Text. Appearance

Topical vocabulary

Surname

Namesake

Maiden name

Call smb after

Be born

Be 16 years old

Under 16

Over 16

Middle aged/elderly person

Be of the same age

No older than

5 years older/younger

Carry one’s age well

Have roots at (be /come from)

Birthplace

Husband/wife

Mother in law/ father in law

Brother in law / sister in law

Daughter in law/ sister in law

Family man

Adopt

Bring up

A widow

A widower

An orphan

A spinster/ a bachelor

Be pregnant/ carry a child

Be related to smb

Relative

Parents

Mother/ father

Stepmother/ stepfather

Godfather/ Godmother

Ancestors

Grandparents (grandmother/grandfather)

Grandchildren (grandson/granddaughter)

Aunt

Uncle

Cousin

Nephew

Niece

Son

Daughter

Stepson

Stepdaughter

Twins

Take after

Resemble

Be the image of

Descend from

A date

To court smb

Fall in love

To propose to smb

To be engaged to smb

Engagement

Fiancé

To marry smb

To be married

Newly wed

Honeymoon

Divorce

To get a divorce

Appearances are deceptive. It is a common truth; practically everyone has met at least someone whose character and appearance differ radically.

When one sees a tall, broad-shouldered youth, one expects him to be strong-willed and brave. One thinks: 'A model to follow!' How often a good-looking individual turns out to be petty, weak-willed or even cowardly. Then one thinks: 'A mediocrity!'

At the same time everyone knows that a lot of great people were of a poor build: short and fragile. It did not stop them from display­ing intelligence and courage. Ingenuity does not depend on one's complexion or constitution.

Plump or fat people create an impression of generous and kind personalities. Strangely enough, not rarely they may be thrifty or even greedy. One usually thinks: 'A scrooge!'

On the other hand, thin or slim nervous ladies often tend to be lavish. They like to buy and never think twice when they pay. One thinks: 'I would call her open-handed and Mother would call her a spendthrift'. Yes, mothers are always stricter in judgements.

Has it ever happened to you that you come to an important of­fice and see an important boss? You immediately evaluate his looks: 'Round-faced, small narrow eyes, dimples on the cheeks and an up­turned nose. What a kind-hearted person! A simpleton!' You tell the boss of your troubles and expect immediate help. But the boss ap­pears to be rude, harsh and wilful. You never get your help and think: 'A stone heart and an iron fist'.

When someone sees a delicately built pretty blonde with curly hair, blue eyes, a straight nose and a high forehead, one is inclined to think that the beauty is intelligent and nice. It may be disappoin­ting to think later 'What a stupid, capricious, impolite bore!'

On the contrary, when one sees a skinny brunette with ugly ir­regular features — a hooked nose, pointed chin, close-set eyes and

thin lips, strange thoughts come to one's head; because it is the im­age of evil people — cruel and cunning. It may be a relief some time later to find her a clever, gentle and good-mannered lady and think: 'What charm! A heart of gold!'

Another general misconception lies in the fact that children are always expected to resemble their parents. And parents like it when children take after them. Relatives like to compare moles, the shape of noses, etc. The greatest compliment is: "They are as like as two peas'. The greatest disappointment is to find nothing in common. We want to deny people their exclusiveness, we don't want to admit that nature has selected other options from an enormous genetic fund developed over generations. Why do we like our copies? Who knows!

Nature likes to play tricks on us. But don't you think it is a pre­sent on the part of nature? Life becomes not a boring routine, but a brilliant kaleidoscope of characters and appearances which often clash.

1. Do you agree that appearances are deceptive? Tell your classmates about your own experience.

2. Do you think it is worth judging by appearances? Give your reasons.

3. Look at the pictures below and choose the right word from the lists to describe the shape of one's face, eyes, nose, chin, lips, forehead.

Face:

a) oval b) round c) long d) square

Eyes:

a) almond b) slanting c) round d) narrow

Nose:

a) aquiline b) hooked c) straight d) upturned

Chin:

a) protruding b) split c) double d) pointed

Lips:

a) thin b) plump c) thick d) heart-shaped

Forehead:

a) wrinkled b) narrow c) balding d) high

4. Find people among your relatives who resemble one another. Describe their appearance.

5. Say a few words about your character. Do you take after your parents?

Pick out the necessary words and word-combinations which you would choose to describe people in the pictures below.

1) good-looking/plain/attractive/handsome/ugly/beautiful;

2) to be of medium height/tall/short;

3) slim/slender/stout/plump/fat/stooping/narrow-shouldered /broad-shouldered/long-armed/long-legged;

3) round/oval/pale/red/sallow/pretty/fireckled face;

4) close-set/deep-set/slanting eyes;

5) upturned/fleshy/hooked/aquiline/straight nose;

6) finely-curved/thin/full/plump lips;

7) pointed/round/double/square chin;

8) grey/thin/wavy/curly/straight/short/long hair:

9) wear one's hair combed back/in plaits/done in a knot/ parted in the middle/on the right/left side.

Ex.7 Look at the students of your group and say:

1) who has the following type of hair

a) straight, long, short, curly, wavy;

b) fair, daric, blonde, black, brown, grey.

2) whose constitution can be characterized as:

a) short, tall, of medium height;

b) slim, plump, very thin.

3) whose complexion is: pate, daric, pink.

4) who has: plump cheeks, hallow cheeks, cheeks with dim­ples.

Ex.8 What would you think of a person who says:

1. Ladies first!

2. I can't control myself when I should keep quiet.

3. I'm not easily put off if I have made up my mind.

4. I don't care for him. He is inferior to me, you know.

5. Whatever she may say I won't lose my temper.

6. Darling! I never grudge you anything, be it clothes, money, a car.

7. I always feel sony for people who are in trouble.

8. I just love cucumbers with milk, Picasso's paintings and freckled faces.

9. I have got used to ten hours work every day.

10. I prefer to be in the company of other people and have a chat with them.

11. Whatever you may ask me to do for you, I will do it. What­ ever you may say, I will foigive you.

► Use: He must be... She may be... He is likely to be...

The words given below may help you:

Hard-working, original, sympathetic, quick-tempered, open-handed, arrogant, well-bred, sociable, obstinate, self-posses­sed, tolerant.

EX.9. Read the following descriptions от eight different people, and write their names in the appropriate box depending on their personality. The first one has been done as an example.

A	В	С	D
Name: Betty	Name:	Name:	Name:
tetchy	reliable	stoical	mean
bossy	punctual	witty	obstinate
conceited	industrious	impulsive	generous
bigoted	timid	garrulous	changeable
bitchy	absent-minded	gregarious	obedient

E Name:	F Name:	G Name:	H Name:
optimistic independent cheerful artistic easy-going	intellectual suspicious pessimistic untidy lazy	romantic sensitive energetic creative adventurous	popular honest ambitious open-minded friendly

1. My girlfriend Julie is always doing something. When she isn't making things with her hands, she is risking her life doing dangerous activities like parachuting or bungee jumping. She loves it when I buy her flowers, take her out or say nice things about her, but she gets very upset if I say anything horrible to her.

2. My sister Molly seems to be a different person every day! Sometimes she will be buying presents for everyone, and at other times she resents spending even the smallest amount of money. One day she will do whatever people tell her to do, the next day she refuses to even listen to them, especially once she's made her mind up about something.

3. Betty has a very high opinion of herself and is always saying nasty things about other people. She gets irritated very quickly and likes to tell people what to do. She also believes, often unreasonably, that she is right and best, especially in matters of religion, politics or race.

4. Charlie has always wanted to be a painter. He loves to do his own thing, and rarely loses his temper. He always seems to be happy, and has great hopes for the future.

5. Richard says he wants to be Prime Minister one day, but I doubt he would be a good politician. Why? Well, for a start he always tells the truth. Secondly, he gets on well with everybody, and everyone likes him. And above all, he is very tolerant of other people.

6. Mary is always expecting bad things to happen, and never trusts strangers. She never seems to do any work and her room is always a mess. She likes to spend her time reading academic textbooks.

7. Joanne is very sociable and enjoys the company of other people. She tends to talk a lot, but she often makes clever or amusing remarks. She often does things without thinking of the consequences, but always manages to remain calm when things go wrong.

8. Bob is easily frightened, especially of his boss, which is probably why he's never late for work. He is often so concerned with his own thoughts that he forgets things. On the other hand, he works hard and is somebody you can trust and depend on at all times.

Ex.10 Translate the phrases, paying special attention to the verbs of gestures.

1. Shrug your shoulders and turn your head to the left.

2. Shade your eyes with your left hand.

3. Press your right hand to your forehead.

4. Scratch your chin.

5. Fold your arms on your breast.

6. Knit your (eye)brows.

7. Nod your head.

8. Touch the tip of your nose with your thumb.

9. Brush your hair upward.

10. Point to the door with your forefinger.

11. Go to the door on tiptoe.

12. Touch your open palm.

13. Shake your forefinger in warning.

14. Lean your forehead against the back of your left hand.

15. Put your thumbs to your temples.

Ex.11 Fill in the articles:

1.... master was... man about sixty years old with colourless eyes and white hair.

2. Ella is... only daughter in... family, was... very good-looking girl, gay and clever.

3. In... street Johnny saw... man. It was... old Jew with... black beard,... pair of deep black eyes stared out from his thin white face. His long black hair hung down across his forehead.

4. We sat talking in... sitting-room when somebody knocked at... door and... well-dressed gentleman with... pleasant face entered... room. "Here is... picture of my wife," he said. And... man showed us... face of... very beautiful woman with... black hair and large dark eyes.

5. One sunny day in June two men were making their way towards... large lake.... first one was... tall and strong man. Indeed, he looked... real giant. His manner was... little rude, but his face was very handsome. His companion was... shorter man. His face was not handsome but there was something in it that won... sympathies of people at once.

Ex.12 Choose the right word.

a) face, countenance, complexion

1. She was a tall lady with dark hair, dark eyes, and a pale and large forehead; her... was grave.

2. The girl was thin and had a sharp, bird-like...

3. His... expressed astonishment.

4. The lady praised the old gentleman's bronzed...

5. He looked so funny that I found it difficult to keep my...

6. He must have had bad news, flashed through Arthur's mind, as he looked anxiously at Montanelli's haggard...

7. A fair... is typical of all the women of this clan.

b) thin, lean, slender

1. Arthur was a... little creature more like an Italian than an English lad.

2. She is rather... in the face.

3. His domed forehead, great moustache,... cheeks, and long jaw were shaded from the sunshine by an old brown Panama hat.

4. The girl was not beautiful, her figure was too small and...

5. The fellow was as... as a rail.

6. I saw a small... man with sunken cheeks weathered to a tan.

7. She looks... after her illness.

8. She was a... blue-eyed girl with thick golden plaits.

Ex.13 Supply the missing words:

1. A little frown appeared on the boy's...

2. Arthur spoke in a strange indistinct...

3. He raised his... suddenly from the ground, and she saw how strange their expression was.

_:

4. The dreamy eyes deep blue under black... were an inheritance from his mother.

5. He is a nice man, but his manners are rather...

6. My pupil was quite a child, perhaps seven or eight years old, delicately built with a pale small-featured... and a mass of hair falling in curls to her....

Ex. 14. What do we call:

1. The face and its expression?

2. The natural colour and appearance of the skin (esp. the colour of the face)?

3. The joint between the two parts of the arm?

4. The hair on a man's upper lip?

5. The joint between the arm and the hand?

6. A small light-brown spot on the human skin (esp. on the face and hands)?

7. The hair on a man's face below the mouth?

8. The middle joint of the leg where the leg bends?

Ex. 15. Fill in the blanks with the words given in brackets.

wavy, broad, figure, handsome, shapely, complexion, voice, waist, thick, face

1. The colonel's face was cleanly shaven showing a bronzed...

2. When I was nineteen years old, I was a... young man. I was not very tall and had a well-made... and a... chest. My hair was... and coal-black and eyes large and dark.

3. The man's dress was white and he wore a golden belt round his...

4. Katrine was more beautiful than the rest. She was tall and dark and had a sweet face and fine eyes. Her figure was...

5. The newcomer was very tall, with a dark Spanish..., fine expressive black eyes and curly hair, also black. His well-formed nose, thin lips and his fine figure impressed the company with the idea of something uncommon.

6. He was a tall elderly man, bronzed after his summer on the Black Sea with a thin.... He wore a very neat suit of cream-coloured silk and no hat. His gray hair was cut very short, but was still...

7. He tried to disguise his... while speaking over telephone, but I recognized him.

white, turned-up, rosy, soft, fair, age, grey, small

1. Alice is thirteen years old. She is tall for her.... Her hair is... and.... her eyes are... and her cheeks are...; she has a... mouth and pretty... teeth. But she has a... nose and she does not like it.

yellow, long, nose

2. The girl was between nine and ten years old. She had... legs and... arms, two... pig-tails, a freckled... that turned up, and eyes that were almost green and almost brown.

Ex. 16. Read and translate the text.

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