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 6

The Game room

The game room presented a great variety of things for entertainment.

There were some board games, toys, stationery and everything you can imagine for a kid to play. Tin soldiers, small planes, toy cars of different models and colours were on the shelf and on the floor. The railroad on the carpet was an object of the boy’s pride. Playing it, he passed a lot of stations as an engine driver in his fantasy travelling.

Tommy usually put on a record. When he was listening to music, he went on dreaming. The magic sounds aroused in his soul strange unknown feelings, they were unclear to him. He couldn’t explain why one liquid melody evoked melancholy while another beautiful piece of music made him smile.

Tommy really liked drawing. He took his sketchbook, coloured pencils, markers, crayons, then he placed himself on the floоr and started to express his ideas on paper. The child drew everything that came into his head. His fantasy revealed some incredible images, and he often was astonished at his own pictures. They looked as if somebody else depicted the amazing stories.

Lilly visited the room as often as possible. She knew every object in the room in detail. A toy or game, pen or pencil, marker or eraser — the girl could tell a story about any subject.

When Tommy was in a good mood and ready to play with her, she chose costumes for them to play some roles in their home theatre.

“Tommy, I will be a Princess and you’ll play a pirate.. no, you’ll be a hero who will save me!…or you’ll free me from an evil wizard’s castle! Here is my sparkling gown! Where is your prince’s suit?”

“Lill, we have already played this game. Let’s make another one for a change! Maybe lotto? Or the sea battle?”

“It is very complicated and boring for me. Tommy, please!”

“Oh, my building kit is here, I haven’t finished construction of the airport yet. Will you help me?”

“I don’t know… I can only help with decoration… Do you want your airport to be luxurious?”

“What?! Are you kidding? Lilly, this is the airport! Have you ever seen a luxurious airport?”

“Why not create it right now?”

“No. I’ll build the best airport myself, without your silly decoration.”

“You won’t! And it’s not silly!

What makes you think that your airport will be the best?!”

“I know for sure, because I’m the best constructor!”

“Ahahaha! Who said it?”

“My mum! She says that I’m the best! Don’t dare to laugh! And don’t speak to me like that.”

“Ok. Tommy, will we play today?”

“Lill, let’s make your theatre performance.

Put on your dress, and I will find my sword.”

“And fetch my crown, please!”

“Have you ever seen anybody hidden in the wizard’s castle as a prisoner, still wearing a crown?!”

“You are too down-to-earth!

Have you ever seen a princess without a golden or at least silver crown?!!”

“Wear whatever you want, Lill!”

“Hurry up! I’ve already dressed up!”

“I’m not going to save you without my sword! Wait a minute!”

Ten minutes later they prepared decorations made of chairs, blankets, and some stuff from the room, and started their play. It was quite exciting.

Tommy was surprised with Lilly’s creativity and her ability to invent new scenarios. She was free to express her feelings.

HELPFUL WORDS AND NOTES

entertainment [_entəteɪnmənt] — развлечение, веселье

stationery [steɪʃ(ə)n(ə)rɪ] — канцелярские принадлежности

liquid melody [lɪkwɪd] [melədɪ] — плавная мелодия

to evoke [ɪvəuk] — пробуждать, вызывать

sketchbook [skeʧbuk] — альбом для

рисования

crayons [kreɪɔnz] — цветные карандаши, мелки

to reveal [rɪvi_l] — открывать, показывать, обнаруживать

to be astonished at smth [əstɔnɪʃt] — поражаться, крайне удивляться чему-либо

to depict [dɪpɪkt] — изображать, рисовать, описывать

evil wizard’s castle [i_v(ə)l] [wɪzədz] [kɑ_sl] — замок злого волшебника, колдуна

sparkling gown [spɑ_klɪŋ] [gaun] — блестящее платье

building kit [bɪldɪŋ] [kɪt] — конструктор

luxurious [lʌgʒu(ə)rɪəs] — роскошный

sword [sɔ d] — меч, шпага

to fetch [feʧ] — принести, сходить за чем-либо

down-to-earth [_dauntuɜθ] — приземлённый, практичный

VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR TASKS

I Here are several expressions from the text. Give Russian equivalents to them.

An object of one’s pride; to arouse some feelings; to make somebody smile/cry; to place oneself; to express somebody’s ideas, feelings; to come into one’s head; to be astonished at something; to know something in detail; to be in a good/bad mood; dare (not) do something.

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

III Complete the crossword puzzle.

Across

1. Paper, envelopes, and other materials or equipment used for writing. (noun)

4. A pad or book of drawing paper for sketching on. (noun)

6. A dress, usually a long one, which women wear on formal occasions. (noun)

7. The action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment. (noun)

10. A pencil or stick of coloured chalk or wax, used for drawing. (noun)

Down

2. To bring or recall (a feeling, memory, or image) to the conscious mind. (verb)

3. To cause or allow (something) to be seen. (verb)

5. Extremely comfortable or elegant, especially when involving great expense. (adj)

8. To go for and then bring back (someone or something) for someone. (verb)

9. A weapon with a handle and a long sharp blade. (noun)

11. A man who has magical power, especially in legends and fairy tales. (noun)

12. To show or represent by a drawing, painting, or other art form. (verb)

IV Translate the sentences paying attention to Present Perfect Tense.

1. Дети уже удобно устроились на полу в игровой, они ждут начала их любимого мультфильма.

2. Дэвид еще не играл со своими друзьями в прятки в этом просторном доме. Здесь полно потайных мест, где его будет трудно найти.

3. Люси никогда раньше не слышала такой красивой плавной мелодии, которая пробуждает неуловимое чувство грусти в её юной душе.

4. Ты когда-нибудь играл в детском домашнем спектакле? Присоединяйся к нам! Мы уже распределили роли, но у нас есть для тебя что-то особенное!

5. Кевин уже нарисовал целый зоопарк, а его родители всё ещё разговаривают с учителем о его поведении в классе.

6. Лилли ещё не выбрала маскарадный костюм, который она наденет на новогодний бал.

7. Она только что дала этому юному художнику задание изобразить улицу, на которой он живёт. Он уже нарисовал здание театра, который находится недалеко от его дома.

8. “Ты уже нашёл вещи для декораций нашего шоу?” — спросила его младшая сестра. “Ещё нет. Но я уже приготовил чудесные костюмы.”

9. — Тебе когда-нибудь говорили родители, что ты лучший во всём? — Мама недавно сказала, что я непременно достигну самых высоких целей в жизни.

10. Томми дважды заходил в игровую этим утром, но не увидел там новый конструктор, который вчера вечером принесли родители.

DISCUSSION TASKS

I Say true or false. Correct the false statements.

1. There were a lot of different toys in Tommy’s game room.

2. A toy plane was an object of his pride.

3. When Tommy put on a record, he started dancing.

4. The boy really liked to express his ideas on paper.

5. He drew only some incredible images.

6. Tommy was often astonished at his cousin’s pictures.

7. When Lilly visited the house, they often played in their home theatre.

8. Lilly decided to play a princess in their performance.

9. Tommy was supposed to be a pirate in the game.

10. Lilly helped him to build a luxurious toy airport.

11. Lilly believed that Tommy was the best constructor.

12. Tommy was surprised with Lilly’s creativity.

13. Tommy was free to express his feelings.

II Act out a dialog between Tommy and Lilly.

III Complete the following sentences.

1. When Tommy was listening to music, _______________

2. He couldn’t explain why _______________

3. Tommy took his sketchbook, coloured pencils, markers, crayons, _______________

4. The boy’s pictures looked as if _______________

5. When Tommy was in a good mood, _______________

6. Tommy was sure that he was the best constructor, because _______________

7. The children built decorations of _______________

8. Tommy was surprised with _______________

TALKING POINTS

I Answer the following questions.

1. What toys and games do you have in your room?

2. Which toy is your favourite one?

3. Which game do you like to play?

4. Who do you usually play with?

5. Have you ever acted in a play or taken part in a concert? (at school, at a children’s holiday, etc.) Tell about it.

6. What role would you like to play in a performance? Why?

7. Do you like listening to music? What kind of music do you prefer?

8. Do you like drawing? What would you like to draw? What would you prefer to use to make your picture? Pencils, watercolours, gouache?

II Give your opinion on the following:

1. What kind of person do you consider to be creative? Give an example. Explain your choice.

2. Is it possible to develop a talent? If yes, tell what a person should do to cultivate it.

III Tell about a person who, in your opinion, is free to express his/her feelings. Describe the person’s behaviour.