Everyday English | страница 36

b. 1910, b. 1912,

John. James.

APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER

APPEARANCE

(abridged from “Martin Eden” by Jack London)

He got up and tried to see himself in the dirty looking glass over the wash-stand. He saw the head and face of a young fellow of twenty. Above a square-domed forehead he saw a mop of brown hair, nut-brown, with a wave to it and hints of curls, making hands tingle to stroke it. But he passed it by, and dwelt long and thoughtfully on the high square forehead. What kind of brain lay behind it?

He wondered if there was soul in those steel-gray eyes that were often quite blue of colour and that were strong with the salty air of the sea. Well, they were honest eyes, he concluded. The brown sunburn of his face surprised him.

His mouth might have been an angel’s mouth, had not the full, sensuous lips a habit of drawing firmly across the teeth. At times so tightly did they draw, the mouth became stern and harsh. The chin and jaw were strong and just hinting of square aggressiveness. And between the lips were teeth that were white and strong and regular.

Ex. 1. Comprehension questions.

How does Jack London describe:

a) Martin’s hair?

b) Martin’s eyes?

c) Martin’s mouth?

d) Do you think the author likes his hero or doesn’t like him? Prove your point.

a) Find the Russian equivalents to the following:

1) square-domed; 2) a mop; 3) nut-brown; 4) a high forehead; 5) sunburn;

6) a mouth; 7) full lips; 8) a strong chin; 9) regular teeth.

b) reproduce the description of the young man as close to the text, as you can.

1. apearance (looks)

2. look(v)

3. look like (resemble smb)

4. take after smb

5. family likeness

6. (not) look oneself

7. look wretched ['retjid]

8. look one’s best

9. look one’s age (see p. 24)

attractive unattractive

impressive

unimpressive good-looking

III favoured ['feivad] pleasant-looking [pleznt] unpleasant looking pretty

repulsive [ri'pxlsiv]

charming

ugly

lovely ['IavIi]

common beautiful

plain

nice usual

внешний вид, внешность вы глядеть

быть похожим на кого-либо быть похожим на кого-либо семейное сходство

(не) быть похожим на себя (сильно измениться)

иметь несчастный вид прекрасно выглядеть выглядеть не старше своих лет

body (see р. 179)

привлекательный непривлекательный выразительный невыразительный интересный уродливый приятный неприятный хорошенькая отвратительный очаровательный уродливый восхитительный заурядный красивый заурядный миловидный обычный