Черная курица, или Подземные жители / The Black Hen (Погорельский) - страница 13
"What is happening?" said the headmaster. "Say your lesson."
Alyosha couldn't say a word. He didn't know the lesson.
"What does this mean, Alyosha?" the headmaster asked. "Why don't you speak?"
Alyosha put his hand in the pocket. The seed wasn't there. It was terrible!
"I'm sorry," said the boy. He started crying.
The headmaster became very angry.
"Go to the bedroom," he said, "and learn your lesson. Now!"
Helpful Words & Notes
how the King keeps his word — как король держит слово.
At first — Сначала.
from time to time — время от времени.
he started thinking a lot of himself — он начал зазнаваться.
to learn by heart — выучить наизусть.
than usual — чем обычно.
Why should I learn something? — С какой стати я должен что-то учить?
Exercises
1 Answer the questions.
1) Did the King keep his word?
2) When did the magic seed help Alyosha for the first time?
3) Was Alyosha happy then?
4) How did the King's present change Alyosha?
5) Why did the headmaster tell him to learn twenty pages by heart?
6) What happened at the History lesson the next day?
2 Match the two parts of the sentences.
1) Alyosha
2) Everyone
3) The headmaster
4) The boys
5) St. Petersburg
a) came back to school after the holidays.
b) never made any mistakes in his tests.
c) knew about a very clever boy.
d) liked him less and less.
e) told the boy to learn more and more.
3 Choose right.
1) Alyosha always / never knew his homework without studying.
2) He never / always made mistakes in his tests.
3) At first Alyosha's gift made him happy / sad.
4) The headmaster told the boy to learn more and more / less and less.
5) Each day the other pupils liked Alyosha less and less / more and more.
4 Fill in the prepositions.
1) Can you learn two pages ____ heart?
2) Alyosha started thinking a lot ____ himself.
3) Alyosha was afraid ____ look at the headmaster.
4) At first the boy called Blacky ____ the evening.
5) Then he remembered her only ____ time to time.
5 Say why:
1) Alyosha became proud and naughty.
2) Blacky didn't come to see Alyosha.
3) the inspector of schools came to listen to Alyosha.
6 Is it important to keep your word? Do you always keep your word?
Chapter 7
Alyosha went to the bedroom. But he didn't take the book. He started looking for the hemp seed. First he looked in all his pockets. Then he looked under the bed. No seed!
"It may be in the yard," Alyosha thought. "I played there yesterday. I lost it there. But how can I get it back? I can't leave the room now."
The boy decided to call Blacky.
"Dear Blacky!" he said. "Dear Minister! Please, come to me. Give me another seed!"