GIR. U3. Additional texts p.1
Дата публикации: Jul 16, 2016 7:1:40 PM
Read the story and retell it Following the outline given below. Make a list of the words in the text which you could use to develop each point:.
THE TATTOO
(After O'Henry)
The trouble began in a gambling house. Greaser, a hot-blooded youth quarrelled with his neighbour, whose nickname was the Kid, and the latter shot him on the spot.
A minute later Greaser's friends were at the Kid's heels. They overtook him at the station, but the young man turned and raised his revolver. He was a good shot. Seeing his revolver, the pursuers stopped, turned and vanished.
The same afternoon the Kid got on a passenger train, and three days later he was sailing to Buenas Tierras, coast of South America.
Thacker, the United States consul at Buenas Tierras, was not yet drunk. It was eleven o'clock in the morning and he was never drunk until the middle of the afternoon. On hearing a slight noise he looked up and saw the Kid standing at the door.
"Good morning," said the young man. "They told me it was customary to call on you before having a look at the town. I have just come on a ship from Texas."
"Glad to see you, Mr. - ?" said the consul.
The young man laughed. "Dalton," he said. "But it sounds funny to me to hear it. They simply call me the Kid."
"I'm Thacker," said the consul, motioning the young man to a chair. "I suppose you want somebody to advise you. And, besides, they speak Spanish here and you'll need an interpreter. If there is anything I can do for you, I'll be delighted. If you are buying fruit lands or looking for a concession, you will want somebody to help you."
"I speak Spanish," said the Kid, "about nine times better than I speak English. Everybody speaks Spanish on the ranch where I come from. And I am not buying anything."
"You speak Spanish?" said Thacker thoughtfully. He looked at the young man in silence. "You look like a Spaniard, too," he continued, "and you are from Texas. And you can't be more than twenty or twenty-one. I wonder if you are game enough..."
"What do you mean?" asked the Kid, suddenly rising and approaching the consul.
"Are you ready to undertake any kind of job?" asked Thacker.
"What's the use of denying it," said the young man. "I got into a little trouble in my country and killed a man, I was afraid that some of his friends might try to get even with me, so I thought I'd better leave the place and come here. So you see that I'm game for any kind of work."
Thacker got up and closed the door.
"Come here," said the consul. Through the window he pointed to a two-story white house. "In that house," said Thacker, "an old Castilian gentleman and his wife are waiting to embrace you and fill your pockets with money. Old Santos Urique lives there. He owns half the gold mines in the country."
"You're not drunk, are you?" said the Kid.
"Sit down," said Thacker, "and I'll tell you. Twelve years ago the old gentleman and his wife lost their only child. He was a wild little devil and but eight years old. Some Americans who were looking for gold called on Don Urique and made much of the boy. They filled his head with wonderful stories about the United States; and a month after they left, the boy disappeared. It was said he was seen once afterwards in Texas, but they never heard anything more of him. Old Urique sent men to look for him. He spent thousands of dollars, but in vain. The mother was quite broken. The child was her life. She still wears mourning. They say she believes that her son will come back to her some day, and never gives up hope. On the back of the boy's left hand was tattooed a flying eagle."
The Kid looked at the consul, but said nothing.
"I can help you," continued Thacker. "In a week you'll have an eagle tattooed on your left hand, and then I'll send for old Urique, and when he finds that you have the tattoo mark, both parents will fall on your neck. The rest is very simple. Old Urique keeps from $50,000 to $100,000 in his house in a little safe that a child can open. Get the money. Then we shall catch a ship going to Rio Janeiro and let the consulate go to the dogs. What do you say?"
"It sounds all right," answered the Kid.
In a week's time the tattooed design on the young man's left hand was ready and the wound had healed, and then Thacker sent for the Uriques.
Half an hour later an old-fashioned carriage drove up to the door of the consulate. A lady and a tall man with a white moustache got off and hurried in.
By the consul's desk stood a slender young man with a sunburnt face and black hair. Donna Urique cast a long look upon the young man. Then her black eyes turned, and her gaze rested upon his left hand, and then with a sob, not loud, but seeming to shake the room, she cried: . "Oh, my son," and folded the Kid in her arms.
A month later the Kid came to the consulate in response to a message from Thacker. He looked a young caballero. His clothes were of the latest fashion and a big diamond shone on his finger,
"Well," asked Thacker, "How are you getting on? It's time you began acting," said Thacker. "What's the trouble? Can't you find where Don Urique keeps his money?"
"Oh, he's very rich," said the young man, admiring his diamond. "There's plenty of money in the house. I've seen it with my own eyes, But you are not going to get it," the Kid said, cheerfully. "And I'll tell you why. The first night when I was in my bedroom at Don Urique's house, my artificial mother came in and bent over me. "My boy," she said, "my boy!" And down comes a drop or two, and hits me on the nose. You see, I had very little to do with mothers in my life and I think that this old artificial mother of mine mustn't be disappointed. She stood it once, but she will not stand it twice. That is why things are going to stay just as they are..."
"I'll expose you today, you ... traitor," stammered Thacker.
The Kid rose and, without violence, took Thacker by the throat with a hand of steel. Then with his left hand, he drew out his revolver and pointed it at the consul.
"There is one more reason," he said slowly, "why things have to stay as they are. The fellow I killed had an eagle tattooed on his left hand."
From the outside came a sound of wheels and the old-fashioned carriage of Don Urique stopped at the door of the consulate.
"Where are you, my dear son?" cried Donna Urique.
"I am coming, mother," answered the Kid.
tattoo noun BrE /təˈtuː/ ; NAmE /tæˈtuː/ (pl. tattoos)
1. a picture or design that is marked permanently on a person’s skin by making small holes in the skin with a needle and filling them with coloured ink
His arms were covered in tattoos.
She has a tattoo of a tiger on her shoulder.
2. (especially British English) an outdoor show by members of the armed forces that includes marching, music and military exercises
the Edinburgh military tattoo
3. [usually singular] a rapid and continuous series of taps or hits, especially on a drum as a military signal
The drummers beat a tattoo each morning.
Her fingers tapped a light tattoo on the table.
George felt his heart begin to beat a tattoo against his ribs.
at/on somebody’s heels - following closely behind somebody
He fled from the stadium with the police at his heels.
see Heels
pursuer noun BrE /pəˈsjuːə(r)/ ; NAmE /pərˈsuːər/ - a person who is following or chasing somebody
customary adjective BrE /ˈkʌstəməri/ ; NAmE /ˈkʌstəmeri/
1. if something is customary, it is what people usually do in a particular place or situation
synonym usual
Is it customary to tip hairdressers in this country?
It has been customary for the chair to be re-elected for a second year.
2. typical of a particular person
synonym habitual
She arranged everything with her customary efficiency.
She worked with her customary thoroughness.
call on phrasal verb
call on somebody | call upon somebody(formal)
1. to formally invite or ask somebody to speak, etc.
I now call upon the chairman to address the meeting.
2. to ask or demand that somebody do something
I feel called upon (= feel that I ought) to warn you that…
motion verb BrE /ˈməʊʃn/ ; NAmE /ˈmoʊʃn/ - [intransitive, transitive] to make a movement, usually with your hand or head, to show somebody what you want them to do
motion to somebody (to do something) I motioned to the waiter.
motion (for) somebody to do something He motioned for us to follow him.
motion somebody + adv./prep. She motioned him into her office.
Spaniard noun BrE /ˈspænɪəd/ ; NAmE /ˈspænjərd/ - a person from Spain
game adjective BrE /ɡeɪm/ ; NAmE /ɡeɪm/ - game (for something/to do something) ready and willing to do something new, difficult or dangerous
She's game for anything.
We need a volunteer for this exercise. Who's game to try?
So you see that I'm game for any kind of work.
be/get even (with somebody) - (informal) to cause somebody the same amount of trouble or harm as they have caused you
I'll get even with you for this, just you wait.
storey noun(especially British English) (especially US English story) BrE /ˈstɔːri/ ; NAmE /ˈstɔːri/ (pl. storeys, (North American English)stories)
1. a level of a building; a floor
the upper/lower storey of the house
a single-storey/two-storey building
see also multi-storey
2. -storeyed (British English) (North American English -storied) (in adjectives) (of a building) having the number of levels mentioned
a four-storeyed building
storey / floor
You use storey (British English)/story (North American English) mainly when you are talking about the number of levels a building has:
a five-storey house
The office building is five storeys high.
Floor is used mainly to talk about which particular level in the building someone lives on, goes to, etc:
His office is on the fifth floor.
He was a wild little devil and but eight years old.
but adverb BrE /bət/ ; NAmE /bət/ ; BrE strong form /bʌt/ ; NAmE strong form /bʌt/ = only
I don't think we'll manage it. Still, we can but try.
There were a lot of famous people there: Lady Gaga and Hugh Jackman, to name but two.
+ ex.
Of a sudden, the oft-told family tales to which she had listened since babyhood, listened half-bored, impatient and but partly comprehending, were crystal clear.
И неожиданно ей отчетливо припомнились все семейные истории, которые она столько раз слушала в детстве — слушала нетерпеливо, скучая и не понимая до конца. Mitchell, Margaret / Gone with the wind
Therefore for a while the army tarried, and but now to-night comes news brought by Canidius, the General, that, worn with doubt and being at length sure that Antony had deserted them, the whole of his great force has yielded to Caesar."
Войско сколько-то времени ждало, но сегодня вечером военачальник Канидий прибыл с вестью, что легионам надоело неведение, в котором они пребывали, они решили, что Антоний их бросил, и все огромное войско перешло на сторону цезаря. Haggard, Henry Rider / Cleopatra
make of phrasal verb
make something of somebody | make something of something - to understand the meaning or character of somebody/something
What do you make of it all?
I can't make anything of this note.
I don't know what to make of (= think of) the new manager.
mourning noun BrE /ˈmɔːnɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/ [uncountable]
1. sadness that you show and feel because somebody has died
synonym grief
The government announced a day of national mourning for the victims.
She was still in mourning for her husband.
2. clothes that people wear to show their sadness at somebody’s death
The queen was dressed in mourning.
go to the dogs
to become worse in quality or character
go to hell (in a handbasket)
He was a marvelous actor, but his drinking problems caused his career to go to the dogs.
It is sad to report that this once first-class hotel has gone to the dogs.
see Dogs
slender adjective BrE /ˈslendə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈslendər/ (slenderer, slenderest) You can also use more slender and most slender.
1. (approving) (of people or their bodies) thin in an attractive or elegant way
synonym slim
her slender figure
long, slender fingers
a slender young woman
See related entries: Body shape
2. thin or narrow
a glass with a slender stem
3. small in amount or size and hardly enough
to win by a slender margin/majority
people of slender means (= with little money)
Australia held a slender 1–0 lead at half-time.
These claims are based on slender evidence.
fold your arms to put one of your arms over the other one and hold them against your body
He stood watching her with his arms folded across his chest.
fold your hands to bring or hold your hands together
She kept her hands folded in her lap.
fold somebody in your arms (literary) to put your arms around somebody and hold them against your body
And down comes a drop or two, and hits me on the nose
partial inversion
+
the nose (важен объект) vs. my nose (важна принадлежность) see Артикуляция 2016
expose verb BrE /ɪkˈspəʊz/ ; NAmE /ɪkˈspoʊz/
show something hidden
1. to show something that is usually hidden
synonym reveal
expose something He smiled suddenly, exposing a set of amazingly white teeth.
Miles of sand are exposed at low tide.
My job as a journalist is to expose the truth.
expose something to somebody He did not want to expose his fears and insecurity to anyone.
show truth
2. expose somebody/something (as something) to tell the true facts about a person or a situation, and show them/it to be immoral, illegal, etc.
She was exposed as a liar and a fraud.
He threatened to expose the racism that existed within the police force.
to something harmful
3. expose somebody/something/yourself (to something) to put somebody/something in a place or situation where they are not protected from something harmful or unpleasant
to expose yourself to ridicule
Do not expose babies to strong sunlight.
The roof collapsed, exposing the timbers to the elements.
You could be exposing yourself to unnecessary risks when driving alone.
give experience
4. expose somebody to something to let somebody find out about something by giving them experience of it or showing them what it is like
We want to expose the kids to as much art and culture as possible.
mountain communities that had not been exposed to tourism before
film in camera
5. expose something to allow light onto the film inside a camera when taking a photograph
yourself
6. expose yourself a man who exposes himself, shows his sexual organs in public in a way that is offensive to other people
see also exposure
stammer verb BrE /ˈstæmə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈstæmər/
[intransitive, transitive] to speak with difficulty, repeating sounds or words and often stopping, before saying things correctly
synonym stutter
Many children stammer but grow out of it.
+ speech ‘W-w-what?’ he stammered.
stammer something (out) She was barely able to stammer out a description of her attacker.
заикаться
The Kid rose and, without violence, took Thacker by the throat with a hand of steel.
the throat - важен объект, а не принадлежность see Артикуляция 2016
with a hand of steel - метафора, it is soo strong and firm hand as if it is made of steel
of steel - having a quality like steel, especially a strong, cold or hard quality
She felt a hand of steel (= a strong, firm hand) on her arm.
You need a cool head and nerves of steel (= great courage).
There was a hint of steel in his voice (= he sounded cold and firm).
a hand of steel - метафора
a steel hand - прямой смысл
his hand of steel - метафора
his steel hand - прямой смысл (допустим одна рука обычная, а вторая стальная - см. картинку ниже)
the hand of steel - метафора
the steel hand - прямой смысл
a steel hand (акцент на классе объекта, новая информация, временное свойство)
the steel hand (акцент на объекте, индивидуализация, постоянное свойство)
This is the "Steel Hand" sculpture by Bruce Gray which was stolen off the set of a movie called "The Resurrector." I would like it back, and will pay a reward for its return.
his steel hand (акцент на принадлежности)
Он вошел в кабинет с портфелем в руке
a briefcase - новая информация (рема), неожиданность
the briefcase - тема, известный портфель
his briefcase - постоянно ходит с портфелем, это часть его
that briefcase - тот самый портфель - коннотация
that briefcase of him - этот его дурацкий портфель - коннотация