Reading comprehension exercises

1. a) Consult a dictionary and transcribe the following words from the text. Practise their pronunciation paying attention to stresses:

unanimous, corroborative, appreciation, naked, aridity, iota, sub­sequent, contraband, sheriff, circumstantial, persevering, unmitigat­ed, aisle, exit, caliber, perspire, distaff, executive, inferiority, gavel, conduct (v, n), minute, indict, loosen.

b) Listen to your partners' reading of the above exercise. Correct their mis­takes.

2. Read out the following word combinations paying attention to the phonet­ ic phenomena of connected speech (assimilation, the linking "r", the sonorant between two vowels, lateral and nasal plosions, the loss of plosion):

where a man ought to get a square deal; the enormity of her of­fense; so long in a case like that; putting a man's life at stake; the jury seemed to be attentive; to get rid of her own guilt; no doubt signing it with his left hand; white men cheat black men; and placed them on the table; I was reluctant to take off my eyes; received almost unani­mous critical acclaim; unbuttoned his vest, loosened his tie; it came crashing down on her afterwards; one more thing before I quit; watch­ing Atticus walk into the street; indicted on a capital charge.

3. Single out the communicative centres and make them prominent by tone and stress in the following sentences.

1. When Judge Taylor appointed Atticus Finch, an experienced smart lawyer and a very clever man, he was sure that Atticus would not win the case, he could not win it... 2. "In our courts, when it is a white man's word against a black man's, the white man always wins." 3."... whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash..." 4. "The defendant is not guilty, but somebody in this court-room is." 5. "I have nothing but pity in my heart for the chief witness for the state." 6. "We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people would have us believe — some people are smart­er than others, some people have more opportunity because they were born with it, some men make more money than others, some ladies

make better cakes than others, some people are born gifted beyond the normal scope of most men."

4. Complete the following sentences.

1. No matter who he is, he.... 2. No matter who told you that.... 3.... no matter who you are. 4. No matter what I do.... 5. No matter what it may seem.... 6.... no matter how well he knows the facts. 7. No matter how fine the weather was.... 8.... no matter what it might be. 9. No matter how hard she tried.... 10.1 feel nothing but... .11. The girl was conscious of nothing but... . 12. They were afraid they would have nothing but.... 13. The young gang always had a way of... 14. Little Dennis has a way of....

5. Combine the following sentences into one.

Model: I don't care who this man is. I must tell him not to interfere. No matter who this man is, he mustn't interfere.

a) 1. It doesn't matter who told you about it. Don't believe it.

2. Somebody may come. You must be ready to receive him. 3. It is not important which of you will carry out this task. It must be done with­ out delay. 4.1 don't think she must take these facts for granted. Some­ body might tell her about them. 5. She doesn't care who helps her with her work. She never feels obliged.

Model: a) I don't care how late you may come. Ring me up. I'll be expecting your call. No matter how late you come, ring me up. b) She may say anything. Don't believe it. No matter what she says, don't believe it.

b) 1. Andrew would come very late. His wife would always sit up for him. 2. He does a lot of things. He always does them thoroughly.

3. She is hard to please. She will always find fault with everything I do. 4. You may suggest this or that it will make no difference. He will always object.

6. Paraphrase the following sentences. Use the speech patterns.

1. Atticus Finch was never afraid to speak with his children on very complicated topics. 2. She is very lonely and is very glad when

3. 50

4. 51

3. somebody comes to see her. 3. Atticus Finch said that any man who tried to take advantage of a Negro's ignorance was trash. 4. They tried to spend as little as possible, yet they could not save enough money. 5. You may say whatever you like, yet he will have his own way. 6. I'm too tired and am going to bed. I'm not at home if anybody calls. 7. I'm afraid only of the dark. 8. He did not know the material. He knew only some points which were of no importance. 9. The only thing I'd like to have now is a cup of very hot strong tea. 10. John would al­ways humor everybody when it was most needed. It's in his charac­ter. 11. Young Alison would always wear the most suitable clothes.

7. Make up two sentences of your own on each pattern. Make up and act out a dialogue using the speech patterns.

8. Translate the following sentences into English using the speech pat­terns.

3. 1. Кто бы ни был этот человек, он не имел права так поступать. 2. Врач все­гда должен быть внимателен, кто бы к нему ни обратился, какой бы странной ни казалась жалоба пациента. 3. Она всегда готова помочь, кто бы ни попросил ее о помощи. 4. Что бы ты ни говорил, я все равно тебе не верю. 5. Аттикус Финч знал, что он проиграет процесс, как бы он ни старался доказать, что Том Робинсон невиновен. 6. Какой бы усталой она ни была, у нее было обыкнове­ние убирать квартиру, прежде чем ложиться спать. 7. Его лицо не выражало ничего, кроме негодования. 8. Только операция может спасти вашего сына. 9. Скажите ему правду, ничего кроме правды, как бы тяжела она ни была. 10. Мы слышали только легкий шум. 11. Это в его характере суметь заставить других сделать за себя работу. 12 У Тома была странная особенность играть в боулинг только по субботам.

4. 9. Note down from the text the sentences containing the phrases and word combinations and translate them into Russian.

5. 10. Complete the following sentences.

6. 1.1 understand that it's only his word against mine but.... 2.1... to get a square deal in this court. 3. Douglas was halfway through his presentation when... . 4. ... in private.... 5. You must be stark raving mad to .... 6.... remaining time. 7. At one time or another.... 8.... in part.... 9. Under the circumstances... . 10. In itself... 11.... no better than... 12. She was reluctant....

11. Make up two or three sentences of your own on each phrase and word combination.

12. Using the phrases make up a sutable dialogue and act it out in front of the

3. class.

4. 13. Translate the following sentences into English using the phrases and word combinations.

5. 1. Вы выступаете против того, что утверждает он, но это все слова, вы не приводите никаких доказательств. 2. Финч хотел, чтобы с обвиняемым посту­пили справедливо. 3. Не делайте замечание своему сыну при людях, поговори­те с ним наедине. 4. Надо быть совершенно сумасшедшим, чтобы отказаться от такой возможности. 5. Я хочу использовать оставшееся время, чтобы обсудить с вами вопрос с глазу на глаз. 6. Я частично с вами согласен, что в любом случае должен это сделать, однако при данных обстоятельствах мне не'хотелось бы воспользоваться его затруднительным положением. 7. Само по себе его пред­ложение интересно, но оно не лучше вашего. 8. В чем вы его обвиняете? — Он солгал и не очень-то хочет в этом признаваться, что плохо само по себе, более того, он упорно повторяет эту ложь.

6. 14. Decide whether the following statements are true or false.

1. Atticus was speaking with difficulty, with the kind of detach­ment he used when he dictated a letter.

2. The state has produced a lot of medical evidence to the effect of the crime.

3. She has committed a crime, she has just broken a rigid and time-honored code of our society.

4. No code mattered to her before she broke it, but it came crush­ing down on her afterwards.

3. 5.... there is circumstantial evidence to indicate that Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led almost exclusively with his right.

6. The witnesses for the state ...have presented themselves in the cynical confidence that their testimony would be doubted.

7. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men.

8. Our courts have no faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts aren't the great levelers, as in our courts all men are created equal.

6. 52

7. 53

6. 9. I'm an idealist and I believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and in the jury system.

7. 10.1 am confident that you, gentlemen, will review without pas­sion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family.

8. 15. Finish the sentences using the text wording.

9. 1. He walked slowly up and down in front of the jury,.... 2. "I shall be brief.... 3. "I have nothing but pity in my heart for the chief wit­ness for the state.... 4. She has committed no crime .... 5. She knew full well the enormity of her offense.... 6. We don't know in part what Mr. Ewell did:.... 7. Thomas Jefferson once said that all men are cre­ated equal.... 8. "But there is one way in the country.... 9. A court is only as sound as.... 10.1 peeked at Jem:....

10. 16 a). Match the words on the left wtth the words on the right.

11. into serious question on cross-examination; my pity does not extend so far as to her putting a man's life at stake; the unmitigated temerity; confident that you, gentlemen, would go along with them on the as­sumption that all Negroes lie.

12. 18. Answer the questions.

13. 1. Where is the scene set? 2. What was Tom Robinson charged with? 3. Why did Judge Taylor appoint Atticus Finch to defend him? 4. In what way did Atticus Finch speak to the jury and why? 5. What did Atticus Finch say about the case? 6. What did Atticus Finch say about Mayella Ewell? 7. What did the girl do to get rid of her own guilt? 8. What were the witnesses for the state sure of when giving their testimony? 9. What was the evil assumption of the witnesses for the state? 10. What did Atticus Finch say about people not being created equal? 11. Why didn't Atticus Finch believe firmly in the integrity of their courts and in the jury system?