Analytical reading-Part 34

Charles Dickens

From Dombey And Son

S

ir Barnet and Lady Skettles, very good people, resided in a pretty villa at Fulham, on the banks of the Thames; which was one of the most desirable residences in the world when a rowing match happened to be going past, but had its little inconveniences at other times, among which may be enumerated the occasional appearance of the river in the drawing-room, and the contemporaneous disappearance of the lawn and shrubbery.

                Sir Barnet Skettles expressed his personal consequence chiefly through an antique gold snuff-box, and a ponderous silk pocket handkerchief, which he had an imposing manner of drawing out of his pocket like a banner, and using with both hands at once. Sir Barnet’s object in life was constantly to extend the range of his acquaintance. Like a heavy body dropped into water—not to disparage so worthy a gentleman by the comparison—it was in the nature of things that Sir Barnet must spread an ever-widening circle about him, until there was no room left. Or, like a sound in air, the vibration of which, according to the speculation of an ingenious modern philosopher, may go on travelling for ever through the interminable fields of space, nothing but coming to the end of his moral tether could stop Sir Barnet Skettles in his voyage of discovery through the social system. Sir Barnet was proud of making people acquainted with people. He liked the thing for its own sake and it advanced his favourite object too. For example, if Sir Barnet had the good fortune to get hold of a raw recruit, or a country gentleman, and ensnared him to his hospitable villa, Sir Barnet would say to him, on the morning after his arrival, “Now, my Dear Sir, is there anybody you would like to know? Who is there you would wish to meet? Do you take any interest in writing people, or, in painting or sculpturing people, or in anything of that sort?”

Notes and comments:

poser—труден/заплетен въпрос, неразрешима задача

to compose—1) съставям, образувам, състоя се от; 2) композирам, съчинявам, пиша, творя

to expose—1) откривам, разкривам (тайна), излагам; 2) подхвърлям (на опасност, риск); 3) излагам на показ

extension—1) разширение, разпространение, удължение, разтягане; 2) вътрешен телефонен номер, допълнителен телефонен пост

extensive (lands, plans, business)—обширен, пространен, (прен.) широк

extent—степен, размер, обхват, обсег

to a certain extent—до известна степен

to impose—налагам (задължение)

tendency—склонност, наклонност, стремеж, тенденция (to)

tense (cord, muscle, nerves, emotion, eyes)—обтегнат, опънат, изпънат, изопнат, напрегнат, възбуден

tension—напрежение, напрегнатост, напрегнато състояние

tensile-tensible = разтеглив

Learn the spelling of the following words: disparage, shrubbery, ingenious, ingenuous, consequence

Give the adjectives for the following substantives: inability, inequality, injustice, instability

to advance-напредвам, придвижвам (се) напред, настъпвам; ускорявам, засилвам, повишавам

It advanced his favourite subject. (It helped his favourite subject.)

Such behaviour is not likely to advance your interests.

to advance-премествам към по-ранна дата (ant. to postpone)

The date of the meeting was advanced from the 10th of June to the 3rd of June.

object-aim-end-goal-purpose = цел

What is the object of your visit?

a noble aim—благородна цел

to reach one’s aims—достигам целите си

She has fully gained her end.

Man’s perfection and happiness constitute the goal of his activity.

Our purpose is not to fan controversies but to promote mutual understanding.

Translate the following sentence into Bulgarian and try to memorize the nominalized forms.

1.     Have a quick bat around and see what is in the shops.

2.     We can’t do anything about your proposal until we get the go-ahead from the local council.

3.     The company had its annual get-together at the Anchor Inn. A good time was had by all.

4.     Then, one day at the office, the crack-up came and Joe was carted off to hospital. It was the end of his career.

5.     The Southern Area commander reported a sudden flare-up of fighting on his front.

6.     They had a cut-out in the central heating system yesterday.

7.     He had a lie-down after lunch.

8.     The space vehicle made a perfect lift-off.

9.     John’s party last weekend was a wild freak-out.

Translate the following sentences into Bulgarian. It is advisable that you memorize them.

1.     His mind never let up for an instant.

2.     Once our policy is formulated we intend to go ahead full steam.

3.     The government had decided to go ahead with its plans to develop the North.

4.     The younger members of the staff decided to get together over the question of weekend duty.

5.     Don’t bother me now: I have been batting around all morning and I’m just ready to collapse.

6.     What’s come over you? This isn’t the time to crack up.

7.     Robert looked as if he were about to flare up and tell me to mind my own business.

8.     When the temperature of the room reaches 70 degrees the convector heater cuts out.

9.     He was lying down on the sofa when we came in.

10.   They let us lie in but I got up for breakfast.

11.   The space vehicle lifted off perfectly.

12.   The way Tom gads about! I can’t see how he will pass his final.

13.   The chairman led in with some flattering references to the visiting speaker’s record in the industry.

14.   What did you say you were doing? And where are you hanging out?

15.   He always limbered up before his afternoon match.