Reading amp discussion english text 8 form

For a long time the people lived happily, but one day an enemy Avar tribe came to their land.. “Twelve of us went out fishing this morning,” said one of the fishermen, “and I think there

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на ур оц і П іс л я те к ст ів п о д а ю т ь с я н е в ід о м і с л о в а та ви р а зи , які з б а г а т я т ь словниковий за п а с учнів.

How Kyiv Was Founded 4

M andowin 9

One Is Drowned 12

The Golden Goose 13

The Famous Negro Singer 17

The Magic Purse 18

Luggage Question 22

Prince Liam and the Wolfhounds 23

The Little Cock and the Diamond Button 28

Greyling 31

The Jumping Frog 36

The Policeman and the T h ief 38

The Wonderful S p ell 40

Rapunzel 43

HOW KYIV WAS FOUNDED

T h e town was first raised on a high hill near the River Dnieper fifteen hundred years ago by the Polyane, and after a few centuries it grew into the grandiose capital of the Old Rus state

One of the legends tells about the founding of Kyiv as follows.Once there were three brothers: one was Kyi, another Shchek and the third Khoriv, and they had a sister called Lybid

One day they were boating to a beautiful place on the bank of the Dnieper They saw green hills covered with a thick forest There was much game and lots of mushrooms and berries could be found there

“This is a fine place”, said Kyi “Let us setde here” The three brothers settled on the three hills and they built a house for Lybid near a small stream that ran into the Dnieper

Kyi, the eldest brother, was a tall strong handsome man with

a sunburned face, dark eyes and black hair He was reasonable, wise and highly generous

Kyi was a fine boatman He liked to ferry people across the Dnieper

in his boat He also was a gifted craftsman and made fine boats People used to come from everywhere to buy his boats or to learn how to make them Kyi loved the river and spent much time at and on the Dnieper.Shchek, his younger brother, had a freckled face, green eyes and red hair Shchek was kind but a little quick-tempered He was a very good potter who made wonderful pots, jugs and basins out of clay Shchek wanted his pots, jugs and basins to be really fine If he did not like his jug or his basin, he broke it with a laugh and began to make a new one

He was never tired of his work and was famous for his good pottery among the Polyane

Khoriv, their youngest brother, was known as a gende and sincere young man with hazel eyes and fair hair Khoriv was a fine psaltery-

player and sang beautiful songs But he was a talented craftsman too

He made wonderful silver rings, necklaces and ear-rings and his ornaments were admired by the Polyane women and girls

Their young sister Lybid was a pretty girl with blue eyes and long golden hair She was gentle and modest Lybid was a very good spinner and her snow-white linen was famous among the Polyane women.The three brothers loved their sister very much and took care of her.Kyi made a fine boat for Lybid and often brought her fish

Shchek presented Lybid with his best jugs, pots and basins

Khoriv made the most beaudful rings and ear-rings for his sister.Lybid loved her brothers and she wove snow-white linen for their shirts

By and by many people settled around the three hills near the Dnieper The three brothers always helped their neighbours

For a long time the people lived happily, but one day an enemy Avar tribe came to their land

The invaders robbed the Polyane houses and burnt them down They wanted to make the people their slaves The Polyane were brave and fearless They did not run from the enemies but began to fight They bravely defended their homes, their wives and children

Kyi, Shchek and Khoriv were in the first ranks of the fighters The three brothers fought bravely and killed many of their enemies Kyi was always in front of the Polyane He had a big solid oar in his hands which

he used as his weapon

The Polyane tribe and the Avar tribe fought for many days but no side could win The terrible battle went on and on Then the chief of the Avar tribe said, “Let us have a single combat between two warriors I’ll fight for my people and one of your warriors will fight for your people

If I win, your people will pay us a big tribute every year If I am defeated,

my people will leave your land forever.”

Shchek and Khoriv were eager to fight but Kyi said, “I am the eldest brother, I will fight”

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The single combat began It was the most terrible combat that took place on the banks of the Dnieper Long and bitter was the struggle, the Avar chief was a man of great strength and Kyi could not overcome him.

At last the Avar chief aimed his spear at Kyi’s heart Kyi threatened with his oar

There was a terrible blow and the spear and the oar were broken

“Come then, my hands will serve me as they served me in my work”, cried Kyi

He seized the Avar chief, lifted him into the air and threw him into the Dnieper That was the end of the enemy

The Avar tribe ran away as quickly as it could

Great was the joy of the Polyane, and the people said, “You have won the victory, Kyi You are both strong and wise You are honest and

we respect you Be our Prince.”

Kyi became the first Prince of the Polyane tribe He said to his people,

“We must unite and we must always be ready to defend our land and

our people That’s why we must build a high wall around our settlement

It will defend us from enemies.” And the Polyane built the first walled town on one of the hills at the River Dnieper and named it Kyiv in honour

1 Why did the three brothers and their sister setde on three hills?

2 Describe the brothers and their sister.

3 W hat were they good at?

4 W ho came to their land one day?

5 W hat did the invaders do and w hat did they want?

6 H ow did the brothers fight against the enemy? W here they brave?

7 W hat did the chief o f the Avar tribe propose?

8 D escribe the single com bat between the chief o f the Avar tribe and Kyi W ho was the winner?

9 W hat did the Polyane w ant Kyi to be?

10 W hat did they build on one o f the hills at the Dnieper?

L ong, long ago, there was a time when Indian maize was unknown

to Indians of America Their food consisted of meat — the deer and wild turkey — and fish from litde rivers Sometimes they found sweet berries

In summer Indians lived well They had much meat and fish But when a long, snowy winter came, it was very hard for them The rivers froze, the birds flew south, and the deer went away into the deep forests

In summer Indian women cut up the meat of the deer into strips and dried them in a bright summer sun This dried meat was the only food they had during the long winter But the food seldom lasted until spring

In those days there lived an Indian boy named Waso He was the son

of a chief, and like his father had a kind and gentle heart

One day the boy had a strange dream He dreamed of a beautiful boy dressed all in green and yellow The boy said to him, “I am Mandowin

I am your friend I shall tell you the secret of the food which will help your people to live during long winters But first you must find me.”And so Waso decided to go and find that wonderful food He travelled for many days and got very tired Then he built a little wigwam and slept there at night on a bed of skins

One day, at sunset, Waso met a beautiful boy He was dressed all

in green and yellow He was the boy of Waso’s dream

“I shall tell you the secret of the food which will help your people to live during long winters But first you must wrestle with me, as it is only

by overcoming me that you may learn the secret”, he said

Waso began to wresde with the unknown boy But soon he lay on his back He was defeated

“I’ll come back tomorrow”, said the strange boy and went away

The next day at the same time the boy came to Waso’s wigwam, and again they wrestled Once more Waso was defeated But the boy only smiled his kind, friendly smile and said, “Be brave, little Waso! You have another chance — tomorrow — but last — remember”.

On the third day Waso was very weak but he said to himself that he must win in order to learn the great secret for his people And so much his strong will helped his weak body that at last he defeated the strange boy

“Well done, little Waso”, said the boy “You have defeated me and

I must die Take off my green and yellow clothes, clear the ground of stones, weeds and roots, dig up the earth and bury me there Then visit

my grave from time to time and see me come back to life again.”Those were the last words of the boy He died Waso cried bitterly He was very sorry for his new beautiful friend but he had to do as he was told

He cleared the ground of stones, weeds and roots He dug up the earth and he buried his strange friend in the soft black soil and returned to his father’s wigwam

But every day he visited the lonely grave near the forest Carefully

he pulled out the weeds and in the dry season he watered the earth to keep it soft Then one day Waso saw that green sprouts were shooting through the soil His friend was coming back to life!

All this time Waso had kept his secret, but as autumn came he led his father to the grave of the unknown boy He told his father the strange story and pointed to the plant As tall as a man it stood, straight and green, with broad shining leaves From either side grew long green husks full of pearly white grain, sweet and juicy

“It is my unknown friend”, cried Waso “It is Mandowin, the Indian maize And so long as we plant it from year to year, and take care of it, and water it, we shall never be hungry in winter.”

( A n In d ia n legend)

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g ra v e — м о г и л а

soft b la c k soil — м 'я ки й ч о р н о з е м

g re e n sp ro u ts w e re s h o o tin g th ro u g h the so il — із зе м л і п р о б и в а л и ся

зе л е н і п а р о с т к и

k e e p (kept, kept) s e cre t — т р и м а т и (щось) в с е к р е т і

From e ith e r sid e g re w lo n g g re e n husks full o f p e a rly w h ite g ra in , sw eet

a n d juicy — 3 к о ж н о го б о к у р о с л и д ов гі зе л е н і к а ч а н и зі схож и м и

н а п ер л и н и со л о д к и м и , с о к о в и т и м и з е р н а м и

_Answ er the questions

1 W hat did the Indians food consist o f long ago?

2 Why was the life o f Indians hard in winter?

3 W hat dream did Waso have one day?

4 W hat did he decide to do?

5 W hom did he m eet at sunset?

6 W hat did the strange boy propose him?

7 W hat helped Waso to defeat the strange boy on the third day?

8 W hat was his secret?

9 W hat happened then?

ONE IS DROWNED

O nce twelve men went out fishing Some of them were fishing from the bank of the river and some of them from a boat in the middle of the river When the day was over and evening came, they all gathered

on the bank to go home

“Twelve of us went out fishing this morning,” said one of the fishermen,

“and I think there are twelve of us to go home.”

“We shall count and see,” said another man He counted his friends but he forgot to count himself and there were only eleven fishermen

“Let me count,” said the third fisherman So he began to count the fishermen and again did not count himself

Then each man counted, and made the same mistake

“One of us is drowned! Let us go back to the river!” they cried

At that moment a man was passing by He heard the cries and asked:

“What is the matter? Why are you crying?”

“Twelve of us went out fishing this morning and one of us is drowned, there are only eleven of us now,” said one of them

“What will you give me if I find your twelfth man?” asked the man The fishermen took all the money they had and put them into a bag

“See,” they said, “you will have all this if you find our twelfth friend.”

“Now,” he said, “come round me and I shall find your twelfth man.” They came round him and he began to count: “One-two-three-four- five-six-seven-eight-nine-ten-eleven- twelve! Here is your twelfth man!”

“Thank you very much,” cried the fishermen, “you found our friend for us!” And they gave him the bag of money The man took it with

a laugh and went away

The fishermen looked at each other and asked: “Why did he laugh?” They could not understand

Vocabu lary

d ro w n — тонути

co u n t — р а х у в а ти

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_Answ er the questions

1 H ow many fishermen w ent o u t fishing?

2 Were they all fishing from the bank o f the river?

3 W hen and where did they gather to go home?

4 W hat did they decide to do?

5 H ow many fishermen did each o f them count?

6 W here did they decide to go?

7 W ho was passing by at that time?

8 W hat did the m an ask w hen he came up to the fishermen?

9 Did he count them?

10 W hat did they give him for his help?

11 Why did he laugh?

12 D id the fishermen understand why he was laughing?

THE GOLDEN GOOSE

T h ere was once a man who had three sons, the youngest was called Simpleton People did not like him because he was not clever and often laughed at him

Now it happened one day that the eldest son wanted to go into the forest to cut wood, and his mother gave him a fine big cake and

This was the work of the little old man who wanted to punish him for his greediness

The next day the second son went into the wood, and his mother gave him a sweet cake and a bottle of wine

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The little old man met him too, and asked for a small piece of cake and a mouthful of wine.

But the second son said, “I shall eat my lunch myself” He left the little old man and went away

Very soon the second son cut his leg so badly that he had to go home

Then said Simpleton, “Father, let me go into the forest and cut wood” His father answered him, “Your brothers cut themselves You understand nothing about wood-cutting, I think you must not try”

But Simpleton asked for so long that at last his father said, “Well, go

if you like”

To Simpleton his mother gave a small loaf of brown bread and a bottle of water When he came to the forest the little old man met him and said, “Give me a small piece of the cake you have in your bag, and let me drink a mouthful of your wine, I am so hungry”

Simpleton answered, “I have only a small loaf of brown bread and some water but let us sit down and eat together”

So they sat down under a tree, and as Simpleton took out his food, the small loaf of brown bread turned into a big sweet cake and the water became good wine So they ate and drank together, and when the lunch was finished, the little man said, “As you have a good heart I want

to help you Cut that tree and you will find something” And the man went away

Simpleton began to work And when he cut down the tree and when

it fell, there among its branches sat a goose, with feathers of pure gold.Simpleton took the goose and went to an inn to have his dinner But

as he was very tired he decided to spend the night in the inn

The innkeeper had three daughters and all three of them liked the golden goose very much The eldest daughter thought to herself, “It seems to me I have a chance to get a wonderful golden feather”.When Simpleton fell asleep she went to his room to pull out one of those beautiful feathers

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She caught the goose by the wing and her hand stuck to it!Some minutes later the second daughter came to Simpleton’s room She wanted to get one of those golden feathers too But hardly had she touched her sister’s hand she stuck to her.

Then the third daughter came in to pull out a feather “Keep away!” cried her sisters But she did not understand why they told her to keep away and hardly had she touched her sisters she stuck to them

They had all to pass the night beside the goose

Next morning Simpleton took the goose under his arm and went out

He said to himself, “I shall see a little of the world before going home” He did not trouble himself about the three girls who were stuck

to the bird They were running behind him By and by they met a parson

He saw the procession and cried, “Shame on you, you naughty girls Why do you run after a boy in this way?”

With these words he caught the youngest daughter by the hand Hardly had he touched her hand he stuck to it Now the parson was running behind the girls

Then an old peasant came along and saw the parson behind the girls

He was so astonished that he cried, “Your Reverence! Why do you run after the girls in this way? Shame on you!”

He wanted to stop the parson but hardly had he touched the parson’s hand he stuck to it

As the five ran, one behind the other, they met a fat merchant coming back from the market The parson and the peasant cried, “Help us! Stop us!”The fat merchant tried to stop them But hardly had he touched the peasant’s hand he stuck to it Now there were six running after Simpleton and the goose

At last they came to a city Here reigned a King with an only daughter who was so serious that no one could make her laugh The King had promised that whoever could make his daughter laugh should have her for his wife.When Simpleton heard this he went with his goose and his train of six before the Princess When she saw the six people all running behind

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each other, she began to laugh, and she laughed and laughed and laughed rill it seemed as though she could never stop.

The I<ing was very glad Simpleton married the Princess, and lived happily ever after But what became of the goose we do not know

1 W hat was the name o f the youngest son? Why?

2 Where did the eldest son go one day? W hat did his m other give him?

3 W hat happened in the forest?

4 Did the same story happen to the second son too?

5 Did Simpleton share his food with the litde old man?

6 W hat did the old m an present him?

7 W hat happened in the inn?

8 W hat did Simpleton w ant to see before going home?

9 Why were six persons running after Simpleton?

10 W hat did the King prom ise to do w hen som ebody could make his daughter laugh?

11 Why could she not stop laughing seeing Simpleton?

12 W hom did he marry? Were they happy?

13 W'hat becam e o f the goose? W hat do you think about it?

THE FAMOUS NEGRO SINGER

O n e day about thirty years ago, in a forest near Helsinki, Marian Anderson sang some songs for Jean Sibelius — his own songs — and when she finished, he threw out his arms around her and cried: “My roof is too low for you!” Then he called to his wife: “No coffee, but champagne!”

Marian Anderson was born in a poor Negro family in South Philadelphia At the age of eight she made her first public appearance, singing a solo hymn in a Baptist church O f this performance she says modestly: “It was not such a great event.” She was the first Negro singer permitted to sing in the Metropolitan Opera House, America’s greatest opera house where only foremost singers, invited from all parts of the world, perform “I was not pleased with my first performance there,” says Marian Anderson

When “the Daughters of the American Revolution” (America’s most conservative organization of women) refused to let her give a concert

in Constitution Hall because she was a Negro, she was invited to sing at the national monument of Abraham Lincoln who fought all his life for the emancipation of Negroes

Many thousands of people came there to hear her, and on the platform behind her were cabinet members and many senators and representatives That was called the greatest event in the slow march of the American Negroes to full equality as citizens, and Marian Anderson was its protagonist

The fame of Marian Anderson is securely established, not only

in America, but throughout most of the world, as a remarkable artist, and extraordinary personality, and a woman of great dignity and character

1 W here was Marian A nderson born?

2 In what family was she born?

3 At what age did she make her first public appearance? W here did she sing?

4 In w hat opera house o f America did Marian A nderson sing?

5 D id she like her first perform ance there?

6 W hat America’s organization refused her to give a concert in Constitution Hall?

7 W here was she invited to sing then?

8 W ho was present at that concert?

9 H ow was that concert called?

10 Is Marian Anderson well-known only in America?

11 Is she famous throughout the world?

THE MAGIC PURSE

T h ere was once a blacksmith who lived in a house at the foot of ahill He had one daughter and three small sons

His wife was dead, but his little daughter, Nell, looked after the house The blacksmith worked hard every day and was cheerful As heworked he sang:

“The shadow of the hill Will shelter us from ill,And bring us much good fortune if

We work with a will”

He could earn only enough money to feed himself and his family, but he loved his work and was happy When he was very tired he rested

in the shadow of the hill He loved the hill with its green trees, its green grass, bushes and flowers

But one day the blacksmith fell ill, and when he recovered, his doctor said, “You must not work again All day long you must stay in your bed and rest”

“Now it is my turn to earn some money”, said Nell “I can only sew and that I shall do”

The girl went to the town and many people gave her sewing to do She did her work so beautifully that people gave her more and more sewing, and she worked day after day very hard But still she got very little money to buy food for her father and brothers

One windy morning, as Nell was sewing at the table by the window, she heard a soft voice “Here I am”, said the voice

Nell looked round, and saw a little man, with a shirt like a red flower,

a cap like a green leaf, and a coat that was like a grey cloud He flew up

on the table, and the girl saw a large tear in it

The little man smiled at Nell and said, “Mend it”

Nell took the thinnest thread and the smallest needle she had and began to mend the coat

The little man began to sing in his soft voice:

“The shadow of the hill, Will shelter you from ill, And bring you much good fortune if You work with a will”

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Nell had never mended anything so delicate before, and she was frightened; but she did her best and mended the coat very well.

As she finished her work the little man disappeared with the coat Nell ran to the door and looked here and there, but could not see the little man

At the door on the ground she only found an old, rusty key

Suddenly the key cried, “Take me to my home! Take me to my home!” Then Nell noticed a narrow path running up the hillside and she understood that that was the path to the key’s home

She climbed and climbed, till she came to a large stone and at the foot

of it she saw a beautiful big chest

“Place me in the lock!” cried the key

At that moment Nell heard some voices, and when she looked round she saw a lot of little men in the grass and bushes Their shirts were like red flowers, their caps were like green leaves, and their coats were like grey clouds

“Unlock the chest and take out of it what you wish in payment for your sewing”, said one

In the chest were fine dresses, and rings, and golden coins — but the blacksmith’s daughter did not take them She took a small purse with one silver coin in it

As soon as she picked the purse up, Nell heard a sweet song, and found herself again at her father’s door

When Nell spent the silver coin, she found that another silver coin appeared in its place, so that the purse was never empty! Since then the family was very happy

_ _ Answ er the questions

1 H ow many children had the blacksmith?

2 D id the blacksm ith work hard? Why?

3 W hat song did he sing as he worked?

4 W hat happened one day?

5 W ho had to earn m oney then?

6 D id N ell sew well?

7 W hom did she see one windy m orning w hen she was sewing?

8 H ow did the little m an look like?

9 W hat did the litde man ask her to do?

10 W hat did Nell see at the d o o r on the ground?

11 W here did she go?

12 W hat happened them?

13 W hat was there in the chest?

14 W hat did N ell take out o f the chest?

15 W hat kind o f purse was it? W hat makes you think so?

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LUGGAGE QUESTION

W h en you decide to go on leave, the usual luggage question arises The best way is to make a list of things before packing I taught my friends how to make that list; I learned it myself many years ago from

my Uncle Podger

“Always before you begin to pack,” my Uncle usually said, “make a list”

He was a methodical man

“Take a piece of paper,” he always said, “put down on it everything you want to have with you; then read it Imagine yourself in bed: what do you wear? Very well, put it down, together with a change Then you get up: what do you do? — Wash yourself What do you wash yourself with?— Soap; put down soap Go on till you finish Then take your clothes Begin

at your feet: what do you wear on your feet? — Boots, shoes, socks; put them down Go on till you get to your head What else do you want besides clothes? — A litde brandy; put it down A corkscrew; put it down Put down everything, then you don’t forget anything.”

That is the plan he always followed himself When the list was made,

he usually looked it through carefully, to see that he did not forget anything Then he looked it through again, and stroke out everything he could do without

Then he usually lost the list

(A fte r Jerom e K Jerom e)

_Answ er the questions

1 W hen does the luggage question arise?

2 W hat is the best way to settle this question?

3 F rom w hom did Jerom e K Jerom e learn how to make the list?

4 W hat kind o f man was his Uncle Podger?

5 W hat m ust be p ut dow n on the list?

6 W hat did he advise to begin the list with?

7 W hat did he do w hen the list was made?

8 H ow many times did he look the list through?

9 W hat did he strike out?

10 W hat did he usually do with the list after looking it through?

PRINCE LIAM AND THE WOLFHOUNDS

L ong, long ago when Ireland was divided into many kingdoms, there was one king who was very cruel Even his own children were afraid of him The King had three sons and three daughters and only his youngest son, Prince Liam was not afraid of his cruel father

When the time came for them to marry, the King found the richest wives for his sons and the richest husbands for his daughters Those persons were neither beautiful nor kind The King made his sons and daughters marry them only because they were rich

Prince Liam refused to obey his father, he did not want to marry the ugly old woman The King was terribly angry He ordered Prince Liam to go away from his kingdom and never come back

“If you come to my country, I’ll order my servants to kill you!” cried the angry King

Prince Liam walked and walked till he came to another part of Ireland

As the evening came he found himself in the middle of the forest There were wild animals in Ireland in those days, and Prince Liam did not want to sleep in the forest He walked on though he was very tired

At last he saw a house in the distance It was a large and beaudful farm

A rich old farmer lived there He was a kind man and when he heard Liam’s story, he asked him to come in.

“You are welcome”, he said, “for I have no sons now, I had seven, but they were all lost in the forest They went hunting and never came back Now I live alone with my daughter Please stay and work for me You can help me, very much”

And the beautiful daughter of the farmer said, “We are lonely here

Do stay with us! My father needs a young strong man to help him.”When the young prince saw the fine fields and meadows of the farm,

he liked them very much He liked the farmer’s daughter too So he said, “I shall stay on your farm and work for you”

Prince Liam stayed on the farm and worked for the farmer The farmer’s daughter soon became his best friend

One day the farmer said, “My workers are finishing to gather the harvest in the fields I want to give a feast for them at the end of the day Go to the hill and kill the fattest sheep you can find We’ll roast

it for the feast.”

So Liam went to the hills, found the fattest sheep, killed it and wanted

to carry it to the farm Suddenly he saw a woman coming towards him down the hill She was tall and had long red hair The woman was leading

a big wolfhound on a golden chain She came to Liam and said, “Give

me the sheep In return you can have this wolfhound.”

“This sheep belongs to my master I can’t give it to you”, said Liam

“This hound will bring happiness to your master”, said the woman

“He is called Quicksilver, and he can run quicker than anything else on earth”

Liam agreed to give her the sheep The woman took it and disappeared Liam was astonished But then he remembered his task, so

he began to look for the second fattest sheep But when he found and killed it, the young woman with long red hair came again to him and asked for the sheep And again she had a beautiful wolfhound on a golden chain Liam gave the sheep to her and she gave him her hound in return

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