ФГАОУ ВО «МОСКОВСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ ИНСТИТУТ МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫХ ОТНОШЕНИЙ (УНИВЕРСИТЕТ) МИД РОССИИ»

Кафедра английского языка № 2

LET'S NOT SKIP WITH THE KRANKS - THE SCOPE OF EVERYDAY AND HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES IN THE USA THROUGH READING

Учебное пособие по домашнему чтению к рассказу “Skipping Christmas” by

Уровень B1-B2

Москва 2019

Unit 2

(Modules 3-4) Chapters 5-8

1. VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR TASKS

1.1. Practice the pronunciation of the words from the chapters. When in doubt refer to the transcription. jealous, agitation, trivial, missus, cuisine, haughtiness, dozen, nostalgic, clandestine, juvenile, debt, adjournment, precious, wilds, mature, chaos, concourse, gear, gawk, gorgeous, forehead, purchase, waffle, mandatory, affluent, doohickey, muscle, brouhaha, sarcastic, Lutheran, Jewish, Buddhist, choir, squirm, vary, obituary, assault, juniper, waltz, itinerary, dermatologist, atheist, whimsical, stomach, olive, recipe, chemical, grimace, gnaw, awkward, saltine.

/ˈdʒeləs/ /nɒˈstældʒɪk/ /məˈtʃʊə(r)/ /ˌædʒɪˈteɪʃ(ə)n/ /ˈklændeˌstaɪn/ /ˈkeɪɒs/ /ˈtrɪviəl/ / /ˈdʒuːvənaɪl/ /ˈkɒŋkɔː(r)s/ ˈmɪsɪz/ /det/ /ɡɪə(r)/ /kwɪˈziːn/ /əˈdʒɜː(r)nmənt/ /ɡɔːk/ /ˈhɔːtinəs/ /ˈpreʃəs/ /ˈɡɔː(r)dʒəs/ /ˈdʌz(ə)n/ /waɪldz/ /ˈfɒrɪd/ /ˈpɜː(r)tʃəs/ /ˈluːθərən/ /ˈdʒuːnɪpə(r)/ /ˈwɒf(ə)l/ /ˈdʒuːɪʃ/ /wɔːls/ /ˈmændət(ə)ri/ /ˈbʊdɪst/ /aɪˈtɪnərəri/ /ˈæfluːənt/ /kwaɪə(r)/ /ˌdɜː(r)məˈtɒlədʒɪst/ /ˈduːˌhɪki/ /skwɜː(r)m/ /ˈeɪθiɪst/ /ˈmʌs(ə)l/ /ˈveəri/ /ˈwɪmzɪk(ə)l/ /ˈbruːhɑːˌhɑː/ /əˈbɪtʃuəri/ /ˈstʌmək/ /sɑː(r)ˈkæstɪk/ /əˈsɔːlt/ /ˈɒlɪv/ /ˈresəpi/ /ˈkemɪk(ə)l/ /ˈɡrɪməs/ /nɔː/ /ˈɔːkwə(r)d/ /ˈsɔːltiːn/

1.2. Give the English equivalents for the following words and word- combinations. Recall the situations in which they were used.

1. отпроситься с работы (из-за плохого самочувствия) 2. незначительный, обыденный 3. высокомерие 4. oсознание своей вины 5. восхищаться чем-л. 6. неминуемый, неизбежный 7. богатый район 8. быть признательным, благодарным 9. вызвать полицию 10. петь рождественские песни 11. нарушать чужое право владения 12. последствия 13. услышать сплетни 14. нервы сдали 15. дом престарелых

1.3. Give the Russian equivalents for the following words and word- combinations. Recall the situations in which they were used. 1. heavily in debt 2. to fret over sth 3. precious 4. to spot sth/sb 5. mature 6. to purchase 7. phony

8. to cross the mind

9. a dropout

10. to advocate smth/doing smth. 11. at smb’s expence 12. to be determined to do smth. 13. to hold attention 14. to be cordial to smb. 15. the target of smb’s displeasure 1.4. Replace the italicized words and word-combinations with a synonym from the box.

envious strict appreciate crippled fretted over awesome contemporary mandatory poker dodging purchase gorgeous marveled at clandestine intelligent

1. It was Spike Frohmeyer, no doubt heading home after some secret juvenile meeting. 2. “You got it, Vic. I’d be grateful for your cooperation.” 3. They shopped and decorated and cooked, planned parties and sent cards and worried about things the men never thought about. 4. Luther paused for a second and once more admired the speed with whichoneperson’sprivatebusinesscouldbesothoroughlykickedaroundthe neighborhood 5. Why, exactly, was Luther so keen on avoiding Christmas when he put so little effort into it? 6. He stopped and gawked at a life-sized poster of an awesome young thing in a string bikini. 7. Not surprisingly, Daisy said it was the best time of the year to buy a package. 8. Salino wore no gun or vest, no nightstick or flashlight, no handcuffs or radio, none of the obligatory gadgetry that his brethren loved to affix to their belts. 9. Just a matter of time before someone around the office commented on his tan. They were all so jealous. 10. We'll deliver toys to six hundred kids. It's an ambitious project. 11. Since Treen could think of no smart retort, he decided he would get Krank's license plate number and lie in ambush somewhere, maybe catch him speeding or sneaking through a stop sign. 12. Luther’s sense of smell had been much keener, no doubt a side effect of a crash diet. 13. We're raising money for handicapped children, Salino said. 14. Three years earlier, the PBA published a calendar filled with photos of its leaner and younger members, half grinning goofily at the camera, the other half straining with the tortured I-hate-modeling veneer of the latest fashion. 15. A sharp bolt of hunger hit Luther hard, his knees almost buckled, his impassive face almost grimaced.

1.5. Replace the italicized words and word-combinations with an opposite word or word-combination from the box.

mature spotted trivial heavily in debt precious

limited brand-new needy affluent splendid

1. It was silly to be worried about such important matters as putting a snowman on the roof 2. Luther knew for a fact that they were rolling in cash - big house, big cars, country clubs. 3. Nora read it again and was suddenly filled with pride, not only for raising such a wise and childish daughter 4. It was two pages of Blair’s lovely handwriting, and the words were valueless. 5. She was healthy and well fed, no dreaded diseases or deadly animals had been noticed, and the work was challenging. 6. He patrolled the neighborhoods around Hemlock, the decaying suburbs where the only crime was an occasional stolen bike or a speeding car. 7. Next door Swade Kerr had suddenly been seized with the spirit of Christmas and was wrapping his scrawny little boxwoods with old red and green blinking lights. 8. It had been a poor presentation by Luther. 9. Salino’s partner probably possessed extensive vocabulary. 10. We're just trying to raise a little extra to help sheltered kids.

1.6. Fill in the gaps with the right preposition or particle.

1. At a cost of $82.99, plus shipping, everyone packed away their Frostys with care. And they unpacked them ______great delight. 2. Luther hung up gently and tried to concentrate ______his work. 3. When the street was clear, he went ______a walk. 4. Luther paused for a second and once more marveled ______the speed with which one person’s private business could be so thoroughly kicked around the neighborhood. 5. “Evening, Luther,” Vic said, as if the encounter was purely ______chance. He leaned on his mailbox at the end of his drive. 6. “Just doesn’t seem right ______some reason.” 7. Luther knew for a fact that they were heavily ______debt-big house, big cars, country clubs. Earned a lot, spent even more. 8. They were very poor, according ______our standards, but healthy and happy. 9. He stopped and gawked ______a life-sized poster of a gorgeous young thing in a string bikini, her skin perfectly tanned. 10. Oddly, there was no price attached ______the calendars. 11. I'm proud ______all our city employees. 12. He was concerned ______Nora. 13. voted eleven ______two against him. 14. Luther enjoyed life on Hemlock, got ______well ______his neighbors. 15. Swade Kerr had suddenly been seized ______the spirit of Christmas

1.7. Translate the sentences into English, use vocabulary units.

1. Обитатели дома престарелых были признательны детям, которые пришли пожелать им счастливого Рождества и спеть Рождественские песни. 2. Правила работы в нашей фирме требуют, чтобы вы позвонили и предупредили о своем отсутствии на рабочем месте из-за плохого самочувствия, даже если у вас незначительная простуда. 3. Будучи невероятно высокомерным, он вряд ли осознает свою вину. 4. В богатых пригородах запрещено нарушать чужое право владения. 5. Вызов полиции - неизбежное последствие криминальных событий. 6. Ты окажешься "по уши" в долгах, если будешь покупать дорогие вещи за счет сбережений, сделанных на "черный день". 7. Как зрелый человек он имел твердое намерение выступить в поддержку проекта о защите окружающей среды. 8. Он оказался объектом всеобщего недовольства в семье, когда бросил учебу в университете. 9. Этот преподаватель умеет удерживать внимание студентов и всегда с теплотой к ним относится. 10. Мудрая идея пришла ей в голову - не стоит беспокоиться о прекращении отношений, которые были фальшивыми.

2. READING COMPREHENSION

2.1. Answer the questions, use vocabulary of the Unit while discussing them.

1. Why wasn't the matter of installing the Frosty a simple one? Describe it step by step. 2. Why didn't Spike get any answer at the Kranks' door? 3. What was the reason for Luther to think of Walt Scheel? 4. Do you think Luther was in two minds about his decision to skip Christmas? What are your arguments? 5. On which grounds are people usually invited to celebrate Christmas? Should they be only relatives and good friends? 6. What feelings did Nora have when she had to answer the questions about her skipping Christmas? 7. What thoughts did Blair's letter stir in Nora? 8. What made Luther sign up for two packages at Tans Forever salon? 9. In what sort of charity activities was the Police Benevolent Association involved? 10. Why did people have to buy something from the Police Benevolent Association? 11. What is the difference between Luther's and Nora's attitude to carolers' singing? 12. What event prevented Luther from enjoying his morning routine after the caroling party on his front lawn? 13. What kind of thoughts gripped Luther's mind when he arrived at work? 14. What was Luther's reaction to selling him ? 15. Being on a diet made Luther angry, didn't it? Provide the arguments.

2.2. Give character sketches of the main heroes of the story.

2.3. Summarize each chapter in 5-7 sentences. Use vocabulary of the Unit.

3. DISCUSSION TASK

Speaking Point is the format of expressing a personal

opinion in which a Speaker takes his stance on a topic

providing arguments for and/or against.

• Introduce the topic in your own words. • Take a stance on the issue. • Give arguments supporting your opinion. If you are supposed to discuss advantages and disadvantages, outline the main benefits and drawbacks and then take a stance on the issue based on arguments for or against. • Draw a logical conclusion based on your arguments.

• "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed". Does it serve a good reference to Blair's words about "mindless materialism"? • Any corporate culture is based on strict rules each member of the staff is to obey. How relevant are such dos and don'ts for doing business? • A sense of being responsible for the area you live in is a ground for a stable society. • Do you think a feeling of rivalry and a spirit of competiveness are deeply rooted in people's hearts and minds? • What makes people donate to charities? • People's obsession with appearance contributes to the development and growth of cosmetics production.