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The Prince and the Pauper
Episode 1
Mark Twain
In the ancient city of London, on an autumn day in the second quarter of the sixteenth century, a boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty, who did not want him. On the same day another English child was born to a rich family of the name of Tudor, who wanted him very much. All of England wanted him too. England had hoped for him, and prayed to God for him for such a long time, that now, when he was born, the people nearly went mad with joy. Everybody took a holiday, and high and low, rich and poor, feasted and danced and sang. All of England talked only about the new baby, Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales. But there was no talk about the other boy, Tom Canty.
Let’s skip some years and see what happened to the first baby – Tom Canty. His family lived in a dirty house not far from London Bridge. The place was called Offal Court and was populated by a great number of poor families. The Cantys occupied a room on the third floor. The mother and father had a sort of bed in the corner; but Tom, his grandmother, and his two sisters Bet and Nan slept on the floor.
Bet and Nan were fifteen years old – twins. They were good-hearted girls, unclean, clothed in rags, and stupid. Their mother was like them. But the father and the grandmother were a couple of friends. They got drunk whenever they could; then they fought each other or anybody else. John Canty was a thief, and his mother a beggar. They made beggars of the children, but failed tj make thieves of them. Offal Court was not a good place for a boy. Broken heads were as common as hunger at that place. When Tom came home empty- handed at night, he knew his father would beat him and then his awful grandmother would do it as well.
Questions
In what century did the story take place?
Who was born to the Canty family?
Did they want him?
Who was born to the Tudor family?
Where did Tom’s family live?
Who were Bet and Nan?
What they were like?
Was their mother like them?
What can you say about Tom’s father and grandmother?
What did Tom’ parents do?
What did they make of their children?
What happened when Tom came empty-handed?
Variant 2
Exercise1. Choose the right variant.
The people you want to see is / are here.
The cups is / are full.
Her hair is / are long.
His knowledge leaves / leave much to be desired.
Does / do his advice help you?
Is / are the woman on a diet?
Does /do the work give him pleasure?
The information need / needs checking.
Exercise2. Use the right form of the adjective.
This mountain is the (high) in Europe.
Tom is (tall) than Richard.
This is the (wonderful) and (beautiful) film I have ever seen.
Athens is (far) from London than Rome is.
Summer is (warm) than winter.
This piece of homework is the (bad) you have ever done.
Our neighbours have (many) hens than we have, but they get (few) eggs.
This picture is as (bad) as your last one.
Exercise3. Insert some/any/every/no.
Wealth is …thing without health.
…thing is good in its season.
We didn’t see …one in the hall.
Do you need … books to prepare for your report?
If …body is ready, we shall begin our experiment.
There were … of my friends there.
I haven’t seen him …where.
Do you really think that …body visits that place?
Exercise4. Read the text and answer the questions.
The Prince and the Pauper
Episode 2
Mark Twain
Yet Tom was not unhappy. Among the inhabitants of the house, was an old priest, Father Andrew. He used to teach the children secretly. Father Andrew taught Tom a little Latin, and how to read and write. Tom spend most of his time with a good priest listening to Father Andrew’s charming old tales and legends about giants and fairies, dwarfs and enchanted castles, and gorgeous kings and princes. His head was full of these wonderful things, and sometimes at night as he lay in the dark on his dirty straw, tired and hungry, he forgot about his pain when he thought about the life of a real prince in a rich palace. He had only one desire: it was to see a real prince with his own eyes. He spoke of it once to some of his Offal Court comrades; but they laughed at him and after that he preferred to keep his dream to himself.
Very slowly the boy’s reading caused changes in him. He started wishing to be clean and have better clothes. He went on playing in mud just the same, and enjoying it, too; but, instead of swimming in the Thames only for the fun of it, he found swimming in the Thames only for the fun of it, he found swimming useful as it allowed him to get cleaner. Tom read and dreamt about the life of a prince so often that finally he began to act like a prince, without being conscious of it. His speech and manners became curiously ceremonious to the great admiration and amusement of his friends. But then Tom’s influence among these young people began to grow day by day. He seemed to know so much! And he could do and say such marvelous things! And he was so wise! Tom’s remarks, and Tom’s performances, were reported by the boys to their elders; and they also began to discuss Tom Canty and to regard him as a most gifted and extraordinary boy.
Questions
Why wasn’t Tom unhappy?
What did Father Andrew teach Tom?
How did Tom spend most of his time?
What was Tom’s greatest desire? Why?
Why did he keep his dream to himself?
How did reading change Tom?
Why did Tom finally begin to act like a prince?
How did Tom’s speech and manners change?
Why did the young people respect Tom?
How did grown-ups treat Tom?
Did you like Tom? Why?
Speak about yourself.
Speak about your friend.
Speak about your working day.
Speak about sport in your life.
Speak about your free time.
Speak about your native town(village).
Spear about the Russian Federation.
Speak about Moscow.
Speak about Great Britain.
Speak about London.
Speak about the USA.
Speak about Washington or New-York.
Speak about your favourite season.
Speak about computer and Internet.
Speak about your future profession.
Speak about banks.
Speak about mass media.
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