Льюис Кэрролл — профессор математики

Много лет назад, в один погожий летний день, застен­чивый человек вместе с тремя маленькими девочка­ми отправился кататься на лодке по Темзе. Имя его было Доджсон. Его часто называли «Профессор Доджсон», поскольку в будние дни он преподавал мате­матику в Оксфордском университете, а по воскресе­ньям читал проповеди в церкви. «Доджсон» было его настоящим именем, а отнюдь не тем, под которым мы его знаем.

Доджсон был столь робким, что запинался от волне­ния, когда разговаривал со взрослыми людьми. Зато он с удовольствием рассказывал забавные истории детям. Именно в тот день, катаясь на лодке по Темзе, он поведал своим маленьким спутницам невероят­ную историю. Он рассказал им о маленькой девоч­ке, которая, отправившись спать, исчезла в кроличь­ей норе, а проснувшись, очутилась в стране чудес. Настолько необычной была эта история, что дети слу­шали его, широко раскрыв глаза. И напоследок по­просили профессора записать её для них. Это он и сделал, просидев над рукописью всю ночь. И посколь­ку одну из маленьких девочек звали Алиса, он выб­рал для своей истории название «Алиса в стране чудес».

После этого Доджсон убрал рукопись в ящик стола и совершенно забыл о ней. Никогда он не мог предпо­ложить, что ею кто-нибудь заинтересуется. Через не­сколько лет один из его приятелей наткнулся на эту рукопись. Стряхнув с неё пыль, он принялся её чи­тать. Едва он прочитал несколько страниц, как понял, что это шедевр, который необходимо опубликовать. «Хотелось бы, чтобы все дети смогли прочитать о при­ключениях Алисы в стране чудес. Досадно, что ты такой робкий и упрямый. На твоем месте я бы давно это сделал, и дети сейчас могли бы наслаждаться этой книгой. Также как и взрослые.» Тщетны, однако, были все его попытки. Профессор и слушать не хотел о том, чтобы он, профессор математики Оксфордского уни­верситета, написал глупую сказку для детей! Нет! Ни за что он этого не сделает! Это было ниже его досто­инства.

Потому-то «Алиса в стране чудес» и была в конце кон­цов издана под псевдонимом Льюис Кэрролл.Она имела чрезвычайный успех. Число её изданий труд­но определить. На протяжении многих десятков лет «Алиса в стране чудес» остаётся одной из самых лю­бимых детских книг во всем мире.

Ex. 704.Use the right form of the verbs in brackets. Retell the story.

A Whale Hunt

The sea was calm, and the sun (shine) brilliantly on the placid waveless waters. We (be) on the sea for some weeks and (be) now in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. In the distance a school of porpoises (play) and (splash) about in the sea, and beneath the glassy water smaller fish (swim) about, occasionally coming to the surface to pick up any food that (fall) from the ship. Suddenly a large whale (begin) to spout in the distance, and immediately all the boats (launch) and the party (start) in pursuit. As we (come) nearer we (perceive) that we (find) a school of large whales.

As soon as one of the monsters (appear) — for whales cannot remain below for a very long time — the men in the boat nearest to him (hurl) their harpoons which (bury) themselves right in his flesh, and the whale immediately (dive) down, dragging the boat along at a great speed. Meanwhile the other boats (come) nearer and nearer to the scene of the encounter, and we all (wait) anxiously for his reappearance, fearing lest the ropes not (be) long enough. The boat (be) dragged along at a great pace, and the water (fill) it — though the whale (show) no signs of exhaustion — when suddenly he (reappear), and immediately a number of fresh harpoons (be) hurled at him.

This (excite) the monster so much, that full of fury, he (attack) the boat, and with one blow of his mighty tail (break) it to pieces, hurling the men in it high into the air. A strange scene then (present) itself. Men (struggle) in the water in all directions — some (swim) towards the other boats, others (cling) to fragments of the wreck; some of the boats (try) to give assistance to the drowning men, while others (dart) in pursuit of the whale which (make off) as fast as he (can).

Ex. 705.Explain the difference in meaning between the sentences

1. She's very childish. She's being very childish. 2. Last year he lived in Paris. Last year he was living in Paris. 3. What have you done this morning? What did you do this morning?

4. My parents have written to me. My parents have been writing to me. 5. They had dinner when their friends came. They were having dinner when their friends came. 6. They knew the place well when they lived there. They knew the place well because they had lived there.

7. He learnt the language before he went there. He'd been learning the language before he went there. 8. As he ate his breakfast, he read the newspaper. As he had eaten his breakfast, he read the newspaper.

 

_;Ex. 706.Read the story. Give a complex analysis of all the '.grammatical phenomena.

A Very Fine Quality

I let the boat drift on the river, beneath the bridge, and out into the lake. The light was disappearing from the August evening. Home on holidays from the university and unused to farmwork, I was feeling heavy with tiredness, and I had gone on the river to be alone and think of my future, There was a full moon over Ireland.

"Hi there! Hi! Do you hear me, young Moran!" The voice came with startling clarity over the water. I looked all around. The voice came from the road. I couldn't at first make out the figure, but when it called again I knew it was Councillor Reegan. "Moran, row over here for a minute. I want to have a word with you." I rowed very slowly. I disliked him. He had come poor to the place, buying a small farm cheap, and soon after the farmhouse burnt down. A bigger house was built with the insurance money — and burned down, too, to be replaced by a large mansion. Soon he was buying up other small farms, but no one had ever seen him work with a shovel or spade. "A man who works never makes any money. He has no time to see where the money is," he was fond of boasting. He entered politics. He married Kathleen Relihan, the oldest daughter of old Andy Relihan, the richest man in the area, and chairman of the County Council. When Andy retired, Reegan succeeded him in the Council, and it seemed only a question of time before he was elected to be the Mayor. I let the boat turn so that I could place my hand on the stone wall. The Councillor was sitting on the wall and his shoes hung six or eight feel above the boat.

"It's not the first time I have to congratulate you," he said, "though I'm too high up here to shake your hand And I'm certain it won't be the last time either." "You're very kind," I answered. "Have you any idea what you'll do now?" "No,I've applied for a scholarship. It depends on whether

I get it or not." "What'll you do if you get it?" "Go on to the university, I suppose, and do the doctorate." "And after that?" "I don't know. Sooner or later, I suppose, I'll have to look for a job."

"That's what I want to talk to you about. You're qualified to teach, aren't you?" "Yes. But I've only taught for a few months. Before I got the chance to go to the university." "You didn't like teaching?" he asked sharply. I was careful. "I didn't dislike it. It was a job." "Good enough. And what I want to know is — if you were offered a very good job now, would you be likely to

take it?" "What job?"

(to be continued)

Ex. 707. Read the story Give a complex analysis of all the grammatical phenomena

A Very Fine Quality

"I won't beat about the bush. I'm talking of the job as principal of the school here. It's a very fine position for a young man. You'd be among your own people. If you decide to marry and settle down, I'm in a position to put other advantages your way."

This whole proposition was amazing. Master Leddy was the principal of the school. He had been principal as long as I remembered. He had taught me, and manv before me. I had visited him just three days before. His wife had let me in. "Is that young Moran?" Master Leddy called down. He must have recognized my voice.

"Make him a good cup of tea." Then he came heavily down the stairs in his stockinged feet. "You couldn't have come in a better time. We'll be able to walk up the road together." Physically, he had deteriorated since I'd last seen him — his face was puffy, the white hair thinned, and there was a bruise on one cheekbone, where he must have fallen. "It's a very nice thing to see old pupils coming back. Though not many of them bring me honour as you do, it's still a very nice thing when they come to see me. Loyalty is a fine quality. A very fine quality."

He spoke the whole of the slow walk to the village. I walked at a snail's pace by his side, embarrassed, ashamed, confused. I had once looked up to him in pure admiration. He had shone like a clear star. I had been in love with what he stood for. It seemed horrible that he had come to this.

"I always refer to you as my best pupil," he said. "When the whole business seems to be completely hopeless, I always point to you, Moran: that's one good job I did. Let the fools talk."

Outside the door of Ryan's Bar he took quick leave of me. "I won't invite you inside," he said. "I say to all my pupils: Stay away from drink. I am a poor example myself, but I want to bring no one with me. God bless and guard you, Moran. Come and see me again before you head back to the city." With that he left me.

What Reegan was saying was shocking. I knew that politicians had nothing to do with the appointment of teachers. It was the priest who ran the school. But I knew Reegan's reputation and was wary. "You must be joking," I said from the boat, "Isn't Master Leddy the principal?"

"He is now, but he won't be for long — not if I have anything to do with it. If you can give me your word that you'll take the job, I can promise you that the job is as good as yours."

(to be continued) 421

Ex. 708. A. Read the story Give a complex analysis of all the grammatical phenomena.

A Very Fine Quality

"I can't do that. Anyhow, I don't understand ... Father Gallagher who appoints the teachers."

"Listen. There are many people who feel the same way as I do. If I go to Father Gallagher in the name of all those people and say that you are willing to take the job, the job is yours. Even if he didn't want to, he'd have no choice but to appoint to..." "Why should you want to do that for me?" I was as much curious as taken aback. "It's bloody necessary. I have three sons. They go to that school. And with the education they are getting up there, all they'll ever be fit for is to dig ditches, and I don't ever want to watch any of my sons dig. The whole school is a mess."

"What makes you think I'd be any better?" "You're young. You're qualified. You're ambitious. It's

a very good job for someone your age. I'll give you all backing you'd want. With you there I'd feel my children would still have a real chance. If I go to Father Gallagher and say that things can't be allowed to go on as they've been going and we have a young man here, from a good

family, a local, more than qualified, who's willing to take the job, who has everyone's backing, then I can guarantee you here,this very evening,that you'll be the principal of that school when it opens in September." For the first time it was all coming clear to me. "What'll

happen to the Master? What'll he do?" "What I'm more concerned about is what'll my children

do if he stays." "Do you mean the Master'll be out on the road, then?" "You need have no fear of that. He's got the Teachers' Union behind him. Today, alcoholism is looked upon as

just another illness." Reegan laughed sarcastically. "No. He'd just have that bit less of a pension with which to drink himself into an early grave. You need have no worries. You'd be doing everybody a favour, including him most of all, if you take the job. Well, what do you say? I could still go to Father Gallagher tonight. It's late, but not too late. Well, what do you say?" "I'd have to think about it anyhow." "It's a very fine position for a young man starting out in life."

"I know it is. I'm very grateful. But I'll have to think about it."

To hell with gratitude. Gratitude doesn't matter a damn. I can't wait for very long. Something has to be done, and be done soon."

"I know that, but I still have to think about it." "Listen, let's not decide on anything this evening. Why on't you drop over to my place tomorrow night. My daughter has been saying for a long time now that she'd ike to meet you. Come about nine." From the boat I watched Reegan cross the road and disappear. I rowed very slowly away, in the deadly silence of the half-darkness. My hair and clothes were wet with the dew.

B. Write the end of the story as you see it and justify it.