Discuss this before you read the text. 1. Are you interested in art?

1. Are you interested in art?

2. Do you often visit museums, art galleries and exhibitions?

3. Have you ever been to Rome? Did you go to any museums there?

4. What do you know about the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow?
Who was its founder?

5. Why do you think people are still amazed by the beauty of ancient works
of art?

6. What do you appreciate more: ancient paintings and sculpture or mo­
dern art? Why?

7. Many people say they can't often understand modern art. It's easier for
them to understand classical art. What about you?

PART1

Read the story and make sure that you understand it. The list of new words on p. 142-143 will help you.

THE CAPITOLINE VENUS*

by Mark Twain (1835-1910), American author and humorist

CHAPTER I

(Scene - An Artist's Studio in Rome)

" Oh, George, I do love you! "

" Bless your dear heart, Mary, I know that - why is your father so obdu­rate? "

* The Capitoline Venus // Selected Stories by Mark Twain. - M.: «Литература на иностранных языках», 1949.

Unit six

" George, he means well, but art is folly to him - he only understands gro­ceries. He thinks you would starve me."

" Oh, why am I not a money-making grocer, instead of a divinely-gifted sculptor with nothing to eat? "

" Do not give up hope, George, dear - all his prejudices will vanish as soon as you have acquired fifty thousand dol..."

" Fifty thousand demons! Child, I can't even pay for my board! "

CHAPTER II

(Scene - An Apartment in Rome)

" My dear sir, it is useless to talk. I haven't anything against you, but I can't let my daughter marry a hash of love, art and starvation - I believe you have nothing else to offer."

" Sir, I am poor, I can't deny that. But is fame nothing? Mr Bellamy Foodie, of Arkansas, says that my new statue of America is a clever piece of sculpture, and he predicts that my name will one day be famous."

" What does that Arkansas idiot know about it? Fame's nothing - the market price of your marble scarecrow is the thing to look at. It took you six months to make it, and you can't sell it for a hundred dollars. No, sir! Show me fifty thousand dollars and you can have my daughter - otherwise she marries young Simpler. You have just six months to raise the money in. Good morning, sir."

CHAPTER III

(Scene — The Studio)

" Oh, John, friend of my boyhood, I am the unhappiest of men."

" You're a fool."

" I have nothing left to love but my poor statue of America - and even she has no sympathy for me in her cold marble countenance - so beautiful and so heartless. Oh, John! "

" Oh, stupid fool! Didn't you say you had six months to raise the money in? "

" Six months! If I had six centuries what good would it do? How could it help a wretch without name, capital or friends? "

" Idiot! Coward! Baby! Six months to raise the money in - and five will do! "

" Are you insane?

" Six months - an abundance. Leave it to me. I'll raise it."

" What do you mean, John? How on earth can you raise such a monstrous sum for me? "

" Will you let that be my business, and not meddle? Will you leave the thing in my hands? Will you swear to submit to whatever I do? Will you pledge me to find no fault with my actions? "

Parti

" I am dizzy - baffled - but I swear."

John took up a hammer and deliberately smashed the nose of America! He made another pass, and two of her fingers fell to the floor - another, and part of an ear came away - another, and a row of toes was mangled and - another, and the left leg, from the knee down, lay a fragmentary ruin!

John put on his hat and departed.

George gazed speechless upon the battered and grotesque nightmare before him for the space of thirty seconds, and then fell on the floor and went into convulsions.

Having finished his job, John returned with a car, got the broken-hearted artist and the broken-legged statue aboard, and drove off, whistling low and tranquilly. He left the artist in his apartment, and drove off and disappeared down the street with the statue.

CHAPTER IV (Scene - The Studio)

" The six months will be up at two o'clock today! Oh, agony! My life is ru­ined. I wish I were dead! I had no supper yesterday. I have had no breakfast to­day, i dare not enter an eating-house. Hungry? - Don't mention it! My landlord haunts me. I am miserable. I haven't seen John since that awful day. She smiles at me tenderly when we meet but her merciless father makes her look in the other direction. Now who is knocking at the door? That villain the landlord, I'm sure. Come in! "

" A thousand pardons for this intrusion. But I have prepared the beautiful suite of rooms below for you."

" Come in! "

" I have called to say your credit at our bank, some time ago unfortunately interrupted, is entirely and most satisfactorily restored, and we shall be most happy if you apply to us for any..."

" Come in! "

" My boy, she is yours! She'll be here in a moment! Take her - marry her -love her - be happy! God bless you both! Hip-Hip-Hur..."

" COME IN! "

" Oh, George, my own darling, we are saved! "

" Oh, Mary, my own darling, we are saved - but I swear I don't know why nor how! "

(to be continued)

Names Capitol ine [ka'pitaulam] adj

Unit six

Capitol ['ksepital] Капитолий (один из семи холмов, на которых возник Древний Рим) Venus [Viinas] Венера

New Words

obdurate ['Dbdjorat] ad/упрямый, неуступчивый, черствый folly ['foil] n глупость, прихоть, причуда groceries [дгэивэпг] л бакалейные продукты

grocer л бакалейщик

divinely-gifted [di'vamli 'giftid] божественно одаренный prejudice ['pred39dis] л предубеждение, предрассудок acquire [s'kwaia] v приобретать, получать board [bo: d] n зд. жилье и питание hash [hsej] л мешанина, смесь deny [di'nai] v отрицать marble [mcubl] adj мраморный scarecrow ['skeakrguj л пугало, огородное чучело otherwise ['Adswaiz] advB противном случае, иначе countenance ['kauntsnans] n лицо, лик raise [reiz] узд. добыть, заработать (о деньгах) wretch [retf] n несчастный, жалкий человек, бедняга coward ['L\u3d] л трус

insane [m'sem] adj ненормальный, сумасшедший abundance [s'bAndans] n изобилие, избыток meddle [medl] (/вмешиваться swear [swes] v клясться; ругаться submit [sab'mit] уподчинять(ся), покорять(ся) fault [fo: lt] n ошибка, вина, недостаток, дефект

faultless adj безупречный, совершенный dizzy ['dizi] adj испытывающий / чувствующий головокружение

I am dizzy у меня кружится голова smash [smasj] уразбивать(ся) вдребезги pass [pa: s] л зд. пасс, движение рук toe [tau] л палец ноги

mangle [masrjgl] v калечить, уродовать, наносить увечья depart [di'pa: t] v уходить, уезжать gaze [geiz] (/пристально глядеть, уставиться battered ['baetsd] adj разбитый nightmare ['naitmea] л кошмар tranquilly ['trasnkwili] adv спокойно, тихо dare [ded] (/осмеливаться

Parti

haunt [ho: nt] v неотступно преследовать

tenderly ['tendali] adv нежно

villain [Vilsn] n злодей, негодяй

intrusion [m'tru^an] n вторжение

intrude вторгаться, входить без приглашения / разрешения

suite of rooms [swi: t av ru: mz] зд. большая квартира, номер люкс (в гости­нице)

entirely [m'taiah] adv полностью, совершенно, совсем

satisfactorily [.sstis'fektarali] adv удовлетворительно satisfy v удовлетворить satisfaction n удовлетворение

restored [n'sto: d] adj восстановленный restore v восстановить

Questions for discussion.

1. Do you think George is a talented artist and an American patriot? Why
do you think so?

2. How long did it take George to make his statue of America?

3. Why, in spite of George's talent, didn't Mary's father allow her to marry
George?

4. What does Mary's father do?

5. What does John do? Is he an artist like George?

6. How did George feel when his friend smashed and mangled his beautiful
statue?

7. What must have happened to make George's landlord " prepare
the beautiful suite of rooms" for him, his bank manager " restore his
credit" in the bank and Mary's father give him permission to marry his
daughter?

EXERCISES

' ■ Find English equivalents in the text for the following (you may think of better Russian translations).

1. Почему я не богач-бакалейщик, а божественно-одаренный скуль­
птор, которому нечего есть?

2. Пятьсот тысяч чертей (букв, дьяволов)! Дитя мое! Я не могу даже
заплатить за мое жилье и питание!

3....смесь любви, искусства и голода - как я понимаю, кроме этого,
тебе ей нечего предложить.

Unit six

4. Слава - ничто, рыночная цена твоего мраморного пугала - вот на
что надо смотреть.

5. Даже если бы у меня было шестьсот лет, что из того? Чем это мог­
ло бы помочь бедняге без имени, денег и друзей?

6. Позволь мне заняться этим и не вмешивайся, хорошо? Позволь
мне взять это дело в свои руки! Поклянись, что подчинишься мне
во всем! Торжественно поклянись, что не будешь придираться
к тому, что я делаю!

7. У меня кружится голова, я не знаю, что подумать...

8. В течение тридцати секунд Джордж в немом ужасе пристально
смотрел на разбитый и нелепый кошмар перед ним, затем он упал
на пол и забился в конвульсиях.

9. Закончив свое дело, Джон вернулся на машине, посадил в нее ху­
дожника с разбитым сердцем и статую с разбитыми ногами и от­
был, тихонько и спокойно насвистывая.

10. Я заглянул, чтобы сказать, что ваш кредит в нашем банке, который некоторое время тому назад был, к сожалению, прерван, сейчас целиком и полностью и, ко всеобщему удовлетворению, восста­новлен...

VOCABULARY

2. Read and translate these sentences into Russian so as to have a better idea of how these words can be used.

obdurate adj, obstinate adj, stubborn adj

1. All these three adjectives are synonymous though 'obdurate' and
'obstinate' are more often used in a negative sense. 'Obdurate' is a
slightly old-fashioned word. 'Stubborn' can be used in both positive
and negative senses.

2. 'Obdurate' means extremely determined to act in a particular way and
not to change at all, despite argument or persuasion.

3. Most deputies remain obdurate on the question of cutting taxes.

4. Several obdurate (very difficult to deal with) facts (differences) remain,
preventing a compromise solution.

5. He has an obstinate (obdurate) belief (тупую самоуверенность) in his
own talent.

6. 'Stubborn' can be used in both positive and negative senses.

7. As a tennis player he was known for his stubborn resistance and his
refusal to accept defeat.

8. He's as stubborn as a mule, so difficult to deal with, so persistent in his
follies!

Parti

divine adj

1. Divine means 'of, 'from' or 'like' God.

2. Divine service means the public worship of God.

3. Used colloquially (in everyday speech), it means excellent, very
beautiful, etc.

4. She's a divine cook!

5. The weather's divine!

gift n, gifted adj

1. As a noun the word 'gift' has two meanings:

a) a present and

b) a natural ability, a talent.

2. The guide explained that the famous picture was not bought at an
auction, it was a gift given by the artist to the gallery.

3. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth! (proverb)

4. I wonder why she so stubbornly persists in her conviction that she has
a gift for acting!

5. Trevor has a gift for languages. He has learnt to speak fluent Russian
in six months.

6. The child is gifted, no doubt.

prejudice n, v

1. Racial prejudice is a stubborn problem, which won't disappear by itself,
we have to be persistent in fighting against it.

2. " You can all be sure that the case will be considered without prejudice, "
the judge said to the people who had come to the courtroom.

3. Some serious musicians used to be prejudiced against rock-n-roll,
considering it to be just amateurish music for youngsters.

4. Jane Austen (1775-1817) is considered a classic of English literature,
who wrote, often humorously, about the way of life of middle class
people of her time, in books such as Pride and Prejudice and Emma.

acquire v, acquisition л [aekwi'zijan]

1. If you acquire something, you get or buy it for yourself, or you are given
it as a gift.

Many valuable works of art can be acquired by collectors at auctions arranged by such auction houses as Sotheby's ['sAdabiz] or Christie's.

2. I've succeeded in acquiring all the information I needed to finish my
thesis.

3. When you acquire a skill or a habit, you learn it or develop it.

4. Knowledge is acquired by hard work.

5. Using a pronouncing dictionary is a habit well worth acquiring.

6. He invited me to have a look at his latest acquisitions.

Unit six

deny v, denial n

1. Most people deny the existence of UFOs (unidentified flying objects),

2. The criminal persisted in denying that he was guilty.

3. Do you deny having been there? (= that you were there?)

4. He denied all knowledge of the plot (заговор).

5. He is rich enough to deny himself nothing (= not to deny himself any­
thing).

6. The government issued a strong denial of all the allegations of the op­
position.

7. The denial of a loan had a crucial impact on the company's activities.

otherwise adv, conj

1.1 don't deny that he's stubborn, but otherwise he's a nice person and a good friend.

2. Under the Bill of Rights, a person is presumed (considered) innocent,
until proved otherwise.

3. You'd better phone home; otherwise your parents may be worried.

4. If I were you, I'd write it down. Otherwise you're likely to forget it.

raise v

1. The verb 'to raise' has synonyms: 'to lift' (often sth heavy) and 'to pick
up' (usually sth light).

2. 'To raise' is a transitive verb, it is followed by an object.

3. All those for, please raise your hands.

4. The discussion raised many important problems.

5.1 had to raise my voice in order to make myself heard over the noise in the room.

6. The announcement raised a murmur in the audience.

7. Her parents were too busy to take care of her, so she was actually
raised (Am.) (= brought up (Br.)) by her grandparents.

8. He wants to start his own business if he manages to raise (= obtain) the
money.

Don't mix up

raise (raised, raised) переходный глагол поднимать (с одного уровня на другой)

rise (rose, risen) непереходный глагол подниматься, вставать Не raised his eyebrows in surprise. Он в большом удивлении поднял брови.

Не rose from his chair to greet the guests. Он поднялся со стула, что­бы поприветствовать своих гостей..

The Sun rises in the East and sets in the West. Солнце восходит на востоке и заходит на западе.

Parti

abundance n, abundant adj

1. There's an abundance of fruit in the market just now.

2. There was an abundance of food and drink at the party.

3. There is abundant evidence that cars have a harmful effect on the
environment.

4. We took an abundant supply of food with us when we went hiking in the
mountains.

meddle v

1. The verb 'to meddle' has a negative meaning.

2.1 don't like people meddling in my affairs (= trying to tell me what I

should do). 3. This experience should have taught them what happens when you

meddle with things you don't understand properly.

swear (swore, sworn) v

1. The verb 'to swear' has two meanings:

a) to use bad (rude / obscene) language - swear words,

b) to state or promise that you are telling the truth or that you will do
something that people expect you to do.

2. It was a real shock, the first time I heard my father swear.

3. All swear words are to be eliminated (deleted / crossed out) from the
text.

4. In some countries witnesses in court have to swear on the Bible. They
must give an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the
truth.

5. " Do you know who was sworn in as the 42^nd President of the USA? "
" I think it was William Jefferson Clinton, but I wouldn't swear to it."

submit v

1. We protested about the changes for a long time, but in the end we had
to submit (to give in).

2. You must submit your application before January 1^st.

3. The property developers (застройщики) submitted their building plans
to the council for approval.

fault n, faultless adj, faulty adj

1. " Whose fault was it? " " Well, it wasn't mine, I swear! "

2. Profits are down and the fault is (lies) in poor management.

3. It happened through no fault of mine (his, her, etc.).

4. Sorry, my fault! (an apology)

5. I'm not saying that I'm a faultless secretary, but my boss is always
meddling in my work and trying to find fault with it.

Unit six

6. We insist that you should replace all the faulty goods at your expense. Otherwise we will refer the matter to arbitration.

toe n (toes pi)

1. We have fingers on our hands and toes on our feet.

2. A thumb, a forefinger = an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger,
a little finger.

3. 'All fingers and thumbs' ('All thumbs' (Am.) means that you use (move)
your hands in an awkward or clumsy way.

4. I'm all fingers and thumbs today. That's the third plate I've dropped this
morning!

5. We're keeping our fingers crossed (hoping strongly) that he will be
admitted to university.

6. He never raises (lifts) a finger to help anyone.

GRAMMAR

■ ^; Do you agree with the following statements? Say " Yes" or " No" and prove your answer with the statement from the text.

1. Mary's father wasn't obdurate at all!

2. He didn't mind if his daughter married a poor man.

3. John didn't want to help his friend solve his financial problem.

4. George immediately understood what his friend was going to do.

4. Make questions using 'Do you know? ' and 'Can (could) you tell me? '

Example: Where is the British Museum?

Where, do you think, the British Museum is? Can you tell me where the British Museum is?

1. How far is it?

2. What time shall we meet?

3. Where did you park your car?

4. Do I have to pay to park here?

5. Is the museum open on Sundays?

6. How long does it take to get there by bus?

7. What kind of exhibition is it?

8. How old is this statue?

9. Is there a cafe near here?
10. What does this word mean?

Parti

5. Complete the text choosing the words from the box.

in, since, of, until, to, on, during, for

The Capitol

It is one... the most interesting architectural areas... Rome. The whole complex (square and buildings) was built... the sixteenth century according... Michelangelo's [.maiksl'aencijslsu] designs.

Today the Capitol is the Town Hall (ратуша). Placed... the Capitoline Hill, it had suffered... the centuries various remaking... it assumed the present shape....the ancient times it has been a very important place... the life... Rome, being first, a religious centre, and then, the seat... Roman Senate.