in the text sentences with the words or expressions given below, translate them into Russian and ask your classmates to translate them back into English.
To be on a grant; a hall of residence; greed for books; elaborate notes; to be well received; a tutorial; a seminar; the second year; the subject for one's dissertation; postgraduate work; to work on one's thesis; to examine; winning the scholarship; by training; an undergraduate; to stay up for two whole nights; to absorb; to report back.
Exercise 11
Explain in what connection the following sentences and phrases occur in the text.
1. She was now able to feed and clothe herself.
2. She was not on a grant.
3. The greed for books was still with her.
4. She was never happier than when taking notes.
5. Her essays were well received.
6. She found a style to which she would adhere for the rest of her life.
7. It was more of a home than home had been for a very long time.
8. She had found her way to Ruth unerringly.
9. Each was secretly bored.
10. Her exigent temperament required immediate results.
11. A restlessness came over Ruth.
12. She was lonely.
13. Ruth took some ofAnthea's advice.
14. Her looks were beside the point.
15. She was in love with Richard Hirst.
16. Richard was famous on at least three counts.
17. There seemed to be no end to the amount of bad news he could absorb.
18. She thought him exemplary.
19. The race for virtue was on.
Exercise 12
Read and translate. Use the italicized structures in sentences of your own.
1. There would be lectures until lunch time. She would reach home at about ten. She would take a walk in the evening streets. She would anxiously examine her hair. Richard would devote three days a week to answering the telephone.
2. Ruth was not used to the idea that friends do not always please.
3. Needing a foil or acolyte for her flirtatious popularity, she had found her way to Ruth unerringly; Ruth, needing the social protection of a glamorous friend, was grateful.
4. She seemed to have been eating the same food, tracing the same steps for far too long. He never seemed to eat.
Exercise 13
Work in pairs. Fill in the gap in the dialogue frame with phrases from the list below. Express surprise, annoyance, disagreement. Give your reasons.
— Why don't you ... ?
work in the library, read through your meals, live in the hall of residence, share a flat with five others, go out, choose the subject for your dissertation, do your postgraduate work in America, work on your thesis, take notes in different-coloured ball-point pens, feed and clothe yourself, fall in love, devote three days a week to studying English, take some of somebody's advice, win the scholarship, find a flat for yourself, stay up for whole nights reading up for exams, congratulate somebody on winning the scholarship, find a style to which you would adhere for the rest of your life.
Possible responses:
So what?
Why should I?
What's the use of ...ing?
Don't you think it's silly?
You don't say so!
You must be joking!
You can't be serious!
Exercise 14
Make up dialogues that could take place and dramatize them in class.
1. between Ruth and Richard at the refectory, where he took her for lunch after having congratulated her on winning the scholarship;
2. between Ruth and her friend Anthea, beginning with 'But don't you ever go out, Ruth?';
3. between Ruth and Anthea, when Anthea is persuading Ruth to find a flat for herself;
4. between Ruth and one of her neighbours in the house where she lived;
5. between Ruth and some student or students after the seminar in the Common Room.
Exercise 15
Speak of Ruth's college life:
1. in the third person;
2. in the person of Ruth;
3. in the person of her friend Anthea.
Exercise 16
Discussion points.
1. What can you say about Ruth's personality? Prove it.
2. What do you think of her friend Anthea?
3. Why did Ruth take some ofAnthea's advice?
4. What kind of person was Richard, in your opinion?
5. What does the last but one phrase "The race for virtue was on" mean? Comment upon it.
6. Which character do you like most? Why?
Exercise 17
Comment on the following words of the author.
'Balzac teaches the supreme effectiveness of bad behaviour ...'
'... friends do not always please.'
'... she was attractive enough for a clever woman ...'
Exercise 18
Act out the following mini-dialogues substituting phrases from the lists for the ones in italics.
1. — Where do you' study?
— I study at the Неrzeп State Pedagogical University of Russia, St.Petersburg.2
' does he, does she
2 the Institute of Foreign Languages, the philological faculty, the faculty of oriental languages
2. — What's your favourite subject?
— I like English1 most of all.
' Linguistics, Latin, Psychology, Literature, Philosophy, British Studies, American Studies, Methods of Teaching English, History of the Language, Grammatical Theory
3. — What subjects do you take for the first year1?
— If we speak about English, it is mainly Phonetics and Grammar.2
1 the second year, the third year, the fourth year, the fifth year
2 Conversation, Written Composition, Translation, Home Reading, Analytical Reading, Close Reading, Business English
4. — What is David good1 at?
— He is good at writing essays.2
1 clever,poor
2 memorizing foreign words, doing grammar exercises, reciting poems, writing accurate translations, giving talks
5. — Can you help me with grammar1?
— Certainty.2
1pronunciation, the text, the exercise, spelling
2 Of course. I can. No doubt I can. You are welcome.
6. — Why didn't you attend the previous lesson in English1?
— The thing is that I was not well.2
1 lecture on Literature, lecture on Linguistics, seminar on political economy, seminar on psychology
2 was late for it, didn't know about it.
7. — What mark did you get for your composition1?
— I was given an excellent mark.2
1 translation, test, examination
2 a good mark, a satisfactory mark, a bad mark
8. — Where can I find the Dean1?
— He is probably in the Dean's ofice.2
1 the English teacher, the tutor, the lecturer
2 the staff room, the lecture room, the faculty office
9. — What are you going to do tomorrow morning1?
— I think I'll be reading up/or the exam.2
1in the afternoon, tonight
2writing an essay, reading up for the seminar, revising for the test, preparing for my class
Exercise 19
The curriculum at the faculty of foreign languages consists of several subjects which all students must study. Make a list of these subjects. In class speak about your favourites and the ones you dislike(d). Explain to your partners why you enjoy(ed) or don't (didn't) enjoy them.
Exercise 20
When do we say the following about people? Give answers, using the pattern.
► Pattern: She never misses classes.
We say, 'She never misses classes' if she attends classes regularly.
1. Nick has a good command of English.
2. Richard has done well in his exams.
3. Donna lags behind the group.
4. Brenda keeps up with the rest of the group.
5. Susan has failed in her exam.
6. Ray is burning the midnight oil.
7. Sara can't learn English just by picking it up.
8. David and Steve never disrupt classes.
9. Max never cribs at exams.
10. Brandon lacks fluency.
11. Helen is fond of playing truant.
Exercise 21
Name at least two or three situations that cause you feel the emotions listed below.
► Pattern: I find talking about things that don't interest me boring.
Ifind writing long tests annoying.
boring — attending lectures (seminars, classes)
embarrassing — taking notes
depressing — reading up (for)
confusing — making reports
exciting — writing essays
annoying — doing one's homework
worrying — correcting mistakes
amusing — translating from Russian into English (from English into Russian)
— rendering texts
— doing exercises
— listening to the tapes
— transcribing and intoning
— working on one's thesis
— participating in class
— missing classes
— disrupting classes
— coming late to one's classes (lectures, exams)
— cheating (in exams and tests)
— taking examinations
— failing examinations
— retaking examinations
Continue the list. Compare your answers with those of other students in the class. Discuss these situations and the feelings they cause. Also discuss what activities you think difficult and what — easy.
Exercise 22
Complain about some things or activities at college (at the university) that annoy you. Talk about something that you do not enjoy. Explain why.Work in pairs.
► Use:
For complaining:
I'm beginning to get rather tired of...
I've had (I have) a lot of trouble with ...
The trouble with ... is that...
I'm sick and tired of...
They should/ought to ...
I'm not at all satisfied with ...
For agreement:For disagreement:
Yes, it is a problem, isn't it?Really? I can't say I've
Yes, it can be a problem,particularly noticed that...
can't it?I can see what you mean but..
I think I can understandOh, come on, it isn't that bad.
how you feel.
Yes, I know what you mean.
Exercise 23
Speak in class what you feel when:
you get a bad mark; you fall (lag) behind the group; you fail (in) an examination; you read up for an examination late at night; you miss classes; you come late to classes; you keep up with the rest of the group; you catch up with the rest; you have to retake an examination; you work in the library at the weekend; you work on your dissertation on holiday; you spend sleepless nights over a load of books; you look up every word in your dictionary when reading an English book; you are not prepared for the class; you are given virtually no time to digest and remember several chapters; the telephone rings while you are doing your homework; your essay is well-received; another student cheats at an examination or test.
► Patterns: I feel like a failure when I fall behind the group.
I feel pleased/confused/bored, etc. when I catch up with the rest.
Exercise 24
Guess what the people in the picture feel and why. Use the topical vocabulary.
► Patterns: He looks satisfied. He must have got a good mark.
She looks bored. She must be listening to a boring lecture.
Exercise 25
Translate into English.
1. Она поступила в университет прошлым летом и закончит его только через четыре года.
2. Лучше не пропускать занятия, а то можно быстро отстать от группы. Хорошо известно, что нагонять всегда сложнее.
3. Все студенты в группе получили зачёт по языкознанию. Это было серьёзное испытание.
4. Мой любимый предмет, конечно же, английский. А ещё мне нравятся страноведение Великобритании и США.
5. Я не очень люблю писать диктанты и изложения, но понимаю, что это необходимо для приобретения навыков письменной речи.
6. Расписание составляется таким образом, чтобы лекции чередовались с практическими занятиями.
7. Староста нашей группы получила стипендию от Британского Совета. Она будет учиться в Лондонском университете и одновременно писать дипломную работу.
8. Не думаю, что, готовясь к экзаменам, имеет смысл всю ночь не ложиться спать. Эффект от такой подготовки может быть обратный.
9. Больше всего я боюсь провалить экзамен по психологии, поэтому стараюсь всё выучить почти наизусть.
10. В штате преподавателей у нас три профессора, четыре доцента, пять старших преподавателей и семь ассистентов.
11. Проверяя контрольные работы, преподаватель отмечает ошибки на полях.
12. В эту сессию будет один письменный и два устных зачёта, а также четыре экзамена.
13. В начале года в деканате всем первокурсникам выдали студенческие билеты и зачётные книжки.
14. Когда я начинаю делать домашнее задание, то долго не могу сконцентрироваться на работе — меня постоянно что-то отвлекает.