Vocabulary

Demand v требовать (of; from); нуждаться, e.g. This problem demands attention. He demanded from me a total obedience.

Mind n ум, e.g. Quilities of mind are important for all people.

Volitional adj волевой, e.g. This teacher is a volitional person.

Related adj относящийся, e.g. These are qualities related to every teacher.

Appearance n 1. появление, e.g. His appearance on the stage made the audience smile; 2. внешний вид, e.g. Mary’s neat and pleasant appearance attracts people’s attention; to all appearance(s) судя по всему; по-видимому, e.g. To all appearance he feels bad today.

Require v требовать, e.g. It requires careful consideration.

Character n 1. характер, e.g. a man of character; 2. фигура, личность, e.g. a bad character; a public character; traits of character черты характера, e.g. What traits of character do you appreciate in people?

Drop v бросать, e.g. She dropped the idea of being a doctor. Let’s drop the subject. You need to drop smoking.

Amiable adj дружелюбный, e.g. Every teacher should have amiable character.

Troublemaker n нарушитель порядка, e.g. I can’t do a thing with him! He is a real troublemaker.

Resent v отвергать, e.g. My children resent any advice.

Behaviour n поведение, e.g. Your behaviour leaves much to be better; to put smb on his good behaviour дать человеку возможность исправиться, e.g. The teacher put Tom on his good behaviour.

Abilities n способности, e.g. Teaching demands abilities and talent.

Decision n решение, e.g. We know that teaching is a constant stream of decisions.

Ignorant adj необразованный, e.g. Ignorant teachers shouldn’t work at school.

Fear n боязнь, e.g. Some teachers stimulate fear.

The worst birthday

At the age of one, Harry somehow survived a curse from the greatest dark wizard of all time, Lord Voldemort, whose name most witches and wizards still feared to speak. Harry’s parents had died in Voldemort’s attack, but Harry had escaped with his lighting scar, and somehow nobody understood why Voldemort’s power had vanished at the very moment he tried to kill Harry.

So Harry had been brought up by his mother’s sister and her husband. He had spent ten years with the Dursleys.

Now the Hogwarts school year was over, and Harry was back with the Dursleys for the summer and was treated like a dog.

The Dursleys didn’t even remember that today was Harry’s twelfth birthday. Of course, he didn’t hope to get something pleasant from them, but they ignored his birthday completely.

At that moment, Uncle Vernon cleared his throat importantly and said, “Now, as we know, today is very important day.” Harry looked at him. He didn’t believe his ears.

“It’s an important day because I’m going to make the biggest deal of my life,” said Uncle Vernon.

Harry went back to his toast. Of course, he thought bitterly, Uncle Vernon was talking about the stupid dinner party: some rich builder and his wife were coming to dinner and Uncle Vernon was hoping to get the contract with him.

“I think we should think over how we must meet them,” said Uncle Vernon. “Dudley, my son?”

“I’ meet them at the hall and open the door, and ask – May I take your coats, Mr and Mrs Mason?”

“They’ll love him!” cried Aunt Petunia.

“Excellent, Dudley,” said Uncle Vernon. Then he rounded on Harry. “And you?”

“I’ll be in my room, pretending that I’m not there.”

“Exactly,” said Uncle Vernon nastily.

Harry left through the back door. It was a brilliant, sunny day. He crossed the lawn, sat on the garden bench and sang under his nose, “Happy birthday to me… happy birthday to me…”

No cards, no presents. He had never felt so lonely before. Harry missed his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, but most of all he missed his parents.

(Adapted from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secret by J.K.Rowling)

Find the English equivalents of the following word combinations and expressions from the text:

каким-то образом пережил проклятие самого злого мага; боялись говорить вслух; сила Волан-де-Морта исчезла в тот момент, когда он попытался убить Гарри; он воспитывался тетей и дядей; с ним обращались как с собакой; двенадцатый день рождения Гарри; они проигнорировали его день рождения; заключить самую важную сделку; он думал с горечью; я буду в соей комнате, притворяясь, что меня вообще здесь нет; был великолепный солнечный день; он никогда не был таким одиноким раньше; больше всего он скучал по родителям.