I. Read the stories and write out.

Pamela Lyndon Travers

Travers, P. L. (born Aug. 9, 1899, Maryborough, Queen., Australia,
died April 23, 1996, London, Eng.) in full Pamela Lyndon Travers, original nameHelen Lyndon Goff, Australian-born English writer known for her Mary Poppins books, which have been translated into more than 20 languages and were the basis for the successful motion picture Mary Poppins (1964).

Travers went to England in 1924 and became a dancer and actress, appearing mostly in plays of William Shakespeare. She also worked as a journalist and became friendly with the poets William Butler Yeats and AE (George William Russell), with whom she shared an interest in myth. AE published some of her poems in The Irish Statesman. Her first book, Mary Poppins (1934), about a magical, good-hearted, and exceedingly efficient nanny, was an immediate success. Two years later, after she began writing sequels, Travers decided to write full-time. She traveled throughout Europe and the United States lecturing and gaining new material for her stories. From 1965 to 1971 she served as writer-in-residence at such colleges as Radcliffe, Smith, and Scripps. She later served as a contributing editor (1976–96) to Parabola, a journal on myth and mythology. Later works include several travel books and a collection of essays, What the Bee Knows: Reflections on Myth, Symbol and Story (1989).

Assignment I

(Stories 1, 2)

I. Read the proper names:

Mary Poppins, Mr and Mrs Banks, Jane, Michael, Barbara, John, Katie Nanna, Admiral Boom, Ben, Herbert Alfred, Cinderella, Robinson Crusoe, Mrs Brill, Ellen, Robertson Ay.

II. Translate and transcribe the words given below:

dilapidated, lopsided, queue, absent-minded, threepenny-bits, bang, old-fashioned, bother, gracefully, banisters, disobey, smack, miraculous, fierce, haughtily, tiptoe, stodgy, grasshoppers, cloak, crumbs, farewell, contemptu­ously, superior, sniff, cot, cork.

III. Learn the active vocabulary. Reproduce the situations with the given phrases:

to follow smb's directions (4)

to come to the conclusion (that) (4)

to advertise (to put an advertisement in smth) (4)

warning (to warn smb of smth.) (4)

to spare money (5)

to provide a reference for smb (5)

to wipe one's nose (7)

to undo a bag (8)

to look one's best (13)

IV. Translate into Russian, pay attention to the use of the active vocabulary:

1. I came to the conclusion that he'd been lying. 2. Her former employers have provided excellent references for her. 3. Though the concert wasn't advertised, everybody knew it would take place. 4.I tried to warn him, but he wouldn't lis­ten. 5. It took us much time to undo the bags and to put everything in their places. 6. Unfortunately I can't spare any money and buy that dictionary so far. 7. If you want to sell your old sofa, why not put an advertisement in the local paper? 8. The police are warning motorists of possible delays. 9. At the concert Julie looked her best. 10. If you follow these directions, you'll find the house very quickly. 11.Her warnings were ignored. 12. Colin, stop crying and wipe your nose. Colin! Not with your sleeve, take a handkerchief.

V. Answer the following questions on Chapter I. Use the active vocabulary:

1. Where is the house situated? Describe it.

2. How large is the Banks family? Say what impression you've got of Mr and Mrs Banks.

3. Who helps the family about the house?

4. What problem do the children's parents have to solve?

5. What was the weather like the day when Mary Poppins appeared in the house?

6. How did she appear in the house and what impression did Jane and Michael get of her?

7. What did she look like? What was surprising and wonderful about her?

8. Why was everybody glad of Mary Poppins's arrival?

VI. Render the story from Chapter 2 according to the following outline:

1. The beginning of Mary Poppins's day out (the arrangement with Mrs Banks, the way Mary looked, the direction she went).

2. Mary Poppins's meeting with the Match-Man (his two professions, the way he met Mary, the reason why they couldn't go to have tea with raspberry-jam-cakes, Mary's impression of the pictures)

3. Going to the picture (their feelings being inside the picture, changing of their appearance. Afternoon Tea, other entertainment, the reason why they had to leave the picture).

4. Mary Poppins's day out is over (their coming back, the children's questions).

VII. Translate in writing:

p.6 «Then the shape ... the whole house shook».

VIII. Read the first three paragraphs of Chapter I once more. Is it a typical begin­ning of fairy-tales? Compare it with other modern fairy-tales and write a short be­ginning of your fairy-tale.

Assignment II

(Stories 3, 4)

I. Read the stories and write out.

a) all the verbs describing movements;

b) all the words naming different sounds.

II. Learn the active vocabulary. Reproduce the situations with the given phrases:

to pay a visit to smb (21)

to be filled with (23)

to appeal to smb (27)

to get over smth (29)

to close one's eyes to smth (28)

to respect (to have respect for) (28)

can't help doing smth (37)

to blame smb (for smth) (to be to blame) (39)

III. Translate into Russian, pay attention to the use of the active vocabulary:

1. The police appealed to the crowd not to panic. 2. I don't blame you. 3. I'm filled with admiration for your bravery. 4. Our best manager will pay a visit to these customers. They are very prospective. 5. We can't help thinking he's still alive. 6. Don't tell him more than you can help. 7. If you fail the exam, you'll only have yourself to blame. 8. She can't get over her shyness. 9. Which driver was to blame for the accident? 10. She blamed him for the failure of their mar­riage. 11. The Government seems to be closing its eyes to the plight of the un­employed. 12. She burst out laughing; she couldn't help it. 13. I can't get over how much your children have grown. 14. I think the problem сan be got over without too much difficulty. 15. He never got over the shock of losing his wife. 16. I have the greatest respect for you. 17. The new officer soon earned the re­spect of his men. 18. She was in no way to blame.

IV. Read and translate into Russian:

p. 21 "Mary Poppins put her hat straight...The more Mary Poppins the better."

p. 34-35 "Andrew's most special friend ... he didn't care."

V. Answer the following questions. Use the active vocabulary:

1. What visit were Mary Poppins and the children going to pay? What made the children feel worried on their way?

2. Who opened the door? What blunder did Jane make on entering the house?

3. Where did the visitors find the host? What made him get there? Do you agree that people sometimes "catch Laughing Gas" and laugh hysterically without any reason? Has it ever happened to you or your friends?

4. How was Miss Persimmon rewarded for her scornful behavior?

5. How was Mr Wigg's birthday celebrated?

6. Why do you think the children didn't get an answer from Mary Poppins to their question?

7. What was the reason of Admiral Boom's jealousy?

8. Why was Miss Lark so offended in the case with the butcher?

9. Was Andrew's life hard on him? What was his daily routine?

10. Andrew had a secret dream. What was it about? What did it come from?

11. What can you say about Andrew's most special friend? What was his repu­tation in the street?

12. What ultimatum did Andrew deliver to Miss Lark? Was he sure of success? Why?

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1073