– Have I written any books? – No, I haven’t.
– Have I created any objects of art? Any masterpiece? – No, I haven’t.
The more Rich thinks of his achievements, the gloomier he becomes. He starts understanding that he has chased the mirages and he hasn’t accomplished any serious things… He has spent so much money, time and energy for the things that aren’t worth spending…
Rich stops his auto and falls deep into a pessimistic state of mind. He understands that he is nothing, that nobody loves him and he loves nobody. The whole life has been something fake, it has never been real, it has always been imitation, a parody of something significant. Why have the girls said to him «Yes»? Just because he has always had enough money to pay them for their services. He has wanted to be loved not for money, not for his father’s position, not for his Porsche, not for his big house but just for what he is like… The girls have always smiled at him but now he has felt how insincere their smiles have been. The friends have given him compliments but not because of his real talents, just because he has never refused their requests for money… His mum has never loved him. She gave him birth just to hold his father in her hands. He has always been the object of someone’s calculation… often cynical calculation…
Suddenly Rich takes an unexpected decision. He turns his car back home. He has no wish to deceive himself any longer and decides to start a new life. Life without drugs, girls and wasting the money. With quick steps he enters his father’s room and informs him about his decision. Mr. Zolotov faints.
VOCABULARY
1. precious – ценный.
€ What metal is more precious: gold or platinum?
2. perform – выполнять, осуществлять.
€ Before dying he has performed everything.
3. drugs – наркотики.
€ He has just returned from Amsterdam where he has tried light and heavy drugs.
4. masterpiece – шедевр.
€ This work has become his real masterpiece.
5. achievement – достижение.
€ Because of this outstanding achievement he has become a national leader.
6. gloomy – мрачный.
€ Because of his gloomy mood nobody has loved him.
7. chase – преследовать, гнаться за.
€ The cops have chased him and he has seen no way out.
8. mirage – мираж.
€ People usually chase the mirages of wealth, glory and power.
9. pessimistic – пессимистический, упаднический.
€ I have never met such a pessimistic boy in my life before.
10. parody – пародия.
€ He has always been nothing else but my parody.
11. significant – значительный.
€ This politician has stolen a significant sum of money from the national budget.
12. insincere – неискренний.
€ I can’t trust him any longer because of his insincere answers.
13. refuse – отказывать, отказаться, отклонять, отвергать.
€ It’s hard to refuse to steal a lot of money if you are sure that nobody can punish you.
14. request – просьба.
€ Her request to present her a diamond ring can’t be satisfied by the black prince.
15. calculation – расчет.
€ He is bad at such calculations.
16. cynical – циничный.
€ She has given me the most cynical smile I have ever seen.
17. unexpected – неожиданный.
€ Because of this unexpected turn we could understand nothing.
18. deceive – обманывать.
€ The girl has deceived all her admirers and got married with another girl.
19. waste – тратить впустую, растрачивать.
€ Don’t waste your time and money when you are young but invest them into your future.
20. faint – падать в обморок.
€ Each time when she sees blood she faints.
USEFUL PHRASES
be satisfied with – быть удовлетворенным чем-либо.
€ He isn’t satisfied with his girl-friend because she is such a grub!
be proud of – гордиться.
€ The black guy is proud of his big dick because there is nothing else to be proud of…
take a decision – принять решение.
€ It’s necessary to take a right decision.
smile at – улыбаться кому – либо.
€ Smile at me and come to me, baby!
give smb. birth – родить кого-то, дать кому-то рождение.
€ She gave him birth on the 15th of August and people called him a devil’s son.
give smb. a compliment – сказать кому-то комплимент.
€ As she is beautiful the boys always give her sweet compliments but she ignores them because they are not rich enough to buy her beauty and to turn it into an object of property.
EXERCISES
Ex.1. Answer the questions. Consult the text if necessary.
1. What is Rich doing while driving to a night club? 2. What isn’t he satisfied with? 3. What has he always tried to do? 4. How can you estimate his questions and answers to himself? 5. Has he visited many countries by the age of 18? 6. Would you like to spend $3 mln. for girls (boys) and drugs? Why yes or no? 7. Why does Rich become gloomier and gloomier? 8. According to his opinion, why have the girls always said «Yes» to him? 9. Why have the friends given him compliments? 10. Has his mum ever loved him? 11. What unexpected decision does he suddenly take? 12. Why does his father faint? 13. Is it important to be honest with yourself?
Ex.2. Answer and discuss the following questions.
1. Why do people become depressed? 2. How often do you get depressed? 3. What is the way out of depression? 4. Can drugs help to beat depression? 5. Have you ever taken drugs? 6. Do you know anyone who has taken drugs? 7. Do you agree that any girl can be bought? 8. Do you agree that money can buy everything except love and eternal life? 9. If a man or a woman understands that their former life has been wrong what should they do? 10. What have you managed to reach by this time in life? 11. What have you failed to reach? 12. What would you like to reach in life? 13. What qualities does a man need to have to be successful in everything?
Ex.3. Read the sentences and translate the words in brackets.
1. The queen of Britain has many (ценный) stones in her home collection. 2. Elizabeth the Second has always ( выполнять) her duties at a high professional level. 3. The best place to try (наркотики) is to go to Amsterdam and visit there any coffee-shop. 4. Leonardo was a unique man who could create hundreds of (шедевры). 5. What are the highest (достижения) of the British Crown? 6. The king was very (мрачный) because for lunch he didn’t drink enough blood of his enemies. 7. The queen (преследовала) her victim with a spear in her bloody hand. 8. Uncle Ivan often sees (мираж): a big sea of Russian vodka next to his house. 9. Not to stay (пессимистический) Mark has decided to go to a good nudist sauna. 10. This (пародия) was very talented. 11. This corrupted fool is very (значительный) in the government. 12. The most (неискренний) thing in the world is girl’s talking about love. 13. (откажись) the girls, drugs and ignorance and you’ll become a saint man! 14. Please, follow my (просьба) and bring me the doc who can help me. 15. This fool is so stupid that he can’t make a simple (расчет). 16. I know him as the most (циничный) man in the world. 17. With these (неожиданный) words the black guy farted so hard that all the white noble ladies fainted. 18. If you (обманывать) your mother the God will (обманывать) you. 19. Don’t (растрачивать) your life but learn shooting. It can serve you good at dark times. 20. The girl has never (падать в обморок) looking at her drunk stepfather.
