Text 17

Переведите текст, уделяя особое внимание модальным глаголам и их эквивалентам.

What I require from life

(by J. B. S. Haldane, 1940, an abstract)

I have got to accept the universe as it is. I must not require the impossible, and I shall do harm rather than good if I try to imagine perfect beings in a perfect world. But given the world as it is, I can say what I may reasonably hope both for myself and for others.

I was born in a peaceful age, and in my youth I looked forward to a life of peace. Since 1914 I see no prospect of surviving into another epoch of peace and quiet. So I must try to make the best of the time in which I live. What do I ask for myself? I assume that I have food, water, clothes, and shelter.

First, work, and a decent wage for my work. Aristotle defined happiness not as a sum of pleasures, but as unimpeded (continuous) activity... I want work which is hard but interesting, work of which l can see the fruits. I am exceptionally lucky because I can choose my work to a large extent. If I want a respite from science I can go and be a war correspondent, or write children's stories, or make political speeches.

I require health. I don't mind an occasional toothache or headache, or even an acute illness every seven years or so. But I want to be fit for work and enjoyment in the intervals, and to die when I can work no longer.

I require friendship. Particularly I require the friendship of my colleagues and comrades in scientific and political work. I want the society of equals who will criticize me, and whom I can criticize. I cannot be friends with a person whose orders I have to obey without criticism before and after, or with one who has to obey my orders in a similar way. And I find friendship with people much richer or poorer than myself very difficult.

КОММЕНТАРИЙ К ТЕКСТУ

have got to = have to — эквивалент модального глагола must со значением вынужден. Есть различие в использовании этих двух форм:

to have to используется, когда говорится о повторяющемся, обычном действии (I often have to travel on business — Мне часто приходится ездить в командировки);

to have got to — когда говорится об одиночном, конкретном действии (I have got to get up early tomorrow — Мне придется встать рано завтра)

given the world as it is — если принимать мир таким, какой он есть

to look forward to — (очень сильно) надеяться

quiet [kwaɪət] — спокойный, тихий (Keep quiet — Не шумите!), скромный, спокойный (a quiet wedding — скромная свадьба). Не путайте со словом quite [kwaɪt] — вполне, совершенно, совсем, довольно (I quite agree with you — Я вполне согласна с вами)

to make the best of — использовать наилучшим способом, мириться с чем-либо (Блок 19)

don't mind — ничего не имею против (Блок 48)

Урок 12

Грамматика

Вопросительная форма сказуемого (§71)

Общие вопросы (§ 72)

Специальные вопросы (§ 73)

Контрольные тексты

Text 18. Some practical techniques for clear thinking

Text 19. The important capabilities concerning the communication

mechanism