Guide II

1. Where did the following conversation take place? Role-play it with a partner. Pay attention to punctuation marks, repetition of words and phrases, elliptical sentences. Use the intonation of conversational formulas, hesitation pauses, uneven tempo of speech, rising, falling and falling-rising nuclear tones.

– Hello? Hello. Hello?

– Mr. Hundert?

– Yes, hello.

– Can you hear me, sir?

– I can. Hello.

– Mr. Bell wanted to make sure you were comfortable.

– I'm quite comfortable. Thank you. And - And, please, thank Mr. Bell for the beautiful fruit basket. It's quite .... comprehensive.

– Yes, sir. Mr. Bell also wanted to tell you that he's added one event on the morning following the competition – a breakfast in your honor. Mr. Hundert?

– Yes - yes. Th - thank you, thank you.

– The others will be heading down to the bar in twenty minutes, sir.

– Uh, very well. Twenty minutes. In the bar. I'll be there.

2. This is the narrator's story. Fill in the verbs in the proper tense forms:

As I (to get) older I (realize) that I (to be) certain of two things: days that (to begin) with rowing on the lake are better than days that do not. Second, a man's character is his fate. And as a student of history I (to find) this hard to refute. For most of us our stories (to be written) long before we (to die). There are exceptions among great men of history but they are rare and I am not one of them. I am a teacher – simply that. I (to teach) for 34 years. One day I (to stop) teaching. Those (to be) the facts of my life's chronicle. The last chapter (to be been written). My book (to be closed).

Comment on the underlined statements. Read the extract aloud using an appropriate tempo, loudness and pauses.

3. Fill in prepositions where necessary:

I couldn’t tell exactly why I had agreed to come. I’m not sure I knew. It had something to do …. hope. The young men that were gathering here were …. the most successful and influential …. their generation. But I knew them before any of that. I knew them as my students …. Saint Benedict’s school … boys.

4. Listen to Mr. Woodbridge, the headmaster. On what occasion is he delivering the speech? What is his aim?

Looking closer, under the bishop’s miter, are the words “Non sibi” or “Not for oneself”.This embodies our philosophy at St. Benedict’s. The wisdom gained here should be used for others as well as for oneself. And, finally, “Finis origine pendet”. These three words are emblazoned across your hearts under the great seal of Saint Benedict’s. It’s our Academy’s motto – simply, “The end depends upon the beginning”.

Do you agree with the underlined statement?

5. Watch the following sequence. Describe the contest, its organization and purpose. Use the phrases:

To be held …. year in ….. phases; to be a …… of quizzes; to narrow the … of competitors; to be a public tournament; to ….. the stage at St. Benedict’s hall; to answer questions about …. ….. ; to be ….. a winner; to be ….. Julius Caesar.

Home assignments:

1. Study Vocabulary II: to procure, to estimate, undaunted, lean, to mold, to pledge, stake, to confine, to vouch, to commend, a moderator, a reprobate, veritable, stab, bid, to expose, kindling.Prepare the cards.