Материал: 4555

GCSE exams – экзамены на получение аттестата о среднем образовании snow blurry - снежный вихрь

blurry - порыв

that dress is very flattering – это платье скрывает все недостатки

Ex.1. Mind your pronunciation.

Ex. 2. Read and translate the text.

The most fun I've had in ages

When Sabrina Cohen was barred from sitting her GCSE exams because she had dyed her hair bright red, I sympathized. I, too, have scarlet hair.

What Cohen's experience did reveal is how little our social attitudes have changed since the late 1 970s and the heyday of the punk Mohican. In the press Cohen was described as "rebellious" and "out to shock". I have also discovered what poor manners many people show when it comes to reacting to other people's choice of hair colour.

If someone I knew had changed their hair style, I would always try to be complimentary, unless explicitly asked for an honest opinion that I was unable to give.

When you dye your hair an unnatural colour, people feel that as you are so obviously trying to draw attention to yourself it is acceptable for them to pass comment.

Thus, in the first couple of days of becoming a redhead, several strangers felt free to tell me that they "hated the colour". While most friends and work colleagues did enthuse about my new scarlet hair, one person went so far as to laugh out loud.

I have also had to endure the ignominy of being gawped at in the pub. One minute I can be enjoying a quiet drink in the garden of a country pub, the next I am surrounded by fascinated kids, all pointing and yelling to their mothers, "Look - it's a punk!"

Cohen, I am not the first to dye my hair a shocking colour - and nor will I be the last. In the fashion and music industries, hair styles change as quickly as traffic lights but bright red regularly dominates the catwalks. The model Stella Tennant recently took the lead in the Jil Sander campaign with her hair dyed a resplendent shade of red. Last autumn Kate Moss pranced down the catwalk for Versace with shocking tomato-red hair. Linda Evangelista, Uma Thurman, Dannii Minogue, Annie Lennox, Vivienne Westwood and Saffron of the group Republica have all gone red. Where trend-setters like these lead, others will follow.

And sure enough, according to Vogue, "a flurry of redheads - covering the spectrum from burgundy to ginger - is turning up all over town. The more shocking, the better".

I have also discovered I am not alone in my desire for a different look. After years of anonymity as a brunette, I find I am constantly stopped by people in the street eager to ask whether I think red would suit them.

According to Philip Kingsley, a trichologist: "Only a few women are actually happy with their hair colour and they are either natural red or blonde. By changing hair colour not only does the person know they are going to create a minor sensation, but often they are fulfilling a fantasy."

Minor sensation or not, and disregarding the boorishness of the badmannered minority, I have found the overall attitude to my hair flattering -and the effect on men has been extraordinary. In the first week of having red hair, I was bought more glasses of champagne than ever before in my life.

I have also discovered I no longer need to queue at the bar for a drink or wait for a table in a restaurant. Both seem to materialize very quickly.

But I still have to get used to the fact that people are fascinated by what my hair must feel like, even though it has half a jar of gel in it to keep it looking spiky.

Strangers, from bus conductors to shop assistants, seem unable to resist the temptation to touch it. Which is disconcerting to say the least? If this is flirting in the new era of sexual equality, I want none of it.

After Portia Colwell, The Times

Ex. 3. Give Russian equivalents.

was barred from sitting her GCSE exams; scarlet hair; social attitudes; the late 1970s; poor manners; an honest opinion; an unnatural colour; to draw attention to yourself; to pass comment; felt free to tell me; hair styles change as

quickly as traffic lights; a resplendent shade of red; eager to ask; to get used to the fact; no longer need to queue.

to allow, heyday, rebellious, ignominy, resplendent, spiky, to endure, bright, honest, natural, quickly, blond, extraordinary, before.

Ex. 6. Complete the sentences.

1.In the press Cohen was described as ... .

2.If someone I knew had changed ... .

3.I have also had to endure ... .

4.By changing hair colour not only ... .

5.In the first week of having red hair ... .

Ex. 7. Put in the correct preposition where necessary.

1.Thus ... the first couple ... days ... becoming a redhead, several strangers felt free to tell me that they "hated the colour".

2.I have also had to endure the ignominy of being gawped ... the pub.

3.I have also discovered I am not alone ... my desire ... a different look.

4.According ... Philip Kingsley, a trichologist: "Only a few women are actually happy ... their hair colour and they are either natural red or blonde.

5.I have also discovered I no longer need to queue ... the bar ... a drink or wait

... a table ... a restaurant.

Ex. 8. Expand the statements and express your ideas on the point. Work in groups.

1.When Sabrina Cohen was barred from sitting her GCSE exams because she had dyed her hair bright red, I sympathized. I, too, have scarlet hair.

2.When you dye your hair an unnatural colour, people feel that as you are so obviously trying to draw attention to yourself it is for them to pass comment.

3.In the fashion and music industries hair styles change as quickly as traffic lights but bright red regularly dominates the catwalks.

4.The effect of men was extraordinary. In the first week of having red hair, I was bought more glasses of champagne than ever before in my life.

Ex. 9. Describe a person looking extraordinary.

Additional vocabulary:

hair cut – стрижка hair do – прическа

old-fashioned – старомодный

to take after smb. – быть похожим на кого-либо to look alike – быть похожим друг на друга attractive – привлекательный

plump – пухленький features – черты brave – смелый innocent – невинный

sloppy – небрежный, неухоженный firm – крепкий

droopy – обвислый sluggish – дряблый wrinkles – морщины

dark circles – темные круги under-eye-bags – мешки под глазами beard – борода

moustache – усы tall – высокий short – невысокий

delicate – утонченный, нежный ill-mannered – невоспитанный tactful – тактичный

predisposition – предрасположенный full lips – полные губы

thin lips – тонкие губы

fair complexion – белесое лицо olive complexion – смуглое лицо complexion – цвет лица

peaches and cream – кровь с молоком bone-structure – овал лица

ash-blond hair – пепельно-русые волосы handsome – хорошенький (о мальчике)

pretty – хорошенькая (о девочке) neck – шея

posture – осанка

proud walk – горделивая походка shoulders – плечи

broad shoulders – широкие плечи juvenile – юношеский

waist – талия feet – ступни

wrists – кисти рук belly – живот

protruding chest – выпуклый живот hairy chest – волосатая грудь finger nails – ногти на пальцах рук sun tan – загар

well-groomed – хорошо ухоженный dressy clothes – нарядная одежда pure – чистый

jewelry – ювелирные изделия accessories – украшения evening-wear – вечерний наряд silk blouse – шелковая блузка pantyhose – колготки bath-robe – халат

tie – галстук scarf – шарф belt – пояс

arrogant – высокомерный ugly – уродливый

to remind – напоминать irresistible – неотразимый slim – худенький

fat – толстый

long shapely legs – длинные стройные ноги inner beauty – внутренняя красота

a noble look – благородный вид eyelashes – ресницы

to take after smb – походить на кого-либо she is not my type – она не в моем вкусе a heavy walk – тяжелая походка

to loose weight – похудеть to grow taller – вырасти

a cheap look – дешевый вид