Reading comprehension exercises. 1. Consult a dictionary and practise the pronunciation of the following words

1. Consult a dictionary and practise the pronunciation of the following words. Pay attention to the stresses:

conscientious, photograph, anonymous, antithesis, ambig­uous, homogeneous, megalomania, coincidence, cleavage, languorous, incisive, psychic, itinerary.

2. Read out the passage beginning with "For the first time..." up to TB show it to somebody, he thought" using proper tone groups and observing the rhythm. Convey proper attitudes and all the phonetic phenomena of connected speech.

3. a) Practise this brief conversation:

Student A expresses either annoyance at Walter Streeter or criticizes him. He suggests irritability and sounds reprovingly critical. Remember what rate of utterance may be associated with negative emotions.

Student B defends Walter Streeter. Mind that expressing disagreement you might sound challenging, persuasively reas­suring, be reluctantly or defensively dissenting; for the pur-

pose make use of the intonation patterns "Fall-Rise" and "Rise-Fall".

Student C asks for reasons and expresses his own personal verdict. Be aware of the change in attitudes.

b) Now in pairs talk about the pros and cons of judging a person by his/her handwriting. Impart your own attitude. Use proper intonation patterns which the argument or discussion require.

4. Substitute one of the speech patterns (p. 77) for the parts of the sen­tence in bold type.

M o d e 1 s: a) She wanted to put a coin into the slot but changed her mind as she had very little money.

She was just going to put a coin into the slot when she remembered that she had very little money and decided not to.

b) He could not understand why he had never no­ticed before that Bilson was left-handed.

How was it that he had never noticed that Bilson was left-handed?

c) It was paintul, believe me. It was painful, I can tell you.

1. Ben was on the point of dialing his telephone number to have the matter out with his brother, but-then he thought better of it. 2. The tickets were sold out a month ago. Why on earth was the theatre half empty? 3. Daniel has a very good memory for names and dates. How did it happen that he forgot about my birthday? 4. The weather forecast was "cloudy with occa­sional showers". He was about to start off when suddenly he decided to stay at home. 5. Jane was just about to throw the old envelope into the waste-paper basket when suddenly she changed her mind. 6. So you are a professional singer. How could it have happened that you had never told me about this befort? 7. How can you account for the fact that we have lived in the same town for two years and have never met? 8. We had an awful time getting back, believe me. 9. 1 assure you, I broke out in goosebumps all over. 10. You've got something on your hands there, lad, I'm sure about it.

5. Translate the following sentences into English using the speech patterns:

1. Уверяю вас, мне не впервые приходится слышать подобную отговорку. 2. Как это так получается, что у нас никогда нет возмож­ности встретиться? 3. Почему (так выходит) я больше не встречаю Джейн у вас в гостях? 4. Как это могло случиться, что два маленьких мальчика одни поехали кататься по реке? 5. Их беседа не была такой безобидной, уверяю вас. 6. В письме он писал, что собирается при­ехать к нам в сентябре, а затем передумал. 7. Мы уже совсем собра­лись купить телевизор, а потом раздумали.

Дата добавления: 2014-12-27