Tommy’s house Marina Nitsinska
Illustrator Alexander Tsimailo
© Marina Nitsinska, 2022
© Alexander Tsimailo, illustrations, 2022
ISBN 978-5-0051-9139-7
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
CHAPTER 1
Tommy
There was a big house in the dense forest between high malachite mountains.
Braided with green ivy, hidden in the heart of the dark wood, it looked mysterious and lonely. Actually, when you approached it, you could see that it was cosy, warm and friendly. The dwelling with its large windows, dark green door and tiled roof resembled a marvellous house in a fairyland.
A little boy Tommy and his family lived in this house. He was a smart child of eight, looking funny with freckles and a snub nose on his round face. His brown hair was slightly curly. The boy looked at the world with bright green eyes and a timid smile.
Tommy could be different almost every day. He was fickle like a leaf in the wind. His mood changed according to the situation. His behaviour varied depending on the expectations of his parents. Sometimes the kid was cheerful and talkative, but pretty soon he became reserved and shy. One day he could be generous and responsive, but the next day he didn’t want to speak and share anything with anyone.
For a boy of his age Tom was very observant, witty, and quite self-centred like most children.
Tommy’s parents took care of him, and of course, they loved their son, but they were too busy at work. That is why he often spent time alone, though he didn’t feel sad or lonely. Tommy wandered about the house, travelling from one room to another. He always found some interesting activities there. Each room had something special for him.
HELPFUL WORDS AND NOTES
malachite [mæləkaıt] – малахитовый
braided with ivy [breıdıd] [wɪð] [aıvı] – оплетённый плющом
dwelling [dwelıŋ] – дом, жилище
tiled roof [taıld] [ru f] – черепичная крыша
to resemble [rızembl] – походить на
кого-либо, напоминать
fairyland [feərɪlænd] – сказочная
страна
freckles [freklz] – веснушки
timid smile [tɪmɪd] [smaɪl] – робкая,
застенчивая улыбка
fickle [fɪkl] – переменчивый,
непостоянный
according to smth [əkɔ dɪŋ] [tu] —
в зависимости от чего-либо
talkative [tɔ kətɪv] — разговорчивый,
словоохотливый
reserved [rɪzɜ vd] – сдержанный,
замкнутый
responsive [rɪspɔn(t)sɪv] – отзывчивый, чуткий
observant [əbzɜv(ə)nt] – наблюдательный, внимательный
witty [wɪtɪ] — остроумный
self-centred [_selfsentəd] – эгоцентричный, эгоистичный
to wander [wɔndə] – прогуливаться, бродить
VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR TASKS
I Match the words that go together.
II Here are several words and expressions from the text (A – I). Match the definition of each of them from the list below (1 – 9).
A timid
B talkative
C self-centred
D fairyland
E freckles
F reserved
G witty
H responsive
I observant
1. only concerned with their own wants and needs and never thinks about other people
2. showing a lack of courage or confidence; easily frightened
3. fond of talking
4. someone who keeps their feelings hidden
5. responding readily and with interest or enthusiasm
6. an imagined ideal place
7. someone who pays a lot of attention to things and notices more about them than most people do
8. showing or characterised by quick and inventive verbal humour
9. small patches of light brown colour on the skin, often becoming more pronounced through exposure to the sun
III Make up sentences of your own with the word combinations from exercises I and II.
IV Translate the sentences using the vocabulary of chapter 1.
1. Его тётя была отзывчивой и щедрой. Она напоминала добрую волшебницу из сказки.
2. Голос мамы менялся в зависимости от её переменчивого настроения.
3. Мальчик бродил по густому лесу и увидел старый дом, оплетённый плющом.
4. Внешний облик девушки с курносым носом, слегка вьющимися светлыми волосами и застенчивой улыбкой производил на всех обманчивое впечатление.
5. По словам её брата, она вовсе не была застенчивой и замкнутой.
6. Его болтливая сестра делилась своими секретами со всеми.
7. Ты заметила того эгоцентричного парня вчера на вечеринке? На самом деле он очень внимательный и остроумный.
DISCUSSION TASKS
I Answer the following questions.
1. Where was the house situated?
2. What did the dwelling resemble?
3. How old was Tommy?
4. Who did he live in the house with?
5. What influenced his mood and behaviour?
6. Did he have a good sense of humour?
7. Did Tommy’s parents spend much time with him?
8. Why was Tommy often alone?
9. Did the boy feel lonely when he stayed alone?
10. What did he do in the house?
II Complete the following tasks:
1. Describe Tommy’s house.
2. Describe Tommy. Tell about his character.
3. Tell about Tommy’s attitude to the house.
TALKING POINTS
I Describe your place (a flat, a house).
II Tell about your dream home.
CHAPTER 2
Lilly
Lilly was Tommy’s younger cousin. She was almost five. The little girl with pure freedom in her magnificent black eyes and fair tresses visited the house with her mum occasionally.
Lilly asked too many questions with her squeaky voice and made much noise. It irritated Tommy. Dressed in a short yellow skirt and a green t-shirt with flower print, she could whirl in front of the mirror and sing a child’s song.
She had a handmade date bones bracelet1 on her right wrist. The girl said that it was her talisman. She was in the habit of touching and twisting the glossy brown bones with her tiny fingers. Lilly never took it off and allowed nobody to touch it.
The little girl attracted all parents’ attention and admiring glances, though the boy considered her to be a spoilt, capricious child. When he refused to play with her or to give the little girl some toys, parents often scolded Tommy for his behaviour.
Lilly was a really lively child. Everything in the world aroused her keen interest. She was open to any activity and capable of vivid communication with everyone.
“Tommy, what is your favourite book?”
“I like all books.”
“Well, don’t you have a special book that you would read again and again?!”
“No, I don’t.”
“Tommy, what season do you like most of all?”
“I like winter, though all seasons are good enough.”
“Oh, Don’t you like swimming in the lake and admiring the flowers in your garden in summer?!”
“I do.”
“Tommy, where would you like to travel?”
“The whole world.”
“And what is the place of your dream?”
“There are a lot of them on the planet.”
“Tommy…”
“I have to go.”
Three Lilly’s questions were the little man’s limit of patience. He got tired of her activity very quickly. Usually Tom tried to avoid speaking to the girl. Her emotional reactions made him nervous. The girl could tell him some amusing stories, gushing with admiration, but he stayed aloof. She shared her profound impressions with him, but it didn’t touch him, he just didn’t care. For this reason he hardly ever spent time with her. He often slipped away and hid in one of the rooms when she stayed at the house.
HELPFUL WORDS AND NOTES
squeaky voice [skwi_kɪ] [vɔɪs] – писклявый, визгливый голос
to irritate [ɪrɪteɪt] – раздражать, надоедать
to be in the habit of doing smth [bi] [ɪn] [ðə] [hæbɪt] [əv] [duɪŋ] – иметь привычку делать что-либо
glossy [glɔsɪ] — глянцевый, гладкий
to consider smb to be [kənsɪdə] [tə] [bi] – считать кого-либо кем-либо, каким-либо
spoilt child [spɔɪlt] [ʧaɪld] – избалованный ребёнок
to scold [skəuld] — ругать (ся), ворчать
lively [laɪvlɪ] – живой, активный,
весёлый
to arouse keen interest [ərauz] [ki n] [ɪnt(ə)rəst] – вызывать большой интерес
to be capable of smth [bi] [keɪpəbl] [əv] – быть способным на что-либо
limit of patience [lɪmɪt] [əv] [peɪʃ(ə)n(t)s] – предел терпения
to gush with admiration [gʌʃ] [wɪð] [_ædməreɪʃ(ə)n] – захлёбываться от восторга
aloof [əlu f] – равнодушный,
отчуждённый
profound impression [prəfaund] [ɪmpreʃ(ə)n] – глубокое, сильное впечатление
to touch [tʌʧ] — трогать, задевать за живое, волновать
VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR TASKS
I Fill in the gaps with the words and phrases from the list below in the appropriate form.
squeaky voice; spoilt child; to gush with admiration; to irritate; to touch; to scold lively; to consider; to be limit of patience;
aloof
1. Don’t ______________ your small cousin for her wild behaviour. Try to talk to the girl and explain everything to her.
2. She often __________________________even when she sees something ordinary.
3. His sister ________________ me, especially when she pronounces words with her high _____________________.
4. The governess tries to teach manners and to bring up that _________________.
5. That boy looks remote, he ________________________ cold and tough.
6. Actually, he is not so ________________, he can be really _____________ when somebody or something __________________ the strings of his soul.
7. Lady Canterville was stressed to _____________________________when she saw a ghost in the castle again.
II Complete the following sentences:
