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 5

The Living room

In the spacious and comfortable living room the walls were painted white. The cream curtains looked like real sails, especially when they were waving in the wind blowing through the wide open window⁵. It was the place where the whole family gathered in the evening under the splendid crystal chandelier. The fine glass details of it reminded little pieces of ice, clinking gently from time to time in tune with vibrations of the house⁶. All family members would sit on the leather sofa, sharing some news, or watching and discussing a film. The family atmosphere reigned there.

Tommy was accustomed to order. He usually tried to put everything into its place. He made it a rule after an incident that had happened some time before. The small boy didn’t want to annoy his parents who used to scold him for mess.

One day Tommy broke mother’s favourite Chinese vase. He was playing absorbedly with some toy cars when he accidentally touched the vase. It rocked and fell down, shattered in small sparkling pieces with a loud crash. Tommy was standing still, not breathing in the dead silence, with his eyes full of fear.

Next moment mum, dressed in black silk, ran into the room, Lilly followed her. Saying no word, the boy’s mother looked at the broken vase, then she slowly turned her icy eyes to Tom. She kept staring at him, keeping silent. That reproachful glance followed him everywhere long afterwards. The boy broke eye contact and looked away in embarrassment.

Lilly tried to distract his mum, at the same time she made efforts to advocate and comfort Tommy.

“It isn’t Tommy’s fault, aunt Annie. He hasn’t done it on purpose!

Tom, I’ll help you to collect the fragments, be careful.

I’ll ask my parents to bring you the same beautiful vase!

Mummy is going to give it to you as a present.

Oh, it will be even more gorgeous than the broken one! You’ll see!..”

“Tom, I’m taking your toy cars until you learn how to behave,” his mum said with a calm, cold voice.

Since then Tommy had got his parents’ permission to play only in the game room or on the sports ground.

The boy’s mum and dad quite often discussed his future, appraised prospects of his success, and planned his life several years ahead. Everything was predetermined — his future profession, mode of life, place to live and what people to communicate with. Each step was under control.

“Tommy, have you completed all the Maths tasks? Where is your exercise book?”

“Not yet, mum, I am going to do sums a bit later.”

“Do it right now. And where is your essay?”

“I’ll bring it.”

“Remember that you must study hard.

You are my pride, you will achieve the highest goals.

Will you do it for me, darling?”

“I’ll try…”

“You are the best. You’ll be a great man!

Next year you are going to have more difficult tasks. Are you ready?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Besides a course of geometry that is starting soon.”

“Ok, now I’d like to draw, mum, I’m going to the game room.”

“Wait, son. We haven’t finished yet.

Don’t waste your time on insignificant matters!

You should be more serious.

I suppose it will be great for you to study Italian, won’t it?”

“I don’t know, mum… May I go to the sports ground?”

“Not yet. You’ll go there later, little boy.

Do you love your mummy?”

“I do, mum.”

“What a good boy!” she said with a sweet voice and gave him a warm glance.

His parents were rather strict, but fair. They wanted for their son the best education, successful career and tried to bring him up as a gentleman. There were a lot of rules for him to follow. Tommy was an obedient child.

HELPFUL WORDS AND NOTES

crystal chandelier [krɪst(ə)l] [_ʃændəlɪə] — хрустальная люстра

to reign [reɪn] — царить, преобладать, править

to be accustomed to smth [əkʌstəmd] — привыкнуть к чему-либо

absorbedly [əbzɔ bɪdlɪ] — увлечённо

loud crash [laud] [kræʃ] — громкий треск

in the dead silence [ɪn] [ðə] [ded] [saɪləns] — в мёртвой тишине

reproachful glance [rɪprəuʧf(ə)l], [-ful] [glɑ n(t)s] — укоризненный взгляд

eye contact [aɪ] [kɔntækt] — зрительный контакт

in embarrassment [ɪn] [ɪmbærəsmənt] — в смущении, растерянно

to make efforts [meɪk] [efəts] — прилагать усилия, стараться

to comfort [kʌmfət] — подбадривать, утешать, успокаивать

to do smth on purpose [du] [ɔn] [pɜ pəs] — делать что-либо нарочно, с целью

permission [pəmɪʃ(ə)n] — разрешение, позволение

to appraise prospects [əpreɪz] [prɔspekts] — оценивать перспективы

predetermined [_pridɪtɜmɪnd] — предопределённый, предрешённый

to do sums [du] [sʌmz] — решать задачи, примеры

to achieve a goal [əʧi v] [ə] [gəul] —

достигать цели

insignificant matters [_ɪnsɪgnɪfɪk(ə)nt] [mætəz] — пустяки

VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR TASKS

I Here are several words and expressions from the text. (A — J) Match the definition of each of them from the list below (1 — 10).

A reproachful

B to reign

C predetermined

D to comfort

E chandelier

F to achieve a goal

G insignificant matters

H embarrassment

I eye contact

J on purpose

1. a large, decorative hanging light with branches for several light bulbs

2. to make someone feel less unhappy; to console

3. the act of looking directly into one another’s eyes

4. a feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness

5. expressing disapproval or disappointment

6. intentionally, deliberately

7. decided by previous events or by people rather than by chance

8. something of little importance or value

9. to reach a desired objective or result by effort, skill, or courage

10. to prevail, predominate

II Replace the italicised words and word combinations with synonyms from the list below in the appropriate form.

to be accustomed to smth; permission; in embarrassment; to reign;

absorbedly; to make efforts; predetermined; to comfort; loud crash; reproachful glance; insignificant matters; on purpose

1. The guy makes no attempt to conceal his indifferent attitude to the critical situation at work. Has he found a new job? I will ask him about his intentions.

2. Alex was used to doing only what his mum wanted. He had no choice, as all his plans and prospects were decided in advance by his parents.

3. The Head of the laboratory says that she is going to give the green light to conduct the experiment and implement the new project.

4. Everybody is sure that when the art director joins the company, a rare genius will rule in this studio.

5. Jane will not even notice you if you enter the room, she is completely involved in drawing.

6. The shy girl blushed in confusion when she read the sincere message of her schoolmate.

7. She knows for sure that her son is not going to waste time on trifles. He promised her to do all his best to become a great scientist.

8. Katty won’t go to the party so late, because she doesn’t want to provoke her father’s negative reaction and catch his disapproving look on herself.

9. If you drop this sculpture here now, a huge bang will wake up the whole house.

10. Her overcritical stare won’t influence my self-evaluation.

11. It’s not a good idea to tell him jokes and entertain now, nothing will console him, until he gets over the critical moment by himself.

12. Betty didn’t believe that her brother could hurt somebody deliberately.

III Complete the sentences using will or be going to in the appropriate form.

1. They _________________ give their son a broad education, so they _______________ hire several tutors to teach him sciences and languages.

2. Andrew _________________ play with his friends in the yard later, he _____________do sums first.

3. Look out! I _________________ collect the fragments of the broken glass.

4. The guy _____________ enter the University, that is why he studies so hard.

5. She __________________ bring the presents tomorrow before our cousin’s birthday party.

6. Your teacher hopes that you __________________ write the essay about modern art in time.

7. “I expect you __________________ tidy the game room up and keep it in order”, Tommy’s mother said in a quiet voice.

8. Robert says that he (not) ________________ listen to his aunt and obey her orders when she visits their house.

9. On Friday the family __________________get together in this light spacious living room around the table under the splendid fine glass chandelier to celebrate granny’s anniversary.

10. “I ________________hide from mum behind the cream curtains! Don’t give me away!” Tommy whispered into Lilly’s ear.

IV Write sentences about your future plans using to be going to or will. Explain your choice.

DISCUSSION TASKS

I Describe the living room in Tommy’s house.

II Answer the following questions.

1. What did the family usually do in the room?

2. Why did Tommy try to keep order in the house?

3. What incident happened in the living room?

4. What was Tommy’s reaction when he broke the vase?

5. What was his mother’s reaction?

6. How did Lilly act in that situation?

7. Why did Tommy’s mum take his toy cars from him?

8. What did the incident with the broken vase lead to?

9. What aspects of Tommy’s life did his parents control?

10. What new subjects was Tommy supposed to take up?

11. Why did his mum want her son to study so hard?

12. Did Tommy have the same intentions?

13. Did the child want to spend much time studying?

14. What would Tommy like to do instead?

15. What was his mother’s attitude to his own interests?

16. Why were Tommy’s parents strict with the boy?

17. Did Tommy follow all his parents’ rules? Why?

18. What was the living room associated with?

III Analyse the following:

1. Lilly’s behaviour in the situation with the broken vase;

How does it characterise the girl?

2. Conversation between Tommy and his mother; How does it characterise the boy, and his mum?

TALKING POINTS

I Tell about the room that you associate with your family place. Describe it.

II Answer the following questions.

1. Is there a tradition in your family? Tell about it.

2. Are you accustomed to keeping order in your room?

3. Do you have to follow a lot of rules at home? What are they?

III Tell about your parents. Are they strict or mild?

Примечания

5

The cream curtains looked like real sails, especially when they were waving in the wind blowing through the wide open window. — Кремовые занавески были похожи на настоящие паруса, особенно, когда она развевались на ветру, дующем из настежь открытого окна.

6

The fine glass details of it reminded little pieces of ice, clinking gently from time to time in tune with vibrations of the house. — Её детали из тонкого стекла напоминали льдинки, которые время от времени издавали нежный звон в тон вибрациям дома.