Read the text and give a good translation in a written form.
Appearances are deceptive. It is a common truth; practically everyone has met at least someone whose character and appearance differ radically.
When one sees a tall, broad-shouldered youth, one expects him to be strong-willedand brave.One thinks: “A model to follow!”. How often a good-looking individualturns out to be petty, weak-willedor even cowardly.Then one thinks: “A mediocrity!”
At the same time everyone knows that a lot of great people were of a poor build: shortand fragile.It did not stop them from displaying intelligenceand courage. Ingenuitydoes not depend on one’s complexionor constitution.
Plumpor fatpeople create an impression of generousand kind personalities.Strangely enough, not rarely they may be thriftyor even greedy.One usually thinks: “Ascrooge!”
On the other hand, thinor slim nervousladies often tend to be lavish.They like to buy and never think twice when they pay. One thinks: ”I would call her open-handed and mother would call her a spendthrift”. Yes, mothers are always stricter in judgments.
Has it ever happened to you that you come to an important office and see an important boss? You immediately evaluate his looks: “Round-faced, small narrow eyes, dimples on the cheeksand an upturned nose.What a kind-hearted person! A simpleton!” You tell the boss of your troubles and expect immediate help. But the boss appears to be rude, harshand willful.You never get your help and think: “A stone heartand an iron fist”.
When someone sees a delicately built pretty blondewith curly hair, blue eyes,a straight noseand a high forehead,one is inclined to think that the beautyis intelligentand nice.It may be disappointing to think later ‘What a stupid, capricious, impolite bore!’
On the contrary, when one sees a skinny brunettewith ugly irregular features – a hooked nose, pointed chin, close-set eyesand thin lips,strange thoughts come to one’s head; because it is the image of evil people – crueland cunning.It may be a relief some time later to find her a clever, gentleand good-manneredlady and think: “What charm! A heart of gold!”
Another general misconception lies in the fact that children are always expected to resemble their parents.Relatives like it when children take after them.Relatives like to compare moles, the shape of noses,etc. The greatest compliment is: “They are as like as two peas”. The greatest disappointment is to find nothing in common.We want to deny people their exclusiveness,we don’t want to admit that nature has selected other options from an enormous genetic fund developed over generations. Why do we like our copies?Who knows!
Nature likes to play tricks on us. But don’t you think it is a present on the part of nature? Life becomes not a boring routine, but a brilliant kaleidoscope of characters and appearances which often clash.
CONVERSATION PRACTICE
I. Read the following text and find the English equivalents for the following from the text.
1. Пользоваться популярностью среди одногруппников.
2. Намеренно нарушать дисциплину.
3. Опаздывать на занятия.
4. Хорошо ладить с кем-либо.
5. Жаловаться на непунктуальность.
6. Обвинять в дерзости.
7. Страстно увлекаться спортом.
8. Постоянно нарушать дисциплину.
9. Быть очень энергичным.
10. С удовольствием помогать кому-либо.
11. Иметь на все свое мнение.
12. Гордиться кем-либо.
13. Не проявлять особого интереса к чему-либо.
14. Управлять университетом.
15. Носить модную одежду.
Mikeis popular with his fellow-students and most of his teachers. He works hard in his classroom, but sometimes he can be noisy. He is not deliberately disruptive, but he does find it difficult to sit still for long periods. He is full of energy. He is late for his classes more often than most students but he is always willing to help teachers and students.
Mike is generally good-tempered, but he has been in two fights since he left school. He is quite happy at school and doesn't seem to have any strong opinions about how things could be changed. He gets on well with his parents although he frequently quarrels with his younger sisters.
Annplays netball for the school team for her year, she is very popular with her fellow students. She takes the lead in arranging extra netball practices and group parties. She has a lively personality and a sense of humour. Her teachers like her but they complain about her unpunctuality and sometimes lateness of her homework.
There is one particular teacher she does not like; she has been accused of being insolent to this teacher, but Jane denied it strongly.
She has strong opinions about how the university should be run. Out of school she is dressed in very up-to-date clothes and collects all the latest records. She is a keen sportsman.
Paulis a very intelligent boy. He is not very good at games, in fact he shows little interest in sport in general. He is no weakling however. He reads book after book, plays chess well and is very good at Physics. He is a friendly person but perhaps does not make friends as easily as some of the other students.
Whatever he gives his mind on, he does with great determination. His parents are very proud of him. He lives in a flat on a housing estate near the University. He is not very talkative, but when he does speak, the other students tend to listen to him.
Alexandrathinks there are many things wrong with the University. She has ideas about changing the rules; for instance, she rebels against doing homework and believes that being punished by detention is wrong.
Some of her teachers think she is a troublemaker. Some of her groupmates think she is loud and bossy; others think she is a very lively person. Alexandra’s mother is a councilor so she is accustomed to hearing her parents talk about important matters. She is intelligent, full of energy and seems to have opinions about everything.