Approaching the Topic

Read, intone and learn by heart the following text about the Priestleys:

Mr. Priestley is not a young man, but he is not old. He is about forty-four years old. He is a good-looking man, tall, handsome, rather thin with dark-brown hair just beginning to go grey. He is always very well-dressed, but quietly in good taste. He usually wears suits of dark brown, dark blue or dark grey.

He speaks quietly and pleasantly but there is strength under his quietness, and every student in his class knows this. He is quiet and pleasant because he is strong. Strength is generally quiet; weakness often is not.

Mrs. Priestley is a pleasant-looking woman of about forty, with warm brown hair and soft dark-brown eyes. She is kind and gentle.

The Priestleys have two children, John and Margaret. John is eighteen, six foot tall, and a fine manly fellow. He is strong both in body and character, and intelligent like his father.

Margaret is only eleven. She is a lovely little girl with golden hair and dark blue eyes and a spirit that is always bright and happy, full of joy and gaiety.

Answer the questions on the text:

1. Is Mr. Priestley a middle-aged man?

2. Has he good looks?

3. What does he look like?

4. What kind of clothes does he prefer to wear?

5. Mr. Priestley lacks taste absolutely, doesn’t he?

6. What makes a person strong?

7. Is Mr. Priestley a strong-willed personality?

8. Are husband and wife the same age?

9. What are Mrs. Priestley’s traits of character?

10. Can you call her pretty?

11. How many children are there in the family? Who are they?

12. How old are the children?

13. What is John like?

14. Do you like Margaret’s appearance?

15. Do you think the family is united?

Reading Skills

Retell the texts below paying special attention to the descriptions of people’s appearance.

1.

Aunt Emily

Of all my relatives, I like my Aunt Emily the best. She’s my mother’s youngest sister. She has never married, and lives alone in a small village near Bath. She’s in her late fifties, but she’s quite young in spirit. She has a fair complexion, thick brown hair which she wears in a bun, and dark brown eyes. She has a kind face, and when you meet her, the first thing you notice is her smile. Her face is a little wrinkled now, but I think she is still rather attractive. She is the sort of person you can always go to if you have a problem.

She likes reading and gardening, and she still goes for long walks over the hills. She’s a very active person. Either she’s making something, or mending something, or doing something to entertain herself. She’s extremely generous, but not very tolerant with people who don’t agree with her. I hope I’m as contented as she is when I’m her age.

2.

The colonel [3kc:ncl] is a fine-looking man. His hair is white. So is his moustache. His face is cleanly shaven showing a bronzed complexion. The expression of his face is kind though firm.

The colonel has three sons. Basil, the eldest of the boys, is seventeen years of age. He is a fine-looking lad though not handsome. He looks very brave and strong. His hair is straight and black. He is, in fact, the son of his father.

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 1413