Success Story by J. G. Cozzens

ТЕКСТ 10

Give English equivalents

Answer the questions

Do you share the author’s opinion that “if a woman made up her mind to marry a man nothing could save him”?

What did Ruth possess to make any man defendless?

Can you describe Ruth’s facial features? What was the most striking in her appearance?

Why was Mrs. Barlow unfortunate in life?

What was his fellow’s opinion about his fiancé?

How did Roger prove his devotion to Ruth?

Why do you think his love suddenly faded away?

What was his plan to get rid of his girlfriend?

Did the story have a dull end?

При сложившихся обстоятельствах

Влюбиться

Иметь дар обезоруживать мужчин

Я пожелал ему удачи

Он дарил ей прекрасные ювелирные изделия

Он приглашал ее на ужин в ресторан

Он просил ее набраться терпения

Он как всегда проявлял галантность

Я никогда не переживу такого удара

Она стала раздражительной

Она потеряла свое обаяние и трогательность

Discuss the following:

“ She made up her mind to …”is a good example of English phraseology. Can you guess of some phraseologisms with their Russian equivalents which would enrich your word stock?

What is your attitude towards the main character of the story?

What are your emotions after reading the story? Did you like the plot?

Retell the text briefly. Give a character sketch of the main hero(es).

Give a character sketch of the main hero.

Find grammatical phenomena and structures which you have studied during the semester

I met Richards ten or more years ago when I first went down to Cuba. He was a short, sharp-faced, agreeable chap, then about 22. He introduced himself to me on the boat and I was surprised to find that Panamerica Steel was sending us both to the same

Richards was from some not very good state university engineering school. Being the same age myself, and just out of technical college I saw at once that his knowledge was rather poor. In fact I couldn't imagine how he had managed to get this job.

Richards was naturally likable, and I liked him a lot. The firm had a contract for the construction of a private railroad. For Richards and me it was mostly an easy job of inspections and routine paper work. At least it was easy for me. It was harder for Richards, because he didn't appear to have mastered the use of a slide rule. When he asked me to check his figures I found his calculations awful. "Boy," I was at last obliged to say, "you are undoubtedly the silliest white man in this province. Look, stupid, didn't you ever take arithmetic? How much are seven times thirteen?" "Work that out," Richards said, "and let me have a report tomorrow."

So when I had time I checked his figures for him, and the inspector only caught him in a bad mistake about twice. In January several directors of the United Sugar Company came down to us on business, but mostly pleasure; a good excuse to 'get south on a vacation. Richards and I were to accompany them around the place. One of the directors, Mr. Prosset was asking a number of questions. I knew the job well enough to answer every sensible question – the sort of question that a trained engineer would be likely to ask. As it was Mr. Prosset was not an engineer and some of his questions put me at a loss. For the third time I was obliged to say, "I'm afraid I don't know, sir.

We haven't any calculations on that".

When suddenly Richards spoke up.

"I think, about nine million cubic feet, sir", he said. "I just happened to be working this out last night. Just for my own interest".

"Oh," said Mr. Prosset, turning in his seat and giving him a sharp look. "That's very interesting, Mr. -er- Richards, isn't it? Well, now, maybe you could tell me about".

Richards could. Richards knew everything. All the way up Mr. Prosset fired questions on him and he fired answers right back. When we reached the head of the rail, a motor was waiting for Mr. Prosset. He nodded absent-mindedly to me, shook hands with Richards. "Very interesting, indeed," he said. "Good-bye, Mr. Richards, and thank you."

"Not, at all, sir," Richards said. "Glad if I could be of service to you."

As soon as the car moved off, I exploded. "A little honest bluff doesn't hurt; but some of your figures...!"

"I like to please," said Richards grinning. "If a man like Prosset wants to know something, who am I to hold out on him?"

"What's he going to think when he looks up the figures or asks somebody who does know?"

"Listen, my son," said Richards kindly. "He wasn't asking for any information he was going to use. He doesn't want to know these figures. He won't remember them. I don't even remember them myself. What he is going to remember is you and me." "Yes," said Richards firmly. "He is going to remember that Panamerica Steel has a bright young man named Richards who could tell him everything, he wanted, – just the sort of chap he can use; not like that other fellow who took no interest in his work, couldn't answer the simplest question and who is going to be doing small-time contracting all his life."

It is true. I am still working for the Company, still doing a little work for the construction line. And Richards? I happened to read in a newspaper a few weeks ago that Richards had been made a vice-resident and director of Panamerica Steel when the Prosset group bought the old firm.

Дата добавления: 2014-12-23