Salvatore

ordinary fisherman who possessed nothing in the world except a quality which is the rarest, the most precious and the loveliest that anyone can have. Heaven only knows why he should so strangely and unexpectedly have possessed it. All I know is that it shone in him with a radiance that, if it had not been unconscious and so humble, would have been to the common run of men¹⁴ hardly bearable. And in case you have not guessed what the quality was, I will tell you. Goodness, just goodness.

Notes:

1. Grande Marina — Via Grande Marina — the name of a road or street along the seafront in Italian towns

2. Caesar ['sirzo] — any of the Roman emperors succeeding Augustus Caesar (63 B.C. - 14 A.D.); the word is used as a title

3. King Victor Emmanuel [I'mzenjusl] — Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy (1900- 1946)

4. Iscbia ['iskjaj — a rocky island near die entrance to the Bay of Naples, a health resort noted for its warm mineral springs and beautiful scenery

5. Vesuvius [vi 'su: vias] — an active volcano in Italy on the shore of the Bay of Naples

6. La Spezzia [ia 'speitsis] — a seaport in the north-west of Italy

7. Venice ['venis] — a city in the north-east of Italy built on 118 islets in the gulf of Venice

8. Bari ['ba; n] — a port on the Adriatic in South Italy, an industrial and com­mercial center

9. Naples ['neiplz] — second largest seaport in Italy, a major industrial and commercial center

10. festa (It.) — holiday

11. High Mass — a religious service of the Roman Catholic Church accompanied by singing of the liturgy

12. a long pull of six... miles — a long hard row of six... miles (pull = effort)

13. cuttlefish — a marine mollusc of warm waters with an ink sac, which when pursued or otherwise frightened ejects a dark fluid. This fluid, called sepia is dried and used by painters; Russ.: каракатица

14. the common run of men — average, ordinary kind of men

54 I. VOCABULARY

wonder (v) 1. feel curiosity, ask oneself (who, what, why, whether, etc.)

□ I wonder who he is (what he wants, why he is late, whether he will come);

2. (at) marvel; feel surprised

□ I don't wonder at her refusing to marry him. ugly (adj) 1. unpleasant to look at; hideous

D ugly face (building, surroundings) 2. threatening, unpleasant

П ugly symptom (situation)

clumsy (adj) 1. heavy and ungraceful in movement or construction; not well designed for its purpose О The clumsy workman put his elbow through the window and broke it.

□ An axe would be a clumsy tool to open a tin of milk with. 2. tactless; unskillful

□ a clumsy apology (praise)

throw (v) I. cause (smth) to go through the air, usually with force, by a move­ment of the arm or by mechanical means

□ He throws well.

D Don't throw stones at my dog! 2. (on, off, over, etc.) put (articles of clothing) quickly or carelessly

О throw off one's clothes (disguise);

О throw a scarf over one's shoulders. throw about/around — scatter

□ Don't throw waste paper about in the park.

П He is throwing his money about (= spending it recklessly) throw away/out — to get rid of (smth)

□ Let's throw the old television set away, it's been giving more and more trouble; we should get a new one.

throw oneself into put much effort, time and keenness into (some

activity)

О The best cure for unhappiness is to throw yourself into your work. throw off manage to get rid of; become free from; remove smth with some

force

□ Look how the duck shakes its back to throw the water off! throw open open smth violently

□ The angry father threw the door open and marched into his son's room. throw over desert, abandon

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□ throw over a plan (an old friend)

throw dust into smb's eyes to deceive or mislead smb;

throw doubt upon smth suggest that it is not to be regarded as certain or

reliable;

throw light on smth make smth clear own (v) possess; have a property

□ This house is mine; I own it.

□ Who owns this land? (= To whom does it belong?) affianced (part) [s'faianstf engaged to be married.

Fiance, -cee man (woman) to whom one is engaged to be married; one's

betrothed.

strike (v) have (usually a strong) effect upon the mind; attract the attention of П The plan strikes me as ridiculous.

□ It struck me (= 1 had the impression) that he was not telling the truth. О An idea suddenly struck (= occurred to) him.

care(v) 1. feel interest, anxiety, or sorrow

П He failed the examination but I don't think he cares very much.

□ He doesn't care a bit (a damn) = is not in the least interested, worried etc П Well, who cares?

2. (for) a) like

□ He doesn't much care for television, b) look after

О Who will care for the children if their mother dies? mind (n) 1, (person with) mental ability or intellect

□ He is one of the great minds of the age.

□ No two minds think alike.

2. (uncountable) memory, remembrance

□ bear (keep) smth in mind (= remember it);

П call (bring) smth to mind (= recall it to the memory); Out of sight, out of mind (Proverb)

3. (countable) what a person thinks or feels; way of thinking, feeling, wishing;

opinion; intention; purpose

П He doesn't know his own mind (= doesn't know what he wants). make up one's mind come to a decision

□ He made up his mind to be a doctor. change one's mind change one's purpose or intention

П He wanted to buy a new car but he changed his mind, be in two minds (about smth) hesitate

□ I'm still in two minds about which scarf to choose. Will you help me? have a good (great) mind to be almost decided to, be strongly disposed to

□ I've a good mind to write to him myself.

presence of mind ability lo act or decide quickly when there is danger, etc.

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П She never loses her presence of mind, lack (^v) be without; not have; have less than enough of

□ He lacks wisdom.

□ 1 lack words with which to express my thanks.

blame (v) find fault with; fix the responsibility on (smb or smth) (tor smth)

□ Bad workmen often blame their tools.

□ I have nothing to blame myself for. be to blame deserve censure

□ Who is to blame for starting the fire? (= Whom have we to find fault with?)

П I am in no way to blame (= am not in any way responsible). afford (v) usually with can, could, be able to spare or find enough time or money for

□ We can't afford a holiday (can't afford to go away for a holiday) this summer.

□ If you want to pass that examination, you can't afford time for the ci­nema.

II. COMPREHENSION

Ex. 1. Answer the following questions:

1. What was Salvatore like at the age of fifteen?

2. How did he spend most of the time?

3. What sort of family did he come from and who was he responsible for?

4. Who was he soon madly in love with?

5. What prevented him from marrying at the time?

6. Why was it so hard for Salvatore to do his military service?

7. What had never struck him before?

8. What sort of letters did he write to the girl he loved?

9. What happened to Salvatore when he was transferred to, China? 10. How did he take the news he was unfit for further service?

П. Who came to meet the boat? How did Salvatore's mother explain the girl's absence to him?

12. Where did Salvatore go in the evening?

13. What did the girl tell him straight out?

14. What did Salvatore find out when he returned home?

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15. Why did he not blame the girl?

16. What did his mother tell him a few months later?

17. What sort of woman was Assunta? '

18. Why did Salvatore go up to High Mass on the following Sunday? How did he dress for the occasion?

19. Where did the couple settle down?

20. What did Salvatore look like at the time of his marriage?

21. What kind of wife did Assunta make?

22. What was the only point they disagreed on?

23. How did Salvatore make his living? Why was his life hard enough?

24. What would he do when he was in pain?

25. How did Salvatore treat his children? What kind of father was he?

26. What was the author's purpose in writing the story?

Ex. 2. Translate the following passages into Russian.

1. p. 50. From " I knew Salvatore first when he was a boy of fifteen..." to "...he would throw himself into the deep water with a cry of delight".

2. p. 51. From " She had eyes like forest pools..." to "...he wept like a child".

3. p. 51. From " It was hard for one..." to "...he had been used to silent paths and the mountains and the sea".

4. p. 51. From " He was dreadfully homesick." to "...how much he longed to be back".

5. p. 52. From " When Salvatore went home..." to "...of the girl he loved so well".

6. p. 52. From " She was older than he..." to "...at that moment without a tenant".

7. p. 53. From " Well, they were married..." to "...kindly eyes that he had as a boy".

8. p. 53. From " Assunta was a grim-visaged female..." to "...to be touched by his gentle sweetness".

9. p. 54. From " I wanted to see whether I could hold your attention..." to "...he should so strangely and unexpectedly have possessed it".

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III. WORD STUDY

x. 3. Translate all vocabulary entries and examples.

x. 4. Give words and expressions close in meaning to the following:

ugly; with next to nothing on; to scramble up the jagged rocks; a cry of slight; to own; a nursemaid; frugal meal; in a little while; to love smb with [1 one's heart; a pretty girl; to be affianced; to be frightened; to be used to; > suppose; to cease; to realize in some dim fashion; ill-spelt letters; mute;; arcely; to learn about; to search for; placid; to recover; a tiny house; a

Iisky fellow; an ingenuous smile; a grim-visaged woman; a trifle cooler; irk naked; to scream lustily; constant toil; with delicate care; goodness к. 5. Paraphrase the italicized parts of the following sentences; translate em into Russian. 1. Here he fell ill of some mysterious ailment. 2. She told him straight t, with the blunt directness of her race that she could not marry a man who mid never be strong enough to work like a man. 3. They had made up m minds, her mother and father. 4.... and she, and her father would lever give consent. 5. He knew very well that a girl could not afford to marry i man who might not be able to support her. 6. Then, a few months later... le... settled down to the common round, working in his father's vineyard and ishing.... 7..;. she had a good heart and she was no fool. 8. She could not > mr the girl who had thrown him over, and notwithstanding Salvatore's smil­ing expostulations she had nothing but harsh words for her.

JX. 6. Replace the italicized parts of the sentences with words and Phrases from the text.

1. He would lie on the beach almost naked. 2. His tanned body was extremely thin. 3. He swam well and with ease, the way fisher boys do. У Boys in the South grow very quickly. 5. He missed home terribly. 6. He write long letters making a lot of spelling mistakes. 7. When he learned was no longer fit to do military service he was extremely happy. 8. He was in the least upset since this meant going home. 9. Assunta was a stem- woman.

'ooking

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Ex. 7. РШ in the blanks with prepositions or adverbs.

1. Everybody admires her manners, besides she is full... grace. 2. They always go to the countryside... Sundays. 3. Such way of painting is not common... the natives. 4. He is a wonderful father. When his wife is absent he acts as nursemaid... his son. 5.... a cry of delight she threw herself... the cool water. 6. We met... a little while in a small cafe. 7. He felt terribly homesick. It was hardest... all to be parted... the family. 8. He often thought... her and wrote letters... her. 9. Last year he fell ill... some seriuos ailment and was kept... hospital for several weeks. 10. Her education is poor and she is unfit... this kind of work. 11. When he saw his friends, he waved... them. 12. He had to search... the crowd... her for a long time. 13.... the distance we could see the lights of the city. 14.... the evening he decided to visit his friends whom he had not seen... so long. 15. He never said a hard word... the girl he had loved so much. 16. They decided to settle... in this small house. 17. She is engaged... my cousin. 18.... a happy chance he had money... his own, enough to start a small business. 19. As soon as he saw her, he fell... love... her. 20. We never ceased to be touched... his kind attention. 21.... this time his rheumatism prevented him... doing anything at all. 22. His hands were coarse and hard... constant toil. 23.... my word, they are such nice people. 24.... case you meet her, ask her to come to visit with us.

Ex. 8. a) Find in the text the following expressions. Use them in the sentences below.

Почти ничего; худой, как щепка; безумно влюбиться; быть помолв­ленным (2); отбыть военную службу; быть в чьем-то распоряжении (на побегушках); приходить в голову; иметь какое-л. отношение (к); тосковать по дому; быть разлученным (с); страстно желать; непонятное заболевание; какое ему было дело; смягчить удар; не хватало мужества; содержать кого-л.; по счастливой случайности; хорошенько разглядеть; поселиться; удержать внимание

1. Мы сидели далеко друг от друга, и я не смог хорошенько разглядеть её лица. 2. Он очень тоскует по дому и уже два дня почти ничего не ест. 3. После длительных путешествий они решили поселиться в небольшом городке на самом берегу океана. 4. Это не имеет никакого отношения К нашему с вами соглашению. 5. Он очень гордый человек и не может быть у кого-либо на побегушках. 6. Ей и в голову не приходило, что друг её брата был безумно в нее влюблен. 7. У нас не хватало мужества

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сообшить ей об этом. 8. Они были недавно помолвлены и собираются скоро пожениться. 9. Какое им было дело до того, что скажут _Кружающие? 10. Где вы отбывали военную службу? 11. Мы очень хотим повидаться с нашими старыми друзьями. 12. Ему было трудно пережить пазлуку со своими родными. 13. По счастливой случайности никто не пострадал во время пожара. 14. Это непонятное заболевание сделало _еГо совсем худым. 15. Я хотел смягчить удар, но она заставила меня рассказать всю правду о происшествии. 16. Он зарабатывает достаточно денег, чтобы содержать такую большую семью. 17. Он смог долго удерживать внимание детей увлекательным рассказом о своих Приключениях.

b) Translate the sentences into English paying special attention to the use of past tenses.

1. Они были помолвлены, но не могли пожениться до тех пор, пока он не отбыл военную службу. 2. Когда он покинул остров, который до сих пор никогда в своей жизни не покидал, он плакал, как ребенок. 3. Для того, кто всегда был свободен, как птица, было трудно служить на побегушках. 4. Какое ему было до этого дело, если он возвращался на свой маленький остров, который он так любил, и к девушке, которая его ждала? 5. Когда он подошел к их дому, девушка сидела на крыльце. 6. Несколько месяцев спустя, мать сказала ему, что в деревне живет женщина, которая хочет выйти за него замуж. 7. Она была старше его и до этого была помолвлена с мужчиной, которого убили, когда он служил в Африке. 8. Мать сказала ему, что Ассунта видела его во время праздника и влюбилась в него. 9. Она ненавидела девушку, которая отвергла его. 10. Он работал в винограднике от зари до сумерек.

Ex. 9. Translate the sentences, paying special attention to the mean­ing of the words and phrases from Vocabulary.

1. There are so many ugly buildings around. Every building should be a tribute to this city. 2. John wondered whether Lara really knew what she ^was getting into. 3. He'll use this as an excuse to throw us all into the streets. 4. By the time I was twenty-one, I owned three buildings, and they ^Were all successful. 5. In the back of her mind was an elusive image of someone she had once met and wanted to meet again. 6. " What is our financial position? " " The firm owns five percent." 7. " A professor from ^-olumbia University called me." " Well, I wonder if you could give me the ^etails on that." 8. As far as wages were concerned Sean Me Allister was not

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a man to throw away his money. 9. He wondered again where Nedry had gone. Five minutes ago, he'd sent guards to search the building for him. 10. " I think there are other pressing problems, too, " Wu said, frowning. " But none so pressing on my mind as this, " Hammomd said. 11. In this case attention is drawn away from who is to blame for these attacks. 12. He had only himself to blame for his predicament. 13. He was one of the best. The women were crazy about him, and you couldn't blame them. He was one of the most decent fellows I've ever met. 14. We live in a world of frightful givens. It is given that you will behave like this, given that you will care about that. 15. If you'd cared to, you could have broken the ice for both of us.

Ex. 10. Make up sentences using the following words and expressions.

1. used to (do smth)

See the text: He used to spend the morning lying about the beach... Example: She used to play the piano very well.

2. can (could), can't (couldn't) afford smth (or to do smth)

See the text: A girl could not afford to many a man who might not be able to work like a man.

Example: John could not afford to buy such an expensive car.

Those shoes are too expensive. I can't afford them.