requirements требования (от to requireтребовать)
parishioner прихожанин (от parishприход)
to abstain воздерживаться
to reply отвечать
couch кушетка
to reach (for) дотягиваться (до чего-л.)
can банка
corn кукуруза
top верх; верхний
to bend (over) наклоняться (над чем-л.)
lust сильное желание
advantage преимущество
to state утверждать
to join a church вступить в церковь
to be able быть способным, мочь
No problem at all! Никаких проблем!
to go without sex обходиться без секса
Congratulations! Поздравления!
Welcome! Добро пожаловать!
to be welcome быть желаемым, желанным (где-л.)
to pick sth up поднимать что-л.
to be overcome with sth быть охваченным (чем-л.)
to take advantage of her воспользоваться удобным моментом
right there прямо там
1. Answer the questions to the text:
1. How many couples wanted to join the church and how old were they?
2. What special requirements did the couples have to meet if they wanted to join the church?
3. Who did the pastor go to first when the couples returned after the two weeks' trial period?
4. Why was it easy for an elderly couple to be admitted to church?
5. How did the middle-aged husband cope with the problem?
6. What was wrong with the can of corn?
2. Fill in the blanks with the words from the text:
1. Two couples wanted _______ a church.
2. We have special _______ for new parishioners.
3. You must _______ from having sex.
4. No problem _______, Pastor.
5. _______ to the church!
6. I had to sleep on the couch for _______ of nights.
7. We were not _______ to go without sex.
8. My wife was _______ for a can of corn.
3. Say if the sentences are true or false:
1. Three couples, an elderly couple, a middle-aged couple and a young newlywed couple wanted to join the army.
2. We have special requirements for new parishioners.
3. You must abstain from having sex for two weeks.
4. The couples didn't agree and never came back.
5. The second week I had to sleep on the couch for a couple of nights.
6. I was reaching for a can of corn on the top shelf and dropped it.
7. We're not welcome at the local zoo anymore either.
4. Match the words and expressions in the left column to those in the right one:
5. Translate from Russian into English:
1. Три пары захотели вступить в церковь.
2. Мы предъявляем особые требования к нашим прихожанам.
3. Пары согласились и пришли назад через две недели.
4. Никаких проблем, пастор!
5. Поздравления! Добро пожаловать в церковь!
6. Первая неделя была не слишком тяжкой.
7. Я был вынужден спать на кушетке пару ночей.
8. Я был охвачен сильным желанием и воспользовался своим преимуществом над ней прямо там.
9. Нас также не хотят больше видеть и в местном супермаркете.
В предложениях You must abstain from having sex for two weeks; Were you able to abstain from sexfor the two weeks? I had to sleep on the couch for a couple of nights but… используются так называемые модальные глаголы и их заменители (must, to be able, to have to).
Проверьте свои знания модальных глаголов; при необходимости используйте грамматический комментарий (раздел 20).
6.Translate from Russian into English using modal verbs and their substitutes:
1. Вы можете вступить в церковь.
2. Вы сможете вступить в церковь, если выполните особые требования.
3. Вы должны воздерживаться от секса в течение трех недель.
4. Мы не можем сделать этого.
5. Мы должны были прийти через три недели.
6. Мы не смогли сделать этого.
7. Я вынужден был спать на кушетке.
8. Мне не было необходимости спать на кушетке.
9. Можно мне вступить в вашу церковь без испытательного срока?
10. Мне позволили сделать это без испытательного срока.
11. Вам не следовало бы больше ходить в местный супермаркет.
7.Fill in the blanks with proper forms of the verbs:
1. It's a recommendation that you (to join) _______ a church.
2. It's necessary that we (to have) _______ special requirements for new parishioners.
3. He suggested that we (to abstain) _______ from having sex for two weeks.
4. He urged them (to come) _______ back at the end of two weeks.
5. He found it necessary (to sleep) _______ on the couch for a couple of nights.
8.Fill in the blanks with proper forms of the verbs:
1. I want you (to join) _______ a church.
2. He expected them (to abstain) _______ from having sex for two weeks.
3. The pastor saw the elderly couple (to enter) _______ the church.
4. He let them (to pass over) _______ to the altar.
5. This made him (to sleep) _______ on the couch for a couple of nights.
6. He watched the wife (to try) _______ to reach for a can of corn.
7. He saw her (to pick) _______ the can up.
8. This made him (to take) _______ advantage of her right there.
9. Render the joke.
Section 18
An elderly couple
An elderly couple had been dating for some time and decided it was finally time to marry. Before the wedding they embarked on a long conversation regarding how their marriage might work. They discussed finances, living arrangements and so on.
Finally the old man decided it was time to broach the subject of their connubial relationship. «How do you feel about sex?» he asked, rather hopefully.
«Oh, I like to have it infrequently,» she responded.
The old guy thought for a moment, then asked, «Was that one word or two?»