Grammar Practice

Review the grammar material on the following items:

Present / Past Simple

Present / Past Perfect

Conditional Sentences

Subjunctive Mood

Modal Verbs

Vocabulary Practice

Pre-Reading Exercises

Study the vocabulary and clear up difficulties using a dictionary if necessary:

a city full of towers and battlements

to stretch far into the sky

a craftsman

to be too proud to admit something

to envy

to afford food or clogs for somebody

to deal with the situation in a very different way

to be miserable

to accept ones fate with a smile

to trudge from house to house

to be absolutely exhausted

to wear out something

to catch ones breath

to overhear an interesting conversation

to offer an amazing reward to someone

to be under the spell

a castle of a wicked sorcerer

to accept the challenge

to complete something

to win the sorcerers fortune

to be a perfect opportunity to get rid of something

to take up / to attempt a challenge

to let somebody homeless

to ride over an anthill deliberately

to do next damage

to frighten somebody

to knock to the castle with an impatient and violent manner

to toss and turn in ones bed

a scattered bucket full of seeds

to attempt the task

to retrieve something

to be dangerous

to fail

to pay with ones life

to change ones mind

to be prepared to go through with something

to be furious with something

to be ridiculous

to turn into a dragon

to breathe fire at somebody

to give pity on somebody

to have no claims on something or somebody

to waste ones time

to listen to the excuses

to wait anxiously for something

to be afraid of somebody

to be grateful for ones help

to see a swarm of bees

to be full of courage

to be very pleased with somebody

to start buzzing

to give a magnificent party

Reading Practice

The Enchanted Princess

Once upon a time there was a city full of towers and battlements that seemed to stretch as far as the sky. And in this ancient and beautiful city there lived a craftsman called Marquis. He made bags and belts and would go from house to house throughout the city shouting: Wholl buy my wares?

Many of the citizens would say that they need anything, but the truth was that they had hard times and were too proud to admit it.

Marquis had two sons called Henry and John, and because nobody would buy his wares, he could hardly afford any food or clothing for them. They dont realize that their father was very poor, but each of them dealt with the situation in a very different way. Henry was his fathers favoured, but he was a very miserable boy who did nothing but moaning about his familys fate. But gentle John accepted their fate with a smile on his face, as all they were happy.

One evening after another day trudging from house to house with his wares, Marquis sat down on a bench in front of the inn.

Oh, Im absolutely exhausted, he sighed. A poor man hadnt sold one single thing and he had walked so far that he wore out his wooden clogs, and when he looked in his purse it was completely empty. So he couldnt even afford a jag of ale. While he was catching his breath he overheard an interesting conversation going on between two men.

The king of Varinia has offered an amazing reward to a person who frees his daughter Princess Asmiralda, said one of the men.

Oh, she in prison? said the other.

No, she is under the spell in a castle of a wicked sorcerer, was the reply. And every man who accepts the challenge must complete three difficult tasks. What if I were the bravest man to complete the tasks! But, if you can, the Princess would be freed and well win the sorcerers fortune!

Marquis couldnt believe his ears when he heard this. It seemed a perfect opportunity for him to get rid of his debts. So he raised home to tell Henry to take up a challenge.

But how can I do this brave deed if I havent even a horse or a sword? moaned Henry.

Dont worry! Ill buy them for you, said Marquis. I have some savings left.

So Marquis went to market to buy his favourite son a horse and a sword. And he proudly waved good-bye to him as he set off to attempt the challenge.

Good bye, Henry!

Good luck!

Oh, its no doubt, luck!

Henry was a fast and aggressive horseman, and in no time at all he reached the forest that surrounded the sorcerers castle. As he galloped through the forest, he cut down the beehive with his sword and let the bees homeless. Then he deliberately rode over the anthill and completely destroyed it. And as he had been going to his next damage, Henry frightened a group of ducks that were sitting peacefully at the edge of the pond. He killed ten ducks for the sheer thrill of it. Henry galloped on through the forest. He was so arrogant that he didnt even stop to think about the misery he had caused to all those little creatures. Eventually he came to the castle where Asmiralda was kept. Henry jumped down from his horse and knocked at the castle door with an impatient and violent manner. The sorcerers assistant shouted out from the balcony above: Come in and have a rest. You have three difficult tasks ahead of you.

So Henry entered the castle, but he was too nervous to sleep. All night long he tossed and turned in his bed. That night seemed like the longest night in his life.

Oh, how I wish morning would come so that I could get on with the tasks, he moaned.

Finally, the castle bell struck nine. On the ninth strike the sorcerers assistant appeared again.

Follow me, she said. It is time for your first challenge.

So Henry followed her into the next meadow and watched her scattering the bucket full of seeds all over the grass.

Now, said the sorcerers assistant, you must pick up all these seeds and put them back in the bucket. You have exactly one hour to do this.

How have you figured all these seeds in one hour? Henry said. Thats impossible. It must be a joke!

But the woman didnt listen to his complaints and left without replying to his questions.

Oh, how could anyone expect me to pick up all these seeds without breaking my back. The woman must be mad, muttered Henry.

Precisely one hour later the sorcerers assistant appeared again.

You havent even attempted the task, she said. Then she took twelve keys from her apron pocket and threw them into the moat. You have exactly one hour to retrieve the keys, she said.

Again Henry complained. Oh, Ive just about enough of this nonsense, he moaned. Come on, stop wasting my time and tell me when the real challenge is going to start.

But the sorcerers assistant had already disappeared. One hour later she came back and saw that he hadnt even attempted his second task. She gave him one last chance.

To do the final task, she said, you must follow me into the castle, but this challenge is a very dangerous one. If you fail, you will pay with your life. There is still time to change your mind. Are you sure you are prepared to go through with this?

Henry was furious at this suggestion.

Give up the challenge, he shouted. Or I would never give up the challenge and Im going with you into the castle and whatever Ill have to do I would do. So, tell me what the task is.

The sorcerers assistant took him to a room where there were three veiled figures. Then she told him: Now you must decide which of these three figures is the princess.

Ill never heard such a ridiculous challenge. One spy swely tell me. I am exactly worn out to think about it. Well, I know I cant mess about. I can make choice right now! I think that the princess is the one on the row.

No sooner he had pointed to the veiled figure he had chosen, then it turned into a dragon that roared and breathed fire at him.

Oh, no. Ive made the wrong choice! sobbed he

And the heart-broken princess Asmiralda, who was the figure in the middle, could only watch a terrible scene that followed.

Henry cried out, Please, take pity on me. I know that Im made a miserable tasking and I have no claim on the princess or the sorcerers fortune, but, surely, I am not deserved to die for this.

But Henry was wasting his time. The sorcerer wont listen to the excuses: he set the tasks and expected them to be done. So, on the sorcerers command: Dragon, take him. The dragon then took the terrified young man with its teeth and threw over the balcony. That was the end of poor old Henry.

Marquis did not know about Henrys fate and the one whole year he waited anxiously for his return.

After one year of waiting Marquis felt that he could wait no longer and he decided that he must go and find out what it had become with his eldest son. But John knew that his father was getting old, so he offered to go on his behalf. Although his father and his brother had not always treated him well. He didnt bate any grudge because all that he wanted to do was to free his father from poverty and so, without a sword or a horse, he set off.

He took the same path through the woods that his brother Henry had taken. When he came to the pond he had a little nap until he was awaken by the little ducks. They were not afraid of this gentle-looking young man. They even waddled out of the water to get a closer look at him. John loved the ducks, and he shared his bread with them. Then he continued on his way. Next he came across an anthill where the ants were rebuilding their broken home. He helped them to mend it by digging up the earth and working with a straw. The ants were very grateful for his help and hoped that one day they would be able to repay him for his kindness. Then he saw a swarm of bees busily trying to repair their hive. So thoughtful fellow picked a wonderful bunch of flowers full of pollen for them. Johns behaviour was obviously very different from Henrys.

Finally he arrived at the sorcerers castle. The sausers assistant met him at the door and told him to have a rest before attempting the tasks.

John had the best nights sleeping as he had and felt refreshed and full of courage the next morning. On a strike of nine the sorcerers assistant appeared out of nowhere as the sorcerers assistants do.

She told John about the first task: Gather a pocket full of seeds, scattered in the meadow.

Well, it sounds difficult but Ill certainly have to go, said John.

He knew that he had to try, but he desperately wanted to help his father. So he knelt down in the meadow and picked up the seeds, one by one. But there was no way he could pick them all in one hour! Then suddenly a long line of ants appeared. They were coming to help him! There were so many of the little creatures that in a few minutes they had picked all the seeds up.

Thank you so much! said John.

Say nothing of it, said the ant. Its just done only to repay you for rebuilding

our home. Good bye, good luck!

John has done well: he has finished the task before the time was up.

Im very pleased with you, said the sorcerers assistant. Now its time for your second task.

Again she threw the twelve golden keys into the moat. She gave John one hour to get them all back.

This task worried John because he wasnt a very strong swimmer, but he knew he had to try for his fathers sake. He dived into the moat the water was so cold and dark but he couldnt see the bottom. John swam back up to the surface straight away.

Oh, my God, how to get those keys back? he muttered to himself. And as he stared helplessly in the dark cold water he saw his old friends, the ducks swimming towards him. They wasted no time and dived into the moat and retrieving the keys for him.

How can I even repay you? said John when he saw them with the keys in the beaks.

You already have: you shared your bread with us, was the ducks reply.

The sorcerers assistant appeared again. You have done very well this time, she said. Now its time for the final task, but I must warn you that if you dont complete the task, you will pay with your life.

Im not afraid, said John. Tell me what the task is.

So the sorcerers assistant took him into the room with the three veiled figures, and the challenge was said again. Then the sorcerer himself appeared.

Choose. he said. He watched John carefully.

How can I choose? I dont know which of the three is princess Asmiralda.

Suddenly the swarm of bees whom he had met in the wood came to his rescue. The bees started buzzing over the head of the figure in the middle. John told the sorcerer that he thought this one was the princess: This one! This one!

This one is Asmiralda.

And he was right. He was so relieved when he saw that two dragons were under other veils.

Then John turned to the bees and in his usual gracious manner and said: Thank you, kind bees. You have saved my life.

The veil failed from the figure in the middle to reveal a beautiful girl.

I am indeed the princess Asmiralda, she said. Thank you for breaking the spell that had held me as prisoner all these years. Please take me away from here and make me your wife.

And then the sorcerer and the two terrifying dragons disappeared while the sorcerers assistant congratulated John on successful completing all the tasks. John went and took the princesss hand but the excitement that a shy young man had forgotten to introduce himself to his future bride.

Oh, dear oh!

And before he could do that she said: I dont know your name, but I would call you my love.

The king gave a magnificent party to celebrate his daughters freedom and her wedding to gentle John. And Asmiralda couldnt have found a better husband than John as if she had met all the suitors of the land because he was a kind man, who had a great respect for nature. Old Marquis was invited to join the celebrations and share his happiness. And although he was sad about loosing Henry, even he had to admit that it was John and not Henry, who had proved himself to be the better son.

Speaking Practice

After-Reading Exercises

Vocabulary Practice

Find the English equivalents of the Russian ones looking through the text

Translate the following English phrases into Russian

to stretch as far as the sky

to do noting but moaning about the fate

to afford any food or clothing for somebody

to deal with the situation in a very different way

to be under the spell in a castle of a wicked sorcerer

to be exactly worn out to do something

to take pity on somebody

to wait anxiously for somebodys return

to be obviously very different from each other

to grudge

to be full of courage

to be very pleased with someone

to treat somebody well

to share something with somebody

to have a great respect for nature

to do nothing but moaning about the fate

to prove to be the better son

Reading Comprehension

Answer the following questions

What was Marquis? What did he do?

Many of the citizens had hard times, didnt they?

Why was Henry a miserable boy?

Did John moan about his fate?

Why did the king of Varinia offer an amazing reward?

Was it really very important for Marquis to try to get a reward?

Henry was a brave boy, wasnt he? Was he really ready to do a brave deed?

Why was Henrys end so sad and miserable?

What kind of man was John? Was he like his brother Henry?

Why could he manage to do all the tasks?

Why couldnt Asmiralda have found a better husband than Joan?

Did old Marquis share his sons happiness?

Choose the proper alternative to complete the following sentences according to the text:

The truth was that many citizens ___________.

a)      had good times

b)      had hard times

c)      lived happily

The kings daughter Asmiralda was ______________.

a)      in prison

b)      under the spell

c)      in a castle of a wicked sorcerer

The only thing that John wanted to do was ______________.

a)      to free his father from poverty

b)      to help his father to get rid of debts

c)      to marry a princess

Johns behaviour was obviously _______________ Henrys.

a)      similar with

b)      different from

c)      as good as

John had to attempt the tasks _____ _______ ______ _________.

a)      for his fathers sake

b)      to win an amazing reward

c)      to free Asmiralda from the spell

John was _________________ when he saw that two dragons were under other veils.

a)      very happy

b)      very much frightened

c)      very relieved

The veil failed from the figure in the middle to reveal ________________.

a)      a furious dragon

b)      a beautiful girl

c)      a gentle good-looking boy

Two terrifying dragons ______________ while the sorcerers assistant congratulated John on successful completing all the tasks.

a)      appeared

b)      disappeared

c)      flew away

Agree or disagree with the following statements according to the text. Correct the wrong ones:

The truth was that many of the citizens were rich and had good times.

Marquis had two sons, and it was John who was his favoured.

The kings daughter Asmiralda was under the spell in a castle of a wicked sorcerer.

Henry was so arrogant that he didnt even stop to think about the misery he had done.

All that John wanted to do was to free his father from poverty.

Asmiralda thanked John for breaking the spell that had held her as prisoner for a long time.

Asmiralda could have found a better husband among her numerous suitors.

Language Focus

Translate the following sentences into English

If you take off your head you dont weep for your hair.

As the call, so the echo.

Everyone has his own troubles.

A cross on your chest or a cross in the ground.

Listening Comprehension

Listen to a passage from the tape and do the following:

Describe a scene.

Act out a play in characters.

Oral Practice

Discuss or debate the following

Dont dig a hole for others, or you will fall in it yourself.

Something good always comes of something bad.

One for all, all for one.

You cant get meal without grinding.

Crying wont help.

None but the braves deserve the fair.

Everyone has his own path.