Базовый курс английского языка - Эккерсли К.Э.
ISBN 5-7871-0174-X
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HOB: What is Pickwick Papers about? Should I like it?
MR. PRIESTLEY: You ought to get the book, I think you would like it. It is about Mr. Pickwick and his three friends. Mr. Pickwick is a stout, good-natured, cheerful, very simple-hearted old gentleman. He is the General Chairman of the Pickwick Club, and he and his three friends decide to travel about England and send to the Pickwick Club in London an account of their journeys and their observations on the character and manners of the people they meet on these journeys. The humour of the book consists chiefly in the absurd situations that Mr. Pickwick and his friends get themselves into. And yet, though we laugh at Mr. Pickwick, we don't think any worse of him for being a figure of fun-in fact we love him all the more. That's what we mean by "humour"; and next to Shakespeare's Falstaff, Mr. Pickwick is perhaps the greatest comic figure in English literature.
But to continue the story of Dickens. For the first fortnightly part of Pickwick Papers the publishers printed 400 copies, but such was its
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popularity that for Part Fifteen more than 40,000 copies had to be printed. At one stride Dickens had become the most popular living novelist and he held that position until his death. The rest can be told in a few words. It is a story of work, and work without rest. He poured out novel after novel- Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, The Old Curiosity Shop, David Coppetfield (perhaps the greatest work of all), A Tale of two Cities-these are but a few of the more famous. At the same time he was editing newspapers and magazines, visiting America, Italy, Switzerland, Paris; giving readings from his books to huge crowds of people and writing constantly. It was the excitement of these readings (this excitement and the applause of his listeners was what he loved) and the strain of his continual work that brought about his sudden death in 1870. He had asked that his burial should be quite simple, but the whole nation wanted to give him the highest honour they could, and so he lies buried in Westminster Abbey, but as he wished it, with nothing on the stone except his name "Charles Dickens".
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Идиоматический английский (2): heart
В этом уроке вам встретились следующие предложения:
It was a job after his own heart {- of the kind he very much liked).
Mr. Pickwick is ... a simple-hearted old gentleman.
Вот еще несколько употребительных идиоматических выражений со словом heart.
Не is not a man who wears his heart on his sleeve (= shows his feelings openly).
He may seem cold but his heart is in the right place (= he has true, kind feelings). He has a heart of gold.
When I heard that strange cry in the darkness my heart went into my mouth (= I was afraid).
When I think of my examination tomorrow my heart goes into my boots (= I feel in despair).
I didn't win the prize but I am not downhearted (- sad, discouraged).
I learned that piece of poetry by heart (= by memory).
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Предлоги (4)
Down
Down выражает движение сверху вниз. Например:
They walked down the hill.
The sun goes down in the west.
Sit down; there is plenty of room for everyone.
Существует несколько идиоматических выражений со словом down (наречие). Например:
The arrangement for sending letters abroad seems to have broken down.
Write these notes down in your notebook.
He has come down in the world (- become poorer or less important).
The wind has died down (= become less strong).
The sleeve of my coat is too short; I will ask the tailor to let it down an inch.
He looked very down in the mouth (= unhappy, out of spirits). Perhaps he was down on his luck (= in misfortune).
Except
Exept (for), excepting значит "исключая", "кроме". Например: We have lessons every day except (excepting) Saturday and Sunday. This essay is good except for the careless mistake.
Except that вводит придаточные предложения. Например:
Не is a good student except that he is occasionally careless.
For
For имеет очень много значений:
(1) space of time or distance, e.g.
I am staying here for a week.
The forest goes on for twenty miles.
(2) purpose, aim, intention, e.g.
We come here for English lessons.
He uses an electric razor for shaving.
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(3) amount, e.g.
The house was sold for $5,000.
(4) direction, e.g.
Which is the train for Brighton?
(5) point of time, e.g.
The meeting is arranged for seven o'clock.
(6) cause, e.g.
I couldn't see anything/orsmoke.
He gained a medal Tor bravery.
(7) exchange, e.g.
I'll give you my watch foryom camera.
(8) advantage (or disadvantage), e.g.
This holiday has been good for you; too much work is bad for you.
Внимание: for употребляется, когда нам известно, сколько продолжалось действие; время его совершения; since (см. since, Урок 14) употребляется при указании даты начала действия. В отрицательных предложениях for употребляется при указании периода времени, before - при указании конкретного времени. Например:
Не will not be here for an hour yet.
