Learning English Vocabulary - PDFCOFFEE.COM (2024)

, 11.4 GRAMMAR REVISION 11.4.1 disjuncts 11.4.2 inversion of as in concessive clauses 11.4.3 inversion of as in clauses of reason 11.4.4 as in adverbial clauses of manner 11.4.5 as in adverbial clauses of reason 11.4.6 as in adverbial clauses of time 11.4.7 nominal clauses in apposition 11.5 EXERCISES UNIT 12: THE SAPIENT FOOL 12.1 READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 12.2 SEMANTIC ANALYSIS

8 12.2.1 Learning new words and phrases 12.2.2 Synonyms and near-synonyms 12.2.3 Antonyms 12.2.4 Homonyms: grave; pupil 12.2.5 Analysis by distinctive semantic features: shaking 12.2.6 Lexical fields: terms used to describe people’s character 12.2.7 Grammatical collocations 12.2.8 Lexical collocations: to summon 12.2.9 Words easily confused: sympathetic/likeable 12.2.10 Word-formation: French borrowings; blends/portmanteau words; eponyms; conversion; -dom 12.2.11 Idioms 12.2.12 Phrasal verbs 12.2.13 Cultural notes 12.3 PHONOLOGICAL STUDY 12.3.1 Graphemes: 12.4 GRAMMAR REVISION 12.4.1 where as a relative pronoun 12.4.2 order of adjectives in attributive position 12.4.3 whose 12.4.4 the royal we 12.4.5 special uses of shall 12.4.6 here, there and where compound adverbs 12.5 EXERCISES UNIT 13: TRAIN STORIES 13.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS UNIT 14: ANIMAL SCHOOL 14.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS 14.2 IDIOMS USED IN THE STORY 14.3 ANIMALS (SUGGESTED LEXICAL FIELD) 14.4 ANIMALS’ CRIES UNIT 15: THE GREAT EVENT 15.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS UNIT 16: BRUSHING UP PHRASAL VERBS 16.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS 16.2 PHRASAL VERBS AND PHRASAL NOUNS USED IN THE STORY UNIT 17: THE JOURNALIST 17.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS UNIT 18: ENGLISH FROM THE STICK OR A CURIOUS CASE OF SPANGLISH 18.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS 18.2 ENGLISH IDIOMS ALLUDED TO IN THE STORY UNIT 19: HIS LAST LESSON 19.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS

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UNIT 20: LANGUAGE’S LAST POEM 20.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS KEY TO THE EXERCISES KEY TO UNIT 1 KEY TO UNIT 2 KEY TO UNIT 3 KEY TO UNIT 4 KEY TO UNIT 5 KEY TO UNIT 6 KEY TO UNIT 7 KEY TO UNIT 8 KEY TO UNIT 9 KEY TO UNIT 10 KEY TO UNIT 11 KEY TO UNIT 12 BIBLIOGRAPHY CONSULTED

10 INTRODUCTION The present book has its origin in a series of stories that I wrote with a clearly pedagogic intention1. Its primary objective therefore is to help upper-intermediate and advanced students to increase their vocabulary as they learn in a pleasant practical way how to use the new words correctly. The book consists of twenty units, divided into two parts. In the first part there are twelve stories, meant to be exploited by the students in class under their teacher’s guidance. The second part contains eight supplementary tales, which the students are supposed to develop by themselves at home, submitting their work later to their teacher to be commented on and corrected. In every unit there are some questions to make the students talk, and give them the opportunity to test their reading comprehension skill. There follow, in each of the first twelve units, three main sections: semantic analysis, phonological study and grammar revision, which allow a thorough exploitation of the text for the students’ benefit. A) SEMANTIC ANALYSIS In the semantic analysis section of each unit the students will find some or all of the following subsections: LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES

Here I give the translation of certain words and phrases that in my experience may represent an obstacle to the correct comprehension of the text by the students. The translation given is always meant to fit the context as closely as possible. SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS

I include in this section synonyms and near-synonyms for some of the words appearing in the text that are not normally used in everyday conversation, hoping in this way to facilitate their understanding on the part of students. We say that two or more words are synonyms when they have the same meaning, and near-synonyms when they have very closely related meanings. It is in fact very difficult to find words which are perfectly interchangeable in all contexts. Normally they have different collocations, however slight: answer and reply are synonymous in practically any context, but you can say, for instance, “you have only one answer correct on the test”, but cannot substitute reply for answer in this case; or they may differ in terms of formality: to purchase sth is more formal than to buy it, for example, and to get it, more colloquial than to buy it. ANTONYMS

We give this name to two or more words which have opposite meanings: true/false. I include under this heading the three different types of antonyms generally distinguished by linguists: gradable, non-gradable and reversive. Gradable antonyms can be used in comparative constructions: bigger/smaller than , and the negative of one member of the pair does not necessarily imply the other: if sb is less rich than another, for example, it does not necessarily follow that he is poor. 1

Some of the stories were published in the local newspaper supplement Sur in English a few years ago.

11 Non-gradable antonyms are not normally used in comparative constructions, and the negative of one member of the pair does imply the other: a person, for instance, is either dead or alive. In reversive pairs one word is not really the negative of the other, the meaning being ‘do the reverse of’: to dress/to undress. POLYSEMIC TERMS

We say that a word is polysemic or polysemous when it has two or more related meanings. There’s usually a basic meaning, and other meanings arrived at via metaphorical extension: foot (of a person), foot (of the stairs), foot (of a mountain), etc. HOMONYMS

We say that two or more words are homonyms when they are written and pronounced in the same way, but have different unrelated meanings, with a different etymology: bank (the financial institution) comes from F. banque, whereas bank (of a river) comes from ME, probably from ON banki; mole (the animal) comes from ME molle, probably from MDutch moll(e), whereas mole (a blemish on the skin) comes from OE māl. METONYMY AND METAPHOR

Metonymy can be defined as a type of semantic change consisting in using the name of a person or object for another person or object to which it is closely related. That close relationship can be of many types: container-contents (he ate two tins of sardines), wholepart (all hands to the pump), symbol-institution (he renounced the crown for the love of a woman), etc. It is important to distinguish between metonymy and metaphor2. In metaphor there is a comparison implied, but not so in metonymy. Let’s consider, for example: a) the bird was about to fly b) the White House has announced that... we can see that in a) we are comparing a man’s attempt to escape to a bird which is on the point of flying away, but in b), we are not comparing the President to a white house, but substituting ‘White House’ for ‘President’ simply because American Presidents live in the White House. Consequently, we have a metaphor in a) and a metonymy in b). LEXICAL FIELDS

A lexical or semantic field is usually defined as a set of related specific words (cohyponyms) whose meaning may be said to be included in that of a more general word (superordinate). Thus, rose, carnation, daffodil, daisy, tulip, etc., being all hyponyms of the superordinate ‘flower’, form the lexical field of flowers. In my teaching experience, a very good way to motivate students and encourage them to learn new words is to give them a few lexical items belonging to a particular lexical field, and invite them to complete it by adding other related terms. With this objective in mind, I have incorporated in every unit one or several lexical fields that the students can always add to with the help of their teacher, or consulting a good dictionary, comparing later the 2

For a detailed study of the distinction between metonymy and metaphor, see Ruiz de Mendoza Ibáñez and Otal Campo: 25-28.

12 results obtained with my own suggestions, which they will find in the key at the end of the book. All lexical fields are presented in the form of eye-catching tables, arranged in alphabetical order for easy consultation. ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES

Componential analysis, that is the analysis of the meaning of a word into its semantic components, permits students to discover the semantic feature or features which distinguish between certain related words. Thus, to glitter and to glisten, for example, share the shining-feature, but whereas to glitter is applied to sth which shines with a bright reflected light, e.g. gold, jewels, to glisten is said of sth that shines on a wet surface, e.g. tree leaves after a shower. COLLOCATIONS

We can define collocation as “the way in which words are used together regularly”3, but in every language there are some restrictions on how words can be used together. In English, for example, we say to do a favour, but to make a mistake. Collocations fall into two major groups: grammatical collocations and lexical collocations. Grammatical collocations It’s important for students to know how verbs, nouns and adjectives are grammatically constructed, that is what their grammatical collocations are: what preposition usually follows certain verbs, nouns or adjectives, if they pattern with a to-infinitive, an –ingform, a that-clause, etc., e.g. to suffer from, to taste of, to invest in, etc.; to finish + -ing form, to manage + to-infinitive, to believe + that-clause, to be believed + to-infinitive, etc. Lexical collocations Most words combine freely with practically any other word, depending solely on the meaning you want to convey; thus, you can condemn (censurar) practically anything. There are words, however, which tend to occur with some words and not with others, and it is these lexical collocations that students must know well if they want their English to be idiomatic: e.g. you make an impression, do research, set a record, lay the table (also set the table in AmE), you refer to a flock of sheep, but to a pack of wolves, a shoal of fish, but a school of whales, etc. REGISTER

I use the word in the sense of stylistic variety, that is variation in a person’s speech or writing, depending on the type of situation, the person or persons addressed, the topic discussed, etc., e.g. to die is standard English, to cash in one’s chips or to kick the bucket are informal or colloquial, and to croak or to snuff it are slang (see 2.2.13). WORDS EASILY CONFUSED

3

Richards, J et al, p. 46.

13 Grouped in this subsection are sets of two or more words with different meanings in English, but the same translation in Spanish, a fact that often makes students use them erroneously, e.g. to expect/to wait/to hope (‘esperar’) (see 10.2.7). FALSE FRIENDS

We say that a word is a ‘false friend’ or a ‘false cognate’ when it has the same or very similar form in two languages, but a different meaning in each. The similarity may cause students to use the word wrongly, giving rise sometimes to awkward misunderstandings: fastidious, for example, does not mean ‘fastidioso’ (annoying, bothersome), but ‘meticuloso’. You’ll find more examples of false friends in 1.2.15, 3.2.12, 4.2.11 and 7.2.9. Sometimes an English term is equivalent to a Spanish one, but only in one of its meanings: to assist can mean ‘asistir’, but only in the sense of ‘socorrer, ayudar’; for ‘asistir a un acto’ you must use to attend; café means ‘café’ only in the sense of the place where you can have coffee (the beverage). These terms can be described as partially false friends. EUPHEMISMS AND DYSPHEMISMS

Euphemism is a linguistic mechanism consisting in naming something for which we feel some kind of fear, disgust or revulsion, by another name which seems socially more acceptable, e.g. to pass away for to die, call girl for prostitute, etc. Dysphemism, on the other hand4, consists in naming one of those terms with unpleasant connotations by another term which highlights their humorous and grotesque aspects, e.g. to kick the bucket for to die, nightbird for prostitute, etc. (see 2.2.14 and 11.2.12). WORD-FORMATION

The following word-formation processes are illustrated: Affixation Adding affixes at the beginning of a word (prefixes: un-, dis-, mis-, ex-, etc.) or at the end ot it (suffixes: -ous, -ness, -en, -ly, etc.) to form derived words: unkind, to disagree, exminister, monotonous, whiteness, to widen, formerly, etc. Compounding The English language has always been prolific in forming compound words, that is combinations of two or more words which function as single words. These compound words may be spelt with a hyphen (user-friendly, ‘de fácil manejo’), in one word (dishwasher, ‘lavavajillas’), or in two (cash dispenser, ‘cajero automático’). There are no fixed rules. You’ll find some examples in 3.2.13 and 9.2.8. Borrowings Throughout its history the English language has incorporated words from many other languages: from French (antique, chef, entrée, rouge), from Italian (opera, piano, 4

For a detailed explanation of the difference between euphemism and dysphemism, see Chamizo Domínguez and Sánchez Benedito: 25-26.

14 umbrella), Spanish (guerrilla, hammock, mosquito, tobacco), German (hamburger, waltz), Dutch (cruise, yacht), Russian (vodka, steppe), Norwegian (fjord, ski), etc. In 1.2.11, 8.2.10 and 12.2.10, you’ll find examples of French borrowings (by far the more numerous), adopted into the English language after 1500, and keeping their French pronunciation and spelling. Conversion We give this name to a change in the function of a word, without altering its form, e.g. a noun becomes a verb: butter (mantequilla) → to butter (untar con mantequilla). For other examples of conversion, see 8.2.10, 10.2.10, 11.210 and 12.2.10. Clipping It is an informal way of forming new words, just by removing one or more syllables from a word. The syllable or syllables removed can be at the end of a word: ad for advertisement, at the beginning: plane for aeroplane, or at both the beginning and the end: flu for influenza, etc. Sometimes slight modifications occur: fridge for refrigerator, mike for microphone, telly for television, etc. Clippings generally have a restricted colloquial use: prof for professor, doc for doctor, veg for vegetables, etc., but in some cases the clipped form has largely displaced the original; thus practically nobody nowadays uses perambulator, public house or omnibus any more, but their respective clipped forms: pram, pub and bus. For other examples of clipping, see 3.2.13. Blending “A type of word formation in which two or more free morphemes are combined to form a new word which incorporates the meanings of its constituents”5, e.g. motel, from motor and hotel. The words obtained by this word-formation process are usually called blends or portmanteau words, a term invented by Lewis Carroll (1831-1898), who produced some of them in his Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, e.g. to chortle = to chuckle + snort. You’ll find other examples in 12.2.10. Eponyms We give this name to words derived from names of people, real or imaginary, e.g. macadam, named after its inventor, the Scottish engineer John Loudon MacAdam (17561836), or aphrodisiac, from Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty in Greek mythology. It is worth noting that some eponyms, like biro or hoover, for instance, are proprietary names or trademarks (for more examples of eponyms, see 2.2.11 and 12.2.10). DIFFERENCES BR. E./AME

Although obviously the same language is spoken in the USA and in Britain, there are considerable differences affecting mainly vocabulary, spelling and pronunciation. You’ll find some of these differences in unit 3 (3.2.11 and 3.3.5), unit 4 (4.2.12) and unit 10 (10.2.13). IDIOMS /PHRASAL VERBS 5

Hartmann and Stork: 28.

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In practically every unit, you will find translated or explained the idioms and phrasal verbs appearing in the story, completed in many cases with some similar ones or with others containing the same key word: point (2.2.12), way (6.2.13), etc., or the same verb: to take back (11.2.14). CULTURAL NOTES

If necessary, the students are given a cultural note with relevant information concerning biographical and geographical names appearing in the story, e.g. Hans Baldung Grien, or Ming vases, in unit 2. B) PHONOLOGICAL STUDY In the phonological section, the following sub-sections are to be found: HOMOPHONES

Two or more words with a different written form, but the same pronunciation: son/sun, pair/pear/to pare, etc. HOMOGRAPHS

To or more words that are written in the same way but are pronounced differently and have different meanings, e.g. to lead /li:d/ (guiar, conducir)/lead /led/ (plomo), to sow /s@U/ (sembrar)/sow /saU/ (cerda), etc. GRAPHEMES

We can define grapheme as the minimum distinctive unit of the writing system of a particular language. It’s essential for students to know the relationship between graphemes and the sound system of a language, especially in a language like English which is not pronounced in the same way as it is written. The grapheme , for example, is not pronounced the same in lake, change or danger as in mad or cat, or in bald or fall (see 4.3.2). SILENT LETTERS

There are some letters which are not sounded in certain words, e.g. h in hour, b in lamb, t in listen, g in sign, etc. In this case, we say that the letters are silent or mute (see 1.3.3, 2.3.3, 3.3.3, 5.3.3, 6.3.3, 9.3.1 and 10.3.1). C) GRAMMAR REVISION There is a grammar section in each unit, whose objective is to review those grammatical items occurring in the text which, like defining and non-defining relative clauses, are likely to give students some trouble. The idea is to make students see, in a practical way, that the grammatical construction in question fits perfectly into the corresponding narrative.

16 Finally, in each of the first twelve units there are ten exercises with a key at the end of the book, which includes suggested answers to the reading comprehension questions, and it goes without saying that the stories themselves can be discussed, commented on, re-told, summarized and, I dare hope, enjoyed by the students and their teacher.

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS BOOK A. adj. AmE BrE c.

answer adjective American English British English circa (about)

17 cf. cm. colloq. e.g. esp. et al etc. F fig. gen. hist. lit. MDutch ME med. N n. obs. OE OF ON opt. pl. Prof. Q. sb Sgt. sth ® ult.

compare centimetre colloquial or informal exempli gratia (for example) especially; especialmente et alii (and others) et cetera French figurative (figurado) generally; generalmente used in the past literal Middle Dutch Middle English medical North noun obsolete Old English Old French Old Norse optionally plural Professor question somebody Sergeant something trademark ultimately

UNIT 1.- THE BANQUET Sitting on the porch of his splendid villa on the hill that overlooked the limpid blue sea, Don Carlo was feeling good. As he waited for his important guest, in his favourite rocking chair, smoking a cigar, a glass of sherry on the floor at his side, he enjoyed the cool spring breeze, loaded with the scent of jasmine, that caressed his wizened cheeks. This part of the island was certainly peaceful and his villa, the Rosery, where a famous

18 19th century English poet – he had forgotten his name – had lived the last twenty years of his life, a true paradise. A pity he would have to move soon; the Town Hall had claimed it as a national monument and he, a law-abiding citizen and respected businessman, was naturally willing to sell them the house for a song. No matter, he would get another nearby. He liked the area, it was stylish, and it wasn’t too far from the warehouse. He was glad he had left the States and come to live on this beautiful Mediterranean island. He had had to break his ties with the American Mob, but he had no regrets. Times were changing fast. The new generation no longer believed in respect, in silence. They were a pack of two-bit wiseguys who only cared about themselves and didn’t mind ratting on their superiors to avoid doing hard time. He had been doing quite comfortably on loan sharking and gambling, and had not been involved in any of the recent rubouts between the families, but things were getting hotter in America of late. He himself had had a narrow escape a couple of years back when a jury declared him not guilty of racketeering, but he felt he couldn’t tempt providence any longer. The federal prosecutors were cracking down on the mobsters, and the Mafia had to face competition from all quarters, ranging from Chinese gangs to Russian immigrants, and especially the new powerful Latin American drug barons. Actually, it was one of the barons, Lucio, he was waiting for today, and he counted on doing a big deal with him over lunch. He watched Willie, his faithful chauffeur and bodyguard, outside the garage, polishing his black Mercedes – one had to cultivate one’s image – and he could hear Petrita – his old servant and cook – busy in the kitchen preparing the meal. He had told her to spare no expense today, as he wanted to impress a distinguished visitor from overseas, and he was sure she would not let him down. He was fond of the thin, bony woman who had devotedly served in his family for as long as he could remember. The old girl had been a bit of a nuisance lately, always gloomy and whining, especially since her only son, who was hooked on heroin, had died of an overdose six months ago, but he was confident she would eventually overcome her grief; the lady was tough, she had bravely held back her tears at the funeral and had thanked him profusely when he had attended it personally, sending those huge wreaths, too. Anyway, she was still a superb cook, and he didn’t know what he’d do without her. He knew she resented his going into the drug business. He hadn’t dealt in drugs before, and he’d never so much as smoked a joint in his life, but you had to keep up with the times, and cocaine and heroin, that’s where the big money was, and he was sitting pretty on the island where he could make it big with practically no risks: a big shot in the local police, suitably bribed, and a thriving trade office which imported coffee from Colombia, tea from Ceylon, spices from the Far East, a solid, respectable cover. No great harm done really if, hidden among the imported regular stuff, the white lady found her way into the island and from there to the all-important mainland market. The only thing, he would tell Lucio today to watch it so that the shit did not become ‘caca’ or ‘pee’ as had happened once or twice over the last few months, when there had been some unfortunate accidental deaths among the young local addicts... He saw the black limousine, majestically entering the driveway and he stood up to welcome the drug baron...Meanwhile, alone in the kitchen, Petrita was putting the finishing touches to the regal meal. The boss had told her to go out of her way to impress the important visitor, and impressed he would indeed be. There would be selected horsd’oeuvres: caviare from Iran, salmon from Norway, foie-gras from France, local lobster, shrimps and prawns, oysters, Spanish cured ham...Then one of her specialities: shellfish soup, followed by, to choose from, English roast-beef with Brussels sprouts, diced carrots, mushrooms and a delicious apple sauce, or fillet of “dorada”, stuffed with olives and anchovies, with vegetable purée, and for dessert no choice, it had to be her

19 magnificent strawberry gateau, which nobody in the island could imitate. She inspected the wines: a dry white Rhine to go with the entrées and the soup, and a special five-yearold Bordeaux rosé for the second course...She heard the two men in animated conversation in the dining-room, so she’d better hurry... In the dining-room, Don Carlo was duly impressed by his young visitor. It would be a pleasure to do business with him. They would discuss tobacco and liquor first over the hors-d’oeuvres. Small fry, really, maybe not worth going on with any longer. Then, over the soup and the main course, gambling would be analysed: the fruit machines were still doing well, though people were beginning to get tired of them, so something innovative would have to be found soon – was it true that a new machine had been invented that could talk and give hints to the players? That would be revolutionary. They’d deliberately leave the main issue, hard drugs, to discuss over dessert and coffee, on a full stomach. He watched Petrita, proudly bringing in the varied hors-d’oeuvres, and relaxed, getting ready for the sumptuous feast... All through the meal, Petrita sat brooding on her kitchen chair, and when she judged that her guests would have eaten her marvellous cake, she slowly got up and looked in the dining-room. Not a sound could be heard, not a murmur, everything was eerily silent. The cyanide had done its work well. She cast a last glance at the two gangsters, as though to make sure that her services would no longer be required, and retraced her steps to the kitchen. She sat down wearily again and extracted a cheap crumpled snapshot from her apron pocket. As she gazed lovingly at the young man in the photo, she whispered: “You’re avenged, my son, mi amor...” Then, suddenly, she burst into tears and felt better. From where she sat she could see Willie and the other guy’s bodyguard outside. They too had finished eating – no dessert for the underlings – and were smoking and laughing, probably telling each other dirty jokes. They would not find anything unusual for a while yet, so there was no hurry. She took her time looking again at her son’s photograph, then slowly, reluctantly, she put it back in her pocket. She looked down and saw her own piece of strawberry gateau on the table untouched; it looked really appetizing, and she had nothing better to do, so she calmly took hold of her spoon and tucked in... 1.1 READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS a.- What hors-d’oeuvres had Petrita prepared for the banquet? b.- Why had Don Carlo allegedly left the United States? c.- Was Don Carlo going to sell the Rosery cheap or dear? d.- What was Don Carlo’s attitude towards Petrita’s son’s death? e.- What do we know about Don Lucio? f.- Why do you think Petrita had given her guests only one choice for dessert? g.- What does the narrator mean by ‘the cyanide had done its work well’? h.- Why had Petrita not given the subordinates any dessert? i.- Was Don Carlo really an honest businessman? j.- Was he likely to be caught? k.- Describe Don Carlo’s character in your own words. l.- How do you think the story ends? 1.2 SEMANTIC ANALYSIS 1.2.1 LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES apron pocket (bolsillo del delantal)

20 to be a bit of a nuisance (dar un poco la lata, ser un pequeño incordio) bodyguard (guardaespaldas) to brood (cavilar, rumiar sobre algo que preocupa o inquieta) to burst into tears (echarse/romper a llorar) to caress (acariciar) cover (tapadera) crumpled (arrugado) cyanide (cianuro) a dirty joke (un chiste obsceno/verde; also a blue joke) to do hard time (cumplir años de cárcel) driveway (camino de entrada a una casa para los coches) fruit machine (máquina tragaperras) gambling (juego) law-abiding (respetuoso con la ley, fiel cumplidor de la ley) loan (préstamo) loan sharking (usura) (see key: 1.5.3.c) the Mob (la Mafia) (see key: 1.5.3.c) mobster (gángster) (see key: 1.5.3.c) on a full stomach (con el estómago lleno) to overcome [superar (obstáculo, pena)] to put the finishing touches to (dar los últimos toques a) racketeering (extorsión, crimen organizado) (see key: 1.5.3.c) a regal meal (una comida regia) reluctantly (de mala gana) to retrace one’s steps (volver sobre sus pasos) the Rosery (la Rosaleda) rubout (muertes entre gángsters) snapshot (foto, instantánea) to spare no expense (no escatimar gastos) the States (los Estados Unidos) two-bit (de tres al cuarto, de medio pelo) underling (subordinado) warehouse (almacén) wearily (cansinamente)

21 the White Lady [la dama blanca (heroína)] (see key: 1.5.3.a) wiseguy (listillo) wizened (ajado, arrugado) wreath (corona funeraria) (see key: 1.5.3.b)

1.2.2 SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS to avenge (to take vengeance on sb for sth, to take revenge for sth, to exact retribution for sth, to pay sb back for sth, to get even with sb for sth) banquet (feast, treat; colloq.: spread, blowout, binge, slap-up meal) eerie (uncanny, sinister, ghostly, spectral, unnatural, unearthly, preternatural, supernatural, unreal, weird) frightening (spine-chilling, hair-raising, blood-curdling, scaring, terrifying; colloq.: creepy, scary, spooky) gloomy (despondent, downcast, downhearted, dejected, dispirited, crestfallen, depressed, in low spirits, glum, doleful, disconsolate, melancholy, miserable, morose, mirthless; colloq.: blue, down, down in the mouth, cheesed off, brassed off) grief (pain, sorrow, misery, sadness, distress, anguish, agony, torment, affliction, suffering, heartache, broken-heartedness, woe, desolation, despondency, dejection, despair, pining) to have a narrow escape (to be a near thing, to be a close shave, to have a hair’s breadth escape) magnificent (splendid, superb, spectacular, impressive, striking, glorious, majestic, awesome, awe-inspiring, breathtaking; admirable, great, wonderful; grand, sumptuous, imposing, monumental; lavish, rich, brilliant, radiant, dazzling, beautiful, gorgeous) peaceful (quiet, restful, tranquil, calm, soothing, undisturbed, untroubled) to rat on (colloq.) (to inform on/against sb, to give sb away; colloq.: to grass on sb, to squeal on sb, to sneak on sb, to peach on sb, to snitch on sb, to split on sb) scent (smell, fragrance, odour, aroma, perfume, eau de toilette, cologne, eau de cologne) to stuff oneself with (to gorge oneself on) thriving (flourishing, prosperous, blooming, successful, progressing) to tuck in (to begin to eat heartily, to dig in, to set to, to fall to, to pitch into) wizened (wrinkled, shrivelled, withered) 1.2.3 ANTONYMS accidental (intentional) bony (plump)

22 crumpled (smooth) lawful (lawless; illegal) lively (dull, liveless) peaceful (noisy) respectable (disreputable) underweight (overweight) 1.2.4 POLYSEMIC TERMS cheek (mejilla; nalga; caradura/cara, jeta, desfachatez) spring [primavera; muelle (de colchón, de asiento, de vehículo), resorte, ballesta; brío, energía; brinco, salto; manantial, fuente; to spring: saltar] stuff [material, materia, cosa, algo indefinido, cachivaches, trastos; rollo; to stuff: rellenar, disecar; poner las cosas en cualquier sitio; dar un varapalo; (you can stuff it) (vulgar) puedes metértelo donde te quepa; (to stuff oneself) atiborrarse de comida] tie (corbata; lazo, vínculo, atadura; empate en deportes/elecciones; to tie: atar; to tie up: amarrar) to care (importar; gustar, querer; preocuparse; cuidar) to polish (limpiar, pulir, encerar, sacar brillo, pintar las uñas con esmalte; to polish off (informal) (terminar, zamparse; liquidar, matar); to polish up (pulir, perfeccionar) tough [duro, fuerte, resistente, correoso; arduo, pesado; reñido; severo; violento, peligroso; (informal) macarra (n)] 1.2.5 HOMONYMS felt (fieltro) (from OE felt)/ felt (past and participle of to feel) (from OE fēlan) left (izquierda) (from ME left, from OE, original sense ‘weak, ‘worthless’)/left (past and participle of to leave) (from OE laefan) to like (gustar) (from OE līcian)/like (como) (from ME līk, shortened form of OE gelīk ‘alike’) 1.2.6 LEXICAL FIELDS a) types of chairs and seats: armchair (sillón) bench (banco)

23 chair (silla) chaise longue (diván) couch (diván) deckchair/beachchair (hamaca, tumbona) divan (diván) easy chair (butacón, tumbona) folding chair (silla plegable) footstool (taburete para los pies) pew (banco de iglesia) pouffe (puf) reclining chair (silla reclinable) rocking-chair (mecedora) seat (asiento) settee (sofá, canapé) sofa (sofá) stool (taburete) (sun)lounger (tumbona, sillón de jardín) swivel chair (silla giratoria) throne (trono) upright chair (silla vertical) wheelchair (silla de ruedas)

b) types of dwelling: abode (vivienda) apartment (apartamento) bedsit (estudio) block of flats (bloque de pisos) bungalow (bungaló)

24 chalet (chalé) cottage (pequeña casa de campo) country house (casa de campo) detached house (vivienda unifamiliar) duplex (houses) (casas de dos viviendas adosadas) dwelling (vivienda) farmhouse (granja) flat (piso) housing estate/development (urbanización) hut (cabaña) lodge (aposento) lodgings (habitación alquilada para estudiante) manor house (casa solariega) mansion (mansión) palace (palacio) penthouse (ático de lujo) residence (residencia) semi-detached houses (casas pareadas) shack (barraca, chabola, choza) studio flat (estudio) terraced houses (casas escalonadas) villa (chalé)

c) shellfish/seafood: clams (almejas) cockles (berberechos, coquinas) crab (cangrejo) crayfish (cigala; tamb. cangrejo de río)

25 king prawn (langostino) lobster (langosta) mussels (mejillones) Norway lobster (cigalas) oysters (ostras) periwinkle (bígaros) prawns (gambas) scallop (vieiras) shrimps (camarones) squid (calamares) whelk (caracol de mar)

d) types of car: cabriolet (descapotable- hist.) coupé (cupé) cruiser (coche patrulla, AmE) convertible (descapotable) estate car (coche familiar) hardtop (de techo duro) hot rod (coche preparado) limousine (limusina) roadster (dos plazas sin capota) saloon (berlina) sedan (berlina –AmE) soft top (de techo blando) sports car (coche deportivo) station wagon (coche familiar, ranchera, AmE)

e) drugs and drug-related terms:

26 cocaine (cocaína) drug addict (adicto a la droga) drug-dealer (traficante en drogas) drug-pusher/-peddler (camello) heroin (heroína) hooked on (enganchado a) joint/reefer (porro, canuto) junkie (drogata, yonqui) overdose (sobredosis) etc. (see key: 1.5.3.a)

f) death: to bury (enterrar) burial (entierro) coffin (féretro) crematorium (crematorio) to cremate (incinerar) to express/offer/send one’s condolences (dar el pésame) funeral (funeral) funeral service (honras fúnebres) undertaker’s (funeraria) wreath (corona) etc. (see key: 1.5.3.b)

g) crime/criminals: to blackmail (chantajear) burglar (ladrón en casas o tiendas) burglary (robo en casas o tiendas)

27 to burgle (robar en casas o tiendas) to fleece (clavar; desplumar) to hijack (secuestrar) hold-up/stick-up (atraco) to kidnap (raptar) mugger (navajero) pickpocket (ratero) purse-snatcher (tironero) shoplifter (ladrón que roba artículos en las tiendas) to smuggle (hacer contrabando) squealer/informer (chivato, delator) thief (ladrón) etc. (see key: 1.5.3.c)

1.2.7 ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES a) complaining: to complain (about) (quejarse de) to protest (about) (protestar de) to grumble [ + in a bad-tempered way] (refunfuñar) to grunt [ + with a short, low sound, when annoyed, in pain, not interested] (gruñir) to bellyache/grouse/gripe/whinge (about) [ + continuously, in an annoying or unreasonable way, about sth unimportant (informal)] (quejarse constantemente, de cosas sin importancia) to moan [ + in a low voice, with a long deep sound, expressing unhappiness, suffering or sexual pleasure] (quejarse, gemir) to whine [ + in an annoying, crying voice] (quejarse, gimotear, lloriquear) to groan [ + with a long, deep sound, because you are annoyed, upset, in pain, or showing pleasure] (quejarse, gemir) to object (to) [ + opposition, disapproval] (protestar, objetar, hacer objeciones) to remonstrate (with sb) (about/against sth) [ + strong disapproval of sth somebody has done or said] (protestar, tratar de convencer, hacer entrar en razones) to find fault with sth/sb [ + discover mistakes in sth/sb] (sacarle faltas a alguien/algo)]

28 b) murmur: to murmur (murmurar, susurrar, hablar en un murmullo) (to) whisper [ + in low quiet voice] (susurro, susurrar) undertone [ + sth not expressed directly, but still noticeable] (trasfondo) in an undertone [ + in a quiet voice] (en voz baja) to mutter [ + in a low voice, difficult to hear, showing annoyance about sth] (musitar, murmurar, hablar entre dientes, rezongar) to mumble [ + in a quiet voice, not clear] (decir entre dientes, mascullar) c) take hold of: to take hold of (coger, agarrar) to grab [ + suddenly, hastily; eagerly; with a bad/selfish purpose] (agarrar, coger, apresuradamente o con malas intenciones) to clutch (at) [ + tightly, desperately, eager to keep or retain] [agarrar(se), sujetar(se) fuertemente, aferrarse a] to cling (on) to [ + tightly, because you do not feel safe] [agarrar(se), sujetar(se) fuertemente, sin soltar, aferrarse a] to seize [ + suddenly/hastily; violently, eagerly; forcibly; legally] (agarrar, asir; apoderarse de; embargar) to snatch [ + suddenly/hastily, eagerly, rudely, roughly, violently; unexpectedly, without permission, as opportunity allows] [arrebatar, coger de un tirón, arrancar; aprovechar (oportunidad)] to snatch at sth [ + try to take hold of sth; to take (an oportunity) eagerly] [tratar de agarrar algo; aprovechar (oportunidad)] to grip [ + firmly, tightly] [agarrar(se) firmemente, con fuerza, asir, coger(se), agarrarse (un coche) a la carretera] to grasp [ + eagerly, firmly, greedily; to understand] [agarrar, asir; empuñar (arma); apretar (mano); entender] to clasp [ + firmly, tightly, closely, encircling] (tener cogido, apretar, estrechar) to snap up [ + quickly, eagerly, avidly; accept (offer, bargain) quickly or eagerly] [ agarrar, coger, comprar con avidez, aprovechar (buena oferta), llevarse (ganga)] (see also 1.2.10) 1.2.8 METONYMY AND METAPHOR a dry white Rhine/a special five-year-old Bordeaux rosé (Rhine and Bordeaux are metonymies for wine from the Rhine and wine from Bordeaux, respectively) They would discuss tobacco and liquor first (discuss tobacco and liquor is a metonymy for discuss the subjects of tobacco and liquor)

29 The White Lady (la Dama Blanca) is a metaphor for heroin or cocaine. 1.2.9 GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS to avoid + -ing form (evitar hacer algo) ‘d better + infinitive without to (mejor será que...) loaded with (cargado de) to be worth + -ing form (valer la pena hacer algo) to care about (preocuparse por) to care for (querer, gustar, apetecer; cuidar de) to count on (contar con) to rat on sb (delatar a) to regret + -ing (lamentar haber hecho algo) (also I regret to inform you that... ‘lamento informarle de que...’) 1.2.10 LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS to seize: to seize sb/sth (agarrar a alguien/algo); to seize sb by the arm/the throat (agarrar por el brazo/la garganta); the opportunity (aprovechar la oportunidad); the throne/a country/territory (apoderarse del trono/de un país/de un territorio); smuggled things (incautarse de, decomisar, embargar artículos robados, de contrabando, etc.): the police have seized ten thousand pounds worth of stolen goods (la policía se ha incautado de objetos robados por un valor de diez mil libras); to be seized by panic/emotion (ser presa del pánico/embargar la emoción) to grab: to grab sth suddenly (agarrar/coger apresuradamente), to grab at sb/sth (tratar de agarrar algo/a alguien), to grab sb by the arm/the hair/the coat (agarrar/coger a alguien del brazo/de los pelos/de la chaqueta), to grab a seat (coger sitio), a sandwich (coger un sandwich), to grab a couple of hours’ sleep (conseguir dormir un par de horas) to grasp: to grasp sth (agarrar, asir algo), tightly/firmly/ (fuerte/firmemente), to grasp sb tightly by the wrist/the collar (agarrar fuertemente de la muñeca/del cuello), to grasp at a straw (agarrarse a un clavo ardiendo), to grasp at sb’s shirt (agarrar a alguien de la camisa), to grasp (at) an opportunity (aprovechar una oportunidad), grasp all, lose all (quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta) to grip: to grip firmly/ hard/ tightly [agarrar(se), asir(se), coger(se) firmemente/fuerte/con fuerza]: he gripped hard at the arms of his chair (se agarró con fuerza a los brazos de la silla); to be gripped by fear/panic (ser presa del miedo/del pánico); the car didn’t grip the road very well (el coche no se agarraba/adhería bien a la carretera) to clutch: to clutch at sth (agarrarse/sujetarse a algo), firmly/tightly/desperately (firmemente/fuerte/desesperadamente), to clutch sth/sb to one’s chest (apretar algo/a alguien contra el pecho), to clutch sth in one’s hand (tener cogido algo en la mano), to clutch at a straw (agarrarse a un clavo ardiendo); to clutch at one’s beliefs/ideas (aferrarse a sus creencias/ideas)

30 to cling: to cling (on) to (agarrarse a algo/alguien, sin soltar): she clung (on) to his arm (se agarró a su brazo); the survivors clung to the floating wreckage (los supervivientes se agarraron a los restos flotantes del naufragio); she clung on to her baby (se agarraba a su bebé sin soltarlo); they clung together shivering with cold (se agarraron unos a otros temblando de frío); (aferrarse a ideas/creencias/costumbres/esperanza/la vida): they clung to the hope that they might see their son again one day (se agarraban a la esperanza de volver a ver a su hijo algún día); he clings to his old habits (se aferra a sus viejos hábitos); (pegarse la ropa al cuerpo): the wet shirt clung to his chest (la camisa húmeda se le pegaba al pecho); (quedarse pegado un olor): the smell of smoke still clung to his clothes (el olor a humo seguía pegado a su ropa) to snatch: to snatch sth from sb’s hand (arrebatar algo a alguien), he snatched up her bag (le quitó el bolso de un tirón), to snatch at sth (tratar de agarrar algo) to clasp: to clasp sb’s hand (apretar firmemente la mano de alguien), to clasp hands (cogerse de las manos), to clasp sth tightly (agarrar/sujetar con fuerza), to clasp sb to one’s chest (abrazar/estrechar a alguien contra el pecho) 1.2.11 WORD-FORMATION Borrowings from the French in the lexical field of food: à la carte (a la carta) aubergine (berengena) baguette (barra de pan) buffet (bufé, autoservicio) canapés (canapés) casserole (guiso, guisado, cazuela) caviare/caviar (caviar) chef (jefe de cocina) chocolate eclair (petisú de chocolate) compote (compota) consommé (consomé) crêpe (crep) croissant (croissant) croquettes (croquetas) cuisine (cocina) entrée (entrante) escalope (escalope) fillet (filete) foie-gras (foie-gras) fricassee (pepitoria) gateau (pastel, tarta) glacé fruits (frutas confitadas) hors-d’oeuvres (entremeses) maître-d’/maître-d’hôtel (maître) mayonnaise (mayonesa) meringue (merengue) mousse (mousse) pâté (paté) petits fours (pastelitos/pastas para el té)

31 profiteroles (profiteroles) purée (puré) ragout (ragú, guisado de carne) rosé (vino rosado) sauté (salteado, rehogado) soufflé (soufflé) 1.2.12 WORDS EASILY CONFUSED course/dish/plate course means ‘plato’ in the sense of part of a meal: a 3-course meal (una comida de tres platos), the first course (primer plato), the main course (segundo plato o plato principal) dish means ‘plato’ in the sense of ‘plato preparado o cocinado’: my favourite dish is lasagne (mi plato favorito es la lasaña). It also means ‘fuente’ from which food is served on the table plate means ‘plato’ in the sense of the container that you eat from, or the amount of food on it: that’s your plate (ese es tu plato), he ate two plates of spaghetti (se comió dos platos de espagueti) 1.2.13 IDIOMS to be sitting pretty (estar bien situado, en posición ventajosa) a big shot (un pez gordo) to do a big deal (hacer un gran negocio) for a song (por cuatro perras) to go out of one’s way (desvivirse por, volcarse con) to keep up with the times (mantenerse al día, no quedarse atrás) to make it big (triunfar) small fry (pecata minuta) to take one’s time (tomarse su tiempo) things are getting hotter (la cosa se está poniendo fea) where the big money was (AmE) (donde estaba la pasta) 1.2.14 PHRASAL VERBS to count on sth/sb (contar con algo/alguien) to crack down on (tomar medidas enérgicas contra, perseguir) to do without sb/sth (pasarse sin) to get up (levantarse)

32 to go into sth (dedicarse a) to go on (with sth) (seguir con algo) to hold sth back (contener) to keep up with (no quedarse atrás, mantenerse al día) to let sb down (fallarle a alguien) to look down (mirar hacia abajo) to look down on sb (despreciar, mirar por encima del hombro) to look in (asomarse) to put sth back (volver a poner en su sitio, guardar) to stand up (ponerse de pie) to tuck in/into (empezar a comer con ganas, con avidez) 1.2.15 FALSE FRIENDS to accost is not ‘acostarse’ (to go to bed), but ‘acercarse, abordar’ (esp. un extraño, para pedir algo) actually does not mean ‘actualmente’ (at present), but ‘de hecho, en realidad’ bus-conductor is not ‘conductor de autobús’ (bus-driver), but ‘cobrador’ competition means ‘competencia’, apart from ‘competición’ to conform is not ‘conformarse’ (to put up with, to resign oneself to), but ‘atenerse (a las reglas)’ constipated does not mean ‘constipado’ (to have a cold), but ‘estreñido’ fastidious is not ‘fastidioso’ (annoying, bothersome), but ‘meticuloso’ fracas is not ‘fracaso’ (failure), but ‘estrépito’ sensible is not ‘sensible’ (sensitive), but ‘sensato’ success is not ‘suceso’ (event), but ‘éxito’ (see also 3.2.12, 4.2.9 and 7.2.9) 1.3 PHONOLOGICAL STUDY 1.3.1 Homophones

1.3.2 Homographs

all/awl but/butt dessert/to desert die/dye guest/guessed knot/not scent/sent sea/to see seas/sees/seize seem/seam too/two bow /b@U/ (arco, lazo)/bow /baU/ (reverencia) close /kl@Us/ (cerca, junto a)/to close /kl@Uz/ (cerrar)

33

1.3.3 Silent letters

1.3.4 Graphemes

tear /tI@/ (lágrima)/ to tear/te@/ (rasgar) p – to tempt (opt.), raspberry, pneumonia, cupboard, receipt w – wreath, to write, to wrap, wrinkle, wrist, wrong, who, whole, two, sword, answer, knowledge, Greenwich (opt. in AmE)

/i:/ sea, tea, to read /e/ head, bread, death /eI/ break, great, steak /i@/ idea, real /@/ ocean, sergeant

/3:/ heard, learn /i@/ clear, dear, to hear /e@/ bear, wear /A:/ heart

1.4 GRAMMAR REVISION 1.4.1 time subordinate clauses with as (see As he waited for his important guest... also 11.4.6) 1.4.2 that nominal clauses with omission of He was glad he had left the States that He was sure she would not let him down He was confident she would eventually overcome her grief a pity he would have to move soon 1.4.3 accusative + infinitive equivalent to a He had told her to spare no expense today Spanish subjunctive 1.4.4 subordinate clauses of result ...so something innovative would have to be found soon ...so she calmly took hold of her spoon... 1.4.5 conjuncts (see also 7.4.4) Actually, it was one of the barons, Lucio, he was waiting for today Anyway, she was still a superb cook 1.5 EXERCISES 1.5.1 a) Classify the following dishes according to whether they are usually served as entrée, first course, main course or dessert: apple pie, baby eels, cannelloni, caviare, cheese, chocolate éclair, cold meat, consommé, crème caramel, escalope, grapes, green salad, grilled sole, ham, hors d’oeuvre, ice-cream, kidneys, maccaroni, meat balls, olives, pâté de foie-gras, plain omelette, pork chop, prawn cocktail, rice pudding, ravioli, red mullets, paella, roast beef, roast chicken, sardines, scrambled eggs, sirloin, smoked herring, spaghetti, stuffed turkey, tomato soup, trout, veal cutlet, strawberry gateau; b) build up hotel menus for all the days of the week; c) give some examples of fast food

34

1.5.2 Build up the following lexical fields: a) soft fruits similar to strawberries; b) vegetables 1.5.3 Add to the lexical fields of a) drugs and drug-related terms; b) death; and c) crime and criminals, outlined in 1.2.6.b, 1.2.6.f and 1.2.6.g, respectively 1.5.4 Match the letters with the numbers: a.- a person who steals from the pockets of others, esp. in a crowd b.- a person who steals goods while appearing to shop c.- a person who attacks people and robs them in public places d.-a person who extorts or tries to extort money from sb in return for not disclosing discreditable information e.- a thief who enters a building by climbing up walls, pipes, etc. f.- a criminal who is employed to kill sb g.- someone who tries to get money from people by tricking them h.- someone who deliberately sets fire to sth, esp. a building 1.- hitman 2.- arsonist 3.- pickpocket 4.- cat-burglar 5.- mugger 6.- con man 7.- blackmailer 8.- shoplifter 1.5.5 Fill in the blanks with the right form of one of the following: to grab, to seize, to grasp, to clutch, to grip, to snatch a.- He............the edge of the seat as the plane took off b.- The judge ordered his properties to be ............ c.- That man .....my handbag at the High Street d.- I don’t think you just ....how serious the situation is e.- He managed to .....a ham sandwich from the plate f.- He .....his hat to stop the wind blowing it away 1.5.6

Choose the word that best fits the context. Modify its form where necessary:

a.- He .....an apology to the teacher (to groan; to moan; to mumble) b.- He was found guilty of ......... ₤ 15,000 of the public funds (to embezzle; to con; to diddle) c.- Don’t go to that restaurant; they’ll ............you (to pilfer; to fleece; to blackmail) d.- They were smoking a ........... (joint; line; snow) e.- Lots of people attended the ............... (wreath, undertaker’s, funeral service) f.- Someone has ..... my new ball pen (to pinch, to snitch, to rob) g.- He kept .............about the poor service (to mutter, to grumble, to whisper) h.- Stop ...........about it and get on with the job! (to bellyache, to object, to mutter)

35 1.5.7 Fill in the blanks with the right form of one of the following phrasal verbs: to crack down on, to let down, to do without, to hold back, to keep up with, to go into a.- One of my sons wants ......... journalism b.- There’s no coffee left; I’m afraid we’ll have to .............. today c.- She likes to ........the latest fashion d.- The police are ........drug dealers e.- She was finding it difficult to......her tears f.- I promise I won’t .......... you ...... 1.5.8

Complete the following homophone pairs:

a.- berry b.- beat – c.- bye – d.- flower – e.- hair – f.- meat – g.- knows – h.- pair – i.- rode – j.- waist – 1.5.9

Classify the following words according to the way the graphemes and are pronounced: deal, hear, tear, to tear, break, wreath, breathe, breath, tea, great, death, meal, cream, pleasure, feast, heard, heart, cheap, again, theatre, feather, breast

1.5.10 Re-write in indirect speech using the construction accusative + infinitive: a.- “Park your car next to mine”, he told his uncle. b.- “Don’t shout’, she told the children. c.- “Give the boy another chance, Mr. Grant”, begged the old man. d.- “Find a good lawyer”, Samuel’s father advised. e.- “Take the money and run”, he told his accomplice. f.- “Throw the hooligan out”, the crowd urged the guards. UNIT 2 THE PREGNANT WOMAN My name’s Jacques. I’m French, and I have a story to tell you. Personally, I find it a gripping story, both simple and complicated, sad and happy, a bit trifling maybe, but moving nevertheless. Well, you’ll be able to judge by yourselves in a while, but there’s no hurry: it’s raining here in Strasbourg on this late February Sunday afternoon and I have nowhere to go, and as for you, obviously you’re not in a hurry, either, or you wouldn’t have begun to read this in the first place... It’s not a story about myself, but I must give you a few personal details to help you understand, to put you in the picture, as they say, and picture couldn’t be more appropriate, since my story has something or rather a lot to do with a picture...As I was saying, I’m French, my name’s Jacques, and I’m what you’d call an old man. Well,

36 actually, I’m seventy-six, but I’m in reasonably good health, hale and hearty would no doubt describe it quite well, and I still walk nimbly to my shop and back, five times a week, Mondays to Fridays. I own a small antique shop, and every day, summer or winter, rain or shine, I make a point of opening it at nine, and of keeping it open, customers or no customers, until five, with a short break for lunch, from one to two. At my age, one tends to fall into fixed, regular habits, and in my case, especially since I have nobody to go home to any longer after that cruel leukemia took my Mathilda away from me five years ago, I cling to routine as the only thing left to me, the only reason for living. Well, routine and the shop. Because the moment I set foot in my shop and I find myself surrounded by all those objects of art, I begin to breathe, to live...It’s not so much the business itself that I’m so keen on, though I have made enough to last me to the end of my days, even if I were to live to be a hundred...There’s a substantial nest egg in my bank account, the flat I live in and the shop itself, which, as my dear wife and I had no children, will go with the rest of it to some distant relative I haven’t even heard of...Well, I couldn’t care less; once I’m gone, I don’t give a damn one way or the other, unless...But I’m wandering off the point. What I meant to tell you, before I begin my story, is that inside my shop I feel alive, joyful, just by looking at those antique knick-knacks, some more valuable than others, but all with a story of their own to tell to those who like me are only too willing to listen. Among these pieces of art there are some that are precious to me; you could say they are a permanent part of the shop and I wouldn’t dream of selling them, however much I was offered: there’s the beautiful Ming vase that wretched young man pawned for a few francs, hoping to recover it one or two months later, but which he never came back for (I even tried to return it, but found he had given me a false name and address), there’s the splendid Chippendale roll-top desk I like to write at and keep all my important papers in, and there’s that old painting (early Renaissance), showing a naked pregnant woman in all her glorious pregnancy, which I like to put in the window, and which, with the passing of time, has become a sort of sign or trademark for my shop. Although it’s unsigned, I’m sure it’s a Hans Baldung Grien: the magical combination of light and colour, the serenity on the girl’s face...it reminds me of “Death and the Maiden” in the Basel Museum. It has the same dimensions (30 x 14.5 cm.) and there’s also a young woman in the nude in it. But mine’s different. This pregnant woman with her protruding, almost obscene belly, is shouting a message of life and hope, of fertility. It was this Portrait of a Pregnant Woman that I found Bernard, one of the characters in my story, gazing at one day. Nothing special about this, as “my pregnant woman” attracts the attention of many a curious passer-by, but there was such a sad, melancholy, fascinated look in the elderly man’s eyes that I decided to invite him into the shop to tell him what I knew about the picture...That was a little over three years ago, and it was the beginning of a good friendship. Practically every afternoon after that he came to the shop to visit, and we would sit silently looking at Baldung’s painting while we had coffee from a thermos flask he’d always bring with him. It was like that for many days, a sort of ritual, the contemplation of the ancient oil-painting, with no talk at all, or some small talk about unimportant matters. Until one day, unbidden, he told me the story of his life. It was a simple story, and tragic, as only real life can be at times: Bernard, a young man of peasant extraction, had been finishing his studies at the Sorbonne, when he met Geneviève, a bright modern girl with a promising career as a novelist. They fell in love, married and she was soon pregnant. For him, it was all he could wish for in life, a son by the girl he was madly in love with; for her, imbued with Sartre’s ideas about human dignity and the freedom of the individual, the pregnancy was untimely, an obstacle to her career. So, when she matter-of-factly announced to him one day that she’d had an

37 abortion, he lost his head and killed her. Strangled her, in a fit of rage and despair, as the earth sank under his feet, all his legitimate hopes and expectations shattered by her rash action. He was sentenced to a 20-year term, of which he served twelve. The rest of his life story was dull and without interest: he had become a teacher and taught History of Art at various Lycées, here and there all over France, until his retirement, seven years ago in Strasbourg where he had stayed on to this day. Now I understood Bernard’s fascination with Grien’s picture, which for him was a symbol of motherhood, a painful reminder of his son who had never been born. I can truly tell you that I came to like and respect the man. The fact that he had killed did not make him a murderer in my eyes, and whatever his sins, his sufferings had long ago redeemed him. We never talked about this again, and he continued to come to the shop to look at the picture and keep me company, until one day, not long afterwards, we saw her, looking at the pregnant woman in the shop-window. An attractive, slender, tall blonde with blue eyes, who stood there spellbound, bewitched by Baldung’s painting. But what could it be that made two elderly men want to talk to this pathetically young girl (she couldn’t have been more than nineteen) on St. Valentine’s Day? We must have sensed a tragedy behind those pretty laughing eyes of hers...Anyway, we went up to her, and we talked..., had coffee and talked, and Monique – that was the young girl’s name – soon found herself disclosing her secret to us: she was single and pregnant by a man who would not hear of marrying her, and she was thinking of having an abortion. “But why?”, I heard an anguished Bernard ask...why, why, why did you have to kill my son? Why didn’t you ask me? I had a right to my son, and my son had a right to live...I felt all this flash through my friend’s mind, and for a second I feared a violent, disproportionate, uncalled-for reaction to the poor girl’s words, but nothing like that happened, and we went on amiably talking about other things. But I was conscious of a curious bond that had just been born between Bernard and Monique, and as we conversed she kept casting fond, trusting looks in his direction...A year went by before we saw her again. It was just on St. Valentine’s Day, and there she was as if keeping a date, standing outside the shop beaming cheerfully and confidently at the “Pregnant Woman”, and...yes, you’ve guessed, she had a baby in her arms...When I turned to look at Bernard, I thought I could see an excited, happy glint in his tired eyes, the look of a father who’s about to meet his son, a son who had been delayed for fifty years... 2.1 READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS a.- What do we know about Jacques? b.- Give the opening hours of Jacques’s antique shop. c.- Describe Baldung Grien’s picture. d.- What do we know about Bernard’s life? e.- Why was Bernard so fascinated by Grien’s painting? f.- What was Monique like? g.- What was Bernard’s reaction when Monique said that she was thinking of having an abortion? h.- Give your own ending to the story. 2.2 SEMANTIC ANALYSIS 2.2.1 LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES anguished (angustiado)

38 antique shop (tienda de antigüedades, anticuario) beam ( sonrisa de oreja a oreja) bewitched/spellbound (hechizado) bond (lazo, vínculo) to breathe (respirar) dull (aburrido, soso) a fit of rage (un arrebato de cólera) gripping (fascinante, apasionante, absorbente) to have to do (tener que ver) to hear of (oír hablar de; cf. to hear from tener noticias de) to keep a date (acudir a una cita) to keep sb company (hacer compañía) knick-knacks (baratijas) matter-of-factly (con total naturalidad) moving (conmovedor) nest egg (ahorros, ahorrillos) of peasant extraction (de origen campesino) a painful reminder (un doloroso recordatorio) passer-by (transeunte) to pawn (empeñar) pregnant (embarazada) protruding (prominente) to put sb in the picture (poner a alguien al tanto de algo) rash (precipitado, irreflexivo) roll-top desk (buró, escritorio de tapa corredera) to serve a sentence (cumplir condena) small talk (palique, cháchara, conversación sobre trivialidades) the earth sinks under sb’s feet (venírsele a alguien el alma a los pies) thermos flask (termo) trademark (sello distintivo; marca registrada) trifling (futil, nimio, insignificante) unbidden (espontáneamente, sin pedírselo) uncalled-for (injustificado, inapropiado, fuera de tono) untimely (inoportuno) willing (dispuesto a) wretched (desgraciado, infeliz) 2.2.2 SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS fascination (interest, attraction, obsession) gripping ( enthralling, captivating, fascinating, compelling, absorbing, powerful)

39 joyful (cheerful, happy, exuberant, jolly, merry, joyous) keen on (interested in, enthusiastic about) naked (nude, in the nude, stripped, undressed, uncovered; colloq.: without a stitch on, in one’s birthday suit) nimbly (agilely, spryly) slender (slim, svelte) spellbound (fascinated, enthralled, captivated, rapt, entranced, bewitched, enraptured, hypnotized) trifling (unimportant, insignificant, trivial) to visit (to call on sb, to look sb up; colloq.: to pop by/in on/round/over/ to drop by/in on) 2.2.3 ANTONYMS appropriate (inappropriate, irrelevant) gripping (boring, lacking interest) sad (cheerful, amusing) signed (unsigned) slender (plump, fat) untimely (timely, opportune) 2.2.4 POLYSEMIC TERMS fit [en forma, apto, adecuado; ataque (de nervios, de histerismo, de risa), acceso (de tos), crisis (epiléctica), arranque (de ira), ramalazo (de locura); to fit: fijar; quedar bien, ser la talla de uno; ajustarse, adecuarse; encajar; caber; instalar] rash [imprudente, alocado, irreflexivo, precipitado, temerario; a rash sarpullido; (fig) avalancha, oleada] shattered [hecho añicos (objeto, cacharro, cristal); truncada (esperanza); reventado (muy cansado); deprimido, destrozado] 2.2.5 HOMONYMS bank (the financial institution) (from F. banque)/bank (of a river) (from ME, probably from ON banki) mine (mío) (from OE mīn)/mine (mina) (from OF mine) well (bien) (from OE. wel)/ well (pozo) (from OE. wella) 2.2.6 METONYMY AND METAPHOR ...”my pregnant woman” attracted the attention of many a curious passer-by (my pregnant woman is a metonymy for my picture of a pregnant woman) There’s a substantial nest egg in my bank account [nest egg (ahorro, ahorrillos; lit. huevo en el nido) is a metaphor for ‘a sum of money saved for the future’].

40 2.2.7 LEXICAL FIELDS a) illnesses: AIDS (sida) Alzheimer’s disease (enfermedad de Alzheimer) cancer (cáncer) cholera (cólera) diphteria (difteria) leukemia (leucemia) etc. (see key: 2.5.1) b) banking terms: account balance (saldo de la cuenta) bad/bounced cheque (cheque sin fondos) balance (saldo) bank account (cuenta bancaria) bank statement (estado de cuenta) bank transfer/banker’s order (transferencia) banking charges (cargos) banknote/note (BrE)/bill (AmE) (billete) bill of exchange (letra de cambio) cash (dinero en efectivo) to cash a cheque (cobrar un cheque) cash dispenser (cajero automático) cash flow (flujo de caja, flujo/movimiento de efectivo) cashier (cajero) cashier’s desk (caja) cheque(BrE)/check (AmE) (cheque) credit balance (saldo acreedor) credit card (tarjeta de crédito) current account (cuenta corriente) debit (cargo) to debit an amount to sb’s account (cargar en cuenta)

41 debit balance (saldo deudor) deferred payment (pago diferido) deposit (ingreso) down payment (pago inicial) to draw money from the bank (sacar dinero del banco) fixed-term deposit (imposición a plazo fijo) healthy cash flow (liquidez) in the black (con saldo a favor) in the red (en números rojos) interest rate/rate of interest (tanto por ciento/tasa/tipo de interés) IOU (pagaré) joint account (cuenta conjunta o mancomunada) loan (préstamo) long-term/short-term loan (préstamo a largo/corto plazo) money order (orden de pago) mortgage (hipoteca) outstanding account (cuenta pendiente) overdraft (descubierto) payment (abono, pago) pension fund (fondo de pensiones) savings account (cuenta en cartilla de ahorro) savings bank (caja de ahorros) savings book (cartilla de ahorros) to settle an account (saldar una cuenta) standing order (domiciliación bancaria) unit trust (fondo de inversión) withdrawal (reintegro)

2.2.8 ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES a) looking: to look (at) [mirar (a)] to gape [ + with mouth open, as in wonder or curiosity] (mirar embobado/boquiabierto, con admiración/curiosidad, etc.)

42 to gawk/gawp [ + stupidly] (mirar con la boca abierta, estúpida o descaradamente) to gaze [+ intently, as in wonder, delight or interest] (mirar fijamente, con la mirada perdida, embobado, contemplar) to glance [ + quickly, momentarily, superficially] (mirar, echar una ojeada) to glare [ + angrily] (mirar con enfado/furia, airadamente) to glimpse [ + momentarily, so that the object is hardly perceived] (entrever, vislumbrar) to glower [ + angrily, menacingly] (mirar con cara de enfado, con el ceño fruncido, amenazadoramente) to goggle [ + with bulging eyes, with surprise or shock] (mirar con ojos desorbitados, sorprendido, asombrado, escandalizado) to leer [+ with lust or ill will] (mirar de forma lasciva o con rencor) to ogle [ + with lust] (comerse con los ojos/la mirada, lanzar miradas amorosas) to peek [+ quickly or slyly] (mirar a hurtadillas/furtivamente = to peep) to peep [ + slyly, with curiosity, secretively, through a small opening or behind sth] (mirar furtivamente, mirar por una rendija/un agujero, espiar) to peer [ + closely, with difficulty] (mirar de cerca, con dificultad, con ojos de miope) to scan [ + intently, at every part, looking for a particular person or thing] (recorrer con la vista, otear) to eye [ + observe closely in a specific way (with admiration, curiosity, suspicion, desire, etc.)] [mirar detenidamente, de una manera determinada (con admiración, curiosidad, sospecha, anhelo, etc.)] to scowl [+ angrily, annoyed, bad-tempered, with strong disapproval] (mirar con el ceño fruncido, furioso, molesto, de mal humor, con desaprobación) to squint [+ having the eyes turned in different directions] (bizquear) to stare [+ fixedly] (mirar fijamente) b) breaking: to break [romper(se)] to crack [ + producing lines on the surface of sth but without dividing it into separate parts] [rajar(se), quebrar(se), resquebrajarse (copa, vaso, cristal, porcelana); agrietarse (pared, techo, hielo, piel, madera, suelo); cascar (nueces, huevos)] to chip [ + damage sth hard by breaking a piece off it, cut pieces off a hard material to alter its shape; a small piece of sth hard breaks off accidentally] [desconchar(se) (plato, taza), descacarillar(se) (pintura), mellar(se) (cuchillo), astillarse (madera)] to crush [ + press or squeeze sth so hard that it breaks or is damaged] (aplastar, prensar, estrujar) to shatter [ + suddenly, into small pieces] [hacer(se) añicos] to smash [ + into small pieces, violently, noisily] [destrozar, hacer(se) pedazos] to snap [ + with a sudden sharp noise] [quebrar(se), partir(se)] to split [ + forcibly, in halves, along a straight line] [partir(se) por la mitad; rajar(se); desgarrar(se) tela o papel; resquebrajar(se) (madera), desintegrar(se) (átomo); to split (up) (with sb) (romperse relación/matrimonio, romper con)] to blast [ + with explosives] (volar con explosivos)

43 2.2.9 GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS to be keen on sth (estar interesado por algo) to continue + -ing form/to-infinitive (continuar/seguir haciendo algo) to go on + -ing form (seguir/continuar haciendo algo) to go on to say sth (pasar a decir) to have a son by (tener un hijo con) imbued with (imbuido de) to remember/to remind (see 11.2.8) 2.2.10 LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS to put: to put sth somewhere (poner algo en algún sitio), to put an advertisement in the paper (poner un anuncio en el periódico), to put a coin in the slot (introducir una moneda en la ranura), to put sb on a diet (poner a alguien a régimen), to put a question to sb (hacer una pregunta a alguien), to put sth to the vote (someter algo a votación), to put sb in a home (ingresar a alguien en una residencia), to put the children to bed (acostar a los niños), to put sb in the picture (about sth) [poner a alguien al corriente (sobre algo)] to set: to set sth somewhere (poner/colocar algo en algún sitio), to set a ladder against the wall (poner una escalera contra la pared), to set foot in (poner los pies en), to set the table (poner la mesa), to set an exam (poner un examen), to set the alarm-clock (poner el despertador), to set a record (establecer un récord), to set a trap for sb (poner una trampa a alguien), to set a date for a wedding (poner fecha para la boda), to set a price on an article (ponerle precio a un artículo), to set fire to/to set sth on fire (incendiar, prender fuego a), to set eyes on sb/sth (ver algo/a alguien), to set free (poner en libertad), to set one’s heart on doing sth (desear hacer algo con toda el alma), to set sail (zarpar, hacerse a la mar), to set sth to music (poner música a algo), to set the pace (marcar la pauta), to set sb against sb (enemistar, poner en contra de) to lay: to lay sth somewhere (poner algo en algún sitio), to lay the table (poner la mesa), to lay the carpet before cleaning (extender la alfombra antes de limpiarla), to lay the fire (preparar el fuego), to lay an egg (poner un huevo), to lay a finger on sb (ponerle a alguien la mano encima), to lay eyes on sb/sth (ver algo/a alguien), to lay it on (thick) (exagerar, cargar las tintas), to lay one’s hands on sb/sth (agarrar algo/a alguien), to lay stress/emphasis on sth (hacer hincapié/poner énfasis en algo), to lay the blame on sb (echar la culpa a alguien), to lay the foundations (of sth) [poner los cimientos (de algo)], to lay some money on sth (apostar dinero a) 2.2.11 WORD-FORMATION a) suffixes used to form abstract nouns: -hood, -ship, -ness, -dom, -th, -ation, -ing, -ism, -ity/-ety, -ance/ence, -age, etc. (see also 4.2.13): brother → brotherhood friend → friendship mad → madness

44 free → freedom true → truth educate → education feel → feeling capital → capitalism curious → curiosity arrogant → arrogance bond → bondage b) eponyms: Chippendale – English furniture style (see 2.2.15), from its originator, the English cabinet-maker and furniture designer Thomas Chippendale (c. 1718-79) daltonism (colour blindness, esp. the inability to distinguish red and green), after the English scientist John Dalton (1766-1844), who himself suffered from this disability and was the first to give a detailed description of it hoover ® (a type of vacuum cleaner), after the American William Henry Hoover (18491932) who, curiously enough, was not its inventor, but the owner of the company that registered and produced it after buying the rights from a J. Murray Spangler, a caretaker in an Ohio department store, who had invented it. mackintosh (a raincoat made of rubberized cloth), after Charles Macintosh (1766-1843), a Scottish chemist, who invented it sandwich (two or more slices of usually buttered bread with a filling of ham, cheese, etc. between them), after John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich (1718-1792), a compulsive gambler who is said to have eaten food in this form rather than leave the gaming-table spoonerism (transposition of the initial consonants of two words: “this place is occupied, I ´ll sew you to another sheet”, instead of “I´ll show you to another seat”, after W.A. Spooner (1844-1930), an English clergyman renowned for slips of this kind to bowdlerize (to expurgate) after Thomas Bowdler (1754-1825), who published an expurgated edition of Shakespeare: The Family Shakespeare to boycott (to refuse to take part in sth or to buy from sb), after Charles Boycott (18321897), land agent for the Irish landowner the Earl of Erne, who was a victim of such a practice for refusing to accept a reduction of rents to tantalize (to torment sb with the sight of sth greatly desired but inaccessible), after Tantalus, a mythical king of Phrygia, condemned to stand in Tartarus up to his chin in water which receded as he stooped to drink. wellington boots/wellingtons (waterproof rubber or plastic boots usually reaching the knee), after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852). It is interesting to

45 note that the name was originally given to the type of boots he wore (leather boots which covered the front of the knee and were cut away at the back). (see also 12.2.10) 2.2.12 IDIOMS WITH THE WORD POINT in point of fact (de hecho) not to put too fine a point on it (hablando en plata) point of view (punto de vista) sb’s weak point(s) (el punto débil/flaco de alguien) the point at issue (el tema/asunto en cuestión) to be beside the point (ser irrelevante) to be on the point of (estar a punto de) to be to the point (venir al caso) to get off the point (salirse del tema, irse por las ramas) to get the point (entender lo que alguien quiere decir) to get to the point (ir al grano) to keep to the point (no irse por las ramas) to make a point of (asegurarse de hacer algo) to make one’s point (dejar clara una idea) to miss the point (no entender algo) to press a point home (conseguir convencer a alguien de algo) to see the point (entender el por qué de algo) to stretch a point (hacer una excepción) what’s the point of? (¿de qué sirve...?) 2.2.13 REGISTER to die (morir) (see also 2.2.14): standard English: to die, to expire, to depart this life, to breathe one’s last, to draw one’s last breath, to meet one’s end, to perish, to go the way of all flesh, to be no more, to go to meet one’s maker informal/colloquial: to give up the ghost, to cash in one’s chips, to peg out, to push up the daisies (estar muerto), to kick the bucket slang: to conk out, to snuff it, to pop off, to croak not to care (no importar): standard English: I don’t care informal/colloquial: I couldn’t care less rude/impolite: I don’t give a damn vulgar/taboo: I don’t give a monkey’s

46 2.2.14 EUPHEMISMS AND DYSPHEMISMS to die (morir): euphemisms: to pass away, to pass on, to depart this life, to expire, to breath one’s last, to draw one’s last breath, to meet one’s end, to go the way of all flesh, to go to meet one’s Maker, to give up the ghost dysphemisms: to kick the bucket, to croak, to conk out, to turn up one’s toes, to cash in one’s chips, to push up the daisies (estar muerto), to snuff it, to peg out 2.2.15 CULTURAL NOTES Chippendale – an 18th century English furniture style highly appreciated for its graceful shape and fine decoration Hans Baldung Grien – (c.1484-1545) German painter and graphic artist, one of the most outstanding figures in northern Renaissance art Ming vases – beautiful and valued vases made during the Ming rule in China (1368-1644) Basel – the second largest city in N Switzerland the Sorbonne- a very old part of the University of Paris Jean-Paul Sartre – French philosopher (1905-80), famous for his writings on existentialism lycée – French high school

2.3 PHONOLOGICAL STUDY 2.3.1 Homophones

2.3.2 Homographs 2.3.3 Silent letters

2.3.4 Graphemes

to break/brake hale/hail/to hail week/weak rain/rein which/witch dear/deer way/to weigh to write/right live /laIv/ (en directo)/to live /lIv/ (vivir) bow /b@U/ (arco, lazo)/to bow /baU/ (reverencia) b: subtle, subtlety, bomb, bomber, climb, climber, plumber, comb, dumb, lamb, thumb, debt, doubt, doubtful, doubtless k: knick-knacks, knee, kneel, knife, knock, know, knowledge, knuckle

/Q/ lot, shop /O:/ story /V/ month, recover /@U/ both, no /U/ woman

47 /u:/ move /@/ second /I/ women /3:/ colonel /-/ colonel

/O:/ forceful, storm, horse, port /3:/ world, worse, worst, worm, word /@/ actor, forget

/O:/ more, bore, store

/aU/ pronounce, blouse, house, found /V/ couple, country, trouble /u:/ group, soup /U/ could, should, would /@U/ shoulder, soul /@/ generous, jealous

/O:/ course, source /aU@/ our, hour, flour /V/ courage /U@/ tour, tourist /3:/ journey /@/ colour, humour 2.4 GRAMMAR REVISION 2.4.1 complex transitive complementation I find it a gripping story 2.4.2 contact clauses (see also 4.4.3 and The flat I live in 6.4.3) 2.4.3 concessive clauses (see also 8.4.2) I wouldn’t dream of selling them, however much I was offered whatever his sins... 2.4.4 cleft and pseudo-cleft sentences It was this Portrait of a Pregnant Woman that I found Bernard...gazing at one day What we did is sit silently for hours gazing at the portrait 2.4.5 would for habit ...we would sit silently looking at Baldung’s painting... 2.4.6 binomials hale and hearty rain or shine 2.5 EXERCISES

48

2.5.1 Add to the lexical field of illnesses outlined in 2.2.7.a 2.5.2 Complete the following binomials: a.- rough and ..... b.- by leaps and ...... c.- part and ......... d.- ... and fro e.- to leave ........ and dry f.- .....and order g.- ....and ends h.- first and ......... i.- back and ...... j.- down and ...... 2.5.3 Fill in the blanks with the right form of to put, to set or to lay: a.- I’m going to ......the children to bed b.- The journalist has ......it on thick c.- That hen hasn’t ..... an egg for weeks d.- The priest’s words .....his mind at rest e.- .....yourself in my place f.- They’re no longer .....the pace in the computer market g.- The mob ....fire to the palace h.- I haven’t .........eyes on him for ages i.- Let’s ....it to the vote! j.- The new coach has ......his heart on winning the European Cup final 2.5.4 Replace the words in italics by the appropriate verb from the lexical field of looking: a.- Whenever I arrived late my grandma used to look angrily at me b.- She heard a shout and looked quickly over her shoulder c.- The children were looking open-mouthed at the clowns’ performance d.- The little boy crept up and looked curiously through a tiny hole in the fence e.- The man standing next to her on the bus kept looking lustily at her f.- They all looked fixedly at me when I came into the room g.- He used to sit for hours admiring the beautiful scenery h.- “It’s the third time this week that you’re late”, said the boss looking at her with strong disapproval 2.5.5 Give synonyms or near-synonyms for the following: a) unimportant; b) without a stitch on; c) slim; d) enthralled; e) spryly; f) cheerful 2.5.6

Match the letters with the numbers:

a.- to allow a rule to be broken b.- to convince people that sth is important c.- to fail to understand the main part of what sb is saying d.- to make sure you do sth because it’s important or necessary

49 e.- sth isn’t worth doing f.- to be irrelevant 1.- there’s no point in doing sth 2.- to make a point of 3.- to stretch a point 4.- to be beside the point 5.- to miss the point 6.- to press a point home 2.5.7 Add suffixes to the following words to form abstract nouns: a) father; b) race; c) waste; d) star; e) sad; f) professor; g) martyr; h) cheap; i) dictator; j) starve; k) priest; l) bald; m) rehearse; n) bore 2.5.8 Classify the following words according to the way the graphemes and are pronounced: open, coffee, storm, home, moment, objects, go, gone, done, other, offered, sort, colour, obscene, Sorbonne, protruding, promising, novelist, thermos, obstacle, abortion, symbol, who, disclosing, words, ago 2.5.9

Answer the questions using cleft-sentences or pseudo-cleft sentences:

a.- They got married on St Valentine’s day in Strasbourg a-1 When? a-2 Where? b.- I must give you a few personal details to help you understand b-1 What? b-2 Why? c.- A cruel leukemia took my Mathilda away from me five years ago c-1 What? c-2 When? d.- I mean that inside my shop I feel alive d-1 What? d-2 Where? e.- I like to put the portrait of that pregnant woman in my shop window e-1- What? e-2- Where f.- Bernard met Geneviève in Paris fifty years ago f-1Who? f-2 Whom? f-3 Where? f-4 When? 2.5.10 Join the sentences using the words given in brackets: a.- He has a car. He walks to his office every day. (though) b.- The conditions may be favourable. I won’t accept their offer. (however) c.- It may sound strange. What he has just said is true. (as) d.- Don’t believe the rumour. You may hear it very often. (no matter) e.- I like him very much. I don’t think he’s the right man for the job. (much as)

50 f.- Your father loves you very much. He won’t lend you his new Mercedes (however much)

UNIT 3 THE IDEAL COUPLE How much in common must a couple have in order for them to stand a good chance of being reasonably happy together is a question that has always intrigued me. I used to think that the more their tastes agreed, the more possibilities they had of enjoying married bliss. Not any longer. Not since my friend Prof. Cuthbert Bradford, the distinguished phonetician from the University of London, met Amanda Lehmond, the now eminent philologist from the University of Richmond USA, at the 3rd Congress of Applied Linguistics in Malaga. That he should say /p@"teIt@U / and /t@"mA:t@U/, and she, /p@"teItoU / and /t@"meItoU/, that a motorway be a freeway, a highway or an expressway for her, a faucet a tap for him, and the pavement, the sidewalk for her, that he should put the luggage in the boot of his car and she in the trunk, that she should take the elevator and he the lift, or that he should stress laboratory on the second syllable and she on the first, is not really surprising considering their respective backgrounds, but their differences did not stop at pronunciation and vocabulary level; they were of many sorts and so marked that I’d venture to say that “poles apart” is the expression which would best define them, as you will presently see if you bear with me and my story. As I was saying, Amanda and Cuthbert, Cuddy to his friends, met at a Congress of Linguists in Malaga. Prof. Bradford had just finished his lecture on the influence of Elizabethan English on American pronunciation, and was greedily helping himself to another handful of canapés at the subsequent reception, when he heard a sweet, well

51 modulated, female voice say: “I enjoyed your talk, Prof. Bradford, but I come from Virginia and I don’t think my flat ‘a’ owes anything to the way the Pilgrim Fathers spoke.” Cuddy found himself staring, or gaping would perhaps be more accurate, at the most attractive black girl he had ever seen. “I...I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of...”, he stammered. “Dr. Lehmond, associate professor – Reader to you – at the University of Richmond, but you can call me Amanda.” Amanda...´fit to be loved’, indeed, he was thinking, when he heard her humorously add: “my vowels are duly r-coloured, though, as befits my skin pigmentation.” For the layman’s benefit, I may as well explain what she meant by ‘flat a’ and ‘r-coloured vowels’. It’s only two of the most distinctive features of American English pronunciation: the ‘flat a’ is the American equivalent of the British English ‘broad a’ in words spelt with an ‘a’ followed by ss, th, st, sk, nt, or lf: father, glass, ask, bath, half, etc. (not more than 150 words or so, in fact), and ‘r-coloured’ refers to the different way the r before a consonant or at the end of a word is pronounced in British or American English. This difference in treatment of the r has given rise to a good number of funny misunderstandings. I remember the story told by the late Prof. Peter Strevens in his book British and American English about the Englishman who is asked by an American what his job is and answers that he is a clerk, and the astonished American exclaims: “Do you mean you go around tick-tock, tick-tock?” (Clerk, pronounced with a broad ‘a’ and no r, sounds more or less like clock to American ears). But “to return to our muttons”, as the judge said to Maître Pathelin. From the very moment Amanda and Cuthbert met it was the end of the Congress for them, and they dedicated the rest of the week to going out together, sightseeing and so on, only to discover how widely their tastes differed. As a matter of fact, I can hardly conceive of two more disparate personalities. Apart from their shared interest in Linguistics and the fact that neither of them smoked, they had absolutely, but ab-so-lute-ly nothing in common. She was a vegetarian and a teetotaler (double l in British English, mind you), while he enjoyed the occasional whisky or gin and tonic, and there was nothing he relished more that a good steak – underdone, please – with plenty of chips (no French fries for Amanda, thank you). She was a Baptist, and practising at that, whereas he was Church of England in theory, which in practice meant he seldom went to church, if at all. He was into woodwind musical instruments (especially the recorder and the oboe), she into modern dance; she couldn’t work without computers, he hated them, and so on and so forth. But opposed as their characters may have been, there was no denying that they enjoyed each other’s company tremendously, and though agreeing that getting married would be the greatest mistake they could make, over the next few years they managed to be together quite a lot. Sabbatical years, seminars, congresses and symposiums all over the world, lecture tours, and just when their resourcefulness for pretexts was beginning to wear thin, my friend received a tempting offer from the University of Richmond – did I hear something about curious coincidences? – where he was assured he would be able to carry on with his research work while earning twice as much as in England. He decided to accept, and three months after taking possession of his new Chair, he was happily married to Amanda, and continues to be so to this day, twenty-four years later. Now if you were to ask me who wears the trousers in that home, or the pants as Amanda would say – not so Cuddy, for him pants and their feminine counterpart, knickers or panties, will always be just two items of underwear – if you asked me, I repeat, I wouldn’t know what to answer. If religious convictions, however weakened, are anything to go by, I can tell you that Cuddy, while still ascribing in theory to the Church of England, now regularly goes to the local Baptist centre (sorry, center) with his wife, and can often be seen in animated conversation with the pastor after services. And if a

52 couple’s offspring’s education can be taken as a basis for judging their parents’ influence over them, I’m pleased to tell you that the fruit of their love whom, in a typical compromise between linguists, they named Abel (from the Hebrew ablu = ‘son’) is the genuine American prototype, who says /p@"teItoU / and /t@"meItoU/, is jolly good at basketball, drinks Pepsi, wears Levis, likes to drive fast automobiles, which run on gas, of course, not petrol, and will soon major in Maths, or take a degree in Mathematics, as Cuthbert would no doubt put it. But there’s a little something (and I wonder if Cuddy derives any comfort from it), in which Abel, for all his conventional American ways, takes after his British father: he plays the recorder that he appropriately calls the English flute, and likes his meat rare, I mean, underdone. 3.1 READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS a.- What does the narrator mean when he says that Cuthbert and Amanda were ‘poles apart’? b.- Identify one or two touches of irony in the story. c.- Was Cuthbert a religious man? How do we know? d.- What does ‘to return to our muttons’ mean? e.- Name some of Cuthbert’s and Amanda’s tastes. f.- Who do you think was behind the job offer to Cuthbert? g.- Describe Abel’s tastes. h.- What do you think the message of this story is? 3.2 SEMANTIC ANALYSIS 3.2.1 LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES as a matter of fact (de hecho) as befits my skin pigmentation (como corresponde a la pigmentación de mi piel) ascribing in theory to (perteneciendo en teoría a) Baptist (baptista) clerk (oficinista) Church of England (anglicano) for the layman’s benefit (para que lo entienda el profano) greedily (con gula, con avaricia) handful (puñado) to help oneself to (servirse) however weakened (por muy debilitado que esté) I may as well explain (mejor será que explique) lecture tour (gira de conferencias) married bliss (felicidad conyugal) offspring [hijo(s), descendencia, prole]

53 only to discover (descubriendo) to relish (disfrutar de, deleitarse con) resourcefulness (recursos, ingenio) sabbatical year (año sabático) sightseeing (visita turística) teetotaller (abstemio) vegetarian (vegetariano) woodwind musical instruments (instrumentos musicales de viento) 3.2.2 SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS accurate (exact, correct, precise) to baffle (to mistify, to confuse, to bewilder, to disconcert, to perplex, to confound) to bear with sb (to be patient with) conventional (orthodox, traditional, established, accepted) famous [distinguished, eminent, well-known, celebrated, outstanding, noted (for), notable, noteworthy] to puzzle (to intrigue) to stammer (to stutter) to venture (dare) to wonder (to puzzle about; to be surprised, astonished, amazed, nonplussed) 3.2.3 ANTONYMS accurate (inaccurate, inexact) animated (dull, lifeless) conventional (unorthodox, unconventional) rare (well done) regularly (occasionally) sweet (harsh, discordant; bitter) to weaken (to strengthen) 3.2.4 POLYSEMIC TERMS to go by [pasar (tiempo); pasar (oportunidad); pasar por delante de; pasarse por; guiarse por; juzgar por; atenerse a, acatar]

54 trunk (baúl; tronco de árbol; tronco del cuerpo humano; trompa de elefante; maletero del coche (AmE); en pl, bañador de hombre; trunk call llamada de larga distancia; trunk road carretera principal 3.2.5 HOMONYMS bear (from OE bera)/to bear (from OE beran) may (from OE maeg)/May (ME from OF mai) 3.2.6 LEXICAL FIELDS a) underwear: bra (sujetador) briefs (calzoncillos/bragas) corset (corsé) drawers (bragas – obs.) girdle (faja) knickers/panties (bragas) lingerie (lencería) nightgown (camisón de dormir) nightie (camisón de dormir – colloq.) nightwear (ropa de dormir) pants (BrE) (calzoncillos/bragas) panty-corselette (faja corset) panty-girdle (faja pantalón) pantyhose [(medias) pantys] pyjamas (BrE)/pajamas (AmE) (pijama) shorts (AmE) (calzoncillos) slip/petticoat (obs.) (enaguas) stockings (medias) stretch girdle (faja elástica) suspender/garter (liga)

55 tights (pantys, leotardos) underclothes/ underwear (ropa interior) underpants (calzoncillos) undies (ropa interior – colloq.) vest (BrE.)/undershirt (AmE) (camiseta)

b) musical instruments: accordion (acordeón) bagpipe (gaita) banjo (banjo) bass-drum (bombo) bassoon (fagot) clarinet (clarinete) clavichord (clavicordio) cymbals (platillos) double bass (contrabajo) drum (batería) flute (flauta) French horn (trompa) guitar (guitarra) harmonica (armónica) harp (arpa) kettledrum (timbal) lute (laúd) mandolin/mandoline (mandolina) oboe (oboe) organ (órgano) pan-pipes (caramillo, zampoña)

56 piano (piano) piccolo (flautín) recorder/English flute (flauta dulce) saxophone (saxofón) tambourine (pandereta) timpani/timps (timbales) triangle (triángulo) trombone (trombón) trumpet (trompeta) tuba (tuba) viola (viola) violin (violín) violoncello/cello (violonchelo) xylophone (xilófono)

c) cooking terms: to bake (cocer en el horno) to beat (batir) bitter (amargo) to boil (hervir) to cook (cocinar, guisar) cookery book (libro de cocina) to chop (cortar en trozos pequeños, picar) to deep-fry (freír en abundante aceite) done to a turn (en su punto) to drain (off) (escurrir) to dress [aliñar (ensalada)] to fold in (ir añadiendo ingredientes, mezclándolos poco a poco con otros)

57 fried in batter (rebozado) to fry (freír) to grate (rallar) to grill (asar a la parrilla) hot (picante) insipid/bland (soso, insípido) to marinate (dejar en adobo; macerar) to mash (hacer puré) to mix (mezclar) overcooked/overdone (demasiado hecho) to peel (pelar) to poach (escalfar) raw (crudo) recipe (receta de cocina) to roast (asar) salty (salado) to season (condimentar, sazonar) to shred [cortar en trozos finos, picar (verdura)] sickly (demasiado dulce, dulzón) to sieve (pasar por el tamiz cosas finas, tamizar) to sift (cribar) to simmer (cocer a fuego lento) sour (ácido, agrio) spicy (sazonado, picante) to steam (cocer al vapor) to stir (remover) to stir-fry (rehogar, sofreír, freír sin dejar de remover) to strain (colar líquidos)

58 sugary (azucarado, dulce) sweet (dulce) tasteless (insípido, que no sabe a nada) tasty (sabroso) tender (tierno,-a) tough (duro, -a) underdone (BrE)/rare (AmE) (poco hecho) well done (muy hecho) to whisk (batir a punto de nieve)

d) parts of a car: battery (batería) bonnet (BrE)/hood (AmE) (capó) boot (BrE)/trunk (AmE) (maletero) brake (freno) carburettor (carburador) engine (motor) exhaust-pipe (tubo de escape) headlights (faros) ignition key (llave de contacto) instrument panel (cuadro de mandos, tablero de instrumentos) rear-view mirror (espejo retrovisor) seat-belt (cinturón de seguridad) sidelights/parking lights (luces de estacionamiento) speedometer (cuentakilómetros) steering wheel (volante) tyres/tires (neumáticos) wheels (ruedas)

59 windscreen (BrE)/windshield (AmE) (parabrisas) etc. (see key: 3.5.4)

3.2.7 ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES a) enjoyment/happiness/pleasure (diversión/felicidad/placer): joy [+ vivid emotion of pleasure, extreme happiness] (alegría, gozo) gladness [ + joy, happiness (lit.)] (contento, alegría, gozo) delight [+ great pleasure] (deleite) cheerfulness [ + showing joy and happiness, with laughter and gaiety] (ánimo, alegría, buen humor) satisfaction [ + happiness because sth meets your expectations or desires] (satisfacción) felicity [ + intense happiness (formal)] (felicidad intensa) merriment [ + exuberant enjoyment, happy talk, laughter and enjoyment] (alegría, regocijo, júbilo) mirth [ + fun and laughter] (alegría, risas) glee [ + feeling of happiness because sth good has happened to you, or sth bad to sb else] (regocijo, júbilo, alegría) rapture [ + ecstatic delight, mental transport] (éxtasis) bliss [ + perfect joy or happiness] (felicidad perfecta o total)] b) looking: to gaze, to gape, to glare, to stare, etc. (see 2.2.8) 3.2.8 METONYMY AND METAPHOR ...he was Church of England is a metonymy for he ascribed to the Church of England ...after taking possession of his new Chair (Chair is a metonymy for professorship) to be poles apart is a metaphor for ‘to differ greatly, esp. in nature or opinion’ to wear the trousers is a metaphor for ‘to be the dominant partner in a marriage’ ...the fruit of their love is a metaphor for ‘their son as a result of their marriage’. 3.2.9 WORDS EASILY CONFUSED to earn/to win/to gain/to beat: to earn (ganar con esfuerzo, trabajo o méritos): to earn money (ganar dinero): he earns ₤25,000 a year (gana ₤25,000 al año); to earn a fortune (ganar una fortuna), to earn a

60 rest (ganarse un descanso), to earn a living as (ganarse la vida como), to earn a reputation as (ganar fama como) to win (ganar en contextos competitivos o en los que interviene la suerte): to win an election (ganar unas elecciones), to win a game/a match/a cup/a race, etc (ganar un juego/un partido/una copa/una carrera, etc.), to win a battle/a war (ganar una batalla/guerra), to win a prize (ganar un premio), to win a case (ganar un caso), to win at cards/at chess (ganar a las cartas/al ajedrez), to win sb’s approval/trust/love (ganar la aprobación/la confianza/el amor de alguien), to win friends (ganar amigos) to gain (ganar, consiguiendo o aumentando): to gain weight (ganar peso), to gain speed (aumentar velocidad), to gain access to (conseguir acceso a), to gain time (ganar tiempo), to gain experience/support/a reputation (ganar experiencia/conseguir apoyo/fama), to gain in popularity(aumentar la popularidad) to beat (ganar, derrotar, batir, vencer algo o a alguien): Brazil beat England 2-1 (Brasil gana/vence/derrota a Inglaterra 2-1); to beat inflation (vencer/derrotar la inflación), to beat sb at cards/chess, etc (ganarle a alguien a las cartas/al ajedrez) 3.2.10 LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS to do: to do a course hacer un curso to do a crossword hacer un crucigrama to do a favour hacer un favor to do a job hacer un trabajo to do a place visitar un lugar (turismo) to do a translation hacer una traducción to do an exercise hacer un ejercicio to do business hacer negocios to do damage hacer daño to do evil hacer el mal to do exercise(s) hacer ejercicio(s) to do good hacer el bien to do harm hacer daño to do honour hacer honor to do justice hacer justicia to do miracles hacer milagros to do one’s best hacer lo posible to do one’s duty cumplir con el deber to do one’s hair arreglarse el pelo to do one’s homework hacer los deberes to do one’s teeth limpiarse los dientes to do research investigar to do right hacer bien to do sb good sentar bien to do some work trabajar algo to do sums sumar, hacer sumas to do sport hacer deporte to do the cleaning hacer la limpieza to do the cooking hacer la comida

61 to do the dishes (AmE) lavar los platos to do the gardening trabajar en el jardín to do the house hacer la casa to do the ironing planchar to do the housework hacer las tareas de la casa to do the rooms hacer las habitaciones to do the shopping hacer la compra to do the washing hacer la colada to do time cumplir condena to do well irle a uno bien to do wonders hacer maravillas to do wrong hacer mal to do the ironing planchar, hacer la plancha to do the washing-up (BrE) lavar los platos to make: to make (a) noise hacer (un) ruido to make a cake hacer un pastel to make a change ser novedad to make a comment hacer un comentario to make a complaint formular una queja to make a confession hacer una confesión to make a date citarse (para salir) to make a decision tomar una decisión to make a demand hacer una reivindicación to make a discovery hacer un descubrimiento to make a dress hacer un vestido to make a fire encender un fuego to make a fool of oneself hacer el ridículo to make a gesture hacer un gesto to make a journey/trip hacer un viaje to make a living ganarse la vida to make a mistake cometer un error to make a movement hacer un movimiento to make a plan trazar un plan to make a profit obtener beneficios to make a promise hacer una promesa to make a remark hacer un comentario to make a request hacer una petición to make a speech pronunciar un discurso to make a statement hacer una declaración to make a will hacer testamento to make an accusationhacer una acusación to make an appointment pedir cita/hora (al médico, etc.), concertar una cita to make an attempt hacer un intento to make an effort hacer un esfuerzo to make an estimate hacer un cálculo/presupuesto to make an excuse dar/poner una excusa to make an impression impresionar

62 to make an offer hacer una oferta to make arrangementshacer planes/preparativos to make enquiries hacer indagaciones to make friends (with) trabar amistad (con) to make fun of reírse/burlarse de to make love hacer el amor to make money ganar dinero to make peace firmar la paz to make progress hacer progresos to make sense tener sentido to make tea/coffee hacer té/café to make the beds hacer las camas to make trouble crear problemas to make war hacer la guerra 3.2.11 DIFFERENCES BRE./AME. autumn/fall (otoño) banknote/bill (billete) biscuit/cookie (galleta) bonnet/hood (capó) boot/trunk (maletero) car/automobile (coche) car park/parking lot (aparcamiento) caravan/trailer (caravana, roulotte) chips/French fries (patatas fritas) colour/color (color) crisps/chips (patatas fritas de sobre) draughts/checkers (juego de damas) drawing pin/thumbtack (chincheta) film/movie (película) flat/apartment (piso) ground floor/first floor (bajo/primer piso) holiday/vacation (vacación) hoarding/billboard (valla publicitaria) lift/elevator (ascensor) lorry/truck (camión) motorway (BrE)/freeway/highway/expressway (AmE) (autopista) pavement/sidewalk (acera)

63 petrol/gas (gasolina) post/mail (correo) railway/railroad (ferrocarril) roundabout/traffic circle (glorieta) spanner/wrench (llave inglesa) tap/faucet (grifo) teetotaller/teetotaler (abstemio) torch/flashlight (linterna) tram/streetcar (tranvía) underdone/rare (comida poco hecha) vest/undershirt (camiseta interior) to wash up/to wash the dishes (lavar los platos) windscreen/windshield (parabrisas) windscreen wiper/windshield wiper (limpiaparabrisas) wing/fender (aleta del coche) 3.2.12 FALSE FRIENDS agenda means ‘agenda’ in the sense of ‘orden del día’, ‘puntos a tratar en una reunión’ or ‘relación de cosas que han de ejecutarse’, but not in that of ‘libro de notas’ (notebook) to assist means ‘asistir’ only in the sense of ‘socorrer, ayudar’, but not in the sense of ‘asistir a un acto’ (to attend) attic does not mean ‘ático’ (top-floor apartment/flat), sino ‘desván, buhardilla’ carbon does not mean ‘carbón’ (coal), sino ‘carbono’ o ‘papel carbón’ carton does not mean ‘cartón’ (el material) (cardboard), sino ‘caja de cartón’ or ‘cartón de tabaco’ commodity does not mean ‘comodidad’ (comfort), but ‘mercancía, artículo comercial’ disparate does not mean ‘disparate’ (nonsense), but ‘completamente diferentes’ escalator does not mean ‘escalador’ (climber), but ‘escaleras mecánicas’ fabric does not mean ‘fábrica’ (factory), but ‘tejido’ to intend does not mean ‘intentar’ (to try, to attempt), but ‘tener la intención de hacer algo’ jubilation does not mean ‘jubilación’ (retirement), but ‘júbilo, gozo’ marmalade does not mean ‘mermelada’ (en general) (jam), but ‘mermelada de naranja o limón’ miserable means ‘miserable’ only in the sense of ‘cantidad escasa’, but not in that of ‘tacaño’ (mean, stingy), or ‘desgraciado (wretched) motorist does not mean ‘motorista’ (motorcyclist), but ‘automovilista’ physician does not mean ‘físico’ (physicist), but ‘médico’ to probe does not mean ‘probar, demostrar’ (to prove), or ‘probar’ (alimentos) (to taste, to try), but ‘sondar’; ‘sondear’, ‘explorar’

64 prospect does not mean ‘prospecto’ (leaflet, handout, flyer, brochure), but ‘perspectiva, posibilidad’ rape does not mean ‘rape’ (el pez) (anglerfish), or ‘pelado al rape’ (closely cropped hair), but ‘violación’ to remove does not mean ‘remover’ (to stir), but ‘retirar, quitar algo/a alguien’ (de un sitio) or ‘quitarse’ (prendas de vestir) spade means ‘pala’ and ‘espada’ (palo en naipes), but not ‘espada’ (arma) (sword) suburb does not mean ‘suburbio’ (barrio pobre) (slum), but ‘barrio residencial en las afueras’; ‘the suburbs’= las afueras, el extrarradio ultimately does not mean ‘últimamente’ (lately), but ‘finalmente’ vague means ‘vago’ in the sense of ‘impreciso’, but not in that of ‘perezoso’ (lazy) vase does not mean ‘vaso’ (glass), but ‘jarrón’ voyage does not mean ‘viaje’ (en general) (journey, trip), but ‘viaje por mar o por el espacio’ (see also 1.2.15) 3.2.13 WORD-FORMATION compound nouns: air shuttle (puente aéreo) answering machine (contestador) (en el teléfono) ashtray (cenicero) boarding-house (pensión) burglar alarm (alarma antirrobo) cash dispenser (cajero automático) couch potato (persona que se pasa el día entero sentada en el sofá viendo la tele) dishwasher (lavavajillas) frying pan (sartén) hothouse (invernadero) junk food (comida basura) looker-on (mirón) money laundering (blanqueo de dinero) mother-in-law (suegra) pacemaker (marcapasos) screensaver (salva pantalla) (en el ordenador) tape measure (cinta métrica) washing-machine (lavadora) compound adjectives: absent-minded (distraido) blue-eyed (de ojos azules) evil-smelling (maloliente) flat-nosed (chato) homesick (con morriña) nature-friendly [(de un producto) que no daña la naturaleza] oven-ready (preparado para el horno) sun-tanned (bronceado) user-friendly [(de un electro-doméstico, ordenador, etc.) de fácil manejo] two-faced (con dos caras, falso, hipócrita)

65

compound verbs: to babysit (cuidar de un bebé) to brainwash (lavar el cerebro) to house-hunt (buscar casa) to shortchange (dar de menos en la vuelta) to soft-soap (dar coba) to window-shop (ir a mirar escaparates) reduplicatives: hanky-panky (tejemanejes; juegos sexuales ‘traviesos’) hocus-pocus (supercherías, patrañas) knick-knacks (chucherías de adorno) pell-mell (revuelto, en confusión) see-saw (balancín) teeny-weeny (pequeñín) tip-top (de primera) clippings: advertisement → ad aeroplane → plane bicycle → bike condominium → condo discotheque → disco examination → exam goodbye → bye gymnasium → gym handkerchief → hanky influenza → flu laboratory → lab mathematics → maths microphone → mike mobile phone → mobile newspaper → paper omnibus → bus photograph → photo poliomyelitis → polio professor → prof prom → promenade public house → pub refrigerator → fridge telephone → phone television → telly vegetables → veg veterinary surgeon → vet violoncello → cello

66 3.2.14 IDIOMS to be poles apart (ser polos opuestos) twice as much (dos veces más) to wear the trousers (llevar los pantalones) to wear thin (desgastarse; acabarse) 3.2.15 PHRASAL VERBS to be into (estar muy interesado/apasionado por) to bear with (tener paciencia con) to go by (guiarse por) to take after (parecerse, salir a) 3.2.16 CULTURAL NOTES associate professor (profesor adjunto) (AmE)/Reader (BrE) Maître Pathelin (an unscrupulous lawyer, the main character in an anonymous French farce from the 15th c.) Levis – a popular and fashionable kind of jeans Pepsi - ® together with Coca-Cola ®, the best known American cola drink 3.3 PHONOLOGICAL STUDY 3.3.1 Homophones 3.3.2 Homographs

3.3.3 Silent letters 3.3.4 Graphemes

beach/beech, boy/buoy, seen/scene, way/to weigh, idle/idol used to /ju:st t@/ (soler)/used /ju:zd) (past and participle of to use, usar) job /ÙQb/ (trabajo)/Job /Ù@Ub/ (male name) n: autumn, column, to damn, hymn, solemn, to condemn

/V/ much, must, mutton, just, run /U/ put, education /u:/ flute /ju:/ musical, used, university, computer /jU/ regularly, accurate (also /@/), modulated (also /@/) /jU@/ curious /@/ suggest /I/ business

67 /3:/ church, return

/U@/ assure /ju:@/ cure /@/ lecture 3.3.5 Differences BrE/AmE

vowel + r car /kA:/ - / kA:r/ /Q/ - /A:/ hot /hQt/ - /hA:t/ /A:/ - /&/ glass /glA:s/ - /gl&s/ weakening of intervocalic t better /'bet@/ - /'beţ@r/ some individual words: tomato /t@'mA:t@U/ - /t@'meIţou/ either / 'aID@/ - / 'i:D@r/ neither / 'naID@/ - / 'ni:D@r/ ate /et/ - /eIt/ address /@'dres/ -/ '&dres/ laboratory /l@'bQr@tri/ - /'l&b@r@tO:ri/

3.4 GRAMMAR REVISION 3.4.1 purpose-infinitive (see also 7.4.5)

...in order for them to stand a good chance... 3.4.2 non-defining relative clauses (see also ...which in practice meant he seldom went 8.4.1) to church... ...which run on gas... 3.4.3 -ing clauses with concessive value ...and though agreeing that getting married... ...while still ascribing in theory to... 3.4.4 that-nominal clauses as subject ...that he should stress laboratory in the second syllable and she on the first is not really surprising 3.4.5 words that only occur in the plural a) tools and instruments: bellows (fuelle), binoculars (prismáticos), clippers (tijeras para podar, para cortar el pelo, para las uñas), forceps (forceps), glasses/spectacles (gafas), goggles (gafas protectoras), handcuffs (esposas), headphones (auriculares), pincers (tenazas, pinzas), pliers (alicates), scales (peso), scissors (tijeras), shears (tijeras grandes, para podar, etc.), tongs (tenazas), tweezers (pinzas pequeñas, de depilar), etc.

68 b) clothes: braces (BrE)/suspenders (AmE) (tirantes), breeches (pantalones de montar; bombachos), dungarees [mono; pantalón de peto (BrE)], jeans (vaqueros), jodpurs (pantalones de montar), knickerbockers (bombachos – hist.), knickers/panties/pants (bragas), leggins (polainas; leotardos, mallas), pyjamas (BrE)/pajamas(AmE) (pijama), shorts (pantalones cortos, shorts), (swimming) trunks (bañador de hombre), tights (pantis; leotardos, mallas para ballet), trousers (pantalones), underpants/pants (calzoncillos), etc. 3.5 EXERCISES 3.5.1 Find synonyms and near-synonyms for the following: a) accurate; b) to venture; c) to relish; d) to hate; e) to wear thin; f) to take after; g) underdone; h) overcooked 3.5.2 Find antonyms for the following: a) attractive; b) exact; c) wide; d) weak; e) animated; f) conventional; g) adequate; h) pleased 3.5.3

Fill in the blanks with the right form of to do or to make, as required:

a.- He .....a brave attempt to cope with the situation b.- I’ll .....my best c.- I’ll ....the ironing if you .....the washing d.- The poor boy was ......fun of e.- I can see you’re ...... progress f.- It’ll ......you no harm g.- I want to .........a complaint h.- I just .... my duty i.- In view of the circumstances, he’s decided to ........a new will j.- It was a pleasure to ......business with you 3.5.4

Add to the lexical field of parts of a car outlined in 3.2.6.b

3.5.5 gain:

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of to earn, to win, to beat or to

a.- Who do you think will ...... the European Cup? b.- She ..... her living as a top model c.- He gradually ..... their confidence d.- That painting is sure to .......... in value e.- Spain ....... Portugal 3-0 f.- His retirement is certainly well .......... g.- William the Conqueror ...... the Battle of Hastings in 1066

69 h.- We .........them 6-1, 6-1 i.- He’s...........weight j.- Spain has ........ three gold medals 3.5.6

Match the letters with the numbers:

1.- Her absence is ... 2.- She has a disconcerting... 3.- What I have to tell you.... 4.- I can only marvel... 5.- My sister-in-law was taken aback... 6.- I find the tax form... a.- ...when she wasn’t invited to the wedding b.- ... extremely puzzling c.- ...will amaze you d.- ... extremely confusing e.- ...at your nerve! f.- ...habit of changing the subject 3.5.7

Substitute BrE equivalents for the words in italics:

a.- You should clean the windshield b.- His office is in the 5th floor; we’d better take the elevator c.- We’ll put the larger box in the trunk d.- The two friends strolled along the sidewalk e.- He bought his son some candy f.- He looked under the hood of his car to check the oil 3.5.8 False friends. Answer the following questions: a.- If Cuthbert’s and Amanda’s personalities are disparate, are their personalities differerent or silly? b.- Could the statement that all Spaniards like flamenco and bullfights be described as a topic? c.- Do you usually find notices in the newspaper? d.- Does living a life of luxury necessarily involve ‘sins of the flesh’? e.- If someone can’t support his wife, does it mean that he can’t stand the sight of her? f.- Where would you find sauces? In the kitchen or growing near a river? 3.5.9 Scan the text for words containing the -graphemes and classify them according to the way they are pronounced 3.5.10 Combine the following sentences, making the second one a non-defining relative clause: a.- The young woman arranged the meeting through a dating agency. Nobody had ever asked her out before. b.- My neighbours were having an awful row. They normally get on very well together.

70 c.- Termites do enormous damage to wood. They live in colonies. d.- Their business is now running into difficulty because of the recession. It was doing quite well last year. e.- Aunt Sally brought some of her home-made cakes. That was a thoughtful thing to do. f.- Jack has grown very fat. He eats virtually nothing but chips.

UNIT 4 ALL IN A DAY’S WORK Seated at the breakfast table in the kitchen of his luxurious villa on the Main Line in Philadelphia on this cold February morning, Dr. Samuel Newman drank up his orange juice, sipped his nice warm coffee and thought of the hard day’s work ahead. He smiled to himself: if he had been one of his patients, he’d have ordered him to slow down long ago. Because in truth his work at Jefferson Hospital, his classes at the University and the management of his Nursing Home meant all of a 10-hour working day for him. But he did not think of the work as a burden. It was the stress that he resented. The intolerable stress of a doctor’s life. The small victories, followed by the heavy defeats. The daily struggle against disease and death, which after almost 40 years of practice he had not quite got accustomed to. Anyway, it was only two years to his retirement and then he would devote himself entirely to the Nursing Home. The prospect appealed to him. It wasn’t yet six years since he, with two other colleagues, had started this residence for terminal cancer patients, and it was already famous. No euthanasia in their center; a man has a right to live and die with dignity. Suppression of pain, the avoidance of physical and mental pain, that was their line of research, and extraordinary progress had been achieved. They had discovered that there was a certain parallelism between the residents in their Nursing

71 Home and schoolchildren: when you split a class by separating the good students from the bad, the differences soon reappear, and the best among the bad lot begin getting better results than the worst among the good; in the same way, when you put together a bunch of terminal cases, none of whom has more than two years to live, the same pattern will emerge, and it is not unusual for some of the patients to survive for three or four years, and in some “miraculous” cases for more than five. In fact the Nursing Home was his life’s work, and he would like one of his two children to carry on with it. But his son, Jacob, at 28 already a brilliant brain surgeon, had not shown the least interest in the residence, and Sarah, his daughter, the eminent biologist, was too absorbed in her research work at Harvard to think of taking over. But he didn’t give up hope, perhaps one day... “You haven’t touched your toast, Sam”, he heard Helen say. Waving her kind fussing aside, he stood up to get his bag and raincoat, and looked tenderly at his wife. They would soon have been married for thirty years, but he loved her as much as the first day. At 52 – Helen was eleven years his junior – she was still as attractive as ever, and these days she was radiant, as Sarah had announced her visit next week. She was all aglow with plans: concerts, theater, shopping. Well, she had all the right in the world to a bit of distraction, poor soul. He could not remember when they had last enjoyed a vacation. But he would put a remedy to that. This summer they would spend 15 days in Florida where she could indulge in miniature golf and he could do some sailing. He hoped he had not completely lost his touch. He had not gone in for much sport lately, though he had never dropped his one or two sets of tennis on Sunday mornings...Helen’s words interrupted his flow of thoughts: “Come home early this evening, honey, we’re having dinner with the Thompsons.” He kissed his wife goodbye and got into his grey Jaguar, bracing himself for the 40-minute drive through dense traffic to the hospital. Friday was a bad day for driving, almost as bad as Mondays when everybody seemed to oversleep. Finally he arrived at his consulting room, and he had hardly had time to change into his white coat and prescribed hospital shoes when he saw Katherine, the chief nurse, waiting to talk to him, and he immediately realized that there was something wrong. She had been working with him for over 15 years and he could read her like a book; he even knew the days when she had her period. “Dr. Newman, I can’t understand, an awful mistake, a stupid mix-up with some other patient. The X-ray is on your desk, with the clinical record. Mr. Willow’s lungs are okay, he doesn’t have cancer.” He remembered the guy quite well, although it had been about five months before. A pale-faced, thin man of about 50, with a little moustache and a balding head. He could see him sitting there across his desk, his eyes full of sadness and resignation as the death sentence was delivered to him: cancer of the lung, inoperable. Six months to live, one year at the utmost. He’d never forget the man’s wife’s look of despair as she held her husband’s hand, trying in vain to fight back her tears. Oh, God that these things could happen on the threshold of the 21st century! “Don’t worry, Kate, mistakes are inevitable”, he reassured the shaking nurse as he fidgeted with the man’s record. He would phone him immediately and break the good news to him. But no, this deserved a personal visit, he’d call on the fellow this evening before going home. Today he didn’t have a class at the university, so he’d drop by at the residence after lunch, and later he’d drive to the guy’s place, he thought, scribbling down the address in his memo pad. He went through the day’s routine as usual, but he couldn’t get the Willow case out of his mind. At the Nursing Home, he made the customary round of the residents and heard Dr. Bentley’s report. He admired the chief doctor’s efficiency and skill. He believed in recruiting the best only and he paid them splendidly. Theirs was indeed a select staff. From the doctors, the nurses and the wardens, to the doormen, the cook and

72 the maids, they were the cream of their respective specialities. And all wholly dedicated to improving the quality of life of the residents. The atmosphere you breathed in the Home was really quiet and relaxing. The faint music in the background and the colorfulness of the decoration, including the impressive set of reproductions of his favorite French impressionists, all contributed to creating an ambiance of peace and tranquillity which was soothing to the senses. Logically, there was not much social life among the patients, but you could feel friendliness in the air, and there were even small tasks to keep them busy: picking flowers in the garden, arranging the vases, feeding the canaries, or classifying the books and magazines in the well-stocked library. Most of the time, of course, the patients were strongly sedated, for pain was banned from the Rest Home, as he liked the center to be called. “Poor Mrs. Wilmott’s life is flickering away. I don’t think she’ll live through the night”, Dr. Bentley was saying. Well, at 86, it was not really traumatic to see her pass away in such a painless, peaceful way, and he was sure the old dear was grateful for the four years she had spent in reasonably good health at the residence. He finished his round, read the mail, dictated a couple of letters to his secretary and got ready to go to Mr. Willow’s house. It meant a considerable detour on his way home, but he was longing to see the man’s wife’s face when he told them the wonderful news. A doctor’s work had its compensations after all. It was a poverty-stricken area, the streets full of junkies and drug-pushers, the houses plain and ungainly, the walls covered with filthy grafitti, but Dr. Newman hardly noticed the sordid surroundings as he drove through to the man’s apartment...The elevator was not working in the building, but he did not mind climbing to the fourth floor, and his heart was beating fast as he rang the bell on door 4B. He rang again and waited, but there was no reply. Then the door of 4A opened and a fat, ugly hag, with rollers on her hair and a cigarette hanging from her lips, stared at him with distrust and croaked: “Nobody in there, she’s gonna live with her mother for a while...took her brats with her”, she added as an afterthought. “And her husband?”, he asked weakly, knowing already what the answer would be. “He died last week. Had lung cancer.” Dr. Newman remained fixed on the spot, unable to react, long after the woman, all interest in him lost, had stepped back into her apartment, leaving him alone on the landing. Then he tore the man’s record to pieces and slowly, very slowly, his shoulders hunched up, feeling tired out, as if he had suddenly aged ten years, he plodded downstairs to his grey Jaguar that would take him home to his wife and dinner with the Thompsons. (This story is based on fact, but the names of the people and places have been changed to protect identities). 4.1 READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS a.- Describe Dr. Newman’s ordinary day’s work. b.- What do you think Helen’s occupation was? c.- Describe the Nursing Home in your own words. d.- Why was Katherine so excited? e.- Why was the doctor going to see the Willows? f.- What was the neigbourhood where the Willows lived like? g.- Why does the narrator refer to the Willows’ neighbour as a hag? h.- What was Samuel’s reaction when he heard about Mr. Willow’s fate? i.- Summarize the story in your own words.

73 4.2 SEMANTIC ANALYSIS 4.2.1 LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES afterthought (ocurrencia tardía) aglow (resplandeciente, lit. and fig.) at the utmost (como máximo) balding (que se está quedando calvo) to be X years sb’s junior (ser X años más joven que alguien) brat (mocoso) burden (carga) clinical record (historial médico) colorfulness (colorido) to deserve (merecer) doorman (portero, conserje) drug-pusher (camello) (see key: 1.5.3.a) to fidget with sth (juguetear con algo) friendliness (cordialidad) to fuss (preocuparse demasiado) graffiti (pintadas) hag [bruja (mujer fea)] hunched up (encorvado) junkie (drogata, yonqui) (see key: 1.5.3.a) line of research (línea de investigación) memo pad (bloc de notas) nursing home (residencia privada, esp. para la 3ª edad) to oversleep (pegársele a alguien las sábanas) pattern (modelo, patrón) a poverty-stricken area (un área muy pobre) prescribed hospital shoes (zapatos de hospital obligatorios) prospect (perspectiva) to recruit (contratar) rollers [rulos (para el pelo)] the old dear (la querida viejecita) the poor soul (la pobre criatura) threshold (umbral) unsightly (repulsivo, desagradable a la vista) warden (encargado en un asilo, celador) waving her kind fussing aside (rechazando sus amables pero excesivas muestras de preocupación) well-stocked (bien nutrido/surtido, muy completo)

74 4.2.2 SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS accustomed to (used to) to appeal to (to like) awful (dreadful, horrible, appalling, frightful) to ban (to prohibit, to forbid, to proscribe) to desire (to long for, to itch for, to die for, to thirst for, to yearn for) to discover (to find out) filthy (dirty) soothing (calming, relaxing) to split (to divide, to separate) tenderly (lovingly, amorously) tired out [worn out, exhausted, dead tired; (colloq.): knackered] unsightly (ugly, unattractive, unprepossessing, awful-looking, repulsive) 4.2.3 ANTONYMS distrust (trust) filthy (clean) grateful (ungrateful) impressive (unimpressive) painful (painless) relaxing (tense) 4.2.4 POLYSEMIC TERMS book [libro; (exercise book) cuaderno; (address book) agenda con direcciones; (the books) los libros, la contabilidad; to book reservar, hacer una reserva; concertar cita (en el médico, etc.); multar (guardia civil de tráfico); amonestar, sacar tarjeta (árbitro)] faint (tenue; ligero; débil; mareado; to faint desmayarse) 4.2.5 HOMONYMS seal (foca), from OE. seolh/seal (sello) from Latin sigillum, diminutive of signum, a sign sole (único) ME from Latin, sola, fem. of solus (alone)/sole (suela/lenguado) from OF, from Latin solea (sandal) 4.2.6 METONYMY AND METAPHOR ...when you put together a bunch of terminal cases... (terminal cases is a metonymy for persons with a terminal illness) the cream of their respective specialities [cream (flor y nata) is a metaphor for ‘an élite group of people’]

75

4.2.7 LEXICAL FIELDS a) birds: blackbird (mirlo) canary (canario) eagle (águila) lark (alondra) nightingale (ruiseñor) (sea)gull (gaviota) sparrow (gorrión) swallow (golondrina) etc. (see key: 4.5.3.a) b) sports: aerobics (aerobics) angling (pesca con caña) badminton (badminton) baseball (béisbol) cycling (ciclismo) darts (dardos) diving (submarinismo, buceo) football (fútbol) golf (golf) miniature golf (minigolf) etc. (see key: 4.5.3.b) c) internal organs: appendix (apéndice) auricle (aurícula) bladder (vejiga) bronchial tubes (bronquios) diaphragm (diafragma) duodenum (duodeno) gall bladder (vesícula biliar) guts (tripas) heart (corazón) intestine (intestino) kidneys (riñones) larynx (laringe)

76 liver (hígado) lungs (pulmones) lymph gland (glándula linfática) ovaries (ovarios) pancreas (pancreas) pharynx (faringe) prostate (próstata) rectum (recto) scrotum (escroto) spleen (bazo) stomach (estómago) thyroid gland (tiroides) uterus (útero) vagina (vagina) ventricle (ventrículo) vesicle (vesícula) windpipe/trachea (traquea) womb (matriz)

4.2.8 ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES a) resulting linking verbs: to become [ + change in people’s emotional, physical state or status] (llegar a ser, hacerse) to get [ + change in state or condition] (volverse, ponerse) to go [ + change for the worse] [volverse (peor), quedarse (ciego, sordo, calvo, etc.)] to grow [ + gradual change] [hacerse, ponerse, volverse (de manera gradual)] to turn [ + change in colour or the weather, abrupt change] (ponerse, volverse) to come (= to become in some contexts – see 4.2.10) (see 4.2.10 for collocations) b) ways of drinking: to drink (beber) to drink off [ + the whole contents of, at once] (bebérselo todo, de un trago) to drink up [ + the whole contents of, to empty] (bebérselo todo, terminar de beberse) to sip [ + in small amounts] (sorber) to gulp down [ + hastily, greedily or with effort] (beber rápidamente, engullir, tragar) to drain [ + to the dregs] (apurar) to toss off [ + quickly, at a draught] (old-fashioned) (beber rápido, de un trago) to swig [ + in large draughts, from a bottle] (beber a grandes tragos, pegarse un lingotazo) to down [ + finish quickly] (tragarse, beber de un trago) to knock back [ + quickly, in large quantities] (beber de un trago, de golpe) to put away [ + consume in large quantities] (consumir en grandes cantidades)

77 c) smiling: to smile (sonreír) to grin [ + broadly, showing the teeth, sometimes with a forced or stupid smile] (sonreír mostrando los dientes) to beam [ + radiantly] (sonreír de oreja a oreja) to leer [ + slyly, lasciviously or maliciously] (sonreír de forma lasciva o impúdica) to smirk [ + unpleasantly, pleased by sb else’s bad luck, or with an affected, conceited or silly smile] (sonreír de manera afectada, con suficiencia, desagradable, alegrándose de la mala suerte ajena, etc.) to simper [ + with an affected or silly smile] (sonreír de manera forzada, tonta o afectada) (see also 11.2.6) d) writing down: to write down/put down (anotar, apuntar) to note down [ + to be remembered or observed] (anotar, para recordar posteriormente) to take down [ + spoken instructions] (anotar, poner por escrito) to scribble (down) [ + carelessly or hurriedly] (garabatear) to jot down [ + briefly or hastily] (apuntar rápidamente) e) child: child (niño,-a) baby [ + very young, esp one not yet able to walk] (bebé) boy/lad [ + a male child or youth] (muchacho) brat [ + ill-behaved] (mocoso) girl/lass [ + a female child or youth] (muchacha) infant [ + during the earliest period of its life (in Britain, a schoolchild below the age of seven)] (niño pequeño, párvulo) kid [ + informal style] (chaval) little one [ + said with tenderness or condescension] (pequeño) newborn [ + recently born] (recién nacido) toddler [ + just beginning to walk] (que da los primeros pasos) 4.2.9 GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS to appeal to sb (atraer a alguien) to be absorbed in (estar absorto en) to be based on (estar basado en) to be dedicated to sth/doing sth [estar dedicado a (hacer) algo] to be longing to do sth (estar deseando hacer algo) to believe in sth/doing sth [creer en (hacer) algo] to contribute to sth/doing sth [contribuir a (hacer) algo]

78 to devote oneself to sth/doing sth [dedicarse a (hacer) algo] to get accustomed to sth/doing sth [acostumbrarse a (hacer) algo] to indulge in [permitirse (un gusto), disfrutar con] not mind doing sth (no importar hacer algo) 4.2.10 LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS resulting linking verbs: to become: a lawyer/a doctor/a teacher/ an architect/famous/king/queen/President/Prime Minister (hacerse/llegar a ser abogado/médico/profesor/arquitecto/famoso/rey/reina/primer ministro); friends (hacerse amigos); ill (ponerse enfermo/enfermar); extinct (extinguirse); clear/evident (verse claro/hacerse evidente); pregnant (quedarse embarazada); accustomed to (acostumbrarse a) to get: angry (ponerse furioso); upset (molestarse, alterarse); hungry/thirsty (entrar hambre/sed); tired (cansarse); lost (perderse); killed (ser muerto); brown (ponerse moreno); caught (ser cogido/atrapado); married (casarse); hot/cold (calentarse/enfriarse); dark (oscurecer, hacerse de noche); pregnant (quedarse embarazada); well/better/worse (ponerse bien/mejor/peor); late (hacerse tarde); dressed (vestirse); drunk (emborracharse); fat (engordar); old (envejecer); tired (cansarse); wet (mojarse); used to/accustomed to (acostumbrarse a); broken (romperse); lost (perderse); sacked (ser despedido de un trabajo) to grow: old (hacerse viejo/envejecer); fat (ponerse gordo, engordar); bored (with) [aburrirse(de)]; tired (of) [cansarse/hartarse(de)]; worse/better (ponerse peor/mejor, empeorar/mejorar); impatient (impacientarse); cold/hot) (enfriarse/calentarse); dark (hacerse de noche, anochecer, oscurecer); rich(er) (enriquecerse, hacerse más rico); big(ger) (crecer, hacerse/volverse más grande); smaller (empequeñecer, hacerse/volverse más pequeño); taller (crecer, ponerse más alto); weak(er) (debilitarse, volverse más débil); accustomed to (acostumbrarse a (algo/alguien) poco a poco) to go: crazy/mad (volverse loco); blind/deaf/bald (quedarse ciego/sordo/calvo); bankrupt (arruinarse, quebrar/ir a la bancarrota); unnoticed (pasar desapercibido); white/pale (ponerse blanco/palidecer); wild (enloquecer, ponerse furioso); bad [estropearse/echarse a perder (alimentos)]; sour [ agriarse (vino/leche); cortarse (leche); estropearse (relaciones); wrong/right (salir mal/bien) to turn: red/blue/white/grey (ponerse, volverse colorado/azul/blanco/gris); brown [volverse doradas (hojas de los árboles)]; pale (ponerse pálido); sour [agriarse (leche)]; cold/hot [volverse frío/caluroso (el tiempo)]; windy (levantarse viento); nasty [ponerse fea (situación); volverse antipática/ponerse agresiva (persona); violent (volverse violento); traitor (volverse traidor); an actor turned politician (un actor que se ha hecho/vuelto político) to come: undone (a button, a knot, shoelaces) [desabrocharse (botón); desatarse (nudo/córdones)], loose (a door handle) [soltarse/aflojarse (pomo de una puerta)]; true (a dream) [ hacerse realidad (sueño)]; right (salir bien); clean (confesarlo todo, sincerarse); of age (llegar a la mayoría de edad)

79

4.2.11 FALSE FRIENDS library does not mean ‘librería’ (bookshop), but ‘biblioteca’ librarian does not mean ‘librero’ (bookseller), but ‘bibliotecario’ (see also 1.2.15, 3.2.12 and 7.2.9) 4.2.12 DIFFERENCES BRE./AME. colourfulness/colorfulness holiday/vacation post/mail flat/apartment lift/elevator (see also 3.2.11) 4.2.13 WORD-FORMATION suffixes used to form abstract nouns (see also 2.2.11.a): -al : refusal, dismissal, revival, survival, etc. -ment: amazement, arrangement, retirement, improvement, etc. -ation: exploration, resignation, education, dedication, compensation, etc. -ness: sadness, friendliness, gratefulness, happiness, kindness, unexpectedness, etc. -ance: avoidance, radiance, arrogance, relevance, resemblance, etc. -ity: purity, respectability, elasticity, diversity, rapidity, etc. 4.2.14 IDIOMS to be able to read sb like a book (conocer a alguien como la palma de la mano) to brace oneself for sth (prepararse para algo, gen. díficil o desagradable) the cream of (la flor y nata de) to get/put sth out of one’s mind (quitarse algo de la cabeza, olvidar) to lose one’s touch (perder facultades) to tear sth to pieces (romper en mil pedazos) 4.2.15 PHRASAL VERBS to call on sb (visitar a alguien) to carry on with (continuar con) to change into [cambiarse (de ropa)] to drink up (bebérselo todo, terminar de beberse) (see 4.2.8.b) to drop by (pasarse por)

80 to fight back [contener (sentimientos, lágrimas); contraatacar] to flicker away/out (apagarse gradualmente) to get up (levantarse) to give up (hope) [abandonar (la esperanza)] to go in for [practicar (un deporte)] to go through (realizar, llevar a cabo) to live through (sobrevivir un periodo de tiempo) to pass away (morir) (see 2.2.14) to scribble down (garabatear, escribir/anotar rápidamente) (see 4.2.8.d) to slow down (aflojar el ritmo, trabajar menos; beber menos) to stand up (ponerse de pie) to step back (volver a meterse, retroceder, dar un paso atrás) to take over (hacerse cargo de, asumir el control, tomar posesión de) 4.2.16 CULTURAL NOTES The Main Line is a well-off district in Philadelphia. 4.3 PHONOLOGICAL STUDY 4.3.1 Homophones 4.3.2 Graphemes

to sail/sale, sun/son, right/to write, soul/sole, key/quay, Mayor/mare, rain/rein/reign

/&/ drank, practice, cancer /eI/ table, patients, famous /A:/ class (BrE.), ask (BrE.), father /Q/ want, wash /O:/ all, small /e/ any, many /I/ orange, image, chocolate /@/ villa, aglow, arrived /@/ or /-/ hospital, clinical, terminal /-/ secretary

/A:/ hard, started, far /O:/ warm, quarter /@/ collar, dollar /e@/ scarce

4.3.3 gonna = going to

/e@/ stare, care, dare /A:/ are (strong form) /@/ are (weak form) ...she’s gonna live with her mother for a

81 while... 4.4 GRAMMAR REVISION 4.4.1 conditional sentences: type 3

if he had been one of his patients he’d have ordered him to slow down long ago 4.4.2 verbs of perception + infinitive He heard Helen say; ...to see her pass away without to 4.4.3 contact clauses (see also 2.4.2 and The atmosphere you breathed in the Home 6.4.3) 4.4.4 to + -ing form dedicated to improving...; contributed to creating.... 4.4.5 what-nominal clauses ...knowing already what the answer would be 4.4.6 collective nouns ...a bunch of terminal cases... a select staff 4.5 EXERCISES 4.5.1

Find antonyms for the following words: dead, pretty, quick, to tie, happy, to fill, to pack, true, hot, to appear, to buy, high, shallow, to enter, and say which pairs are a) gradable, b) non-gradable, and c) reversive

4.5.2

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate collective nouns: a.- a ....... of keys b.- a ....... of bees c.- a ........ of whales d.- a ........ of fish e.- a ........ of arrows f.- a ........ of banknotes g.- a ........ of wolves h.- a ........ of lions i.- a .........of birds j.- a ..........of geese

4.5.3 Add to the lexical fields of a) birds; and b) sports, outlined in 4.2.7.a and 4.2.7.b, respectively 4.5.4 Fill in the blanks with the appropriate copular verb: a.- Stop drinking beer, you’re going to ......... drunk b.- The milk has ...........sour c.- For him, it’s like a dream ..... true d.- He had always wanted to ...... a pilot e.- I’ll marry him as soon as I ..... of age f.- The tree leaves ..... brown in autumn

82 4.5.5

Choose the word that best fits the context, modifying its form where necessary: a.- He ........... at his opponent’s bad luck (to grin, to beam, to smirk) b.- He ........... her phone number in his address book (to scribble, to simper, to swig) c.- He took a large ..... from the bottle (sip, swig, leer) d.- Her boss kept ........ lustily at her making her very uncomfortable (to smile, to leer, to beam) e.- Come on, ........... your medicine! (to knock back, to put away, to drink up) f.- “I got a ticket for the concert”, she said ....... delightedly (to beam, to leer, to simper)

4.5.6 Classify the following words according to the way the graphemes , and are pronounced: breakfast, villa, drank, orange, warm, hard, hospital, classes, management, all, small, after, almost, practice, accustomed, appealed, was, wasn’t, started, cancer, patients, famous, avoidance, physical, achieved, happens, bad, than, among, terminal, cases, same, pattern, strange, miraculous, carry, Jacob, Sarah, Harvard, perhaps, radiant, care 4.5.7

False friends. Answer the following questions: a.- Is a library the obvious place to buy a book? b.- If somebody’s eyes are streaming and his nose blocked up, is he constipated? c.- If a road sign indicates a diversion, do you expect to find a place where you can enjoy yourself? d.- If I remove your tea, do I stir it or take it away? e.- If a little boy fell over and grazed his knee, would you call it a disgrace? f.- If you were sick after eating contaminated food, would you admit to being intoxicated?

4.5.8 Derive abstract nouns from the words given: a.- manage; b.- sedate; c.- tired; d.efficient; e.- supress; f.- achieve; g.- acquit; h.- authentic; i.- friendly; j.- avoid; k.classify; l.- grateful; m.- compensate; n.- diverse; o.- resemble; p.- generous; q.legal; r.- constant; s.-frequent; t.- normal 4.5.9

Re-write the following sentences omitting the relative pronoun whenever possible: a.- She was wearing a fur coat that must have cost her a fortune b.- The man for whom you’re looking left ten minutes ago c.- The suit that he’s wearing doesn’t fit him at all d.- His brother Paul, whom we met last summer, is the new manager e.- The woman about whom you’re talking doesn’t live here any longer f.- The flowers that you sent me were really beautiful

4.5.10 A) Find the examples appearing in the story of the following phrasal verbs: a.- to change into; b.- to drink up; c.- to fight back; d.- to take over; e.- to go in for; f.- to go through; g.- to live through; h.- to pass away; i.- to slow down; j.- to step back, and B) then give examples of your own

83

UNIT 5 INVITATION TO MURDER The police car went round a sharp bend and Thumbleton Manor appeared in the distance. Inspector Caulder of Scotland Yard smiled to himself. The complicated case he had been called upon to solve had all the ingredients of a Conan Doyle or Agatha Christie classic. The setting, the characters, nothing was missing, but he was no Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, nor did he have a Watson or a Hastings at hand to help him out. Invitation to Murder would no doubt be an appropriate title for the corresponding thriller. In fact, Lord Thumbleton, the prestigious judge, must have been mad to invite that group of people to spend the weekend in his country house, for unless one is tired of living and wants to commit suicide – and this wasn’t Lord Thumbleton’s case, as he certainly knew how to enjoy life – it isn’t wise to invite someone who hates one’s guts, and he had asked over Barton, whose father he had sent to the gallows, and Borderlow, the infamous swindler, who was indebted to him for spending a quarter of his life in prison. It had not been a bright idea, either, to invite Helen, his own wife, from whom he had been separated for over two years, especially when she was aware that Miss Prescott, her husband’s secretary and mistress, would be of the party. And to complete the picture, among the guests would be Salford, his lawyer, whom Lord Thumbleton had sufficient reasons to distrust since he had discovered by chance that he had been carrying on for six months with Miss Prescott, of all women. With these antecedents in mind, it was logical to expect that Lord Thumbleton would be murdered, and it only remained to know who was to beat the others in this race to crime. The car had reached the house and the inspector could see his man, Sergeant Turner, waiting for him outside, and judging from the satisfied grin on his face, he must have already caught the murderer, or at least have a pretty good idea about who the

84 criminal might be. “Good evening, Sir, everything’s in order, and I think that...” “Just a moment, Turner”, the inspector interrupted him, “before you report about your inquiries, I’d like to have a look at the suspects’ statements. I know you’re an orderly man, and I’m sure you’ve kept your notes.” “Yes, of course, everything’s here, Sir”, said the sergeant producing his pad, “but I have good reasons to believe that...” “All right, Sergeant, but give me some time to guess for myself. As is customary in these cases, take me to the library and have somebody bring me a good cup of tea.” “Very well, Sir”. Though somewhat disappointed by the inspector’s reluctance to hear his clever conclusions, the Sergeant led his superior to the library, asked the maid for two cups of tea and waited impatiently to be given the opportunity to explain himself. The inspector sat down quietly in one of the comfortable armchairs, and as he sipped his tea, he began to get acquainted with the facts. Lord Thumbleton had dropped dead at about two after drinking a cup of coffee. According to the witnesses’ testimony, all the suspects had been present when tea and coffee had been served in the living-room: his wife, his mistress, his lawyer, the hanged man’s son and the ex-convict, but there was a small detail, apparently irrelevant, that struck him as curious nonetheless. Lord Thumbleton, who always had tea after lunch, today had had coffee instead. Had he sensed the danger and substituted coffee for tea to throw off his would-be murderer? If so, it had all been to no avail. He went on reading, but the statements did not tell him much, except that it was Miss Prescott who would benefit the most from the late Lord Thumbleton’s will. Apart from a small pension for his widow, he left his secretary and mistress everything (which did not amount to much anyway, after all his gambling debts had been paid off). Well, well, he thought, now we have the motive, and motive is essential in a murder case, but hatred or jealousy can be equally important... The inspector finished his reading and turning to the sergeant snapped: “Well, Turner, out with it, who’s our murderer?” “Don’t worry, Sir, everything’s under control, I have one of my men watching him. Kinderley can’t escape.” “Kinderley?”, the inspector was puzzled, “who on earth is this Kinderley?” “The butler, Sir. I found the jewels and the silver cutlery in his suitcase. The bird was about to fly – “Kinderley, a murderer?”, the inspector couldn’t help bursting out laughing, but seeing that the sergeant was not amused, he hastened to add: “you did well, Turner, to arrest the petty thief, but it’s evident that we can’t charge him with murder. If you question him again, you’ll find that our man knew Thumbleton Manor was going to be closed down and his services would no longer be necessary, so he thought he was entitled to a little extra silver handshake; the chap’s guilty of stealing, but murdering Lord Thumbleton is another story; no, I’m afraid we’ll have to go on looking.” His momentary disappointment over, the sergeant ventured to say: “Well, if you allow me, Sir, I think it’s obvious that Miss Prescott did it, I’ll arrest her...” “Wait a minute, Turner, you can’t charge Miss Prescott with anything, except perhaps attempted murder. If you go over the statements again, you’ll find that someone said, I think it was Borderlow, that Miss Prescott offered her employer a cup of tea, saying: “Here’s your tea, Lord Thumbleton, as you like it, with two lumps of sugar and a slice of lemon.” She was clearly upset when he had preferred coffee, and quickly took the cup back to the kitchen. If we’re lucky and nobody has washed up yet, we’ll find a trace of poison in the cup that will allow us to charge Miss Prescott and her new lover, the lawyer, with attempted murder, but we’re still left with the actual murder of Lord Thumbleton on our hands, unsolved...” “Then, it must be the wife”, said a more and more baffled sergeant. “No”, the inspector said calmly, “if we are to believe Hobson, the stable lad, Lady Thumbleton had chosen a different method to do her husband in, which obviously failed too when, on some pretext or other, he begged off his customary morning ride on his favourite horse which, curiously enough, for no apparent reason,

85 reared up and bolted that very morning...Nor can we accuse young Barton, or Borderlow, unless murderous wishes can be counted as the real thing. No, Turner, if there’s a culprit in this case it’s Lord Thumbleton himself.” “You mean he took his own life?” “No, I mean he was too clever by half when he planned his cunning invitation to murder.” “I don’t understand, Sir, Lord Thumbleton’s dead...” “On the contrary, he’s alive and kicking, and if you hurry you’ll be able to arrest him at Heathrow as he gets off the plane from Paris in about two hours’ time, and charge him with the murder of Richard Thumbleton, his twin brother.” The sergeant was astonished. “But, but...”, he stammered, “he could hardly kill his brother if he was in Paris...” “With a bit of luck, we’ll find Lord Thumbleton’s fingerprints on the box of tablets his brother had every day after lunch, tablets that were cunningly replaced by others with a deadly dose of cyanide.” And his clever deductions made, Inspector Caulder, as in any good novel of the genre, lit his pipe and began to explain everything to his bewildered subordinate: “The idea had occurred to Lord Thumbleton when visiting his twin brother in Paris. Harassed by his debtors, he thought a good way to outwit his enemies and collect the substantial life insurance he had taken out naming his brother as beneficiary was to stage this macabre invitation to murder in his Manor House. For a small sum of money, he must have persuaded his needy bohemian brother to impersonate him, assuring him it was all part of a harmless practical joke on his friends and lover. And the joke had proved fatal to poor Richard. 5.1 READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS a.- Why is Invitation to Murder an appropriate title for this story according to the narrator? b.- Why was Sgt Turner grinning as he waited for the inspector? c.- What had Kinderley done and why? d.- What were the terms of Lord Thumbleton’s will? e.- Why do you think Lord Thumbleton’s horse had reared up and bolted? f.- Make a list of the suspects and say who the murderer is in your opinion and why? g.- What had really happened? h.- How do you think the story ends? 5.2 SEMANTIC ANALYSIS 5.2.1 LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES as is customary in these cases (como es costumbre en estos casos) baffled/bewildered (desconcertado, confundido) bohemian (bohemio) to bolt (desbocarse un caballo) to burst out laughing (echarse a reír, soltar la carcajada) (see also 11.2.6.a) butler (mayordomo) cunning/cunningly (astuto/astutamente) deadly dose (dosis mortal) debtor (deudor)

86 disappointed (decepcionado, defraudado) employer (patrón, empresario) gambling debts (deudas de juego) genre (género literario) to harass (acosar) hatred (odio) to impersonate (hacerse pasar por, suplantar) infamous (infame) jealousy (celos) life insurance (seguro de vida) needy (necesitado) nonetheless (no obstante, sin embargo) to outwit (ser más listo que) pad (bloc de notas) a practical joke (una broma) to prove fatal (resultar fatal/mortal) to rear (up) (encabritarse un caballo) reluctance (desgana, reticencia) setting (ambientación, escenario) a sharp bend (una curva cerrada) silver cutlery (cubiertos de plata) to snap (decir bruscamente, espetar) stable lad (mozo de cuadra) to stage (organizar, montar) swindler (estafador) the late Mr... (el difunto Sr....) thriller (novela/película de suspense) to no avail (en vano, inútil) twin brother (hermano gemelo) upset (alterado, afectado; molesto, contrariado; preocupado) to venture (atreverse, arriesgarse) widow (viuda) would-be (supuesto, aspirante a)

87 5.2.2 SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS bewildered (baffled) cunning (crafty, artful, guileful, shrewd, astute, clever) culprit (guilty party) to go over sth (to review, to run through) harassed (harried, hard-pressed) to impersonate (to pass oneself off as) to take one’s own life (to commit suicide, to kill oneself) 5.2.3 ANTONYMS comfortable (uncomfortable) to fail (to succeed) guilty (not guilty, innocent) harmless (harmful) irrelevant (relevant) needy (wealthy, affluent, rich, well off) orderly (disorderly, untidy, messy) substantial (worthless) 5.2.4 POLYSEMIC TERMS late [tarde; the late Mr... (el difunto Sr...)] pipe [tubería, tubo, caño, cañería; cañón/tubo (de órgano); pipa; pipes (also bagpipes) gaita] plane (avión; cepillo de carpintero; árbol del plátano; plano, nivel) 5.2.5 HOMONYMS race (carrera) (from ME)/race (raza) (from F, from Italian razza) fair (justo) (from OE faeger)/fair (feria) (from ME, from OF feire, ult. from Late Latin feria) 5.2.6 METONYMY AND METAPHOR ...a Conan Doyle or Agatha Christie classic (classic is a metonymy for ‘a classic novel’) ...the bird was about to fly is a metaphor for ‘the person was about to escape’. 5.2.7 LEXICAL FIELDS

88 a) containers: bag [bolsa (de la compra, de caramelos)] barrel [barril (de vino o cerveza)] basket [cesta ( de la compra, de la ropa)] bottle [botella (de leche, vino, limonada)] bowl [cuenco (para fruta, azúcar, sopa)] box [caja (de cerillas, bombones, herramientas)] bucket/pail [cubo (de arena, agua)] case [estuche (para joyas, gafas)] chest (baúl, cofre, arcón) crate (caja de botellas) can [lata (esp. de coca-cola o cerveza)] carton [cartón (de leche, de paquetes de cigarrillos)] drum (bidón) glass [vaso (para agua, leche, vino, jugos)] jar [bote (de mermelada, miel)] jug [jarro (de leche, agua)] litter bin (papelera pública) mug [jarra (para beber té, café, cacao)] pack (baraja de cartas; seis latas de cocacola o cerveza) packet [paquete (de cigarrillos, galletas, cereales)] packing crate (cajón de embalaje) pan (cacharro de cocina) pedal bin (cubo de pedal) pot [olla (de comida); maceta ( para plantas)] pots and pans (cacharros de cocina) sack [saco (de carbón, patatas, harina)] tank (depósito, tanque) (thermos) flask (termo) tin [lata (esp. de conservas)] trunk (baúl) tub (barreño; tina, bañera; tarrina de helado) tube [tubo (de dentrífico, pomada, pintura)] waste-paper basket (papelera) b) cutlery and tableware: cup (taza) fork (tenedor) knife (cuchillo) glass (vaso) plate (plato) spoon (cuchara) tablecloth (mantel) etc. (see key: 5.5.3.b) . c) legal terms

89 to appeal (apelar, recurrir) bail/on bail (fianza/bajo fianza) counsel for the defence (BrE)/defense attorney/lawyer (AmE) (abogado defensor) counsel for the prosecution (BrE)/district attorney (AmE) (fiscal court (tribunal) to cross-examine (repreguntar) to charge sb with (acusar a alguien de) defendant (acusado, demandado) dock (banquillo de los acusados) to examine [preguntar (en un juicio)] High Court (Tribunal Supremo) judge (juez) juror (miembro del jurado) jury (jurado) lawsuit (demanda judicial, pleito) lawyer (abogado) on parole (en libertad bajo palabra) on probation (en libertad condicional) plaintiff (demandante) to plead guilty/not guilty (declararse culpable/no culpable) to question [interrogar (la policía)] to send to the gallows (mandar a la horca) statement (declaración) to sue (demandar, entablar una demanda) to sue for divorce (solicitar el divorcio) suspect (sospechoso) trial (juicio) to try (juzgar) witness box/stand (tribuna de los testigos) etc. (see key: 5.5.3.a) 5.2.8 GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS to accuse sb of sth (acusar a alguien de algo) to benefit from (beneficiarse de) to be aware of/that... (estar enterado/al corriente de) to be entitled to sth (tener derecho a algo) to be indebted to sb for sth (estar en deuda con alguien por algo) cannot help + -ing form (no poder evitar hacer algo) to get acquainted with sth (ponerse al corriente de, informarse) to expect sth/to expect sth from sb/to expect to do sth/to expect sb to do sth/to expect that..../to expect not/to expect so [esperar algo (de alguien)/esperar poder hacer algo/que alguien haga algo/suponer que no/que sí] to hasten to do sth (apresurarse a hacer algo) to know how to [saber (hacer algo)] to occur to sb (ocurrírsele a alguien)

90 to steal sth (from sb)/to rob sb (of sth)/to rob a bank/a petrol station, etc. [robar algo (a alguien)/robar a alguien (algo)/robar en un banco/una gasolinera, etc.] 5.2.9 LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS to drop: to drop sth (dejar caer o caérsele algo a alguien), to drop onto (the bed/sofa) (dejarse caer en en la cama/sofá), to drop in price (bajar de precio), to drop the price of (bajar el precio de), the temperature, etc dropped (bajó la temperatura, etc.), to drop sharply (bajar en picado), to drop an idea/a project (abandonar una idea/un proyecto), to drop a subject (dejar un tema), to drop one’s opponent (derribar al adversario), to drop from a list, etc (suprimir de una lista, etc.), to drop sb (dejar de ver a alguien), to drop everything (dejarlo todo), to drop sb somewhere (acercar a alguien a algun lugar en el coche), to drop off (bajarse de un vehículo), to drop sb off somewhere (soltar, dejar que alguien se baje/apee en algún lugar), to drop one’s aitches (comerse las haches), to drop sb a line/a note (escribir a alguien unas línes/una nota), to drop a hint, suggestion, remark (dejar caer una pista, sugerencia, observación), to drop maths/English (dejar las matemáticas/el inglés), to drop one’s voice (bajar la voz), to drop one’s eyes (bajar los ojos), to drop a clanger/brick (meter la pata), to drop a stitch (irse un punto – costura), to drop anchor (echar anclas, anclar), to drop dead (caerse muerto), drop dead! (¡muérete!), to drop one’s guard (bajar la guardia), to drop names (mencionar nombres de gente importante para presumir/darse tono), to let the matter drop (no ahondar en el tema, dejarlo estar), to drop behind (quedarse atrás), to drop by/over/round/in (pasarse por la casa de alguien), to drop off (quedarse adormilado), to drop out (of) (abandonar), to drop out of sight (desaparecer de la vista) 5.2.10 ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES killing: to kill (matar) to murder [ + human being, premeditated killing] (asesinar) manslaughter [ + human being, without premeditation] (homicidio involuntario) to slaughter [ + animal, for food, or people in large numbers in a cruel or violent way] [sacrificar (reses), matar brutalmente, en gran número, masacrar] to butcher [ + animal, and cut them up for food or + people, brutally, cruelly] [sacrificar/abrir en canal (animal), masacrar, hacer una carnicería] to assassinate [ + a political or religious leader, for political or religious motives] (cometer magnicidio) to massacre [ + a large number of people, cruelly or violently] (cometer una masacre, masacrar) to exterminate [ + all the members of a group of people or animals] (exterminar) to execute [ + a condemned person, legally or as a political act] (ejecutar) to put to death [ + official decision] (dar muerte) to put to sleep/put down (BrE)/put away/AmE) [ + too old or ill animal, painlessly] (sacrificar un animal por vejez o enfermedad) to finish off [ + wounded person or animal] (rematar) to eliminate [ + person or animal to prevent them from causing trouble] (eliminar) to mow down [ + large number of people, with a machine gun] (matar en gran número, barrer con una ametralladora) to shoot down [ + with a gun, helpless person] (abatir de un disparo)

91 to do away with/do in/ bump off/knock off/liquidate/take out/polish off (AmE.)/rub out (AmE.) [ murder a person + informal style] (liquidar, cargarse a) to take/end the life of [ kill a person + formal style] (acabar con la vida de) to slay [ to kill a person + literary style] [matar (estilo literario)] to commit suicide [ to kill oneself/take one’s own life] (suicidarse, cometer suicidio) to perform/practise euthanasia [ kill painlessly terminally ill people in order to stop them suffering] (practicar la eutanasia) 5.2.11 WORDS EASILY CONFUSED classic/classical classic : a) (n. and adj.) clásico (en su género; excelente, que no pasa de moda): a classic (film, book, etc.); a classic dress; b) (adj.) típico: a classic situation; she had the classic symptoms of flu; c) (n. pl.) classics (carrera universitaria de) clásicas classical (adj.): a) clásico (tradicional): He prefers the classical methods of fishing; b) clásica (cultura griega o romana): classical architecture/literature; c) clásica (música): classical music; Mozart is one of the most famous classical composers economic/economical economic (económico, referido a la economía, las finanzas: economic reforms, economic adviser, economic growth, economic forecast, etc.) economical (económico, referido a que ahorra dinero, esfuerzo o tiempo: an economical car, an economical method of heating, it’s more economical going by bus than by taxi) historic/historical historic (histórico, que ha hecho historia: a historic battle/change/day/moment/event) historical (histórico, relacionado con la historia: historical novel/film/document) 5.2.12 WORD-FORMATION the prefix out-: to outwit (ser más listo que), to outlive (sobrevivir a), to outlast (durar más que), to outdo (superar, ser mejor que), to outnumber (superar en número), etc. the suffix –less: harmless (see 4.2.10) 5.2.13 IDIOMS a silver handshake (cantidad de dinero dada a alguien que se despide o se va de una empresa, como compensación por los servicios prestados, also golden handshake) alive and kicking (vivito y coleando) to be too clever by half (pasarse de listo) to hate sb’s guts (odiar a alguien a muerte) the bird was about to fly (el pájaro estaba a punto de volar/escapar)

92 who on earth...? (¿quién demonios...?) 5.2.14 PHRASAL VERBS to beg off (from sth) (excusarse de hacer algo) to call on/upon sb to do sth (llamar a alguien para que haga algo) to carry on with sb (tener un lío amoroso con) to close sth down (cerrar definitivamente negocio, tienda, casa, etc.) to get off (bajarse de) to go on (seguir, continuar) to go over sth (repasar) to help sb out (sacar de un apuro) to pay sth off [liquidar (deuda, etc.)] to take out life insurance/ a life insurance policy (hacerse un seguro de vida) to throw sb off (despistar a alguien) to wash up (lavar los platos) 5.2.15 CULTURAL NOTES Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) (famous English writer of detective novels) Sherlock Holmes (famous detective, a character in Conan Doyle’s novels) Watson (assistant of Sherlock Holmes, who often explains a case to him with the wellknown phrase “elementary, my dear Watson”) Agatha Christie (1890-1976) (famous English writer of detective novels) Hercule Poirot (famous Belgian detective, a character in many of Agatha Christie’s novels) Hastings (a friend of Hercule Poirot’s, who assists him in some of his cases) Hobson [a touch of humour on the narrator’s part – Hobson, often used in the idiom Hobson’s choice (to have no choice), was a Cambridge stable lad well known in his day (16th c.) for refusing to let out any horse except in its proper turn)] 5.3 PHONOLOGICAL STUDY 5.3.1 Homophones 5.3.2 Homographs

lead (plomo)/led (past and participle of to lead); horse (caballo)/hoarse (ronco), morning (mañana)/mourning (luto) present /'prez@nt/ (presente, regalo)/to

93

5.3.3 Silent letters 5.3.4 Graphemes

present /prI'zent/ (regalar) lead /led/ (plomo)/to lead /li:d/ (guiar, conducir) minute /'mInIt/minute /maI'nju:t/ (diminuto) b (indebted – see 2.3.3)

/O:/ caught, daughter /Q/ because /A:/ laugh /@U/ chauffeur /aU/ gaucho /eI/ gauge /@/ restaurant (also /-/)

5.4 GRAMMAR REVISION 5.4.1 conditional sentences with unless 5.4.2 adjective post-modifiers

5.4.3 causative have 5.4.4 di-transitive complementation 5.4.5 partitives

...unless one is tired of living... ...logical to expect... ...it isn’t wise to invite... ...I’m sure you’ve kept your notes ...it’s evident that we can’t charge him with murder ...have somebody bring me a good cup of tea ...he left his secretary and mistress everything... two lumps of sugar and a slice of lemon (for other partitives, see key 5.5.1)

5.5 EXERCISES 5.5.1

Fill in the blanks with an adequate partitive, then translate into Spanish: a .... of chocolate a .... of soap a .... of ice a .....of applause a .... of thunder a .....of lightning a .... of wind a .... of bread a .... of fog/mist a .... of laughter a .... of toast a .... of salt a .... of paper/metal a ....of dirt/dust a ....of good/bad weather

94 a ....of luck a ....of smoke 5.5.2

Match the letters with the numbers:

a.- He was exhausted, so.... b.- The boxer dropped... c.- The board... d.- can you... e.- He was... f.- The ship... g.- He dropped Russian... h.- He refused... i.- The road... j.- We’d better... 1.- has dropped anchor 2.- drops sharply at that point 3.- he dropped onto the sofa 4.- to drop the price 5.- dropped the idea of closing down the factory 6.- let the matter drop 7.- his opponent with one punch 8.- because he found it too difficult 9.- dropped from the team at the last minute 10.- drop me at the office? 5.5.3

Add to the lexical fields of a) legal terms; and b) cutlery and tableware, outlined in 5.2.7.c and 5.2.7.b, respectively

5.5.4

Substitute words with the prefix out- for the words in italics:

a.- The bird was cleverer than the cat b.- He has grown taller than his older brother c.- She lived 25 years longer than her husband d.- Women are greater in number than men in our office e.- His horse rode faster than all the other horses f.- He ran faster than his pursuers 5.5.5

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate verb from the lexical field of killing:

a.- Martin Luther King was ............ in Memphis in 1968 b.- The jury found him guilty of ........... not murder c.- More than 300 people were killed in the battle; it was a real ........... d.- The prisoner will be .......... next Monday e.- The horse was suffering badly from its wounds, so its owner had to ...... it ...... f.- The gunman opened fire with a machine gun and ......... at least ten people g.- The two gangsters were ........ at the pizza parlor h.- The lambs will be taken to the village abattoir to be ...........

95 5.5.6 Fill in the blanks with the adequate word from the ones given in brackets: a.- The ..........growth in the USA this semester has been less than expected (economic/economical) b.- Her attitude is a ...........case of envy (classic/classical) c.- My hobby is reading ..........novels (historic/historical) d.- I didn’t get a rise, so I’m afraid we’ll have to be more ......... this year (economic/economical) e.- My father prefers ...........music to pop music (classic/classical) f.- The King’s visit to Washington was a ......... occasion (historic/historical) 5.5.7 Classify the following words according to the way the grapheme is pronounced: draughts, sausage, mauve, haunt, sauce, laurel, slaughter, laughter, cauliflower, aunt 5.5.8 Re-write the following sentences using unless without changing the meaning: a.- Don’t format the hard disk without backing it up first b.- You will be taken to court if you don’t pay up c.- I’ll go back to England if the economy doesn’t pick up d.- The only way he could have passed the exam was by cheating e.- The lid will leak if you don’t do it up tightly f.- If I can borrow my brother’s motorbike, I’ll be able to get there by 9 o’clock g.- Without a change in their attitude, they’ll never be champions h.- There will be no Christmas bonus this year if you don’t make greater efforts to sell more 5.5.9

Test yourself on idioms:

1.- If you want to adopt a child, you have to fill in a lot of forms. There’s a lot of .......-tape a.- black; b.- red; c.- brown 2.- I wouldn’t do that for all the tea in ........... a.- China; b.- India; c.- Russia 3.- “How do you know that George’s going to be promoted?” “I got it straight from the........mouth” a.- bull’s; b.- dog’s; c.- horse’s 4.- He was ....... on the carpet for being late to work a.- put; b.- set; c.- laid 5.- You could have knocked me down with a .......... when I heard they were divorcing a.- hammer; b.- feather; c.- pin 6.- It’s a high salary for an easy job. It’s money for ......... a.- biscuit; b.- butter; c.- jam 7.- Now they want me to work overtime without any money compensation. That’s the last .......... a.- drop; b.- grain; c.- straw 8.- I’m not saying that thieves should be ill-treated, but I don’t think they should be handled with ......gloves either a.- leather; b.- kid; c.- silk 9.- They hadn’t been on speaking terms for years, but then one day they decided to bury the ........... and be friends

96 a.- hatchet; b.- gun; c.- knife 10.- The pension she gets from the government is scarcely enough to keep the ....... from the door a.- wolf; b.- dogs; c.- rats 5.5.10 Test yourself on phrasal verbs: a.- They say money makes the world go ......... b.- We ought to go back. The sun’s going ......... c.- The madman went ..........them with an axe d.- He was hoping the pain on his right leg would go ......, but it didn’t, it got worse e.- How much did the Van Gogh go ...... in the auction sale? f.- There’s no wine left, so we’ll have to go .......... g.- Fortunately the bomb didn’t go ....... h.- The firemen are going .........next Monday if they don’t get the rise they’ve demanded i.- He lost his driving license for going ....... a red light j.- He’s thinking of going ...... politics UNIT 6 HIS ONLY TRUE LOVE He was waiting for her. She was coming to see him tonight, but it was still early, so, to while away the time, he began to think about the past...The first time he fell in love he was still a child. He remembered it quite well because he was eight then, and he had gone down with that strange fever that almost carried him off. It had been an afternoon when his temperature was down a bit that she had come to play with him. It was the first time he had seen this pretty little girl, with curly golden hair, blue eyes and an angelic smile on her face. In his innocence, he had wanted her to stay, to go on playing with her the whole night, but his mother had not allowed it, and the following day when his fever had miraculously disappeared, he ran out of the house and asked everybody about her, but nobody knew who she was or where she lived. Precocious child that he was, he had lots of girlfriends in his childhood, but the memory of that little blonde girl with curly hair and blue eyes accompanied him for a long, long time... He smiled as the curious contrast struck him: his first love when he was eight, and now at seventy...For a brief moment the thought of ridicule crossed his mind, but love has no age, he concluded, and went on remembering...The second time he thought he was in love he had been twenty. It was an evening when, just discharged from the Army, he was driving his father’s red convertible on his way to the outskirts where he was meeting some friends to celebrate. Though it was already dark, he saw her clearly outlined at the side of the road, thumbing a lift wearing a miniskirt that revealed a generous part of her well-formed thighs, her long blond hair blowing in the wind. He braked his car and picked her up, and all the time she sat at his side he couldn’t help casting passionate looks at her mocking blue eyes, her insinuating smile, or her provocative low-necked blouse, and though he was an expert driver, it must have been in the midst of one of these sideways glances, on a bend, that he didn’t see the other car coming at him...When he woke up in hospital, the first thing he did was ask about her, the blue-eyed blonde with the miniskirt and the low-necked blouse, but nobody knew anything about his mysterious road companion. They had brought him alone, in a state of shock and with several ribs broken, and he ought to be glad he was not dead. Again the love of his life had brushed

97 past him, and again it had slipped by...Later on he went to University for some time and had hundreds of dates, and a lot of fun. But that brief encounter on the road had marked him for ever, and the memory of that blue-eyed blonde with the mocking smile had never quite left him... Curiously enough, the woman he was waiting for tonight was brown. A brunette with deep, jet-black eyes, but equally beautiful. His heart missed a beat. But, what was the matter with him? He was as nervous as a schoolboy on his first date. Well, it was understandable, because so much was at stake. At seventy, this was surely his last chance, and he couldn’t afford to let it go. He looked around him and was satisfied. Everything was ready. The lights down low, discreet music in the background, and he alone in the house: for once he had given the night off to the nurse who had so efficiently looked after him for six months. He looked at his watch: a little over an hour to wait, so he went back to his recollections... After that fleeting encounter on the road, his life went on quite normally. He inherited his father’s business and became a prosperous merchant who had to travel around quite often, and it was on one of these journeys, to the Near East, that he thought he had found at last the woman of his dreams. It was on a plane, and he remembered it perfectly well because the plane was hijacked and it was a near thing it didn’t all end up in tragedy. In the middle of the flight, the hijackers threatened the passengers and the crew with a machine-gun and handgrenades, and in the turmoil that ensued he once looked across the aisle and saw her. A smart, clever-looking redhead, her legs crossed nonchalantly, looking disdainfully at the terrorist leader, with her beautiful hazel eyes, without a trace of fear, as though she was sure that nothing would happen there. All through the ordeal, he could not take his eyes off this woman who attracted him like a magnet. Once he thought she had smiled at him, inviting him to go and sit at her side, but he was a coward and dared not move from his seat. The terrorists finally ordered the pilot to take the plane to Baghdad, and when everything had ended happily, and he was in the airport lounge waiting for another plane to take him to his destination, he looked out eagerly for her, but couldn’t find her anywhere. It was as if she had vanished into thin air. It seemed to be his fate to find the woman of his life over and over again, and always let her inevitably slip through his fingers...Of course, there were many other women in his life, he married and divorced twice, had intimate friends and lovers, but somehow he never forgot the redhead on the plane... Absorbed in his dreams of the past, he was startled when, looking again at his watch, he found that it was only a few minutes to the appointed time. Again a doubt assailed him, would she come, or had it all been a cruel joke? He had good reasons for distrust: he was so old and decrepit, and she, so young and beautiful! But she had sounded sincere to him at the hospital a week ago, when she had promised that she would come to see him in seven days, that is tonight. Oh, God! How he desired to see her again, hug her, make her his. He felt burning in his hardened veins the fire of his long pent-up passion. He was really excited, and to calm his nerves he helped himself to a drop of whisky, and cast a last look around the room. It was full of costly ornaments, dumb witnesses of a long life travelling the world: his priceless English china, his charming Russian folk-dolls, his ivory chess-set and the pearl of his collection, the Van Gogh, bought in London after a hard-fought auction at Sotheby’s. He would willingly give it all to make her keep her date, to hold her in his arms, to spend a night with her... He looked at the living-room doorway and there she was. So beautiful, her long black hair loose, her skin of alabaster, her breasts pointed, her waist slender, wearing a tight-fitting black dress that set off her sculptural figure, her fleshy red lips tempting...Full of desire, he took a step towards her, and suddenly, when he saw her more closely, in a

98 flash of lucidity, he understood it all: the beautiful brunette who was urgently calling him to her side was the hazel-eyed redhead on the plane, the coquettish blue-eyed blonde on the road, the curly golden-haired little girl of his infancy. What a fool he had been! How blind! Why hadn’t he realized before? They were all one and the same woman, the woman he had always loved, always longed for, the one he had believed he would find but had always slipped through his fingers. Well, this time he would not let it happen, this time she would be his for ever. He looked up and saw that the beautiful brunette, whose name he didn’t even know, serene, majestic, smiling, was looking at him with her deep, dark eyes that seemed to ask, are you sure you wish to make me yours? Do you truly want to kiss me? Without the slightest trace of doubt, he took her gently in his arms at last and kissed her...It was a long, long kiss...at once sweet and bitter, passionate and chaste, ardent and cold...yes, cold, because the serene, sculptural beauty’s cold lips froze his heart for ever. 6.1 READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS a.- Who do you think the narrator of the story is? b.- Who did the old man live with? c.- Describe the different girls that appear in the story. d.- What did they all have in common? e.- Make a list with the expensive items of ornament in the old man’s living-room f.- Where had he got his Van Gogh? g.- Why wasn’t the old man sure that his date would come? h.- Who do you think his mysterious date was and why? 6.2 SEMANTIC ANALYSIS 6.2.1 LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES airport lounge (sala de espera del aeropuerto) (see also 8.2.6.a) aisle (pasillo) alabaster (alabastro) to be a near thing (that) [faltar poco (para)] to be at stake (estar en juego) blonde (rubia) to brake (frenar) breasts (pechos) (see also key: 11.5.3.a) brunette (morena clearly outlined (claramente perfilado) to conclude (llegar a una conclusión) coward (cobarde) curiously enough (curiosamente) curly (rizado) (see below 6.2.6.a)

99 charming (encantador) chaste (casto) chess-set [ajedrez (tablero y piezas)] disdainfully (desdeñosamente, despreciativamente) dumb witnesses of a long life travelling the world (testigos mudos de una larga vida viajera) fleshy (carnoso) folk-dolls (muñecas con trajes regionales) to give the night off (dejar la noche libre) handgrenades (granadas de mano) a hard-fought auction (una subasta muy disputada) to hijack (secuestrar) to hug (abrazar) ivory (marfil) jet-black (negro azabache) low-necked (escotado) (see below 6.2.6.c) machine-gun (ametralladora) magnet (imán) mocking (burlón) nonchalantly (con desenfado) ordeal (terrible experiencia) outskirts (afueras) over and over again (una y otra vez) pent-up passion (pasión contenida/reprimida) precocious (precoz) redhead (pelirroja) rib (costilla) (see also key: 11.5.3.a) sideways glances (miradas de reojo) to slip through one’s fingers (escurrirse de entre los dedos) thigh (muslo) (see also key: 11.5.3.a) to thumb a lift (hacer autostop) tight-fitting (ajustado al cuerpo) turmoil (confusión, alboroto, desorden) waist (cintura) (see also key: 11.5.3.a)

100 what was the matter with him? (¿qué le pasaba?) to while away the time (para pasar el rato) willingly (de buena gana) without the slightest trace of doubt (sin el menor asomo de duda) 6.2.2 SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS to allow (to permit) costly (expensive, dear, pricey/pricy) decrepit (feeble, infirm) discreet (unobtrusive) eagerly (impatiently, anxiously) encounter (meeting) to ensue (to follow, to result) fate (destiny) fleeting (brief) to long for (to crave for, to be dying for, to be itching for) to remember (to recall, to recollect, to reminisce about, to think back to) startled (surprised) to threaten (to menace) turmoil (confusion, commotion) to vanish (to disappear) 6.2.3 ANTONYMS to allow (to forbid) ardent (half-hearted, cold) bitter (sweet) brief (lengthy, long-winded) costly (cheap, inexpensive) 6.2.4 POLYSEMIC TERMS brief [(breve; corta (prenda de vestir); expediente; misión, cometido; in brief (en pocas palabras); to brief sb on sth (informar a alguien sobre algo), briefs (calzoncillos, bragas)] slip: to slip [deslizarse, resbalarse, patinar; pasar algo a alguien disimuladamente; escurrirse; dislocarse (vértebra); soltarse (correa perro); dejar escapar (oportunidad); to

101 let sth slip (escaparse algo, decir lo que no se quería decir), to slip one’s mind (olvidarse, pasársele a uno algo); to slip one’s notice (pasársele por alto); slip (resbalón, traspié, tropezón); desliz (moral o verbal); lapsus, despiste, olvido; combinación (ropa interior); papelito (trozo); ficha (de archivo); resguardo, volante (papel); to give sb the slip (dar esquinazo); pillow slip (funda de almohada); slip road (vía de acceso a/salida de una autopista)] smart [elegante; listo; aguda (observación); rápido (paso); fuerte (golpe, crítica); to smart: escocer, picar (herida, ojos), dar punzadas (dolor)] sound [sonido; sonda; brazo de mar; sano; sólido; lógico; seguro; severa (derrota); profundo (sueño); to sound: sonar, tocar; sondar; auscultar] 6.2.5 HOMONYMS date (fecha, cita y persona con la que se tiene la cita) (ME from OF from Latin data)/date (the fruit) (ME from OF from Latin dactylus) to mean(querer decir) (from OE maenan)/mean (mezquino) (from OE maene) must (modal verb) (from OE mōste)/must (noun= mosto), from OE from Latin mustum) saw (past of to see) (from OE sēon)/saw (the tool) (from OE saga) 6.2.6 METONYMY AND METAPHOR ...the hazel-eyed redhead on the plane (redhead is a metonymy for ‘a person with red hair’) ...the pearl of his collection,,, (pearl is a metaphor for ‘the most precious thing’) 6.2.7 LEXICAL FIELDS a) hairstyle: Afro (peinado afro) bald (calvo) balding (con poco pelo, quedándose calvo) bob (estilo paje, a lo chico) bun/chignon (moño) bunches (coletas) crew-cut (al cero, rapado) cropped (muy corto) curly/frizzy (rizado) dreadlocks (rizos estilo rasta) flat-top (al cepillo) fringe (flequillo) layered (cortado a capas) lock (mechón) long (largo, melena) permed (con la permanente)

102 pigtails [coletas (trenzadas), trenzas] plait (BrE)/braid (AmE) (trenza) ponytail (cola de caballo) receding (con entradas) short (corto) spiky (de punta) straight (liso) wavy (con ondas) b) clothes: belt (cinturón) blouse (blusa) boots (botas) coat (chaquetón, abrigo) dress (vestido) jacket (chaqueta) jeans (vaqueros) miniskirt (minifalda) overcoat (abrigo) raincoat (gabardina) scarf (bufanda) shoes (zapatos) skirt (falda) slippers (zapatillas) socks (calcetines) stockings (medias) suit (traje) tie (corbata) tracksuit (chandal) trousers (pantalones) etc. (see key: 6.5.1.a) c) describing clothes: button-down collar (cuello cuyas puntas se abotonan a la camisa) buttonhole (ojal) capped sleeves (mangas a la sisa) collar (cuello) collarless (sin cuello) corduroy (pana) crew neck/round neck (cuello redondo) cuffs (puños)

103

check (a cuadros) denim (tela vaquera) dotted (de lunares pequeños) double-breasted jacket (chaqueta de doble pecho) drawstrings (cordones de los que se tira para cerrar algo) embroidered (bordado) flared trousers (pantalón acampanado) flat shoe (zapato plano, sin tacones) gaudy (chillón, demasiado llamativo) hem (dobladillo) herringbone (diseño en espiga) high-heeled shoes (zapatos de tacón alto) lace (encaje) leather (cuero) linen (lino) lining (forro) long sleeves/long-sleeved (mangas largas/de mangas largas) low-necked blouse (blusa escotada open-necked shirt (camisa de cuello abierto) patchwork (labor de retales) patterned/print blouse (estampado) pinstripe suit (traje de raya diplomática) plain (liso, -a) pleated skirt (falda plisada) pocket (bolsillo) polka dots [(dibujo de) lunares] polo neck/turtleneck (cuello de cisne/cuello alto/vuelto)

104 polo-necked/turtle-necked (de cuello alto/de cisne/vuelto) satin (satén) seam (costura) shoelaces (cordones de los zapatos) short sleeves/short-sleeved (mangas cortas/de mangas cortas) shoulder padding (hombrera) silk (seda) single-breasted jacket (chaqueta recta, de una fila de botones) spotted (con lunares) stiletto heel (tacón de aguja) straight skirt (falda lisa) straight trousers (pantalón recto) striped (a rayas) suede (ante) tailored suit) (traje sastre entallado) tartan (tartán) thick-soled shoe (zapatos de suela gruesa) top pocket (bolsillo superior) toweling (felpa) turn-ups (vueltas del pantalón) tweed (tweed) velvet (terciopelo) V-neck/V-necked (cuello de pico/de cuello de pico) wool/woollen (lana/de lana) wraparound skirt (falda cruzada) zip(cremallera)

105 d) colours: beige (beige) black (negro) blue (azul) brown (marrón) carrot (zanahoria) cream (crema) green (verde) grey/gray (AmE) (gris) hazel (avellana) mauve (malva) navy blue (azul marino) orange (naranja) pink (rosa) purple (púrpura) red (rojo) scarlet (escarlata) sky blue (azul cielo) violet (violeta) white (blanco) yellow (amarillo) etc. (see key: 6.5.1.b) crew (tripulación) (for collective nouns, see key 4.5.2) a red convertible (un descapotable rojo) (for types of cars, see 1.2.8) 6.2.8 GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS cannot afford sth/to do sth (no poder permitirse algo/hacer algo) discharged from (licenciado de) to let sb do sth/let sth happen (dejar a alguien hacer algo/dejar que algo ocurra) to make sb do sth (hacer que alguien haga algo) 6.2.9 LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS to throw/to cast (tirar, lanzar, arrojar, echar): to throw: to throw the ball to sb/throw sb sth (lanzar la pelota a alguien), to throw a stone at sb (tirar una piedra a); to throw oneself onto the bed (echarse sobre la cama), don’t throw your clothes on the floor! (¡no tires la ropa al suelo!), he was thrown into the air by the force of the explosion (fue lanzado por los aires por la fuerza de la explosión), throw me that towel! (¡échame esa toalla!); she threw her arms around him (lo rodeó con sus brazos), to throw the dice (lanzar los dados), he threw a six (sacó un seis), to throw a fit/a scene (hacer una escena), to throw a tantrum (pillar una rabieta), to throw a party (dar una fiesta), to throw sb completely (desconcertar completamente), to

106 throw doubt/suspicion on sth (arrojar dudas/sospechas sobre), to throw good money after bad (seguir tirando/malgastando el dinero), to throw cold water on sth (echar un jarro de agua fría), to throw caution to the wind(s) (liarse la manta a la cabeza, olvidarse de tomar precauciones), to throw light on a subject (arrojar luz sobre un tema/asunto), to throw sb off balance (hacer perder el equilibrio), to be thrown out of work (ser echado/despedido del trabajo), to throw a punch at sb (lanzar un puñetazo a), to throw a window open (abrir una ventana de par en par, esp. de golpe), to throw oneself into one’s work (trabajar con entusiasmo), to throw the book at sb (castigar con rigor, aplicar todo el peso de la ley), to throw a spanner in the works (poner trabas a algo), to throw overboard (tirar por la borda) to cast: to cast the fishing line/net (lanzar la caña de pescar/red); to cast a look/a glance/a smile at (lanzar una mirada/sonrisa), to cast a shadow on/over/across sth (proyectar sombra), cast a spell on/over (hechizar), cast a/one’s vote (votar), cast an eye over sth (echar una ojeada), cast light on/onto (arrojar luz sobre), to cast doubts on (poner en duda), to cast its skin [mudar la piel (una serpiente)], to cast lots (echar a suerte), the die is cast (la suerte está echada), to be cast as (ser elegido para el papel de), to cast anchor (echar el ancla), to cast a shoe (perder una herradura un caballo), to cast one’s mind back (to sth) (recordar, remontarse al pasado, hurgar en la memoria) 6.2.10 ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES throwing: to throw (echar, tirar, lanzar; sacar con los dados, etc. – see lexical collocations, 6.2.8) to hurl [ + with great force, violence, anger] (lanzar algo con fuerza, con violencia, con ira; insultos) to toss [ + sth light, with a movement of your hand] (algo, o algo a alguien, esp. algo ligero; lanzar una moneda al aire para decidir algo) to fling [ + quickly, with force, anger] (con fuerza, con violencia, con ira, repentinamente) to chuck [ + carelessly, with indifference] (descuidadamente, de cualquier manera) to chuck out [ + get rid of, throw away] (tirar algo que ya no sirve) to cast [ + deliberately, with force] [echar, lanzar, con fuerza, (algo que se extiende sobre una superficie determinada: caña de pescar, red); lanzar: mirada, ojeada, etc. (see lexical collocations, 6.2.8)] to launch [ + send forth] [lanzar cohete al espacio, libro/producto al mercado, una campaña, ataque, botar (barco), fundar (empresa), estrenar (película), emitir (dividendos)] 6.2.11 WORDS EASILY CONFUSED to miss/to lose/to waste: to miss: to miss sb/sth (echar de menos a alguien/algo), to miss a shot (fallar un disparo), to miss the mark/target (no dar en el blanco/la diana), to miss a class, a lecture, a performance [perder(se) una clase, una conferencia, una actuación], to miss an opportunity (perder una oportunidad), to miss the bus, the train/the plane (perder el autobús, el tren, el avión), to miss a place (no ver, pasar por alto: we missed the post office), to miss a line (saltarse una línea), to miss what sb says (no captar o entender lo

107 que alguien dice), to miss a beat (the heart) [dar un vuelco (el corazón)], to miss one’s footing (dar un traspiés) to lose: to lose sth/sb (perder algo o a alguien), to lose a game/a match/a championship (perder un juego, un partido, un campeonato), to lose sb sth (costar, hacer perder algo a alguien: the mistake lost me my job la equivocación me costó el puesto de trabajo), to lose sb (zafarse, deshacerse de un perseguidor), to lose consciousness (perder el conocimiento), to lose face (desprestigiarse, quedar mal), to lose heart (desanimarse), to lose one’s breath (perder el aliento), to lose one’s figure (perder la línea), to lose one’s head (perder la cabeza), to lose one’s heart (enamorarse), to lose one’s nerve (acobardarse), to lose one’s mind (volverse loco), to lose one’s temper (perder los estribos), to lose one’s touch (perder facultades), to lose one’s way (perderse, extraviarse), to lose sight of sth/sb (perder algo o a alguien de vista), to lose touch/contact with sb (perder el contacto con alguien), to lose time (perder tiempo, minutos, etc.), to lose the thread of sth (perder el hilo), to lose weight (perder peso) to waste: to waste sth [malgastar, desperdiciar (tiempo, dinero, esfuerzo, alimento, ocasión), despilfarrar (recursos, dinero), desaprovechar (espacio, oportunidad)] 6.2.12 WORD-FORMATION Suffixes used to form adjectives expressing quality: -able: unforgettable, inevitable, etc. -al: sculptural, accidental, psychological, etc. -ed: blue-eyed, hazel-eyed, golden-haired, low-necked, well-formed, etc. -esque: burlesque, picturesque, Dantesque, etc. -ful/-less (see 8.2.10) -ian: authoritarian, bohemian, etc. -ic: angelic, majestic, heroic -ing: mocking, insinuating, charming, tempting, etc. -ish: coquettish, childish, reddish, foolish, etc. -ive: provocative, attractive, offensive, etc. -like: godlike, warlike, childlike, etc. -ly: cowardly, fleshly, friendly, stately, deathly -ous: miraculous, precocious, curious, generous, mysterious, nervous, prosperous, etc. -some: bothersome, troublesome, etc. -y: curly, silky, rainy, hairy, filthy, etc. the suffix –hood used to form abstract nouns: -hood: childhood, neighbourhood, manhood, priesthood, fatherhood, motherhood, likelihood, sainthood, widowhood, falsehood, etc 6.2.13 IDIOMS idioms with way: all the way (por completo, hasta el final) by the way (a propósito) by way of (a.-pasando por; b- a modo de) can you tell me the way to...? (¿me puede decir cómo se va a...?)

108 get out of the way! (¡quítate de en medio!) I must be on my way (tengo que marcharme) in a way (en cierto modo) in the family way (embarazada) in the way (en medio, estorbando) no way! (¡ni hablar!, ¡de ninguna manera!) on one’s way (de camino) the other way round (al revés) the wrong way round (al revés, lo de delante detrás) there are no two ways about it (no tiene vuelta de hoja) this way (por aquí) to ask the way to (preguntar cómo se va a ) to be born that way (haber nacido así, ser de nacimiento) to be in the way (estorbar, estar en medio) to be set in one’s ways (tener costumbres fijas) to be under way (estar en marcha, haciéndose) to cut both ways (ser un arma de doble filo, tener ventajas e inconvenientes) to do sth one’s way (hacer algo a su manera) to give way (ceder) to go a long way towards (contribuir en gran manera a) to go out of one’s way to (devivirse por) to go the way of all flesh (morir, como todo el mundo) to have a way with people (tener don de gentes) to have one’s (own) way (salirse con la suya) to look the other way (hacer la vista gorda) to lose one’s way (perderse) to make one’s way in the world (abrirse camino en la vida) to pave the way to (preparar el terreno para) to wait to see which way the wind is blowing (esperar a ver por donde van los tiros) way in (entrada) way out (salida) you can’t have it both ways (las dos cosas no pueden ser, no se puede estar en misa y repicando) 6.2.14 PHRASAL VERBS to brush past (pasar rozando) to carry sb off (ser la causa de la muerte) to end up (terminar haciendo algo) to go back to (volver a) to go on (continuar, seguir) to go/come down with (caer enfermo, esp. de una enfermedad contagiosa: gripe, sarampión, varicela, etc.) to long for (estar deseando) to look after sb (cuidar de alguien) to look out for (buscar, tratar de encontrar, estar atento a) to look up (levantar la vista) to pick sb up (recoger a alguien que hace autostop) to set sth off (realzar) to slip by (escabullirse)

109

6.2.15 CULTURAL NOTES Sotheby’s (a famous auction house in London which arranges the sale of rare and valuable things such as paintings, furniture, etc.) 6.3 PHONOLOGICAL STUDY 6.3.1 Homophones

6.3.2 Homographs

6.3.3 Silent letters

6.3.4 Graphemes

aisle/isle/I’ll, whole/hole, hair/hare, blew/blue, berry/to bury, to need/to knead, place/plaice, to hear/here, please/pleas, to read/reed, air/heir, hoarse/horse, meat/to meet, pane/pain, rein/rain, sight/site, steak/stake, to tire/tyre, weak/week, aloud/allowed, flu/flew, mown/moan, pare/pair/pear, pray/prey, right/rite/write, road/rode/rowed, tea/tee, toe/tow, break/brake, grate/great, lays/laze, our/hour, peal/peel, raise/rays, sale/sail, there/their/they’re, waste/waist, whine/wine, fare/fair, groan/grown, mail/male, pale/pail, to read/reed, scene/seen, some/sum, to sow/to sew/so, son/sun, through/threw, wait/weight, would/wood house /haUs/ (casa)/to house /haUz/ (albergar) use /ju:s/ (uso)/to use /ju:z/ (usar) wind /wInd/ (viento)/to wind /waInd/ (dar cuerda) wound /waUnd/ (past of to wind)/wound /wu:nd/ (herida) row /r@U/ (hilera)/to row /@U/ (remar)/row /raU/ (riña) to sow /s@U/ (sembrar)/sow /saU/ (cerda) h: oh, ah, bah, honest, hour, honour, heir, vehicle, rhyme, rhinoceros, rhumatism, ghost, ghetto, when, where, white, why, Thames, shepherd, John, Thomas, Thailand, hurrah, forehead (opt) s: aisle, isle, island, debris : /@U/ though, although, dough /aU/ bough, plough, drought /@/ borough, thorough /u:/ through /Vf/ rough, laugh, tough, enough /Qf/ cough /Vp/ hiccough

110 /O:t/ ought, thought 6.4 GRAMMAR REVISION 6.4.1 that in adverbial subordinates of Precocious child that he was... reason 6.4.2 noun phrase post-modifiers ... the little blonde girl with curly hair and blue eyes 6.4.3 contact clauses (see also 2.4.2 and the woman he was waiting for... 4.4.3) 6.4.4 make + infinitive without to ...to make her keep her date 6.4.5 let + infinitive without to ...he would not let it happen 6.4.6 one as a prop-word ...the one he had believed he would find... 6.5 EXERCISES 6.5.1 Add to the lexical fields of a) clothes; and b) colours, outlined in 6.2.7.b and 6.2.7.d, respectively 6.5.2 Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of one of the following verbs: to throw, to cast, to toss, to fling, to hurl, to launch: a.- The demonstrators kept ....... insults at the ministers b.- The oak tree ...... a long shadow across the lawn c.- The fishermen ......their nets in deep water d.- She ..... a six three times running e.- Your mother will ...... a fit when she learns that you’ve failed English again f.- The hooligan who ......... the bottle at the linesman has been arrested g.- We’ll.. ..... a coin to decide who pays for the beers h.- They ....... a huge advertising campaign to promote their new product i.- The cyclist was ........ off balance by a sudden gust of wind j.- They ...... anchor at nightfall 6.5.3

Give synonyms or near-synonyms for the following: a.- to permit; b.- to recollect; c.- fleeting; d.- destiny; e.- to crave for; f.- svelte; g.- to disappear; h.- decrepit; i.- eagerly; j.- to ensue

6.5.4

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of to lose, to miss or to waste, as required: a.- At the last minute, he ...... his nerve b.- You’ve ..........weight c.- We’ve already ..... too much time and energy on that project d.- You have nothing ............ by telling the truth e.- Her heart ...... a beat f.- In the end, my efforts were not entirely .......... g.- This is a match our team can’t afford ........... h.- I’m afraid he’s ..... his touch i.- The bullet ...........his head by only a few inches

111 j.- I’m sorry I ......your lecture 6.5.5

Idioms with way. Match the letters with the numbers: a.- She has already had two children..... b.- It isn’t his fault he’s so obstinate...... c.- My wife is very clever; she always has........... d.- The new law will go........ e.- I didn’t know he was dead........ f.- Can I borrow your new car? ...... g.- The room was too crowded....... h.- You either accept the transfer or you won’t be promoted....... i.- She gave me a kiss.......... j.- She doesn’t mind engaging in heavy petting......... 1.- You can’t have it both ways 2.- Yes, he’s gone the way of all flesh 3.- He was born that way 4.- but she never goes all the way 5.- and she’s in the family way again 6.- by way of payment 7.- her (own) way in the end 8.- No way! 9.- and eventually the floor gave way 10.- a long way towards solving the problem

6.5.6

Fill in the blanks with the right particle, then translate into Spanish: a.- He ended ..... in a mental home b.- All the family has gone ...... with the flu c.- He tried to intercept her, but she brushed ...... him and climbed into a taxi d.- The Black Death carried ..... large numbers of people in Europe and Asia in the 14th c. e.- She was wearing a close-fitting dress that set ........ her figure f.- He managed to slip ...... unnoticed g.- The old man hated cold weather; he was longing ...... the spring h.- I’ll look ..... for you in the Museum

6.5.7

Say which of the following words are pronounced with an aspirated h, and which with a silent one: honourable, herald, hostages, ghetto, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, rhythm, heiress, whose, vehicle, hurrah, pariah, Homer, rheumatism, rhetorical, rehearsal

6.5.8

Complete the following pairs of homophones: a.- to knead b.- flewc.- sail d.- wine e.- peel

-

112 f.- brake g.- horse i.- toe j.- reed

-

6.5.9

Derive adjectives from the words given: a.- storm; b.- fame; c.- quarrel; d.- atom; e.- talent; f.- brute; g.- Shakespeare; h.- Turk; i.- wood; j.- danger; k.- risk; l.attention; m.- silver; n.- honour 6.5.10 Say in which of the following sentences it is obligatory to use an infinitive without to, and in which it is optional: a.- You needn’t come on Saturday b.- Nobody saw him leave c.- What you did is spoil everything d.- I’d rather stay at home this evening e.- You made her cry f.- I’ll help dad cut the grass on Sunday g.- They didn’t let him enter the disco h.- We’d better wait

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UNIT 7 THE MAN WHO COULD GET NO SLEEP Nothing really important ever happened in my native village, an average small rural community on the plateau of Castile with hardly 2,000 inhabitants. True that a woman had had quintuplets one year, and that it had once rained frogs. But uncommon as these happenings may seem to some, they have been scientifically explained – one as a rare but still possible simultaneous fecundation of several ovules, and the other as having something to do with the sudden evaporation of a small nearby lake. Mine was indeed an ordinary village, where people went about their tasks during the day and quietly slept at night. Well, all except my uncle Nicolás, because my uncle Nicolás never got any sleep. And when I say that he didn’t get any sleep, I don’t mean that he suffered from chronic insomnia or anything like that. What I mean is that he never slept at all. Not an hour, not a minute of his life, ever since he had been born and he had cried away in his cot for days and nights on end to his parents’ despair. This singular inability to sleep on my uncle’s part can truly be said to be something unique, something extraordinary which, as far as I know, has never happened anywhere else in the world before. I once read about a Cuban who got no sleep for forty years. But in his case, there had been inflammation of the inner brain when he was thirteen, and the sleep mechanism had been damaged beyond repair. The Cuban was given drugs that made him drowsy, and he even dreamt sometimes, though his electroencephalograms registered the brain activity of a fully awake person. Moreover, he would feel awfully tired in the mornings, and had to wear dark glasses to protect his sensitive, overworked eyes. Nothing like that in my uncle’s case. He never felt tired. he was always as fresh as a daisy, and when he lay down to rest with closed eyes, he didn’t dream, or if he did, he dreamt awake. Nicolás led a completely normal life, working in the fields during the day and having a few hours’ wakeful rest on his bed at night. He was the happy father of eight, had no enemies, and was known to be a hard-working, honest man, and one who would good-humouredly take the inevitable jokes about his strange condition. As a child, they would ask him at school if he had seen the Three Wise Men come on January 6th, and on his wedding day the youths kept winking at him, with blunt remarks about the sleepless night ahead. But he didn’t mind a bit, and laughed with the best of them, as he later did every time his wife gave birth to a new child, when they asked him if he had seen the stork arrive.

114 Uncle Nicolás was not really worried about his lack of sleep, but once, reluctantly, to please the family, he had consented to go to the capital, where a legion of eminent and not so eminent doctors had tried hypnosis, electroshock treatment, acupuncture and experimental drugs on him in order to give him the ability to sleep, but it had all been useless, and good old Nicolás had returned to the village as awake as always. My uncle lived on for a few years yet, a loving husband and father, fully resigned to his permanent state of conciousness, and when he died of heart failure at the age of 58, though some jokes in bad taste were heard about his now being able to get as much sleep as he liked, he was sincerely mourned by all in the village. In fact, he was so popular that his memory was still alive ten years later when the customary exhumation of his mortal remains took place at the small local cemetery before the eyes of his family and a large group of curious people who had not wanted to miss the ceremony, and the truth is that nobody was actually much surprised when the coffin was opened and he was found to be intact and...wide awake. 7.1 READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS a.- What explanation is given in the story for the raining of frogs? b.- What difference was there between the Cuban’s condition and uncle Nicholás’s? c.- Why did the village youths ask uncle Nicholas if he had seen the stork arrive whenever his wife had a baby? d.- How did Uncle Nicolás take the villagers’ jokes about his strange condition? e.- What medical treatment did Uncle Nicolás receive in Madrid? f.- Were the villagers sorry when he died? g.- What do you make of the story ending? h.- What genre do you think this story belongs to? 7.2 SEMANTIC ANALYSIS 7.2.1 LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES acupuncture (acupuntura) as far as I know (que yo sepa) to be beyond repair (no tener arreglo) to be mourned (ser llorado) to cry away (llorar sin parar) electroshock treatment (tratamiento de electrochoque, electroterapia) exhumation (exhumación) for days and nights on end (durante días y noches sin fin) frog (rana) (see 14.3) good-humouredly (de buen humor) happenings (sucesos) he laughed with the best of them (se reía como el que más) heart failure (fallo cardiaco) hypnosis (hipnosis)

115 in bad taste (de mal gusto) inner brain (parte interna del cerebro) insomnia (insomnio) to live on (seguir viviendo) mortal remains (restos mortales) nearby (cercano) overworked eyes (ojos cansados) plateau (meseta) quadruplets (cuatrillizos) quintuplets (quintillizos) stork (cigüeña) (see key: 4.5.3.a) the Three Wise Men (los Tres Reyes Magos) to his parents’ despair (para desesperación de sus padres) triplets (trillizos) twins (mellizos) wakeful (despierto, desvelado, en vela) wide awake (completamente despierto) 7.2.2 SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS awfully (very, extremely, terribly, frightfully, dreadfully) to be worried (to be anxious, to be concerned, to be upset, to be nervous, to be disturbed, to be anguished) blunt (direct, brusque, abrupt, indelicate) cot [crib (AmE), cradle] moreover (besides, furthermore) ordinary (average, normal, common, usual, conventional) rare (unusual, uncommon, infrequent) reluctant (unwilling, disinclined, averse) to repair [to mend, to fix (up)] singular (strange, odd, peculiar, curious, bizarre) 7.2.3 ANTONYMS average (exceptional) drowsy (wakeful) eminent (unimportant, unknown)

116 good-humoured (grumpy, bad-tempered, ill-humoured, irritable) honest (dishonest) ordinary (extraordinary, unusual, unique, exceptional, rare) rare (common, ordinary, usual, frequent) reluctant (willing, eager, ready) sensitive (insensitive, callous, unfeeling) sincere (insincere, hypocritical, two-faced) 7.2.4 LEXICAL FIELDS a) the weather: a bolt of lightning (un rayo) a clap of thunder (un trueno) a downpour (chaparrón) a flash of lightning (un relámpago) a shower (aguacero) cloudy (nublado) cold (frío) drizzle (llovizna)/drizzling (chispeando) drought (sequía) fine (bueno, buen tiempo) flood (inundación) freezing (helando) hailing (granizando) hot (calor) lightning (relámpagos, rayos) pouring down (diluviando) rain (lluvia) raining (lloviendo) storm/ thunderstorm (tormenta) thunder (truenos) wet (húmedo) etc. (see key: 7.5.3) b) (minor) health problems: to be a bit off-colour/under the weather/out of sorts/to feel poorly (estar un poco pachucho) to be a hypochondriac (ser hipocondríaco) to be carsick/seasick (marearse en un coche/un barco) to be constipated (estar estreñido) to be hard of hearing (ser duro de oído) to be hoarse (estar ronco) to be itching all over (picar todo el cuerpo) to be sick (devolver, vomitar)

117 to be/get injured (estar lesionado/lesionarse) to bleed (sangrar) to break/fracture a/one’s leg/arm (fracturarse/romperse una pierna/un brazo) to break out in a cold sweat (cubrirse de sudor frío) to come/break out in spots (salir granos) to experience/get/have (got) discomfort (tener molestias); to cause discomfort (causar molestias) to feel dizzy (tener vértigo) to feel faint (estar mareado) to feel nausea (sentir náuseas) to feel sick (tener ganas de devolver) to feel the sting of (sentir el escozor de); a bee/wasp sting (una picadura de abeja/avispa); to be stung by an insect (ser picado por un insecto) to get/have (got) (a) cramp (tener un calambre/calambres) to get a scrape/graze/scratch (hacerse un rasguño/arañazo) to get/have (got) cramps (tener fuerte dolor de barriga, esp. durante la menstruación) to get pins and needles [sentir hormigueo (cuando se quedan dormidos piernas o brazos)] to get (bad) sunburn (quemarse por estar demasiado tiempo al sol) to get sunstroke (coger una insolación) to get/have (got) diarrhoea/the runs (colloq.) (entrar/tener diarrea) to get/have (got) pimples/spots (salir/tener granitos, espinillas) to have (got) a nosebleed (sangrar por la nariz) to have (got) (a) stomachache (tener dolor de estómago) to have (got) (a) toothache (tener dolor de muelas) to have (got) /suffer from indigestion (estar empachado); to get indigestion (empacharse) to have (got) a blocked nose (tener la nariz taponada) to have (got) a boil (tener un forúnculo) to have (got) a bruise (tener un cardenal, un moratón, una magulladura) to have (got) a bunion (tener un juanete) to have (got) a cold (estar resfriado) to have (got) a corn (tener un callo en el pie) to have (got) a cough (tener tos) to have (got) a dripping nose (gotear la nariz) to have (got) a gumboil (tener un flemón) to have (got) a headache (tener dolor de cabeza), to suffer from headaches (padecer de jaqueca); my head’s throbbing (me va a estallar la cabeza) to have (got) a lump (tener un bulto) to have (got) a pain in the chest/in one’s side/in the leg (doler el pecho, el costado, la pierna) to have (got) a rash on one’s chest (tener sarpullidos en el pecho) to have (got) a sore throat (doler la garganta) to have (got) a stiff neck (tener tortícolis)

118 to have (got) a temperature (tener fiebre) to have (got) aches and pains (tener achaques) to have (got) an ulcer (tener una úlcera) to have (got) an upset stomack (tener el estómago revuelto) to have (got) backache (tener dolor de espalda) to have (got) blisters (tener ampollas) to have (got) callosities (tener callos en las manos) to have (got) decayed teeth/tooth decay (tener caries) to have (got) earache (tener dolor de oído) to have (got) painful joints (tener dolor en las articulaciones) to have (got) serious/severe/minor burns (tener graves/severas/pequeñas quemaduras) to have (got) sores (tener llagas, úlceras) to have (got) the hiccoughs/hiccups (tener hipo) to have (got) high/low blood pressure (tener la presión alta/baja) to have (got) one’s arm in a sling (tener el brazo en cabestrillo) to have (got) one’s arm/leg in plaster (tener el brazo/la pierna escayolados); to have one’s arm/leg put in plaster (escayolarle a uno un brazo/una pierna) to hurt oneself (lastimarse, hacerse daño) to itch (picar) to pull a muscle (sufrir un tirón en un músculo) to remove a wart (quitarse una verruga) to sneeze (estornudar) to sprain one’s ankle (torcerse el tobillo) to suffer from haemorrhoids/piles (colloq.) (padecer de hemorroides/hemorranas) to suffer from insomnia (padecer de insomnio) to suffer from migraine (padecer de migraña) 7.2.5 ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES a) hurting and damaging: to hurt [ + cause physical or mental pain, injure sb or oneself; suffer pain or harm] (hacerse daño; hacer daño físico en un accidente, etc. o moral; doler) to damage [ + cause physical harm to sth, (fig) have a bad effect on] [dañar (coche, motor, mobiliario, cosecha, tejado, valla; perjudicar (salud; reputación)] to injure [ + cause physical harm or damage to sb, (fig) do wrong to sb, damage sb’s pride, self-esteem or reputation] [causar daño físico, lesionar; (fig) herir (orgullo), perjudicar (reputación)] to harm [ + cause damage to sth or sb] [hacer daño a algo o alguien, hacer mal, perjudicar (medio ambiente, plantas; salud; reputación, imagen] to wound [ + injure part of the body, making a cut or hole in the skin with a weapon; (fig) hurt sb’s feelings] [herir con un arma o instrumento cortante; (fig) herir los sentimientos de alguien] to ache [ + feel a continuous but not sharp pain in a part of your body; (fig) desire greatly to do or have sth] [doler parte del cuerpo; (fig) estar deseando hacer algo]

119 to impair [ + damage, make sth worse] (perjudicar, dañar, afectar negativamente, discapacitar) to smart [ + feel a stinging pain in part of your body, (fig) feel upset because sb has hurt, offended, criticised you, etc.] [escocer, picar (herida, ojos), dar punzadas (dolor), (fig) dolerse por, escocer (crítica, comentario)] to spoil [ + ruin sth, diminish the value off; (fig) give a child everything he/she asks for] (estropear; mimar) to pain [ + sadden] (doler moralmente: it pains me to...) b) sleeping: to sleep (dormir) to doze [ + lightly, for a short time] (echar una cabezada/siestecita, adormilarse) to nap/to snooze [ + for a short time, during the day] (echar una siestecita, un sueñecito, descabezar el sueño) to drowse [ + be half asleep] (adormilarse) to have forty winks [ + for a short time, during the day] (dar una cabezadita) to kip [ + esp. for a short time] (dormir, echar un sueñecito) to slumber [ + literary style] (dormir, estilo literario) 7.2.6 POLYSEMIC TERMS to take [tomar, coger; llevar; aceptar modo de pago; tardar; tener cabida para, caber; gastar, usar (talla); funcionar con; aguantar, soportar; tomar como ejemplo; comer ficha (en ajedrez); agarrar (injerto, vacuna); prender (el fuego)] 7.2.7 LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS to take to take sth; to take an umbrella; to take sb’s arm/to take sb by the arm; to take sb by the neck; to take the bus/train/plane/a taxi; take a seat; take the first on the right/left; to take a bend; to take coffee/tea/a medicine/drugs; to take sugar in one’s coffee; to take a bath/a shower; to take sb’s pulse/temperature/blood pressure; to take a holiday; to take a break/rest; to take a photograph; to take notes; to take sb/sth somewhere;I’ll take the blue one; to take credit cards/cheques; to take sb’s advice; to take an interest in sth; to take a job; to take a house/a flat; it takes courage to do sth; to take time to do sth; this car can take five people; the graft/vaccine didn’t take; the fire didn’t take; to be taken ill; I take it that...; to take a degree in; to take a liking/a dislike to sb; to take a walk; to take an exam; to take sth for granted; to take care of; to take pleasure in doing sth; to take hold of sth; to take sb prisoner; take it easy!; take it or leave it!; to take into account; to take one’s drink; to take part in; to take pity on sb; to take place; to take sth seriously/lightly; to take to heart; (in a game of chess) I take your knight/pawn/bishop/castle/queen/king; I can’t take it any more; to take the biscuit (BrE)/the cake (AmE); to take the lead; to take the blame (for sth); you can take it from me that...; what size shoes do you take?; to take offence; to take action (against); to take a penalty/corner/a free kick (for translation, see key: 7.5.5) 7.2.8 GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS

120 to be resigned to (resignarse a) to consent to (consentir en) to dream about/of (soñar con) to mind + -ing form (importar hacer algo) to suffer from (padecer de) to wink at (guiñar a) 7.2.9 FALSE FRIENDS bigot does not mean ‘bigote’ (moustache), but ‘beato,-a’ ordinary means ‘ordinario’ in the sense of ‘normal’, ‘usual’, but not in the sense of ‘vulgar’ (vulgar) rare means ‘raro’ in the sense of ‘poco frecuente’, but not in the sense of ‘extraño’ (strange, bizarre) sensible does not mean ‘sensible’ (sensitive), but ‘sensato’ (see also 1.2.15, 3.2.12 and 4.2.11) 7.2.10 WORD-FORMATION prefixes: out-: to outlive, to outdo, outlaw, to outnumber; outdoor, outlaw, out-patient, out-tray, etc. over-:: to overdo, overdose, to overload, to overpay, overeat, overfeed, to overrate, oversensitive, to oversleep, etc. under-: underclothes, to underrate, underdeveloped, underwater, underground, underdone, underfed, understaffed, etc. 7.2.11 IDIOMS similes: as fresh as a daisy, as cool as a cucumber, etc. (see key: 7.5.6) 7.2.12 PHRASAL VERBS to cry away (llorar sin parar) to go about sth (ocuparse de) to lie down (tumbarse) to live on (seguir viviendo) 7.3 PHONOLOGICAL STUDY 7.3.1 Homophones

night/knight our/hour

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7.3.2 Pronunciation of the plural-s 7.3.3 Graphemes

where/wear/ware made/maid time/thyme birth/berth stork/stalk please/pleas heard/herd /s/ nights, jokes, parents /z/ fields, frogs, doctors /Iz/ glasses, churches, fishes

/e/ ever, went, slept, when /I/ evaporation, before, honest (also @) /@/ happened /eI/ awake /i:/ these /i/ he/she/we (weak forms) /-/ happened, village,

/3:/ person, permanent /@/ ever /A:/ sergeant

/I@/ sincerely, here /e@/ where , there /@/ were (weak form) /3:/ were (strong form)

7.4 GRAMMAR REVISION 7.4.1 inversion of as in concessive clauses ...but uncommon as these happenings may (see also 11.4.2) seem to some... 7.4.2 that nominal clauses (see also 3.4.4) ...when I say that he didn’t get any sleep... I don’t mean that he suffered from chronic insomnia... 7.4.3 that relative clauses he was given drugs that made him drowsy 7.4.4 conjuncts (see also 1.4.5) Moreover... 7.4.5 purpose-infinitive (see also 3.4.1) ...had to wear dark glasses to protect his sensitive, overworked eyes ...when he lay down to rest... ...to please the family... ...in order to give him the ability to sleep... 7.4.6 to-infinitive as nominal clause ...had not wanted to miss the ceremony... 7.5 EXERCISES

122 7.5.1 7.5.2

Find antonyms for the following words: to lengthen, male, to fail, tall, to raise, absent, to dress, rich, fair, ripe, thick, narrow, young, clean, and say which of the pairs are a) gradable, b) non-gradable, and c) reversive Match the letters with the numbers: a.- If you have a cough... b.- If you swallow with difficulty ..... c.- If you’re unable to sleep..... d.- If you spend too much time in the sun...... e.- If you’re often constipated...... f.- If you have a gumboil..... g.- If you hit your arm...... h.- If you cycle for too long....... i.- If you sit like that for too long.... 1.- you get sunburn 2.- you can get stiff legs 3.- you suffer from insomnia 4.- you may have a cold 5.- you may develop a bruise 6.- you may develop piles 7.- you may have a sore throat 8.- you’ll get pins and needles 9.- you should go to the dentist

7.5.3

Add to the lexical field of the weather outlined in 7.2.4.a

7.5.4

Fill in the gaps with a verb from the hurting/damaging semantic field: a.- Smoking seriously .......... your health b.- Nobody died in the crash, but many people were ........ c.- You ..... her feelings d.- The gunman ......... three people e.- His sight is seriously ............ f.- Don’t worry, the dog won’t ...... you g.- The collision badly .......his car h.- My shoulder’s really ...... me i.- Her eyes were ....... from the smoke j.- Stop it! You’re ..... me k.- The centre-forward ...... his knee and had to be carried off l.- He was ........ all over

7.5.5 In 7.2.7, you have some of the commonest collocations of the verb to take, translate into Spanish 7.5.6 Complete the following similes: a.- as keen as ........ b.- as sharp as a ....... c.- as deaf as a .........

123 d.- as blind as a ........ e.- as bald as a ......... f.- as fit as a ......... g.- as good as ......... h.- as poor as a ......... i.- as ugly as .......... j.- as regular as ........ 7.5.7

False friends. Answer the following questions: a.- When someone refers to the actual events, is he referring to events happening now? b.- If a woman says she’s embarrassed, does it mean she’s expecting a baby? c.- If your teacher asks you to resume your work, does he want you to summarize it? d.- If I say that my mother was dismayed at the news, do I mean that she passed out? e.- If your girlfriend forgot to buy you a birthday present, would you regard it as a deception? f.- Is a comedian supposed to be gracious?

7.5.8

Scan the text for words in the plural and classify them according to the way the splural is pronounced

7.5.9

Test yourself on phrasal verbs: fill in the gaps with the right particle: a.- The old cathedral is crying ......for repairs b.- He’ll go ......in history as a great statesman c.- After my divorce, I went .....men for a while d.- She’s finding it very difficult to live ...... her past e.- Couldn’t we meet a bit later? On Sundays I like to lie ....... f.- You’re a good professional, there’s no need to cry yourself ........ g.- High-heeled shoes will never go ........ h.- His latest book hasn’t lived .......to my expectations i.- The curtain went ....... and the play began j.- Don’t worry, there’s enough ice-cream to go .........

7.5.10 In all the following sentences there is a to-infinitive; say in which of them it functions as a purpose-infinitive, and in which, as a nominal clause: a.- She got up early to catch her plane b.- I’ve brought the contract for you to sign c.- I hope to see you next Sunday d.- You forgot to sign the cheque e.- Do you think we can get a bank loan to buy a new car? f.- For a man of your position to behave like that is quite unbelievable

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UNIT 8 INSPECTOR CAULDER’S LAST CASE Don Caesar’s murder, at H., West Sussex, which hit the headlines a few years ago, was not all that special as murders go, and maybe Caulder, the famed inspector of Scotland Yard, would not have been assigned the case, but for the fact that he had happened to be spending a week’s holiday fishing in the neighbourhood. Inspector Caulder, who was due to retire in three months’ time, found the idyllic small village an ideal spot to have a rest in, while trying to catch some salmon. He considered it the perfect surroundings to live in when he retired, if he had the money to buy one of the expensive, fashionable gabled houses that dotted the green landscape. But he, like any average senior inspector in the force, no matter how many brilliant, successful services to the Yard he may have rendered, could not afford anything of the kind. Don Caesar must have also thought H. a pleasant place to spend the rest of his days in when he retired twenty-five years ago after a long, hectic life of crime and murder in Chicago. But in his case, with the great wealth amassed in a lifetime of extortion and drug trafficking, it had been no problem to acquire the Honeysuckle, a graceful twostoreyed house, the stateliest in the environs, and quietly withdraw himself from circulation for good. And it had been a wise decision, because during all these past years he had been known as the eccentric old American who lived alone in the large house with his surly housekeeper, and who seldom came out or received any visitors, and was liked and respected by everybody in the village, including the local police. It was an irony of fate that Inspector Caulder himself, who had paid him a couple of visits at his home, and had had tea with an aged Don Caesar who had jokingly dared the police officer to arrest him for any of his multiple misdeeds of yore, was one day to be called on to solve the mystery of his murder. When early on Monday afternoon Inspector Caulder arrived on the murder scene, Sergeant Turner, his faithful assistant, was dutifully waiting for him outside the Honeysuckle, but this time he did not venture to name a culprit: a long series of blunders in the very cases that had made his superior famous – the insane blackmailer, the Polish countess’ missing necklace, the secret service mole and, more recently, the Thumbleton twins – had taught him to be more cautious. But he promptly acquainted Caulder with all the gory details: Don Caesar had been found stabbed in the back, by Mrs. Bradley, his housekeeper, who had been horrified when, on coming into the house that morning, she

125 had seen her master lying dead on the living-room carpet, the ringfinger missing from his right hand. As the sergeant pointed out to his chief, no entrance to the house had been forced. Don Caesar, who did not believe in bodyguards or guards of any other kind, had nonetheless made his house into a veritable fortress: an electrified barbed-wire fence, barred windows and three huge, fierce Dobermanns that would have torn an intruder to pieces in no time made housebreaking practically impossible. No, whoever his untimely visitor may have been, it had obviously been Don Caesar himself who had let him in, after conveniently tying up the dogs. Furthermore, according to the sergeant’s notes, no one in the village had noticed anything out of the ordinary on Sunday evening when the murder had taken place, and the police, on their customary ten o’clock patrol, had seen the light on in Don Caesar’s sitting-room and everything apparently in order. No unusual fingerprints had been discovered and, apart from the deftly amputated finger which must have been wearing the renowned dragon emerald, and a valuable portrait by Rembrandt, skilfully cut out of its frame, nothing was missing. Had the murderer been a connoisseur, an expert art-dealer who knew what to look for in a house where the owner reputedly did not like keeping any cash? The sergeant also handed the inspector a list of suspects who, as is often the case, all happened to have cast-iron alibis. Mrs. Bradley had spent the weekend, as was her wont, in her Chelsea home with her slothful middle-aged son, an ex-convict who was good at nothing but sponging from his resigned mother enough money for his petty vices. “An interesting line of enquiry here”, the sergeant remarked to the inspector’s amusement. Thomas, Don Caesar’s chauffeur and gardener, who also did a lot of odd jobs in the house, had been in London visiting his elderly parents, and Renatta, the murdered man’s late sister’s daughter, and his only living relative, a B.A. air-hostess, who was fond of the old man and occasionally came to visit, had been on duty that evening on a flight to Majorca. Finally there was his lawyer, Mr. Wheesley, from Wheesley and Beasley, who had no reason at all to murder his client, aware as he was that in his will, as if to atone for his past wrongdoing, he was leaving everything he had to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and a motley assortment of other charitable associations. Evidently, none of the people on the sergeant’s list was likely to have murdered Don Caesar, but then the list of gangsters from the Mafia who had a grudge against him and would have jumped at the opportunity to bump him off was an endless one, so it was more than likely that his past life of crime had caught up with him at last. Robbery pure and simple could very well have been the motive, too, but on the other hand, the fact that his finger had been chopped off suggested the Mob’s settling an old score or a ritual of sorts. Strict orders had immediately been issued for a thorough check at airports to prevent the precious canvas from getting out of the country, and Inspector Caulder himself was flying to Amsterdam where he knew a couple of addresses of crooked artdealers who would snap up the stolen objects, paying a fortune for them, and no indiscreet questions asked. On the plane to Holland, after take-off, having unfastened his seat belt and lit his pipe, a self-satisfied Inspector Caulder could not help smiling to himself as he complacently stroked his briefcase and thought of his imminent retirement, a retirement that did not worry him any longer, for he was sure that no arrest would be made in Amsterdam. His last case would go unsolved. There was no smile on Sgt. Turner’s face as he nervously paced up and down the airport lounge in Amsterdam, impatiently waiting for the plane from London to land, but he was thrilled to the bone, too, for if his wife’s intuition had been right, and he prayed to

126 high heaven it was, he would be able to collect the substantial reward offered for the recovery of the missing Rembrandt, and more important perhaps, he would be able to pay the inspector back for all the subtle mockery and rebuff he had had to endure throughout those long years of devoted service at his side. 8.1 READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS a.- Why was Inspector Caulder supposedly assigned the case of Don Caesar’s murder? b.- Describe the village and the house Don Caesar lived in. c.- Why had Don Caesar chosen to live there when he retired? d.- How had Don Caesar been murdered? e.- Make a list of the suspects and say who is most likely to be the murderer in your opinion. f.- Why was Inspector Caulder flying to Amsterdam? g.- What was Sgt Turner doing at Amsterdam’s airport? h.- Give an ending to the story. 8.2 SEMANTIC ANALYSIS 8.2.1 LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES aged (anciano, entrado en años) assortment (surtido, colección) to atone for (expiar) B.A air-hostess (azafata de la British Airways) barbed-wire fence (alambrada) barred windows (ventanas con barrotes) to be assigned a case (serle asignado un caso) blunder (metedura de pata) bodyguard (guardaespaldas) canvas (lienzo) cast-iron alibi (coartada sólida/a toda prueba) (see key: 5.5.3.a) connoisseur (entendido, experto) countess (condesa) crooked (corrupto) deftly (diestramente, hábilmente) drug trafficking (narcotráfico) (see key: 1.5.3.a) dutifully (diligentemente) to endure (soportar) environs (inmediaciones) extortion (extorsión) force [cuerpo (policial)]

127 frame (marco) gabled house (casa con tejado de dos aguas) to go unsolved (quedar sin resolver) gory (sangriento) hectic (ajetreado, frenético) honeysuckle (madreselva) (see key: 8.5.4.a) horrified (horrorizado) housekeeper (ama de llaves) insane (loco, demente) to jump at an opportunity (no dejar escapar una oportunidad) misdeed (fechoría, delito) mockery (burla) mole (topo, espía) motley (variopinto) necklace (collar) odd jobs (chapuzas) of yore (de antaño) on duty (de servicio) to pace up and down (pasear de un lado para otro) (see 9.2.7) petty vices (pequeños vicios) Polish (polaco) rebuff (desaire, desplante) to render (a service) [prestar (un servicio)] reputedly (según dicen) reward (recompensa) ringfinger (dedo anular) (see key: 11.5.4.a) robbery pure and simple (el robo, simplemente) salmon (salmón) (see 8.2.6.d) skillfully (diestramente, hábilmente) the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (la Real Sociedad Protectora de Animales) to sponge (gorronear, sablear) to stab (apuñalar) stately (majestuoso) to stroke (acariciar) (see 8.2.5)

128 surly (arisco, hosco, malhumorado) to tear to pieces (hacer pedazos) that dotted the green landscape (que salpicaban el verde paisaje) thorough (minucioso, concienzudo, a fondo) two-storeyed house (casa de dos pisos) (see also 1.2.8.b) to unfasten (desabrochar) untimely (inoportuno) to withdraw oneself from circulation (retirarse de la circulación) wrongdoings (delitos, fechorías) 8.2.2 SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS to endure (to bear, to suffer, to tolerate, to put up with) famed (famous, celebrated, renowned) fierce (ferocious, untamed, vicious) furthermore (besides, moreover) gory (bloody, gruesome) huge (enormous, very big) the Mob (the Mafia) motley (heterogenous, miscellaneous) nonetheless (however, nevertheless) slothful (lazy) to stroke (to caress) surly (bad-tempered, sullen, sulky) 8.2.3 ANTONYMS deftly (clumsily, awkwardly) to fasten (to unfasten) fierce (tame, gentle) lazy (active, industrious, energetic) thorough (cursory, superficial) wealthy (poor, impoverished) 8.2.4 HOMONYMS kind (clase) (from OE kynd(e)/kind (amable) (from OE gekynde)

129 mole (the animal) (from ME molle, probably from MDutch moll(e))/mole (a blemish on the skin) (from OE māl) 8.2.5 POLYSEMIC TERMS spot [punto, lugar; lunar (beauty spot), mota; mancha; grano; picadura (de fruta), un poco de (trabajo/lluvia/comida/leche); espacio (televisivo); foco (de luz, en el teatro); to spot (localizar, divisar)] (see also 8.2.11) stroke [golpe (en tenis/golf); brazada/estilo (natación); golpe (de remo); campanada (de reloj); trazo (de letra/dibujo), pincelada; pulsación (en mecanografía); ataque de apoplejía/derrame cerebral; caricia; barra oblicua (del teclado); to stroke (acariciar)] 8.2.6 LEXICAL FIELDS a) the language of airports: air steward/stewardess (auxiliar de vuelo) air-hostess (azafata) (airport) lounge (sala de espera) baggage (equipaje) boarding-card (tarjeta de embarque) charter flight (vuelo chárter) check-in (facturación, mostrador de facturación) the crew (la tripulación) departure lounge (sala de embarque) duty-free shop (tienda libre de impuestos) excess baggage (exceso de equipaje) gate number X (puerta número X) to go through customs (pasar por la aduana) to go through immigration (pasar por inmigración) to land (aterrizar) landing (aterrizaje) passengers (pasajeros) runway (pista de aterrizaje)

130

scheduled flight (vuelo regular) a seat by the aisle (asiento junto al pasillo) to take off (despegar) take-off (despegue) the baggage reclaim/claim (recogida de equipajes) transit lounge (sala de tránsito) VIP lounge (sala de espera para VIPs) a window seat (asiento con ventanilla)

b) flowers and plants: bluebell (campanilla) bougainvillea (buganvilla) buttercup (ranúnculo, botón de oro) carnation (clavel) chrysanthemun (crisantemo) daffodil (narciso) dahlia (dalia) daisy (margarita) honeysuckle (madreselva) jasmine (jazmín) magnolia (magnolia) mistletoe (muérdago) orchid (orquídea) pansy (pensamiento) poppy (amapola) rose (rosa)

131

sunflower (girasol) tulip (tulipán) violet (violeta) etc. (see key: 8.5.4.a)

c) trees and shrubs (árboles y arbustos): almond tree (almendro) apple tree (manzano) beech (haya) birch (abedul) cedar (cedro) chestnut (castaño) coconut palm (cocotero) cypress (ciprés) elm (tree) (olmo) fir (abeto) lemon tree (limonero) maple (arce) oak (roble) olive tree (olivo) orange tree (naranjo) palm tree (palmera) pine(tree) (pino) poplar (álamo, chopo) walnut (tree) (nogal) (weeping) willow sauce (llorón)

132

etc. (see key: 8.5.4.b)

d) fish: bream (besugo) cod(fish) (bacalao) goldfish (peces de colores) halibut (mero) mackerel (caballa) salmon (salmón) sardine (sardina) shark (tiburón) sole (lenguado) trout (trucha) etc. (see key: 8.5.5)

e) breeds of dog (razas de perro): bloodhound (sabueso) dachshund/sausage dog (perro salchicha) Dobermann (dóberman) German shepherd (pastor alemán) Labrador ( Labrador) poodle (perro de lanas) St Bernard (dog) (San Bernardo) etc. (see key: 8.5.2)

8.2.7 ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES

133 shining: to shine (brillar) to glitter [+ with a bright reflected light (jewels, gold)] [brillar, relucir (superficie pulida, oro, joyas)] to glint [ + with small flashes of light (eyes, gold, metal)] [brillar, relucir (los ojos, superficie pulida, metálica)] to gleam [ + faint, brief, soft, pleasant light] (brillar, relucir, resplandecer) to glimmer [ + faint light] (brillar con luz tenue o trémula) to glisten [ + wet surface] [brillar (superficie húmeda)] to glare [ + dazzling, unpleasant light] (brillar con luz demasiado fuerte o molesta, deslumbrar) to glow [ + throw out light or heat without flames] (brillar intensamente en la oscuridad, ardiendo sin llamas) to flash [ + brief, sudden bright light] (brillar intensamente durante un momento, destellar, centellear) to flicker [ + unsteady light] [parpadear, temblar (luz), brillar con luz mortecina, trémula o intermitente] to shimmer [ + soft light that seems to waver] (rielar) to sparkle [ + brightly, reflected, repeatedly] (brillar, centellear, chispear) to twinkle [ + with a light that changes constantly from bright to faint] [brillar (estrellas, ojos), relucir, centellear, parpadear] to dazzle [ + with a light so bright that it blinds you temporarily] (deslumbrar) to beam [ + produce a ray of light] (irradiar un rayo de luz) (see also 4.2.8.c) to blink [ + with an unsteady or intermittent light; also shut and open the eyes quickly, gen. involuntarily] (parpadear) to blaze [ + with a very bright, strong light; burn with a bright flame] (flamear, llamear) to scintillate [ = to sparkle or twinkle in literary style] walking: to stride, to plod, to trudge, etc. (see 9.2.7) 8.2.8 GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS to arrive at (a place/a village/small town)/in (big cities/countries) (llegar a) to dare sb to do sth (desafiar a alguien a que haga algo) good at/for/to/of (bueno en/para/por parte de) to acquaint sb with sth (informar a alguien de algo, poner al corriente de) to sponge from/to touch for (gorronear, sablear) to prevent sb/sth from doing sth (impedir a alguien/algo que haga algo)

134 8.2.9 LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS to shine: the sun is shining (el sol brilla); her golden hair shone in the bright sun (su pelo dorado brillaba al sol radiante), there’s a light shining in the house (hay una luz que brilla en la casa), his eyes shone with happiness(sus ojos brillaban de felicidad) to glow: the cat’s eyes glowed in the dark (los ojos del gato brillaban en la oscuridad), the embers glowed in the dying fire (las ascuas brillaban en el fuego mortecino), the cigarette glowed in the dark (el cigarrillo brillaba en la oscuridad), she glowed with pleasure/pride (estaba resplandeciente de placer/orgullo), he was glowing with health (rebosaba salud) to gleam: the lights of the town gleamed in the distance (las luces de la ciudad brillaban a lo lejos), his shiny new car gleamed in the sunlight (su reluciente coche nuevo brillaba a la luz del sol), her eyes gleamed with amusement (sus ojos brillaban divertidos) to glitter: the emerald ring glittered on his finger (el anillo de esmeraldas brillaba/relucía en su dedo), gold glitters (el oro reluce), all that glitters is not gold (no es oro todo lo que reluce) to glint: a gun glinted in his hand (una pistola brillaba en su mano), their steel helmets glinted in the sun (sus cascos de acero brillaban al sol), his eyes glinted when he saw the money(le brillaron los ojos cuando vio el dinero) to flash: his knife flashed in the sun (su cuchillo brilló a la luz del sol), the lightning flashed (el relámpago brilló intensamente), his eyes flashed with anger (sus ojos brillaron con ira) to twinkle: the stars were twinkling in the sky (las estrellas brillaban/centelleaban en el cielo), his eyes twinkled with pleasure (sus ojos brillaban de placer) to glimmer: a light glimmered at the end of the passage/corridor/tunnel (una luz brillaba débilmente al final del pasillo/corredor/tunel), there’s a glimmer of hope for the lost climbers (hay un atisbo de esperanza por los montañeros desaparecidos/perdidos) to glisten: the wet leaves glistened in the sunlight (las hojas húmedas brillaban a la luz del sol), his forehead glistened with sweat (el sudor brillaba en su frente), her eyes glistened with tears (las lágrimas brillaban en sus ojos), the frost glistened on the trees (la escarcha brillaba en los árboles) to glare: the sunlight was glaring in his eyes, so he put on his sunglasses (el brillo de la luz del sol le molestaba en los ojos, de manera que se puso sus gafas de sol), the car headlights glared in front of him (los faros del coche brillaban cegadores delante suya) to dazzle: the car headlights dazzled me for a moment (los faros del coche me deslubraron por un momento), they were all dazzled by his performance (todos quedaron deslumbrados por su actuación) to shimmer: the water shimmered in the moonlight (el agua brillaba a la luz de la luna), the land shimmered in the heat haze (la tierra brillaba por la calima) to sparkle: a big diamond sparkled on his finger (un gran diamante resplandecía en su dedo), his eyes sparkled with happiness(sus ojos resplandecían de felicidad) to beam: the moon beamed in the clear sky (la luna brillaba/resplandecía en el cielo sin nubes), he beamed when he saw his name on the prizing list (sonrió de oreja a oreja cuando vio su nombre en la lista de premios)

135 to flicker: the candle flickered on the kitchen table (la vela parpadeaba en la mesa de la cocina), there was a flicker of hope in her eyes (había un atisbo de esperanza en sus ojos) to blaze: the city lights blazed in the night (las luces de la noche brillaban en la noche), her eyes blazed with anger(sus ojos brillaban/llameaban de ira) to blink: we could see the ship’s lights blinking in the distance (podíamos ver las luces del barco parpadeando a lo lejos) issue: [ ejemplar, número de revista/periódico: a back issue un número atrasado; asunto, tema, cuestión; emisión (de acciones, monedas, sellos); resultado (de negociaciones); (jur.) descendencia; to issue new stamps/coins/shares (emitir, poner en circulación: valores, acciones, monedas, sellos); to issue a magazine/an article (sacar: número de revista, artículo); to issue a statement/a warning (hacer público: decreto, declaración, nota); to issue sb with sth (dar, proveer de); to be issued with (a passport/a visa/a permit (expedir: visado, certificado, carnet); brotar (sangre de una herida, etc.); salir de (sonido de los labios, etc.); (jur.) to issue an order/a writ/a warrant (dictar auto, orden)] headlines: (to make/hit the headlines) (aparecer en primera plana/página) to visit: (to make/pay a visit to sb) (hacer una visita) 8.2.10 WORD-FORMATION suffixes -ful,- less to form adjectives: a) both –full and –less possible: faithful – faithless hopeful – hopeless helpful – helpless careful – careless useful – useless merciful – merciless pitiful – pitiless painful – painless harmful – harmless tactful – tactless tasteful - tasteless fruitful – fruitless restful - restless b) only –ful possible: awful dreadful peacefull

136 beautiful truthful successful wonderful respectful manful c) only –less possible: -

childless

-

homeless

-

endless

-

priceless

-

noiseless

-

worthless

-

fatherless

- countless conversion: bottle → to bottle condition → to condition corner → to corner daily → a daily dirty → to dirty dot → to dot empty → to empty pity → to pity skin → to skin to bore → a bore to swim → a swim negative prefixes: a-, dis-, in-, mal-, mis-, non-, un-, etc.: a-: amoral, apolitical, asexual, asymmetric, atypical, etc. dis- : dishonest, disloyal, disobey, disorder, discontent, dissimilar, etc. in-: incomplete, indiscreet, inevitable, inflexible, insecure, inhuman, intolerable, etc. in → im: immoral, impure, immortal, imbalance, etc. in → il: illegal, illegitimate, illiterate, illogical, etc. in → ir: irregular, irrational, irrecoverable, irrelevant, irreplaceable, irreverent, etc. mal-: maltreat, malodorous, malformation, malfunction, malnutrition, malpractice, etc. mis-: miscalculate, misfire, mislead, misinform, mishear, misunderstand, misplace, etc. non-: non-aligned, non-smoker, non-fiction, non-resident, non-returnable, etc.

137 un-: uncommon, unclear, unfair, unwise, unexpected, unforgettable, unintelligible, unfaithful, etc. (reversives) to undo, to unfasten, to untie, to unpack, to undress, etc. French borrowings: connoisseur (entendido, experto) (see 1.2.11 and 12.2.10) 8.2.11 IDIOMS as was her wont (como tenía por costumbre) thrilled to the bone (muy emocionado) to have a grudge against sb/to bear sb a grudge (guardarle rencor a alguien) to pray to high heaven (rogar a todos los santos) to have a soft spot for sb (tener debilidad por alguien) to be in a tight spot (estar en un aprieto) to put sb on the spot (poner en un aprieto) to knock spots off sb (ser muy superior/dar mil vueltas a alguien) on the spot (a.- en el acto; b.- en el lugar de los hechos) 8.2.12 REGISTER to kill (standard)/ to slay (liter.)/to do in/ to rub out/ to bump off (informal) drunk (standard)/intoxicated/inebriated (formal)/pissed/tight/soused/sozzled/stewed /well oiled (informal)/tipsy [slightly drunk (informal)]/ plastered/sloshed/tanked (up) (sl.) money/cash [dinero/dinero en efectivo, (standard)]/dough [pasta (informal)], bread/dosh/lolly [guita/tela (sl.)] 8.2.13 PHRASAL VERBS to bump sb off (liquidar/cargarse a alguien) to catch up with sb (pasar factura, volverse contra uno mismo) to chop sth off (cortar de un tajo) to get out (of) [salir (de)] to let sb in (dejar entrar/hacer pasar) to look for (buscar) to make into (convertir) to pay sb back (vengarse) to point out (señalar) to snap up (comprar con avidez, aprovechar una oportunidad) 8.3 PHONOLOGICAL STUDY

138 8.3.1 Graphemes

/aI/ headline, assigned, time /I/ which, hit, inspector /i:/ police /i/ gory /@/ (also /-/ pencil /-/ business

/3:/ circulation /I@/ souvenir /@/ elixir

8.4 GRAMMAR REVISION 8.4.1 non-defining relative clauses (see also ...which hit the headlines a few years ago... 3.4.2) Inspector Caulder, who was due to retire in three months’ time... 8.4.2 concessive clauses (see also 2.4.3) ...no matter how many brilliant, successful services... 8.4.3 by-agent in passive clauses ...was liked and respected by everybody in the village 8.4.4 -ing participle clauses (see also ...having unfastened his seat belt... 10.4.3) 8.5 EXERCISES 8.5.1

Give synonyms or near-synonyms for the following: a.- sullen; b.- renowned; c.slothful; d.- to caress; e.- moreover; f.- motley; g.- gruesome; h.- nevertheless

8.5.2

Mention other breeds of dog which you happen to know

8.5.3

What breeds of dog do the following definitions stand for: a.- a large hunting dog with a sharp sense of smell, used for tracking people or animals b.- a hunting dog that stops with its nose pointed towards a hunted animal or bird that it has smelt c.- a type of thin dog with long thin legs that can run very fast in hunting and esp. in racing d.- a large long-haired dog used for looking after sheep or kept as a pet e.- a fierce-looking dog of German origin, often used as a guard dog f.- a small dog with short legs and a long body, resembling a sausage g.- a small fat short-haired dog with a wide flat face and a short flat nose h.- a very large tall dog with smooth hair i.- a large strong Swiss dog used, esp. formerly, for helping lost mountain travellers j.- a dog with thick curling hair often cut in special shapes, kept as a pet k.- a type of large short-haired dog that is white with black spots l.- a lap-dog with short legs, long silky hair and a snub nose

139 8.5.4

Add to the lexical fields of a) flowers and plants; and b) trees and shrubs, outlined in 8.2.6.b and 8.2.6.c, respectively

8.5.5

Add to the lexical field of fish/fishes outlined in 8.2.6.d

8.5.6

Fill in the blanks with a verb in the semantic field of shining: a.- The sun .........through the car windscreen b.- After the shower the leaves on the trees were ...........in the sunlight c.- His gold ring ...... as the light played on it d.- The fire had died down, but the embers were still ......... e.- The lake ........... in the moonlight f.- Stars ......... in the sky g.- A faint light .......... at the end of the passage h.- The furniture positively ......... after he had polished it i.- Lightning ........ in the distance j.- The miser’s eyes ....... when he saw the money

8.5.7

Make the following words negative by means of a negative prefix, then look up the meanings in a bilingual dictionary: a.- obtrusive; b.- management; c.- polite; d.- practice; e.- retrievable; f.- transferable; g.- scrupulous; h.- approval; i.profit; j.- proper; k.- typical; l.- legible; m.-satisfied; n.- animate; o.- quote; p.helpful

8.5.8

Classify the following words according to the way the graphemes and are pronounced: arrived, outside, culprit, Polish, promptly, kind, veritable, police, discovered, alibis, sponging, flight, animals, crime, criminal, pipe, worry, impatiently, high, mockery

8.5.9

Turn the following sentences into the passive without using a by-agent unless it is strictly necessary: a.- Nobody in the office trusted him b.- Charles Dickens wrote Oliver Twist c.- They’ve offered Ruth a huge rise at the bank d.- I can see you they have cleaned my study e.- The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour in December 1941 f.- His best friend deceived him g.- We’ll pay you in dollars h.- They abolished that law long ago i.- The competent authorities will have to look into the matter j.- They’re developing the photos right now

8.5.10 Test yourself on idioms. Complete the sentences below with one of the following words: fingers, nerves, nose, spots, nutshell, horse, turning-point, days, another, door, then translate the idioms into Spanish a.- I’m starving, I could eat a .......! b.- My eldest son has reached a ............ in his career c.- Your garden looks really smashing. You certainly have green .........! d.- My father-in-law has been very ill. He’s been at death’s .......... e.- To put it in a ................, there’s nothing we can do about it at the moment f.- I had to pay through the ....... for these pop concert tickets

140 g.- Your car has obviously seen better ............! h.- What with one thing and .........., I forgot to phone her i.- For goodness’ sake, stop bellyaching, it’s getting on my ......... j.- If I were you, I’d let her deal with him. When it comes to foreign languages, women usually knock ...... off men

UNIT 9 THE FAMOUS PSYCHIATRIST His name was Charles D. and he was famous. People talked and talked about the miraculous results he got, and his methods were beginning to be copied by some Harley Street specialists. Only very well-off people could afford to pay his fees, and they had to book at least six months in advance for treatment. Charles had truly made it in life, but the secret of his success couldn’t have been more simple: he just knew how to listen; in fact, he was the perfect listener. He was very honest and straightforward with his would-be patients and they knew what to expect when they came to his surgery: they bought an hour of his time and during those sixty minutes he was there to listen to whatever they wanted to say about themselves or about the world. And most of them did talk about themselves and the problems that were worrying them. And he listened to them attentively, interested, concerned, without ever asking personal questions, passing judgment, or even giving an opinion. And it worked: people knew very well why they were in his surgery and the high price they were paying for it, but they soon forgot about it, and as they kept talking, they got to see themselves as they really were, and they began to feel better, to relax. Charles never pretended to be a confessor, a friend, a comrade, or anything like that. He was just a listener, the ideal listener. For him, his patients were people who needed medical help, true, but first and foremost they were human beings in search of their real identity, and they had to find it by themselves, the only way he could help them being listening to them for an hour a week. And during that hour they could say whatever they pleased. There were no constraints: they could speak, shout, whisper, cry, laugh, they could use foul language if they liked, curse if they wanted. He just listened and showed understanding. Not that he was always silent, he occasionally made casual remarks, asked them if they felt like a cup of tea or coffee, or a drink, and sometimes he he went as far as asking them if they liked the pictures in his surgery, especially the Matisse he was obviously so proud of. Sylvia, his 7 to 8 patient this evening, knew all this about the eminent psychiatrist whom a close friend had advised her to see, but she had hesitated to come to his surgery. She wasn’t sure if it had been a good choice. Her doubts had nothing to do with his qualifications for she knew she would be in the best professional hands; nor were there any money problems: she was the editor of a well-known women’s magazine, and she was wealthy enough to afford any whim, but still...It was the first time she had required the services of a psychiatrist, so that she was a bit nervous when she entered the surgery at seven sharp. And the first thing that struck her was the surgery itself, if it could be

141 called a surgery, for it looked like an elegant living-room in an elegant country house rather than a doctor’s surgery. Comfortable armchairs, a sofa with plenty of soft feather cushions, a well-stocked bar, a hi-fi set, a glass-topped low round table with lots of trendy magazines, shelves filled with books, tasteful ornaments and family photographs – the personal touch -, good pictures on the walls – gosh, a Matisse! One felt immediately at ease in this atmosphere; and that was indeed the idea. That’s where Charles D’s originality lay. During their weekly session – and that was one of his golden rules: never more than one visit a week – patients were at liberty to do as they pleased: they could sit, stand, pace the room, lie on the sofa, even do push-ups on the carpeted floor if the fancy took them. As she looked at the handsome middle-aged doctor in his mid-forties, his temples going grey already, she immediately realized that the rumours she had heard about his frivolity were entirely groundless. Word had got around that he chatted up some of his rich, beautiful patients, but it was obvious at once, just by looking at this discreet, reserved man, with that worldly half-smile on his lips, that if any of his classy clients had ever had designs on him and made advances to him, she would have promptly met with a barrier of ice. And those accusations of orgies being held in the surgery, simply ridiculous: people had evidently been misled by the group therapy sessions he sometimes organized... Sylvia, a slim green-eyed blonde, going on for forty, but still extremely attractive, had dressed with special care for this first visit, and she knew she was looking really smart in her light grey tailored suit with handbag and shoes to match – not that she was out to seduce the doctor. Or was she? She lit a cigarette and started to tell him right away about her problems: she was quite worried, she felt off balance, had lost control of her own life, and she was beginning to fear for her peace of mind. She didn’t tell him much the first day, but she did tell him that her marriage was going to the dogs, that her husband had lost all interest in her, that he never looked at her, seldom listened to her, didn’t seem to notice her. She told him that much only, but she already felt relieved. She was beginning to think that it had been a good idea to come to this doctor... On her second visit – there was no limit to the number of sessions Charles’s patients took, and it was the patients themselves who decided when they were cured – she was more explicit: she told him about the other man, Albert. He was her husband’s lawyer and intimate friend, so it was really no trouble at all for her to meet him as often as she liked. Albert had always flirted with her innocently enough, but recently since her marriage wasn’t working any longer, he had been more and more daring. They often played tennis together, and at that party two months ago he had made some overt passes at her. She had been flattered and faintly amused, but apart from that...Not that she would have any problems deceiving her husband if she wanted to. He was so busy, he lived in a world of his own, and she had all the freedom she wanted. The main obstacle to overcome was she, herself, her way of life, her education. Like most women of her age, she had been brought up to be a faithful wife and a loving mother, and adultery really went against the grain...The doctor listened to her, attentive, polite, concerned as he sipped his Scotch, and she could see why he was so fashionable, so popular with the members of the gentler sex. He sat there next to her, so close and yet, so distant... Then the following week, on her third visit, she told him that it had happened. She was happy, she had found herself at last. It was great to feel desired as a woman again. She was cured, there would be no more visits...She had not thought it possible, but this afternoon at Albert’s office it had happened. Not everything, of course, just a few kisses and some hand holding – to think that not so long ago her husband and she used to hold hands in the cinema like a couple of teenage lovers -, but she had given him a date. He

142 had been so insistent that she had finally promised to go to his apartment the next evening, not knowing at the time whether she would keep her word or not; but now she had made up her mind, now she was sure she would go. She would tell her husband that she was having dinner with some school friends of hers she had not seen for ages, and she would spend the evening and part of the night with Albert, in his bed, in his arms...”For goodness’ sake, Sylvia, spare me the details, I’m not made of stone”, the doctor interrupted her flow of words. She could not believe her ears: the man of iron had softened, the statue of ice had melted at last...and as she picked up her gloves and handbag to leave, she looked with playful eyes at her husband, who was no longer smiling, and she knew her choice of psychiatrist had been the right one... 9.1 READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS a.- Why had Charles D. become so famous? b.- Describe his surgery. c.- Was the doctor’s reputation as a libertine justified? d.- What was Sylvia like? e.- What do you think had been Sylvia’s purpose in going to Charles D’s surgery? f.- What did she tell the doctor on her first visit? g.- And on her third? h.- Give your own ending to the story. 9.2 SEMANTIC ANALYSIS 9.2.1 LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES and yet (y sin embargo) at ease (a gusto) to book (reservar) casual remarks (comentarios casuales) comrade (camarada, compañero) concerned (preocupado) to curse (maldecir) fees (honorarios) flattered (halagado) foul language (lenguaje soez) glass-topped low round table (mesa baja redonda con cubierta de cristal) groundless (sin fundamento) to hesitate (dudar) hi-fi set (equipo de alta fidelidad) if the fancy took them (si les apetecía) in advance (por adelantado)

143 to melt (derretirse) misled by (inducido a error por) off balance (desiquilibrado) orgy (orgía) to pass judgment (dictar sentencia, pronunciarse) (see key: 5.5.3.a) push-ups (flexiones) qualifications (capacitación profesional) relieved (aliviado) sharp (en punto) (see 9.2.5) to sip (beber a pequeños sorbos) (see 4.2.8.b) to soften (ablandarse) still (sin embargo) straightforward (claro, directo, sincero) surgery (consulta) tailored suit (traje sastre entallado) (see 6.2.7.c and key: 6.5.1.a) tasteful (de buen gusto) temple (sien) (see 9.2.6.b) therapy sessions (sesiones de terapia) to match (haciendo juego) trendy magazines (revistas de moda) well-off people (gente rica, pudiente, acomodada) well-stocked (bien surtido) whim (capricho) wordly (mundano) would-be (futuro, aspirante a) 9.2. 2 SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS to cry [to weep, to sob (sollozar), to shed tears (derramar lágrimas), to sniff/to snivel/ to wail/ to whine (lloriquear, gimotear)] to cure (to heal) to deceive one’s husband/wife (to cheat on, to cuckold) to deceive sb (to cheat, to trick, to take in, to lead on, to inveigle; colloq.: to take for a ride, to put one over on sb) faintly (softly, in a low voice, weakly, feebly)

144 gosh! (Heavens! good Heavens!) to look like (to resemble) playful (mischievous) very thin [skinny (en los huesos, flacucho), underweight (falto de peso), bony (huesudo), lanky (larguirucho), scrawny (escuálido, esmirriado), scraggy (canijo), puny (raquítico), skeletal (esquelético)] wealthy (rich, well-off) whim (caprice) 9.2.3

ANTONYMS

attentive (inattentive) busy (idle) close (distant) concerned (unconcerned daring (cowardly) discreet (indiscreet) explicit (vague) faithful (unfaithful) nervous [calm, cool, unruffled, quiet, composed; laid-back (informal)] polite (impolite, rude) popular (unpopular) reserved (outgoing) silent (loquacious, talkative, garrulous) sure (unsure, doubtful) tasteful (tasteless) trendy (unfashionable) 9.2.4

HOMONYMS

arm (brazo) from OE/arm (arma) from ME, from OF armes to lay (poner) from OE lecgan/lay (laico) from ME, from OF lai, ult. from acclesiastical Latin laicus to lie (yacer) from OE licgan/to lie (mentir) from OE lyge low (bajo) from ME lāh, from ON lágr/to low (mugir) from OE hlōwan match (que está a la altura de) from OE gemaecca/match (cerilla) from ME, from OF mesche, meiche, perhaps from Latin myxa (lamp-nozzle) temple (templo) from OE tempel, reinforced in ME by OF temple, ult. from Latin templum/temple (sien) from ME, from OF, ult. from Latin tempora pl. of tempus 9.2.5 POLYSEMIC TERMS match [partido (de fútbol, baloncesto, etc.); combate (de boxeo); que está a la altura de alguien; casamiento, matrimonio; complemento, cosa que le va a otra; to match (pegar, combinar, hacer juego); emparejar, casar con; igualar, llegar a la altura de; corresponder/ajustarse a (descripción); avenirse, llevarse bien

145

to pick sth/sb up (recoger algo o a alguien; mejorar (situación, salud, negocios, tiempo); adquirir (hábitos, costumbres, acento); aprender (idioma, habilidad); pillar (enfermedad); comprar (ganga); ligar a alguien; descolgar (teléfono); reanudar (historia); captar (señales, mensaje por radio); hacerse cargo de (factura, cuenta); detectar (error); rescatar (de un naufragio); coger (velocidad); arrestar, enterarse por casualidad (noticia, rumor, chisme); sacar (cobrar, ganar); to pick oneself up (levantarse después de una caída); to pick sb up (on sth) (enmendar la plana); to pick up after sb (ir recogiendo lo que otro va dejando tirado por ahí) sharp [afilado, puntiagudo; agudo, punzante, cortante; cerrada (curva); repentino (cambio, caída, subida); mordaz (crítica); severa (reprimenda); en punto (hora)] 9.2.6 LEXICAL FIELDS a) medical specialists: anaesthetist (anestesista) analyst (analista) brain surgeon (neurocirujano) cardiologist (cardiólogo) chiropodist (podólogo) dentist (dentista) dermatologist (dermatólogo) forensic scientist (forense) geriatrician (geriatra) gynaecologist (ginecólogo) homeopath (homeópata) neurologist (neurólogo) oncologist (oncólogo) ophthalmologist (oftalmólogo) oculist (oculista) paediatrician (pediatra) physiotherapist (fisioterapeuta) plastic surgeon (cirujano plástico) psychiatrist (siquiatra) surgeon (cirujano) urologist (urologo) b) parts of the head: Adam’s apple (nuez) blind spot (punto ciego) cornea (córnea) cheekbones (pómulos) cheeks (mejillas) chin (barbilla) ear (oído) ear lobe (lóbulo)

146 eye muscles (músculos del ojo) eyeball (globo ocular) eyebrows (cejas) eyelashes (pestañas) eyelids (párpados) eyes (ojos) face (cara) forehead (frente) gums (encías) hair (pelo) hard/soft palate (bóveda del paladar/velo del paladar) iris (iris) jaw (mandíbula) jawbone (maxilar) lens (cristalino) lips (labios) mouth (boca) nasal cavity (cavidad nasal) nape (cogote) nose (nariz) nostrils (orificios nasales) optic nerve (nervio óptico) palate (paladar/cielo de la boca) pupil (pupila) retina (retina) skull (cráneo) temples (sienes) tongue (lengua) tonsils (amígdalas) tooth/teeth (diente/dientes) uvula (campanilla) c) house furniture: armchair (sillón) bed (cama) bedside table (mesita de noche) chair (silla) chest of drawers (cómoda) cupboard (alacena) reading lamp (lámpara para leer) settee (sofá, canapé) sideboard (aparador) table (mesa) wardrobe (armario) etc. (see key: 9.5.2.a) d) other objects and things in the house:

147 ashtray (cenicero) bedcover (cubrecama, colcha) blanket (manta) blinds (visillos) carpet (alfombra) curtains (cortinas) cushion (cojín) doormat (felpudo, esterilla) fitting (aplique) flower pot (maceta) heater (calentador) linen (ropa blanca) mattress (colchón) mirror (espejo) pillow (almohada) sheets (sábanas) shutters (persianas) etc. (see key: 9.5.2.b) e) in the kitchen: beater/mixer (batidora) bottle opener (abrebotellas) cooker (olla) corkscrew (sacacorchos) frying pan (sartén) kettle (tetera, cafetera) nut cracker (cascanueces) oven (horno) pots and pans (cacharros de cocina) pressure cooker (olla a presión) rolling pin (rodillo) saucepan (cacerola) scales (peso, balanza) sink (fregadero) tin opener (abrelatas) toaster (tostadora) washing machine (lavadora) etc. (see key: 9.5.2.c) f) in the bathroom: bath(tub) (bañera) bathroom cabinet (armarito del cuarto de baño) bidet (bidé) comb (peine) electric razor (maquinilla de afeitar eléctrica) hairbrush (cepillo para el pelo) razor (maquinilla de afeitar)

148 shower (ducha) shower curtain (cortina de la ducha) soap (jabón) sponge (esponja) taps (BrE)/faucets (AmE) (grifos) toilet (inodoro) toothbrush (cepillo de dientes) toothpaste (dentrífico) washbasin (lavabo) etc. (see key: 9.5.2.d) 9.2.7 ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES walking: to walk (andar, caminar) to amble/saunter/stroll [+ slowly, quietly, in a leisurely way, for pleasure or relaxation] (pasear sin rumbo fijo) to strut [+ majestically, proudly] (andar majestuosamente, pavonearse, contonearse) to limp [+ lamely (permanently or temporarily)] (cojear, andar cojeando, renquear) to stride [+ with long steps] (andar a grandes zancadas, alargar el paso) to stalk/swagger [+ arrogantly, self-importantly, majestically, swinging one’s shoulders] (andar majestuosamente, orgullosamente, pavonearse) to shuffle [+ dragging one’s feet] (andar arrastrando los pies) to tramp [+ heavily and firmly] (andar pesadamente, patear) to trample on [+ step heavily on sb/sth crushing or harming them with one’s feet] (pisotear) to trudge/plod [+ laboriously, tiredly] (caminar con dificultad, cansinamente) to dawdle [+ slowly and idly] (andar muy despacio, con parsimonia) to stamp [+ with heavy steps, bringing one’s foot down heavily on the ground] (pisar fuerte, zapatear) to stump/stomp [ + with noisy, heavy steps] (pisar fuerte, haciendo mucho ruido) to tiptoe [+ quietly, noiselessly, on one’s toes] (andar de puntillas) to hobble [= to limp, but not permanently] (cojear, renquear) to stagger [+ unsteadily, because you are drunk or ill] [andar tambaleándose, haciendo eses (borracho, enfermo, etc.)] to totter [+ unsteadily or feebly, from side to side as if you were going to fall] (andar tambaleándose, vacilar) to stumble [+ nearly falling, on an uneven surface] (tropezar) to waddle [+ like a duck] (andar como los patos) to hop [+ jumping on one’s foot or making quick short jumps, like a bird] (andar dando pequeños saltos, andar a la pata coja) to trot [+ running fairly slowly, taking short steps] (trotar) to toddle [+ a child learning to walk; (fig) to walk or go somewhere] [dar los primeros pasos, andar inseguro; (fig) dirigirse a algún lugar] to totter [+ unsteadily or feebly] (andar tambaleándose, tambalearse) to pad [+ with quiet steps, noiselessly] (caminar sin hacer ruido) to pace [+ up and down, backwards and forwards, repeatedly or methodically, with slow, regular steps, esp. because you are feeling nervous or restless] (caminar de un lado a otro, esp. por sentirse nervioso o inquieto)

149 to hike [ + to walk a long way in the mountains or countryside, esp. for pleasure] (ir de excursión/caminata, hacer senderismo) to march [ + in a military manner, with regular steps] (marchar) to lurch [ + move suddenly forwards or sideways, because you cannot control your movements] (tambalearse, dar tumbos) to roam [ + with no clear purpose or direction, usually for a long time] (vagar) to ramble [ + for pleasure, usually in the countryside] (dar un paseo por el campo) 9.2.8 WORD-FORMATION over-: to overcome, to overdo, to overrate, to overeat, to overestimate, to overlook, to overtake, to overwork suffixes used to form verbs: -en: to soften, to widen, to darken, to lenghten, to redden, to sharpen, to shorten, to sweeten, to weaken, to blacken, to whiten -ate: to dehydrate, to humiliate, to originate, to chlorinate -ize/-ise: to apologize, to criticize, to organize, to legalize -ify: to falsify, to horrify, to simplify -ed-compound adjectives: glass-topped, long-haired, left-handed, blue-eyed, thin-lipped, sun-tanned, curly-haired, broad-shouldered, rosy-cheeked, red-haired, long-legged, straight-haired, good-mannered, bad-tempered, kind-hearted 9.2.9 IDIOMS first and foremost (ante todo) (for other binomials, see key 2.5.2) sth goes against the grain (se hace cuesta arriba) to be going on for [ir para/ir a cumplir (edad)] to be going to the dogs (venirse abajo, irse a pique: negocio, institución, matrimonio) to have designs on sb (tener los ojos puestos en alguien) to make a pass at sb/to make advances to sb (insinuarse, tirar los tejos) to make it in life (triunfar en la vida) to make up one’s mind (decidirse) word had got around that... (se rumoreaba que...) 9.2.10. PHRASAL VERBS to be out to (pretender, estar decidido a) to bring sb up (educar) to chat sb up (ligarse a) to feel like sth (apetecer) to look like (parecerse a) to pick sth up (recoger) (see 9.2.5) 9.2.11 CULTURAL NOTES Harley Street: a street in the centre of London where important specialists, who charge a lot for treatment, work

150

9.3 PHONOLOGICAL STUDY 9.3.1 Silent letters

9.3.2 Graphemes

p: psychiatrist, psychology, receipt, coup, pheumonia, psalm t: to soften (opt.), to fasten, to hasten, to glisten, whistle, to listen, to christen, castle, mistletoe, chestnut, ballet, chalet, buffet, ragout, mortgage, postman (opt.), Christmas (opt.), often (opt.) d: handsome, Wednesday, sandwich, handkerchief, grandfather (opt.) (in verbs) /t/ talked, worked /d/ copied, listened /Id/ wanted, pretended (in adjectives) /Id/ middle-aged, aged, blessed, crooked, dogged, learned, naked, ragged, sacred, wicked, wretched

9.4 GRAMMAR REVISION 9.4.1 for as a conjunction of reason ...for it looked like an elegant living-room... 9.4.2 enough with adjectives and other innocently enough, good enough adverbs 9.4.3 optional use of if or whether not knowing at the time whether/if she would keep her word or not 9.4.4 obligatory use of whether I don’t know whether to sell it or not I don’t care whether or not you play the piano Whether you do it or not is none of my business It all depends on whether... 9.4.5 if-nominal clauses ...asked them if they felt like a cup of tea 9.4.6 anaphoric use of to ...deceiving her husband if she wanted to 9.5 EXERCISES 9.5.1 Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word from the lexical field of walking: a.- He .......... into the bedroom, hoping not to wake his wife b.- The injured Arsenal forward .......... off the field c.- We had to .......... for miles across the snow to reach help d.- The tramp .......... along in shoes that were too big for him e.- The dying man .......... into the police station and collapsed f.- She .......... down the corridor in her slippers g.- I’ll just .......... round to the butcher’s to get some chops h.- A fat lady .......... up to the counter i.- The little girl was .......... over the cracks in the pavement

151 j.- The prisoner .......... the floor of his cell k.- She .......... past as if she were a top model l.- The old man was .......... the ground to keep warm m.- The two-year-old came .......... into the room n.- Be careful, don’t .......... on those pretty daisies o.- Stop .......all over the floor in those muddy shoes p.- He .......... along the beach for an hour or so 9.5.2

Add to the lexical field of furniture and other objects and things in the house outlined in 9.2.6.c-f

9.5.3

Find synonyms and near-synonyms for the following words: a.- to weep; b.- to cheat on one’s husband/wife; c.- to heal; d.- to put one over on sb; e.- weakly; f.to resemble; g.- puny; h.- caprice; i.- scrawny; j.- mischievous

9.5.4

Give the opposite of the following words: a.- unruffled; b.- talkative; c.outgoing; d.- vague; e.- rude; f.- doubtful; g.- wealthy; h.- tasteless; i.- idle; j.distant

9.5.5

Decide in which of the cases below we have homonyms, and in which, a polysemic term: a.- lay (laico)/to lay (poner) b.- to lay sth somewhere (poner algo en algún lugar)/to lay an egg (poner un huevo)/to lay the table (poner la mesa)/to lay some money on (apostar dinero a)/to lay a woman (copular con una mujer) c.- to pick sb up (recoger a alguien)/to pick up speed (coger velocidad) d.- to lie (yacer)/to lie (mentir) e.- low (bajo)/to low (mugir) f.-match (que está a la altura de)/to match (hacer juego) g.- match (cerilla)/match (partido) h.- temple (templo)/temple (sien)

9.5.6

Scan the first three paragraphs of the story for words ending in –ed, and classify them according to the way –ed is pronounced

9.5.7

Derive verbs from the words given: a.- hyphen; b.- deaf; c.- glory; d.- terror; e.vaccin; f.- theory; g.- person; h.- loose; i.- mummy (momia)

9.5.8

Say in which of the following sentences whether can be replaced by if without affecting the meaning: a.- I don’t know whether he lives in Italy or in Greece b.- I don’t care whether or not he plays the trombone c.- I don’t care whether he plays the trombone or not d.- Whether you marry him or not is none of my business e.- I haven’t decided yet whether to sell my collection of stamps or to keep it f.- It depends on whether you need the money or not g.- I wonder whether you could come a bit earlier h.- I’m going to do it whether you like it or not

152 9.5.9

Test yourself on idioms. Which of the three possibilities given best explains the words in italics?: 1.- He made a beeline for the toilet a.- went straight to; b.- stayed half an hour in; c.- cleaned 2.- My jeans are the real McCoy, sent by an American friend a.- the most expensive ones; b.- pure silk; c.- the genuine article 3.- Uncle Ned was continually going on the water-waggon and continually falling off it a.- intermittently poor and rich; b.- giving up alcohol and beginning to drink again; c.- being affected on and off by the gout 4.- Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched a.- Wait until you succeed before you boast of your success; b.- don’t sell your chickens until they’re a few weeks old; c.- don’t buy more chickens than you can feed 5.- To have an axe to grind a.- to have a debt to pay off; b.- to have a private interest in a matter; c.- to have a tool to sharpen 6.- He’s a wet blanket a.- He’s a compulsive liar; b.- He’s a lonely person; c.- He’s a bore and tries to spoil other people’s fun 7.- To pick sb’s brains a.- a.- to make fun of sb; b.- to extract ideas or information from a person for one’s own use; c.- to deceive sb 8.- To talk shop a.- to count the money you’ve made at the end of the day; b.- to tell a blue joke; c.- to talk about your work out of working hours 9.- To smell a rat a.- to smell foul; b.- to shiver with cold; c.- to suspect trickery 10.- To have sth up one’s sleeve a.- to keep a secret plan or idea in reserve in case you need it; b.- to have a skeleton in the cupboard; c.- to have a tattooed arm

9.5.10 Test yourself on phrasal verbs. Match the phrasal verbs given with their nonphrasal equivalents: a.- to get over (an illness) b.- to get together c.- to give sb away d.- to put sth by e.- to pass away f.- to pull sth off g.- to cash in on sth h.- to come into sth i.- to fall apart j.- to pull sth down 1.- to achieve 2.- to die 3.- to disintegrate 4.- to gather

153 5.- to demolish 6.- to inherit 7.- to betray 8.- to profit from sb’s success, experience, etc. 9.- to recover 10.- to save

UNIT 10 THE CANDIDATE You may have heard the story of the fisherman’s shoes. It’s an old Arabic tale about a king who insisted on being happy. It was not riches or power he was after. Pure happiness was his primary concern in life, so he decided to ask the wisest man in his kingdom what he must do in order to fulfil his dream, and the learned sage told him that all that was required was to find a man who was happy and ask him for his shoes. I won’t bore you with the rest of the story, which I suppose you’re all familiar with. I’ll just remind you, dear readers, that in the end, after a long, fruitless quest, the king’s emissaries found a singing fisherman who declared himself to be perfectly happy, but when they asked him for his shoes he said he had none... My friend P.L., the prestigious politician, running for senator for the XX party seven years ago, knew this little tale only too well, but he also knew that in our consumer society people who have no shoes cannot be expected to be exactly happy, so that on this rainy morning a few days before the elections, as he shaved in his luxurious, fashionable, en suite bathroom, his mind was not on fishermen or on shoes. Trimming his moustache with care, he grinned contentedly at his reflection in the mirror and thought about the speech he would deliver in the afternoon. He knew he projected a good image, no worries about that: he was a prosperous, honest professional, loving father and husband, a handsome healthy man women adored and men respected, the perfect candidate, somebody who inspired trust in all and sundry. And he came over rather well on TV, too: only the other day, when he had been interviewed, together with the leader of the main rival party, he had come through with flying colours. He was conscious of that, but today it was something special: on his electoral whistle-stop tour, he was visiting N. of the C., a small village in the mountains near his home town, not very important for the number of voters, but a significant rural community any serious candidate had to include in his visiting campaign. It was the sort of village where people did not believe in politicians; the young had all emigrated to the bigger industrial towns in search of better job prospects, and the old, though they made a point of attending all political meetings, could not be trusted to understand or care about politics, and as you stood there speaking to them, just by looking at their sly, malicious faces, you always had a pretty good idea of what they thought of you and your speech. Anyway, N. of the C. was a touchstone in any political campaign, a kind of acid test you had to pass if you wanted to know what your real chances were among the rural electorate. That’s why P.L. was not willing to run any risks. He would take the bull by the horns and would bravely tackle all the main issues: in plain ordinary words that everybody could understand, he would tell these simple country people that if he got elected he would do the best for them. He would see to it that good roads were built, making the access to their village easier, and bringing prosperity to everybody; he would

154 make the National Health Service work at last; there would be no children without school, no unemployed, and the retired would get better pensions, without anybody having to pay more taxes. He had his lesson well learnt; no need to rehearse it any longer, he knew it by heart, and he was full of self-confidence... And sure enough, at the beginning nothing could have gone better: it stopped raining at midday, and a warm bright sun shone on the large crowd that had gathered in the main square. Practically all the inhabitants of N. of the C. had come to the meeting, and there were many others who had travelled in from the neighbouring villages. P.L. was glad to see that his speech was going down quite well, and he had just said he would create ten thousand new jobs every month, and was making a short pause for effect, to let his words sink in, when the incident happened. At first, it was only a question: an old man with a wrinkled face and mocking mischievous eyes, grasping a walking-stick in his gnarled hands, was asking: “How?” A single question by a single man in the crowd, but in the silence that ensued it had more effect than a bomb going off in the square. The orator immediately felt the tension in the air, but when his followers tried to shout the fellow down, he raised a firm, authoritarian hand to stop them. “No, no, please, he was right to ask”, and addressing the poor old devil: “Tell me, my friend, what do you mean by how?” “What I mean is how are you going to do it? To achieve all that you promise. How?” My friend listened attentively, and man of the world that he was and not without a sense of humour, he was half tempted to answer: “I wish I knew, myself.” But no, he checked himself in time; he could not afford to be facetious. Politically speaking, that would be suicide. All this had flashed through his mind in a fraction of a second, and he was now ready to give an answer, but the man kept saying how, how, and a few other hows were beginning to be heard, here and there among the crowd. And then, suddenly it was a clamour: how, how, how, a thousand thundering hows rose unanimously from the multitude and, echoing in the mountains nearby, they came rolling back to him with enhanced violence, menacingly...how, how, how, how..., he looked around and behind him at comrades, and he could see alarm and fear written on their faces. This was disaster, the end of his career; a single question by a single man in a single village, but now it was the voice of the people, and the voice of the people could not be ignored. He noticed that his bodyguards were nervously fingering their guns and making a circle around him, thinking of nothing but a hasty retreat to the safety of the caravan. But it was at this point that my friend’s stamina showed: brushing the guards aside, he raised his arms in a big V, and switching on his best manly smile, he began to shout with the best in the crowd: “how, yes, how, you ask me how I will do it, and I will tell you how.” The populace had indeed stopped shouting by then, and my friend could speak... And I’ve never found him so convincing. He spoke and spoke, and he sounded so sincere; he was magnificent, splendid, really brilliant, and in the end, there were tears in the women’s eyes, and the men cheered and applauded like mad. The moment of danger was over, the road to success, clear...But later, that night, in the silence of his own home, preparing for bed, my friend P.L. looked at his haggard reflection in the mirror and could not help thinking of the old man, with the wrinkled face and the mocking eyes that had not been convinced...How?...How?...He wondered...how? Well, this is purely anecdotical, of course, and it did not affect my friend’s career in the least: his party didn’t win the elections, but he became a senator, was re-elected four years later and is still in office. What really worries me a bit, and him, too, no doubt, is that now, running for senator again, seven years after that eventful day in the mountainous village, he still doesn’t know how.

155 10.1 READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS a.- Draw a portrait of P.L. b.- What are the advantages of an en suite bathroom? c.- What had been the outcome of P.L.’s TV debate with the leader of the opposition? d.- What did the old people in N. of the C. think of politicians in general? e.- What was the weather like on the afternoon of the N of the C meeting? f.- Summarize the main points in P.L.’s campaign programme. g.- What was the bodyguards’ reaction to the incident during P.L.’s speech? And P.L.’s? h.- What do you think the message of this story is? 10.2 SEMANTIC ANALYSIS 10.2.1 LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES to be in office (estar en el poder, gobernando) consumer society (sociedad de consumo) to check oneself (controlarse) to cheer (vitorear) to echo (resonar) en suite bathroom (cuarto de baño adjunto al dormitorio) to enhance (aumentar) eventful (accidentado) facetious (bromista, gracioso) fruitless (infructuoso) full of self-confidence (lleno de seguridad en sí mismo) gnarled [deformada (mano)] haggard (demacrado, macilento, con ojeras) hasty (precipitado) manly (varonil, viril) the National Health Service (la Seguridad Social) a poor old devil (un pobre diablo) quest (búsqueda) to rehearse (ensayar) retreat (retirada) riches (riqueza) sly (astuto, taimado) stamina (energía)

156 to tackle all the main issues (abordar/hacer frente a todos los grandes problemas) thundering (atronador) touchstone (piedra de toque) unemployed (desempleado, en el paro) wrinkled (arrugado) 10.2.2 SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS to applaud (to clap, to cheer, to acclaim) crowd (multitude, populace, mob) to finger (to touch, to stroke) to gather (to assemble, to congregate) haggard (pale, pallid, sallow, gaunt, emaciated) in office (in power) menacingly (threateningly) pretty (adv.) (quite, rather, fairly) self-confidence (self-assurance, belief in oneself, aplomb) story (tale) 10.2.3 ANTONYMS eventful (uneventful, dull) facetious (serious) hasty (slow) self-confident (diffident, unsure) to shout (to whisper) wrinkled (smooth) 10.2.4 POLYSEMIC TERMS concern (preocupación; interés; negocio; to concern: incumbir; interesar; preocupar; concerned: preocupado, involucrado; to be concerned with tratar/versar sobre; as far as I’m concerned por lo que a mí respecta) to deliver [ repartir (correo), entregar (paquetes, mercancías, mensajes); pronunciar (discurso, veredicto); entregar (persona, ciudad); ayudar a nacer, atender en el parto; (rel) librar del mal: deliver us from evil líbranos del mal]

157 issue (see 8.2.9) 10.2.5 LEXICAL FIELDS a) rooms and parts of the house: basement (sótano) bathroom (cuarto de baño) bedroom (dormitorio) cellar (bodega) dining-room (comedor) garage (garaje) hall (saloncito de entrada) kitchen (cocina) library (biblioteca) pantry/larder (despensa) porch (porche) sitting-room/living-room (cuarto de estar) study (despacho) terrace (terraza) etc. (see key: 10.5.3) b) footwear: boots (botas) brogues (zapatos gruesos de cuero) clogs/pattens (zuecos) espadrilles (alpargatas) galoshes (chanclos) gym shoes (zapatillas de gimnasia/de deporte) loafers/moccasins (mocasines) patent leather shoes (zapatos de charol) plimsolls (zapatillas de deporte, playeras) sandals (sandalias) shoes (zapatos) slippers (zapatillas) sneakers (zapatillas de deporte- AmE) tennis shoes (zapatillas de tenis) trainers (zapatillas de deporte- BrE) wellingtons/wellington boots (botas de agua) 10.2.6 ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES shouting: to shout (gritar) to yell [ + loud, sharp, in pain, fear, anger, excitement] (gritar, aullar, dar alaridos) to scream [ + loud, high-pitched, in pain, fear] (gritar, chillar)

158 to howl [ (of persons) + loud cry (with pain, anger, laughter); (of wolves, dogs) make a long, loud cry; (of the wind) to make a long loud noise; (of babies) to cry loudly] (gritar, aullar, dar alaridos, berrear) to bellow [ + roar with pain, angrily] [vociferar, bramar, rugir (de dolor o rabia)] to holler ( = to bellow AmE) to shriek [ + sharp, with excitement, laughter, in fright] (gritar, chillar) to squeal [ + high-pitched, strident, not too long, with laughter, delight, pain] (chillar, dar chillidos, dar gritos agudos) to bawl [ + loudly, in an unpleasant or angry way; (of babies) to cry loudly] (gritar a, vociferar; berrear) 10.2.7 WORDS EASILY CONFUSED to expect/to wait/to hope (esperar) to expect (to regard as likely): The rate of inflation was higher than the government had expected (la tasa de inflación era más alta de lo que el gobierno esperaba); he’s expected to arrive this afternoon (se espera que llegue esta tarde); special collocations: She’s expecting a baby (está esperando un bebé); I expect so (supongo que sí); I expect not (supongo que no) to wait (not to do something until sth else happens or someone arrives): Wait for me at the bus-stop (espérame en la parada de autobús) to hope (to want something to happen and believe it’s possible): I hope you pass your exam (espero que apruebes tu examen) 10.2.8 GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS to begin to do sth/doing sth (empezar a hacer algo) cannot help+ -ing form (no poder evitar hacer algo) to finish doing sth (terminar de hacer algo) to insist on/that... (insistir en/que) to keep doing sth (seguir haciendo algo) to let sb do sth (dejar/permitir a alguien hacer algo) to raise sth/sb (see lexical collocations: 10.2.9) to rise (see lexical collocations: 10.2.9) to stop doing sth (dejar de hacer algo)/to stop to do sth (parar para hacer algo) 10.2.9 LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS to run: to run a race; to run a bath; to run for office/president/senator/Congress; to run in the family/in sb’s blood; to run on petrol/diesel; to run a business; his nose is running; to run a comb through one’s hair; to run errands; to run dry; to run across sb/sth; to run after sb/sth; to run away from; the battery has run down; to run into sb; patience/money/time can run out; debts can run up; to run into trouble; to run short of; the trains are running behind schedule; to run wild; to run aground; to run sth off; to run over; to run sb over; to run over sth; run for your lives! (for translation, see key: 10.5.4)

159 to tackle (hacer frente a, abordar): a difficulty, a problem, an issue (dificultad, problema, asunto, cuestión); to tackle sb about sth (plantearle a alguien una cuestión, tantear a alguien sobre algo); to tackle an opponent (sport) (hacer una entrada, placar a un rival) to switch on (encender): the radio, the TV, the lights, a heater (la radio, la TV, las luces, un calentador); the engine (poner en marcha el motor del coche), a smile (adoptar, valerse de una sonrisa) to become/to get/to grow/to turn (see 4.2.10) to raise: to raise sth/sb (levantar algo/a alguien); to raise oneself from the floor (levantarse del suelo); to raise the price (subir el precio); to raise the temperature (of a room) [subir la temperatura (de una habitación)]; to raise the rent/the salary/taxes (subir la renta/el sueldo/los impuestos); to raise one’s voice (levantar la voz); to raise doubts/hopes/fears/suspicions (suscitar dudas/esperanzas/temores/sospechas); to raise objections (poner reparos); to raise money/funds (recaudar dinero/fondos); to raise an army (reclutar un ejército); to raise children (educar niños); to raise horses/dogs (criar caballos/perros); to raise a question/an issue/a point [mencionar/plantear (tema/cuestión/punto); to raise a monument/a statue/a building [erigir (monumento/estatua/construir un edificio)]; to raise a siege/a blockade/an embargo/a ban [levantar (asedio/bloqueo/embargo/prohibición)]; to raise one’s eyebrows (alzar las cejas); to raise one’s hands against sb (levantarle la mano a alguien); to raise one’s glass to sb/sth (alzar la copa/brindar por alguien); to raise the alarm (dar la voz de alarma); to raise sb’s spirits (levantarle la moral a alguien); to raise a laugh/a smile (provocar risa/una sonrisa); to raise sb on the radio/phone (localizar a alguien por radio/teléfono); to raise sb from the dead (resucitar a alguien de entre los muertos); not to raise a finger to help sb (no mover un dedo para ayudar a alguien); to raise Cain/hell (armar el taco); to raise one’s voice against sth/sb (alzar la voz/protestar contra algo/alguien) to rise: sb rises (alguien se levanta); sth rises (algo sube, se eleva, se levanta, surge); he rose early (se levantó temprano); to rise to one’s feet (ponerse en pie); his voice rose above the din (su voz se elevó/alzó por encima del ruido); sth rises in the air (algo se eleva por los aires); the big tree rises above the rooftop (el gran árbol se eleva por encima del tejado); the sun/the moon/the stars rise (el sol/la luna/las estrellas salen); a wind/a storm rises/is rising (se levanta viento/surge una tempestad); sth rises to the surface (algo sale a la superficie); prices/the temperature/ unemployment/inflation/tension can rise (los precios/la temperatura/el desempleo/la inflación/la tensión pueden subir/aumentar); to rise to important positions/to a higher status (ascender a puestos importantes/subir de categoría); voices of protest rose from the crowd (se alzaron voces de protesta de entre la multitud); his spirits rose when he saw her (al verla se le levantó la moral); to rise to the occasion/challenge (estar a la altura de las circunstancias); to rise against a dictator/the oppressor (levantarse/sublevarse contra el dictador/opresor); the river had risen several feet after the heavy rains (el río había crecido varios pies tras las fuertes lluvias); Parliament rose at midnight (la sesión parlamentaria se levantó a medianoche); to rise to the bait (morder el anzuelo); to rise from the dead (resucitar de entre los muertos); to rise from the ashes (resurgir de las cenizas); to rise (up) in arms (alzarse en armas), tears rise to sb’s eyes (saltársele las lágrimas a alguien); the Mississipi rises in Lake Itasca (Minnesota) [el Mississipi nace en el lago Itasca (Minnesota)]

160

10.2.10 WORD-FORMATION adjectives ending in –ous: malicious, generous, mountainous, facetious, conscious, furious, courageous, glorious, poisonous, ambitious, cautious, virtuous, etc. (see also 6.2.12) conversion: finger → to finger (see also 8.2.10) 10.2.11 IDIOMS acid test (prueba de fuego) all and sundry (todo el mundo, todo quisque) (for other binomials, see key 2.5.2) by heart (de memoria) man of the world (hombre de mundo) to come through with flying colours (hacer algo muy bien, sacar nota) to make a point of (asegurarse de hacer algo) (for other idioms with point, see 2.2.12) to take the bull by the horns (coger al toro por los cuernos) 10.2.12 PHRASAL VERBS to be after sth/sb (ir tras, tratar de conseguir) to brush sth/sb aside (hacer caso omiso de, apartar) to come over well (dar buena imagen) to go down well (ser bien acogido, caer bien) to go off [explotar (bomba)] to run for (presentarse a) to see to sth (ocuparse de algo) to shout sb down (callar a gritos, no dejar hablar) to sink in (darse cuenta de la importancia de algo) to switch sth on [valerse de, hacer uso de (encanto, sonrisa)] 10.2.13 DIFFERENCES BRE./AME. moustache/mustache, pyjamas/pajamas, etc. (see 3.2.11) 10.3 PHONOLOGICAL STUDY 10.3.1 Silent letters

10.3.2 Graphemes

l: folk, talk,chalk, half, calf, calm, almond, could, would, should, colonel, Stockholm, Norfolk, Suffolk g: campaign, foreign, foreigner, sign, benign, malign, design, resign, gnarled , to gnash, diaphragm

/u:/ moon, school /U/ good, book /V/ blood, flood /@U/ brooch

161 /U@/ poor, moor /O:/ door, floor 10.4 GRAMMAR REVISION 10.4.1 may used to indicate possibility or You may have heard to story of the probability fisherman’s shoes 10.4.2 must used to indicate necessity ...what he must do in order to fulfil his dream 10.4.3 -ing participle clauses (see also ...trimming his moustache with care... 8.4.4) ...brushing the guards aside... ...switching on his best manly smile... ...preparing for bed... ...running for senator again... 10.4.4 nominalized adjectives ...the young had all emigrated to... ...the old...could not be trusted to... 10.4.5 conditional sentences: type 2 ...if he got elected he would do the best for them 10.5 EXERCISES 10.5.1 Find synonyms and near-synonyms for the following words: a.- mob; b.- to assemble; c.- to clap; d.- sallow; e.- to threaten; f.- superb 10.5.2 Complete the following pairs of antonyms: a.- above b.- to agree c.- to curse d.- to laugh e.- raw f.- shade g.- rough h.- asleep i.- to censure j.- chubby k.- complicated l.-to muddle 10.5.3 Add to the lexical field of rooms and parts of the house outlined in 10.2.5.a 10.5.4 In 10.2.8 you have the main lexical collocations of to run, translate into Spanish 10.5.5 Transform the following sentences, so that each new one has an idiom with point: a.- It isn’t worth waiting for him any longer b.- I can understand what your opinion on that matter is c.- He was about to leave when the phone rang d.- I wish you would stop beating about the bush e.- We always make sure we lock the door of the house before going to bed for the night f.- Of course he’s very young, but that isn’t important

162 g.- OK, you’ve made sufficiently clear what you mean h.- To put it bluntly, he’s not up to the job i.- Actually, I don’t know him very well j.- I think we could make an exception in this case 10.5.6 Fill in the blanks with the correct form of to rise or to raise as appropriate: a.- They’ll ........... a statue in his honour in his native village b.- I ..... my glass to you c.- Unemployment has ..... for the third month in a row d.- It’s about time the embargo ........... e.- The crowd applauded when the hot-air balloon ......... in the air f.- Voices of protest against the dictator .......... among the crowd g.- When he heard that he ..... his eyebrows h.- His mother wanted to ........... him as a Muslim i.- Hitler ..... to power in Germany in 1933 j.- Our spirits ....... when we heard of their safe return 10.5.7 Classify the following words according to the way the graphemes and are pronounced: too, bathroom, afternoon, good, stood, looking, school, poor, door, moor, wood, blood, brooch, moon, flood 10.5.8 Put the verbs in brackets in the right tense: a.- If he (be elected) he would have done the best for them b.- If you do that, you (live) to regret it c.- If it (be) so expensive, we would have dinner at that first-class restaurant d.- I would telephone him if I (know) his phone number e.- He (win) the pools if he hadn’t forgotten to post the coupons f.- You (write) much quicker if you learned to type g.- If you stick your finger in there, you (get) an electric shock h.- If you (eat) so much chocolate, you wouldn’t have stomachache 10.5.9 Test yourself on idioms. Complete the sentences below with one of the following words: foot, stick, head, uptake, bend, holes, edgeways, tails, neck, tether, then translate the idioms into Spanish a.- Be careful what you say to him. He’s like a bear with a sore ....... this morning b.- He’s always picking ...... in everything I say c.- She talked and talked, and he couldn’t get a word in ........... d.- It isn’t like that at all, you’re getting the wrong end of the ........ e.- I wish he would stop bothering me; he’s a real pain in the ........ f.- But that’s simply absurd; he must have gone round the ......... g.- I can’t make head or ...... of what you’re saying h.- He’s worried to death; he’s really at the end of his ......... i.- I’m afraid he didn’t understand a word, he’s a bit slow on the ......... j.- You’ve got to put your ........down and make him stop gambling 10.5.10 Test yourself on phrasal verbs. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of one of the following verbs: to bring, to get, to go, to lay, to put, to stand and to take a.- She soon realized that they couldn’t .....by on her husband’s salary alone b.- The children soon ......to their new English teacher

163 c.- He’s very good at .........his ideas across d.- I’ll keep my promise. I never ......back on my word e.- This rainy weather is ...... me down f.- He was counting on ....... him round to his way of thinking g.- Those were difficult times for him, but his wife always ...... by him h.- Don’t worry, they usually ..... on extra trains during the high season i.- One hundred workers have been ......... off at the car factory j.- It’s going out in the rain without an umbrella that .......on your cold

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UNIT 11 JOHN FAT My dear friend John is a bright, clever, promising young man, jolly good at English and Maths, but...yes, there is a but, and a big one in his case, because he is fat, very fat, unquestionably, undeniably, rotundly fat. Admittedly, he has been like that all his life, but somehow he never quite got used to the idea, and it could truly be said that to this day he doesn’t bear it too well. Of course, with his double chin and multiple tyres, to say nothing of his pot belly, or his Falstaffian girdle, as he prefers to refer to it, our 20stone John has long got reconciled to being called fat. But language can be cruel, indeed, and if there’s one thing he cannot stand is the number of synonyms and near-synonyms English has for fat; it simply makes him sick: obese puts him in mind of someone in need of medical help, plump and chubby call up images of a pink fleshy wench out of a picture by Rubens, podgy reminds him of the puppy fat he “enjoyed” at childhood, fatty, chunky and tubby take him back to his schooldays when the bullies in his class invariably called him porky, and stout or overweight, passable euphemisms as they might have proved at times, become unbearable when uttered, as is often the case, with a condescending grin. To this should be added the exquisite torture of commentaries, especially that dreaded, impertinent one: “You’ve put on weight”, which never fails to get his goat. As you can see, life is not always easy for poor John, and never has been. Even at university, in his Phonetics class, he once thought he could catch a malicious glint in his teacher’s eye when, drilling vowel number four, he said: “The fat man had a sack and a mat.” (Oh, Jack, how sad, too bad). John hoped that as he grew up things would get better, but no, apart from the dubious privilege of being declared unfit for the Army, his fears and anxieties have grown worse, if anything. In love, he’s had no luck and when, inevitably attracted by the opposite pole, he found he liked his girls thin, he had to endure his chums’ jocose remarks: “Do you take a special pleasure in crushing the poor girl’s bones under your weight?” Ah, the jokes, those jokes in poor taste he so often has to put up with, he finds particularly disgusting: “Sit down, but be careful, don’t break the chair!” And when the large buttocks are on the seat, literally hanging over it: “Oh, did you get drunk yesterday?” “Why do you ask?” “Because I can see you have a hangover.” Revolting! Positively disgraceful! Literature is not much of a help, either. “For goodness’ sake!”, an exasperated John burst out once, “when will people realize that we, the fat ones, don’t always eat Gargantuan meals or drink like a fish? When will they finally understand that we don’t all ‘cry like a cow’ or ‘laugh like a calf’ as Pantagruel, the Rabelaisian giant, did, torn between grief and joy on the day his wife died after giving birth to his son?” “This is a world for the thin”, John can’t help thinking sometimes. “They can eat whatever they like. In fact, they can stuff themselves with food, as we, the paunchy ones, look on with envy, permanently watching our weight, counting the calories like mad. They can dress up in the latest, most fashionable clothes, while we, the fat lot, steal along to the special-size section of department stores where, if we are lucky, we’ll manage to find one of those distasteful huge grey garments that will fit our voluminous shape at last. Enough to make one cry.”

165 Dear John Fat, cheer up! You’re not alone; I feel for you; listen to my advice: don’t let the fact that you are so heavy depress you; look on the bright side of things. You, the corpulent ones, are usually friendly, good-humoured, tolerant, patient, generous people everybody is fond of. So, stop tormenting yourself. When you are with a slim person, don’t feel you are the Oliver Hardy of the famous Laurel and Hardy duo. Think of all those well-known actors, politicians, etc., who, like you, were on the plump side – Charles Laughton, Winston Churchill, - but were nonetheless generally admired. And if you want more recent examples, think of Fraga or Helmut Kohl, neither of whom can cut such a bad a figure after all, or their image consultants would long ago have put them on a slimming diet. As for the jokes, you should learn to take them with good grace, even have a go at cracking some yourself – do you know the one about the big man who is asked by a friend why he is so fat, and answers: “Because I never argue”. “Don’t be silly, it can’t be that.” “Well, you may be right, perhaps it isn’t”, and anyway, if one day you happen to be fed up to the back teeth, and you wish to blow off steam, have a hearty dinner with plenty of beans, onions and garlic, liberally washed down with claret and beer, and then, to ease your digestion, walk up to the highest hill you can manage to climb – don’t worry, a terrace or a balcony will equally do – and shouting a loud “long live the fat”, let out a big fart on the rest of the world. 11.1 READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS a.- Why doesn’t John like the various synonyms people use for ‘fat’? b.- What literary references are to be found in the story? c.- Make a list of the real fat people mentioned in the story d.- Do you think the phonetics teacher’s example can be taken in two different ways? e.- Explain the pun on ‘hangover’. f.- Where does John have to go to buy his clothes? g.- What’s John’s friend’s advice to John? h.- Do you know anyone who resembles John Fat? Give a brief description of him/her. 11.2 SEMANTIC ANALYSIS 11.2.1 LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES admittedly (es verdad que) as is often the case (como suele ocurrir) beans (judías) (see key: 1.5.1.b) to bear (soportar) bullies (abusones, matones) buttocks (nalgas) (see 11.2.5.a) claret (clarete) (see 11.5.3.c) to crush (aplastar) chum (amiguete) department store (grandes almacenes) (see key 11.5.3.b) disgraceful (vergonzoso, bochornoso, lamentable)

166 distasteful (de mal gusto) double chin (papada) dreaded (temido) to drill (aprender a base de ejercicios de repetición) to ease your digestion (para facilitar la digestión) fleshy (rollizo) garlic (ajo) (see key: 1.5.2.b) garment (prenda de vestir) girdle (cinturón) to give birth to (dar a luz/parir a) hangover (vestigio del pasado; resaca) hearty meal (comida abundante, generosa) I feel for you (te compadezco) if you happen to... (si resulta que, si por casualidad...) image consultant (consultor de imagen) in poor taste (de mal gusto) jolly good (muy bueno) to let out a big fart (see 11.2.11) long live the fat! (¡vivan los gordos!) on the plump side (más bien rellenito) onions (cebollas) (see key: 1.5.2.b) plump (rollizo, regordete) pot belly (barrigón, por comer mucho o beber mucha cerveza) puppy fat (gordura infantil) to put sb on a slimming diet (poner a alguien a régimen) somehow (en cierto modo) to steal along to (dirigirse a hurtadillas a) torn between grief and joy (debatiéndose entre la pena y la alegría) tyres (michelines) unbearable (insoportable) undeniably (indudablemente) unfit for the Army (no apto para el ejército) unquestionably (indiscutiblemente) to utter (pronunciar)

167 washed down with [ (comida) regada con] wench (moza) will equally do (servirá igualmente) with good grace (con buen talante) 11.2.2 SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS to be fond of (to like) chum (friend, pal, buddy) to depress (to get down) disgusting (revolting, disgraceful; appalling, repulsive, off-putting, repugnant, repelling) to endure (to put up with, to bear) fat [chubby/plump (rollizo, regordete), obese (obeso), paunchy/pot-bellied/big-bellied (barrigón), tubby/ fubsy (rechoncho, gordito), porky/fatty/podgy (gordo, gordinflón), chunky (fornido, cuadrado), stout (grueso), overweight (con exceso de peso), dumpy/roly-poly (regordete), big (grande), corpulent (corpulento), heavy (pesado), Falstaffian/Gargantuan/gigantic (gigantesco), fleshy (rollizo, carnoso), buxom (sana, rolliza y de pechos grandes)] grief (pain, distress, anguish, sorrow, sadness, unhappiness) hearty (substantial, large, abundant, generous) indeed (certainly, of course) plenty of (a lot of, a great deal of) silly (foolish, stupid) to stuff oneself with (to gorge oneself on) torture (agony, torment) unquestionably (undoubtedly, undeniably) 11.2.3 ANTONYMS bright (at) (bad, slow) friendly (unfriendly) good-humoured (grumpy) joy (sadness) patient (impatient) tolerant (intolerant)

168 11.2.4 POLYSEMIC TERMS case: caso; maleta; caja, cajón, estuche, funda, vaina, carátula, vitrina; to case embalar; to be cased in estar recubierto de; to case the joint reconocer el terreno (antes de efectuar un robo) patient: paciente (adj.), paciente (enfermo) tyre: neumático; (informal) michelín 11.2.5 LEXICAL FIELDS a) the human body arm (brazo) back (espalda) buttocks/cheeks (nalgas) finger (dedo) fist (puño) foot (pie) hair (pelo) hand (mano) head (cabeza) leg (pierna) limbs (extremidades) neck (cuello) shoulder (hombro) trunk (tronco) etc. (see key: 11.5.4.a) b) shops: baker’s (panadería) bookshop (librería) butcher’s (carnicería) chemist’s (farmacia) department store (grandes almacenes) greengrocer’s (verdulería) grocery (ultramarinos) jeweller’s (joyería) junk shop (tienda de objetos usados) newsagent’s (tienda de periódicos, revistas y golosinas) stall (puesto) supermarket (supermercado) etc. (see key: 11.5.4.b) c) alcoholic drinks: beer (cerveza)

169 brandy (coñac) champagne (champán) gin (ginebra) liqueur (licor) port (oporto) rum (ron) sherry (jerez) vodka (vodka) wine (vino) whisky (whisky) etc. (see key: 11.5.4.c) 11.2.6 ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES laughing: to laugh [reír(se)] to chuckle [ + quietly, inwardly] [reír(se) para sus adentros, entre dientes] to chortle [ + loudly, with pleasure or amusement] (reír fuerte, con ganas) to guffaw [ + noisily] (reír a carcajadas, carcajearse) to giggle/titter [ + in a silly way, because you are nervous, embarrassed or in halfsuppressed amusement] ( reír con risa tonta, nerviosa o disimulada) to snigger/snicker [ + in a half-suppressed secretive way, at sb else’s problems or mistakes] (reír disimuladamente, reírse del mal ajeno) to cackle [ + in a noisy, silly or unpleasant way] (reír con risotadas) to howl with laughter/to roar with laughter/to hoot with laughter/to split one’s sides/ to shake with laughter/to be convulsed with laughter/to be doubled up/to be in stitches/ to fall about/ to crack up/to die laughing [ + noisily, with great amusement] (partirse/mondarse/troncharse/revolcarse/morirse de risa) to laugh one’s head off [ + loudly, for a long time] (hartarse de reír) to burst out laughing/to dissolve into laughter [ + to begin laughing suddenly] (echarse a reír, soltar la carcajada) to hold one’s sides [ + be unable to stop laughing] (no poder aguantar la risa; troncharse de risa) to keep a straight face [ to avoid laughing though you are amused] (contener la risa) (see also 4.2.8.c) shining: to gleam, to glow, to glint, etc.(see 8.2.7) 11.2.7 WORDS EASILY CONFUSED to argue/to discuss: to argue (discutir, estar en desacuerdo, pelearse)/to discuss(discutir pacíficamente, expresar opiniones o puntos de vista) to remember/to remind:

170 to remember (recordar algo o a alguien, dar recuerdos)/to remind (recordarnos algo o a alguien conocido; recordar a alguien algo que tiene que hacer) (see also 11.2.8) to fit/to suit: to fit (estar bien una prenda, ser la talla adecuada)/to suit (sentar bien una prenda de vestir) 11.2.8 GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS can/cannot afford (sth/to do sth) [no poder permitirse (hacer) algo] cannot bear (sth/doing sth/to do sth) [no poder soportar (hacer) algo] cannot help (sth/doing sth) [no poder evitar (hacer) algo] cannot stand (sb/sth) (no soportar algo/a alguien) to get reconciled to (sth/doing sth) [resignarse a (hacer) algo] to manage (to do sth) (lograr hacer algo) to prefer sb/sth/to do sth/doing sth/I’d rather do sth/he did (sth) (preferir algo/a alguien/hacer algo/prefiero hacer algo/que él haga algo) to realize (sth/that...) (darse cuenta de algo/de que...) to remember sth/ sb (recordar algo/a alguien) to remember to do sth (acordarse de hacer algo) to remember doing sth (recordar haber hecho algo) to remember sb to sb (dar recuerdos a alguien) to remind of sb/sth (recordar alguien a alguien/algo: me recuerda a...) to remind sb to do sth (recordarle a alguien que haga algo) to remind sb that... (recordarle a alguien que...) 11.2.9 LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS to watch: to watch sb doing sth (mirar a alguien hacer algo); to watch the TV/a football match/a film (ver la TV/un partido de fútbol/una película); to watch sb (vigilar/espiar a alguien); to watch one’s language (vigilar el lenguaje); to watch one’s weight (vigilar el peso); to watch the clock/the time (estar pendiente del reloj/de la hora); to watch oneself (ir con cuidado; controlarse); to watch one’s step (mirar por donde se va, ir con cuidado); watch this space! (atentos a este espacio - le seguiremos informando) 11.2.10 WORD-FORMATION negative prefixes: un-, in- (im-/il-/ir-), dis-, etc. (see 8.2.10) conversion: but → a but; water → to water (see also 8.2.10) 11.2.11 REGISTER belly/paunch [barriga, panza (informal)/stomach (euphemistic)] to break wind [ventosear (standard English)]/to let out a fart/to fart [pederse (vulgar)] buttocks [nalgas (standard English)]/behind [trasero (euphemistic)]/bum [trasero/culo (informal)/arse/ass [culo (vulgar)]

171 Mathematics [matemáticas (standard English)]/Maths [mate (informal)] 11.2.12 EUPHEMISMS AND DYSPHEMISMS Euphemisms and dysphemisms for fat: euphemisms: overweight, stout, big, corpulent dysphemisms: porky, fatty, podgy, paunchy, pot-bellied, big-bellied, tubby, fubsy, dumpy, roly-poly 11.2.13 IDIOMS for goodness’ sake (por lo que más quieras) the opposite pole (el polo opuesto) to be fed up (to the back teeth) (estar hasta las narices) to blow off steam (desahogarse) to crack a joke (contar un chiste) to cut a good/bad figure (dar buena/mala imagen) to drink like a fish (beber como una cuba) to get sb’s goat (fastidiar) to have a go at (intentar) to look on the bright side of things (mirar el lado bueno de las cosas) to make sb sick (poner enfermo) to put on weight (engordar) to put sb in mind of sth (recordar a alguien algo) to stuff oneself with (atiborrarse de) to take sth with good grace (tomarse algo con buen talante) 11.2.14 PHRASAL VERBS to call up images (evocar imágenes) to cheer up (alegrarse, animarse) to dress up (vestir con elegancia) to grow up (crecer, hacerse mayor) to look on (mirar algo o a alguien con envidia/admiración, etc.) to put up with (aguantar, soportar) to take back (traer a la memoria; devolver algo; retirar lo dicho) to wash sth down with sth [ regar (una comida) con (una bebida)] 11.2.15 CULTURAL NOTES Falstaffian (referring to Falstaff, a fat, fun-loving person, a character in Shakespeare’s plays Henry IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor) 20-stone (127 kgs.) Gargantuan [‘gigantic’, from the name of the giant in a novel by Rabelais (1534)] Pantagruel (Gargantua’s son)

172 Rabelaisian [referring to Rabelais, famous French writer (1490-1533), who wrote Gargantua and Pantagruel) Oliver Hardy (the fat one in the celebrated comic duo Laurel and Hardy appearing in many American popular films in the 1930s) Charles Laughton (1899-1962) (a renowned American actor, born in Britain) Helmut Kohl (a well-known German politician) 11.3 PHONOLOGICAL STUDY 11.3.1 Homophones 11.3.2 Graphemes

died/dyed, birth/berth, pair/pear/to pare, dear/deer, to bear/bare/bear, no/to know, brake/to break, weight/to wait, beer/bier

/T/ thought, things, thin, thick, breath /D/ there, this, with, breathe /t/ Thames, Thomas /-/ asthma

/Ts/ months /Dz/ mouths /Ts/ or /Dz/ truths

11.4 GRAMMAR REVISION 11.4.1 disjuncts 11.4.2 inversion of as in concessive clauses (see also 7.4.1) 11.4.3 inversion of as in clauses of reason 11.4.4 as in adverbial clauses of manner

Admittedly... ...passable euphemisms as they might have proved at times... Fool as he was, he spoilt everything ...as he prefers to call it ...as is often the case... As you can see... 11.4.5 as in adverbial clauses of reason As you were out, I left a message 11.4.6 as in adverbial clauses of time (see Just as I was having a shower, the phone also 1.4.1 and 7.4.1) rang 11.4.7 nominal clauses in apposition Don’t let the fact that you are so heavy depress you 11.5 EXERCISES 11.5.1 In the text, we have the expressions “to cry like a cow” and “to laugh like a calf”, literal translations from the French, what English comparisons with like do you know? 11.5.2 Find synonyms or near-synonyms for the following: a.- friend; b.- to gorge oneself on; c.- undeniably; d.- to depress; e.- to put up with; f.- anguish; g.agony; h.- appalling; i.- chubby; j.- porky

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11.5.3 Find antonyms for the following words: a.- easy; b.- careful; c.- tasteful; d.generous; e.- to curse; f.- chubby; g.- tolerant; h.- to starve; i.- to laugh; j.- to clarify; k.- teacher 11.5.4 Add to the lexical field of a) shops; and b) alcoholic drinks outlined in 11.2.5.b and 11.2.5.c, respectively 11.5.5 Fill in the blanks with the right form of one of the following verbs as appropriate: to argue, to discuss, to remember, to remind, to fit, to suit: a.- She ......me of my own sister b.- I often heard the couple next door ...........about how to educate their children c.- That .......me I must take my dog to the vet d.- These shoes don’t .....me; they’re too tight e.- Please ......me to phone my lawyer this afternoon f.- Did you ...... to buy some paint? g.- Come round this afternoon and we can ...... the contract over a cup of coffee h.- Please ...... me to your parents i.- I like that dress; blue ....... you j.- I ...... my father buying me a bike on my 5th birthday 11.5.6 Use prefixes to make the following negative: a.- contented; b.- regular; c.- kind; d.- polite; e.- to understand; f.- considerate; g.- honest; h.- literate; i.- lucky; j.constant; k.- moral; l.- relevant; m.- normal; n.- resident; ñ.- expensive; o.- to treat; p.- legal; q.- smokers; r.- to please; s.- pleasant 11.5.7 Classify the following words according to the way the ths-grapheme is pronounced: paths, births, baths, youths, wreaths, truths, moths, months, booths, myths, depths, smiths, mouths 11.5.8 Join the two sentences together to form a single one beginning with a disjunct in each case: a.- Most of the immigrants living in this area have no residence permit. That’s obvious b.- He has reasons to be angry. Anybody can understand that c.- He didn’t tell anybody about his success. That’s rather curious d.- Everybody will get to know it in the end. That’s inevitable e.- You were out when we called. That was very unfortunate f.- Nobody had seen or heard anything strange. That’s surprising g.- They stole his wallet. He was lucky not to have much money in it h.- I like that Persian carpet. I admit it may be a bit expensive. 11.5.9 Test yourself on idioms. Match the letters with the numbers: a.- to feather one’s nest b.- good riddance (to bad rubbish) c.- even Homer sometimes nods d.- his goose’s cooked e.- a chip off the old block f.- to be bitten by the bug

174 g.- to have a finger in every pie h.- to have the upper hand i.- to make (both) ends meet j.- to tear sb off a strip 1.- a enemigo que huye puente de plata 2.- echar una bronca a alguien 3.- está bien hecho la pascua 4.- tener la sartén por el mango 5.- quien tiene boca se equivoca 6.- estar en el plato y en la tajada 7.- hacer su agosto 8.- conseguir que el dinero alcance hasta fin de mes 9.- picarle a uno el gusanillo 10.- de tal palo, tal astilla 11.5.10 Test yourself on phrasal verbs. Find the wrong meaning for each of the following polysemic phrasal verbs: 1.- to pick sb/sth up a.- to contract an illness; b.- to collect sb/sth; c.- to arrest sb; d.- to detect (a mistake); e.- to buy (sth cheap, a bargain); f.- to learn (a language); g.- to enter the priesthood 2.- to go off a.- to leave; b.- to divorce; c.- to explode; d.- to ring (an alarm clock); e.- to turn sour (milk); f.- to faint; g.- to happen 3.- to knock off a.- to make fun of; b.- to stop work; c.- to reduce (from a price); d.- to improvise (a song, verses, an article); e.- to arrest; f.- to obtain; g.- to murder 4.- to come in a.- to arrive; b.- to enter; c.- to become fashionable; d.- to come into force (law); e.- to get into a car; f.- to be elected; g.- to be received (a call) 5.- to turn out a.- to throw out; b.- to produce, to manufacture; c.- to admit openly one’s homosexuality; d.- to empty (one’s pockets); e.- to clean thoroughly (one’s room); f.- to be present (at a meeting); g.- to happen 6.- to put down a.- to place sth on the table; b.- to make a note of sth; c.- to kill an animal because it is too old or sick; d.- to suppress (a rebellion); e.- to humiliate; f.-to kneel; g.- to put a baby to bed

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UNIT 12 THE SAPIENT FOOL Once upon a time in a secluded little village in a faraway country there was an obscure university where a small but enthusiastic group of teachers taught. These teachers toiled very hard indeed, day in, day out, all wrapped up in their research work and all of them more or less convinced of their ignorance, which in a way, can be said to be the first indication of wisdom. Well, all except one: a vain, conceited professor who was as proud as a peacock. This man did not walk, he strutted along, he did not speak, he pontificated. His lectures were unbearably tedious, and nobody knew exactly what his subject matter was, but to himself his teachings seemed to be the alpha and omega, his ultimate raison d’être. Nothing very special or harmful about this really, as hundreds of professors before him have suffered from the same delusion. What really got people’s goat was that from his lofty pedestal he looked down on the rest of his colleagues as a bunch of dunces who did not know the first thing about anything, and whose theories and ideas, in his own words, “didn’t hold water.” He actually despised their work, and if someone happened to come up with something moderately interesting in the course of their research he hastened to brand it as serendipitous, a word nobody understood very well, but one he was very fond of and kept repeating ad nauseam. It was in fact a bit disgusting. You would say the fellow sincerely believed that he held the monopoly of knowledge, that inspiration was his alone, or that he possessed ‘a hot line’ to the Holy Ghost. In short, dear readers, the chap must have thought he was the cat’s pyjamas! At first, students and teachers alike gaped at the so-called brilliant professor as they listened to his grandiloquent quotings and long-winded disquisitions on “the levity of the being”, but after a while they began to see through him, and his vanity and swollen head soon earned him the sobriquet of “the sapient fool”. The professor did not seem to mind though, and it is even doubtful whether the nickname ever reached his ears in his ivory tower. “Multi sunt vocati, pauci vero electi”. And, of course, it couldn’t be otherwise: one day our hero was summoned to the capital by the king. No doubt his reputation had gone beyond his town’s limits and reached the court, the professor thought, and the sovereign wanted to meet him and reward him for his countless merits. He set off immediately with a light heart and was soon received by the king, who with mischievous mocking eyes that belied a grave countenance said to him: “Your fame has come to our ears and we wish to put your wit to the test.” The professor was astounded to hear that he was to be assigned three “simple” tasks. If he accomplished them well he would get public congratulations and a satin sash, but if he failed he would have his head cut off! The professor, who at first thought the king was joking, humoured him: “And what am I supposed to do, Your Majesty?” “Easy”, answered the king composedly, “first you must cleanse the Augean stables...” “But...but...that’s a Herculean task”, the professor stammered, “surely Your Majesty does not mean...?” “Don’t interrupt!”, the king cried angrily, adding softly with a touch of irony: “besides, if you were as wise as you think, you would have long realized that we’re speaking in metaphor.” The buffoons rolled about with laughter at the royal sally, and the king, evidently pleased with himself, continued: “then you shall get hold of the golden fleece and bring it to us.” The professor shuddered slightly as Jason’s ordeal and the Argonauts’ perilous voyage passed through his mind, but the king’s words cut short his mythological musings, “finally, you shall find the fountain of eternal youth and drink thereof.” Now the professor could not believe his ears. This was beyond a joke. “Naturally, Your Majesty”, he heard himself whisper, “if I

176 don’t succeed in my endeavour, I would be beheaded...metaphorically...” “Not at all”, the king snapped, “as a matter of fact, your head would be cut off most effectively.” For all its grim reality, the scene, to the professor, was vaguely reminiscent of something he had read in his younger days – chop her head off! Off with her head! He looked around instinctively for the Queen of Hearts and the Executioner, and for a fleeting moment, there was a flicker of hope in his own heart: the story could have a happy ending yet. But this was no Wonderland, and he, no Alice. He looked up at the sovereign’s stern expression and the blood froze in his veins, as he could see without the shadow of a doubt that the king was in deadly earnest. The professor was terrified. Still he mustered up enough courage to ask feebly: “And how long do I have to...?” “Not long, I’m afraid”, the king replied, inadvertently dropping the royal we, “I’m old, and haven’t got much time left. I want the tasks finished by the end of the next academic year. Run back to your village and set to work at once.” It was an abashed, crestfallen professor who started his way back to his home town, but as the effects of the terrible shock wore off, he was able to set to thinking and pondering as was his wont. He thought and pondered therefore and soon began to see the light. The first task was easy...cleanse the Augean stables...obviously, the stables were his own university, and his mission consisted in cleaning it out from all the nonsense and rubbish his colleagues said and wrote. He wondered how it had not occurred to him before. Anyway, no trouble at all, a couple of scathing articles in the right journals and...The second task appeared more complicated though...the golden fleece...well...gold, like money, did not grow on trees nowadays, but the solution to the problem might lie in looking for something productive, something profitable... “I’ve got it”, he said aloud, tapping his forehead, “my books, my writings, they’ll provide me with plenty of gold, which I will give to the beastly king to save my head.” But the third task continued to baffle him...drink from the fountain of eternal youth...? Nobody could pretend to be eternally young, and people did not attempt to achieve it any longer, not since the Conquistadors gave up the quest for Bimini. Well, he’d think of something. There was time. On the other hand, the king would surely be satisfied with two accomplished tasks, a giant’s tasks, undoubtedly, and spare his life. He was somewhat reassured, but still... The academic year was coming to its end, and the dismal professor had not yet found the answer to the puzzle. Sleepless nights, long, wearisome days, duller than usual lessons, as worry and nerves were clearly telling on him. But then, already well into the month of June, when he was about to abandon hope, the lucky break: the king had fallen fatally ill and was calling the professor to court, willing to pardon him, a good action no doubt in preparation for his own last journey. The professor flew to the king’s presence, and kneeling by his deathbed, began to give him his version of the first two mysteries...“No, you got it all wrong”, he heard the weak dying king’s voice, “it was the other way round...you had to cleanse your own muck, and the golden fleece was that of your colleagues...” The professor hung on the monarch’s every word, but they trailed off and the king died before he had had time to reveal the key to the third enigma... However, it was a different professor altogether that they all saw back from the capital. Less of a ‘cacademic’, ready to pounce on other people’s vices and ‘bad’ words, more tolerant with their sins and faults, less arrogant, more humane, a much more likeable person. A man, in sum, who might not yet have ascertained where the fountain of Bimini was to be found, but one who had a pretty good idea who he was supposed to drink with... 12.1 READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS a.- What was the professor’s relationship with his colleagues like?

177 b.- What does the narrator mean by ‘the cat’s pyjamas’? Give a variant of the saying. c.- What do you think serendipitous mean? d.- What interpretation did the professor give of the first two tasks? e.- What passage of Alice in Wonderland came to the professor’s mind when he heard the King mention his beheading? f.- How do you interpret the fountain of the eternal youth enigma? g.- What do you think the message of this story is? 12.2 SEMANTIC ANALYSIS 12.2.1 LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES abashed (desconcertado) to accomplish (llevar a cabo con éxito) ad nauseam (hasta la saciedad) the alpha and omega (el principio y el fin, lo más importante) as proud as a peacock (orgulloso como un pavo real) (see key: 7.5.6) to ascertain (averiguar) to be supposed to (deber, tener que) beastly (horrible, odioso) to behead (decapitar) to belie sth (desmentir, contradecir) to brand sth as (calificar algo de) buffoon (bufón) a bunch of dunces (un puñado de necios) cacademic (see 12.2.13) countenance (semblante) crestfallen (abatido, cabizbajo) to cut short (interrumpir) deathbed (lecho de muerte) delusion (ilusión falsa, espejismo) to despise (despreciar) dismal (triste, taciturno)

178 endeavour (esfuerzo, intento) a flicker of hope (un atisbo de esperanza) for all its grim reality (a pesar de su dura realidad) to gape (mirar con la boca abierta) (see 2.2.8) to get hold of sth (hacerse con, conseguir) the golden fleece (el vellocino de oro) (see 12.2.13) grandiloquent (grandilocuente) a Herculean task (un trabajo de Hércules, una tarea ímproba) in deadly earnest (completamente en serio) in short (en resumen) in sum (en suma) journal (revista especializada) lofty (alto, elevado) long-winded (interminable) a lucky break (un golpe de suerte) muck (porquería) musings (reflexiones) no trouble at all (sin problemas) once upon a time (érase una vez) to pardon (indultar) to pontificate (pontificar) raison d’être (see below 12.2.10) sally (ocurrencia) a satin sash (una banda/fajín de raso/satén) scathing (mordaz) secluded (retirado, aislado) to set to work at once (ponerse a trabajar inmediatamente)

179 to shudder (temblar) (see 12.2.5) sobriquet (apodo, mote) so-called (supuesto, pretendido) stern (serio) to strut (caminar majestuosamente (see 9.2.7) to summon [llamar (a la presencia de)] (see 12.2.8) to tap one’s forehead (darse un golpecito/una palmadita en la frente) the other way round (al revés, todo lo contrario) thereof (de ella) to toil (trabajar) wearisome (pesado) well into the month of June (bien entrado el mes de junio) wit (ingenio) with a light heart (con el corazón alegre) wrapped up in their research work (absortos en/entregados a su trabajo de investigación) 12.2.2 SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS abashed (crestfallen, humiliated, dismayed) to accomplish (to achieve) altogether (completely, totally, entirely, thoroughly, utterly) arrogant [haughty, conceited, full of oneself, cocky (informal)] as was his wont (as was his custom) astounded (greatly surprised, astonished, amazed, taken aback, nonplussed, flabbergasted) beastly (nasty, hateful) to cleanse (to clean, to make clean) countenance ( face, expression) countless (innumerable) to despise (to shun, to scorn, to slight, to look down on, to disdain, to deride, to scoff at, to jeer at, to sneer at, to mock, to revile, to spurn)

180 dismal (gloomy, cheerless, downcast, unhappy, miserable) enigma (mystery, puzzle, riddle) fellow (chap, guy) to hate (to detest, to loathe, to abhor, to abominate) humane (compassionate, considerate, lenient) muck (dirt, rubbish) to occur to sb (to enter one’s head/mind, to come to mind, to strike one, to dawn on one) perilous (dangerous, hazardous, risky) to ponder (to reflect) to reveal (to disclose, to unveil) scathing (devastating, extremely critical) secluded (isolated) sobriquet (nickname) sovereign (king or queen, monarch) stern (serious, unsmiling) task (job, labour) terrified [scared witless/out of one’s wits, frightened/scared to death, scared stiff, terrorstricken, horrified, scared shitless (vulgar)] to toil (to work) 12.2.3 ANTONYMS abashed (unabashed, undaunted) arrogant (modest, humble) dismal (cheerful) dull (interesting) humane (cruel, inhumane) lucky (unlucky) weak (strong) wearisome (enjoyable, stimulating) 12.2.4 HOMONYMS grave (grave) from Latin gravis, heavy/grave (sepultura, tumba) from OE. graef pupil (alumno) from ME, originally = orphan, from Latin pupillus, -illa, diminutives of pupus/pupa (boy/girl)/pupil (pupila) from OF pupille, from Latin pupilla, dim. of pupa (doll), so-called from the tiny reflections in the eye

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12.2.5 ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES shaking: to shake/to tremble (temblar) to shudder [ + from fear, cold, repugnance, etc.; (of a machine) vibrate)] [temblar (de miedo, frío, repugnancia, etc.], estremecerse, dar escalofríos (al pensar en algo), vibrar (vehículo, máquina)] to quiver [ + slightly, with emotion] (temblar de miedo, estremecerse, palpitar, temblar la voz de emoción, de rabia, etc.) to shiver [ + slightly, with cold, anger, excitement, fear] (temblar/tiritar de frío, dar escalofríos, temblar de miedo/rabia) to quaver [ (of the voice) + because you are nervous or afraid; (of a musical sound) to vibrate] [temblar (la voz, gen. por nervios), trinar (música)] to quake [ (of the earth) + shake or move violently; (of a person) + shake because you are frightened or nervous] [temblar (la tierra), temblar (de miedo); quake (temblor de tierra, terremoto=earthquake)] walking (see 9.2.7) looking (see 2.2.8) laughing (see 11.2.6) 12.2.6 LEXICAL FIELDS terms used to describe people’s character: ambitious (ambicioso) bossy (mandón) broad-minded (tolerante, de mentalidad abierta) brusque (brusco) clever (listo) conceited (engreído, creído, vanidoso) confident (seguro de sí mismo) determined (decidido) direct (directo) dishonest (poco honrado, deshonesto) eccentric (excéntrico) extravagant (derrochador) extroverted (extrovertido) frank (franco) generous (generoso) honest (honrado) innocent (inocente)

182 insincere (poco sincero, falso) introverted (introvertido) jealous (celoso) mean (mezquino) naive (ingenuo) narrow-minded (cerrado, estrecho de miras) nosy (fisgón) open (abierto) optimistic (optimista) pessimistic (pesimista) polite (cortés, educado) reliable (de fiar) sensible (sensato) sensitive (sensible) sincere (sincero) sociable (sociable) stubborn/obstinate/pig-headed (testarudo, obstinado/cabezota) thrifty/economical (ahorrativo) unreliable (que no es de fiar) unsociable (insociable) well-mannered (educado, de buenos modales) etc. (see key: 12.5.3) 12.2.7 GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS to assign sth to sb/sb to sth [asignar (tarea) a alguien] to be supposed to do sth (deber/tener que hacer algo) to consist in (consistir en) to consist of (constar de) to continue to do/doing sth/with sth/as sth (continuar haciendo algo; continuar con algo; como algo) to pounce on sb (abalanzarse/saltar sobre alguien) 12.2.8 LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS to summon to summon sb to one’s presence (llamar a la presencia de); to be summoned to London, etc (ser llamado a Londres, etc.); to be summoned to appear before a magistrate (ser citado para comparecer ante un magistrado); to be summoned to court (ser citado a juicio); to summon a press conference/meeting (convocar una rueda de prensa/una reunión); to summon help/assistance/reinforcements (solicitar ayuda/refuerzos); to summon up the courage to do sth (armarse de valor); to summon up one’s patience (armarse de paciencia); to summon all one’s energy/strength (hacer acopio de toda su energía/fuerza); to summon up memories(evocar recuerdos) 12.2.9 WORDS EASILY CONFUSED sympathetic/likeable:

183 sympathetic (comprensivo): He’s been very sympathetic to us (ha sido muy comprensivo con nosotros) likeable (simpático): He’s a very likeable person (es una persona muy simpática) 12.2.10 WORD-FORMATION French borrowings: amateur (amateur, aficionado) amour-propre (amor propio) antique (antigüedades) avant-garde (vanguardista) ballet (ballet) beret (boina) bourgeois (burgués) boutique (boutique, tienda de modas) bra (sujetador) buffet (bufé) cabaret (cabaret) café (café, cafetería) camouflage (camuflaje) carte blanche (carta blanca) cliché (cliché, tópico, lugar común) connoisseur (experto, entendido en algo) coup (golpe de estado) cul de sac (callejón sin salida) chauffeur (chófer) chef (chef, jefe de cocina) de rigueur (de rigor) déjà vu (sensación de haber vivido la misma experiencia anteriormente) duvet (edredón) elite (élite) enfant terrible (persona que por su comportamiento poco convencional o controvertido molesta o avergüenza a otros) faux pas (paso en falso) femme fatale (mujer fatal) fête (feria benéfica al aire libre) fiancé(e) (prometido,-a) force majeure (fuerza mayor) joie de vivre (alegría de vivir) maître- d’/maître d’hôtel (maître) nom de plume (seudónimo) raison d’être (razón de ser) recherché (rebuscado) rendez-vous [lugar de reunión, cita (espacial)] risqué (atrevido, subido de tono) rouge (carmín) savoir-faire (saber estar) tête-à-tête (conversación íntima/privada) tour de force (tour de force, gran esfuerzo; proeza)

184 (see also 1.2.11) blends/portmanteau words: bit = binary + digit brunch = breakfast + lunch cacademic (see 12.2.13) cheeseburger = cheese + hamburger chunnel = channel + tunnel Eurovision = European + television guppie = gay + yuppie motel = motorist + hotel Oxbridge = Oxford + Cambridge paratroops = parachute + troops smog = smoke + fog Spanglish = Spanish + English to chortle (reír con ganas) = to chuckle + snort eponyms: dunce (stupid, slow to learn), after dunses , a term of ridicule applied to the followers of John Duns Scottus, a Scottish scholastic (1265-1308), by 16th c. humanists and reformers who considered Duns’s followers reluctant to accept new theological ideas biro ® (a kind of ballpoint pen), after its inventor, the Hungarian László Jozsef Biró (1900-1985) narcissism (excessive admiration of oneself, esp. one´s looks), after Narcissus, in Greek mythology, a beautiful youth who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool and was drowned trying to embrace it (for more eponyms, see 2.2.11.b) conversion: humour → to humour (see also 8.2.10) suffixes: -dom used to form abstract nouns: wisdom, freedom, boredom, kingdom, martyrdom, stardom, gangsterdom, officialdom, dukedom, earldom, etc. 12.2.11 IDIOMS day in, day out (un día sí y el otro también) hot line (teléfono rojo) ivory tower (torre de marfil) money doesn’t grow on trees (el dinero no lo regalan) not to hold water (no tener base alguna, hacer agua) not to know the first thing about anything (no tener ni idea de nada) to be beyond a joke (pasar de castaño oscuro) to get sb/sth wrong (entender mal algo o a alguien) to get sb’s goat (cabrear a alguien, tocarle las narices) to have a swollen head (subírsele a alguien el éxito a la cabeza, ser un engreído)

185 to put to the test (poner a prueba) to think one is the cat’s pyjamas/whiskers (creerse el ombligo del mundo) 12.2.12 PHRASAL VERBS to come up with (ocurrírsele a alguien algo) to cut/chop off (cortar de un tajo, cercenar) to give up (darse por vencido) to hang on sb’s words (estar pendiente de las palabras de alguien) to look down on (despreciar, mirar por encima del hombro) to muster up one’s courage (armarse de valor) to see through sb/sth (calar) to set off (partir, ponerse en camino) to tell on sb (afectar algo a alguien) to trail off [apagarse (voz, música)] to wear off [desaparecer (efectos, dolor)] 12.2.13 CULTURAL NOTES serendipitous is the adjective corresponding to serendipity, defined in The Concise Oxford Dictionary as “the faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries by accident” Multi sunt vocati...[ “muchos son los llamados, pero pocos los elegidos” (St Matthew, 20, 16 and 22, 14)] the Augean Stables [“in Greek mythology, a place where King Augeas kept a large number of cattle, and which had not been cleaned for many years. Hercules cleaned the stables by changing the course of a river so that it flowed through them” (Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture)] the golden fleece (el vellocino de oro, in classical mythology, a magical flying ram which Jason and the Argonauts obtained after many adventures) Bimini (an imaginary city where the Spanish conquistadors believed the fountain of eternal youth was to be found) Alice (the main character in Lewis Carroll’s novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, first published in 1865) the Queen of Hearts, the Executioner (characters in Lewis Carroll’s novel) ‘cacademic’ (an invented word, a blend of ‘caca’ and ‘academic’, meaning ‘shitty academic’. 12.3 PHONOLOGICAL STUDY 12.3.1 Graphemes

/@U/ to grow, narrow, glowworm, to sow, low, to row, to mow, rainbow, bow (arco), to throw, to tow, to blow, bowl, to flow, to know, arrow, elbow, shadow, meadow, to show, widow, window, to swallow, to

186 borrow, to row, row (fila, hilera) /aU/ town, now, brown, clown, sow (cerda), to bow (hacer una reverencia), row (riña), to frown, cow, to plow, how, wow, to howl, powder, to scowl, to growl, gown, jowl, to allow, owl, fowl /Q/ knowledge, acknowledge 12.4 GRAMMAR REVISION 12.4.1 where as a relative pronoun

an obscure university where a small but enthusiastic group of teachers taught 12.4.2 order of adjectives in attributive a secluded little village; a vain, conceited position professor; a small brown leather purse 12.4.3 whose ...whose theories and ideas...did not hold water 12.4.4 the royal we your fame has come to our ears... 12.4.5 special uses of shall ...you shall get hold of...; you shall find the fountain of eternal youth... 12.4.6 here, there and where compound ...and drink thereof... adverbs 12.5 EXERCISES 12.5.1 Find synonyms or near-synonyms for the following: a.- flabbergasted; b.hazardous; c.- scathing; d.- disconcerted; e.- to unveil; f.- dirt; g.- utterly; h.- to slight; i.- trivial; j.- to foretell 12.5.2 Find antonyms for the following: a.- perilous; b.- to loathe; c.- to despise; d.accurate; e.- grateful; f.- painful; g.- drowsy; h.- deftly; i.- lazy; j.- transitory 12.5.3 Add to the lexical field of terms used to describe people’s character outlined in 12.2.6 12.5.4 Build up a lexical field of terms used to describe people’s looks 12.5.5 Match the letters with the numbers: a.- de rigueur; b.- savoir-faire; c.- nom de plume; d.- enfant terrible; e.- cul de sac; f.- dèjá vu; g.- faux pas; h.- force majeure 1.- a street or passage closed at an end; a course or route leading nowhere; 2.- a tactless mistake; a social indiscretion; 3.- required by custom or etiquette; 4.- an illusory feeling of having already experienced a present situation; 5.- an assumed name under which a person writes; 6.- an unforeseeable course of events excusing a person from the fulfilment of a contract; 7.- a person who causes embarrassment by indiscreet or unruly behaviour; 8.- the ability to act suitably in any situation 12.5.6 Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of one of the following verbs: to shudder, to quiver, to shiver, to quaver, to quake:

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a.- The memory of that day made her .............with emotion b.- The little girl ........... with horror c.- The children were ............ with cold d.- The terrible explosion made the whole building ......... e.- The old train .............. to a halt f.- He ...........with rage at the man’s insolence g.- “So, he’s been murdered?” she asked in a .......... voice h.- I ....... to think of the risks you ran 12.5.7 Classify the following words according to the way the ow-grapheme is pronounced: to allow, billow, pillow, to howl, elbow, shadow, cowl, to scowl, trowel, to know, knowledge, to acknowledge, lower, tower, rainbow, fowl, willow, to flow, to growl, owl, to mow, powder, to row, row (quarrel), to sow, sow (the animal), to bestow, vows, glowworm, to drown, gown, bowler, to tow, prow, to prowl, widow 12.5.8 Test yourself on idioms: a.- If you don’t ........down to work soon, you’ll never pass your exams 1.- hand; 2.- knuckle; 3.- finger; 4.- foot b.- He passed the exam by the ...... of his teeth 1.- skin; 2.- tip; 3.- back; 4.- front c.- He’s a very good teacher, but he keeps our ....... to the grindstone 1.- heads; 2.- feet; 3.- hands; 4.- noses d.- He dug his ..... in and refused to lower the price 1.- feet; 2.- hands; 3.- heels; 4.- fingernails e.- We’ll all have to put our ...... to the wheel if we want to finish mending the fence by Saturday 1.- shoulder; 2.- head; 3.- hands; 4.- feet f.- She was so hopeful. I didn’t have the ....... to tell her that she had failed her exam 1.- stomach; 2.- head; 3.- heart; 4.- mouth g.- He broke my new radiocassette and then had the .......... to ask me to lend him my videocamera 1.- stomach; 2.- cheek; 3.- heart; 4.- brains h.- She shouldn’t believe him. Doesn’t she realize that he’s pulling her ......? 1.- foot; 2.- leg; 3.- neck; 4.- nose i.- He’s always biting his fingernails. It gets on my .......... 1.- brains; 2.- heart; 3.- stomach; 4.- nerves j.- I can’t ........ the idea of having to move again, the third time in a year 1.- stomach; 2.- throat; 3.- hand; 4.- finger 12.5.9 Put the adjectives in the right order: a.- a coin (Roman, well-kept, old) b.- a dress (Chinese, embroidered, blue, silk) c.- a man (stooping, one-eyed, terrifying) d.- a ring (South African, glittering, diamond, thirty-carat e.- a song (Scottish, old, wonderful) f.- a boy (clever-looking, young, fair-haired) g.- a perfume (French, sweet-smelling, expensive)

188 h.- a plate (wooden, round, beautiful) 12.5.10

Fill in the gaps with one of the following adverbs as required: thereafter, herewith, whereupon, thereby, thereof, hitherto, hereinafter: a.- We enclose ...... three copies of the contract b.- He told her she was a liar, ...............she burst into tears c.- She soon became a Spanish citizen, ........... gaining the right to vote d.- He has discovered a ...... unknown species of insect e.- Mr Barlett, .............. referred to as the tenant f.- She married at 17 and gave birth to her first child shortly .............. g.- ....”whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name .......”

UNIT 13 TRAIN STORIES End of June, insufferably hot in Malaga; thank goodness air-conditioning is working on the train today. Well, here I am on my way to Madrid, Fernando thought, and I hope I get through this time – third time lucky, as they say. He made himself

189 comfortable, and prepared for the long, tedious eight-hour journey ahead. He was fond of trains, anyway, and preferred this means of transport, but his predilection owed nothing to those ruddy ads on TV. It was not in his nature to play at cowboys and Indians with little monsters, nor did he believe in the possibility of running into two or three smashing girl tourists, all delighted to share a sleeping-car compartment with him: it would be too good to be true, and besides this was a day train. No, he liked travelling by train because if one was lucky and didn’t come across a bore determined to “brighten up” the trip for you with the story of his life, sprinkled with reiterated offers of home-made black pudding and other delicacies, one could read, reflect, sleep in peace or, in his case, brush up the 150 topics for his ‘oposiciones’ to a post of high school teacher of English. He declined therefore the earphones for the customary horrendous ‘vintage’ film and insipid documentaries, and tried to memorize the 30 to 40 subjects he still didn’t master well enough to impress the examining board, and naturally, before the train got to Bobadilla he was fast asleep... He was wakened by a louder than usual “ladies and gentlemen, next station, Linares-Baeza.” When the train had started again after a brief stop, and Fernando was thinking of going to the cafeteria to have an unreasonably costly but badly needed cup of coffee, he saw her entering his coach. A graceful, slender brunette of about 25, smartly dressed, who, why deny it, he liked quite a lot, and the next thing he knew, he had got up from his seat, offered to help her with her luggage and commented: “If I had known there were such pretty girls in Linares, I would have got off here more than once, rather than go on to Madrid. Care for a cup of coffee?” “Come on, there’s no need to exaggerate, and O.K. I accept the coffee.” All in less than fifteen seconds, a record. Then, a sudden embarrassed silence, followed by a mutual burst of laughter, as the comical side of the situation dawned on them. She wondered what it was that had made her respond so readily to this pale, skinny stranger’s invitation. But that was the beginning of a pleasant journey together – coffee, a drink, cigarettes and a nice lively conversation all the way to Madrid. Trifling at first: “Have you read The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe?” “Have you seen the latest Woody Allen film?” Then, a bit more personal: names, age, profession, projects: 28, private lessons and the odd translation, for the moment, with the prospect of a fixed post in a State School, in Fernando’s case; 23, a university degree course (Arts), interrupted in the 4th year, owing to her imminent wedding to a wealthy businessman in the capital, as far as Paloma was concerned. Curious coincidence: for both of them it was the future of their lives that was at stake in the next fifteen days or so. More cigarettes, the last drink, no, the last but one...and then, a bit too soon for their taste, Madrid, end of journey. “Which way are you going?” “Oh, my fiancé’s chauffeur is coming for me.” Spontaneous burst of laughter, so pretentious had her words sounded. “Can I give you a lift?” “No, thank you, I’ll get the tube.” At the end of the platform, the adieux. They go their separate ways. Fernando turns...Paloma, who was expecting it, almost in unison with him, calls out: “Ah, good luck!” Here our tale could very well conclude, but Fate wished it otherwise; this train story was to have a different ending: Paloma and Fernando meet again on the train on their way back, twenty days later. What a pleasant surprise! At first, reserve, caution, a bit of nerves on both sides. Then, little by little, the confidences. Fernando’s, not very gratifying, for that matter: “I didn’t pass my exam.” Paloma’s, incongruously joyful: “I didn’t get married, either. I’m not getting married.” A drink to celebrate – “but what are we celebrating?” Laughter, satisfaction at being together and...Linares-Baeza. Paloma reluctantly gets off, and Fernando, too, to help her get her suitcases down. Farewells on the platform, a hurried, gauche kiss...” “But, Fernando, your train’s leaving!” “It doesn’t matter, it’s about time I got to know Linares, don’t you think?” Fernando and Paloma

190 walk slowly, hand in hand, along the platform, deserted at this time of the night, and here this new train story truly ends, or begins, depending on how you look at it... CULTURAL NOTES:

When this story was written the AVE had not yet come into operation, the train still stopped at Linares-Baeza, and the journey Málaga-Madrid took much longer than now. Arts, in Britain, is roughly equivalent to ‘Fisolofía y Letras’ in Spain. 13.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS a.- Q. Did Fernando like travelling by train? Why?/why not? A. Yes, he did. Because one can read, reflect, sleep in peace, etc. on the train. b.- Q. What is it he feared most to happen? A. To come across a bore determined to tell him the story of his life, while he kept offering him home-made black pudding and other delicacies. c.- Q. Why was Fernando going to Madrid? And Paloma? A. Fernando was going to be examined by an examining board to try to get a permanent teaching post in a state high school, and Paloma, to get married. d.- Q. Act out the conversation they have when they first meet on the train, and the one they have when they meet again on their way back from Madrid. A. Fernando: “Hullo, let me help you with your luggage”. Paloma: “Thank you”. Fernando: “If I had known there were such pretty girls in Linares, I would have got off here more than once, rather than go on to Madrid. Care for a cup of coffee?” Paloma: “Come on, there’s no need to exaggerate, and O.K., I accept the coffee.” Fernando: “Hullo again. What a pleasant surprise!” Paloma: “Oh, yes, hullo!” Fernando: “I didn’t pass my exam.” Paloma: “I didn’t get married, either. I’m not getting married.” Fernando: “Come on, let’s have a drink to celebrate!” Paloma: “O.K....but what are we celebrating?” e.- Q. Give a follow-up to the story. A. Paloma and Fernando get married (and they live happily ever after). UNIT 14 ANIMAL SCHOOL Once upon a time, two or three thousand years ago, when animals could still speak, there was a famous school on earth, where languages were taught. Little is known about this long-forgotten teaching centre, but recent diggings on the site where it once stood have unearthed part of its well-kept archives, which have thrown some light upon this mysterious school and the animals who taught there. A strange, dilapidated computer has also been found, and thanks to the invaluable information there stored, and all due reservations made, because of the source it comes from, we may now guess at a few facts that would otherwise have been completely lost to posterity. We know, for instance, that at least seven major languages were taught there, of which English was the one that attracted most students, it being then as popular as Saturnian or Uranian now; that the animals used the bar to have coffee in, the Hall to watch films and listen to lectures, and the corridors for gossip purposes; the library was kept closed, however, in memory of the efficient librarian who had once taken good care of it, but had suddenly been taken away from them for ever.

191 Among the animals, there was their natural leader, the lion, who was envied by some, especially by the sheep, for having the lion’s share, and so, one day they naturally plotted against him, and he could often be seen in odd corners, licking his wounds. There was a magnificent bull, expressly imported from his country of origin, whose pronunciation was well-nigh perfect, and who delighted his students with his clear, pure moos. Among the ones who taught French were a proud gaggle of geese and a peahen, and among the teachers of Spanish, a splendid cock, who was often called “the cock of the walk”, by virtue of his being the only male in his department. There were also one or two “dark horses”, whom practically nobody knew, two or three pussycats whom the students truly adored, and a mole, who taught Russian, and who was at first unjustly accused of being a spy. True to character, the lion was brave, but his roarings rather tactless at times, and the Spanish cock, jolly good at taking the bull by the horns; the bee was always busy tidying things up in the English department, and the mule who taught German was said to be very obstinate; the Italian foxes were quite cunning, the sheep, a bit silly, and the bird was indeed so free that it seldom came to class. There was the odd “pompous ass”, one or two “sacred cows”, a “cold fish” who never lost his cool, and a hare who would go mad in March. Apparently there were no rats among the staff because nobody could ever smell one, and no storks either, though they often came to visit. A word must be said, before we finish our hurried chronicle, about the curious teachings in this curious school. Believe it or not, it has been established beyond doubt that students of English were taught that bats are blind, that it can rain cats and dogs, that people sometimes have butterflies in their stomachs when they are nervous, or bees in their bonnets, if they are a little eccentric, and that cats have nine lives, though none of these peculiar claims have ever been scientifically proved. The teachers of French would baffle their pupils when they explained to them the sexual meaning of avoir la puce à l’oreille, or would surprise them with the French equivalent of “standing somebody up” (poser un lapin). The teachers of Italian, on their side, would amuse their own students quite a lot when they told them that prendere due piccione con una fava (“to kill two birds with one stone”) was a very practical and convenient thing to do, and the camels who taught Arabic, permanently concerned about the cleanliness of classrooms, kept begging students and colleagues alike to abstain from “breaking their backs with the last straw”, and seemed to enjoy sitting outside their department patiently waiting for the corpse of their enemy to pass by. The teacher of Spanish taught not only the language of Cervantes but the customs and traditions of his country, too, and so people from all over the world came to his lessons to learn how different Spain then was, when bullfights were still held, flamenco sung, and one could drink good wine and eat Jabugo ham. The school, dear readers, must have been something special but, of course, all this took place long, long before the teaching of languages was taken over by robots, and long before it finally became obsolete, when language-extract pills were invented. 14.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS a.- Q. Where do the data about Animal School allegedly come from? A. From its wellkept archives and a strange, dilapidated computer unearthed when digging on the site where it once stood. b.- Q. Why did the lion ‘lick his wounds in odd corners’? A. Because the other animals, who envied him, had plotted against him. c.- Q. Find a synonym for ‘as mad as a March hare’. A. ‘As mad as a hatter’.

192 d.- Q. What does the narrator mean when he says that ‘the storks often came to visit’? A. There were frequent pregnancies among the female staff. e.- Q. What strikes the narrator as curious about the teachings of the teachers of English? A. Some of the sayings and idioms they taught had no scientific basis. f.- Q. Why does the narrator say that nobody knew the two “dark horses” very well? A. Because “a dark horse” is an idiom used to refer to someone people don’t know much about (and who surprises everyone by winning a race). g.- Q. Why does the narrator refer to the teacher of Russian as a mole? A. Because in the cold war years it was a common cliché to speak of Russian spies. h.- Q. What do you think avoir la puce à l’oreille means? A. It normally means ‘to be suspicious’, but it can also be a vulgar expression for ‘to be sexually excited’/’to be extremely horny’. i.- Q. Why do you think the teachers of Arabic asked their colleagues to abstain from “breaking their backs with the last straw”? A. It’s a pun on words: Camels are often used by Arabs in the desert as a means of transport, and there is the old saying “it’s the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.” j.- Q. What do we know about the male teacher of Spanish? A. He was the only male in the Spanish department, and the extra-curricular activities he organized included attending bullfights, flamenco nights and wine and Jabugo ham tasting. k.- Q. What do you think the message of the story is? A. As I see it the story is a pretext to teach English idioms in a pleasant way, though there might be a hidden message: petty quarrels are not infrequent among the teaching staff in any school. 14.2 IDIOMS USED IN THE STORY to have the lion’s share – llevarse la parte del león the cock of the walk – el gallito del grupo a dark horse – una persona que es una incógnita, alguien cuyas posibilidades se ignoran to take the bull by the horn- coger el toro por los cuernos as busy as a bee – muy atareado as silly as a sheep – muy tonto as cunning as a fox – astuto como un zorro as obstinate/stubborn as a mule - terco como una mula as free as a bird – libre como los pájaros to be a pompous ass – ser un pedante a sacred cow – una vaca sagrada a cold fish – una persona fría, que tiene sangre de horchata mad as a March hare – loco como una cabra (more usually mad as a hatter) to smell a rat – creer que hay gato encerrado to be visited by the stork- recibir la visita de la cigüeña as blind as a bat – cegato, que no ve ni tres en un burro to rain cats and dogs diluviar, llover a cántaros, caer chuzos de punta to have butterflies in one’s stomach – tener un cosquilleo en el estómago (por los nervios) to have a bee in the bonnet – tener metido algo entre ceja y ceja, estar obsesionado por algo a cat has nine lives – (tener) siete vidas como los gatos to stand sb up- dar plantón to kill two birds with one stone- matar dos pájaros de un tiro the last straw that breaks the camel’s back – la última gota que colma el vaso

193 to sit outside one’s house waiting for one’s enemy’s corpse to go by –sentarse a la puerta de la casa esperando ver pasar el cadáver de tu enemigo 14.3 ANIMALS (SUGGESTED LEXICAL FIELD) alligator (caimán) ant (hormiga) anteater (oso hormiguero) antelope (antílope) ape (simio) ass (asno) badger (tejón) bat (murciélago) bear (oso) beaver (castor) bedbug (chinche) bee (abeja) beetle (escarabajo) bison (bisonte) bluebottle (mosca azul) boa (boa) brown bear (oso pardo) buck [gamo; macho de algunos animales (ciervo, conejo, liebre, rata)] buffalo (búfalo) bull (toro) bumble bee (abejorro) butterfly (mariposa) calf (ternero; pl. calves) camel (camello) cat (gato) caterpillar (oruga) centipede (ciempiés) chameleon (camaleón) chamois (gamuza) cheetah (guepardo) chicken/chick (pollo/pollito) chimpanzee/chimp (chimpancé) chipmunk (ardilla listada) cicada (cigarra) cobra (cobra) cock (BrE)/rooster (AmE) (gallo) cockroach (cucaracha) cow (vaca) cricket (grillo) crocodile (cocodrilo) daddy longlegs (típula)

194 deer [ciervo; stag/buck (ciervo macho)/doe (cierva)] dog/bitch (perro, -a) dolphin (delfín) donkey (burro) dormouse (lirón; pl. dormice) dragon fly (libélula) dromedary (dromedario) drone (zángano) duck (pato,-a); drake (pato macho) earthworm (lombriz) elephant (elefante) ferret (hurón) flea (pulga) fly (mosca) fox/vixen (zorro, -a) frog (rana) gander/goose6 (ganso, -a; pl. geese) gazelle (gacela) giraffe (jirafa) glowworm (luciérnaga) gnu (ñu) goat (cabra) gorilla (gorila) grasshopper (saltamontes) greenfly (pulgón) guinea pig (cobaya, conejillo de indias) hamster (hámster) hare (liebre) hedgehog (erizo) hen (gallina) hippopotamus/hippo (hipopótamo) hornet (avispón) horse/mare (caballo/yegua) hound (podenco) hyena (hiena) jackal (chacal) jaguar (jaguar) kangaroo (canguro) koala (bear) (koala) ladybird (mariquita) lamb (cordero) leech (sanguijuela) leopard (leopardo) lion/lioness (león, -a) lizard (lagarto) llama (llama) locust (langosta) 6

gander is used only in some phrases, e.g. a gander party fiesta de hombres solos

195 louse (piojo; pl. lice) lynx (lince) marmot/woodchuck (marmota) marten (marta) mink (visón) mite (ácaro) mole (topo) mongoose (mangosta) monkey (mono) moose/elk (alce) mosquito (mosquito) moth (polilla) mouse (ratón; pl. mice) mule (mulo) ocelot (ocelote) orangutan(g) (orangután) otter (nutria) ox (buey, pl. oxen) panda (oso panda) panther (pantera) peacock/peahen (pavo,-a real) pig/sow (cerdo, -a) polar bear (oso blanco/polar) porcupine (puerco espín) porpoise (marsopa) praying mantis (mantis religiosa) puma (puma) python (serpiente pitón) rabbit (conejo) raccoon (mapache) ram (carnero) rat (rata) rattlesnake (serpiente de cascabel) reindeer (reno) rhinoceros/rhino (rinoceronte) sable (marta cibelina) salamander (salamandra) scorpion (escorpión) sea lion (león marino) seal (foca) sheep (oveja) shrew (musaraña) silkworm (gusano de seda) skunk (mofeta) sloth (oso perezoso) slug (babosa) small lizard (lagartija) snail (caracol)

196 snake/serpent (serpiente) sperm whale (cachalote) spider (araña) squirrel (ardilla) stoat (armiño) tick (garrapata) tiger/tigress (tigre/tigresa) toad (sapo) tortoise (tortuga terrestre) turkey (pavo) turtle (tortuga marina, galápago) viper (víbora) walrus (morsa) watchdog (perro guardián) weasel (comadreja) wasp (avispa) whale (ballena) wolf (lobo; pl. wolves) worm (gusano) zebra (cebra) (For birds, see key: 4.5.3.a; for breeds of dogs, key: 8.5.2; and for fish, key: 8.5.5) 14.4 ANIMALS’ CRIES apes gibber (los simios chillan) bears grunt (los osos gruñen) birds sing/chirp/twitter/warble (los pájaros cantan/pían/trinan/gorjean) bulls bellow (los toros mugen) cats miaow/mew/purr (los gatos maullan/ronronean) cocks crow (los gallos cantan) cows moo/low (las vacas mugen) crickets chirp (los grillos chirrían) crows caw (los cuervos graznan) dogs bark/growl (los perros ladran/gruñen) donkeys/ asses bray (los burros/los asnos rebuznan) ducks quack (los patos graznan) elephants trumpet (los elefantes barritan) frogs croak (las ranas croan) geese honk (los gansos graznan) grasshoppers chirp (los saltamontes chirrían) hens cackle (las gallinas cacarean) horses neigh/whinny (los caballos relinchan) lions roar (los leones rugen) mice squeak (los ratones chillan) monkeys chatter (los monos chillan/parlotean) owls hoot (los búhos ululan) parrots screech (los loros chillan) pigeons coo (las palomas arrullan)

197 pigs grunt/squeal (los cerdos gruñen/chillan) rabbits squeal (los conejos chillan) sheep bleat/baa (las ovejas balan) snakes hiss (las serpientes silban) turkeys gobble (los pavos gluglutean) wolves howl (los lobos aullan) UNIT 15 THE GREAT EVENT It had been a special day, a red-letter day for their little village. After all, it was not every day that a president came to visit them, and he was sure that the important politician who arrived punctually at the village at midday was none other than the President, who had come to break the good news to them in person. And the village had responded magnificently to the occasion. From the early hours of the morning there had been an unusual hustle and bustle in the village streets. You could see the local policeman, imposing in his brand new uniform, look with some curiosity and distrust at the posse of policemen brought in from elsewhere, admittedly not to protect the President, who was so popular that he hardly needed any protection, but the natives themselves, from the people of the neighbouring villages, who must have been green with envy because the President had chosen to come to this village instead of theirs. The balconies were duly adorned with the customary family drapes, and flags had been put out; the new green and white ones, of course, not the old ones with the imperial eagle that some people still kept hidden at the bottom of their trunks just in case. And when at twelve sharp the leader and his retinue made their triumphant entrance into the village, there were loud cheers, and you could see right away that everybody was fascinated by the strong personality radiating from the President, with his impressive, soldier-like moustache and his confident, winning smile. Even the reactionary ones, who had brought some oranges to throw at him, changed their mind and ate them instead. There was an embarrassing moment when the President got to the Town Hall Square, and the Mayor, who was waiting with a splendid bunch of flowers in his right hand to give to the President’s wife, noticed with dismay that the first lady had not come with him, but he quickly gave it to his young second wife (his own, not the President’s), who looked gorgeous in her new red dress the village’s notables couldn’t take their eyes off. Oh, it had been a glorious day: there had been music, played by a band from the capital, but no hymns or the usual fanfare, but good old folk music the village youths could dance to, and a free glass of wine for the men and Coca-Colas and Fantas for the women and the children. Everyone was happy, with the exception of the parish priest, maybe, who was a bit disappointed that the President had not thought of paying a visit to the Holy Virgin up in the Hermitage, as was only fit and proper; a serious omission, no doubt, but understandable in such an important man who had so many other places to visit and so many other speeches to deliver. And, indeed, what he had liked best was the President’s speech. He proclaimed to the four winds, but not in showy, pompous language, but in plain, ordinary words that everybody could understand, that the fields surrounding the village had been chosen as a shooting range for the Army. It wouldn’t be safe any longer for the children to go to the olive grove to play, but to make up for this minor inconvenience, a wonderful playground would be installed in front of the Town Hall. You could see by the villagers’ faces how pleased they all were with the President’s words. For they realized that the man was honest. Not like the one who had come four years before on the election campaign; a bit

198 taller than the President, but obviously a liar. He had promised then that water would be brought from the nearby mountain springs, but nothing had been done, and people had to go on drinking from the old wells, and a child had got poisoned two years ago. He also promised that a lollipop factory would be built in the village providing jobs for all and sundry, but the project had been axed, and the villagers had kept going to France as usual to work on the wine harvest for a month or two in the summer, and do nothing the rest of the year. But this one you could trust...The teacher was specially jubilant, for the President had said that a new school would be put up, and there would be enough money to whitewash the old one to last while the new one was being built. Moreover, in two or three years’ time, teachers would finally earn the same as any other civil servant, including the caretakers in the big ministries, ah, and he would be able to retire at sixty if he wished, with a decent basic salary that would surely allow him to buy a new beret, a suitcase to put his books in and a new pair of boots to replace the ones he had been wearing for years and you could smell miles away. There was an item in the President’s speech that the villagers had been particularly joyful about. The bit about independence. Autonomy, he had called it, but it was evident to the average intelligent citizen that the President had meant independence from the central government. Let the ministers go on meeting in the state capital, and passing laws that would be enforced on the rest of the country. Their little village would be able to remain faithful to their old customs and traditions, and so everybody would be allowed to go on wearing their warm berets and playing dominoes unmolested on the terrace of the café. And when eventually the military came in to the shooting range there would be peace and prosperity for everybody. Peace and prosperity...peace and prosperity...peace and prosperity, and to the music of these two magic words, a beatific smile on his face, the village fool curled up under an olive-tree and was lulled to sleep. 15.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS a.- Q. Identify one or two touches of irony in the story. A. 1.- Even the reactionary ones, who had brought some oranges to throw at him, changed their mind and ate them instead. 2.- It wouldn’t be safe any longer for the children to go to the olive grove to play, but to make up for this minor inconvenience... 3.- The teacher would be able to retire at sixty with a decent basic salary that would surely allow him to buy a new beret, a suitcase to put his books in and a new pair of boots to replace the ones he had been wearing for years and you could smell miles away. b.- Q. Why hadn’t some of the villagers got rid of the old flag? A. In case the ancient régime were to be re-established. c.- Q. What hadn’t the parish priest liked about the President’s visit? A. That he hadn’t thought of paying a visit to the Holy Virgin up in the Hermitage. d.- Q. Why was the mayor embarrassed? A. He had brought a bunch of flowers to give to the President’s wife, and was dismayed to see that she had not come with him. e.- Q. Who do you think the narrator of the story is? From whose point of view is the story told? A. Probably one of the villagers, telling the story from the village fool’s point of view. UNIT 16 BRUSHING UP PHRASAL VERBS Driving my Seat Panda to the Official School of Languages, I go over the list of phrasal verbs in my mind for the umpteenth time. We have an informal test at school this morning and I wouldn’t like to let my teacher down. The more common ones I can easily

199 cope with: I know, for instance, that you put on clothes and take them off, you switch the TV on or off, you give up tobacco, run out of petrol, look up a word in the dictionary, fill in a form (though you can fill it out or up, too), see a friend off and may be looking forward to seeing him again, but when it comes to the less common ones my doubts start: do you come down with flu, or go down with it? Do you lay in a good supply of coal for the winter, and have electricity laid on? Or is it the other way round? What happens when you fall in with certain people? And when you fall out with them? If you’re in for a surprise, are you actually surprised or not? And if your luck is out, does it mean that you were lucky, or unlucky? The subtle differences drive me mad, and I’m not laying it on! As I get into the classroom, I can see the teacher is already there. He’s a middleaged man, a bit on the plump side, getting on for fifty, or into his fifties, perhaps. We, his advanced students, look on him as a sort of Big Brother, and I’ll tell you why: he wants us to speak English in class and out of class, he insists that we speak English with our friends, our own family, even each other (we’re supposed to think in English), we must read English books and watch films in English; in short, we should do everything, yes, honestly, everything, in English, and so we can’t help feeling a bit watched, supervised, spied on, like Winston in Nineteen Eighty-four, well, almost. When the class begins, for warming-up purposes, no doubt, the following dialogue between students and teacher takes place: “How are you getting on with your phrasal verbs?” “We’re getting along, scraping by, muddling through.” “Stop showing off, you won’t get away with it. Seriously now, did you really get around to studying them?” “Well, we brushed them up.” (Not enough, apparently, we should have swotted them up, boned up on them.) “Not used a lot in conversation”, we dare point out to him. “But you do come across them very often in newspapers, magazines, novels, etc. Did I make myself quite clear? Did you get the message?” “Yes, Sir, don’t worry, Sir, you put it across nicely.” “Well, let’s go ahead, then, what are we waiting for? Let’s carry on with the test.” Then, seeing the frightened looks on our faces, “come on, they’re easy, a real pushover. I’m sure you’ll soon take to them.” “Take to them? We’ve already fallen for them, love them dearly, can’t do without them; not yoga, Oriental food, pop art or transcendental meditation – phrasal verbs is what we are into these days!” To say nothing of phrasal nouns, of course. We make a mental reservation. There may be some blackouts and breakdowns among us, temporary let-ups, followed by enthusiastic fightbacks, a few drop-outs, possibly, a bit of a mess-up, maybe, before the final glorious breakthrough, but we’re convinced we’ll end up mastering them, we’ll pull it off, pull through, or is it get through? Please, help! After a hard-working morning, I get home really exhausted, tired out, worn out, worked out, pooped out, if you like, but as happy as a lark (I made it: I got 30 points out of 36), and hungry, starving, so I call out to my mother (who can’t speak a word of English!): “let’s dig in, fall to, tuck in!” If Big Brother could hear me, he’d be pleased, proud of his clever pupil...Then I do my homework for the following day and go out for a spin with some English friends of mine. When at the end of the day, I finally turn in, I soon drop off, and dream of...phrasal verbs. 16.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS a.- Q. Who do you think narrates this story? A. An advanced student of English. b.- Q. Why do you think the teacher is referred to as ‘Big Brother’? A. Because, like Winston in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, his students feel watched, supervised and spied on.

200 c.- Q. What does the narrator mean by ‘muddling through’? A. They manage, not without considerable effort, to learn all the phrasal verbs they’re taught. d.- Q. What difference, if any, is there between ‘to brush sth up’ and ‘to bone up on it’? A. When you brush up a subject “you revive your former knowledge of it”, whereas if you bone up on it “you study it intensely.” e.- Q. Find an example of irony in the text. A. “Take to them? We’ve already fallen for them, love them dearly, can’t do without them...” f.- Q. Explain the meaning of the phrasal nouns used in the text A. A pushover is used in the story as “something that is easily done”, a blackout, as “a temporary loss of memory”; breakdown, as “a loss of mental strength”; let-ups, as “relaxations of effort”; fightbacks, as “mighty efforts to regain one’s previous strength”; drop-outs, as “students who give up the course”; mess-up, as “a state of confusion” and breakthrough, as “an important achievement.” 16.2 PHRASAL VERBS AND PHRASAL NOUNS USED IN THE STORY to go over sth - repasar to let sb down – fallarle a alguien to cope with sth – hacer frente a, poder con to put on/take off clothes – ponerse/quitarse ropa to switch on/off the TV – enchufar/desenchufar la TV to give sth up – dejar algo to run out of sth – acabarse algo to look sth up – buscar (una palabra en el diccionario, etc) to fill sth in/out/up – rellenar (impresos) to see sb off despedir (a alguien que se va de viaje) to look forward to – estar deseando to come/go down with – caer enfermo de to lay sth in - hacer acopio de to lay sth on – conectar (luz, gas) to fall in with sb – juntarse con, frecuentar la compañía de to fall out with sb – pelearse con to be in for sth - aguardarle a alguien algo (gen. algo que no espera) one’s luck is out – acabarse la suerte to lay it on - exagerar to get into – entrar en to be getting on for – ir a cumplir (años) to be into (age) – tener (edad) to look on sb as – considerar a alguien (una autoridad, etc) to get on with – hacer progresos to get along/scrape by/muddle through ir tirando, arreglárselas to show off alardear de to get away with it – quedar impune, escapar sin castigo to get around to doing sth – encontrar tiempo para hacer algo to brush sth up - repasar to swot sth up/bone up on sth – estudiar, empollar to point out to sb – señalar algo a alguien to come across sth encontrar algo por casualidad to put sth across – hacerse entender, saber transmitir un mensaje to carry on with – seguir con

201 come on! – ¡venga, vamos! a pushover – algo muy fácil to take to sth/sb – coger cariño a to fall for sb – enamorarse de to do without sth/sb- pasarse sin to be into sth – estar muy interesado/apasionado por a blackout – pérdida temporal del conocimiento/de la memoria; apagón; censura a breakdown - desaliento a let-up - tregua a fightback - contraataque a drop-out - abandono a mess-up – follón, lío a breakthrough – avance/descubrimiento decisivo to end up doing sth – terminar haciendo algo to pull sth off – lograr algo to pull through – salir de un apuro/superar una dificultad to get through – pasar, aprobar to be tired out/worn out/worked out/pooped out – estar agotado to call out to sb – decir/gritar a to dig in/to fall to/to tuck in – empezar a comer to go out for a spin – salir a dar una vuelta to turn in – retirarse a dormir to drop off - dormirse UNIT 17 THE JOURNALIST It was raining again in Malaga and the wind was howling in a threatening way, but the atypical weather was no longer making the headlines in a town heavily scarred from the recent floods and beginning to heal its wounds. People were craving for glad tidings, itching to have a good time, and on this New Year’s Eve night practically everyone was out to celebrate as if there was no tomorrow. Felix Q., the journalist from one of the local newspapers, knew this only too well; that’s why he had come to the airport on this bleak rainy day in the hope of stumbling upon a good piece of news. He’d been on the look-out the whole evening with no luck yet, and now the plane from New York, due at 11.30, was his last chance: a movie starlet from Hollywood, flying over to the Costa to spend the turn of the year with a new lover; a famous politician, a pop singer, anything would do. He had produced nothing of note lately; he was conscious that his days of popularity when he’d written that splendid series of articles about the Mafia connections on the coast were becoming uncomfortably distant, and he had the impression that his boss was beginning to look upon him as an unnecessary drain on the newspaper’s resources. Sitting on one of benches of an almost deserted airport lounge, Felix lit his tenth cigarette from the second packet of the day, and settled for the usual delay. No problem, he had nowhere to go on this festive night. He had already paid the obligatory visit to his children and given them the customary Christmas presents. Amazing how Clara, his beautiful ex, had accommodated herself to a life without him, and how well his children, two boys, 9 and 6, and a girl of 4, got on with their stepfather, the fireman. Soon they would begin to regard him, their legitimate father, as a bit of a nuisance, a formality to be gone through every second weekend in the month or so.

202 His coffee in the unsightly plastic cup had grown cold, but he raised it to his lips nevertheless and gulped it down; it tasted of dead cockroaches, as his mother would say – whatever the old dear imagined dead cockroaches tasted of. Again he thought of the lonely night ahead. Curiously enough, with so many prospects in his notebook phone list, he didn’t know who to call: he’d already drawn a couple of blanks, and he didn’t feel up to going on trying. True that there was always Diana, the gorgeous blonde with the big pair, to fall back on, but her silly giggles were beginning to get on his nerves; or Lourdes, the smashing brunette with the green eyes, but she was getting more and more sentimental of late, and one unfortunate marriage experience was enough for him. He reckoned he would have to spend the rest of the night alone in his walk-up, where he hoped he’d saved a bottle of Scotch to keep him company. He was starting to nod on his seat, when he heard a faint stir in the corridors leading to the police control posts, and he knew that the plane had landed and the passengers were already going through customs. Nothing special tonight. The usual crowd of ordinary package deal tourists, taking advantage of the drastically reduced outof-season fares, all eager to get their share of the Costa sunshine, and all in for a big disappointment if the rainy spell were to continue. No celebrities at first sight, but there was a man in the queue that immediately caught his eye. An ungainly, lanky guy of about 40, wearing a mac and a hat and carrying a small briefcase, and if the plane had come from the East, instead of N.Y., and these were not the days of the big international thaw, he would have classed him as a spy out of a novel by Le Carré: The Spy Who Came In from the Cold. But spies were dated and, as Gorbachov had recently said – was it not in Vienna – the writers of thrillers would have to think of something else to keep their readers’ interest. But the man was having problems at the check-point, and a policeman in uniform was beckoning to him to accompany him to the airport police quarters. Smelling a good story here, Felix followed them into the inspector’s office, where he was grudgingly allowed to be present at the questioning. The man had no passport or identity papers of any kind on him, and in his briefcase was ten thousand dollars he could not account for. He kept repeating his name and address, Francisco G.F., from T., and he declared over and over again that he had to get to the mill in his village to take his sevenyear old son to America for an urgent heart operation. There was an odd, vacant look in the poor fellow’s eyes and he struck you as an idiot, or a hick suffering from amnesia, and the language he used was strangely reminiscent of days past, as he kept saying that he was “a man of order, respectful of the law” and spoke of the Generalissimo as if he’d just been installed in office. The inspector was clearly baffled, especially since he’d telephoned the police station at T. to ask about the stranger and they’d rung back to inform him that nobody of that name lived there and the mill he’d given as his address no longer existed. He finally decided to keep the man in custody until he received orders from above, but Felix’s curiosity was aroused; the chap sounded sincere to him, and if his hunch was confirmed, this would make sensational news. So he went home, slept for a few hours and first thing in the morning the following day he went to T. to make his own enquiries... Driving back to Malaga after his visit to the stranger’s home town, Felix was exultant. It hadn’t been too difficult for him to find the man’s wife, a decrepit eighty-five year old woman, her back and shoulders hunched with age, her face wrinkled like a raisin, her wits sorely diminished, but still lucid at intervals. Her words still resounded weirdly in his ears: “Yes, that’s Frasco, my husband, but he’s too late; tell him to go back to wherever he’s come from; our Javierito has been dead for fifty years.” God, what a story he would write! There were some obscure points, of course, but his story would prove Stephen Hawkin’s theories about time and wormholes right. Had the man come from the

203 past? Had he entered the wrong tunnel? Or was this only a reflection of the uncanny powers of the mind? He couldn’t wait to get to his typewriter to hammer out the story. He was in a hurry, he was excited, thrilled, so he stepped hard on the accelerator of his old Ford... The next day, the news was on the accidents and crime reports page: “Yesterday evening...a sad accident...on the T-road...Felix Q., the prestigious journalist...killed instantly...” In another part of the paper, as was only fit and proper, there was an obituary where beautiful, heartfelt words were said about Felix, words that nobody had ever thought of saying while he was alive... 17.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS a.- Q. Was Felix Q’s boss happy with his employee’s work? What makes you think so? A. No, he wasn’t: he was beginning to look upon him as an unnecessary drain on the paper’s resources, or in other words, he thought he was paid too much for the work he did. b.- Q. Did the journalist lead a happy life? Why/why not? A. No, he didn’t. He’d had an unfortunate marriage experience, his children were beginning to see him as a stranger, and now he felt lonely. c.- Q. Where did Francisco supposedly come from? Why was he coming to T.? A. Apparently he had come from beyond the grave/from a parallel universe with the money to pay for his son’s operation. d.- Q. Who is known as the Generalissimo in Spanish History? A. General Franco. e.- Q. What’s a wormhole? A. A hypothetical connection between widely separated regions of space-time. f.- Q. What genre do you think this story belongs to? A. Science-fiction. UNIT 18 ENGLISH FROM THE STICK OR A CURIOUS CASE OF SPANGLISH My good friend Pepe, who is very fond of idioms, teaches English at a small school in the mountains not far from El Palo. His school as he himself says is nothing of the other Thursday, but I’d like to tell you about something that he has invented: what he calls Stick English, or English from The Stick. So that you can have a good idea what this sort of English is like, I’ll take the liberty to make free use of it in my article today. For if the flies and to avoid any misunderstandings, I’d better tell you right away that Pepe is a good professional and the English he teaches in his school has nothing or almost nothing to do with this “stick” variety that he uses mainly in his spare time and with his friends. He’s also an honest, straightforward chap who likes to call bread, bread, and wine, wine or, in other words, somebody who likes things clear and chocolate thick. As I have already said, his school is a bit of a long way away and isolated, or to put it in his own jargon, in the fifth pinetree, where Christ lost his cap, and since he lives alone, not having yet found his half-orange (he insists on marrying a virgin, for he hates to be plate of second table), at weekends he occasionally comes to town to toss a white hair to the wind and have a little cup with his chums, and it is not all that strange for him to end up holding a good hake in the early hours of the morning. Pepe gets on very well with his pupils, but if there’s something that gives him one hundred kicks in the stomach it is for them to do him the small ball: he really detests flattery in all its forms. He’s a bit shortsighted, or as he says, he sees less than Joe Milk, so when he suspects the students are up to something or when he smells there’s a cat

204 locked in somewhere, he can’t help becoming a little fly and may even climb up the wall, because if there’s something he can’t swallow it is to be led to the orchard or taken for a lily. At fifty-eight or so, he’s quite fit and healthy, but he’s a bit of a hypochondriac, and a few months ago, when he was ill and thought he was going to die, he had a permanent knot in the throat. Thank goodness, he got over it and now he feels himself very well again and keeps saying he’s not finished yet and has rope for long. Economically speaking, like most teachers, he’s not very well off and is always at the fourth question, but as he’s not one to walk on branches, nor has he got hairs on the tongue, the other day he wrapped the blanket around his head and went straight to the headmaster’s office to ask him for a rise, but as he later told his colleagues, who had been eagerly waiting for him outside to see if he’d had any success, he had the painful impression he had been talking to the wall all the time, and the message he seemed to receive was that he would have to wait till the frogs grew hair to get his rise. On the whole, you may come to the conclusion that my friend lacks a screw, or is as mad as a watering can, but all I can say is that we make good crumbs together and I always have a good laugh talking to him, which is something to be grateful for these days, what with a war in Iraq and the price of petrol going up every fortnight. And now, the bombshell: if you promise to keep it secret, I can tell you that I know from very good ink that the passage above is the one that will be set for the university entrance exam. Candidates will simply be asked to re-write it replacing the expressions in bold by authentic English idioms. A hard nut to crack, don’t you think? Well, no problem, in case they have trouble with some of the idioms, I’m willing to give them the key in one of the next issues of Sur in English. I don’t know if they’ll pass their exam, but as Pepe would have it, I’m sure they’ll spend it bomb. 18.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS a.- Q. Who do you think the narrator of the story is? A. A friend of Pepe’s or perhaps the author of this book himself. b.- Q. Is Pepe real or fictitious? A. Real perhaps, but his character is greatly exaggerated. c.- Q. What does the narrator mean by English from The Stick? A. An example of Spanglish, The Stick being a humorous literal translation of El Palo, a village near Malaga. d.- Q. Does Pepe enjoy a good health? A. Yes, but he’s a bit of a hypochondriac. e.- Q. Does Pepe earn a lot of money? A. No, he’s always broke, like most Spanish teachers. f.- Q. Do you think Pepe works at a state school or at a private one? What makes you think so? A. A private school, otherwise he wouldn’t have gone to the headmaster to ask for a rise. g.- Q. What image of Pepe does the narrator convey to the reader? A. A good man, but someone whose English is not too good. h.- Q. What’s the real purpose of this story? A. To make the students find the correct English equivalents to the literal versions of the Spanish idioms in the story. 18.2 ENGLISH IDIOMS ALLUDED TO IN THE STORY nothing to write home about – nada del otro jueves just in case – por si las moscas to call a spade a spade – llamar al pan, pan y al vino, vino

205 my name’s John Blunt – a mí me gustan las cosas claras y el chocolate espeso miles from anywhere/at the back of beyond – en el quinto pino/donde Cristo dio las tres voces/perdió la gorra someone’s better half – la media naranja de alguien to play second fiddle – ser plato de segunda mesa to paint the town red – echar una canita al aire to have a drink – tomarse una copa to get pissed – agarrar una buena merluza to rub sb up the wrong way/to be like a kick in the teeth – dar cien patadas/sentar como una patada en el estómago to soft-soap sb/to butter sb up/to toady to sb – hacer la pelota/pelotilla to be as blind as a bat – no ver ni tres en un burro/ver menos que Pepe Leches to smell a fish – haber gato encerrado, ponerse mosca to go up the wall/to hit the roof/the ceiling –subirse por las paredes can’t stand – no tragar to lead sb up the garden path/to take sb for a ride – llevarse a alguien al huerto to take sb for a sucker – tomar por lila to have a lump in the throat – tener un nudo en la garganta to feel well – sentirse bien not to be over the hill - no estar acabado, tener cuerda para rato to be broke – estar a la cuerta pregunta, estar tieso to beat about the bush – andarse con rodeos not to mince one’s words – no tener pelos en la lengua to throw caution to the wind – liarse la manta a la cabeza to flog a dead horse – hablar con la pared till the cows come home – hasta que las ranas crien pelo to have a screw loose – faltar un tornillo to be as mad as a hatter/a March hare – estar como una cabra to get on well with sb/to hit it off – hacer buenas migas con alguien to get it straight from the horse’s mouth/to know sth on good authority – saber algo de buena tinta to have a whale of a time – pasarlo bomba UNIT 19 HIS LAST LESSON As I started my car to cover the two-hundred-odd kilometres to my native town where I was going to attend my old teacher’s last lesson, I was assailed by the shadow of a doubt. Was it a good idea? Would the old man like it? After all it was more than 15 years since I had graduated, and I hadn’t seen him during all this time. Caught in the frenzied whirl of life, I hadn’t even found time to send him a Christmas card or write to him to express my gratitude when, thanks to my good knowledge of English, I had attained a permanent teaching post at a state high school. But I had nevertheless kept in touch with him through his grammar books and dictionaries that had been coming out at the rate of one or so a year. That was proof enough that my old teacher was still fully active, but he would soon be reaching retirement age –he would be seventy in July, and I had heard by chance that this Monday would be his last lesson. I was curious to know what this last lesson would be like. Would it be something like Alphonse Daudet’s La Dernière Classe in his Contes du Lundi? That would perhaps be appropriate since my old teacher’s last lecture was being delivered on a Monday. But no, la dernière classe had been the last lesson in French in the Alsace of 1871 after the

206 Prussian invasion. The teacher in Daudet’s tale, a Monsieur Hamel, had managed to give his lesson on participles as scheduled, and towards the end, seized by deep emotion, words failing him, had written Vive la France! in large letters on the blackboard. No danger of invasion here for the moment, if we exclude the peaceful one of those poor souls from the North of Africa who risk their life crossing the strait crammed in thoroughly unsafe craft in a desperate attempt to reach our coasts in search of a dignified job. No, more likely my old teacher’s last lecture would be purely academic. And certainly there was a large choice of grammar and vocabulary topics he could choose from, being as he was an expert in modal verbs, phrasal verbs, idioms, adjuncts, disjuncts, conjuncts and what not. With any of these as his subject matter he would have enough to comfortably fill more than an hour’s teaching period. Of one thing I was sure, though. There would almost certainly be a touch of humour in his lecture. As a matter of fact, this humorous element had never been missing from his lessons. I still have a good laugh when I remember the curious way he had of teaching us the English phonemes in his Phonetics class. Consider, for example, the following exchange of telegrams between a young man studying away from his home town and his father. The student’s, imploring his father for more money: “No money, not funny, your sonny”, and his father’s, flatly refusing it: “How sad, too bad, your dad.” “Vowels number 10 and 4, respectively, you see?”, our teacher would triumphantly add. Even his grammatical examples were not entirely without humour. Thus when explaining, for instance, defining and non-defining relative clauses and those allimportant commas in the latter, which “made all the difference”, as if intending perhaps to shock us his girl students, he would propose the following couple of examples: “Women who drive badly are a danger on the road/Women, who drive badly, are a danger on the road”, and then innocently ask: “which of the two sentences do you think refers to more people?” We invariably were unanimous in voicing our protest, coming back at him with a defiant “why not men?”, but apart from that nobody was really offended. There were jokes too. “Do you know the one about....?” I still recall the one about the penguin, which had us all in stitches: This Englishman comes across a stray penguin when walking in the park. The man goes up to a policeman and asks: “I’ve found this penguin and I don’t know what to do with him.” “Well, take it to the zoo”, the policeman composedly answers, but the following day, seeing the man still with the penguin, the astonished policeman asks: “What are you doing with that penguin? Didn’t I tell you to take it to the zoo?” “And I did”, the man replies, and today I’m taking him to the cinema.” I may be prejudiced, but I found these English jokes incredibly funny. He was a master at capturing our attention introducing us to these typically English characters who, to our delight, he so subtly made fun of. Or at taking us to a fantastic world of old English castles haunted by ghosts in chains, like the one who once appeared to a phlegmatic guest in the middle of the night. The ghost characteristically tried to scare the guest out of his wits, booming out in a deep, hollow voice: “I’ve been haunting these corridors for hundreds of years”. “In that case, perhaps you could tell me where the bathroom is”, came the unruffled chap’s calm rejoinder. Harmless jokes generally, as you can see, but there was also sometimes a trace of spiciness, delicately insinuated, half-hidden perhaps between the lines of a classic limerick, like the one about the coquettish girl from Madras, which he told us once “to illustrate the two meanings of ‘ass’ and the misunderstandings this ambiguity could give rise to”: “There was a pert lass from Madras Who had a remarkable ass-

207 Not rounded and pink, As you probably think, It was grey, had long ears, and ate grass.” Well, yes, my old teacher truly had a sense of humour, and on the rare occasions when he made a mistake or when he didn’t know a word one of us had asked him to translate, he would just say in the words of Samuel Johnson, the famous 18 th century English lexicographer, whom he admired so much: “Ignorance, Madam, pure ignorance.” Absorbed in these pleasant memories of the past, I completed the trip in a flash, and the next thing I knew I was entering the university campus. Having made the pertinent enquiries about the relevant classroom the event was to take place in, I soon found myself seated in the front row like in the good old days. The classroom was crowded with students of both sexes anxious to present their respects to their old teacher, and we did not have long to wait. The old man soon turned up, punctual as usual, walking slowly but firmly, holding the same old briefcase where he used to keep our papers and which I had so often looked at with hopeful eyes. He climbed on the dais and sitting on his chair, began: “Well, my dear students, the time has come to....” For a moment the famous passage from Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, which he had so often quoted to us, came to mind: “The time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things....” Was the old teacher the walrus, and his students the oysters about to be ‘eaten’ by him in the final exam? But the teacher was only taking his leave of his pupils, and he repeated: “the time has come....(long pause), the time has come... to say goodbye”. This said, there was another pause. An unusually long one of several minutes, which at any other time the students would have deemed decidedly odd. But now they kept strangely silent, spellbound, their eyes fixed on the old man they were obviously so fond of, till he finally concluded: “so...goodbye to you all and... good luck”. Then the whole class rose to a man and gave him a spontaneous, heartfelt applause. As for me, I confess I was a little taken aback. Was that all? Had I travelled the two-hundred-odd kilometres just to hear my old teacher say goodbye? I chuckled to myself as the comic side of the situation struck me. But when the old man passed by me on his way out, I could see there was a gleam of recognition in his tired eyes, and I imagined I saw in them, reflected in his pupils, all the lessons he had ever taught, all the nouns, the verbs, the phrases, the idioms, and all the groups of students he had taught them to. For a brief instant, I was tempted to run after him, embrace him and tell him that I knew, that I understood, that his message had got home, that I was not ungrateful... Finally, however, I decided to let it be (“come on, let’s not get sentimental, there’s no need to dramatize”), but it was with a light heart that a few minutes later I started my way back home, feeling glad I had attended my old teacher’s last lesson. 19.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS a.- Q. Who do you think the narrator of the story is? A. One of the old teacher’s girl students. b.- Q. Where does he/she work? A. At a state high school. c.- Q. Do Monsieur Hamel’s derniére classe and the old teacher’s last lesson have anything in common? A. Only that it is their respective last lesson. d.- Q. Why were the girl students displeased with the old teacher’s example for nondefining relative clauses? A. They saw it as a male chauvinist example. e.-. Q. Explain the walrus-oysters metaphor in the story. A. In Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Saw There, the walrus says that the time had come to talk of many

208 things shortly before eating the oysters, so that when the student heard the old teacher utter the same words she imagined there was a parallelism between the walrus eating the oysters and the teacher intending to fail his students. f.- Q. Why do you think the narrator decided not to approach his/her old teacher? A. Because she feared that he would tell her that there was no need to dramatize g.- Q. What was his/her general attitude towards him? A. She obviously admired and respected him, and was very fond of him. UNIT 20 LANGUAGE’S FINAL POEM A split second before the Beginning it was all tenebrous and dark, beamless, sunless, moonless, starless, tunnel-black, and still and quiet, soundless, noiseless, deathlike calm. Then there was a big explosion and blast, boom, bang, there was a flash, and a ball of fire pierced the dark. It must have shone intensely bright. Not blinding or dazzling, as there was nobody there to dazzle or blind. Did it glare, sparkle, twinkle, glitter, gleam or glow, who can possibly know, as it couldn’t be described. The Universe had just come into being, and you potentially within, but for a long while yet, as it expanded in size, it existed without you. Then you appeared on the surface of the Earth. You opened your eyes and you were astounded by what you saw; astonished, surprised, amazed, dumb-founded, and so that you would not be at a loss for words, I was sent to you and you found you could use me. At first you used me well. You gave names to all the creatures that shared the Garden with you. And the names were beautiful: elephants, spiders, lions, tigers, butterflies, eagles, doves, whales, sharks, crocodiles, and you “had dominion over them.” You named the trees and the plants that yielded you their fruit; the flowers that gladdened your eyes and inebriated your sense of smell; the rain that rolled gently down your cheeks; the seas, the rivers, the lakes that caressed your skin when you bathed in their delectable cool; the sun, the moon, the stars that illuminated your days and your nights. It was really bliss for you: you ate when you were hungry, drank when you were thirsty, made love with your woman when the desire took you, slept when tiredness overcame your limbs. You felt and enjoyed. You were free to play, sing, dance; you could saunter, amble, stroll, walk wherever you liked; you could gambol, caper, cavort, frolic, frisk, or romp about, at one with Nature, without disturbing its peace. But you were not satisfied. You started to think, you wanted to be wise, you had to know, and you ate from the Tree of Life, spoiling everything thereby. You realized you were naked and your woman, too, and you were ashamed of your nakedness, therefore discovering a foul side in me. Words that had been innocent before became dirty on your lips, sickening, nauseating, loathsome, revolting, positively disgusting. In a vain attempt to conceal their ugliness, you tried to disguise them, to dress them up, to clothe them as you had clothed your bodies, thus coming up with euphemisms. Absurd, preposterous, grotesque, ludicrous, absolutely ridiculous, as even a child could see through them and identify them with the filth in your mind. In the new vein, you changed, altered, modified me, messed me about, mixed, muddled me up, abused me, vilified me. You talked and talked, you chattered, babbled, prattled, gabbled, gibbered and there was no end to the nonsense you uttered. You made speeches which could hardly be endured, pompous, affected, grandiloquent, soporific. Not content with that, you used me to lie, you made promises you seldom kept, you swore, you cursed, you betrayed, you ratted on your mates, yes, you whispered your brother’s name in the tyrant’s ear; you abandoned your friend when he needed you most;

209 you heard him sob, cry, wail, yell, howl, terrified, and you were not moved; he moaned, grieved, whined, whimpered, sighed, mystified, and you did not give a damn. The world around you was crumbling, disintegrating, falling to pieces: rare animal species were dying out, whole forests dried up, their trees shrivelled, their flowers withered, but you failed to see the signs. Impassive, impenitent, obstinate, arrogant, conceited, you went on using grand, pretentious words, and soon there were not enough dictionaries to keep them all in store: synonyms and antonyms, idioms, slang, cant, jargon, lingo, pidgin, technical words, journalese, officialese, archaisms, neologisms, vulgarisms, colloquialisms, barbarisms, solecisms, malapropisms and all the other isms. You spoke and wrote on, and progressed, polluting and destroying everything in the process. Finally, when all the ‘words’ had been said and all the ‘works’ done, and the Earth, the air and the waters, contaminated beyond repair, the Big Crunch occurred. Emptiness, nothingness, the Void reigned again; but no laments could be heard as I had gone back to the One who had sent me. Only silence remained, quiet, still, hush, sh... 20.1 SUGGESTED READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS WITH THEIR ANSWERS a.- Q. Who do you think the narrator of the story is? A. Language itself. b.- Q. How is the Big Bang described in the poem? A. All was dark and quiet, and then there was a flash, and a ball of fire pierced the dark. c.- Q. Describe man’s life in Paradise. A. It was a blissful life: he ate when he was hungry, drank when he was thirsty, etc. d.- Q. How were euphemisms born according to the narrator? A. When man and woman realized they were naked, they were ashamed of their nakedness, and felt the need to clothe their bodies and disguise their language concerning bodily functions. e.- Q. Give examples of man’s bad use of language. A. He talked too much, made grandiloquent speeches, lied, cursed, etc. f.- Q. Make a list of the types of dictionaries mentioned in the text. A. Dictionaries of synonyms and antonyms, of idioms, slang, cant, jargon, etc. g.- Q. What happened when the Big Crunch came? A. God called language back to Him, and again there was only silence (and darkness). KEY TO THE EXERCISES KEY TO UNIT

1 – THE BANQUET

1.1 SUGGESTED ANSWERS a.- Caviare from Iran, salmon from Norway, foie-gras from France, local lobster, shrimps and prawns, Spanish cured ham, etc. b.- Because the new generation of the Mob no longer believed in respect or in silence: they were a pack of two-bit wiseguys who only cared about themselves and didn’t mind ratting on their superiors to avoid going to prison. c.- Cheap. d.- That it had been an unfortunate accidental death. e.- That he was a new powerful Latin American drug baron. f.- Because the poison was in the strawberry gateau and she wanted to make sure that the two gangsters ate from it.

210 g.- That the poison had effectively killed the two gangsters. h.- Because she didn’t blame them for her son’s death. i.- No, his trade office was only a cover for the drug business. j.- No, because he had bribed an important local police officer. k.- He was a selfish, immoral man without scruples. l.- After taking her vengeance on the two gangsters, Petrita commits suicide eating her portion of the strawberry gateau. 1.5.1 a) Suggested answers: entrée: baby eels, caviare, cheese (also as dessert), cold meat, green salad, ham, horsd’oeuvre, olives, pâté de foie-gras, sardines, smoked herring first course: cannelloni, consommé, maccaroni, meat balls, paella, prawn cocktail, ravioli, scrambled eggs, spaghetti, tomato soup main course: escalope, grilled sole, kidneys, plain omelette, pork chop, red mullets, roast beef, roast chicken, sirloin, stuffed turkey, trout, veal cutlet dessert: apple pie, chocolate éclair, crème caramel, grapes, ice-cream, rice pudding b) hotel menus (suggested lexical field) apple pie (pastel de manzana) assorted vegetables (verduras variadas) baby eels (angulas) bacon and eggs (tocino y huevos) baked beans (judías en salsa de tomate) banana split (postre de helado, plátano y nata) beefsteak and chips (filete de ternera con patatas) beef curry casserole (guiso de carne de vaca al curry) beer (cerveza) (see 11.5.3.c) black coffee (café solo) boiled eggs (huevos pasados por agua) bubble and squeak (carne con patatas y coles) cannelloni (canelones) caviare (caviar) cheddar (queso de Cheddar) cheese (queso) cheese cake (pastel de queso) cheeseboard (tabla de quesos) chicken breast (pechuga de pollo) chicken broth (caldo de pollo) chicken fricassee (pollo en pepitoria) chicken soup (sopa de pollo) chips (patatas fritas) chocolate éclair (petisú de chocolate) chocolate mousse (mousse de chocolate) coffee with a dash of milk (café cortado) cold meat (embutidos, fiambres) consommé (consomé) cream puffs (profiteroles)

211 crème caramel (flan) croquettes (croquetas) cured ham (jamón serrano) custard (natillas) devilled eggs (huevos duros con salsa picante) duck à l’orange/roast duck with orange sauce (pato a la naranja) escalope (escalope) fillet of sole (filete de lenguado) (see also 8.2.6.d ) fish soup (sopa de pescado) fizzy/still mineral water (agua mineral con gas/sin gas) fried eggs (huevos fritos) fruit (fruta) (see below 1.5.2.a) fruit cake (plum cake) fruit salad (macedonia) green salad (ensalada verde) grilled sole (lenguado a la plancha) ham (jamón cocido) hard-boiled eggs (huevos duros) hors-d’oeuvres (entremeses) ice cream (helado) iced coffee (café con hielo) kidneys (riñones) kipper pâté (paté de arenque ahumado) lamb cutlet (chuleta de cordero) lemonade/lemon squash (limonada) liver and onions (hígado con cebollas) lobster (langosta) maccaroni (macarrones) mackerel with gooseberry sauce (caballa con salsa de grosellas) mashed potatoes (puré de patatas) meat balls (albóndigas) milk shake (batido) mixed salad (ensalada mixta) mussels (mejillones) olives (aceitunas) orange/pineapple/grapefruit juice (jugo de naranja/piña/pomelo) paella (paella) partridge casserole (guiso de perdiz) pasta (pasta) pâté de foie-gras (pâté de foie-gras) pepper steak (biftec a la pimienta) pickles (encurtidos, pepinillos en vinagre) plain omelette (tortilla simple/a la francesa) poached eggs (huevos escalfados) pork chop (chuleta de cerdo) prawn cocktail (cóctel de gambas) ravioli (ravioli) red mullets (salmonetes)

212 rice pudding (arroz con leche) roast beef (rosbif) roast chicken (pollo asado) roast pheasant with oatmeal stuffing (faisán asado con relleno de harina de avena) rump steak (filete de la parte de la cadera) Russian salad (ensaladilla rusa) salami (salchichón) sardines (sardinas) sausage (salchicha) scrambled eggs (huevos revueltos) shellfish/seafood (mariscos) (see 1.2.8.c) sheperd’s pie (pastel de carne picada cubierta con puré de patatas) sirloin steak (filete de solomillo) smoked herring (salmón ahumado) sole meunière (lenguado meunière/a la molinera) spaghetti (spaghetti) Spanish/potato omelette (tortilla de patatas) steak and kidney pie (pastel de carne y riñones) stew (estofado) Stilton (queso Stilton) stuffed olives (aceitunas rellenas) stuffed turkey (pavo relleno) tomato soup (sopa de tomate) trout meunière (trucha meuniére/a la molinera) veal cutlet (chuleta de ternera) vegetable soup (sopa de verdura) vegetable stew (menestra) vegetables (verduras) (see below 1.5.2.b) vermicelli (fideos) white coffee/coffee and milk (café con leche) wine (vino) (see 11.5.3.c) Yorkshire pudding (masa a base de leche, harina y huevo que se hornea y suele comerse tradicionalmente con el rosbif) c) fast food (suggested lexical field) cheeseburger (hamburguesa con queso) fish and chips (pescado frito con patatas fritas) hamburger/beefburger (hamburguesa) hot dog (perrito caliente) pizza (pizza) 1.5.2 a) fruit (suggested lexical field) (marked with a tick are the soft fruits similar to strawberries): almond (almendra) apple (manzana)

213 apricot (albaricoque) avocado (aguacate) banana (platano) bilberry (arándano) √ blackberry (zarzamora, mora) √ cashew (anacardo) cherimoya (chirimoya) cherry (cereza) chestnut (castaña) coconut (coco) cranberry (arándano) √ currant (pasa de Corinto) date (dátil) elderberry (baya de sáuco) √ fig (higo) gooseberry (grosella) √ grapefruit (pomelo) grapes (uvas) hazelnut (avellana) huckleberry (arándano) √ kiwi fruit (kiwi) lemon (limón) lime (lima) loganberry (frambuesa norteamericana) √ lychee (lichi) mango (mango) medlar (níspero) melon (melón) mulberry (mora) √ nectarine (nectarina) nut (nuez) orange (naranja) passion fruit (granadilla) peach (melocotón) pear (pera) pawpaw/papaya (papaya) peanut (cacahuete) persimmon (caqui) plum (ciruela) pomegranate (granada) prickly pear (chumbo) pineapple (piña) prune (ciruela pasa) quince (membrillo) raisins (pasas) raspberry (frambuesa) √ strawberry (fresa) √ sultana (pasa de Esmirna)

214 tamarind (tamarindo) tangerine (mandarina) tomato (tomate) walnut (nuez) watermelon (sandía) b) vegetables and tubers (suggested lexical field): beetroot (remolacha) broccoli (brécol) Brussels sprouts (coles de Bruselas) cabbage (col) capsicum (pepper) (pimiento) carrot (zanahoria) cauliflower (coliflor) celery (apio) chard/Swiss chard (acelga) chicory (achicoria) courgette (calabacín) cucumber (pepino) eggplant (berengena) endive (endivias) fennel (hinojo) French beans (judías verdes) (garden) peas (guisantes) garlic (ajo) gherkin (pepinillo) gourd (calabaza) leek (puerro) lettuce (lechuga) marrow (calabacín grande) mushrooms (setas) onion (cebolla) parsley (perejil) parsnip (chirivía) potato (patata) pumpkin (calabaza) radish (rábano) runner beans (judías, alubias) scallion (cebolleta. AmE)) shallot (chalote, cebollita) spinach (espinaca) spring onion (cebolleta- BrE) squash (calabaza) sweet potato (batata) (Swiss) chard (acelga) turnip (nabo) (water)cress (berro) zucchini (calabacín – AmE)

215

1.5.3 a) drugs and drug-related terms (suggested lexical field): acid (ácido) to be clean (sl.) (no llevar drogas encima) to be on drugs (tomar droga habitualmente) burnt out (acabado, destrozado por la droga) bust (redada) caca (sl.) (heroína adulterada) cannabis (cannabis, hachís, marijuana) cocaine (cocaína) coke (sl.) (coca) to come down (sl.) (pasarse los efectos de la droga) crack (crack, cocaína muy pura) crummy stuff (droga de inferior calidad) to do drugs (sl.) (tomar drogas habitualmente) dope (droga, gen. marihuana) drug addict (adicto a la droga) drug baron (capo de la droga) druggie/druggy (drogata) drug-dealer (narcotraficante, traficante en drogas) drug-pusher/-peddler (camello) drug squad (brigada antidroga) drug trafficking (narcotráfico) a fix (un pico) to freak out (hacer un ‘viaje’) good stuff (droga de buena calidad) grass (sl.) (yerba, marijuana) hard drugs (drogas duras) hashish/hash (‘chocolate’, hachís) to have the shakes (sl.) (estar con el ‘mono’) herb (sl.) (yerba, hachís, marijuana) heroin (heroína) high (on) [colocado (con)] a hit (sl.) (una calada; una esnifada) hooked on (enganchado a) joint/reefer (sl.) (porro, canuto) junkie (sl.) (drogata, yonqui) marijuana (marijuana) mule (sl.) (persona que entra droga en un país escondida en su cuerpo) to need a ride (sl.) (necesitar droga, necesitar un ‘viaje’) overdose (sobredosis) pee (sl.) (heroína demasiado pura) pot (hachís, marijuana) to push drug (vender droga) shit (sl.) (heroína) to shoot up (sl.) (chutarse)

216 to smoke pot (fumar marijuana) to sniff/snort a line (sl.) (esnifar una raya) snow (sl.) (cocaína) soft drugs (drogas blandas) speed (sl.) (speed, anfetas) stoned/loaded/freaked out/zonked/spaced out (sl.) (drogado, colocado) straw (sl.) (canuto para esnifar cocaína) to take drugs (tomar drogas, drogarse) trip (sl.) (viaje) weed (hachís, marijuana) the white lady (sl.) (la heroína; la cocaína) b) death (suggested lexical field): body (cuerpo) burial (entierro) bury (enterrar) cemetery (cementerio) coffin (féretro) coroner (juez de instrucción) corpse (cadáver) to cremate (incinerar) crematorium (crematorio) churchyard (cementerio alrededor de una iglesia) to enbalm (embalsamar) enbalmer (embalsamador) to express/offer/send one’s condolences (dar el pésame) family vault (panteón familiar) forensic scientist/doctor/surgeon (forense) funeral (funeral) funeral service (honras fúnebres) grave/tomb (tumba) gravedigger (sepulturero) gravestone (lápida) graveyard (cementerio cerca de la iglesia) hearse (coche fúnebre) in mourning (de luto) to lay out (amortajar) mortician/funeral director (director de pompas fúnebres) mortuary/morgue (depósito de cadáveres, morgue) mummy (momia) obituary (esquela) to perform a post-mortem/an autopsy (realizar una autopsia) to ressuscitate (resucitar) to shroud (amortajar) shroud (sudario, mortaja) stiff (fiambre – sl.) undertaker’s (funeraria)

217 wake (velatorio) wreath (corona) c) crime/criminals (suggested lexical field): arsonist (pirómano) bandit (bandido, bandolero) to be light-fingered (tener las manos largas) to blackmail (chantajear) blackmailer (chantajista) to blow/break/crack a safe (abrir una caja fuerte para robar) to break into a house (entrar en una casa para robar, allanar el domicilio) to bribe (sobornar) bribery (soborno) burglar (ladrón en casas o tiendas) burglary (robo en casas o tiendas) to burgle (robar en casas o tiendas) cat-burglar (ladrón que escala edificios para robar) to con (timar) con man/artist (timador) to cook the accounts (falsificar los libros) crook (maleante) cut-throat (matón) to diddle sb out of sth (birlar algo a alguien) to do sb out of sth (robarle a alguien algo) drug-trafficking (narcotráfico) to embezzle (malversar) embezzler (malversador) embezzling (malversación) to fiddle (hacer chanchullos) fiddler (chanchullero) to fleece (clavar; desplumar) forger (falsificador) forgery (falsificación) gang-robber (gángster) gangster (gángster) gunman (pistolero) highway robber (atracador) to hijack (secuestrar) hijacker (secuestrador) hitman (matón) to hold up (atracar) hold-up/stick-up (atraco) hooligan (gamberro) to kidnap (raptar) to knock off (mangar) to lift sth from sb (mangarle algo a alguien) loan shark (prestamista)

218 to make off/away with sth (largarse con algo robado) the Mob/the Mafia (la Mafia) mobster/Mafioso (miembro de la mafia, mafioso) mugger (navajero) to murder (asesinar) murder (asesinato) murderer (asesino) to nick (birlar) to pick a lock (hacer saltar una cerradura) to pick pockets (robar carteras) pickpocket (ratero) to pilfer (robar/hurtar pequeñas cantidades, sisar) pilferer (ladronzuelo) to pinch/swipe (birlar, mangar) poacher (cazador furtivo) to purloin (robar –formal) purse-snatcher (tironero) racketeering (extorsión, crimen organizado) to rape (violar) rapist (violador) rascal (pillo) to rip off (clavar; plagiar) to rob sb (of sth) [robar a alguien (algo), robar en un banco, etc.] robber (atracador) rogue (pillo) safe-blower/-breaker/-cracker (ladrón de cajas fuertes) scoundrel (granuja) shark (explotador, estafador) sharking (explotación, estafa) shoplifter (ladrón que roba artículos en las tiendas) to smuggle (hacer contrabando) smuggler (contrabandista) to snitch (birlar, mangar) to snitch on sb (delatar) squealer/informer (chivato, delator) to steal sth (from sb) [robar algo (a alguien)] to swindle (estafar) swindler (estafador, embaucador) terrorist (terrorista) thief (ladrón) thug (maleante) vandalism (vandalismo) 1.5.4

a-3; b-8; c-5; d-7; e-4; f-1; g-6; h-2

1.5.5

a.- gripped; b- seized; c- snatched; d- grasp; e- grab; f- clutched

1.5.6

a.- mumbled; b- embezzling; c- fleece; d- joint; e- funeral service; f- pinched; g.grumbling; h.- bellyaching

219

1.5.7

a.- go into; b- do without; c- keep up with; d.- cracking down on; e.- hold back; f.let....down

1.5.8

a.- bury; b.- beet; c.- buy; d.- flour; e- hare; f- meet; g- nose; h- pear/pare; i- road; j.- waste

1.5.9

/i:/ deal; wreath; breathe; tea; meal; cream; feast; cheap /e/ breath; death; pleasure; again; feather; breast /eI/ break; great; again /I@/ hear; tear; theatre /e@/ to tear /3:/ heard /A:/ heart

1.5.10 a.- He told his uncle to park his car next to his; b.- She told the children not to shout; c.- The old man begged Mr Grant to give the boy another chance; d.Samuel’s father advised him to find a good lawyer; e.- He told his accomplice to take the money and run; f.- The crowd urged the guards to throw out the hooligan. KEY TO UNIT

2- THE PREGNANT WOMAN

2.1 SUGGESTED ANSWERS a.- That he’s French, seventy-six years old, but in reasonable good health; that he lives in Strasbourg; that he’s a widow; that he owns an antique shop where he keeps some pieces of art that are precious to him and which he wouldn’t sell no matter how much money he was offered for them. b.- 9 a.m to 1 p.m and 2 p.m to 5 p.m, Mondays to Fridays. c.- It’s a 30 x 14,5 cm. early Renaissance picture with a magical combination of light and colour showing a naked pregnant woman. d.- That he came from a family of peasants, that he studied in the university of the Sorbonne, that he married Geneviève, that he was very happy when she became pregnant, and that he killed her when she had an abortion; that he was sent to prison, where he spent 12 years; that when he was released he became a teacher of History of Art, and that he was now retired and lived in Strasbourg. He had become a good friend of Jacques’ and came to his shop to see him every afternoon. e.- It reminded him of his son who had never been born. f.- She was an attractive, slender, tall, 19-year-old blonde with blue eyes. g.- He thought of his own unborn child and was anguished that the girl was thinking of having an abortion. h.- 1.- Jacques, Bernard and Monique chat for a while, and then the girl leaves the shop with her son, and the next day Jacques and Bernard go on meeting as usual in the afternoon. 2.- Bernard becomes Monique’s son’s godfather, and Jacques leaves the shop and everything he has to him in his will/and Jacques makes him his heir. 2.5.1 illnesses (suggested lexical field): AIDS (sida)

220 Alzheimer’s disease (Alzheimer) anaemia (anemia) appendicitis (apendicitis) arterioesclerosis (arterioesclerosis) arthritis (artritis) asthma (asma) bronchitis (bronquitis) cancer (cáncer) chickenpox (varicela) cholera (cólera) cirrhosis (cirrosis) (common) cold [resfriado (común)] coronary (heart) disease (enfermedad coronaria) coronary (thrombosis) (infarto) cystitis (cistitis) dementia demencia) diabetes diabetes) diphteria (difteria) Down’s syndrome (síndrome de Down) dysentery (disentería) emphysema (enfisema) epilepsy (epilepsia) flu (gripe) food poisoning (intoxicación) gangrene (gangrena) gastritis (gastritis) gastroenteriris (gastroenteritis) German measles (rubeola) glaucoma (glaucoma) goitre (bocio) gout (gota) haemophilia (hemofilia) hay fever (fiebre del heno) heat stroke (golpe de calor) hepatitis (hepatitis) hernia (hernia) herpes (herpes) hypertension (hipertensión) irritable bowel syndrome (colon irritable) jaundice (ictericia) laryngitis (laringitis) legionnaire’s disease (enfermedad del legionario) leprosy (lepra) leukemia (leucemia) malaria (malaria) measles (sarampión) meningitis (meningitis) mumps (paperas)

221 osteoporosis (osteoporosis) paranoia (paranoia) Parkinson’s disease (parkinson) peritonitis (peritonitis) phlebitis (flebitis) phobia (fobia) plague (peste) pleurisy (pleuresía) pneumonia (pulmonía) poliomyelitis (poliomelitis) rabies (rabia) rheumatism (reuma) rickets (raquitismo) salmonella (salmonela) scarlet fever (escarlatina) schizophrenia (esquizofrenia) sciatica (ciatica) sclerosis (esclerosis) scurvy (escorbuto) septicaemia (septicemia) shingles (herpes, culebrilla) sinusitis (sinusitis) sleeping sickness (enfermedad del sueño) smallpox (viruela) strabismus (estrabismo) stroke (ataque de apoplejía, derrame cerebral) sunstroke (insolación) sudden infant death syndrome (síndrome de muerte infantil súbita) syphilis (sífilis) tetanus (tétano) thrombosis (trombosis) tonsillitis (amigdalitis) trichinosis (triquinosis) tuberculosis/TB (tuberculosis) tumour/tumor (tumor); benign/malignant (benigno/maligno) typhoid (tifus) venereal disease/VD (enfermedad venérea) whooping cough (tos ferina) yellow fever (fiebre amarilla) [see also 7.2.4.b (minor health problems)] 2.5.2 binomials: arm in arm (cogidos del brazo) back and forth (para atrás y para delante)

222 black and white (blanco y negro)/in black and white [en blanco y negro (photo/film); por escrito] bread and butter (pan con mantequilla); bread-and-butter (básico, primordial)] by leaps and bounds (a pasos agigantados) day by day (día a día) down and out (sin hogar ni dinero) face to face (cara a cara) first and foremost (ante todo) fit and proper (apropiado, correcto, como debe ser) from father to son (de padres a hijos) give and take (toma y daca) hale and hearty (sano y fuerte) hand in hand (cogidos de la mano) here and there (aquí y allá) high and dry [tirado, en la estacada; encallado (barco)] husband and wife (marido y mujer) hustle and bustle (ajetreo, bullicio, trajín) ladies and gentlemen (señoras y señores) law and order (la ley y el orden) man to man (de hombre a hombre) odds and ends (cosas sueltas; trastos; retazos) on and off/off and on (de vez en cuando, a ratos, a intervalos) part and parcel (parte integrante) rain or shine (llueva o haga sol/llueva o truene) rough and ready (poca categoría) sooner or later (tarde o temprano) take it or leave it (lo toma o lo deja) to and fro (de un lado para otro) to see eye to eye (ser de la misma opinión) up and down (hacia arriba y hacia abajo) a.- ready; b.- bounds; c.- parcel; d.- to; e.- high; f.- law; g.- odds; h.- foremost; i.forth; j.- out 2.5.3

a.- put; b.- laid; c.- laid, d.- set; e.- Put; f.- setting; g.- set; h.- laid/set; i.- put; j.- set

223 2.5.4

a.- glare; b.- glanced; c.- gaping; d.- peeped; e.- ogling/leering; f.- stared; g.gazing at; h.- scowling

2.5.5

a.- trifling, trivial, insignificant; b.- naked; nude; in one’s birthday suit; c.slender, svelte; d.- fascinated, spellbound, enraptured; e.- nimbly; agilely; f.joyful, merry

2.5.6

a-3; b-6; c-5; d-2; e-1; f-4

2.5.7

a.- fatherhood; b.- racism; c.- wastage; d.- stardom; e.- sadness; f.- professorship; g.- martyrdom; h- cheapness; i- dictatorship; j- starvation; k- priesthood; lbaldness; m- rehearsal; n- boredom

2.5.8

/Q/ coffee, objects, gone, offered, obscene, Sorbonne, promising, novelist, obstacle /@U/ open, home, moment, go, disclosing, ago /O:/ storm, sort, Sorbonne, abortion /V/ done, other, colour /@/ protruding, thermos (also /Q/), symbol (also /-/) /u:/ who /3:/ words

2.5.9

a-1 It’s on St Valentine’s day that they got married a-2 It’s in Strasbourg that they got married b-1 What I must do is (to) give you a few personal details to help you understand b-2 It’s to help you understand that I must give you a few personal details c-1 It was/it’s a cruel leukemia that took my Mathilda away from me five years ago c-2 It was/it’s five years ago that a cruel leukemia took..... d-1 What I mean is that inside my shop I feel alive d-2 It’s inside my shop that I feel alive e-1 What I like to do is (to) put the portrait of that pregnant woman in the shop window e-2 It’s in the shop window that I like to put the portrait of that pregnant woman f-1 It’s Bernard who/that met Geneviève in Paris fifty years ago f-2 It’s Geneviève that Bernard met in Paris fifty years ago f-3 It’s in Paris that Bernard met Geneviève fifty years ago f-4 It’s fifty years ago that Bernard met Geneviève in Paris

2.5.10 a.- Though he has a car, he walks to his office every day b.- I won’t accept their offer however favourable the conditions are c.- Strange as it may sound, what he has just said is true d.- Don’t believe the rumour no matter how often you may hear it e.- Much as I like him, I don’t think he’s the right man for the job f.- However much he loves you, your father won’t lend you his new Mercedes. KEY TO UNIT

3.- THE IDEAL COUPLE

3.1 SUGGESTED ANSWERS

224 a.- That their tastes were completely different. b.- 1.- Prof. Bradford was gorging himself on canapés at the reception. 2.- When Amanda and Cuthbert met they lost all interest in the Congress. 3.- Amanda was behind the University of Richmond’s offer of a Chair to Prof. Bradford. c.- No, the narrator believes that he is like many people in Britain who profess themselves to be followers of the Church of England, but don’t really have any religious convictions. d.- To return to the subject being the object of the discussion/conversation. e.- Cuthbert likes drinking a whisky or a gin and tonic every now and then, he likes playing the recorder and the oboe, he likes meat underdone and with plenty of chips. Amanda doesn’t like meat (she’s a vegetarian) or chips; she doesn’t drink alcohol (she’s a teetotaller); she likes modern dance and working with computers. f.- Amanda, because she wanted him near her. g.- He likes playing basketball, drinking Pepsi, wearing Levis and driving fast cars. h.- Love is above differences in race, creed, tastes, etc. 3.5.1

a.- exact; b.- dare; c.- to like; d.- to abhor/to loathe; e.- to run out; f.- to resemble; g.- rare; h.- overdone

3.5.2

a.- unattractive; b.- inexact/inaccurate; c.- narrow; d.- strong; e.- dull; f.unconventional; g.- inadequate; h.- displeased

3.5.3

a.- made; b.- do; c.- do...do; d.- made; e.- making; f.- do; g.- make; h.- did; i.make; j.- do

3.5.4

parts of a car (suggested lexical field):

accelerator pedal (pedal del acelerador) air filter (filtro del aire) axle (eje de una rueda) axle shaft (palier) back seat (asiento trasero) battery (batería) bearings (cojinetes) blinker (intermitente) bonnet/hood (capó) boot (BrE)/trunk (AmE) (maletero) brake (freno) brake disc (disco del freno) brake drum (tambor del freno) brake pedal (pedal del freno) bumper (parachoques) camshaft (árbol de levas) carburettor (carburador) chassis (carrocería) choke (stárter) clutch pedal (pedal del embrague) coil (bobina) connecting rod (biela)

225 contact points (puntos de platino) convertible top (capota) crankcase (cárter) crankshaft (cigüeñal) cylinder (cilindro) cylinder head (culata) dashboard (salpicadero) differential (diferencial) disc brake (freno de disco) distributor (distribuidor) door handle (pomo) driver’s seat (asiento del conductor) dynamo (dinamo) engine (motor) exhaust-pipe (tubo de escape) fan (ventilador) fanbelt (correa del ventilador) filler cap (tapón de la gasolina) front seats (asientos delanteros) fuel injection pump (bomba de inyección) gears (marchas) gearbox (caja de cambios) gear-lever/gearshift (palanca de cambios) glove compartment (guantera) handbrake (freno de mano) head gasket (junta de culata) headlights (faros) head-rest (reposa-cabeza) hooter (obs) (claxon) horn (claxon) hubcap (tapacubos) ignition key (llave de contacto) indicator (light) (intermitente) inner tube (cámara) instrument panel (cuadro de mandos, panel de instrumentos) number plate (placa de la matrícula) oir filter (filtro del aceite) passenger’s seat (asiento del copiloto) petrol gauge (indicador del nivel de gasolina) petrol tank (BrE)/gas tank (AmE) (depósito de gasolina) radiator (radiador) radiator grille (rejilla del radiador) rear light/tail light (piloto trasero) rear-view mirror (espejo retrovisor) roof rack (baca) seat-belt (cinturón de seguridad) shock absorber (amortiguador) sidelights/parking lights (luces de posición)

226 silencer/muffler (silenciador) spare wheel (rueda de repuesto) sparking plug (BrE)/spark plug (AmE) (bujía) speedometer (cuentakilometros) spokes (varillas de las ruedas) springs (muelles) starter (arranque) steering wheel (volante) sunroof (techo corredizo) suspension (suspensión) transmission (transmisión) tyres/tires (neumáticos) valve (válvula) wheels (ruedas) windscreen (BrE)/windshield (AmE) (parabrisas) windscreen wiper (BrE)/shield (AmE) (limpiaparabrisas) wing (BrE)/fender (AmE) (aleta) 3.5.5

a.- win; b.- earns; c.- gained/won; d.- gain; e.- beat; f.- earned; g.- won; h.- beat; i.- gained; j.- won

3.5.6

1-b; 2-f; 3-c; 4-e; 5-a; 6-d

3.5.7

a- windscreen; b- lift; c- boot; d- pavement; e- sweets; f- bonnet

3.5.8

a.- different; b.- no, it’s a cliché (topic is synonymous with subject); c.- no, on a (notice)board; d.- no, ‘luxury’ isn’t ‘lujuria’ in Spanish, but ‘lujo’; e.- no, it means he doesn’t earn enough to keep her; f.- in the kitchen (the Spanish ‘sauce’ is willow in English)

3.5.9

/V/ much, must, luggage, trunk, just, subsequent, pronunciation, number, funny, misunderstandings, muttons, judge, judging, underdone, underwear, run /ju:/ used, university, USA, humorously, duly, absolutely (also u:), musical, computers /jU/ regularly, accurate (also /@/), modulated (also /jU/) /jU@/ curious /@/ venture, lecture, handful (also /-/), pleasure, features, instruments, resourcefulness, modulated (also /jU/), accurate (also/jU/) /U/ put, education /3:/ surprising, return, church /U@/ assured /u:/ flute

3.5.10 a.- The young woman, who(m) nobody had ever asked out before, arranged the meeting through a dating agency b.- My neighbours, who normally get on very well together, were having an awful row c.- Termites, which live in colonies, do enormous damage to wood

227 d.- Their business, which was doing quite well last year, is now running into difficulty because of the recession e.- Aunt Sally brought some of her home-made cakes, which was a thoughtful thing to do f.- Jack, who eats virtually nothing but chips, has grown very fat KEY TO UNIT

4 .- ALL IN A DAY’S WORK

4.1 SUGGESTED ANSWERS a.- He worked at Jefferson Hospital, had classes at the University, and directed/ran his Nursing Home. b.- She was a housewife. c.- A residence for terminal cancer patients with a select staff of doctors, nurses, etc. whose main mission was to improve the quality of life of the residents. Its decoration was colourful, and the atmosphere quiet and relaxing, with soft music in the background. d.- Because Sarah, her daughter, was coming to see her the following week. e.- To tell them personally that Mr Willow’s X-ray had got mixed up with that of another patient, and that he didn’t have cancer. f.- Poor and sordid, the streets full of junkies and drug-pushers, the houses plain and ugly, the walls covered with filthy grafitti. g.- Because of her untidy looks: she was fat and ugly, had the hair rollers on and a cigarette hanging from her lips. h.- He was extremely sad and disheartened, and felt very tired, as if he had suddenly aged ten years. 4.5.1

a.- pretty-ugly; quick-slow; happy-sad; hot-cold; high-low; shallow-deep, b.- dead-alive; true-false c.- to tie-to untie; to fill-to empty; to appear-to disappear; to buy-to sell; to enterto exit

4.5.2 collective nouns: an army (of soldiers) [ejército (de soldados)] a bevy of women/girls/beauties (grupo de mujeres/chicas/bellezas) a board of directors/examiners (junta directiva/tribunal examinador) a bouquet/bunch of flowers (ramo de flores) a brood of chickens (nidada de pollos) a bunch of grapes/keys (racimo de uvas/manojo de llaves); a bunch of people (informal) (un grupo de personas a bundle of sticks/clothes (haz de leña/hatillo de ropa) a choir (of singers) (coro) (de cantores) a cloud of insects/journalists (nube de insectos/de periodistas) a clump of trees (grupo de árboles) a cluster of grapes/stars (racimo de uvas/constelación de estrellas) a covey of partridge/grouse (nidada de perdices/de urogallos) a crash of rhinoceros (manada de rinocerontes) a crew (tripulación)

228 a crowd of people (multitud de gente) a fleet of ships/cars (flota de barcos/coches) a flight of birds/pigeons/aircraft (bandada de pájaros/de palomas/escuadrilla de aviones) a flight of steps/stairs (tramo de escalera) a flock of sheep/birds (rebaño de ovejas/bandada de pájaros) a gaggle/flock of geese/of noisy people (bandada de gansos/de gente ruidosa) a galaxy of stars (elenco de estrellas) a gang of thieves (banda de ladrones) a grove of trees (arboleda) a herd of cattle/goats/pigs/buffaloes (rebaño de ganado/cabras/búfalos/piara de cerdos) a hive of bees (colmena de abejas) a horde of savages (horde de salvajes) a litter of pups/puppies/cubs (camada de cachorros de perro/oseznos) a pack of dogs/hounds/wolves (jauría de perros/de perros de caza/de lobos) a posse of policemen/journalists (legión de policías/periodistas) a pride of lions (manada de leones) a range of mountains (cordillera) a school of whales/dolphins (banco de ballenas/delfines) a sheaf of corn/papers/arrows (gavilla de trigo/fajo de papeles/haz de flechas) a shoal of fish (banco de peces) a stack of wood (montón de leña) a staff of teachers/employees (plantilla de profesores/empleados) a string of pear1s (sarta de perlas) a swarm of insects/bees/wasps/flies/tourists (enjambre de insectos/abejas/avispas/moscas/turistas) a team of horses/oxen (tiro de caballos/yunta de bueyes) a team (of players) [equipo (de jugadores)] a troop of monkeys (grupo/manada de monos) a wad of banknotes (fajo de billetes) a- bunch; b- hive/swarm; c- school; d- shoal; e- sheaf; f- wad; g- pack; h- pride; i- flock; j- gaggle 4.5.3 a) birds (suggested lexical field): albatross (albatros) avocet (avoceta) barn owl (lechuza) bearded vulture (quebrantahuesos) blackbird (mirlo) blue tit (herrerillo) budgerigar/budgie (periquito) bustard (avutarda) buzzard (milano) canary (canario) carrier pigeon (paloma mensajera) carrion crow (cuervo carroñero) cockatoo (cacatúa)

229 condor (cóndor) crane (grulla) crow/raven (cuervo) cuckoo (cuco) curlew (sarapito) chaffinch/finch (pinzón) dodo (dodo) dove/pigeon (paloma) duck (pato) eagle (águila) emu (emú) falcon/hawk (halcón) flamingo (flamenco) gannet (alcatraz) goldfinch (jilguero) grouse (urogallo) guinea fowl (gallina de Guinea) heron (garza) hoopoe (abubilla) hummingbird (colibrí) jackdaw (grajilla) jay (arrendajo) kestrel (cernícalo) kingfisher (martín pescador) lapwing (avefría) lark (alondra) linnet (pardillo) magpie (urraca) martin (avión) nightingale (ruiseñor) nymph (ninfa) ostrich (avestruz) owl (búho) parakeet (periquito) parrot (loro) partridge (perdiz) peacock (pavo real) pelican (pelícano) penguin (pingüino) pheasant (faisán) plover (chorlito) puffin (frailecillo) quail (codorniz) redwing (tordo alirrojo) ringdove/wood pigeon (paloma torcaz) robin/redbreast (petirrojo) rook (corneja) sandpiper (aguzanieves)

230 (sea)gull (gaviota) snipe (agachadiza) sparrow (gorrión) sparrow-hawk (gavilán) starling (estornino) stork (cigüeña) swallow (golondrina) swan (cisne) swift (vencejo) thrush (tordo, zorzal) titmouse/tit (herrerillo) turtle dove (tórtola) vulture (buitre) waterfowl (ave acuática) woodpecker (pájaro carpintero) wren (reyezuelo) b) sports (suggested lexical field): aerobics (aerobics) angling (pesca con caña) archery (tiro con arco) athletics (atletismo) badminton (badminton) baseball (béisbol) billiards (billar) bowling/bowls (bolos) boxing (boxeo) canoeing (piragüismo) canoe racing (carrera de canoas) clay-pigeon shooting/skeetshooting (tiro al plato) climbing (alpinismo) cricket (críquet) croquet (croquet) cycling (ciclismo) darts (dardos) diving (submarinismo, buceo) fencing (esgrima) fishing (pesca) football (fútbol) fox hunting (caza del zorro) golf (golf) handball (balonmano) hanggliding (ala delta) hiking (excursionismo) hockey (hockey) horse racing (carrera de caballos) hunting (caza, cacería) ice hockey (hockey sobre hielo)

231 judo (yudo) karate (kárate) miniature golf (minigolf) motocross (motocross) motorcycle racing (carrera de motos) motor-racing (carrera de coches) mountaineering (montañismo) parachuting (paracaidismo) pistol shooting (tiro con pistola) polo (polo) pool (billar americano) potholing (espeleología) roller skating (patinaje sobre ruedas) rowing (remo) rugby (rugby) sailing (vela) scuba diving (submarinismo con botellas de oxígeno) shooting (caza con escopeta de pájaros, conejos, etc.) show-jumping (hípica) skiing (esquí) slalom (eslalom) snooker (snooker) snorkeling (buceo con tubo de respiración) squash (squash) sumo (wrestling) (sumo) surfing (surf) swimming (natación) table tennis (ping-pong) target practice (tiro al blanco) tennis (tenis) trekking (trekking) volleyball (balonvolea) water polo (waterpolo) waterskiing (esquí acuático) weightlifting (levantamiento de pesas) windsurfing (windsurf) wrestling (lucha libre) yoga (yoga) 4.5.4

a- get; b- gone/turned; c- come; d- become; e- come; f- turn

4.5.5

a- smirked; b- scribbled; c- swig; d- leering; e- drink up; f- beaming

4.5.6

/&/ drank, management, practice, cancer, happens, bad, pattern, miraculous, carry, Sarah, perhaps /eI/ patients, famous, cases, same, strange, Jacob, radiant /A:/ hard, classes (also /&/ in AmE), after (also /&/ in AmE), started, Harvard /O:/ warm, all, small, almost /Q/ was (strong form), wasn’t

232 /@/ breakfast, villa, hospital (also /-/), accustomed, appealed, was (weak form), avoidance, physical (also /-/, achieved, than, among, terminal (also /-/), Sarah, Harvard /I/ orange, management /e@/ care 4.5.7

a.- no, you read books at or borrow them from a library, but buy them at a bookshop; b.- no, he has a cold (constipated means ‘estreñido’); c.- no, a detour, d.- take it away; e.- no, you’d call it a shame or a pity (disgrace means ‘shame’ in the sense of ignominy); f.- no, you’d say that you were suffering from food poisoning (intoxicated is synonymous with drunk)

4.5.8

a.- management; b.- sedation; c.- tiredness; d.- efficiency; e.- suppression; f.achievement; g.- acquittal; h.- authenticity; i.- friendliness; j.- avoidance; k.classification; l.- gratefulness; m.- compensation; n.- diversity; o.- resemblance; p.- generosity; q.- legality; r.- constancy; s.- frequency; t.- normality

4.5.9

a.- She was wearing a fur coat that must have cost her a fortune b.- The man you’re looking for left ten minutes ago c.- The suit he’s wearing doesn’t fit him at all d.- His brother Paul, who(m) we met last summer, is the new manager e.- The woman you’re talking about doesn’t live here any longer f.- The flowers you sent me were really beautiful.

4.5.10 A) a.- ...time to change into his white coat and prescribes hospital shoes... b.- Dr Samuel Newman drank up his orange juice c.- ...trying in vain to fight back her tears d.- Sarah...was too absorbed in her research work at Harvard to think of taking over e.- He had not gone in for much sport lately f.- He went through the day’s routine as usual g.- I don’t think she’ll live through the night h.- ...it was not really traumatic to see her pass away in such a painless, peaceful way i.- ...if he had been one of his patients, he’d have ordered him to slow down long ago j.- ...the woman...had stepped back into her apartment B) Suggested answers: a.- He changed into his evening suit; b.- Come on, drink up your milk; c.- She fought back her anger; d.- When he took the business over it was practically ruined; e.- I don’t go in for that sort of fishing; f.- The marriage ceremony has to be gone through; g.- She didn’t want to speak about the nightmare she had lived through; h.- He passed away peacefully in his sleep; i.- The doctor has ordered me to slow down if I don’t want to have a coronary; j.- He stepped back and let me in. KEY TO UNIT

5.- INVITATION TO MURDER

5.1 SUGGESTED ANSWERS

233 a.- Because it seemed as if Lord Thumbleton wanted to be murdered, having invited people who all had sufficient reasons to murder him. b.- Because he thought he had caught the murderer. c.- He had stolen some jewels and the silver cutlery, which he saw as a compensation for his imminent dismissal when Thumbleton Manor was closed down. d.- He was leaving everything he had, except a small pension for his widow, to Miss Prescott, his secretary and mistress. e.- Because his wife, Lady Thumbleton, had probably given the horse something to make it rear up and bolt. f.- Miss Prescott and her new lover, because she knew she was the main beneficiary of her employer’s will. Barton, to avenge his father. Borderlow, to take vengeance on Lord Thumbleton, who had sent him to prison. Helen, because her husband had cheated on her. g.- Lord Thumbleton had persuaded his twin brother to impersonate him, and then killed him by putting poison in the tablets he knew his brother always had after lunch, with the intention of collecting afterwards the substantial life insurance which he had taken out naming his brother as beneficiary. h.- 1.- Lord Thumbleton is arrested at the airport. 2.- He manages to escape. 3.- His plane crashes before landing. 5.5.1

Partitives used with uncountable nouns:

a bar/square/piece of chocolate a bar/cake of soap a bit of sand/salt/fun/research a blade of grass a blob of glue/paint/honey/wax a block/cube of ice a bolt of lightning a breath of air a burst of applause a chunk of bread/cheese/rock a clap of thunder a clod of earth a cube/lump of sugar a cut of meat a dash of milk/sauce a dollop of jam a drop of water/oil/whisky a fit of anger a flash of lightning a grain of rice/sand/salt a gust of wind an item of information/research an item of clothing an item of furniture/news a joint of meat a loaf of bread a lump of coal

una barrita/tableta/onza/pedazo de chocolate una pastilla de jabón un poco de arena/sal/diversión/investigación una brizna de yerba una gota de pegamento/pintura/miel/cera una barra/cubito de hielo un rayo un soplo de aire una salva de aplausos un buen trozo/pedazo de pan/queso/roca un trueno un terrón de tierra un terroncito de azúcar una tajada de carne una gota de leche/salsa una cucharada de mermelada una gota de agua/aceite/ whisky un ataque/acceso de ira un relámpago un grano de arroz/arena/sal una ráfaga de viento una información/investigación una prenda de vestir un mueble/una noticia un redondo de carne un pan un pedazo de carbón

234 a means of transport a pane of glass a patch of fog/mist a peal of laughter a piece of cake/bread/chocolate a piece of meat/bacon a piece of paper/wood/iron/glass a piece of chalk a piece of toast a piece of information/research a piece of advice/furniture/news a puff of wind/smoke a pinch of salt a rasher of bacon a roar of laughter a scrap of paper a segment of orange a sheet of paper/metal a shred of cloth a slab of concrete a slice of bread/cake/meat a sliver of glass/wood a speck of dirt/dust a spell of good/bad weather a splinter of wood a spot of rain/whisky a squeeze of lemon a state of chaos/anarchy/tension/ confusion/agitation/disorder a stick of chalk/dynamite a stroke of luck a suit of armour a touch of class/humour/irony a trickle of water/blood a wisp of smoke

un medio de transporte un cristal (de puerta o ventana) un banco de niebla una carcajada un trozo de pastel/pan/chocolate un pedazo de carne/tocino un trozo de papel/madera/hierro/cristal un trozo de tiza una tostada una información/investigación un consejo/un mueble/una noticia una racha de viento/una bocanada de humo una pizca de sal una loncha de tocino una carcajada un trocito de papel un gajo de naranja una hoja de papel/una lámina de metal un jirón de tela un bloque de hormigón una rebanada de pan/pastel/carne una astilla de vidrio/madera una mota de suciedad/polvo una racha de buen/mal tiempo una astilla de madera un poco de lluvia/whisky un chorro de limón un estado de caos/anarquía/tensión/confusión/agitación/ desorden una tiza/un cartucho de dinamita un golpe de suerte una armadura un toque de distinción/humor/ironía un hilo de agua/sangre una espiral de humo

5.5.2

a-3; b-7; c-5; d-10; e-9; f-1; g-8; h-4; i-2; j-6

5.5.3

a) legal terms (suggested lexical field):

accessory after the fact (encubridor, cómplice) accomplice (cómplice) to acquit (absolver) acquital (absolución, sentencia absolutoria) affidavit (declaración jurada) aggravating circumstances (agravantes) alibi (coartada) allowance/alimony (pensión alimenticia) to appeal (apelar, recurrir)

235 assault and battery (asalto con violencia) attempted murder (intento de asesinato) bail/on bail (fianza/bajo fianza) bailiff (alguacil) the Bar (el colegio de abogados, abogacía) barrister (abogado que defiende el caso ante los tribunales) the Bench (magistratura) breach of contract (incumplimiento de contrato) to bring a lawsuit against sb (entablar una demanda judicial contra alguien) to charge sb with (acusar a alguien de) to claim for damages/compensation (demanda por daños y perjuicios/indemnización) to come into force (entrar en vigor) contempt of court (desacato al tribunal) to contest (impugnar) to convict (declarar culpable) convict (presidiario, preso) corrupt practice/perversion of the course of justice (prevaricación) counsel for the defence (BrE)/defense attorney/lawyer (AmE) (abogado defensor) counsel for the prosecution (BrE)/district attorney (AmE) (fiscal court (tribunal) the court is adjourned (se levanta la sesión) court of appeal (tribunal de apelación) court order (orden judicial) courthouse (Palacio de Justicia) to cross-examine (repreguntar) culprit (culpable) death penalty/sentence/capital punishment (pena de muerte/pena capital) death row (corredor de la muerte) deed (escritura) defendant (acusado, demandado) to dismiss [desestimar (recurso, apelación); sobreseer (causa)] dock (banquillo de los acusados) to enforce (hacer cumplir la ley) evidence (prueba) examination (interrogatorio en el juicio) to examine [preguntar (en un juicio)] examining magistrate (juez de instrucción) exhibits [pruebas documentales (objetos o documentos que se exhiben como prueba en un juicio)] extenuating circumstances (circunstancias atenuantes) eyewitness (testigo ocular) fingerprint (huella) to go to court (acudir a los tribunales) hard labour (trabajos forzados) hearing (vista, audiencia) High Court (Tribunal Supremo)

236 indictment (acusación, cargos) to issue a writ against sb (expedir una orden judicial contra alguien) judge (juez) to jump bail (huír estando en libertad bajo fianza) juror (miembro del jurado) jury (jurado) juvenile court (tribunal de menores) lawsuit (demanda judicial, pleito) libel (difamación) life imprisonment/sentence (cadena perpetua) to lodge an appeal (interponer recurso) marriage by proxy (casamiento por poderes) misdemeanour (delito menor) notary public (notario) null and void (nulo y sin valor) on parole (en libertad bajo palabra) on probation (en libertad condicional) to pardon (indultar) to pass sentence (dictar sentencia) petition (solicitud, instancia) plaintiff (demandante) to plead guilty/not guilty (declararse culpable/no culpable) power of attorney (poder otorgado ante notario) proceedings (proceso, procedimiento) to prosecute (procesar) public defender (defensor de oficio) to question [interrogar (la policía)] questioning (interrogatorio por la policía) to reprieve (aplazar una ejecución) to return a verdict of guilty/not guilty (pronunciar un veredicto de culpabilidad/inocencia) to rule (dictaminar) to send to the gallows (mandar a la horca) to serve a sentence (cumplir condena) to settle a case out of court (resolver una querella sin ir a juicio) slander (calumnia) solicitor (abogado que prepara el caso para el barrister) statement (declaración) to sue (demandar, entablar una demanda) to sue for damages (solicitar daños y perjuicios) to sue for divorce (solicitar el divorcio) summons (requerimiento judicial) suspect (sospechoso) tax evasion (evasión de impuestos/fraude fiscal) to trespass (entrar sin autorización en propiedad ajena, transgredir) trial (juicio) to try (juzgar) warrant/writ (orden/mandato judicial)

237 witness box/stand (tribuna de los testigos) witness for the defence/prosecution (testigo de descargo/de cargo) (see also crime and criminals 1.5.3.c) b) cutlery and tableware (suggested lexical field): beer glass (vaso para la cerveza) beer mug (jarra para la cerveza) bottle opener (abridor) bowl (bol, tazón, cuenco) butter knife (cuchillo para la mantequilla) carving fork (tenedor de trinchar) carving knife (cuchillo de trinchar) coaster (posavasos) corkscrew (sacacorchos) cup (taza) dessert spoon (cucharilla de postre) dish (plato hondo, fuente) egg cup (huevera) fish fork (tenedor para el pescado) fish knife (cuchillo para el pescado) fork (tenedor) fruit bowl (frutero) glass (vaso) knife (cuchillo) ladle (cucharón) milk jug (jarro de la leche) mug(jarra) napkin (servilleta) napkin ring (servilletero) nutcracker (cascanueces) oil and vinegar bottle (aceitera y vinagrera) plate (plato) salad bowl (ensaladera) saucer (platillo) serviette (servilleta de papel) serving trolley (mesita/carrito de ruedas) side plate (plato pequeño/auxiliar) soup spoon (cuchara sopera) soup tureen (sopera) spoon (cuchara) sugar bowl (azucarero) table mat (salvamanteles) tablecloth (mantel) teapot (tetera) teaspoon (cucharilla) tray (bandeja) vegetable dish (fuente para la verdura)

238 wine glass (vaso para el vino) 5.5.4

a- outwitted; b- outgrown; c- outlived; d- outnumber; e- outrode; f- outran

5.5.5

a.- assassinated; b.- manslaughter; c.- massacre; d.- executed; e.- finish off; f.mowed down; g.- bumped off/knocked off/ done in/done away with/liquidated/shot down/polished off/taken out/rubbed out; h.slaughtered/butchered

5.5.6

a.- economic; b.- classic; c.- historical; d.- economical; e.- classical; f.- historic

5.5.7

/O:/ haunt, sauce, slaughter /A:/ draughts, laughter, aunt /Q/ sausage, laurel, cauliflower /@U/ mauve

5.5.8

5.5.9

Suggested answers: a.- Don’t format the hard disk unless you have backed it up first; b.- Unless you pay up, you’ll be taken to court; c.- Unless the economy picks up, I’ll go back to England; d.- He couldn’t have passed the exam unless he cheated; e.- Unless you do up the lid tightly, it will leak; f.- Unless I can borrow my brother’s motorbike, I won’t be able to get there by 9 o’clock; g.Unless they change their attitude, they’ll never be champions; h.- Unless you make greater efforts to sell more, there will be no Christmas bonus this year. 1-b; 2-a; 3-c; 4-a; 5-b; 6-c; 7-a; 8-b; 9-a; 10-a

5.5.10

a-round; b-down; c-at; d-away; e-for; f-without; g-off; h-out; i-through; j-into

KEY TO UNIT

6.- HIS ONLY TRUE LOVE

6.1 SUGGESTED ANSWERS a.- An imaginary friend of the old man’s, or somebody who knew him very well. b.- A nurse who looked after him day and night. c.- A little blonde girl, with curly golden hair, blue eyes and an angelic smile on her face. A blue-eyed blonde wearing a miniskirt and a low-necked blouse. A smart, clever-looking redhead with beautiful hazel eyes. A beautiful brunette, with long black hair, jet-black eyes, skin of alabaster, fleshy red lips, pointed breasts and a slender waist, wearing a tight-fitting black dress that set off her sculptural figure. d.- He had met each of them when his life was in danger. e.- Priceless pieces of English china; a collection of Russian folk-dolls; an ivory chessset; a picture by Van Gogh. f.- At Sotheby’s in London. g.- Because he was old and decrepit/ill, and she, young and beautiful. h.- Death, because when he kissed her his heart stopped beating for ever. 6.5.1 a) clothes (suggested lexical field):

239 anorak (anorac) apron (delantal) baggy (que hace bolsas) bathrobe (albornoz) belt (cinturón) belt buckle (hebilla del cinturón) beret (boina) Bermuda shorts (bermudas) bib (peto) blazer (chaqueta con insignia) blouse (blusa) bomber jacket (cazadora) boots (botas) bowler (sombrero hongo) bow-tie (corbata de pajarita) braces (tirantes) button (botón) buttonhole (ojal) cap (gorra) cardigan (cárdigan, chaqueta de punto) casual jacket (chaqueta sport) checked (a cuadros) cloak (capa) close-fitting (ajustado) coat (chaquetón, abrigo) collar (cuello) crash helmet (casco protector) cuff (puño) cufflinks (gemelos) culottes (falda pantalón) dinner dress (traje de noche) dinner jacket (smoking) dress (vestido) dressing-gown (bata, batín) duffel coat (trenca) dungarees (pantalones de peto) evening gown (traje de noche) evening suit (traje de etiqueta) flowery (con flores) fly/flies (portañica, bragueta) frills (volantes) fur coat (abrigo de piel) gloves (guantes) gym shoes (zapatillas de gimnasia/deportes) hat (sombrero) headscarf (pañuelo para la cabeza) heel (tacón) hem (dobladillo)

240 hood (capucha) house frock/house dress (bata) jacket (chaqueta) jeans (vaqueros) jumper (suéter) laces (cordones) lapel (solapa) leotard (mallas) long-sleeved (de mangas largas) loop fastening (presilla) loose (holgado) low-necked blouse (blusa escotada) lumber-jacket (cazadora) mackintosh/mac (impermeable) miniskirt (minifalda) neck (cuello) neckerchief (pañuelo para el cuello) nightdress/nightie (camisón de dormir) overalls (guardapolvo, mono) overcoat (abrigo) patch pocket (bolsillo de parche) pinafore dress (vestido de tirantes) pin-striped (de raya diplomática) plain (liso) pleated skirt (falda plisada) pocket (bolsillo) puffed sleeve (manga ancha) pullover (jersey) pyjamas/pajamas(pijama) raincoat (gabardina) ribbon (cinta para el pelo) round-neck (cuello redondo) scarf (bufanda) shawl (chal) shoes (zapatos) shorts (pantalones cortos, shorts) skirt (falda) slacks (pantalones de sport) sleeve (manga) sleeveless (sin mangas) slippers (zapatillas) socks (calcetines) sole (suela) spotted (de lunares) stockings (medias) straps (tirantes de vestido) striped (de/a rayas) suit (traje; traje sastre)

241 sweater (suéter) sweatshirt (sudadera) swimsuit/swimming costume/bathing suit (bañador) (swimming) trunks (bañador de hombre) tartan (tartán) tie (corbata) tight (ceñido) top hat (sombrero de copa) tracksuit (chandal) trenchcoat (trinchera) trouser suit (traje pantalón) trousers (pantalones) T-shirt (camiseta) turn-up (vuelta del pantalón) twin set (conjunto) veil (velo) V-neck (cuello en forma de V, cuello de pico) waistcoat (chaleco de traje) walking boots (botas para caminar) wraparound skirt (falda cruzada) zip (cremallera) (see also describing clothes, 6.2.6.c; footwear, 10.2.5.b and underwear, 3.2.6.a) b) colours (suggested lexical field): almond (color almendra) almond green (verde almendra) amber (ámbar) amethyst (amatista) apple green (verde manzana) apricot (albaricoque) aubergine (berenjena) auburn (castaño rojizo) azure (azul celeste) baby blue (azul claro, celeste) beige (beige) black (negro) blonde (rubio) blue (azul) bottle green (verde botella) bright (vivo) bronze (bronce) brown (marrón) burgundy (burdeos) Cambridge blue (azul claro, azul celeste) caramel (caramelo) carmine (carmín) carrot (zanahoria)

242 cherry (cereza) chestnut (castaño) chocolate (chocolate) cinnamon (canela) citron (limón) coffee (café) copper (cobrizo) cream (crema) crimson (carmesí) damask (adamascado) dark (oscuro) dun (pardo) ebony (ébano) emerald (verde esmeralda) fawn (color café claro) fuchsia (fucsia) ginger (jengibre) gold (oro, dorado) green (verde) grenadine (granadina) grey (gris) hazel (avellana) honey (miel) indigo (añil) iris (lirio) ivory (marfil) jade (verde jade) jasmine (jazmín) jet (azabache) khaki (caqui) lemon (limón) lilac (lila) maroon (granate) mauve (malva) mustard (mostaza) navy blue (azul marino) nutmeg (nuez moscada) ochre (ocre) old gold (oro viejo) olive (green) (verde oliva) opal (ópalo) orange (naranja, anaranjado) Oxford blue (azul oscuro) pale (pálido) pastel (tonos pastel) peach (melocotón) pearl (perla) pink (rosa)

243 platinum (platino) plum (ciruela) poppy (amapola) primrose (amarillo pálido) purple (púrpura) red (rojo) rose (rosa) royal blue (azul marino intenso) ruby (rubí) russet (rojizo, bermejo) rust (color herrumbre) saffron (color azafrán) salmon (salmón) sand (arena) sapphire (zafiro) scarlet (escarlata) sea green (verde mar) sepia (sepia) sienna (color tierra de siena) silver (plata, plateado) sky blue (azul celeste, azul cielo, celeste) snow-white (níveo) sorrel (color alazán) steel blue (azul acero) steel grey (gris acero) strawberry (fresa) tan (canela) tangerine (mandarina) tawny (leonado, rojizo oscuro) teak (teca) terracotta (terracota) topaz (topacio) turquoise (turquesa) vermilion (bermejo) violet (violeta) white (blanco) wine (vino) yellow (amarillo) 6.5.2

a.- hurling; b.- cast/threw; c.- cast; d.- threw; e.- throw; f.- flung/hurled/threw; g.toss; h.- launched; i.- thrown; j.- cast

6.5.3

a.- to allow; b.- to remember, to recall, to think back to, to reminisce about; c.brief; d.- fate; e.- to long for, to be dying/itching for; f.- slender, slim; g.- to vanish; h.- feeble, infirm; i.- impatiently, anxiously; j.- to follow, to result

6.5.4

a.- lost; b.- lost; c.- wasted; d.- to lose; e.- missed; f.- wasted; g.- to lose; h.losing; i.- missed; j.- missed

244 6.5.5

a-5; b-3; c-7; d-10; e-2; f-8; g-9; h-1; i-6; j-4

6.5.6

a.- up; terminó en un siquiátrico b.- down; toda mi familia ha caído con la gripe c.- past; trató de interceptarla, pero pasó por su lado sin detenerse y se subió en un taxi d.- off; la peste negra/bubónica se llevó/mató a gran número de gente en Europa y Asia en el siglo 14 e.- off; llevaba puesto un vestido ajustado que realzaba su figura f.- by; consiguió pasar desapercibido g.- for; el anciano odiaba el tiempo frío; estaba deseando que llegara la primavera h.- out; te buscaré/haré por verte en el Museo

6.5.7

aspirated: herald, hostages, hippopotamus, whose, hurrah, Homer, rehearsal silent: honourable, ghetto, rhinoceros, rhythm, heiress, vehicle, hurrah, pariah, rheumatism, rhetorical

6.5.8

a.- to need; b.- flu/flue; c.- sale; d.- to waste; e.- to whine; f.- peal; g.- break; h.hoarse; i.- to tow; j.- to read

6.5.9

a.- stormy; b.- famous, famed; c.- quarrelsome; d.- atomic; e.- talented; f.- brutal, brutish; g.- Shakespearian; h.- Turkish; i.- wooden, wooded, woody; j.dangerous; k.- risky; l.- attentive, inattentive; m.- silvery, silvered; n.honourable, honoured

6.5.10 obligatory: a, b, d, e, g, h optional: c, f KEY TO UNIT

7.- THE MAN WHO COULD GET NO SLEEP

7.1 SUGGESTED ANSWERS a.- A small nearby lake had suddenly evaporated. b.- In the Cuban’s case there had been inflammation of the inner brain when he was thirteen and the sleep mechanism had been damaged beyond repair. Besides he was given drugs that made him drowsy and he always felt awfully tired in the mornings and had to wear dark glasses to protect his sensitive, overworked eyes, whereas uncle Nicolás never felt tired and was always as fresh as a daisy. c.- It was a joke they played on him: Children are allegedly brought by the stork as the legend has it, so the village youths told uncle Nicolás that as he was awake the whole night he must have seen it arrive at his home. d.- He took them good-humouredly and even laughed with the villagers when they told them. e.- Hypnosis, electroshock, acupuncture and experimental drugs. f.- Yes, because he was liked by everybody in the village. g.- I take it as a joke on the narrator’s part. h.- Half-humorous, half-science fiction. 7.5.1

a.- tall-short; rich-poor; fair-unfair; ripe-unripe; thick-thin; narrow-wide; cleandirty; young-old

245 b.- male-female; to fail-to pass; absent-present c.- to lengthen-to shorten; to raise-to lower; to dress-to undress 7.5.2 a-4; b-7; c-3; d-1; e-6; f-9; g-5; h-2; i-8 7.5.3 the weather (suggested lexical field): a bolt of lightning (un rayo) a clap of thunder (un trueno) a clear sky (cielo despejado) a flash of lightning (un relámpago) a haze/hazy (neblina, gen. causada por el calor, calima) blizzard (ventisca) blustery (mucho viento) breeze (brisa) chilly/nippy (un poco fresco, frío) clammy (húmedo y frío) to clear up/brighten up (aclarar el tiempo) cloudy (nublado) cold (frío) cold wave (ola de frío) cool (fresco) cyclone (ciclón) downpour (chaparrón) drizzle (llovizna)/drizzling (chispeando) drought (sequía) dry (seco) fine (bueno, buen tiempo) flood (inundación) fog/foggy (niebla) freezing (mucho frío, helando) frost (helada, escarcha) frosty (cubierto de escarcha) gale (vendabal) hail/hailstone (granizo) hailing (granizando) heatwave (ola de calor) hot (calor) humid (húmedo) hurricane (huracán) lightning (relámpagos, rayos) to melt (derretirse) mild (suave, agradable) mist/misty (ligera niebla, neblina) monsoon (monzón) overcast (cielo totalmente cubierto) pouring down (diluviando) rain (lluvia) rainbow (arco iris)

246 raining (lloviendo) scattered clouds (nubes dispersas) scorching/boiling/sweltering/roasting/stifling (mucho calor, calor abrasador, asfixiante) shower (aguacero) sleet (aguanieve) slush (nieve derretida y sucia) smog (smoke + fog) (niebla mezclada con humo) snow (nieve) snowdrift (ventisquero) snowing (nevando) snowy (cubierto de nieve) to stop raining/to let up (escampar) storm/thunderstorm (tormenta) sultry/muggy/heavy/close/oppressive (bochornoso) sunny (soleado) (to) thaw (deshelarse, deshielo) thunder (truenos) tornado (tornado) torrential rain (lluvia torrencial) typhoon (tifón) warm (calor agradable) wet/damp (húmedo) whirlwind (torbellino, remolino de viento) windy (con viento) 7.5.4 a.- damages; b.- injured; c.- hurt/wounded; d.- wounded; e.- impaired; f.- harm; g.- damaged; h.- hurting; i.- smarting; j.- hurting; k.- injured; l.- aching 7.5.5 to take sth: to take an umbrella (tomar/coger algo: coger un paraguas); to take sb’s arm/to take sb by the arm (coger del brazo); to take sb by the neck (coger/agarrar por el cuello); to take the bus/train/plane/a taxi (coger el autobús/tren/avión/un taxi); to take a seat (tomar asiento); take the first on the right/left (coge/toma la primera a la derecha/izquierda); to take a bend (tomar una curva); to take coffee/tea/a medicine/drugs (tomar café/té/una medicina/drogas); to take sugar in one’s coffee (tomar azúcar con el café); to take a bath/a shower (tomar un baño/una ducha); to take sb’s pulse/temperature/blood pressure (tomar el pulso/la temperatura/la presión sanguínea); to take a holiday (tomarse unas vacaciones); to take a break/rest (hacer una pausa/tomarse un descanso); to take a photograph (sacar una fotografía); to take notes (tomar notas); to take sb/sth somewhere (llevar a alguien/algo a alguna parte); I’ll take the blue one (me llevo el azul); to take credit cards/cheques (aceptar tarjetas de crédito/cheques); to take sb’s advice (aceptar un consejo); to take an interest in sth (tomarse interés en algo); to take a job (aceptar un trabajo); to take a house/a flat (alquilar una casa/un piso); it takes courage to do sth (hacer falta valor para hacer algo); to take time to do sth (llevar tiempo hacer algo); this car can take five people (en este coche caben 5 personas); the graft/vaccine didn’t take (el injerto/la vacuna no agarró); the fire didn’t take (el fuego no prendió); to be taken ill (ponerse enfermo, enfermar); I take it that... (supongo que...); to take a degree in (licenciarse en); to take a liking/a dislike to sb (coger afecto/antipatía a); to take a walk (dar un paseo); to take an exam (hacer un examen); to take sth for granted (dar por supuesto); to take care of (cuidar de); to take pleasure in doing sth (disfrutar

247 haciendo algo); to take hold of sth (agarrar, coger); to take sb prisoner (coger prisionero); take it easy! (¡tomátelo con calma!); take it or leave it! (¡lo tomas o lo dejas!); to take into account (tener en cuenta); to take one’s drink (aguantar la bebida); to take part in (tomar parte en); to take pity on sb (compadecerse de alguien); to take place (tener lugar); to take sth seriously/lightly (tomarse algo en serio/a la ligera); to take to heart (tomarse a pecho); I take your knight/pawn/bishop/castle/queen/king (te como el caballo/peón/alfil/torre/dama/rey); I can’t take it any more (no aguanto más); to take the biscuit/the cake (llevarse la palma); to take the lead (tomar la delantera); to take the blame (for sth) (asumir la culpa por algo); you can take it from me that... (puedes tener la seguridad de que...); what size shoes do you take? (¿qué talla de zapatos gastas?); to take offence (ofenderse); to take action (against) (tomar medidas contra); to take a penalty/corner/a free kick (tirar un penalti/sacar un córner/un libre directo) 7.5.6 as bald as a coot – completamente calvo as black as coal/soot - negro como el carbón as black as pitch/ink – oscuro como la boca del lobo as blind as a bat – que no ve tres en un burro as bold as brass – muy osado, caradura as brave as a lion – valiente como un león as bright as a button – listo y divertido, brillante as brown as a berry – muy moreno as busy as a bee – muy atareado/ocupado as calm as a millpond – como una balsa de aceite (dicho del agua del mar) as clean as a new pin – limpio como los chorros del oro as clean as a whistle – limpio/inocente (police sl.) as close as an oyster – poco comunicativo as cold as charity – frío (lit and fig) as common as dirt/muck – muy corriente as cool as a cucumber – más fresco que una lechuga as cross as two sticks – de un humor de perros as cunning as a fox – astuto como un zorro as dead as a dodo – muerto, pasado de moda, olvidado as dead as a doornail – muerto, que no funciona as dead as mutton – completamente muerto as deaf as a post – sordo como una tapia as different as chalk and cheese/as day and night – diferente como de la noche al día as drunk as a lord – borracho como una cuba as dry as a bone – muy seco, reseco as dry as dust – muy aburrido

248 as dull as ditchwater – aburrido, sin interés as dumb as a fish – tonto, ingenuo as easy as ABC/as pie/as winkink/as falling off a log – muy fácil, pan comido as fast a deer/hare – muy rápido as fat as a pig – gordo como un cerdo as fit as a fiddle – como las propias rosas, de primera as flat as a pancake – liso como una tabla as free as a bird/the air – libre como los pájaros/como el aire as fresh as a daisy- como las propias rosas, fresco como una rosa as good as gold – más bueno que el pan as happy as a lark – muy feliz as hard as nails – duro como una piedra (sentimientos) as heavy as lead – más pesado que el plomo as hungry as a hunter – muy hambriento as keen as mustard – muy entusiasta por algo as large as life – de tamaño natural, en persona as light as a feather- ligero como una pluma as like as two peas (in a pod) – iguales, como dos gotas de agua as mad as a hatter/a March hare – más loco que una cabra as mad as a wet hen – furioso as meek as a lamb – pacífico como un corderito as obstinate/stubborn as a mule – terco como una mula as old as Methusaleh – más viejo que Matusalén as old as the hills – muy antiguo as pale as death – muy palido (por enfermedad o miedo) as patient as Job – más paciente que Job as plain as a pikestaff/the nose on your face – más claro que el agua as pleased as Punch – contento como unas pascuas/castañuelas as poor as a church mouse – pobre como una rata as proud as a peacock – orgulloso como un pavo real as quick as lightning – rápido como una centella as quiet as a mouse – más callado que en misa as regular as clockwork – que funciona con gran regularidad as right as rain – perfectamente bien/correcto as round as a barrel – gordo, redondo como un tonel

249 as safe as houses – seguro, a salvo, sin peligro as sharp as a needle – muy agudo/ingenioso as sick as a cat/dog – con vómitos violentos as silent as the grave/tomb/dead – callado como una tumba/los muertos as silly as a sheep – tonto de capirote as slippery as an eel – escurridizo como una anguila as slow as a tortoise – lento como una tortuga as snug as a bug in a rug – más a gusto que un guarro en una charca as sober as a judge – a) sobrio; b) serio as sound as a bell – más sano que una pera as sour as vinegar - agrio de carácter as steady as a rock – firme como una roca as stiff as a poker – más tieso que un palo as strong as a horse/an ox – fuerte como un roble as sure as eggs is eggs – tan seguro como que dos y dos son cuatro as sure as fate/hell – cierto, seguro, sin la menor duda as sweet as honey – dulce como la miel as thick as thieves – uña y carne as thin as a rake – muy flaco as timid as a rabbit – muy tímido as tough as leather – duro,-a (a.- carne; b.- persona fuerte) as true as steel – a) fiel hasta la muerte; b) muy cierta (una afirmación) as ugly as sin – más feo que Picio as warm as toast – muy calentito as wet as a drowned rat – empapado, hecho una sopa as white as a sheet – blanco como la pared/cera as wise as an owl – muy sabio 7.5.7

a.- no, he’s referring to the events themselves; b.- no, she means she’s confused or disconcerted; c.- no, he wants me to continue with my work; d.- no, you mean that she was upset; e.- no, as a disappointment; f.- no, funny

7.5.8

/s/ inhabitants, quintuplets, tasks, nights, parents, jokes, remarks /z/ frogs, happenings, ovules, days, years, drugs, electroencephalograms, mornings, eyes, fields, hours, enemies, youths, doctors, remains /Iz/

7.5.9

glasses

a.- out; b.- down; c.- off; d.- down; e.- in; f.- down; g.- out; h.- up; i.- up; j.around/round

250 7.5.10 purpose infinitive: a, b, e nominal clause: c, d, f KEY TO UNIT

8.- INSPECTOR CAULDER’S LAST CASE

8.1 SUGGESTED ANSWERS a.- The narrator wants the reader to believe that Inspector Caulder had been assigned the case only because he had happened to be spending a week’s holiday fishing in the neighbourhood, but after reading the end of the story the reader may come to the conclusion that it was the inspector himself who offered his services. b.- It was a quiet small village. Don Caesar lived in a graceful two-storeyed house with a gabled roof. c.- Because it was the ideal spot to live in peace and undisturbed. d.- He had been stabbed in the back. e.- Mrs. Bradley, the housekeeper. Mrs. Bradley’s son, the ex-convict. Thomas, the chauffeur. Renatta, Don Caesar’s niece. a member of the Mafia who wanted to take vengeance on Don Caesar. someone who knew Don Caesar kept a valuable Rembrandt in his home (perhaps the most likely murderer). f.- Allegedly to investigate a couple of crooked art-dealers who might have bought the Rembrandt, but really to sell the picture which, unsuspected by anybody, he himself carried in his briefcase. g.- Waiting for Inspector Caulder’s plane to land and, if he had the canvas on him, as his wife had hinted, to arrest him for Don Caesar’s murder. h.- 1.- Sgt. Turner manages to arrest his boss. 2.- Inspector Caulder is not among the plane passengers, as he had decided to take another plane at the last minute. 8.5.1 a.- surly, sulky, bad-tempered; b.- famous, famed, celebrated; c.- lazy; d.- to stroke; e.- besides, furthermore; f.- heterogenous, miscellaneous; g.- gory, bloody; h.however, nonetheless 8.5.2 breeds of dog (suggested lexical field): Afghan (afgano) Alsatian/German shepherd (pastor alemán) basset (hound) (basset) beagle (podenco) Belgian sheepdog (pastor belga) bloodhound (sabueso) boxer (bóxer) bull terrier (bullterrier) bulldog (bulldog) chihuahua (chihuahua) chow/chow chow (chow-chow) cocker spaniel (cócker) collie (colie, pastor escocés)

251 dachshund/sausage dog (perro salchicha) Dalmatian (dálmata) Dobermann (dóberman) English setter (setter, perro de muestra inglés) fox terrier (foxterrier) foxhound (perro raposero) Great Dane (gran danés) greyhound (galgo) griffon (grifón) husky (perro esquimal) Labrador (Labrador) mastiff (mastín) mongrel (chucho, perro mestizo, sin pedigrí) Newfoundland (dog) (perro de Terranova) Pekinese (perrito pequinés) pit bull (terrier) (pitbull terrier, bull terrier de pelea) pointer ( pointer, perro de muestra, perro rastrero) Pomeranian (lulú) poodle (perro de lanas) pug (dog) (doguillo) retriever (perro cobrador) rottweiler (rottweiler) sheepdog (perro pastor) spaniel (perro de aguas) St Bernard (dog) (San Bernardo) trackhound (perro perdiguero) 8.5.3 a.- bloodhound; b.- pointer; c.- greyhound; d.- collie; e.- Dobermann; f.dachshund/sausage dog; g.- pug; h.- Great Dane; i.- St Bernard; j.- poodle; k.- Dalmatian; l.- Pekinese 8.5.4

Suggested lexical fields:

a.- flowers acacia (acacia) anemone (anémona) azalea (azalea) begonia (begonia) bindweed (enredadera) blackthorn (endrino) bluebell (campanilla) bougainvillea, (buganvilla) buttercup (ranúnculo, botón de oro) cactus (cactus; pl. cactuses/cacti) camellia (camelia) carnation (clavel) chrysanthemun (crisantemo) clematis (clemátide)

252 clover (trébol) cowslip (primavera, prímula) crocus (azafrán de primavera) cyclamen (ciclamen) daffodil (narciso) dahlia (dalia) daisy (margarita) dandelion (diente de león) deadly nightshade (belladona) delphinium (delfinio, espuela de caballero) fern (helecho) forget-me-not (nomeolvides) foxglove (digital, dedalera) fuchsia (fucsia) gardenia (gardenia) geranium (geranio) gladiolus (gladiolo; pl. gladioli/gladioluses) heliotrope (heliotropo) hemlock (cicuta) hibiscus (hibisco) holly (acebo) honeysuckle (madreselva) hyacinth (jacinto) hydrangea (hortensia) iris (lirio) ivy (hiedra) jacaranda (jacaranda) jasmine (jazmín) laburnum (codeso, lluvia de oro) lavender (lavanda, espliego) lilac (lila) lily (lirio, azucena) lily of the valley (lirio del valle) magnolia (magnolia) mandrake (mandrágora) marigold (caléndula, maravilla) mimosa (mimosa) mint (menta, hierbabuena) mistletoe (muérdago) myrtle (mirto, arrayán) narcissus (narciso) nettle (ortiga) nightshade (dulcamara) oleander (adelfa) orchid (orquídea) pansy (pensamiento) passion flower (flor de la pasión) peony (peonia)

253 peppermint (menta, hierbabuena) periwinkle (vincapervinca) petunia (petunia) pink (clavel, clavellina) poinsettia (flor de Pascua) poppy (amapola) primrose (primavera, prímula amarilla) primula (prímula) reed (junco) rhododendron (rododendro) rose (rosa) rosemary (romero) shamrock (trébol) snowdrop (campanilla de invierno) sorrel (acedera) sunflower (girasol) sweet william (minutisa) teasel/teazel (cardencha) thistle (cardo) tulip (tulipán) valerian (valeriana) violet (violeta) water lily (nenúfar) white lily (azucena) wisteria (glicinia) yucca (yuca) zinnia (zinnia) b) trees and bushes acacia (tree) (acacia) almond tree (almendro) apple tree (manzano) apricot tree (albaricoquero) araucaria (araucaria) ash (fresno) bamboo (bambú) banana tree (banano) bay (tree) (laurel) beech (haya) berry (baya) birch (abedul) bramble (zarza) carob tree (algarrobo) cedar (cedro) cherimoya (tree) (chirimoyo) cherry (tree) (cerezo) chestnut (castaño) cinnamon (canelo)

254 coconut palm (cocotero) cypress (ciprés) elder (saúco) elm (tree) (olmo) eucalyptus (eucalipto) fig tree (higuera) fir (abeto) gum (tree) (eucalipto) hawthorn (espino) heather (brezo) jacaranda (jacaranda) jasmine (jazmín) juniper (enebro) larch (alerce) laurel (laurel) lemon tree (limonero) lime (limero) lime tree/linden (tilo) mahogany (caoba) mangrove (mangle) maple (arce) medlar (níspero) melon patch (melonar) oak (roble) olive tree (olivo) orange tree (naranjo) palm tree (palmera) peach tree (melocotonero) pear tree (peral) persimmon (caqui) pine (tree) (pino) plane (plátano) plum tree (ciruelo) pomegranate (granado) poplar (álamo, chopo) prickly pear (chumbera) quince (tree) (membrillo) rosewood (palo de rosa, palisandro) rowan (tree) (serbal) rubber plant (ficus) rubber tree (árbol de caucho) sandalwood (sándalo) sequoia/redwood (secuoya) spruce (picea) strawberry plant (planta de la fresa) sycamore (sicómoro) tamarind (tamarindo) tangerine (mandarino)

255 teak (teka) tomato plant (tomatera) vineyard (viña) walnut (tree) (nogal) (weeping) willow sauce (llorón) yew (tree) (tejo) yucca (yuca) 8.5.5 fish (suggested lexical field): anchovy (anchoa) angler/anglerfish (rape) bass (lubina) bonito (bonito) bream (besugo) carp (carpa) catfish (siluro) cod(fish) (bacalao) conger (congrio) dogfish (cazón) eel (anguila) flounder (solla) flying fish (pez volador) gilthead bream (dorada) goldfish (peces de colores) haddock (eglefino) hake (merluza) halibut (fletán) herring (arenque) lamprey (lamprea) mackerel (caballa) monkfish (rape) perch (perca) pike (lucio) plaice (platija) pilchard (sardina grande) ray (raya) red mullet (salmonete) salmon (salmón) sardine (sardina) sea bass (róbalo) sawfish (pez sierra) sea horse (caballito de mar) shark (tiburón) skate (raya) sole (lenguado) sturgeon (esturión) swordfish (pez espada) tench (tenca)

256 trout (trucha) tuna/tunny(fish) (atún) turbot (rodaballo) whiting (pescadilla) 8.5.6 a.- glared; b.- glistening; c.- glittered; d.- glowing; e.- shimmered; f.- twinkled; g.glimmered; h.- gleamed; i.- flashed; j.- glinted 8.5.7

a.- unobtrusive (discreto, callado); b.- mismanagement (mala administración); c.impolite (maleducado, descortés); d.- malpractice (negligencia profesional; práctica abusiva); e.- irretrievable (irrecuperable, irreparable); f.- nontransferable (intransferible); g.- unscrupulous (sin escrúpulos); h.- disapproval (desaprobación); i.- non-profit (sin ánimo de lucro); j.- improper (indecoroso; incorrecto; deshonesto); k.- atypical (atípico); l.- illegible (ilegible); m.dissatisfied (insatisfecho); n.- inanimate (inanimado); o.- misquote (citar mal/incorrectamente; tergiversar); p.- unhelpful (nada servicial)

8.5.8

/I/ culprit, Polish, veritable, discovered, alibis, sponging, animals, impatiently, criminal /aI/ arrived, outside, kind, alibis, flight, crime, pipe, high /i/ promptly, worry, impatiently, mockery /i:/ police

8.5.9

a.- He was trusted by nobody/wasn’t trusted by anybody in the office b.- Oliver Twist was written by Charles Dickens c.- Ruth has been offered a huge rise at the bank d.- I can see my study has been cleaned e.- Pearl Harbour was attacked by the Japanese in December 1941 f.- He was deceived by his best friend g.- You’ll be paid in dollars h.- That law was abolished long ago i.- The matter will have to be looked into by the competent authorities j.- The photos are being developed right now

8.5.10 a.- horse; b.- turning-point; c.- fingers; d.- door; e.- nutshell; f.- nose; g.- days; h.another; i.- nerves; j.- spots a.- I could eat a horse! ¡Tengo un hambre canina! b.- a turning-point momento decisivo, punto de inflexión c.- to have green fingers dársele a alguien muy bien la jardinería d.- to be at death’s door estar a las puertas de la muerte e.- to put it in a nutshell resumiendo f.- to pay through the nose pagar un dineral g.- to have seen better days haber conocido tiempos mejores h.- what with one thing and another entre unas cosas y otras i.- to get on sb’s nerves crispar los nervios j.- to knock spots off sb ser mucho mejor que, dar mil vueltas a alguien

KEY TO UNIT

9.- THE FAMOUS PSYCHIATRIST

257 9.1 SUGGESTED ANSWERS a.- Because he knew how to listen, he was the perfect listener. b.- There were comfortable armchairs, a sofa with plenty of soft feather cushions, a wellstocked bar, a hi-fi set, a glass-topped low round table with lots of trendy magazines, shelves filled with books, tasteful ornaments, family photographs and good pictures (a Matisse among them) on the walls. c.- No, it wasn’t. The accusations of orgies being held in his surgery were not justified: people had evidently been misled by the group therapy sessions he sometimes organized. d.- She was a slim green-eyed blonde, on her late thirties, but still extremely attractive. e.- Perhaps she thought it was a good way of attracting her husband’s attention. f.- She just told him that her marriage wasn’t working any longer, as her husband had lost all interest in her. g.- That she was about to cheat on her husband. h.- 1.- Charles changes his ways and the marriage is saved. 2.- Charles and Sylvia divorce. 9.5.1 a.- He tiptoed into the bedroom, hoping not to wake his wife b.- The Arsenal forward limped/hobbled off the field c.- We had to plod/trudge for miles across the snow to reach help d.- The tramp shuffled along in shoes that were too big for him e.- The dying man staggered into the police station and collapsed f.- She padded down the corridor in her slippers g.- I’ll just trot round to the butcher’s to get some chops h.- A fat lady waddled up to the counter i.- The little girl was hopping over the cracks in the pavement j.- The prisoner paced the floor of his cell k.- She strutted/stalked/swaggered past as if she were a top model l.- The old man was stamping the ground to keep warm m.- The two-year-old came toddling into the room n.- Be careful, don’t trample on those pretty daisies o.- Stop tramping all over the floor in those muddy shoes p.- He strolled/ambled/sauntered along the beach for an hour or so 9.5.2 a.- house furniture (suggested lexical field): armchair (sillón) bed (cama) bedside table (mesita de noche) bookcase (librería) chair (silla) chest of drawers (cómoda) china cabinet/display cabinet (mueble para los cacharros de porcelana) clothes-rack (perchero) cocktail cabinet (mueble bar) coffee table (mesita del salón) cot (cuna) cupboard (alacena, armario)

258 desk (escritorio) dresser (mueble de los platos de la cocina) dressing table (tocador) (folding)- screen (biombo) lampshade (lámpara de pie) linen cupboard (armario de la ropa blanca) reading lamp (lámpara para leer) rocking chair (mecedora) settee (sofá, canapé) sideboard (aparador) swivel chair (silla giratoria) table (mesa) table-lamp (lámpara de mesa) tallboy (BrE)/highboy (AmE) (cómoda alta) three-piece suite (tresillo) umbrella stand (paragüero) wardrobe (armario) wastepaper basket (papelera) b.- other objects and things in the house (suggested lexical field): aerial (antena) alarm clock (despertador) ashtray (cenicero) bedclothes (ropa de cama) bedcover (cubrecama, colcha) bespread (cobertor) bin-liner (bolsa de la basura) black heat (calor negro) blanket (manta) blinds (visillos) broom (escoba) broomstick (palo de escoba) built-in cupboard (armario empotrado) carpet (alfombra) central heating (calefacción central) coaster (posavasos) curtains (cortinas) cushion (cojín) doormat (felpudo, esterilla) drainpipe (bajante) drawers (cajones) dustpan (recogedor) duvet (edredón) eiderdown (edredón) feather duster (plumero) fireplace (chimenea) fitted carpet (moqueta) fitting (aplique)

259 flagstones (losas de pavimento) floorcloth (bayeta, trapo para fregar el suelo) flower pot (maceta) French window [ (puerta) cristalera] fuse (fusible) geyser (calentador de gas) grate (parrilla de la chimenea) hanger (percha) hat/coat stand (perchero) heater (calentador) hoover/vacuum cleaner (aspiradora) iron (plancha) ironing-board (tabla de planchar) letter-box (buzón) linen (ropa blanca) magazine rack (revistero) mantlepiece (repisa de la chimenea) mattress (colchón) meter (contador) mirror (espejo) mop (trapo para fregar) peep-hole (mirilla) personal computer/PC (ordenador) pictures (cuadros) pieces of ornament (objetos de adorno) pillow (almohada) pillowcase (funda de almohada) plug (enchufe macho) pouf/pouffe (puf) power point (punto de luz) quilt (colcha) radiator (radiador) remote control (mando a distancia) rug (alfombra pequeña, alfombrilla) satellite dish (antena parabólica) scales (peso, balanza) shaker (coctelera) sheets (sábanas) shelf (estantería) shutters (persianas) sewing machine (máquina de coser) sill (alféizar) skirting board (rodapie) socket (enchufe hembra) stepladder (escalera de tijera) stove (estufa) the mains (red de suministro) typewriter (máquina de escribir)

260 umbrella stand (paragüero) vase (florero) weathercock/weathervane (veleta) window pane (cristal de la ventana) wire (cable) c.- in the kitchen (suggested lexical field): beater/mixer (batidora) beer mug (jarra para la cerveza) bottle opener (abrebotellas) bowl (tazón, cuenco) bread bin (panera) bread slicer (cortadora de pan) carving knife (cuchillo de trinchar) chopping board (tabla para cortar) coffee set (juego de café) colander (escurridor) cooker (olla) corkscrew (sacacorchos) cup (taza) cutlery (cubiertos) dessert spoon (cuchara de postre) dipper (cazo) dish (plato hondo, fuente) dishcloth/tea towel (paño de cocina, trapo para secar los platos) dishrack/draining board (escurreplatos) dishwasher (lavavajillas) egg cup (huevera) egg-whisk (batidor de huevos) fork (tenedor) freezer (congelador) fridge (frigorífico) fruit bowl (frutero) frying pan (sartén) funnel (embudo) glass (vaso) grater (rallador) grill (plancha) handle (mango) hob (placa del hornillo) hotplate (calientaplatos, hornillo) ice-tray (bandeja del hielo) kettle (tetera, cafetera) (kitchen) cupboard (armarito de cocina) kitchen knife (cuchillo de cocina) kitchen scales (peso de la cocina) knife (cuchillo) ladle (cucharón, cazo)

261 lemon-squeezer (exprimidora) lid (tapadera) microwave (microondas) napkin (servilleta) napkin ring (servilletero) nut cracker (cascanueces) oil and vinegar boat (vinagrera) oven (horno) pedal bin (cubo de basura con pedal) place mat (mantel individual) plate (plato) potato-peeler (peladora de patatas) pots and pans (cacharros de cocina) pressure cooker (olla a presión) rolling pin (rodillo) salad bowl (ensaladera) salt cellar/pot (salero) sauce boat (salsera) saucepan (cacerola) saucer (platillo para la taza) scales (peso, balanza) serviette (servilleta de papel) serving trolley (mesita de ruedas para servir comida o bebida) side plate (plato pequeño para el pan) sink (fregadero) skimmer (espumadera) soup tureen (sopera) spice-rack (especiero) spoon (cuchara) strainer (colador) sugar bowl (azucarero) tablecloth (mantel) tea pot (tetera) tea-cosy (cubretetera) teaspoon (cucharilla) tin opener (abrelatas) toaster (tostadora) washing machine (lavadora) work surface (encimera) d.- in the bathroom (suggested lexical field): a cake/bar of soap (pastilla de jabón) aftershave (loción para después del afeitado) bath(tub) (bañera) bathroom cabinet (armarito del cuarto de baño) bathroom scales (peso del cuarto de baño) bidet (bidé) chain (cadena)

262 cistern (cisterna) comb (peine) dental floss (seda dental) (electric) shaver/razor (maquinilla de afeitar eléctrica) eyeshadow (sombra de ojos) (family) medicine chest (botiquín) first-aid kit (botiquín de primeros auxilios) hairbrush (cepillo para el pelo) hairclip/hairgrip/hairpin (horquilla) hairdryer (secador para el pelo) hairspray (laca) lipstick (lapiz de labios) make-up (maquillaje) mascara (rímel) mat (alfombrilla) nailbrush (cepillo para las uñas) nail clippers (cortauñas) nailfile [lima (para las uñas)] nail varnish (esmalte de uñas) plug (tapón del baño o del lavabo) razor (maquinilla de afeitar, navaja de afeitar) razor blade (cuchilla de afeitar) sanitary towel (compresa) scales (peso) shaving brush (brocha de afeitar) shaving cream/foam (espuma de afeitar) shower (ducha) shower curtain (cortina de la ducha) shower nozzle (boquilla de la ducha) soap (jabón) soap dish (jabonera) sponge (esponja) stool (taburete) taps (BrE)/faucets (AmE) (grifos) toilet (inodoro, váter) toilet bowl/pan (taza del inodoro) toilet brush (escobilla) toilet paper (papel higiénico) toilet roll (rollo de papel higiénico) toilet roll holder (soporte del rollo de papel higiénico) toilet seat (asiento del inodoro/váter) toothbrush (cepillo de dientes) toothpaste (dentrífico) towel rail (toallero) tweezers (pinzas pequeñas de depilar) (wall) tiles (azulejos) washbasin (lavabo)

263 9.5.3

a) to sob; b.- to cuckold; c.- to cure; d.- to deceive, to take for a ride; e.- feebly; f.- to look like; g.- skinny, scraggy; h.- whim; i.- skinny, scraggy; j.- playful

9.5.4

a.- nervous; b.- silent; c.- reserved; d.- explicit; e.- polite; f.- sure; g.- poor; h.tasteful; i.- busy; j.- close

9.5.5

homonyms: a, d, e, g, h polysemic: b, c, f

9.5.6

/t/ talked, worked, liked, looked, well-stocked, glass-topped /d/ copied, listened, concerned, pleased, showed, advised, required, entered, called, filled, realized, reserved, entertained, organized /Id/ wanted, interested, pretended, needed, hesitated, carpeted, middle-aged, chatted

9.5.7

a.- to hyphenate; b.-to deafen; c.- to glorify; d.- to terrorise; e.- to vaccinate; f.to theorise; g.- to personify; h.- to loosen; i.- to mummify

9.5.8

a, c and g

9.5.9

1-a; 2-c; 3-b; 4-a; 5-b; 6-c; 7-b; 8-c; 9-c; 10-a

9.5.10 a-9; b-4; c-7; d-10; e-2; f-1; g-8; h-6; i-3; j-5 KEY TO UNIT

10

THE CANDIDATE

10.1 SUGGESTED ANSWERS a.- He was a prosperous, honest professional, loving father and husband, a handsome healthy man women adored and men respected, the perfect candidate, somebody who inspired trust in all and sundry. b.- It forms a single unit with the bedroom, so you don’t have to go out of the bedroom when you need to use the bathroom. c.- He had come through with flying colours. d.- They didn’t believe in them. e.- It was fine: it had stopped raining at midday and the sun was shining. f.- Good roads would be built, making the access to the village easier; the National Health Service would be made to work at last; there would be no children without school; there would be no unemployment; the retired would get better pensions; and all this would be achieved without anybody having to pay more taxes. g.- The bodyguards made a circle around P.L., intending to retreat to the caravan where they would be safe. P.L raised his arms in a big V, switched on his best manly smile and began to shout with the crowd, and when the populace stopped shouting he started to tell them in a very convincing way how he intended to achieve everything he had promised. h.- Politicians usually make a lot of promises in their election campaign that they are not sure if they will be able to fulfil. 10.5.1 a.- populace; b.- to gather; c.- to applaud, to cheer; d.- haggard, gaunt, emaciated; e.- to menace; f.- magnificent, splendid

264

10.5.2 a.- below; b.- to disagree; c.- to bless; d.- to cry; e.- cooked; f.- sun; g.- smooth; h.- awake; i.- to praise; j.- skinny; k.- simple; l.- to clarify 10.5.3 rooms and parts of the house (suggested lexical field): aerial (antena) banister (barandilla, pasamanos) basement (sótano) bathroom (cuarto de baño) bedroom (dormitorio) cellar (bodega) chimney (chimenea) corridor (corredor) dining-room (comedor) drainpipe (tubería de desagüe) drawing-room/sitting-room/living-room (cuarto de estar) drive (camino de entrada para el coche) entryphone (portero automático/electrónico) fence (valla) garage (garaje) garden (jardín); front/back garden (jardín delantero/trasero) garret/loft (desván, ático) gate (puerta, verja) gutter (canalón) hall (saloncito de entrada) handrail/railing (barandilla) hedge (seto) kitchen (cocina) landing (rellano) library (biblioteca) lightning conductor (BrE)/lightning rod (AmE) (pararrayos) main/master bedroom (dormitorio principal) pantry/larder (despensa) parlour (sala/salita) patio (patio) porch (porche) roof (tejado) satellite dish (antena parabólica) shed (cobertizo) skirting (board) (rodapié) solarium (solario) spare bedroom (cuarto de huéspedes) spiral staircase (escalera de caracol) stairs/staircase (escaleras) steps (escalones) studio (estudio) study (despacho) terrace (terraza)

265 tiles (tejas) toilet (aseo) utility room (lavadero) weather vane/weathercock (veleta) 10.5.4 to run a race (correr una carrera); to run a bath (preparar un baño); to run for office/president/senator/Congress (presentarse a unas elecciones/a presidente/senador/al Congreso); to run in the family/in sb’s blood (ser cosa de familia, llevar en la sangre); to run on petrol/diesel (funcionar con gasolina/diesel); to run a business (llevar/dirigir un negocio); his nose is running (le moquea la nariz); to run a comb through one’s hair (pasar el peine por el pelo); to run errands (hacer recados); to run dry [secarse (río, pozo); agotarse (reservas)]; to run across sb/sth (encontrar por casualidad, tropezar con); to run after sb/sth (ir/correr tras, perseguir); to run away from (huir de); the battery has run down (la batería se ha descargado); to run into sb (encontrarse/toparse con alguien); patience/money/time can run out (la paciencia/el dinero/el tiempo puede acabarse/agotarse); debts can run up (las deudas pueden acumularse); to run into trouble (meterse en problemas); to run short of (acabarse, agotarse algo); the trains are running behind schedule (los trenes llevan retraso sobre el horario previsto); to run wild [a.desmadrarse, desmandarse; b.- vivir (animales) en su hábitat natural]; to run aground (encallar); to run sth off (vaciar líquido); to run over (salirse líquido); to run sb over (atropellar con un coche, etc); to run over sth (repasar); run for your lives! (¡sálvese quien pueda!) 10.5.5 a.- There’s no point in waiting for him any longer b.- I can see your point c.- He was on the point of leaving when the phone rang d.- I wish you would get to the point e.- We make a point of locking the door of the house before going to bed for the night f.- Of course he’s very young, but that’s beside the point g.- OK, you’ve made your point h.- He’s not up to the job, not to put too fine a point on it i.- In point of fact, I don’t know him very well j.- I think we could stretch a point in this case 10.5.6 a.- raise; b.- raise; c.- risen; d.- was raised; e.- rose; f.- rose; g.- raised; h.- raise; i.rose; j.- rose 10.5.7 /u:/ too, afternoon, school, moon /U/ bathroom (also u:), good, stood, looking, wood /V/ blood, flood /@U/ brooch /U@/ poor, moor /O:/ door 10.5.8 a.- had been elected; b.- will live; c.- were; d.- knew; e.- would have won; f.would write; g.- will get; h.- hadn’t eaten 10.5.9 a.- head; b.- holes; c.- edgeways; d.- stick; e.- neck; f.- bend; g.- tails; h.- tether; i.uptake; j.- foot a.- to be like a bear with a sore head estar de un humor de perros b.- to pick holes in sth poner peros a algo

266 c.- to be unable to get in a word edgeways no poder meter baza en una conversación d.- to get (hold of) the wrong end of the stick coger el rábano por las hojas e.- to be a pain in the neck ser un incordio f.- to go round the bend volverse majareta g.- to be unable to make head or tail of sth no encontrarle a algo ni pies ni cabeza h.- to be at the end of one’s tether estar al límite, no poder aguantar por más tiempo i.- to be slow on the uptake ser torpe/lento para entender algo j.- to put one’s foot down ponerse serio, ponerse firme 10.5.10 a.- get; b.- took; c.- putting; d.- go; e.- getting; f.- bringing; g.- stood; h.- lay; i.laid; j.- brought

KEY TO UNIT

11 JOHN FAT

11.1 SUGGESTED ANSWERS a.- Because he’s fat himself. b.- Falstaff, a character in Shakespeare’s plays Henry IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Gargantua and Pantagruel, giants in a novel by Rabelais. c.- Oliver Hardy, Charles Laughton, Winston Churchill, Fraga and Helmut Kohl. d.- That’s what John thought/suspected. e.- A hangover is the after-effects caused by drinking an excess of alcohol, and John’s buttocks hung over the chair when he sat. f.- At the special-size section of department stores. g.- To eat and drink as much as he liked, and not give a damn about people’s opinion. 11.5.1 to bleed/howl/scream like a stuck pig – sangrar/gritar como un cerdo degollado to drink like a fish – beber como una cuba to eat like a horse – comer como una lima to fight like cat and dog – llevarse como el perro y el gato to follow like a shadow – seguir como una sombra to get on like a house on fire – llevarse estupendamente to go like clockwork – marchar como un reloj; ir sobre ruedas to grunt like a bear – gruñir como un oso to roar like a lion – rugir como un león to shake like a leaf – temblar como un flan/un azogado to sleep like a log/to – dormir como un lirón to smoke like a chimney – fumar como una chimenea/un carretero to spend money like water – gastar el dinero a manos llenas/a mansalva to spread like wildfire – correrse como la pólvora to swear like a trooper – blasfemar como un cochero to work/toil like a horse/slave/Trojan/a black/a nigger (offensive)- trabajar como una mula/esclavo/enano/negro 11.5.2 a.- chum, pal, buddy; b.- to stuff oneself with; c.- undoubtedly, unquestionably; d.- to get down; e.- to bear, to endure; f.- grief, distress, sadness, sorrow,

267 unhappiness; g.- torture, torment; h.- disgusting, repulsive, repugnant, repellent, off-putting; i.- plump; j.- fatty, podgy, tubby, fubsy, dumpy, roly-poly 11.5.3 a.- difficult; b.- careless; c.- tasteless; d.- mean; e.- to bless; f.- skinny; g.intolerant; h.- to gorge oneself on/with; i.- to cry; j.- to muddle; k.- pupil 11.5.4 a) the human body (suggested lexical field): abdomen (abdomen) ankle (tobillo) anus (ano) aorta (aorta) arm (brazo) armpit (axila) arse/ass (vulgar) (culo) artery (arteria) back of the hand (dorso de la mano) backbone/spine (espina dorsal) backside (trasero) ball of the foot (metatarso) belly (barriga) blood (sangre) bones (huesos) brain (cerebro) breastbone (esternón) breasts (pechos) buttocks (nalgas) calf (pl. calves) (pantorrilla) cells (células) clavicle/collarbone (clavícula) clitoris (clítoris) coccyx (coxis) chest (pecho) dandruff (caspa) eyes (ojos) elbow (codo) finger (dedo de la mano) fingernail/toe nail (uña de la mano/del pie) fingertips (puntas de los dedos, yemas) fist (puño) foot (pl. feet) (pie) forearm (antebrazo) forefinger (dedo índice) foreskin/prepuce (prepucio) genitals (genitales) glands (glándulas) groin (ingle) hair (pelo)

268 hand mano) head (cabeza) (see 9.2.6.b) heart (corazón) (see 4.2.7.c) heel (talón) hip (cadera) instep (empeine) joints (articulaciones) jugular vein (yugular) kneecap (rótula) knuckle (nudillo) leg (pierna) little finger (meñique) lungs (pulmones) (see 4.2.7.c) middle finger (dedo medio) mouth (boca) muscles (músculos) navel/belly button (ombligo) neck (cuello) nerves (nervios) nipples (pezones) nose (nariz) palm (palma) paunch (panza) penis (pene) prostate (próstata) pubic hair (vello púbico) ribs (costillas) ringfinger (dedo anular) saliva/spit (saliva) shin (espinilla) shoulderblade (paletilla) shoulders (hombros) sinews (tendones) skeleton (esqueleto) skin (piel) skull (cráneo) small of the back (región lumbar) snot (vulgar)/mucus (med.) (moco) sole (planta del pie) stomach (estómago) (see 4.2.7.c) testicles (testículos) thigh (muslo) thumb (pulgar) toe (dedo del pie) vagina (vagina) vein (vena) vulva (vulva) waist (cintura)

269 white/red corpuscles (glóbulos blancos/rojos) wrist (muñeca) b) shops (suggested lexical field): antique shop (tienda de antigüedades) baker’s (panadería) bookshop (librería) boutique (boutique) butcher’s (carnicería) chain store (centro comercial de una cadena) chemist’s/pharmacy/drugstore (AmE.) (farmacia) confectioner’s (pastelería) dairy (lechería) delicatessen/deli (tienda de platos preparados, quesos y fiambres de diversos países) department store (grandes almacenes) fishmonger’s (pescadería) florist’s (florista) fruiterer’s (frutería) garden centre (vivero, centro de jardinería) gift shop (tienda de artículos de regalo) greengrocer’s (verdulería) grocery (ultramarinos) haberdashery (old-fashioned) (mercería, quincalla) hypermarkets (hipermercados, grandes superficies) ironmonger’s (BrE)/hardware store (AmE) (ferretería) jeweller’s (joyería) junk shop (tienda de objetos usados) kiosk (kiosco) newsagent’s (tienda de periódicos, revistas y golosinas) off licence (tienda de bebidas alcohólicas) outfitters (old-fashioned) (tienda de ropa para hombre) shopping centre/mall (centro comercial) stall (puesto) stationer’s (papelería) supermarket (supermercado) tobacconist’s (estanco) Note: at a tobacconists only tobbaco and related items are sold; stamps can be bought from post offices and, occasionally, from a newsagent’s c) alcoholic drinks (suggested lexical field): absinth(e) (ajenjo) ale (cerveza inglesa) beer (cerveza) bitter (cerveza amarga) bourbon (bourbon, whisky americano)

270 brandy (coñac) brown ale (cerveza negra) cider (sidra) champagne (champán) claret (clarete) eau-de-vie (aguardiente) gin (ginebra) gin and tonic (ginebra con tónica) Irish whiskey (whisky irlandés) lager (cerveza rubia, tipo continental) liqueur (licor) Malaga (vino Málaga) Martini® (martini) port (oporto) red wine (vino tinto) rosé (rosado) rum (ron) Scotch (whisky escocés) shandy (clara) sherry (jerez) tequila (tequila) vermouth (vermut) vodka (vodka) whisky (whisky) white wine (vino blanco) wine (vino) 11.5.5 a.- reminds; b.- arguing; c.- reminds; d.- fit; e.- remind; f.- remember; g.- discuss; h.- remember; i.- suits; j.- remember 11.5.6 a.- discontented; b.- irregular; c.- unkind; d.- impolite; e.- to misunderstand; f.inconsiderate; g.- dishonest; h.- illiterate; i.- unlucky; j.- inconstant; k.- immoral; l.irrelevant; m.- abnormal; n.- non-resident; o.- to maltreat; p.- illegal; q.- non-smokers; r.displease; s.- unpleasant 11.5.7 /Ts/ births, baths, moths, months, myths, depths, smiths /Dz/ wreaths, mouths, paths (sometimes Ts) /Ts/ or /Dz/ youths, truths, booths 11.5.8 a.- Obviously, most of the immigrants living in this area have no residence permit b.- Understandibly, he has reasons to be angry c.- Curiously (enough), he didn’t tell anybody about his success d.- Inevitably, everybody will get to know it in the end e.- Unfortunately, you were out when we called f.- Surprisingly, nobody had seen or heard anything strange g.- Luckily, he didn’t have much money in the wallet when they stole it from him h.- Admittedly, the Persian carpet I like is a bit expensive 11.5.9 a-7; b-1; c-5; d-3; e-10; f-1; g-6; h-4; i-8; j-2

271

11.5.10 1-g; 2-b; 3-a; 4-e; 5-c; 6-f KEY TO UNIT

12 THE SAPIENT FOOL

12.1 SUGGESTED ANSWERS a.- Not a very good one, as he made it clear that he despised their work. b.- To think one is the cat’s pyjamas or the cat’s whiskers means to think too highly of oneself. c.- A fortuitous discovery. d.- He thought that cleansing the Augean Stables meant to rid his university of all the nonsense and rubbish his colleagues wrote, and to get hold of the Golden Fleece, to make a lot of money from his own books to give to the king. e.- The scene of Alice’s trial in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. f.- Perhaps as man’s eternal quest for happiness. g.- “Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Luke, 14:11). 12.5.1 a.-amazed/astonished/astounded; b.- perilous/risky; c.- devastating/extremely critical; d.- baffled/bewildered; e.- to reveal/to disclose; f.- muck/rubbish; g.completely/entirely/totally; h.- to despise/to scorn/to look down on; i.- important; j.- to predict 12.5.2 a.- safe; b.- to love; c.- to admire; d.- inaccurate; e.- ungrateful; f.- painless; g.awake; h.- clumsily; i.- active/industrious; j.- permanent 12.5.3 terms used to describe people’s character (suggested lexical field): able (capaz) abrupt/brusque/curt (brusco) active (activo) aggressive (agresivo) ambitious (ambicioso) argumentative (discutidor) arrogant (arrogante) assertive (confiado en sí mismo, enérgico) bad-tempered (de mal carácter) blunt (claro, directo, franco) bold/daring (atrevido) bossy (mandón) brainless (descerebrado) brainy (inteligente) brave/courageous (valiente) bright (brillante) broad-minded (abierto, de mentalidad abierta, tolerante) cheeky (caradura) clever (listo) clumsy (torpe)

272 cocky (chulo) complicated (complicado) conceited/bigheaded (informal) (engreído, creído) cowardly (cobarde) cruel (cruel) cheerful/merry (alegre) daft (tonto) determined (decidido, resuelto) dim/dim-witted (corto de luces) direct (directo) discourteous (descortés, poco atento) discreet (discreto) dishonest (poco honrado, deshonesto) disloyal (desleal) down-to-earth (realista) dull (aburrido, soso) dumb (mudo; (AmE) tonto) easy-going (afable, fácil de complacer) eccentric (excéntrico) educated (educado, culto) envious (envidioso) even-tempered (ecuánime, sereno) evil/wicked (malvado/perverso) extravagant (derrochador) extroverted (extrovertido) faithful (fiel) fickle (veleidoso) frank (franco) friendly (simpático, amistoso) full of oneself (pagado de sí mismo) generous (generoso) gentle (amable, tierno) gifted (dotado) good-tempered (de buen carácter) haughty (altanero) highbrow (intelectual, intelectualoide) honest (honrado) humble (humilde) ill-mannered (de malos modales) immature (inmaduro) immoral (inmoral) impatient (impaciente) impertinent (impertinente) impolite (maleducado) impudent (desvergonzado) incompetent/inept (incompetente, inepto) indecisive/hesitant (indeciso) indiscreet (indiscreto)

273 innocent (inocente) inquiring/inquisitive (inquisitivo) insincere (poco sincero, falso) insolent (insolente) introverted (introvertido) jealous (celoso) kind (amable) kind-hearted (bondadoso) lazy (perezoso, vago) liar (mentiroso) loyal (leal) masochistic (masoquista) mature (maduro) meek (dócil, manso) miserly (mísero, avaro) moody (taciturno, malhumorado) moral (moral) naive (ingenuo) narrow-minded (cerrado, de mentalidad cerrada) nasty (desagradable) nervous (nervioso) nosy (fisgón) obsequious (servil) odd (raro) open (abierto) optimistic (optimista) original (original) patient (paciente) peculiar (extraño, peculiar) permissive (permisivo) pessimistic (pesimista) polite (cortés) proud (orgulloso) pushy (agresivo, avasallador) quarrelsome (peleón) quick-witted (agudo, perspicaz) quiet/calm (tranquilo) rash (imprudente, temerario, precipitado) reserved (reservado) rude (grosero) sad (triste) sadistic (sádico) self-assured/confident (seguro de sí mismo) self-important (presuntuoso, altanero) selfish (egoista) sensible (sensato) sensitive (sensible) sharp (agudo, listo, perspicaz)

274 shrewd/cunning/crafty/astute (astuto, sagaz, perspicaz, zorro) silly/stupid/foolish/half-witted (tonto) simple (simple) sincere (sincero) skilful (hábil, diestro) sly (taimado, ladino) snooty (estirado) sociable/gregarious (sociable) stingy/mean/tight-fisted (informal) (tacaño, agarrado) strong (fuerte) strong-willed (resuelto, decidido) stubborn/obstinate/pig-headed (obstinado, testarudo, cabezota) supercilious (altanero, desdeñoso) tactful (discreto, delicado, con tacto) tactless (indiscreto, falto de tacto) taciturn (taciturno) talented (con talento) talkative (hablador) thrifty/economical (ahorrativo) timid/shy (tímido) tough (duro) trustworthy/reliable (de fiar, que se puede confiar en él) truthful (veraz) unconventional (nada convencional) uneducated (inculto) unfaithful (infiel) unfriendly (antipático) unkind (poco amable) unprincipled (sin principios) unreliable (poco de fiar) unselfish (desinteresado, altruista) unsociable (insociable) weak (débil) weird (raro, siniestro) well-mannered (educado) 12.5.4 Terms used to describe people’s looks (suggested lexical field): to have (got): long/short/straight/wavy/curly/spiky/receding hair (tener el pelo largo/corto/lacio/ondulado/rizado/de punta/con entradas) straggly hair (pelo desaliñado, desordenado) shoulder-length hair (pelo que llega a los hombros) a crew-cut (el pelo rapado/al cero) brown/red/auburn/fair/dark/black/white/grey hair (tener el pelo castaño/pelirrojo/castaño rojizo/rubio/oscuro/blanco/gris) greying hair (pelo encanecido) highlights/streaks/a perm (reflejos/mechas/permanente) a fringe/pigtails/a ponytail/a bun (flequillo/coletas/cola de caballo/moño) a centre parting/a side parting (la raya en medio/a un lado)

275 a fair/dark skin (la piel clara/oscura) a dark/fair/light complexion (una tez oscura/clara) a healthy/an oily complexion (un cutis sano/limpio/graso) a beard/a goatee/a moustache/a stubble/five o’clock shadow/sideburns (barba/perilla o barba de chivo/bigote/barba de varios días/sombra de barba/ patillas) freckles/wrinkles/a scar/spots/pimples (pecas/arrugas/una cicatriz/granos/espinillas) brown/blue/hazel/black/clear/dark eyes (ojos marrones/azules/color avellana/negros/claros/oscuros) circles/rings/bags under one’s eyes (ojeras) thick bushy eyebrows (cejas pobladas) a round/elongated/thin/wrinkled face (la cara redonda/alargada/delgada/arrugada) a Roman nose (nariz aguileña)/a turned-up/snub nose (nariz respingona) a tan (estar bronceado/moreno) a pointed chin/ a double chin/a dimple (barbilla puntiaguda/papada/un hoyuelo) a limp (cojear) to be: long-haired/short-haired/fair-haired/dark-haired/red-haired (tener el pelo largo/corto/rubio/moreno/pelirrojo blond(e)/fair/dark/ginger-haired/red-haired (ser rubio/a/moreno/a/pelirrojo/a) blue-eyed/brown-eyed/green-eyed (tener los ojos azules/marrones/verdes) blind/one-eyed/deaf/dumb/mute/deaf-mute/longsighted/shortsighted (ser ciego/tuerto/sordo/mudo/sordomudo/hipermétrope/corto de vista) clean-shaven (estar bien afeitado) bearded (tener barga, ser barbudo) fat/obese/overweight/flabby (gordo/obeso/con exceso de peso/fofo) chubby/plump (rollizo/regordete) squat/stocky (rechoncho) strong/robust/stout/corpulent/thickset/sturdy (fuerte/robusto/corpulento/fornido) feeble/weak/decrepit (débil/decrépito) thin/slim/slender/skinny/bony/underweight/lean/lanky (delgado/esbelto/huesudo/con menos peso del debido/flaco/larguirucho) tall/short/tallish (alto/bajo/más bien alto) well-built (fornido, corpulento) long-faced/thin-faced/round-faced (de cara alargada/delgada/redonda) fair-skinned/dark-skinned (de piel clara/oscura) pale/emaciated/sallow (pálido/demacrado/amarillento) brown/tanned (moreno/bronceado) flat-nosed/long-nosed/snub-nosed (chato/narigudo/de nariz respingona) scruffy/untidy/dishevelled (desaliñado/desaseado/despeinado) tidy/smart/well-groomed (aseado/elegante/bien peinado) beautiful/pretty/handsome/good-looking/attractive (hermoso/bonita/guapo/bien parecido/atractivo) ugly/unatractive (feo/poco atractivo) 12.5.5 a-3; b-8; c-5; d-7; e-1; f-4; g-2; h-6

276 12.5.6 (Suggested answers): a.- quiver; b.- shuddered; c.- shivering; d.- quake; e.shuddered; f.- quivered; g.- quavering; h.- shudder 12.5.7 /@U/ billow, pillow, elbow, shadow, to know, lower, rainbow, to flow, to mow, to row, to sow, to bestow, glowworm, bowler, to tow, widow, willow /aU/ to allow, to howl, cowl, to scowl, trowel, tower, fowl, to growl, owl, powder, row (quarrel), sow (the animal), vows, to drown, gown, prow, to prowl /Q/ knowledge, acknowledge 12.5.8 a-2; b-1; c-4; d-3; e-1; f-3; g-2; h-2; i-4; j-1 12.5.9 a.- a well-kept old Roman coin b.- an embroidered blue Chinese silk dress c.- a terrifying stooping one-eyed man d.- a glittering thirty-carat South African diamond ring e.- a wonderful old Scottish song f.- a clever-looking fair-haired young boy g.- an expensive sweet-smelling French perfume h.- a beautiful round wooden plate 12.5.10

a.- herewith; b.- whereupon; c.- thereby; d.- hitherto; e.- hereinafter; f.thereafter; g.- thereof

BIBLIOGRAPHY CONSULTED Benson, M., Benson E. and Ilson, R. The BBI Dictionary of English Word Combinations. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 1997. Cambridge Word Selector. Diccionario temático del inglés contemporáneo. Cambridge: CUP, 1995. Chamizo Domínguez, P.J. & Sánchez Benedito, Fco. Lo que nunca se aprendió en clase. Eufemismo y disfemismo en el lenguaje erótico inglés. Granada: Comares, 2000. Dawson, A.S. Vocabulario. Madrid: Alhambra-Longman, 1995. Dawson A. S. and Sánchez Benedito, Fco. Manual Práctico de Uso. Madrid: AlhambraLongman, 1996. Diccionario Longman Advanced, English-Spanish, Español-Inglés. Madrid: Longman, 2003. Dictionary of English Language and Culture. London: Longman, 1992. Hartmann, R.R.H. and Stork, F.C. Dictionary of Language and Linguistics. London: Applied Science Publishers, 1973. Jackson, H. Words and Their Meaning. London: Longman, 1988. Jones, Daniel. English Pronouncing Dictionary, 16th ed., edited by Peter Roach et al. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991. Lavín, E. and Sánchez Benedito, Fco. Diccionario de Verbos Frasales Ingleses, 3rd ed. Granada: Comares, 2003. Leech, G.N. Towards a Semantic Description of English. London: Longman, 1969. Longman Language Activator. London: Longman, 1993. Manser, Martin H. Dictionary of Eponyms. Ware: Wordsworth, 1996. Pineda Castillo, Fco. (ed.). An Integrating Approach to Applied Linguistics: Academic and professional insights. Granada: Comares, 2004. Richards, J et al. Dictionary of Applied Linguistics. London: Longman, 1985.

277 Rudzka, B. et al. The Words You Need. London: MacMillan, 1981. - More Words You Need. London: MacMillan, 1985. Ruiz de Mendoza Ibáñez, F.J. & Otal Campo, J.L. Metonymy, grammar and communication. Granada: Comares, 2002. Sánchez Benedito, Fco. Gramática Inglesa, 8th ed. Madrid: Pearson Ed., 2004. - Manual de Pronunciación Inglesa Comparada con la Española, 5th ed. Granada: Comares, 2004. - Diccionario Bilingüe de Modismos, Inglés Español, Español-Inglés, 3rd ed. Madrid, Alhambra-Longman, 1998 - Gramática Inglesa, Ejercicios Complementarios, 3rd ed. Madrid: AlhambraLongman, 2001. Sánchez Benedito, Fco. et al. A New English Grammar for Spanish Speakers, 3rd ed. Granada: Comares, 2003. The Concise Oxford Dictionary, 8th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990. The New Oxford Dictionary of English. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. The New Oxford Thesaurus of English. Oxford: 2000. The Oxford Duden Pictorial Spanish and English Dictionary, 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995. The Oxford English Dictionary (2nd edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989. Yule, G. The Study of Language, 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. ERRATAS p. XXVI 1ª línea Two or more words y no To or more words p. 44 3.2.2 en to baffle (mystify y no (mistify p. 239 18.2 to smell a rat y no a fish

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