Word Combinations and Phrases
to be through with
to give smb. a test in
to read (look at) smth.
to take smth. apart
over smb.'s shoulder
to put smth. together
to get (be) adjusted
in no time
to some more (of)
next to
to flash smth. on a screen
READING COMPREHENSION EXERCISES
1. a) Listen to the recording of Text Four and mark the stresses and tunes, b) Repeat the text in the intervals after the model.
2. Put twenty questions to the text.
3. Copy out from Text Four the sentences containing the word combinations and phrases given on p. 116 and translate them into Russian.
4. Paraphrase the following sentences using the word combinations and phrases (p. 116).
1. It may take a while to reach the end of that pile of work on Saturday. 2. I shall have nothing more to do with this fellow. 3. The
teacher examined us in English. 4. He examines the class on their homework. 5. It's much easier to take the recorder to pieces than to
join them correctly again. 6. The dining-room was empty, except for the table nearest to ours. 7. She put down the box of powder and
turned her head round and looked back at me. 8. A piano stool should be made suitable to the height of the player. 9. I was sur prised
that they returned very quickly. 10. The mechanical teacher showed a new picture on the screen.
5. Translate the following sentences into English using the word combinations and phrases (p. 116):
1. Он был рад, что закончил свои дела. 2. Сегодня я дам своему классу контрольную работу по английской литературе. 3.
Он пожалел, что взялся чинить бритву сам. Разобрать ее было легче, чем собрать. 4. Дети иногда ломают игрушки, чтобы
посмотреть, как они устроены. 5. Я оглянулся и увидел, что собака бежит за мной. 6. Я уве рен, что вы знаете человека,
который сидел рядом с вами. 7. Его глаза привыкли к темноте. 8. Умоляю, расскажите мне еще немного о ней. 9. Я оглянулся
и посмотрел опять на залив. 10. На экране обучающей машины вспыхнуло новое задание.
6. Use as many of the word combination and phrases (p. 116) as possible in one situation.
7. Compose a short situation in a dialogue form for each of the word combinations and phrases (to be done in pairs).
8. Find in Text Four English equivalents for the following words, word combinations and phrases. Use them in sentences:
записать в дневнике; покончить с чём-л.; покачать головой; разобрать на части; какая расточительность; дела у нее шли
все хуже и хуже; мгновенно; смотреть на кого-л. с превосходством; быть задетым за живое; приспособиться; с книгой под
мышкой; помогать делать домашние задания; складывать дроби; контрольная работа
9. Explain what is meant by:
1. On the page headed May 17, 2157 ... . 2. ... it was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving the way they
were supposed to ... . 3. When you are through with the book, you just throw it away, I guess. 4. What's there to write about school? 5.
The part Margie hated most was the slot where she had to put homework and test papers. 6. ... the mechanical teacher cal culated the
mark in no time. 7. I think the geography sector was geared a little too quick. 8. Actually, the overall pattern of her progress is quite
satisfactory. 9.... a teacher has to be adjusted to fit the mind of each boy or girl it teaches ... . 10. They weren't even half-finished ....
10. Answer the following questions and do the given tasks:
1. The story by I.Asimov is science fiction. What facts in the preseiit-day life made him write it? Is it written to amuse the reader
or to warn him against possible problems of the future? 2. What do you think of the role of different technical aids that modern
technology puts at the disposal of the teacher? 3. What is the composition of the story? In what parts does it fall? Are the details well
chosen? 4. Comment on the closing lines of the story. How are they connected with the preceding passages? Sum up the central idea
of the story. 5. Account for the word "regular" and others being set off graphically. What effect is achieved by it? 6. Mark the features
of colloquial speech in the story. 7. Make up a list of words and word combinations describing school procedures.
11. Retell Text Four a) close to the text; b) as if you were Tommy; c) as if you were Margie.
12. Write a summary of Text Four.
13. Act out dialogues between:
1. Margie and her grandfather talking about books.
2. Two children discussing the school of the future after reading Asimov's story.
3. Two foreign language teachers discussing the advantages and disadvantages of "a mechanical teacher" if compared to "a man
teacher".
14. Choose a topic that interests you most and discuss it:
1. Teaching machines have come to stay.
2. Conceptions of the school of a non-distant and distant future which you know.
3. Science fiction as genre and its place in modern literature.
4. What other books, stories on the future of school and upbringing of children do you know? Sum up their main points.
VOCABULARY EXERCISES
1. Study the Vocabulary Notes and translate the illustrative examples into Russian.
2. Translate the following sentences into Russian. Pay attention to the words and word combinations in bold type:
A. 1. For a moment they stood face to face quite close to each other. 2. The soldiers stood at attention when the commander spoke to
them. 3. Please help instead of merely standing by. 4.1 can't stand people who laugh at other people. 5. It stands to reason that such
things ought not to be done. 6. The police began throwing tear-gas bombs but the workers stood their ground. 7. Every time a car
passed me, my hair stood on end. 8. The gray front of the house stood out well from the background of a rookery. 9. He usually hates
town in August, but when there's some special reason he can stand it. 10. She flung the hateful piece of paper in the fire. 11.1 have
never seen such hatred in someone's eyes before. 12. He smiled at me over his cup of tea. 13. He considered me solemnly without the
trace of a smile. 14. Robert gave him a flat weak smile. 15. His sister smiled through tears. 16. He continued to pat her gently on the
shoulder. 17.1 patted my hair in front of the looking-glass. 18. I took great pains with the planning of my lessons. 19. These are the
terms. You can either take them or leave them. 20. He won't take "no" for an answer. 21.His voice is remarkably fine and he takes great
pride in it. 22. She looked at me as if I had taken leave of my senses. 23.1 had no suspicion that this new feeling had taken root so
deeply. 24. We can take it for granted that Garton and Brown were the same man. 25.I could see that he was not entirely taken in by
my words. 26.Every one of my frocks must be taken in — it's such a skeleton I'm growing. 27. Mr. Angleby is taking over Mr. Erik's
job as superintendent. 28. Then he took to walking along the street wjiich she must pass through to get to the shops. 29.1 could see by
the thin line of Colonel Julyan's mouth that he had not taken to Favell.
B . 1. 1 can't shut the window from ground level. 2. At this elevation of more than a mile above sea level, Mrs. Adrian found it diffi-
