Тексты домашнего чтения по английскому с упражнениями

СБОРНИК ТЕКСТОВ

ДЛЯ ДОМАШНЕГО ЧТЕНИЯ

Составители: СОЛОВЬЕВА Т.И.
Студентки ФНО 222 группы:

КГПУ
ПЕТРОЗАВОДСК
2002

Пособие предназначено для домашнего чтения
студентов неязыковых факультетов.
В пособие включены рассказы известных американских и
английских писателей. Задача этого пособия — помочь
студентам получить знания английского языка. В наиболее
интересной и доступной форме. После каждого рассказа
имеется послетекстовый словарь с переводом слов,
приводятся подготовительные упражнения для
активизации лексики, условий речи и речевые упражнения
(вопросно-ответное обсуждения рассказов, выражения
согласия или несогласия, пересказ содержания рассказов от
имени действующих лиц), обеспечивает развитие умений
чтения и говорения.
В пособии используются интересные по содержанию и
доступные по форме рассказы известных американских и
английских авторов. Упражнения, предлагаемые после
текстов, позволяют организовывать последовательную
работу над лексикой, обеспечить контроль понимания
текста и дальнейшее развитие умений говорения на основе
текстов. Пособие может быть использовано на 1-2 курсах
неязыковых факультетов.

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dog and three dollars
(after Mark Twain).

I have always believed that a man must be honest. “Never ask for money you haven’t
earned”, I always said.
Now I shall tell you a story which will show you how honest I have always been all my
life.
A few days ago at my friend’s I met General Miles. General Miles was a nice man and
we became great friends very quickly.
“Did you live in Washington in 1867?”, the General asked me. “Yes, I did”, I
answered.
“How could so happen that we didn’t meet then?” said General Miles.
“General”, said I, “ we could meet then, you forget that you were a great general then,
and I was a poor young writer whom nobody knew and whose books nobody read”.
“You do not remember me”, I thought, “but we met In Washington at that time.
I remember it very well. I was poor then and very often I did not have money even for
my bread. I had a friend. He was a poor writer too. We lived together. We did everything
together: worked, read books, went for walks together. And then we were hungry, we were
both hungry.
Once we were in need of three dollars. I don’t remember why we needed these dollars
so much, but I remember that we had to have three dollars by the evening.
“We must get these three dollars”, said my friend, “I shall try get the money, but you
must also try”.
I went out of the house, but I did not know where to go and how to get the three dollars.
For one hour I was walking along the streets of Washington and was very tired. At last I
came to a big hotel. “I shall go in and have a rest”, I thought.
I went into the hall of the hotel and sat down on a sofa. I was sitting there when a
beautiful small dog ran into the hall. It was looking for somebody. The dog was nice and I
had nothing to do, so I called it and began to play with it. I was playing with the dog when
a man came into the hall. He wore a beautiful uniform and I knew at once that he was
General Miles. I knew him by the pictures in the newspapers. “What a beautiful dog”, said
he. “It is your dog?”
I did not have time to answer him when he said: “Do you want to sell it?”
When I heard these words I thought about my friend and the three dollars which I had
to get. “Well, I… I think …”
“Good”, said the General. “How much do you want for it ?”
“Three dollars” I answered at once.
“Three dollars?” he asked. “But it is very little. I can give fifty dollars for it”. “No, no. I
only want three dollars”. “Well, it’s your dog. If you want three dollars for it, I shall be –
glad to by your dog.”
General Miles paid me three dollars, took the dog , and went up to his room.
Ten minutes later an old man came into the hall. He looked round the hall. I could see
that he was looking for something. “Are you looking for a dog, sir?” I asked . “Oh, yes.
Have you seen it? Said the man. “Your dog was here a few minutes ago and I saw how it
went away with a man”, I said. “If you want, I shall try to find it for you”. The man was
very happy and asked me to help him. “I shall be glad to help you, but it will take some of
my time and…”
“I am ready to pay you for you time”, cried the man. “How much do you want for it?”
“Three dollars.”, I answered.
“Three dollars?”, said the man, “but it is very good dog. I shall pay you ten dollars if
you find it for me”.

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“No, sir. I want three dollars and not a dollar more”, I said. Then I went to General
Mile’s room. The General was playing with his new book.
“I came here to take the dog back”, said I.
“But it is not your dog now. I have bought it. I have paid you three dollars for it”, said
the General.
“I shall give you back your three dollars, but I must take the dog.”
“But you have sold it to me, it is my dog now”.
“I could not sell it to you, sir, because it was not my dog”.
“Do you want to tell me that you took three dollars for a dog that was not yours” cried
the General.
“I took the money, but I never said that it was my dog. You asked me how much I
wanted for the dog, and I said that I wanted three dollars. But I never told you it was my
dog”. General Miles was very angry now.
“Give me back my three dollars and take the dog back”, he shouted.
When I brought the dog back to its master, he was very happy and paid me three dollars
with joy. I was happy too because I had the money, and I felt that I earned it.
Now you can see why I say that honesty is the best policy and that a man must never
take anything that a man must never take anything that he has not earned.

Vocabulary
honest честный
poor бедный
enough достаточно
together вместе
try пробовать, пытаться
along вдоль
be tired быть усталым
at last наконец
look round осматривать
ready готов
bring (brought, brought) приносить
feel (felt, felt) чувствовать
honestly честность
policy политика

Exercises
I.Найдите в тексте и выпишите английские эквиваленты следующих слов и
словосочетаний:
честный; просить; зарабатывать; всю жизнь; несколько дней тому назад;
подружиться; случаться; забыть; встретить однажды; иметь достаточно денег;
нуждаться; попытаться достать (деньги); отдохнуть; сесть на диван; понять сразу; по
фотографии; продать; купить; (за)платить; старик; быть готовым; ни долларом
больше; забрать (взять обратно); рассердиться; с радость; лучшая политика.

II.Закончите следующие предложения из текста:
1. I have always believed that…
2. Never ask for money…
3. General Miles was a nice man and we…
4. How could it happen that…
5. I went out of the house…

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6. I was sitting where when…
7. When we were hungry…
8. I knew at once that…
9. If you want three dollars for it…
10. I could not sell it to you, because…
11. When I brought the dog back to its master…
12. I was happy too because…

III.Переведите следующие предложения на английский язык. Переведённые
предложения сверьте с текстом:
1. Несколько дней назад в доме моего друга я познакомился с генералом
Майлзом.
2. Генерал Майлз был приятным человеком, и вскоре мы стали большими
друзьями.
3. Как могло случиться, что мы не встретились тогда?
4. Я был бедным молодым писателем, которого никто не знал и чьи книги
никто не читал.
5. Мы всё делали вместе: работали, читали книги, гуляли вместе.
6. Когда мы голодали, мы голодали оба.
7. Я не помню, почему нам нужны были эти доллары, но я помню, что мы
должны были достать их к вечеру.
8. Я вышел из дома, но я не знал, куда идти и как достать эти три доллара.
9. Я играл с собакой, когда в холл вошёл какой-то человек.
10. “Какая красивая собака”,- сказал он.
11. Когда я привёл собаку её хозяину, он был очень рад и с радостью заплатил
мне три доллара.

IV.Воспроизведите части текста (ситуации), в которых употреблены
следующие слова и словосочетания в качестве ключевых. Не ограничивайтесь
только этими словами:

1. a few days ago, a nice man, became grate friends, how could it happen, you
forget, a great general, a poor young writer, we met once in Washington.
2. poor, did not have enough money, a friend, lived together, we were both hungry,
in need of three dollars, I don’t remember, by the evening, you must also try, I
did not know where to go.
3. for an hour, I came to a big hotel, A sofa, a beautiful small dog, I had nothing to
do, I was paying, wore a beautiful uniform, by the pictures, is it your dog, I did
not have tome, I heard these words, how much do you want, very little, fifty
dollars, I shall be glad.
4. an old man, he looked round the hall, are you looking for a dog, a few minutes
ago, it went away, to find it, happy, I shall be glad, some of my time, to pay you
for you time, ten dollars, not a dollar more.
5. the General was playing, to take the dog back, not your dog, I have paid, I
shall give you back,
not my dog, I never told you, very angry, give me back, happy, he paid me, I
was happy too.

V.Выразите согласие или несогласие со следующими утверждениями.
1. General miles was a nice man.

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2. General Miles and the author did not meet in Washington.
3. The author was a poor young writer whom nobody knew.
4. The author and his friends were in need of a large sum of money.
5. They knew there to get the money.
6. The dog was nice, and the author called it and began to play with it.
7. General Miles wore in beautiful uniform and the author knew him at once.
8. General Miles paid three dollars, took the dog and went, up to his room.
9. The author took the money, but he never told General Miles that it was his dog.
10. General Miles was not angry at all when the author came to take the dog back.
11. The author was happy because he had the money, and he felt that he had earned
it.

VI. Ответьте на вопросы. Старайтесь не смотреть в текст:
1. Did the author live in Washington in 1867?
2. Why did General Miles forget that they met in Washington?
3. Did the author meet General Miles in Washington/
4. How did the author and his friend live in Washington?
5. How much money did they need?
6. Did the author know where and how to get the money?
7. Where did the author see the dog?
8. Why did the author know General Miles?
9. Why did General Miles want to buy the dog?
10. Did he pay fifty dollars for a dog?
11. Did he want to give the dog back?
12. Why was the author happy when he got the 3 dollars?

VII. Перескажите текст:
1. от имени автора (используя упр.III)
2. от имени генерала Майлза;
3. от имени хозяина собаки.

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Too well

(after O’Henry)

Miss Rouse Carrington was a famous actress. She began her life in a little village
named Cranberry. But that was long ago. Now she was at the height of her fame, and in
the coming season was to perform the leading part in a newly-written comedy. But was to
perform the male character in the play?
One day a capable young actor by the name of Highsmith called on Mr. Timothy
Goldstein, the manager. Highsmith dreamed of being Miss Carrington’s partner in the new
play.
“My boy”, said the Goldstein, “take the part if you con get it. Miss Carrington does not
want to listen to any my suggestions. She say’s that all our best actors won’t do. You
know it is the part of a young farmer. She wants something genuine, a real imitation of
county manners. If you want to play the part, you must convince Miss Carrington. I wish
you luck, my boy”.
Next day Highsmith took the train for Cranberry. He remained there for three days. He
found Miss Carrington’s family and collected many facts concerning life and people at
Cranberry. Then he returned to the city.
That same night a small party was sitting at a table in one of the restaurants where
actors used to gather when performance was over. The star of that small party was Miss
Carrington – gay , happy, at the height of her fame.
At half past twelve a plain-dressed flaxen-haired youth entered the restaurant. He
seemed very shy and awkward. The moment he entered he upset a chair, and sat
awkwardly in another one. He looked shyly around, and then suddenly saw Miss
Carrington. He rose and went to her table with a shining smile on his face.
“How are you, Miss Rose?”, he said. “Don’t you remember me—Bill Summers—the
Summers that lived near the blacksmith’s shop? I think I have grown a little since you left
Cranberry. Eliza Perry told me I might see you in the city while I was here”, he went on,
“You know, Eliza married Benny, and she says…”
“You don’t say so!” interrupted Miss Carrington. “Eliza Perry is married!”
“She married in June”, Grinned the young man, “and the youngest of the Walton girls
ran away with a music teacher last arch. Matilda Hockins died from pricking her finger
with a needle, and Tom is courting Sally”.
“You don’t say so!”, exclaimed Miss Carrington. “Excuse me a while, gentlemen, this
is an old friend of mine. Come here, Mr.… What is your name? Oh, yes, Mr. Summers—I
shall call you Billy, may I? Come here Billy, and tell me some more”.
She led him to an isolated table in a corner. She sat down in front of him and laid her
chin upon her hands.
“I don’t recollect any Bill Summers”, she said thoughtfully, gazing straight into the
innocent blue eyes of the rustic young man.
“Miss Rouse”, said he “I called on your family just two or three days ago”.
“How is ma?” asked Miss Carrington.
Highsmith understood that a bit of pathos was necessary.
“She is older than she was, Miss Rouse. When I saw her last she was sitting at the door
and looking at the road.
“Billy”, she said, ”I’m waiting for Rosie. She went away down that road and something
tells me that she will come back that way again.” When I was leaving”, the young man

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went on, “I took this rose from a bush by the front door, I thought I might see you in the
city and I knew that you would like to have something from Cranberry”.
Miss Carrington took the rose with a smile, and got up. “Come to the hotel and see me
before you leave city”, she said. “I’m awfully glad to see you. Well, good night. I’m a
little tired. It’s tune to go to bed”. When she had left the restaurant, Highsmith approached
Goldstein, the manager.
“It was a brilliant idea”, said the smiling actor, “I’m sure I shall get the part in that play.
Miss Carrington will have to confess that my performance was genuine, and that I was a
good actor.”
“I didn’t hear your conversation”, said Goldstein, “but your make up and acting were
O.K. Here’s to your success! Call on Miss Carrington early tomorrow, tell her all, and I
hope that she will agree to take you as her partner in the play”.
Next morning Mr. Highsmith, handsome, dressed in the latest fashion, called on Miss
Carrington at the hotel. “Is Miss Carrington at home?” he asked the maid.
“Miss Carrington has left,” the maid answered, “and will not come back. She has
cancelled all her engagements on the stage, and has returned to live in that—what do you
call that village? Oh, yes,— Cranberry”.
Highsmith understood that he had acted too well.

Vocabulary
Village деревня
at the height на вершине, в
зените
leading part главная роль
male мужской
character персонаж, роль
capable способный
suggestion предложение
genuine искренний,
настоящий
real настоящий
imitation подражание
country manners деревенские
манеры
black smith’s shop кузнеца
since с тех пор
marry жениться, выйти
замуж
grin ухмыляться
needle иголка
court ухаживать
isolated отдельный,
изолированный
innocent невинный,
наивный
brilliant блестящий
maid горничная
cancel аннулировать
engagement ангажемент
stage сцена

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Exercises

I. Найдите в тексте и выпишите английские эквиваленты к этим словам и
словосочетаниям:
Знаменитая актриса; в расцвете славы; предстоящий сезон; главная роль;
мужской персонаж; по имени; мечтал стать партнёром; настоящее подражание;
деревенские манеры; обычно собирались; просто одетый; он казался застенчивым и
неуклюжим; деревенский; “не может быть”; три дня назад; уезжать из города.

II.Проверьте себя, правильно ли вы запомнили рассказ. Закончите эти
предложения в соответствии с текстом (при групповом занятии – устно):
1. She began her life…
2. One day a capable young actor…
3. She wants something…
4. Next day Highsmith…
5. The same night a small party…
6. The moment he entered…
7. Eliza Perry told me…
8. She led him to an isolated table…
9. When I saw her last she …
10. When I was leaving, I…
11. Come to the hotel and…
12. It was a brilliant idea…

III.Перескажите части текста, используя эти слова и словосочетания в
качестве ключевых:
1. a famous actress; to perform the leading part; dreamed of being Miss
Carrington partner; must convince; collected many facts; returned to the city.
2. Used to gather; the star of that small party; a plain-dressed flaxen-hair youth;
upset a chair; “how are you?”; I have grown a little; “you don’t say so”; an old
friend of mine; an isolated table.
3. Recollect’ I called on your family; ma; was sitting at the door; I am waiting for;
I took this rose from a bush; a little tired; a brilliant idea; she will have to
confess; she didn’t guess; he called on Miss Carrington; she will agree;
handsome; cancelled all her engagements; Highsmith understood.

IV. Выразите согласие или несогласие со следующими утверждениями. При
необходимости исправьте неверные варианты. Используйте выражения:
I’m afraid that’s wrong. Боюсь, что это неверно.
That’s not quite true to the fact. Это не совсем соответствует факту.
That’s (quite) right. Совершенно верно.
According o the story… Согласно рассказу…

1. Miss Carrington lived in a small town named Cranberry.
2. She was a good actress, and she wanted to play a leading part in a newly written
comedy.

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3. Highsmith, the young actor, was to perform the male character in the play.
4. Highsmith collected many facts concerning life and the people at the village where
he lived.
5. At half past twelve a young handsome man entered the restaurant.
6. “I’m Mr. Highsmith”,- the plain-dressed youth said to Miss Rosie.
7. “When I was leaving “,- the young man went on,- “your mother took tills rose
from a bush by the front door”.
8. Next morning Mr. Highsmith called on Miss Carrington at her hotel.

V.Ответьте на вопросы. Старайтесь не смотреть в текст:
1. What was Miss Carrington by profession?
2. Where did she begin her life?
3. Was she a good or a bad actress?
4. What part did she to perform in the coming season?
5. Who called on Mr. Goldstein one day?
6. What did Mr. Highsmith dream of?
7. To whose suggestions didn’t Miss Carrington want to listen?
8. What sort of part was it?
9. What did Miss Carrington want?
10. Where did Mr. Highsmith go next day?
11. How long did he remain at Cranberry?
12. What facts did he collect where?
13. Where was a small party of actors sitting when the performance was over?
14. Was Miss Carrington among them?
15. Who entered the restaurant at half past twelve?
16. What was the youth like?
17. What did he do as sat down in a chair?
18. Whom did he “suddenly” see?
19. By what name did he introduce himself?
20. Was Miss Carrington interested in the news from Cranberry?
21. Did she recollect Bill Summers?
22. Whom Miss Carrington asks about?
23. What did Mr. Highsmith understand at that moment?
24. What did he say about her mother?
25. Why did a young man take the rose?
26. Did Miss Carrington ask a young man to come and see her?
27. Whom did Highsmith approach when Miss Carrington had left the restaurant?
28. What did Mr. Goldstein say about his acting?
29. Was Miss Carrington at the hotel next morning?
30. Where had she gone?
31. What did Highsmith understand then?

VI.Перескажите текст:
1. от имени автора;
2. от имени Хайсмита;
3. от имени Роузи Каррингтон, актрисы.

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