Jack london

Ex. 1. Read the story attentively to find out the reply of Jack London.

Jack London and the Editor

Jack London was late in delivering a story, which he promised a New York magazine.

The editor, after repeated efforts to get the story, at last called at London’s hotel and sent up the following note:

“Dear Jack London, if I don’t receive the story within twenty-four hours, I’ll come up to your room and kick you downstairs, and I always keep my promises.”

Jack London replied: “Dear Dick, if…”

Ex.2. Compare your variant to your classmates’. Which variant is the best?

Ex.3. Consult the key and find out which variant is closest to the original.

Ex.4. Read the story again and answer the following questions:

1. What made the editor send such a note?

2. Did the editor joke or was he serious?

Ex.5. Imagine some previous (further) conversations between the editor and the writer:

1. dialogues;

2. monologues.

…

Ex.6. If you put the words in the correct order you’ll get the names of two works by Jack London.

Eden, love, life, Martin, of.

Ex.7. Do these two works have anything to do with humour?

Ex.8. Find [2, 3 …] humorous stories about Jack London.

Try to do your best to attract the classmates’ attention, telling them

1. in detail;

2. in short.

…

Balzac1

Ex.1. Read the story attentively to find out the purpose of the lady’s visit.

A Story about Balzac

The name of Balzac, the famous French writer, is well known all over the world. He is the author of many novels, which are translated into almost all European languages. His novels are translated into Russian, too. They enjoy great popularity.

There are many stories about Balzac, his life and his adventures. But very few people know that Balzac was fond of telling a person’s character by his handwriting. He was very fond of his ability and often boasted of it among his friends.

Among his friends there was a lady who wanted to play a joke on the famous writer. One day she brought him an exercises-book of a boy. She asked him to tell her what he thought of the boy’s character. She also added that the boy was not her son so Balzac should not be afraid to tell the truth.

Balzac was glad to show his ability again and began to study the handwriting. He worked very hard and at last he came to the conclusion that the boy was bad and lazy. He told it to the lady.

The lady smiled and said: “My dear friend, this is a page from your own exercise-book which you used when you were a boy.”

Balzac….

Ex.2. Read the story again. Supply the end of the story.

Ex.3. Compare your variant to your classmates’. Analyze them.

Ex.4. Consult the key and say which variant is the closest to the original.

Ex.5. Read another variant of the same story “Balzac as a Handwriting Expert”. Does it contain new information?

Balzac as a Handwriting Expert

Balzac, the famous French writer, was a man of great talent. But he himself was proud of his ability to tell a person’s character by his or her handwriting. He often told his friends that he could tell anybody’s character exactly by his handwriting.

One day a woman friend brought him a young boy’s exercise book. She said that she wanted to know what Balzac thought of the boy’s character.

Balzac studied the handwriting carefully for a few minutes. The woman, however, told him that the boy was not her son and that he might tell her the truth.

“All right,” said Balzac. “I shall tell you the truth.” And he said that the boy was a bad, lazy fellow.

“It is very strange”, said the woman smiling. “This is a page from your own exercise book, which you used when you were a boy.”

Ex.6. Read both stories about Balzac attentively again and

1. try to classify the information:

Common facts	Different facts
…	…

2. pay special attention to different means of expressing the same thought (на разные языковые средства выражения одной и той же мысли).

Ex.7. Can YOU tell a person’s character by his or her handwriting?

Ex.8. What can YOU tell about Yourself by your handwriting?

Ex.9. Read the story attentively to find out

1. what made Balzac laugh so loudly;

2. why the thief was not afraid at hearing a loud laugh from the owner of the flat.

…