Grammar. D. Grammar notes and practice

D. GRAMMAR NOTES AND PRACTICE

I. In the text you have come across sentences with the modal vcrh can
Study the following sentences from the text and say what meaniпул
the modal verb denotes in them. Translate these sentences into уош
native language:

Just as Diana thought she could slip away, an authorisation would land on

her desk.

She knew she would never be able to tell the children what she had done. Diana wondered if the animal could have survived.

II. Recollect more examples from the text or make up your own
sentences based on the contents of the text in which the modal veil)
can or its equivalent are used in different meanings: physical or
mental ability or possibility; lost possibility in the past, etc.

E. READING COMPREHENSION

I. Correct the following statements by giving facts from the text:

1 Diana was a successful business woman and a happy

wife.

2 On leaving the office she wished a good weekend to Phil Haskins, her deputy.

3 It was easy to drive in London that Friday.

4 Diana seldom accepted Daniel and Rachael's invitation to spend the weekend on their farm because she considered life in the countryside dull and boring.

5 After her divorce Diana liked to stay home alone.

6 The week was wonderful for Diana.

7 Diana didn't pay attention to the pair of headlights shining through her rear windscreen because she was enjoying Gloria Gaynor belting out her opinion of men.

8 The Land Rover overtook the Audi estate not to dazzle Diana with harsh lights.

9 Diana accelerated to 110 to sit on the van's bumper.

10 The police stopped the Audi and booked Diana for speeding.

11 Diana shook off the van when she swung onto a country road.

12 As the country road to the farm was full of potholes and bumps, Diana decided to risk going on to the next town.

13 Diana got rid of the chaser because Daniel shot him dead.

II. Answer the following questions by using as many key words and expressions from the text as possible:

1 Why did Diana have to stay at work till 6p.m. that Friday?

2 What was her habit to read documents?

3 Diana was not interested in politics, was she?

4 What were Diana's preferences in music?

5 Why did she consider her divorce amicable enough?

6 What was Diana's opinion of men?

7 Why did Diana envy Daniel and Rachael's gentle existence?

8 What present did she buy for her friends?

9 How did Diana manage to hit a cat?

10 What did she do with the cat?

11 When did she first realize something was wrong?

12 What did Diana do first to get rid of the van sitting on
her bumper?

13 Was it easy to shake off the Land Rover? Why?

14 What did Diana do to alert the passing motorists about her predicament?

15 Why did the motorists remain oblivious to Diana's efforts to draw their attention?

16 When did she actually realize the danger coming from the van?

17 How did she feel during the chase?

18 What was the reason for her choosing the option to go to the farm instead of trying to approach the next town on a lit motorway?

19 Were Diana's manoeuvres on the country road successful to shake off the van?

20 What was she afraid of when she was approaching the farm? Why?

21 How did Diana manage to escape from the danger?

F. DISCUSSION

I. Make up the list of the themes you think the story consists
of. Discuss with your partner if he/she shares your
opinion.

II. Meditate on the title of the story. Can you explain the
author's choice for the compressed idea of the text?

Do you consider the driver of the Land Rover to be a real man (hero)? Give your arguments to prove why he chose the way described in the story as the only one to save Diana. Can you recollect any similar story read about in press or that happened to you (your friend)? Do you share the opinion that it is easy (difficult) for a woman to combine the responsibilities of a director (top manager) of a thriving company with the duties of a mother (wife)? Give your own arguments or those ones from the text to prove it.

Discuss with your peers the importance of Diana's motto " Any mistake made hastily (on a Friday night) could be regretted in the weeks to come" in running a business. What other essential principles (statements) can you add to make up a code of a successful manager?

UNIT12

A. PREPARINGTOREADING

Before reading the story " The First Miracle", you should try to predict what the story might be about. Discuss with your partner what associations the title of the story can bring forth.

B. READING

6.WRITING

Id

/rite down the character sketch of Diana, imagine you were the driver of the Land Rover who is giving evidence in court. Write down his speech of what happened on motorway Al.

I. Read the story so as to understand the gist of it. Mind the
notes that follow it.

II. Read the story carefully to say if your expectations have
been met. Be ready to participate in its discussion.

THE FIRST MIRACLE

Tomorrow it would be 1 A. D., but nobody had told him.

If anyone had, he wouldn't have understood because he thought that it was the forty-third year in the reign of the Emperor, and in any case, he had other things on his mind. His mother was still cross with him and he had to admit that he'd been naughty that day, even by the standards of a normal thirteen-year-old. He hadn't meant to drop the pit­cher when she had sent him to the well for water. He tried to explain to his mother that it wasn't his fault that he had tripped over a stone; and that at least was true. What he hadn't told her was that he was chasing a stray dog at the time. And then there was that pomegranate; how was he meant to know that it was the last one, and that his father

had taken a liking to them? The boy was now dreading his father's return and the possibility that he might be given another thrashing. He could still remember the last one when he hadn't been able to sit down for two days without feeling the pain, and the thin red scars didn't completely disappear for over three weeks.

He sat on the window ledge in a shaded corner of his room trying to think of some way he could redeem himself in his mother's eyes, now that she had thrown him out of the kitchen. Go outside and play, she had insisted, after he had spilt some cooking oil on his tunic. But that wasn't much fun as he was only allowed to play by himself. Pater had forbidden him to mix with the local boys.

How he hated this uncivilised country! If only he could be back home among his friends, there would be so much for him to do. Still, only another three weeks and he could...

The door swung open and his mother came into the room. She was dressed in the thin black garments so favoured by locals: they kept her cool, she had explained to the boy's father. He had grunted his disapproval so she always changed back into imperial dress before he returned in the evening.

" Can't find anything useful to do? " she asked, addressing her son.

" I was just..."

" Daydreaming as usual. Well, wake up because I need you to go into the village and fetch some food for me."

" Yes, Mater, I'll go at once, " the boy said as he jumped off the window ledge.

" Well, at least wait until you've heard what I want."

" Sorry, Mater, " he said, coming to a halt.

" Now listen, and listen carefully." She started counting on her fingers as she spoke. " I need a chicken, some raisins, figs, dates and... ah yes, two pomegranates."

The boy's face reddened at the mention of the pomegranates and he stared down at the stone floor, hoping she might have forgotten. His mother put her hand into the leather purse that hung from her waist and removed two small coins, but before she handed them over she made her son repeat the instructions.

" One chicken, raisins, figs, dates, and two pomegran­ates, " he recited, as he might the modern poet, Virgil.

" And be sure to see they give you the correct change, " she added. " Never forget the locals are all thieves."

" Yes, Mater..." For a moment the boy hesitated, wondering if he dared to ask.

" If you remember everything and bring back the right amount of money, I might forget to tell your father about the broken pitcher and the pomegranate."

The boy smiled, and clutching the two small silver coins in his fist, ran out of the house into the compound.

The guard who stood on duty at the gate removed the great wedge of wood which allowed the massive door to swing open. The boy jumped through the hole in the gate and grinned back at him.

" I hear you're in trouble again, " the guard shouted after him.

" No, not this time, " the boy replied. " I'm about to be saved."

He waved farewell to the guard and started to walk briskly in the direction of the village, reciting some verses from Virgil's Aeneid which reminded him of home. He kept to the centre of the dusty winding path that the locals had the nerve to call a road. He seemed to spend half his time removing little stones from inside his sandals. If his father had been posted here for any length of time he would have made some changes; then they would have had a real road, straight and wide enough to allow two chariots to pass.

And Mater would have sorted out the serving girls. No! one of them knew how to lay a table or even to prepare food so that it was at least clean. Since they had been stationed in Judaea, he had seen his mother in a kitchen for the first time in his life. He was confident it would also be the last. Soon his father would be coming to the end of his tour of duty, and they could all return to Rome.

He had learned many things during the past year, but in ^articular he was now certain that when he grew up he wasn't going to be a tax collector, or work in the census office.

The village to which his mother had sent him was only two miles from the compound, and the evening sun shone down on him as he walked. It was a very large red sun, the same red as his father's tunic, and it was giving out enough heat to make him sweat and long for something to drink. Perhaps there would be enough money left over to buy himself a pomegranate. He couldn't wait to take one home and show his friends how large they were in this barbaric land. Marcus, his best friend, would undoubtedly have seen one as big because his father had commanded a whole army in Asia Minor, but the rest of the class would still be impressed.

The dusty path to the village ran alongside a hill overlooking a large valley. The road was already crowded with travellers who would be seeking shelter in the village. All of them had come down from the hills at his father's command to be registered for the census, so that each of them might be taxed according to their rank. His father's authority, had been vested in him by the Emperor himself, and once the boy was sixteen, he too would serve the Emperor. Marcus wanted to be a soldier and conquer the rest of the world, but the boy was more interested in the law and in teaching his country's customs to the barbarians in strange lands.

Marcus had said, " I'll conquer them and then you can govern them."

" A sensible division between brains and brawn, " he had replied. His friend didn't seem impressed and ducked him in the nearest bath.

The boy quickened his pace as he knew he had to be back in the compound before the sun disappeared behind the hills. His father had warned him many times that he must always be locked safely inside before sunset. He had told his son that he would be safe while it was light, as no one would dare to harm him while others could see what was going on, but once it was dark, anything could happen. The boy was aware that his father was not a popular man with the locals, but he dismissed the plebs from his mind. (It was Marcus who had taught him to refer to all foreigners as plebs.)

When he reached the market place he also dismissed Marcus from his mind and began to concentrate on the supplies his mother wanted. He mustn't make any mistakes this time or he would undoubtedly end up with that thrashing from his father. He ran nimbly between the stalls, checking the food carefully. Some of the local people stared at the fair-skinned boy with the curly brown hair and the straight, firm nose. He displayed no imperfections or disease unlike the majority of them. Many lowered their eyes to the ground when they saw him; after all, he had come from the land of the natural rulers. The boy did not concern himself with such thoughts. These thoughts did not pass through his mind. All the boy noticed was that their native skins were parched and lined from too much sun. He knew that too much sun was bad for you: it made you old before your time, his tutor had warned him.

At the last stall, the boy watched an old woman haggling over an unusually plump live chicken. He marched towards her, and when she saw him she ran away in fright, leaving the fowl behind her. He looked straight into the eyes of the stall-keeper, refusing to bargain with such a peasant. It was beneath his dignity. He pointed to the chicken and gave the man one denarius. The man bit the round silver coin, then peered at the head of Augustus Caesar, ruler of half the known world. (When his tutor had told the boy, during a history lesson, about the Emperor's achievements, he re­membered thinking, " I hope Caesar doesn't conquer the whole world before I have a chance to join in.")

The stall-keeper was still staring at the silver coin. " Come on, come on, I haven't got all day, " said the boy sounding like his father.

The local did not reply because he couldn't understand what the boy was saying. All he knew for certain was that it was never worth annoying the invaders. The stall-keeper held the chicken firmly by the neck and taking a knife from his belt cut its head off in one movement. He passed the dead fowl over to the boy together with some of his local coins, which had stamped on them the image of a man the boy's father had described so often as " that useless Herod". The boy kept his hand held out, palm open, and the local placed bronze talents into it until he had no more.

Once the boy left the man talentless he moved to another stall, this time pointing to bags containing raisins, figs and dates. The new stall-keeper measured out a libra of each, for which he received five of the near-worthless Herod coins. The man was about to protest about the barter but the boy stared at him fixedly in the eyes, the way he had seen his father do so often. The stall-keeper backed away, and simply bowed his head.

Now, what else did his mother want? He racked his brains. A chicken, raisins, dates, figs and... of course, two pomegranates. He walked into the next street, and searched among the fresh-fruit stalls until he found the largest pomegranates on display. He selected three, and immediately broke one open, dug his teeth into it and savoured the cool taste. He spat out the pips, nodded his approval to the stall-keeper, and paid him with the two of the three remaining bronze talents (he wanted to keep one to add to Marcus's coin collection when he returned home).

He felt his mother would be pleased that he had carried out his mother's wishes and only spent one silver denarius. Surely even Pater would be impressed by that. He finished the pomegranate and, with his arms laden, began heading slowly out of the market back towards the compound, trying to avoid the stray dogs that continually got under his feet. They barked and sometimes snapped at his ankles: they obviously did not realise who he was.

When the boy reached the edge of the village he noticed the sun was already melting behind the highest hill, and recalling his father's words about being home before dusk, he quickened his pace. As he walked down the stony path, those still on the way towards the village kept a respectful distance, leaving him a clear vision as far as the eye could see (which wasn't all that far as he was carrying so much in his arms).

But there was one sight he could not fail to notice. A little way ahead of him was a man with a beard — a dirty, lazy habit his father had told him — wearing the ragged clothing which signified that he was of the tribe of Jacob. He tugged a reluctant donkey which was carrying a very fat woman. The woman was, as their custom demanded, covered from head to toe in black. The boy was about to order them out of his way when the man pulled the donkey over to the side of the road, tied it up to the post and entered a house which from its sign, claimed to be an inn.

In his own land such a building would never have passed the scrutiny of the local citizens' council as a place fit for paying guests, but the boy realised that for many people during this particular week, even a mat on which to lay their head would be a luxury. By the time he reached the house, the bearded man had reappeared at the door with a forlorn look on his tired face. There was obviously no room at the inn.

The boy could have told him that before he went in, and was puzzled as to what the man would possibly do next, as il was the last dwelling house on the road. Not that he was really interested; as long as they paid their taxes, both ol them could sleep in the hills for all he cared. It was about all they looked fit for.

The man with the beard was telling the woman something while pointing behind the inn. She nodded her agreement, and without another word he led the donkey off round the side of the building. The boy wondered what could possibly be at the back of the inn and, his curiosity roused, followed them. As he turned the corner of the building, he saw the man coaxing the donkey through an open door of what looked like a barn. The boy followed the strange trio and when he came to the open door he stopped and stared inside.

The barn was covered in dirty straw and full of chickens, sheep and oxen, and smelled to the boy like the sewers they built in the side streets back home. He held his nose, beginning to feel sick. The man was clearing away some of the worst of the straw from the centre of the barn, frying to make a clean patch for them to rest on — a near hopeless task, thought the boy. When the man had done the best he could, he lifted the fat woman down from the donkey and placed her gently in the straw. Then he went over to a trough on the far side of the barn from which one of the oxen was drinking. He cupped his hands, and having filled them with water, returned to the fat woman, trying to spill as little as possible.

The boy was growing bored. He was about to leave and continue on his journey when the woman leaned forward to drink from the man's hands. The shawl fell from her head and he saw her face for the first time.

He stood transfixed, staring at her. He had never seen anything more beautiful. Unlike the common members of her tribe, the woman's skin was translucent, and her eyes shone brightly. But what most struck the boy was her manner and presence. Never had he felt so much in awe of anyone, even during his one visit to the Senate House to hear a declamation from Augustus Caesar.

For a moment he remained mesmerised, but then he knew what he must do. He walked through the open door towards the woman, fell on his knees before her, stretched out his hands and presented her with the chicken. She smiled, but said nothing. He offered her the pomegranates, and she smiled again. He then dropped the rest of the food at her feet. But she remained silent.

The man with the beard was returning with more water, and when he saw the young foreigner he fell on his knees spilling the water onto the straw and then covered his face with his hands. The boy hardly noticed, but remained kneeling, staring up at the woman. Eventually he rose, and walked slowly towards the barn door. When he reached it, he turned back and stared once more into that serene face. She looked into his eyes for the first time.

The young Roman hesitated for a second, and then bowed his head.

It was already dusk when he ran back out on to the winding path to resume his journey home, but he was not afraid. Rather he felt he had done something good and therefore no harm could come to him. He looked up into the sky and saw directly above him the first star, shining so brightly in the east that he wondered why he could see no others. His father had told him that different stars were visible in different lands, so he dismissed the mystery from his mind, replacing it with the anxiety of not being home before dark.

The road in front of him was now empty so he was able to quicken his pace towards the compound. He was not far from safety when he first heard the singing and shouting. He turned quickly to see where the danger was coming from, staring up into the hills above him. To begin with, he couldn't make sense of what he saw. Then his eyes focused in disbelief on one particular field in which the shepherds were leaping up and down, singing, shouting and clapping their hands. The boy noticed that all the sheep were safely penned in a corner of the field for the night, so they had nothing to fear.

He had been told by Marcus that sometimes the shepherds in this land would make a lot of noise at night because they believed it kept away the evil spirits. How could anyone be that stupid, the boy wondered. Suddenly there was a flash of lightning across the sky and the field was suddenly ablaze with light. The shepherds fell to their knees, silent, staring up into the sky for several minutes as though they were listening intently to something.

Then, just as suddenly, all was darkness again.

The boy started running towards the compound as fast as his legs could carry him; he wanted to be inside and hear the safety of the great gate close behind him and watch the centurion put the wooden wedge firmly back in its place.

He would have run all the way had his path not been blocked by the strangest sight. His father had taught him never to show any fear when facing danger. The boy tried to breathe regularly, in case they thought he was frightened. He was frightened, but he marched proudly on, determined he would never be forced off the road by any foreigners, however magnificently attired. When they did meet face to face, he was amazed.

Before him stood three camels, and astride them three men, who were peering down at him. The first was clad in gold and with one arm he protected something hidden beneath his cloak. By his side hung a large sword, its sheath covered in all manner of rare gems, some of which the boy could not even name. The second man was dressed in white and held a silver casket to his breast, while the third wore red and clung onto a large wooden box.

The man robed in gold put up his hand and addressed the boy in a strange tongue which he had never heard before, even by his tutor. Once it was clear that the boy had not understood what had been said to him, the second man tried Hebrew and then the third yet another tongue without eliciting any response from the boy.

The boy folded his arms across his chest and stood his ground. He told them who he was, where he was going, and demanded to know where they might be bound. He hoped his piping voice did not reveal his fear. The one robed in gold replied first and questioned the boy in his own tongue.

" Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and come to worship him." " King Herod lives beyond the..." " We speak not of King Herod, " said the second man, " for he is but a king of men as we are."

" We speak, " said the third, " of the King of Kings and have come from the east to offer him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."

" I know nothing of the King of Kings, " said the boy, now gaining in confidence. " I recognise only Augustus Caesar, Emperor of the known world."

The man robed in gold shook his head and, pointing to the sky, inquired of the boy: " Do you observe that bright star in the east? What is the name of the village on which it shines? "

The boy looked up at the star, and indeed the village below was clearer to the eye than it had been in sunlight.

" But that's only Bethlehem, " said the boy, laughing. " You will find no King of Kings there."

" Even there we shall find him, " said the second king, " for did not Herod's chief priest tell us:

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Art not least among the princes of Judah, For out of thee shall come a Governor That shall rule my people Israel." " It cannot be, " said the boy, now almost shouting at them. " Augustus Caesar rules Israel and half the known world."

But the three robed men did not hear his words and left him to ride on towards Bethlehem.

Mystified, the boy set out on the last part of his journey home. Although the sky had become pitch black, whenever he turned his eyes towards Bethlehem the village was still clearly visible in the brilliant starlight. Once again he started running towards the compound, relieved to see its outline rising up in front of him.

When he reached the great wooden gate, he banged loudly and repeatedly until a centurion, sword drawn, holding a flaming torch, came out to find out who it was that disturbed his watch. When he saw the boy, he frowned.

" The Governor is very displeased with you. He returned at sunset and is about to send out a search party for you."

The boy darted past the centurion and ran all the way to his family's quarters, where he found his father addressing.1 sergeant of the guard and a dozen of legionnaires. His mothei was standing by his side, weeping.

The Governor turned when he saw his son. " Where have you been? " he said in an icily measured tone. " To Bethlehem, sir."

" Yes, child, I am aware of that. But whatever possessed you to return so late? Have I not told you on countless occasions never to be out of the compound after dark? "

" Yes, sir."

" Then you will come to my study at once."

The boy.looked helplessly towards his mother, who was still crying, then turned to follow his father into the study. The guard " 'winked at him as the boy passed by, but he realised that nothing could save him now. His father strode ahead of him into the study and sat on a leather stool by his table. His mother followed and stood silently drying her eyes just inside the door.

" Now tell me exactly where you have been and why you: took so long to return. And be sure to speak only the truth." >

The boy stood in front of his father and calmly told hint everything that had taken place. He started with how he had gone to the village and taken great care in choosing the food for their dinner and in so doing had saved half the money his mother had given him; then how on the way back he had seen a fat lady on a donkey unable to find a place at the inn and then- he explained why he had given her the food. He went on to describe how the shepherds had shouted and beat their breasts until there was a great light in the sky at which they had all fallen silent on their knees, and then finally how he had met the three robed men who were searching for the King of Kings.

The father grew angry at his son's words.

" What a story this is, " he shouted. " Do tell me more. Did you meet this King of Kings? "

" No, sir, I did not, " he replied, as he watched his father rise and start pacing around the room.

" Perhaps there is a more simple explanation as to why your face and fingers are stained red with pomegranate juice, " he suggested.

" No, Pater. I did buy an extra pomegranate but even after I had bought all the food, 1 still managed to save one silver denarius."

The boy handed the coin over to his mother believing it would confirm his story. But the sight of the piece of silver only made his father more angry. He stopped pacing and stared down into the eyes of his son.

" You have spent the other denarius on yourself and now you have nothing to show for it? "

" That's not true, Pater, I..."

" Then I will allow you one more chance to tell me the truth, " said his father as he sat back down. " Fail me, boy, and I shall give you a thrashing that you will never forget for the rest of your life."

" I have already told you the truth, Pater."

" Listen to me carefully, my son. We were born Romans, born to rule the world because our laws and customs are tried and trusted and have always been based firmly on absolute honesty. Romans never lie; it remains our strength and the weakness of our enemies. That is why we rule while others are ruled and as long as that is so the Roman Empire will never fall. Do you understand what I am saying, my boy? "

" Yes, Pater, I understand."

" Then you'll also understand why it is imperative to tell the truth, whatever the consequences."

" Yes, Pater, I do. But I have already told you the truth."

" Then there is no hope for you, " said the man quietly. " You leave me no choice as to how I will have to deal with you."

The boy's mother raised her hand, wanting to come to her son's aid, but knew any protest would be useless. The Governor rose from his chair and removed the^- leather belt from around his waist and folded it double, leaving the heavy brass studs on the outside. He then ordered his son to touch his toes. The young boy obeyed without hesitation and his father raised the leather strap above his head and brought it down on the child with all the strength he could. The boy never flinched as each stroke was administered, while his mother turned away from the sight, and wept.

After the father had delivered the twelfth stroke he ordered his son to go to his room. The boy left without a word and his mother followed and watched him climb the stairs. She then hurried away to the kitchen and gathered together some olive oil and ointments which she hoped would soothe the pain of her son's wounds.

She carried the little jars up to his room, where she found him already in bed. She went over to his side, sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the sheet back. She told him to turn onto his chest while she prepared the oils. Then she gently removed his night tunic, for fear of adding to his pain. Having done so, she stared down at his body in disbelief.

The boy's skin was unmarked.

She ran her fingers gently over her son's unblemished body and found it to be as smooth as if he had just bathed. She turned him over, but there was not a mark on him anywhere. Quickly she slipped his tunic back on and covered him with the sheet.

" Say nothing of this to your father, " she said, " and remove the memory of it from your mind forever."

" Yes, Mater."

The mother leaned over and blew out the candle by the side of the bed, gathered up the unused oils and tiptoed to the door. At the threshold, she turned in the dim light to look back at her son and said:

" Now I know you were telling the truth, Pontius."

NOTES:

Virgil (70 ВС— 19 ВС) - also spelled Vergil, {Latin in full: Publius Vergilius Maro), was regarded by the Romans as their greatest poet; his fame rests chiefly upon the Aeneid, which tells the story of Rome's legendary founder and proclaims the Roman mission to civilize the world under divine guidance.

chariot — a two-wheeled vehicle drawn by horses

Judaea — Greco-Roman name for South Palestine; at the time of Jesus, it was both part of the province of Syria and a kingdom ruled by the kings Herods.

Judah — in the⁴ Bible, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah and perhaps the most famous of Jacob's sons, it was from Judah tha_|t the Jews are descended. His tribe gave its name to the kingdom of Judah.

Marcus, Pontius — Roman male names

Asia Minor — a region of the ancient world, roughly corresponding to present Asian Turkey, or the peninsula of Anatolia

denarius — an ancient Roman silver coin

Augustus Caesar (63 ВС —14 AD) — adopted name Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus; first Roman emperor, following the republic, which had been finally destroyed by the dictatorship of Julius Caesar, his great-uncle and adoptive father.

Herod — a king of Judaea from 37 — 4 ВС, appointed by the Roman Senate; a brutal and murderous king, who also happened ta be a talented builder; he expanded the Second Temple, rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, and built palaces at-Masada and a hill near Jerusalem known as Herodion

talent — an ancient unit of currency

libra — an ancient unit of weight

Jacob — the grandson of Abraham, and the son of Isaac, Jacob is a key individual of Bible history; God changed Jacob's name to Israel, and from his sons came the tribes of Israel — the Israelites.

paying guests — here: customers of an inn Hebrew — the language of the Semitic people originally centred in ancient Palestine; official language of contemporary Israel

King of Kings, King of the Jews — here: Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ and most Christians in the earliest days of the church, were descended from Judah

frankincense, myrrh — aromatic gum resins used for burning as incense in religious ceremonies.

Bethlehem — a village in Palestine where Jesus Christ was born

thou, thee — middle-aged forms of second person singular pronoun you and its objective case

family's quarters — lodgings where the family lives legionnaire — a soldier in the Roman army

¹ 4; ¹

СVOCABULARYFOCUS I

I. Look up and learn the words and expressions listed below:

naughty reign pitcher stray

pomegranate redeem oneself spill grunt guard

II. Study the definitions of the following words. Memorize them to
use later in practice:

compound — a large open enclosure for housing lane — a narrow, often rural, road, street or path parched — dried out with heat

post, n — a long piece of timber or metal set upright in: he ground

cup, v — form (especially one's hands) into the shape of 1 cup

presence — a person's appearance or bearing attired (Formal) — dressed in fine clothes or formal wear casket — a small, often ornamented, box or chest dart — move or go suddenly or rapidly jar — a container of glass, earthenware or plastic, lsually cylindrical

III. Learn these words with the help of their synonyms:

pater (School, Coll.) = father haggle = bargain

mater (School, Coll) = mother ragged = torn; frayed

leathering (Coll.) = beating lined = wrinkled

serene = calm, quiet, peaceful brawn = muscles

forlorn = miserable; desperate thrashing - beating

IV. Learn the expressions given below. Mind the use of prepositions in
them:

trip over peer at (into, through)

take a liking to smth. tug at

come to a halt be fit for smb.

stand on duty feel (stand) in awe of smb.

vest authority in smb. be ablaze with

haggle over smth. stand one's ground

dismiss smth. from one's mind

V. Pronounce the following words and try to guess their meaning.
Check your understanding by the dictionary:

tunic plebs march

barbaric mat declamation

twist(ing) block, v

VI. Finish the sentences by adding the missing part with a proper key
word or expression from the text:

1 And then there was a pomegranate: he didn't know that it was the last one and that....

2 The boy sat on the window ledge in his room, trying to think of....

3 The guard who... removed a great wedge of wood and allowed....

4 He kept to the centre of the dusty, winding path that....

5 The boy was certain that when he grew up he wasn't going to....

6 " A sensible division between..." he had replied.

7 At the last stall, the boy watched an old woman....

8 The boy selected three pomegranates and immediately broke one open, dug....

9 A little way ahead of him was a man with a beard wearing....

10 In his own country such a building would never have passed the scrutiny of the local citizens' council as....

11 The bearded man reappeared at the door....

12 As he turned the corner of the barn, he saw the man....

13 Unlike the common members of her tribe, the woman's skin....

14 His father told him that different stars were seen in different lands, so....

15 He would have run all the way, had his path....

16 The boy was determined that he would never be forced off the road by any....

17 " We speak of the King of Kings. We have come from the east

18 The boy... as each stroke was administered.

VII. Say what prepositions should be used in the expressions ithat fol low. Recol lect sentences from the text in which these expressions were used or make up sentences of your own:

vest authority____

dismiss one's mind

take a liking feel (stand)

/III. Give the English equivalents of the Russian expressions that follow; give their synonyms if there arc any:

направиться к прилавку

с выражением безнадежности

на лице сложить ладони пригоршней испытывать благоговейный трепет

серебряная шкатулка с ладаном банка для притиранием искупать грехи; оправдываться морщинистые, высушенные

солнцем лица помчаться стрелой

IX. Translate these sentences into English using the key expressions from the text. Mind the English and Russian way of expressing the same notion or reality:

1 Он не думал ронять кувшин, когда мать послала его к колодцу за водой, — он просто споткнулся о камень.

2 Мальчик боялся, что его снова могут выпороть.

3 Он пролил масло на тунику, и мать выгнала его из кухни.

4 Дверь распахнулась, и мать вошла в комнату.

5 Мама дала мальчику два денария и заставила его повторить инструкции.

6 В его стране были настоящие дороги, прямые и достаточно широкие, чтобы проехали две колесницы.

7 Деревня, в которую он направлялся, находилась все­го в двух милях от лагеря римских легионеров.

8 Мальчик хотел привезти один гранат домой, чтобы показать друзьям, какими большими вырастают гранаты в этой варварской стране.

9 Мальчик понимал, что отец не пользовался попу­лярностью у местного населения (плебеев, как сказал бы Маркус), но он выбросил эту мысль из головы.

10 Он досмотрел крестьянину прямо в глаза, отказыва­ясь торговаться.

11 Понтий заплатил за изюм, инжир и финики таланта­ми, бронзовыми монетами с изображением царя Ирода.

12 Он знал, что на этой неделе для многих людей даже циновка будет роскошью.

13 Мужчина с бородой уговаривал осла пройти в открытую дверь амбара.

14 Когда шаль упала с головы женщины и мальчик впервые увидел ее лицо, он застыл на месте.

15 Понтия больше всего поразили манеры и осанка женщины.

16 Даже во время посещения Сената, куда он пришел с отцом послушать выступление Августа Цезаря, мальчик не испытывал такого благоговейного трепета.

17 Мгновение он стоял зачарованный, вглядываясь в безмятежное лицо женщины.

18 Дорогу Понтию преградили три верблюда; люди, сидевшие на верблюдах, спросили мальчика на иврите, где живет царь евреев.