A Bearded Mountaineer

(Mr and Mrs Lear are on holiday in Austria)

Mr Lear: Let's have a beer here, dear.

Mrs Lear: What a good idea! They have very good beer here. We came here last year.

Mr Lear: The atmosphere here is very clear.

Mrs Lear: And it's windier than last year.

Mr Lear: (speaking to the waiter) Two beers, please.

Mrs Lear: Look, dear! Look at that mountaineer drinking beer.

Mr Lear: His beard is in his beer.

Mrs Lear: His beard has nearly disappeared into his beer!

Mr L e a r: Sh, dear! He might hear.

Waiter: (bringing the beer) Here you are, sir. Two beers.

Mr Lear: (drinking his beer) Cheers, dear!

Mrs Lear: Cheers! Here's to the bearded moutaineer!

3. It's Eerie in Here

Aaron: Oh Piers, it's eerie in here — there's a sort of mysterious atmosphere — as if nobody's been here for years.

Piers: That's queer. Look, Aaron — over there. There's a weird light, like hundreds of pairs of eyes staring. I think we're in some animal's lair.

Aaron: Where?

Piers: There. They're coming nearer. My God, Aaron, they're giant bats.

Aaron: Oh no! I can feel them in my hair. They're tearing my beard! I can't bear it. Piers.

Piers: What if they're vampires? They're everywhere. Let's get out of here. We could try and climb higher.

Aaron: No fear! I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying here.

Piers: Aaron! There's a kind of iron staircase. Over here. Only take care. There's a sheer drop. (Sounds of panting)

Aaron: God, I'm weary. We must have been climbing these stairs for hours.

Piers: Cheer up, Aaron, I can see a square of light and smell fresh air and flowers. We're nearly there!

Exercise VII.Read the rhymes and learn them.

1. Here's a body — there's a bed,

There's a pillow — here's a head,

There's a curtain — here's a light!

There's a puff — and so good night!

2. What is this life if, Full of care,

We have no time To stand and stare.

3. There was an old man with the beard,

Who said "It is just as I feared! —

Two owls and a hen,

Four larks and a wren,

Have all built their nest in my beard."

4. The Wind and the Moon (by G. Macdonald)

Said the Wind to the Moon, "I will blow you out,

You stare in the air

Like a ghost in a chair."

He blew a great blast, and the thread was gone.

In the air

Nowhere

Was a moonbeam bare.

Exercise VIII.Transcribe the proverbs and learn them.

1. It's late to tear your hair.

2. Hares may pull dead lions by the beard.

3. Neither here nor there.

4. Experience is the mother of wisdom.

5. Who fears to suffer, suffers to fear.

UNIT 9. [аʋ] — [зʋ]

Exercise I.Read the following words paying special attention to correct pronunciation.

Exercise II. Read the following sense-groups, mind the rhythm and intonation.

(a) Rose; know Rose; you know Rose; suppose you know Rose; don't suppose you know Rose; I don't suppose you know Rose.

(b) ground; mouse on the ground; a brown mouse on the ground; found a brown mouse on the ground; this owl has found a brown mouse on the ground.

Exercise III.Transcribe and intone the following sentences. Practise reading them in pairs.

[зʋ] (а) 1. Joan is combing her golden hair.

2. Joe has a noble Roman nose.

3. Joe and Joan go for a stroll.

4. Joe shows Joan his roses.

5. Joan won't go home alone, so Joe goes home with Joan.

[аʋ] (b) 1. Just outside the town, to the south, is Louwater House.

2. Fountains Hotel is opposite the Town Hall.

3. We saw a hound with a grouse in its mouth.

4. Without doubt our scout will make photoes of mountains and fountains.

5. To be down and out.

6. Ne'er cast a clout till May is out.

7. They've eaten me out of house and home.

8. To make a mountain out of a molehill.

9. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

10. Out and about.

11. When in doubt, leave it out.

[аʋ] — [зʋ] (с) 1. Joe has a round house, an old coastal boat, a cow and a goat.

2. South Beach Hotel is close to the Lighthouse. It has a beautiful flower garden, and underground car park and children's playground. There is a telephone in every room.

Exercise IV.Read the tongue-twisters and learn them.

1. Moses supposes his toeses[1] are roses,

But Moses supposes erroneously,

For nobody's toeses are posies of roses

As Moses supposes his toeses to be.

2. Soames never boasts of what he knows but Rose never knows of what she boasts.

Exercise V.Complete the following sentences working in pars.

1. — Won't you row the old boat over the ocean from Dover to Stow-in-the-Wold if I load it with gold?

— No, no, I won't row the old boat over the ocean from Dover to Stow-in-the-Wold if you load it with gold.

2. — Won't you show Joan where you're going to grow a whole row of roses when you've sold her those potatoes and tomatoes?

— No, no, I won't...

3. — Won't you blow your noble Roman nose before you pose for your photo tomorrow? — No, no, I won't...

Exercise VI.Read the dialogues, mark the stresses and tunes. Learn them. Act out the dialogues.