READING COMPREHENSION TEST A CONVERSATION WITH MY FATHER GRACE PALEY

My father is eighty-six years old and in bed. His heart, that bloody motor, is equally old and will not certain jobs any more. It still floods his head with brainy light. But won’t let his legs carry the weight of his body around the house. Despite my metaphors, this muscle failure is not due to his old heart, he says, but to a potassium shortage. Sitting on one pillow, leaning on three, he offers last minute advice and makes a request.

“I would like to write a simple story just once more,” he says,” the kind de Maupassant wrote, or Chekhov, the kind you used to write. Just recognizable people and then write down what happened to them next

I say, “Yes, why not? That’s possible.” I want to please him, though I don’t remember writing that way. I would like to try to tell such story, if he means the kind that begins: “There was a woman…” followed by plot, absolute line between two points which I’ve always despised. Not for literary reasons, but because it takes all hope away. Everyone, real or invented, deserves the open destiny of life.

Finally I thought of a story that had been happening for a couple of years right across the street. I wrote it down, then read it aloud. “Pa,” I said, “how about this? Do you mean something like this?”

Once in my time there was a woman and she had a son. They lived nicely, in a small apartment in Manhattan. This boy at about fifteen became a junkie, which is not unusual in our neighborhood.

In order to maintain her close friendship with him, she became a junkie too. She said it was part of the youth culture, with which she felt very much at home. After a while, for a number of reasons, the boy gave it all up and left the city and his mother in disgust. Hopeless and alone, she grieved. We all visited her.

READING COMPREHENSION TEST

I. Put "+" next to the true sentences and "-" next to the false ones.

1. My father is an energetic 68-year-old man.

2. He wants his daughter to write a complex epic novel.

3. He likes simple stories with recognizable people.

4. I will write him a simple story.

5. The woman’s boy was 10 years old.

6. Her son left her wealthy and well cared for.

II. Circle the correct letter

1. My father spends his time in …

a) bed; b) church; c) the cafes; d) pain and sufferings

2. His heart is weak but has not reduced the follow of blood …

a) to his legs; b) to his strong arms and shoulders; c) to his head; d) to his liver

3. He thinks I write simple stories like …

a) Shultz and Dilbert; b) Bulgakov and Shevchenko; c) Chekhov or de Maupassant; d) Chekhov and Marquis de Sade

4. I was … to write a simple story for my father.

a) unwilling; b) eager; c) saddened; d) unable

5. The woman and her son lived in …

a) Sumy; b) Poland; c) Manhattan; d) Washington D. C.

6. The boy became a junkie, which was … where we lived.

a) common; b) uncommon; c) looked down upon; d) held in high esteem

III. Fill in the blanks

In order to 4 her close friendship with him, she became a junkie too. She said it was part of the 5culture, with which she felt very much at home. After a while, for a number of reasons, the boy gave it all up and left the city and his mother in 6. Hopeless and alone, she grieved. We all visited her.

1.nicely 2.unusual 3. youth

4. disgust 5. junkie 6. maintain

Who are you waiting for? – A friend of mine. We are going to the cinema.I still do not understand) the rule. – No wonder. You never listen) to what I say). And you are not listening now either. What are you doing here? – Actually, I am waiting for the museum to open. – But why? Don't you know that it doesn't work on Mondays?The picture you are looking at belongs to the Tretyakov Gallery. We just exhibit it. I can’t stand her! She constantly throws her things about the room. She never puts anything in its place. Do you see the notice? — yes, but it’s too high for me to read. what is it saying? has he agreed to your offer? — no, he is still thinking it over. Why, Peter, you are smoking ! Don't you know that I smoke? you are tasting the pizza over and over again. is anything wrong? — oh no, on the contrary, it tastes so delicious that i just can’t help it. where is mr. brown? — he is having lunch at the canteen as usual. he usually returns to his office at half past one. i need your help immediately. there’s something wrong with my dog. He has a temperature and he is breathing hardly. he come back from his business trip in a few days. Do you know it for sure? — of course, i do. he always call me every other day. these shoes are too tight. — Then why are you putting them on again? —They look so wonderful and besides, they match my dress. You read in the dark again! -But I don't think it's dark. I see everything well enough. Jack and Pam had a long conversation. I wonder what they were talking about.

Kharkiv is quite an old city. It was founded about 350 years ago.

The city is situated on the plateau surrounded by the Kharkiv and the Lopan rivers. According to the popular legend the city is named after Cossack Kharko. Kharkiv is the historical capital of Slobidska Ukraine.

With the foundation of Kharkiv University in 1805 the city became an important educational and cultural centre of Ukraine and the Russian Empire as a whole. Such cultural figures as Kvitka- Osnovianenko,Hulack- Artemovsky, Kostomarov, Repin lived and worked in Kharkiv.

Kharkiv was the capital of Ukraine since 1919 till 1934. Today Kharkiv is the second largest city in the country. About 2 million people live here.

Kharkiv is one of the largest industrial centres in Ukraine. Its numerous enterprises produce planes, tractors, electronic, mining and medical equipment, TV-sets, refrigerators, paints and cosmetics, clothing and textiles. Furniture and printing industries are well developed in Kharkiv.

Kharkiv is one of the major cultural and scientific centres of Ukraine. There are many schools, higher educational establishments, research institutes in Kharkiv. There is the Scientific Library, the Historical and Natural Science Museums and the Museum of Fine Arts in Kharkiv. The city supports a circus and six professional theatres.

Kharkiv is very beautiful, especially in spring. There are over 2500 streets and 26 squares in the city. The largest parks are Gorky Park, Shevchenko Garden with the Zoo, Artem Park, the Forest Park and some others. The city is ornamented with a large number of monuments. The most prominent of them is the one to T. Shevchenko built in 1935.

Харьков

Харьков довольно старый город. Он был основан около 350 лет назад.

Город расположен на плато в окружении рек Харьков и Лопань. Согласно популярной легенде город назван в честь казака Харько. Харьков - историческая столица Слободской Украины.

С открытием Харьковского университета в 1805 году город стал важным центром образования и культуры Украины и Российской империи в целом. Такие деятели культуры, как Квитка-Основьяненко, Гулак- Артемовский, Костомаров, Репин жили и работали в Харькове.

Харьков был столицей Украины с 1919 до 1934 года. Сегодня Харьков является вторым по величине городом в стране. Около 2 млн. человек живут здесь.

Харьков является одним из крупнейших промышленных центров в Украине. Многочисленные предприятия производят самолеты, трактора, электронику, оборудование для горнодобывающей промышленности, медицинскую технику, телевизоры, холодильники, краски и косметику, одежду и текстиль. Мебельная и полиграфическая промышленности хорошо развиты в Харькове.

Харьков является одним из основных культурных и научных центров Украины. Есть много школ, высших учебных заведений, научно-исследовательские институтов в Харькове. Здесь есть научная библиотека, Краеведческий, Исторический музеи и Музей изобразительных искусств. Город поддерживает цирк и шесть профессиональных театров.

Харьков очень красив, особенно в весенний период. Есть более 2500 улиц и 26 площадей в городе. Крупнейшие парки - Парк Горького, Шевченковский сад с зоопарком, Парк Артема, лесопарк и некоторые другие. Город украшен большим количеством памятников. Наиболее известные из них - памятник Т. Шевченку, возведенный в 1935 году.

Объяснение:

2 часть на русском это перевод