Tommy’s house

Marina Nitsinska

Дорогие читатели!Я бы хотела превратить изучение английского языка для вас в увлекательный процесс с помощью книги, где за языковым слоем – лексикой, грамматикой стоит более глубокий подтекст.В этой книге удивительная история, раскрывающая внутренний мир героя, сопровождается упражнениями, направленными на отработку лексико-грамматического материала и развитие навыков устной речи и логического мышления.

CHAPTER 7

The Sports ground

Almost every day Tommy went to the sports ground.

It was situated behind the house. Tommy loved to run, jump and play with a ball. There was a basketball hoop, the boy tried to jump up higher and higher to throw the ball right into it.

He also trained his football skills hard. The kid tried to take every chance to play football with his father. Tommy was well-developed physically — he had a good reaction, so he moved very quickly with ease. The boy played so recklessly and felt confident with the ball.

He also played tennis with dad. Unfortunately, playing together wasn’t their regular practice, as Tommy’s dad rarely had free time. Nevertheless, the boy’s father wanted to improve his son’s tennis skills. He followed each movement of Tom carefully. He gave his comments and short instructions in a commanding tone:

“Faster! Move! Right! Again!”

“Daddy, I’m a bit tired.”

“Tommy, you’re a good tennis player, you can become the world champion if you train harder.”

“Can we continue later? Frankly speaking, I like playing football more.”

“You have more chances in tennis. We must improve your skills.”

“But we play so seldom…

Dad, will we go to the football match in august? Mum said if I do all my Maths, I’ll be able to go!”

“We’ll see, boy.

If I don’t have to leave for Strasbourg on a business trip, we’ll surely watch the match!

Come on, Tom, move faster!”

Suddenly, making an awkward movement, Tommy twisted his ankle and fell on the ground with a short cry, touching his leg.

“Dad, it seems to me, I have just stretched my ankle…”

“Oh, are you kidding?! Come on, boy, get up!

You are a man, you should be strong and calm in any situation.

Control yourself!”

“It hurts…”

“Then let’s go to the doctor.”

HELPFUL WORDS AND NOTES

basketball hoop [bɑskɪtbɔl] [hu p] — баскетбольная корзина, кольцо

well-developed physically [wel-dɪveləpt] [fɪzɪk(ə)lɪ] — физически развит

to move with ease [mu v] [wɪð] [i z] — двигаться с лёгкостью, непринуждённо

to play recklessly [pleɪ] [rekləslı] —

двигаться с лёгкостью, непринуждённо

nevertheless [_nevəðəles] — тем не менее, однако, всё-таки

in a commanding tone [ɪn] [ə] [kəmɑ_ndin] [təun] — командным, приказным тоном

frankly speaking [fræŋklɪ] [spi_kɪŋ] — честно говоря

awkward movement [ɔkwəd] [mu vmənt] — неловкое движение

to twist one’s ankle [twɪst] [æŋkl] — вывихнуть лодыжку, подвернуть ногу

to stretch one’s leg [streʧ] [leg] — растянуть ногу

VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR TASKS

I Find in the text the antonyms for the following words:

Lower; feeble; slowly; discreetly; uncertain; occasional; to deteriorate; heedlessly; more sluggish; easier; dishonestly; skillful; weak; wild.

II Here are several expressions from the text (A — I). Match the definition of each of them from the list below (1 — 9).

A to control yourself

B regular practice

C to take chance

D to move with ease

E frankly speaking

F to give instructions

G to play recklessly

H in a commanding tone

I an awkward movement

1. a settled tendency

2. to tell what should be done

3. in an imperious manner of speaking

4. to act rashly, headlong, hastily

5. to take an opportunity

6. an uncomfortable or clumsy motion

7. to utter in an open, direct, honest manner

8. to stir without difficulty or effort

9. to make yourself behave calmly even though you are feeling angry, excited, or upset.

III Make up sentences of your own with the expressions from exercise II.

IV Complete the sentences with modal verbs in the appropriate form.

1. Dad thinks that you _____________ train harder to win the national championship. He is sure that only in this case you___________________ become a champion next year!

2. You __________________ speak to your friends in such a commanding tone. It sounds offensive.

3. Unfortunately, Max ______________________ replace the goalkeeper in the match on Tuesday. He has injured his foot.

4. The boy _________________ improve his tennis skills, although, frankly speaking, he doesn’t feel like playing it. But he promised his parents to achieve the highest result in the competition.

5. Mr. Grin ______________________ take his son to the hospital, because the scratch on his leg is superficial. Tommy’s mum _____________ disinfect it herself.

6. The head coach said that Benjamin ________________ practice regularly at the sport ground, then he ______________________ take his chance on the stadium soon.

7. “A boy ______________ cry”, said dad, bandaging his son’s knee after his fall on the hockey rink.

8. Tom _______________ explain why he missed the ball. It wasn’t very hard to catch it, nevertheless, the ball rebounded into the gate.

9. On the one hand, his parents say that he ________________ always control himself, and that he__________________ express his emotions. On the other hand, his teacher says that it ____________ be harmful to his mental health to suppress his feelings.

10. The girl isn’t tall and strong enough, but she moves with ease and feels confident with the ball, so she ____________________ throw the ball into the basketball hoop in the game next week.

V Make a list of rules for a sportsman using modal verbs should/shouldn’t, must mustn’t, have to/don’t have to, can/can’t in the appropriate form.

DISCUSSION TASKS

I Answer the following questions.

1. Where was the sports ground situated?

2. What kinds of sports did Tommy do there?

3. Did he play at the sports ground alone?

4. Why was playing tennis with his father not their regular practice?

5. Which game did Tommy like to play more?

6. Why did Tommy’s father want the boy to play more tennis?

7. Did Tommy share his dad’s views? Did the boy want the same?

8. Under what circumstances would Tommy be allowed to go to the football match?

9. Under what circumstances would Tommy’s father be able to go to the match with Tommy?

10. Why did they have to interrupt the game?

11. What hurt Tommy?

12. What was his father’s first reaction to his son’s complaint?

13. What did Tommy’s dad say about a man’s behaviour? What should he do?

14. Where did they have to go in the end?

II Complete the following tasks:

1. Make a list of rules for Tommy to follow, taking into account his parents’ views. Use modal verbs.

2. Tell about the rules which you would/would not follow. Explain why. 3. Write a list of your own rules, if any.

TALKING POINTS

I Answer the following questions.

1. Do you like to do sports?

2. What is your favourite winter/summer kind of sport?

3. Where do you usually do sport?

4. Would you prefer team or individual kinds of sport? Why?

5. What makes a good sportsman?

II Tell about a well-known sportsman or a sportswoman.

III Describe the rules of a sport game using modal verbs.