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«Московский государственный лингвистический университет»
(ФГБОУ ВО МГЛУ)
А.В. Бондаренко
Москва-2018
1
Печатается по решению Ученого совета
Пособие подготовлено
Автор: канд. филол. наук, доц. кафедры лексикологии англ.яз. ф-та англ. яз. МГЛУ
Бондаренко А.В.
Рецензенты:
доктор филол. наук, ведущий науч. сотрудник сектора теоретического языкознания ФГБУН Института
языкознания РАН Зыкова И. В.
канд. филол. наук, доц. кафедры английского языка №1 МГИМО(У) МИД России Мухин С. В.
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CONTENTS
Предисловие .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
Portion 1…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
Portion 2…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………14
Portion 3 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 22
Portion 4 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 29
Portion 5 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 37
Portion 6 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 46
Portion 7 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 53
Portion 8 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 59
Portion 9 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 67
Portion 10 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 74
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ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ
4
Jeffrey Archer “Best Kept Secret”
Introduction
1. Read a piece of information about the author of the book and answer the
questions below.
It has often been said that Jeffrey Archer’s own story would make an international
bestseller. He was born in London (15 April 1940), brought up in Somerset, the son of
a printer, and educated at Wellington School, and Brasenose College, Oxford.
After leaving Oxford he was elected to the Greater London Council, and three years
later at the age of 29, he became Member of Parliament for Louth. After five years in
the Commons and a promising political career ahead of him, he invested heavily in a
Canadian company called Aquablast, on the advice of the Bank of Boston. The
company went into liquidation, and three directors were later sent to jail for fraud. Left
on the brink of bankruptcy, he resigned from the House of Commons.
Aged 34, determined to repay his creditors in full, he sat down to write his first
novel Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less. Written at the home of his former Oxford
Principal, it was taken up by the Literary Agent, Debbie Owen, and sold to 17 countries
within a year. It was also made into a successful serial for BBC Radio 4, and was later
televised in 1990 by the BBC.
Since then, Jeffrey Archer has produced over 25 published titles and sold over 270
million copies around the world, in 97 countries and more than 37 languages. He is the
only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (eighteen times), short
stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).
Jeffrey’s latest project is a seven-book saga called the Clifton Chronicles. Book
one, Only Time Will Tell, published in 2011, topped the charts around the world,
spending 12 weeks at No.1 in India. Books two, The Sins of the Father published in
March 2012, and three, Best Kept Secret published in March 2013, also went straight
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to No.1 in the UK, India, Australia and South Africa. The fourth book in the series, Be
Careful What You Wish For, came out in hardback in March 2014, and spent twelve
weeks in the top 10—four of them at #1—on the Sunday Times Best Seller list, and
also went to #1 in Australia, India, and South Africa.
Jeffrey Archer was Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party from September
1985 until November 1986. In 1991, he was co-ordinator for the Campaign for Kurdish
Relief, and he is also an amateur charity auctioneer. Jeffrey Archer was made a Life
Peer in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List of 1992.
Jeffrey has been married for 48 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE, who is Chairman
of the Science Museum. They have two sons, William and James, and two grandsons,
and divide their time between homes in London, Cambridge and Mallorca.
2. Browse the Internet and find the information about Wellington School and
Brasenose College, Oxford. What can you say about Archer’s educational
background?
3. Listen to Archer’s interview about the Clifton Chronicles and answer the
following questionshttps://youtu.be/Y7nK1_6Tp00
How old was Archer when he started writing the Clifton Chronicles?
What is his attitude to this saga?
What was the original purpose of writing the Chronicles?
6
How did Archer select the main characters?
How did he use his own experience when creating the character of Harry Clifton?
What time does the saga date back to?
How does Archer describe the process of writing? Did he know exactly what was
going to happen to the main characters of the Chronicles?
Portion I
(Prologue. Chapters 1-3)
Pre-reading activities
1. Browse the Internet or look up the dictionaries and make sure you know the
following things and names.
The Lord Chancellor, red benches/green benches, the Palace of Westminster, the
Commons, the Lords, the Chief Whip, Oliver Cromwell, the Law Lords, Gilbert and
Sullivan (Gilbert and Sullivanesque outfit), the King’s Speech, the Woolsack, the
Distinguished Strangers’ Gallery, the Right Reverend, Thomas More, visitors’
gallery, St Bede’s school, City Hall, Pulitzer Prize, Brooklyn Bridge
2. Harry Clifton, a successful writer, and his wife Emma spent their honeymoon
in Scotland, roaming the hills together during the day, and in the evening they
sat by a roaring log fire reading Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene and, Harry’s
favourite, P. G. Wodehouse. Match those writers with the novels they wrote.
Thank You, Jeeves; Men at Arms; Our Man in Havana; The Code of the Woosters;
Brideshead Revisited: The Sacred and Profane Memories of Captain Charles
Ryder; The Quiet American; A Damsel in Distress; The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold;
Sword of Honour; Brighton Rock
7
Evelyn Waugh Graham Greene P. G. Wodehouse
Browse the Internet and find a few interesting facts about these writers. What
can you say about their writing style?
1.Look at these sentences or parts of sentences. Match the words in bold with the
definitions below. Give their possible equivalents in your native language.
8
e) a person's marriage and marriage celebrations;
f) the personal male servant of a rich man, especially in the past;
g) a covering of artificial hair worn on the head to hide a loss of hair or
to cover your own hair;
h) a set of fixed actions and sometimes words performed regularly,
especially as part of a ceremony.
a) However, after abiding by this mantra for four decades, the Lord Chancellor
had to admit he’d never come across a case that was so finely balanced. p.5
b) … she’d admitted having a dalliance with Sir Hugo Barrington while they were
on a works outing to Weston-super-Mare.p.5
c) … the members had cast their votes as to whether Giles Barrington or Harry
Clifton should inherit the title and all that therein is.p.6
d) Colour blindness can only be inherited through the female line… p.6
e) But still he was none the wiser.p.6
f) It was only when the gold chain of office that had been worn by thirty-nine
previous Lord Chancellors was draped on his shoulders that he became
transformed from a pantomime dame into the highest legal authority in the
land.p. 7
g) But then it was Thomas More who reminded us that when you don these robes
you must be willing to make decisions that will rarely please all men. And indeed,
my lords, on three such occasions in the past, the Lord Chancellor, having
delivered his judgment, was later that day beheaded.’ (What 3 chancellors does
the Lord Chancellor mean?) p.8
9
h) the priest refused to proceed with Harry and Emma’s wedding while there was a
possibility it might contravene the church’s ancient laws on consanguinity.p.9
i) Although he’d put on a little weight since she’d last seen him, and his hair was
greyer, the unmistakable limp was still his calling card.p.13
j) He’d never before sat next to a woman who looked as if she’d been poured into
her dress.p.18
3. Quote the context these expressions are used in the text. Come up with their
Russian equivalents.
4. Look through the following sentences and recall the episode in the story,
in which the following feeling/behavior/reaction was expressed.
1. The laughter that followed broke the tension, but only for a moment. p.9
2. After months of uncertainty, Giles felt an immediate sense of relief. p.9
3. Emma remained uncertain. p.9
4. All hell had broken loose. p. 9
5. To Emma’s surprise, Giles just smiled at these observations. p.12
6. Harry was so taken by surprise that he closed his book and looked closely
at his wife. p.12
7. Mitchell shifted uneasily in his chair. p.13
8. ‘I said nothing would surprise me. I was wrong.’ p.14
9. As Mitchell limped away, Emma felt a little guilty. p.14
10. ‘That’s wonderful news, darling. p.14
11. ‘Sounds riveting.’ p.15
12. That’s crazy,’ said Harry. p.17
13. The audience burst into applause. p.21
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5. Here are some common phrasal verbs which you can use in everyday
communication. Look through column 1 and say which phrasal verbs are familiar
to you. Match phrasal verbs with their definitions. Think of their Russian
equivalents. Recall the situations they were used in.
12
6. Fill in the missing phrasal verbs.
1. He … … to something.
2. You can use a calculator to … … the solution.
3. We would very much deplore it if a popular programme were … … as a
result of political pressure.
4. I … a cheque … for £20 to "Henry's Stores".
5. What's the best way of … … this?
6. My patience is beginning to … … .
7. She’s … … on holiday with Tony.
8. I’m about to leave – can I … you … somewhere on my way home?
9. His company is preparing to shut down in the event that their water supply
is … … .
10. All his life he had … … his father.
8. Read the following summary of the first portion and fill in the missing
facts and words.
Best Kept Secret is the …. book in the series, after Only Time Will Tell and The Sins of
the Father, and revolves around the two central families, the … and … . Picking up
where The Sins of the Father left off, readers discover whether … Barrington or …
Clifton will … the late Hugo Barrington's fortune, the …. and all that … is. The Lord
… is to deliver a … and to stop the …. drama once and for... . He decides not to set a
bad …. and comes down in favour of … . The ruling allows … to marry … . They are
about to … a daughter with a secret past to join their son … .
Harry is in the prime of his career as a ... thriller writer, and Emma juggles her young
family and her efforts to earn some serious management cred, in a bid to gain the upper
hand using her share of the Barrington shipping business, at a time when women were
not really encouraged to be on the … of companies.
Poor smitten, likeable Giles, fighting for his political life as a member of …, is lovesick
for the scheming, vindictive … Virginia.
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Pre-reading activities
1. Browse the Internet or look up the dictionaries and make sure you know the
following things and names.
Harvard Club; gentlemen’s club on Pall Mall or St James’s; the Silver Star;
Stanford; the Windmill Theatre; the RAF; Bristol Grammar School; Red Maids’
School; Clark Gable, Mel Blanc, Bugs Bunny; Tweetie Pie; Lana Turner; Warner
Brothers; the New York Times; Noah’s Ark; Pooh Bear; MrToad; Scotch broth
2. Revise the rules of using articles with the nouns ‘school’, ‘college’, ‘university’.
Insert the missing articles where necessary.
1) … Harvard University was founded in 1636.
2) Jack is the youngest but the cleverest boy at … school.
3) He has graduated from ... Cambridge University.
4) After graduating from … high school he went to … university.
5) I guess I should go to … college and make something of myself.
6) Excuse me, where is … university, please?
7) Henry studies Medicine at ... Oxford University.
8) Amanda went to … school to a parents’ meeting.
9) I wonder what’s life like in … English public school?
10) Our small city should have … college and … hospital.
11) I study at … university in Boston.
12) I graduated from … University of Kyoto.
1.Look at these sentences or parts of sentences. Match the words in bold with the
definitions below. Give their possible equivalents in your native language.
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1) ‘A formidable (1) lady.’
2) ‘So, Miss Barrington, does your family still own the shipping line that bears their
illustrious (2) name?’
3) Gable was the ultimate (3) professional, and the title of his new film got a
mention at least every thirty seconds.
4) Gable was so gracious about his co-star that even the most cynical (4) listener
would have been convinced they were bosom pals.
5) ‘And there’s a ravishing (5) blonde standing outside in the corridor holding a
bottle of champagne, and she’s trying to break my door down.’
6) Was she shy, even petrified (6)?
7) Sophie is more gregarious (7) but a bit of a scatterbrain.’
8) ‘I’m torn,’ said Emma. ‘I liked Sophie, bubbly (8) and fun.’
a) extremely frightened;
b) very beautiful;
c) causing you to have fear or respect for something or someone because that
thing or person is large, powerful, or difficult;
d) liking to be with other people;
e) famous, well respected, and admired;
f) (especially of a woman or girl) attractively full of energy and enthusiasm;
g) the best or most extreme example of something;
h) believing that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere.
a) He’s a Member of Parliament and doesn’t even attend the AGM. p.22
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b) I don’t think my husband or my young son would think much of that idea. p. 23
c) ‘True,’ said Feldman, ‘but hidden in the bill’s small print you’ll find, under
special exemptions, the word “Allies”, which I’m pretty sure we can take
advantage of. p. 24
d) A glance in the mirror, and he had to admit he wouldn’t have been considered in
vogue on either side of the Atlantic. p. 24
e) Great-aunt Phyllis immediately broke away, walked across to Harry and, without
a word, gave him a bear hug that would have impressed an American linebacker.
p.25
f) Just remember, New York isn’t an offshoot of Bloomsbury. Forget refinement,
understatement and irony. However much it’s against your better nature, you’ll
have to learn to sell your wares like an East End barrow boy. p.25
g) When the clock struck eleven, Harry, who might have had one brandy too many,
rose unsteadily from his chair. p.26
h) His bushy moustache suggested the RAF. p.27
i) Gable was so gracious about his co-star that even the most cynical listener would
have been convinced they were bosom pals. p. 29
j) ‘Is Gable big in England?’ asked Matt. p.30
k) ‘He hasn’t quite got the hang of democracy yet,’ said Harry, trying to make light
of it. p.34
l) This became less frequent when Sebastian parted with his teddy bear, Winston,
handing the former prime minister over to Jessica. p.36
m) Harry watched as his son ran through the gates and disappeared into a melee of
red blazers in which he was indistinguishable from a hundred other boys. p.37
n) Harry accepted that the old order changeth, yielding place to new. p.37
o) But Giles was so smitten with the new arrival at Barrington Hall that he declared
he wouldn’t mind if she repainted the whole house inside and out. p.37
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3. Quote the context these expressions are used in the text. Come up with their
Russian equivalents.
1) to do smth on an empty stomach p.22
2) to envisage problems p.23
3) a surplus of cash p.23
4) to be on the board p.23
5) to let oneself in for smth p.24
6) to enroll someone as an undergraduate p.24
7) to pass a bill p.24
8) to be up to smth p.24
9) to summon up courage p.24
10) to give smb a hug p.25
11) to need a shoulder to cry on p.26
12) to underestimate smb p.26
13) to take smth for granted p.27
14) to be comfortably off p.27
15) to go blank p.29
16) a prime-time show p.30
17) to snatch a sleep p.31
18) to say smth in unison p. 33
19) to switch tactics p.34
20) to set up false hopes p. 35
21) to be lost for words p.35
22) to retreat into one’s own world p.37
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4. Look through the following sentences and recall the episode in the story, in
which the following feeling/behavior/reaction was expressed.
1. Harry would have laughed, but he wasn’t sure his publisher was joking. p.22
2. ‘They don’t have any choice,’ said Feldman, his voice rising. p.23
3. This silenced the professor, and it was some time before he said… p.24
4. Harry thought he detected the flicker of a smile as the butler led him down the
corridor to an open lift. p.24
5. It amused him to hear their version of what had taken place. p.25
6. It was her turn to look surprised. p. 26
7. The two men smiled sympathetically, but Miss Braithwaite remained po-faced.
p.27
8. Miss Braithwaite bowed her head. p.28
9. She looked just as crisp and perky as she had done when she’d left him the day
before. p.28
10. Only Natalie didn’t look pleased. p.29
11. There had been no colour. p.31
12. Sebastian remained uncharacteristically silent. p.33
13. Emma and Harry stole a quick glance at each other. p.34
14. ‘I just can’t believe it,’ said Matron as the door closed behind them. p.35
5. Here are some common phrasal verbs which you can use in everyday
communication. Look through column 1 and say which phrasal verbs are familiar
to you. Match phrasal verbs with their definitions. Think of their Russian
equivalents. Recall the situations they were used in.
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2. to cut down on p.23 b.to ask or tell someone to leave,
usually for a particular purpose
3. to turn out p.26 c.to do or use less of something
4. to send off p.26 d.to think of a person and feel sorry for
them in a difficult situation
5. to go out to p.28 e.
to say something suddenly and
without thinking, usually because you
are excited or nervous
6. to sign up p. 28 f. to stop operating
7. to go off p.30 g.to suggest or think of an idea or plan
8. to blurt out p.35 h.to agree to become involved in
an organized activity
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1) Harry’s meeting with his publisher in the States;
2) Emma’s talk with Professor Feldman, her desire to get a business degree;
3) Harry’s visit to Great-aunt Phyllis;
4) Emma’s meeting with three governors responsible for adoption, the difficulties
she faced; the outcome of the meeting;
5) Harry’s first prime-time interview; his feelings, his behavior and the people he
met there;
6) The continuation of Harry’s tour, his first success in America;
7) Harry, Emma and Sebastian’s visit to the orphanage in Bridgewater; their
acquaintance with Jessica, Sebastian’s choice;
8) Jessica’s visit to the Cliftons’ house, Jessica’s adoption, the beginning of her
life with the Cliftons, her attitude to her new family.
9) Sebastian’s first days at St Bede’s.
8. Read the following summary of the second portion and fill in the missing facts
and words.
Harry Clifton’s latest book “… ...” gets published and he goes to America to
promote it. As he gets to know Natalie Redwood, his …, better, he … problems. Natalie
is a … lady but too pushy for him. That causes the failure of Harry’s first interview.
Though he summons all his …, he doesn’t manage to mention his book when he appears
on his first …… show with Matt Jacobs. Natalie tries to reassure him, but she can’t
mask her disappointment and flies back to …., leaving Harry to himself. Harry
understands that Natalie doesn’t … much of him, but he becomes more relaxed without
her, switches … and his book “Nothing Ventured” comes in at number ….
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Harry also visits Great-aunt … who wants to know what her beloved Emma has
been … to. She offers Harry her help and support, in case he needs a … to … on.
Meanwhile, his wife Emma attends the lecture of Professor Feldman, a … … winner.
She wants to get on the … of their family’s shipping company but doesn’t have
qualifications for that. Professor Feldman suggests … her as an undergraduate at … to
get a business degree.
At the same time, Emma continues her search for Jessica, who has got a past of her
own and is related to the… family. Emma successfully manages to find the girl and the
couple adopts her as their daughter. Jessica is very shy, even …, but she seems to get
on very well with Sebastian, who takes to her at once.
Pre-reading activities
1. Browse the Internet or look up the dictionaries and make sure you know the
following things and names.
Stanley Matthews, the Michaelmas term, Shelley, Keats, Beechcroft Abbey, Harrow,
Constable, Mr Attlee, No.10 Downing Street, the Tories, boroughs, opposite number,
Frank Pakenham
2. Look through Portion 3 and write out all the words and word-combinations
related to general elections in Great Britain and explain their meaning.
1.Look at these sentences or parts of sentences. Match the words in bold with the
definitions below. Give their possible equivalents in your native language.
1) Giles was delighted although not surprised to find that the parish church of St
Andrew’s, where Elizabeth Harvey had been married, and her three children
baptized (1) and later confirmed (2), was packed with family, friends and
admirers.
2) He went on to tell the congregation (3) just how many people beyond these
walls, had benefited from her wisdom.
3) Giles was relieved, as no doubt were most of those present, that the vicar (4)
made no reference to his father.
4) Reverend Donaldson ended his eulogy (5) with the words, ‘Elizabeth’s life was
cut short by her untimely death at the age of fifty-one, but it is not for us to
question the will of our Lord.’
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5) After he had returned to his pew (6), Giles and Sebastian each read a lesson (7),
‘The Good Samaritan’ and ‘The Sermon on the Mount’.
a) ‘In fact, he’s more likely to befriend a boy from overseas than one who’s lived
in Bristol all his life.’ p.38
b) ‘Great disappointment would be an understatement,’ said Harry. p.38
c) The irony is, with his talent for languages, I predict he’ll sail into Oxford. But
we still have to make sure he paddles into BGS.’ p.38
d) ‘Scientists are hoping for a breakthrough at some time in the future, but I fear
that won’t be soon enough for your mother.’ p.40
e) Harry began to believe this might be a turning point, but when he told Sebastian
that his grandmother only had a few weeks to live, the boy crept back into his
shell.p.41
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f) Giles missed several three-line whips, Grace countless tutorials, Harry endless
deadlines, and Emma sometimes failed to reply to Cyrus Feldman’s weekly
letters. p.41
g) ‘My dear Harry, you always give everyone the benefit of the doubt because you
have such a generous nature.p.42
h) But I still have one card up my sleeve, which I don’t intend to play until I’ve
been lowered into my grave, when my spirit will return like an avenging angel.’
p.42
i) ‘I don’t doubt there is,’ said Garrett, ‘but our new chairman couldn’t be swayed
on the matter.’ p.43
j) Harry couldn’t help thinking that Elizabeth’s prediction was already coming to
pass. p.44
k) ‘And where do you fit in?’ p.44
l) ‘One can’t afford to let standards slip,’ volunteered Virginia. p.45
m) During the meal, Virginia regaled them with stories about her ancestors, making
them sound like the backbone of the British Empire. p.45
n) I suppose it’s because I come from Yorkshire that I have a tendency to call a
spade a spade.’ p.47
o) You’re as bad as that Frank Pakenham fellow, a traitor to your class.’ p.48
3. Quote the context these expressions are used in the text. Come up with their
Russian equivalents.
1) to pour a cup of tea p.38
2) in smb’s tenure p.38
3) to drop below the pass mark p.38
4) to catch smb red-handed p.39
25
5) to pay smb an advance p.39
6) to charge smb for shoplifting p.40
7) to go into hospital for a checkup p.40
8) to ebb away p.41
9) to back smb’s judgement p.41
10) to stumble over each word p.42
11) to execute a new will p.42
12) to contest a will p.42
13) to cut smb short p.44
14) to compare favourably with smth p.45
15) to be famished p.46
16) to draw breath p.46
17) to be bewitched by smb p.46
18) to be on the cards p.46
19) to spit out words p.46
20) to store up trouble for the future p.49
4. Look through the following sentences and recall the episode in the story, in
which the following feeling/behavior/reaction was expressed.
1. Harry and Emma were surprised when they were invited to join the headmaster for tea
at the end of Sebastian’s first term. p.38
2. Harry laughed, but Emma noticed that the headmaster wasn’t smiling. p.38
3. Harry laughed, having sat on the grass and watched Giles score every one of them.p.38
4. Harry and Emma were beginning to feel more hopeful. p.38
5. He’d reached page nine, and was getting to quite like Richard Hannay, when the door
opened and the manager returned with a triumphant smirk on his face. p.39
6. Sebastian bit his lip. p.40
26
7. Neither Harry nor Emma felt they could chastise him.p.41
8. ‘I’m sure you’re overreacting, Elizabeth. p.42
9. ‘But there’s a perfectly innocent explanation for that incident,’ said Harry, trying not to
lose his temper.p.43
10. Jessica giggled. ‘Excuse him, Lady Virginia, as Mama often reminds him, he does have
a tendency to exaggerate.’p.45
5. Here are some common phrasal verbs which you can use in everyday
communication. Look through column 1 and say which phrasal verbs are familiar
to you. Match phrasal verbs with their definitions. Think of their Russian
equivalents. Recall the situations they were used in.
27
5. The operator will … you … .
6. What is the world… …?
8. Read the following summary of the third portion and fill in the missing facts
and words.
Harry and Emma are invited to join the … of …. for tea at the end of …’s first term,
and quickly discover it is not a social occasion. The headmaster tells them that Sebastian
is a talented boy, but he feels lonely at school, and he ‘d sooner … a boy from overseas
than one who’s lived in … all his life. The headmaster also warns them there may be a
problem when it … … Sebastian sitting his entrance exam for … … … .
After a talk with his family and some considerable bribery from his …, Sebastian
manages to climb a few places off the bottom. Emma and Harry start to feel more
confident about …’s future, when an episode in a …. happens. Sebastian and his friends
… … with his father’s book and are caught ……. by the owner of the shop. There is
28
some misunderstanding about who the books belong to, but Harry promises to replace
them, and the shop owner agrees not to charge the boys for … .
The incident seems to be over and done with once and … …, but later Sebastian is …
… by the board of Bristol Grammar School.
Meanwhile Elizabeth goes to hospital for a medical …. . She is diagnosed with … … .
She feels concerned about Giles and Lady Virginia and informs Harry that she has ….
a new … .
During the … Harry can’t help thinking that Elizabeth’s prediction is already … ... ….
Emma, Grace and Virginia quarrel at the …, but Giles appears so … by Virginia’s
every word that he simply nods his approval whenever she comes to the end of a
sentence.
Pre-reading activities
1. Browse the Internet or look up the dictionaries and make sure you know the
following things and names.
The Times, the Telegraph, the Church of St Margaret’s Westminster, Balliol College,
the Daily Express, William Hickey (columnist), Cadogan Gardens, Mr Churchill,
Eisenhower, the Democrats and the Republicans, the stalemate in the Korean War,
Princess Elizabeth, Country Life, the Mail, the Mirror, the Strand
2. Look up the dictionaries and find out the difference between a barrister and a
solicitor. Write out all court expressions and explain their meaning.
3. Revise the use of articles with the words breakfast, dinner, lunch, supper. Insert
the missing articles in the following sentences where necessary.
29
1) I often invite my friends for ... tea and … supper.
2) … European breakfast consists of toast with marmalade and tea or coffee.
3) … supper which she cooked was uneatable.
4) They organized … charity dinner for the homeless.
5) On the first day of the vacation we all slept late and then had … huge brunch.
6) I won’t eat … breakfast, it’s burnt again.
7) Many celebrities were present at … dinner in the White House.
8) If you hurry, you will be in time for … dinner.
9) He cooked … delicious supper for us last night.
10) … dinner in the Indian restaurant was very spicy.
1.Look at these sentences or parts of sentences. Match the words in bold with the
definitions below. Give their possible equivalents in your native language.
1) Another dress fitting this morning, lunch with the bridesmaids (1), and then this
afternoon I have an appointment with the caterers (2), who are pressing me on
numbers.’
2) ‘I’ll do anything, my darling,’ he said, ‘but please don’t break off our
engagement (3).’
3) The list of guests who attended the wedding (4) makes interesting reading.
4) ‘So who was the best man (5)?’ asked Harry.
5) The happy couple,”’ continued Emma, ‘“will spend their honeymoon (6) at Sir
Giles’s villa in Tuscany.”
6) I never understood how the Prince of Wales could give up the throne for an
American divorcee (7) …
30
7) He leapt up and kissed his fiancée (8) on both cheeks, took a pace back, and once
again thought how lucky he was that this beautiful woman had ever given him a
second look.
3. Quote the context these expressions are used in the text. Come up with their
Russian equivalents.
32
2) to do a first-class job p. 57
3) to remain on smb’s staff p. 57
4) on a regular basis p.57
5) to cast a spell on smb p.58
6) in her right mind p.58
7) to contest the will p.59
8) to fight tooth and nail p.59
9) to issue a court order p. 59
10) the validity of the will p. 60
11) to come to an out-of-court settlement p. 61
12) to be in rude health p. 62
13) to break off engagement p. 58
14) to make one’s point p. 62
15) to be on hand p.62
16) a family GP p. 63
17) to speed things up p. 65
18) to have one's word for smth p. 65
19) to withdraw a statement p.65
20) to flick through the will p. 65
21) to lodge an appeal p. 70
4. Look through the following sentences and recall the episode in the story, in
which the following feeling/behavior/reaction was expressed.
1) Virginia forgot all about hopeful debutantes, folded her newspaper and smiled
sweetly at Giles. p.55
2) Giles was about to say something, but changed his mind. ‘Of course, my love.’
P.55
33
3) Giles glanced at his watch every few minutes, but there was no sign of Virginia.
P.56
4) Mr Siddons was looking forward to making her acquaintance. P.57
5) Sir Giles and Lady Virginia did not hear them, as they stormed out of the room
without another word. P.58
6) Emma was so engrossed in the article she was reading that she didn’t even look
up… p.59
7) Emma ignored the comment and began reading out loud. P. 59
8) ‘Behave yourself, Emma,’ said Harry. P.60
9) Sir Cuthbert smiled as Mr Todd sat down. P.62
10) ‘I believe I did,’ said Siddons, sounding a little flustered. P.65
11) Both parties were still heads down, whispering in their respective corners, like
boxers waiting for the bell to release them for the final round… p. 70
5. Here are some common phrasal verbs which you can use in everyday
communication. Look through column 1 and say which phrasal verbs are familiar
to you. Match phrasal verbs with their definitions. Think of their Russian
equivalents. Recall the situations they were used in.
34
5. to give up smth p.60 e.to gain knowledge of (something); learn
6. to go through smth p. 63 f. to begin to do smth or make
it, especially after planning, promising,
or asking permission to do it
7. to go ahead with p.64 g.to increase or cause to increase
in speed or rate; accelerate
8. Read the following summary of the fourth portion and fill in the missing facts
and words.
The Cliftons and the Barringtons are to be present at the reading of the … of the late
Lady … . Giles and Virginia expect no surprises, but … knows that Elizabeth made a
new will shortly before her death.
The … of the will takes everyone by surprise. Elizabeth wanted to prevent …, who, as
she thought, had put a … on Giles, from getting her hands on any of the Barringtons’
possessions. No doubt, Virginia wants Giles to fight … and nail. He agrees and does
not invite his sisters to his wedding, as well as Harry, who was supposed to be Giles’s
…….
Every effort has been made to come to an … settlement, but … and Emma can only
agree that it would be wiser for the case to be heard in a closed … with a … presiding,
rather than risking the unpredictable whims of a … .
At the trial both … do a …. job, calling all the possible witnesses. Giles’s barrister
is sure that Elizabeth Barrington was not in her … mind, when she signed her last will.
He insists that the will that was made when she was in … health should be taken into
account.
Giles’s barrister believes they have the case … up, but the last-minute …. turns
everything against them. The Judge reads the letter Elizabeth wrote before her death
and states that Lady Barrington was not only capable of … a will, but was well aware
of the significance of its … .
Giles loses the case and refuses to … an appeal. … threatens to leave him.
36
Portion V (chapters 15-19)
Pre-reading activities
1. Browse the Internet or look up the dictionaries and make sure you know the
following things and names.
Pall Mall, the Titanic, the Army & Navy, Hilditch & Key, John Lobb, the Midland Bank,
Barclays, Ebbw Vale, Marmite and tomato sandwiches, PhD, Betjeman, the Sidgwick
Room, Newnham College, St Tropez, Hansard, Smith Square (London), the London
School of Economics
2. Look at the list of most popular British newspapers. Browse the internet and
match the newspapers with the proper description.
1) 2)
3) 4)
5) 6)
37
7) 8)
a)a British tabloid owned by Rupert Murdoch's News International empire. Due to
being full of lies, damned lies, and topless women, it is Britain's most popular
newspaper;
b) until September 2011, the paper described itself on the banner at the top of every
newspaper as "free from party political bias, free from proprietorial influence". [6] It
tends to take a pro-market stance on economic issues;
c) for much more than a century it has been an integral and important part of the
political structure of Great Britain. Its news and its editorial comment have in general
been carefully coordinated, and have at most times been handled with an earnest sense
of responsibility;
d)a morning newspaper published in London, known for its sensational treatment of
news and also for its thorough coverage of international events;
e) generally takes a liberal to left-wing position, and is known for its non-conformist
opinions and support of innovative, non-traditional approaches. Together with The
Times and The Daily Telegraph it is considered one of the "big three" British quality
newspapers;
f) consistently supports the Conservative Party, takes a conservative position, and as a
result has earned the nickname "Torygraph";
g) aka Daily Fail, Daily Heil, Daily Moan, Crazy Mail and so on is a reactionary
tabloid rag masquerading as a "traditional values," middle-class newspaper that is, in
many ways, the second-worst of the British gutter press;
h) was founded by Alfred Harmsworth, later Viscount Northcliffe, in 1903 as a
newspaper for women. Its photo-rich tabloid format has consistently stressed
38
sensational, human-interest, and personal types of stories, and its politically
independent stance has enabled it to adopt a “common man versus bureaucracy”
approach to many stories.
1.Look at these sentences or parts of sentences. Match the words in bold with the
definitions below. Give their possible equivalents in your native language.
1) For the past six months, I’ve been purchasing Barrington’s shares through a
blind trust (1).
2) If you check their bylaws (2), you’ll find that allows me to appoint a member of
the board.
3) Perhaps I could begin by asking our honorary secretary, Major Fisher, to read the
minutes (3) of the last meeting.
4) He said he had written a follow-up letter (4) to all those members who had not
yet paid their annual subscription.
5) This bold new venture (5) proposed by Mr Compton, our managing director, has
my full backing….
6) ‘Won’t the brokers (6) become suspicious, and tell the board what we’re up to?’
7) ‘I’m told he’s facing a vote of confidence (7) from the local Labour Party
executive committee, after they found out about his relationship with Miss
Gwyneth Hughes.
8) …. before the chairman rose to deliver his annual address to the shareholders of
the Barrington Shipping Company.
39
b) a project or activity which is new, exciting, and difficult because it involves the
risk of failure;
c) a vote in which members of a group are asked to indicate that they still support
the person or group in power, usually the government;
d) a trust fund that manages the financial affairs of a person without informing him
or her of any investments made, usually so that the beneficiary cannot
be accused of using public office for private gain;
e) a person who owns shares in a company;
f) a letter sent as a follow-up to an initial letter or to a telephone call, meeting, etc
g) a rule which controls the way an organization is run;
h) a person whose job is to buy and sell shares, foreign money, or goods for other
people.
40
h) … and he couldn’t resist the challenge of sparring for a place on the green
benches of the House of Commons. p. 72
i) Where indeed, thought Giles, as he looked at the young girl he adored, not quitea
swan, but no longer a cygnet.p.73
j) How right Betjeman was, and this wasn’t even a desert island.p.73
k) She’s the daughter of a Welsh miner, up from the valleys, as she likes to remind
everyone, and she certainly knows the meaning of compos mentis.’p.74
l) After months of not making any contact with him, she’d rung him out of the blue
to tell him why she wanted a divorce.p.75
m) So the headmaster turned a blind eye, which made it possible for Barrington to
go to Oxford.’p.77
n) ‘Over my dead body.’p.77
o) Most of us felt some sympathy for him when he decided to take “the Brighton
route”, especially after he let it be known, rather ungraciously in my opinion, that
he did so to protect his wife’s reputation.p.79
p) He didn’t believe Fisher was capable of changing his spots. p.80
q) ‘Do you think the public might still have the fate of the Titanic fixed indelibly in
their subconscious, making them wary of sailing on a new luxury liner?’ asked
Fisher. p.81
r) Fisher felt that at that moment Simpson had the edge over his preferred candidate.
p.83
s) He planned to humiliate Barrington publicly, in the glare of a general election
campaign… p.84
t) Dunnett might need a helping hand if Simpson was to be derailed. p.84
41
3. Quote the context these expressions are used in the text. Come up with their
Russian equivalents.
1) to mask one’s surprise p.71
2) to be all ears p.71
3) to be in session p.71
4) to be promoted to the front benchp.71
5) to give grounds for divorce p.71
6) to spot smb p.73
7) to take one’s eyes off smb p. 73
8) to take smb through every detail p.76
9) to get away with smthp.77
10) to sue smb for adultery p.77
11) to veto smth p.78
12) in the long term p.78
13) to draw to a close p.79
14) to allow an overdraft facility p.80
15) to be in smb’s debt p.80
16) decree nisi papers p.80
17) to give a go-ahead p.81
18) to bottom out p.82
19) to act on smb’s behalf p.82
20) a non-custodial offence p.83
21) a marginal seat p. 84
22) the run-up to the election p.84
23) to cast votes p.86
42
4. Look through the following sentences and recall the episode in the story, in
which the following feeling/behavior/reaction was expressed.
1) ‘Grace?’ he said, unable to mask his surprise. p.71
2) ‘What brings you to London, Grace?’ he asked rather feebly, as he led his sister
down the corridor and into the drawing room. p.71
3) Giles had thought there was nothing his sister could ever say that would shock
him. p.72
4) She leapt up and threw her arms around him. p.73
5) He hadn’t noticed how distracted Giles had become. p.73
6) Emma didn’t speak for some time. p.76
7) Several ‘Hear, hears’ echoed around the table. p.79
8) Mumbled conversations broke out around the table. p.79
5. Here are some common phrasal verbs which you can use in everyday
communication. Look through column 1 and say which phrasal verbs are familiar
to you. Match phrasal verbs with their definitions. Think of their Russian
equivalents. Recall the situations they were used in.
43
3.to stand down p.79 c.to suggest or think of an idea or plan
4.to sound out p. 80 d.to begin or enable (someone) to begin (a new venture),
as by acquiring or providing means, equipment, etc
5.to put forward p.80 e. to have reached the lowest point in
a continuously changing situation and to be about
to improve
6.to pay out p.82 f.to learn interesting or useful information from
someone or something
7.to bottom out p.82 g. to state an idea or opinion, or
to suggest a plan or person, for other people to consider
8.to come up with p. 83 h.to pay a lot of money to someone
8. Read the following summary of the fifth portion and fill in the missing facts and
words.
Grace drops in on …. to invite him to her …. party. Giles is unable to …. his surprise.
He is all … when Grace takes him … every … of her plan. When he turns up at Grace’s
birthday party in …., Giles is surprised how quickly he relaxes with …, his oldest
friend. They are chatting about Peter May as if it were old times, when he first sees …
. After that, he can’t … his … off her. He agrees to … …. for divorce to finally get rid
of Virginia. Giles doesn’t suspect that Virginia wants to … him for … .
Meanwhile, …. Fisher and …. …. get together to discuss their plan of discrediting
Giles, who has been recently … to the … bench. Fisher agrees to … on …’ s behalf.
He wants to contest for a …. seat and win it for the …. party. He also represents
Virginia on the …. of Barrington’s shipping company and wants to use his knowledge
of the fact that Barrington’s is going to build a luxury … . He asks his broker in ….. to
sell Virginia’s shares, wait till they …. … and then repurchase any stock available at
the lower price. Fisher thinks that brokers won’t become suspicious, or tell the board
what they are … to. Virginia is sure Giles will … everything out, but Fisher tells her
that Giles will be very busy, facing a vote of …. from the local Labour Party executive
committee, after they find out about his relationship with Miss Gwyneth Hughes.
There’s even a chance he won’t be contesting the next election if Virginia doesn’t sign
her … … papers.
45
Portion VI (chapters 20-23)
Pre-reading activities
1. Browse the Internet or look up the dictionaries and make sure you know the
following things and names.
Pullman carriage, the Boer War, VC, the Financial Times, Edinburgh University,
P&O, Berthe Morisot, the Garda, the Emerald Isle, Guinness, Buckingham Palace,
Machiavelli, CV, the Royal Ambulance Corps, Cadbury’s Milk Tray, squash, snooker,
the London Stock Exchange, the Benny Hill Show
2. Study the model and complete the following sentences using the subjunctive
mood.
Model: Emma suggested that …
Emma suggested that they adopt/should adopt Jessica.
1) Elizabeth demanded that Harry….
2) Virginia insisted that Giles….
3) It was necessary that Harry ….
4) Matron said it was important that Harry and Emma ….
5) Professor Feldman recommended that Emma….
6) It was important that the Lord Chancellor ….
7) Emma insisted that Mitchell ….
8) Virginia demanded that Major Fisher….
9) It was very important that Fisher ….
10) It was necessary that Giles ….
46
Reading and Comprehension
1.Look at these sentences or parts of sentences. Match the words in bold with the
definitions below. Give their possible equivalents in your native language.
1) ‘On both occasions a trade (1) of two hundred thousand shares (2) was executed,
which happens to be almost exactly the seven and a half per cent of the company
he represents.
2) … the broker who sold them repurchased exactly the same amount, making his
client a handsome profit (3).’
3) ‘Between the two of you, you own twenty-two per cent of the company’s stock
(4).
4) Lady Virginia’s long-term aim is to cripple the company, making regular raids
on our stock position until we lose all credibility (5).’
5) ‘Because this time it would be our turn to be the insider traders (6),’ said
Compton.
6) … it won’t be possible to offer our shareholders a dividend (7).’
a) money that is earned in trade or business after paying the costs of producing
and selling goods and services;
b) business activity;
c) (a part of) the profit of a company that is paid to the people who own shares in
it;
d) the fact that someone can be believed or trusted;
e) the amount of money that a company has through selling shares to people;
f) someone who buys a company's shares using a high position in that company
g) one of the equal parts that the ownership of a company is divided into, and
that can be bought by members of the public.
47
2. Explain the meaning of the underlined parts of sentences by paraphrasing and
commenting on them.
a) He’d been tipped for chairman, but was denied the post when a member of the
family decided they wanted the position. p.87
b) The only good thing to come out of that dreadful incident was Jessica, the Berthe
Morisot of the lower fourth. p.88
c) But it was his close friend Corporal Bates, killed while attempting to escape the
Germans, who’d unwittingly turned him from blue to red.p.88
d) And the only proof we have of his duplicity is a drunken stockbroker living in
Hong Kong.’ p.90
e) If I had a war chest of half a million pounds, I could keep them at bay.’ p.90
n) What an ideal day for killing two birds with one stone. p.95
o) Frankly, as the Americans would say, it’s a whole different ball game. p.95
48
p) Dunnett was nothing more than a sacrificial lamb. p.96
q) … we will not go ahead with this project until we are convinced it is a viable
proposition. p.98
r) ‘If the Woodbine estate is anything to go by, we’re home and dry.’ p.98
s) He then touched on local issues, and even managed a dig about pavement politics
at the expense of the Liberals. p.101
t) Pandemonium broke out in the hall.p.103
u) ‘And if she did buy them back, she’d have to pay a hefty premium, and I imagine
she wouldn’t be happy about that.’ p.103
3. Quote the context these expressions are used in the text. Come up with their
Russian equivalents.
1) to deny the charge p.87
2) a deputy chairman p.87
3) to take the company public p.88
4) at smb’s request p.89
5) with/without smb’s blessing p.90
6) to get back at smb p.90
7) to play smb at their own game p.90
8) at such short notice p.92
9) at best p.92
10) at worst p.92
11) to tender one’s resignation p.93
12) a conscientious objector p.93
13) to have smb’s best interests at heart p.93
14) to serve a prison sentence p.93
49
15) a stronghold p.97
16) to draw smb’s attention to a few highlights p.97
17) to stick rigorously to the rules p.99
18) to deliver a speech p.101
19) to miss the point p.102
4. Look through the following sentences and recall the episode in the story, in
which the following feeling/behavior/reaction was expressed.
1) Giles smiled as he jumped out of his car and spotted a group of children coming
out of Old Jack’s Pullman carriage. p.87
2) He dashed into the chairman’s office and gave his sister a huge hug before
shaking hands with Ray Compton… p.88
3) The laughter broke any slight tension that Giles’s political antennae had picked
up. p.88
4) Giles looked at Emma in surprise. p.89
5) Virginia laughed. ‘And when do you plan to ring our friend in Hong Kong?’
p.92
6) Dunnett looked up, and for a moment an expression of hope flickered across his
face. p.93
7) Satisfied, he slipped it into an envelope and pushed it back across the table. p.93
8) Dunnett looked horrified. p.93
9) A general murmur of approval swept around the table. p.94
10) They both nodded. p.97
11) Giles smiled at Fisher and said, ‘Bad luck, old chap.’ p.101
5. Here are some common phrasal verbs which you can use in everyday
communication. Look through column 1 and say which phrasal verbs are familiar
50
to you. Match phrasal verbs with their definitions. Think of their Russian
equivalents. Recall the situations they were used in.
8. Read the following summary of the sixth portion and fill in the missing facts and
words.
Emma and … are to attend a meeting with Ross …. who accepted the Barrington
board’s invitation to succeed ... ... and become the … of the company. At first Giles
thinks it is just a casual get-together, but the reason for their meeting is quite serious.
Giles understands that … wants to … … at him with the help of ... … . Buchanan
suggests that they … Fisher at his own …, but Ross is not going to do anything without
Emma and Giles’ … . They all want Fisher to lose his place on the ….
With the general elections on the …, Fisher paves his way to the Parliament. He
blackmails Dunnett, the front-runner, saying that in his … he’s found some information
that is …… misleading, and … … duplicitous. During the war Dunnett was a …
objector, and … six months in prison. Dunnett has to … his resignation, Fisher becomes
52
the Party’s only candidate. He also wants to … two … with one … and orders … … to
sell two hundred thousand Barrington’s … .
Giles happens to lose a considerable number of votes after the TV debates where …
manages to publicly humiliate him. Giles works hard during the final week of the
campaign, even if at times he feels like … pushing his boulder up a hill, and the good
news for Giles is that he is back in the … , and Buchanan finally manages to get rid of
Fisher who has to forfeit his place on the … .
Pre-reading activities
Browse the Internet or look up the dictionaries and make sure you know the
following things about elections in Britain.
First- past- the post is a term ……
Westminster refers to….
General election is….
By-election is ...
Exit poll is …
Turn out is ….
Hung Parliament describes a situation when ….
Opposition is….
Coalition is …
53
1. Look at these sentences or parts of sentences. Match the words in bold with the
definitions below. Give their possible equivalents in your native language.
1) This was considered a great responsibility, and was usually undertaken by local
councilors (1) or senior party officials.
2) Miss Parish would be in charge of the six Labour scrutineers (2), as she had
been for the past four elections (3), and he knew she had invited Harry and
Emma to join her select team.
3) ‘The sitting member has asked for a re-count (4), and I have granted his request.
4) Will every teller (5) please re-check their piles most carefully, and make sure
no mistakes have been made.’
5) Scissors appeared, seals were cut, ballot boxes (6) were thrown open and turned
upside down to allow thousands of little slips of paper, each one bearing three
names, to spill out on to the tables in front of the counters.
54
a) They’ll have up-to-date canvass returns for the district they’re in charge of.
p.105
b) ‘I’m manning a committee room,’ said Emma. p.105
c) ‘He’s thinking of voting Conservative. See if you can convert him by four
o’clock this afternoon.’ p.106
d) ‘Your family have come up trumps,’ said Miss Parish, ‘remembering they’re
Tories.’ p.107
e) ‘Emma can turn her hand to anything.’p.107
f) ‘Why don’t you get Miss Parish on to them?’ said the friend. p.108
g) Bugger off before I give you a clip round the ear,’ said Mr Miller, and slammed
the door in his face. p.108
h) Thomas Jefferson had said when he followed Benjamin Franklin into the post of
American ambassador to France. p. 109
i) ‘Don’t get sentimental on me,’ said Griff. ‘We’ve still got a job to do.’ p.110
j) Miss Parish frowned when she saw Fisher giving his supportersa thumbs-up sign.
p.112
k) ‘Then on your head be it,’ said Wainwright, after looking once again at the
counter concerned. p. 114
l) ‘The numbers have been consistent on three separate occasions,’ he added,
quoting Macaulay’s exact words. p. 115
m) ‘That is a disgraceful slur on my character. p.115
n) The truth is, we lost two generations of men in world wars, and two generations
of women who weren’t given the chance to take their places.’ p.117
o) I’m afraid she doesn’t suffer fools gladly, and that’s part of the job description.
p.117
p) ‘Modern languages, with maths as my back-up.’ p.117
q) ‘It would appear that she’s signed them in the nick of time,’ said Emma. p. 118
55
r) ‘Make sure you pass all eight O levels,’ Jessica said. p.118
s) They don’t judge people on which cot they were born in.p.119
3. Quote the context these expressions are used in the text. Come up with their
Russian equivalents.
1) cul-de-sac p.106
2) to win by a landslide p.106
3) to make up the lost ground p.106
4) to bring to one’s knees p.109
5) to bring smb to their senses p.109
6) to get smb a pass p.110
7) deputy p.111
8) to win a scholarship p. 116
9) to outdo smb p.117
10) to sit for a prize scholarship p.119
11) to revert to one’s old ways p.119
12) to render smb speechless p. 120
13) to be given to smth p.120
14) to stumble across smth p.120
15) to follow in someone’s footsteps p.120
16) to die at smb’s hands p.120
17) to turn one’s back on smb p.120
18) to go wrong p.121
4. Look through the following sentences and recall the episode in the story, in
which the following feeling/behavior/reaction was expressed.
1) ‘You should be flattered,’ said Giles. p.106
56
2) Emma smiled at her son. p.106
3) Giles was heartened by the response. p.107
4) Giles took a deep breath as he climbed the steps of City Hall. p.109
5) Fisher looked as if he wanted to protest, but said nothing. p.112
6) She glanced up towards the gallery to see Sebastian waving energetically at her.
p.112
7) Miss Parish still didn’t look sure. p.113
8) Fisher turned scarlet and marched off the stage. p.116
9) When he finally reached her, he wasn’t altogether sure she recognized him. p.117
10) Politicians!’ she added, mimicking Emma, who burst out laughing.p.117
11) Sebastian wanted to protest, but his friend had more to say on the subject.p.119
12) Sebastian was still staring at the photograph.p.120
5. Here are some common phrasal verbs which you can use in everyday
communication. Look through column 1 and say which phrasal verbs are familiar
to you. Match phrasal verbs with their definitions. Think of their Russian
equivalents. Recall the situations they were used in.
57
5.to end up p.111 e.to leave quietly or quickly so that no
one will notice
6. to bump into p.111 f.to record the time you arrive at work on
a special machine
7. to cross out p.112 g. to meet someone you know when you
have not planned to meet them
8. to slip out p.121 h.to arrive or appear
58
8. Read the following summary of the seventh portion and fill in the missing facts
and words.
The day of ... election duly arrives, Giles knows that the competition is going to be
tough. He will have to fight for every street, road, avenue and …. He knows it will be
very difficult to win by a … . Harry, Emma, Sebastian and even … are eager to help
Giles.
Giles thoughts turn to …, who could have made his life so much easier simply by
signing her … … papers some … months ago, but he realizes her long-term plan is to
…. the …. family to its … .
Meanwhile, the first …. boxes are brought and thrown open, the only thing everyone
can be sure of is that the … will … up in third place.
Miss … , Giles’s assistant, frowns when she sees … giving his supporters a … …
sign, and realizes they have lost. She glances up towards the gallery to see …. waving
energetically at her. Sebastian happens to have noticed one of …. ‘s supporters
cheating. Giles demands a …. and wins the election.
The whole family are happy. Sebastian is about to win a …. to …., and if he does, he
will … both his …. and … . He is so enthusiastic about it, that no-one thinks that he
might … to his old ways. Sebastian learns the truth about …, he trembles for her when
he thinks what she will have to … through if she … across the truth herself.
And then comes the day when it all goes … .
Pre-reading activities
1. Browse the Internet or look up the dictionaries and make sure you know the
following things about elections in Britain.
59
Old Boys, Paddington, Esq, the Crown Jewels, Madame Tussaud’s, Edmund Hillary,
Betty Grable, Don Bradman, Victorian terraced houses, Peterhouse, Chesham Place,
Sloane Square, Marble Arch, Park Lane, Hyde Park Corner, Bond Street, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Suez Crisis, Buenos Aires
2. Match the following names of the shops with what they sell.
1. Look at these sentences or parts of sentences. Match the words in bold with the
definitions below. Give their possible equivalents in your native language.
1) He checked his watch, placed the speech in his briefcase (1) and headed upstairs
2) He was pleased to find that his wife had already packed his dinner jacket (2)
and trousers, a starched white shirt, a bow tie (3), a change of socks and a wash
bag (4).
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3) He didn’t approve when they’d voted to stop wearing white tie and tails (5) for
the annual dinner.
4) A comely woman wearing a floral nylon housecoat (6) answered his knock, and
gave her potential guest a welcoming smile.
5) If she was surprised to find a young man in school uniform (7) standing on her
doorstep, she didn’t show it.
a) a long loose piece of clothing that some women wear over their underwear or
nightclothes when they are at home during the day;
b) an informal name for tail coat;
c) a special set of clothes which some people, for example soldiers or the police,
wear to work in and which some children wear at school;
d) a bag for toiletries, toothbrushes, etc;
e) a jacket, usually black, worn by men for formal social events;
f) a case used for carrying documents in;
g) a tie in the form of a bow worn by men, especially for formal occasions.
f) The truth was that his parents were in Los Angeles attending a ceremony at
which his mother was to be awarded her business degree, summa cum
laude…p.125
g) There were no mitigating circumstances.p.125
h) … ‘but my regulars call me Tibby.’p. 127
i) ‘Isn’t that a little draconian?’ suggested Mrs Banks-Williams.p.128
j) ‘My father always used to say, if you’ve got a problem, sleep on it before you
make a decision you might later regret. Things always look rosier in the
morning.’p.128
k) ‘Then be my guest.’p.129
l) Within an hour of being booted out of his office, I’d broken three rules, right
under his nose!’p.133
m) ‘Because the package contains a family heirloom,’ said Don Pedro without
missing a beat… p.135
n) …she finally came to a halt outside the entrance to the House of Commons,
when, like Lot’s wife, she turned to salt. p.138
o) So perhaps he deserves a pat on the back rather than a telling off.’-‘You’re
wasted, Mrs Tibbet – you should have joined the diplomatic corps.’p.140
p) Everything has fallen into place, including our Trojan horse.’ p. 140
q) The Park Lane traffic was bumper to bumper. p.141
r) ‘Time and tide wait for no man,’ said the driver.p.143
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3. Quote the context these expressions are used in the text. Come up with their
Russian equivalents.
1) to summon smb to one’s study p.121
2) to turn a blind eye to smth p.121
3) to dismiss smth (indiscretion) p.122
4) to uphold the school’s reputation p.122
5) to suppress a smile p.122
6) to be inseparable p.122
7) to have a word with smb p.123
8) to benefit smb in the future p.123
9) to make one’s fortune p.124
10) to disgorge passengers p.124
11) to get away with smth p.125
12) to receive prolonged applause p. 127
13) to be off the premises p.128
14) to spot smth p. 131
15) to be stuck with smb p. 132
16) to come to smb’s rescue p.132
17) to hang around p.133
18) to sample smth p.134
19) to be worried out of one’s mind p.140
20) to hail a cab p.143
21) to overrule smb p.143
22) to go dead p.143
23) beyond smb’s jurisdiction p.141
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4. Look through the following sentences and recall the episode in the story, in
which the following feeling/behavior/reaction was expressed.
1) Sebastian smiled, as a bead of sweat trickled down his nose. p.123
2) The headmaster sat back down, well satisfied with how the meeting had gone.
p.124
3) He was painfully aware that although the headmaster said nothing, his eyes never
left him. p.124
4) Mrs Tibbet placed her hands on her hips, her smile no longer on display. p.127
5) Judd’s next words disconcerted him. p.127
6) The startled guest gave Sebastian a puzzled look. p.129
7) Mrs Tibbet laughed. ‘I think you should get yourself off to Cambridge as quickly
as possible … p. 130
8) He laughed. ‘You’re beginning to sound like my mother.’ p.130
9) During the next hour, Sebastian experienced everything from ‘He doesn’t live
here’ to the door being slammed in his face. p.131
10) Sebastian looked embarrassed until she added…. p.132
11) Sebastian blushed when he was asked a question to which he didn’t know the
answer. p.132
12) ‘That’s wonderful news,’ said Mrs Tibbet… p.134
13) Bruno sat silently picking at his food, rarely joining in the conversation. p.134
14) Mrs Tibbet felt unusually nervous as she crossed the road and joined the
bustling crowd of commuters making their way into the station. p.136
15) Mrs Tibbet couldn’t stop shaking. p.137
16) Giles felt helpless as he watched two tugs guide the ship out into the estuary,
like ants leading an elephant to safer ground. p.143
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5. Here are some common phrasal verbs which you can use in everyday
communication. Look through column 1 and say which phrasal verbs are familiar
to you. Match phrasal verbs with their definitions. Think of their Russian
equivalents. Recall the situations they were used in.
8. Read the following summary of the eighth portion and fill in the missing facts
and words.
Sebastian faces problems, the …. tells him that he can no longer … a blind … to his
misbehavior or …. his latest indiscretion so easily. The headmaster also asks Sebastian
about Bruno and …. and explains that his response may well influence the headmaster’s
decision as to whether he advises the admissions tutor at ...to withdraw Sebastian’s …
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which would be a great sadness for everybody at … . The headmaster’s paramount
responsibility is to … the school’s … .
As the headmaster goes to London to deliver his speech at the annual … , he catches
sight of …. in a …. carriage going to London instead of going home. Sebastian
understands that he won’t … away … it. He dismisses any chance of going to …. As
Sebastian begins to consider what he should do, the train pulls into … .
In London he gets acquainted with Mrs …., who her …. call Tibby. She comes to his
…. and lets him stay in her small boarding house in exchange for some help from … .
Tibby persuades Sebastian to call his parents, as she thinks they must be …. … of their
….
Sebastian gets in touch with …., his friend, and receives a tempting proposal from
his father, … … . Sebastian agrees to go to … … with … … and bring back a…. which
contains a family … .
Tibby feels nervous about Sebastian, she tries to get in touch with his …. but fails.
She happens to find some information about … …, Sebastian’s uncle, and goes to the
…. to meet him. When Giles finally learns about everything from …, he tries to …
Sebastian … that ship, he persuades the …. to … a captain, but that turns out to be
beyond his ….
Pre-reading activities
1. Browse the Internet or look up the dictionaries and make sure you know the
following things about elections in Britain.
Barbara Hepworth, Mary Cassatt, the Royal College of Art, the Slade School of Fine
Art, Hercule Poirot, Peter O’Toole, the cabinet secretary, the Treasury, the Guards
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Polo Club in Windsor Great Park, Ascot, pampas in Argentina, Heinrich Himmler,
half a crown, the Lord’s Test match, Nuremberg, Savile Row, Union Jack, HRH
Princess Margaret
1. Look at these sentences or parts of sentences. Match the words in bold with the
definitions below. Give their possible equivalents in your native language.
1) He felt just as proud as he watched his wife climbing the steps and on to the
platform to receive her business degree, summa cum laude (1), from Wallace
Sterling, the president of Stanford University.
2) As she left the stage to warm applause, her navy hood in place, like all the
students before her, she hurled her mortar board (2) joyfully into the air, the
sign that her undergraduate (3) days were behind her.
3) Maisie had experienced every bit as painful a journey before she could place the
letters BA (4) after her name.
4) Feldman hadn’t been able to take his eyes off Emma, and had even suggested
that she should return to Stanford and, under his personal supervision, complete
a thesis (5) for a PhD (6).
5) Once the degree ceremony was over, Emma strolled around the lawn, enjoying
the celebratory atmosphere and making the acquaintance of her fellow graduates
(7).
6) Yes, and she regularly reminds me that Jessica is a far better artist at the age of
fifteen than she was in her diploma (8) year.
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a) a document conferring a qualification, recording success in examinations or suc
cessfulcompletion of a course of study;
b) a degree awarded to people who have done advanced research into
a particular subject; an abbreviation for 'Doctor of Philosophy';
c) a person who has successfully completed a degree at a university or college and
has received a certificate that shows this;
d) a first degree in an arts or social science subject, an abbreviation for 'Bachelor of
Arts';
e) a long piece of writing based on your own ideas and research that you do as part
of a university degree, especially a high degree such as a PhD;
f) a stiff black cap which has a flat square top with a bunch of threads attached to
it. In Britain, mortar boards are sometimes worn on formal occasions by
university students and teachers. In the United States, mortar boards are worn by
students at graduation ceremonies at high schools, colleges, and universities;
g) a student at a university or college who is studying for his or her first degree;
h) with the greatest praise: a phrase signifying above-average academic standing at
the time of graduation from a college or university: the highest of
three categories.
69
c) ‘That must be a bit galling.’ p. 146
d) As Giles would almost certainly be a minister, she intends to prepare him for
the task, which doesn’t include being mollycoddled by servants. p.147
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r) He felt sure he was doing the right thing – that loudmouth would be running
around town telling everyone, ‘I’ve just seen Harry Clifton posing as a BOAC
pilot.’p.167
3. Quote the context these expressions are used in the text. Come up with their
Russian equivalents.
1) to surpass smth p.144
2) to bend smb to smb’s will p.144
3) to disguise smth p.144
4) to plot smth behind smb’s back p.146
5) to throw a party for smb p.147
6) a minor/major offence p.148
7) to have one’s way p.148
8) to have both ends covered p.149
9) to be inconsolable p.149
10) to be fit and well p.150
11) to have a finger in every pie p.150
12) to keep a close eye on smb p.151
13) to use smth as a bargaining chip p.152
14) to put smth into circulation p.152
15) to smuggle smth p.152
16) to stumble on smth p.153
17) to take smb into custody p.153
18) a leg of the flight p. 154
19) to run for (mayor) p. 155
20) to have a clue p.159
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21) to sample the night life p.159
22) to assassinate smb p.162
4. Look through the following sentences and recall the episode in the story, in
which the following feeling/behavior/reaction was expressed.
1) How proud Elizabeth would have been of her daughter today, but no prouder
than his own mother.p.144
2) ‘Typical man’s reaction.’ p.146
3) Emma leant over to give him a kiss on the cheek.p.146
4) Harry laughed as he brought the car to a halt outside the Manor House, and was
delighted to see Jessica sitting on the top step, waiting for them.p.147
5) Harry stifled a laugh, and was only glad that Emma couldn’t hear the other side
of the conversation. p.148
6) Harry smiled at the thought of the captain being taken ill during the flight. p.155
7) Harry heaved a sigh of relief when the man shrugged and walked unsteadily back
towards his seat at the front of the cabin. p.156
8) He was relieved to find that Mr Bolton wasn’t lurking in the corridor… p.161
9) ‘You must be joking,’ said Diego. ‘p.161
10) The ambassador smiled, pleased that the first part of the operation had gone so
smoothly.p.165
11) ‘Humbled,’ said Martinez.p.166
5. Here are some common phrasal verbs which you can use in everyday
communication. Look through column 1 and say which phrasal verbs are familiar
to you. Match phrasal verbs with their definitions. Think of their Russian
equivalents. Recall the situations they were used in.
72
1. to break up p.147 a. to busy oneself with,
to tackle (a problem or task)
8. Read the following summary of the ninth portion and fill in the missing facts
and words.
Emma and Harry travel to …. University, so that Emma can receive her business
… , … … … . After the ceremony they have dinner with … … who can’t … his … off
Emma. Harry agrees with Emma’s suggestion that they should fly to England straight
after the ceremony.
They come home to find …. waiting on the top step and no … . Harry phones Dr …
… and learns that Sebastian has been … and sent home, and that he has committed
several … . Jessica is … , but Emma is … … well . Harry gets in touch with …. who
says they are expected for a meeting with sir … … .
At the meeting in … street they get to know some details about … …, who turns out
to be an international … . The government has been … their … on him for a long time.
Sebastian happens to have been … into Martinez’s net.
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According to their plan Harry is to fly to Buenos Aires incognito and to find out what
Martinez is … to. In the plane Clifton reads Martinez’s file and his whole life full of …
crime at the beginning and serious offences like smuggling … in front of Harry’s eyes.
In Buenos Aires Harry meets the British Ambassador to … out a course of action and
warn Sebastian. It turns out that the Embassy is getting ready for HRH … … ‘s visit to
Argentina, Martinez is invited together with … . Harry and his son’s meeting goes off
….
Now Harry can go back to England, but unfortunately one of the passengers
recognizes him. Harry is afraid that that … will be running around town telling
everyone, ‘I’ve just seen … … posing as a BOAC pilot.’
Pre-reading activities
1. Browse the Internet or look up the dictionaries and make sure you know the
following things about elections in Britain.
Rotary Club, Marilyn Monroe, Nikita Khrushchev, Hugh Gaitskell, Tony Hancock,
Fernando Botero, Elizabeth Taylor, “Officers and Gentlemen”, Sotheby’s, Henry
Hall’s Guest Night, Degas, Van Gogh, Rodin, Mrs Kathleen Newton, Tissot,
Wimbledon, MG MGA, Proust
1. Look at these sentences or parts of sentences. Match the words in bold with the
definitions below. Give their possible equivalents in your native language.
75
1) Although the first lot (1) would not come under the hammer until seven that
evening, the auction house (2) was packed long before the appointed hour, as it
always was on the opening night of a major Impressionist sale.
2) The serious bidders (3), who often turned up late because they had reserved seats
...
3) However, this was the first time in his career that he would be bidding for a major
work in the hope of being outbid (4) by someone from overseas.
4) Standing on both sides of the auctioneer (5) was a row of Sotheby’s employees.
5) Sir Alan watched with interest as almost all of the early lots exceeded their
estimates (6), proving, as The Times had suggested that morning, that there was
a new breed of collectors (7) who had made their fortunes since the war, and
wished to show they had arrived by investing in art.
6) The dealers (8) and gallery owners began to discuss among themselves if
Martinez was likely to be more interested in lot 28, A Corner of the Garden at St
Paul’s Hospital at St Rémy by Van Gogh, or lot 29, Rodin’s The Thinker.
7) He turned the page of his catalogue to look at the masterpiece he admired, but
for which, ironically, he still hoped to end up as the under-bidder (9).
77
m) He would have given a month’s salary to see Martinez’s face when he
discovered that his victory had turned out to be hollow. p.184
n) ‘You see, sir, the day after a major sale we’re always run off our feet.’ p.185
o) Remember, you may not come across any water until you’ve reached several feet
below the surface.’ p.188
p) The English upper classes always expect someone they know to make the
introduction. p.188
q) ‘Never forget that if you want to bring an empire to its knees you start by killing
the first in line to the throne.’p.190
r) ‘Do I detect a twinge of envy?’ p.191
s) ‘It’s nothing I can put my finger on, but since you’ve been in London, I’ve had a
feeling my father’s been avoiding you.’ p.195
t) ‘It could be that I’m overreacting,’ said Bruno, ‘but I’d prefer to get this mystery
sorted out.’ p.196
3. Quote the context these expressions are used in the text. Come up with their
Russian equivalents.
1) to mix with the royalty p.168
2) to change tack p.168
3) to think better of p.168
4) to pay in advance p.168
5) to resort to foul language p.169
6) to have a lot to offer p.169
7) to hide one’s dismay p.171
8) to bring smb up to date p.173
9) to fall on hard times p.175
10) to come under the hammer p.182
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11) to treat smb to smth p.184
12) to make a draft out to smb p.185
13) to savour the moment p.191
14) to rise to the bait/ take the bait p.192
15) to shout at the top of one’s voice p.194
16) to make sense p.195
17) to act dumb p.195
18) to overtake smb p.195
19) to have it out with smb p.196
20) to get rid of smb p.196
4. Look through the following sentences and recall the episode in the story, in
which the following feeling/behavior/reaction was expressed.
1) A few moments later, the door swung open, and when Giles saw him he burst out
laughing, stood to attention and saluted. p.171
2) Sir Alan put the phone down and smiled at Emma. p.174
3) Luis nodded, although he looked disappointed. p.189
4) Don Pedro exploded, and delivered a tirade of expletives that would have
shocked a prison warden. p.190
5) ‘Look what the cat dragged in,’ and gave him a second hug followed by the best
breakfast he’d had since he’d last sat in that kitchen. p.192
6) Sebastian laughed, and didn’t stop laughing for the next hour. p.193
7) Bruno grinned. ‘You’re a poor substitute for Sally, but the truth is I’ve got
nothing better to do.’ p.194
8) Don Pedro didn’t react at once, and then he rose slowly from his place. p.195
79
9) Diego grabbed the phone on the secretary’s desk and was dialling his home
number when his father came charging through the door, his cheeks flushed.
p.196
10) Bruno swung round and waved his arms furiously at the man driving the lorry
behind them, while shouting at the top of his voice, ‘Get back!’ p.197
11) Sebastian looked helplessly across at the southbound lanes to see a steady stream
of vehicles heading in the opposite direction. p.197
5. Here are some common phrasal verbs which you can use in everyday
communication. Look through column 1 and say which phrasal verbs are familiar
to you. Match phrasal verbs with their definitions. Think of their Russian
equivalents. Recall the situations they were used in.
81
8. Read the following summary of the tenth portion and fill in the missing facts
and words.
As Don Pedro leaves the garden party at the … …, he seems drunk, if not on wine,
then on the thought of … with …. But he quickly changes … and gets down to business.
He pays … in … for his help with the parcel. Seb wants to tell Don Pedro that he will
be joining … at Cambridge but … … of it.
Sebastian has only two days left in … … and he goes … of his way to make the …
of it, as the city has a lot to … .
Don Pedro informs Sebastian that he will have to go to the British … , as he seems
to have entered the country without a passport. Seb tries to … his …, he wonders why
his … had to come halfway round the world just to meet him for a few minutes.
Meanwhile, Harry flies back to London, and Emma, Giles and he have a meeting
with sir … . They manage to decipher a message from the … and learn how Don Pedro
plans to bring his … money to England.
Sir … meets … …, the director of the Tate Gallery, to ask him a few questions about
the cast of the ..., which is … under the hammer at …. in a couple of days. When sir
Alan sees the sculpture, he immediately understands where … has secreted the … …
pounds.
At the … Don Pedro has to … more than he has planned, but he finally gets hold of
the sculpture. He wants to … the moment but to his shock he finds no … in the
sculpture. He shouts at everybody at the … of his voice and threatens to bring the
Clifton-Barrington family to their … . He wants to get … of Sebastian and suggests
that Bruno let Seb go to …. in Bruno’s new … . No doubt, Sebastian rises to the … .
82
General Discussion
1. Harry Clifton’s character sketch (his background, his family, education, friendship
with Giles Barrington, his love for Emma, his relations with his children, his career as
a writer).
2. Emma Barrington’s character sketch (background, education, her degree at Stanford
University, her work on the board of Barrington’s, her love for Harry, her desire to find
Jessica, her relations with her mother, brother and sister, her attitude to Virginia and
Fisher)
3. Giles Barrington’s character sketch (background, his career as a politician, his
marriage to Virginia, his attitude to Fisher, his friendship with Harry, his love for
Sebastian and Jessica).
4. Sebastian’s character sketch (his hyperactivity, his school years, his relations with
his grandmother, Harry, Emma, Giles and Jessica; Sebastian’s meeting with Bruno’s
father and his trip to Buenos Aires).
5. Jessica’s character sketch (her background, the years at the orphanage, her life with
the Cliftons, her love for Sebastian, her talent).
6. Elizabeth Barrington, her relations with her children, her love for Harry, Sebastian
and Jessica, her attitude to Virginia, her last will.
7. Lady Virginia’s character sketch, her marriage to Giles, her role in Giles’ quarrel
with his family, her desire to bring the family to their knees; her relations with Major
Fisher.
8. Don Pedro Martinez, his background, his illegal business, his attempt to make
Sebastian suck into his net.
9. Major Fisher, his relations with the Clifton-Barrington family, his acquaintance with
Virginia.
10. Comment on the title of the novel. Is there only one secret in the novel?
83
11. Describe the episode in the story that stands out in your memory and account for
your choice.
12. Look at the following reviews of “Only Time Will Tell” by J. Archer and write a
short review of “Best Kept Secret”. Make it sound convincing and impressive.
I.
Only Time Will Tell (The Clifton Chronicles #1)
by Jeffrey Archer
From the internationally bestselling author of Kane and Abel and A Prisoner of
Birth comes Only Time Will Tell, the first in an ambitious new series that tells the story of
one family across generations, across oceans, from heartbreak to triumph.
The epic tale of Harry Clifton’s life begins in 1920, with the words “I was told that my father
was killed in the war.” A dock worker in Bristol, Harry never knew his father, but he learns
about life on the docks from his uncle, who expects Harry to join him at the shipyard once
he’s left school. But then an unexpected gift wins him a scholarship to an exclusive boys’
school, and his life will never be the same again.
As he enters into adulthood, Harry finally learns how his father really died, but the awful
truth only leads him to question, was he even his father? Is he the son of Arthur Clifton, a
stevedore who spent his whole life on the docks, or the firstborn son of a scion of West
Country society, whose family owns a shipping line?
This introductory novel in Archer’s ambitious series The Clifton Chronicles includes a cast
of colorful characters and takes us from the ravages of the Great War to the outbreak of the
Second World War, when Harry must decide whether to take up a place at Oxford or join
the navy and go to war with Hitler’s Germany. From the docks of working-class England to
the bustling streets of 1940 New York City, Only Time Will Tell takes readers on a journey
through to future volumes, which will bring to life one hundred years of recent history to
reveal a family story that neither the reader nor Harry Clifton himself could ever have
imagined.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10872085-only-time-will-tell
Jeffrey Archer.
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With his latest, Archer (Honor Among Thieves) delivers another page-turning, heart-
stopping saga, with delightful twists, and a surprise ending. This first title from the Clifton
Chronicles introduces readers to Harry Clifton, a boy growing up in Bristol whose father
mysteriously died a full year before his birth, supposedly killed in WWI. Though Harry
dreams of becoming a stevedore like his Uncle Stan, crazy Old Jack Tar shows Harry the
truths of the stevedore life and becomes his surrogate father. After hearing an angelic treble
voice, Harry decides to join the choir and learns to read. The choir in turn gains him a
scholarship to boys' boarding school St. Bede's—a gateway to the life his mother wants for
him, far from the harbor and shipping industry. He meets scholarly Deakins and wealthy
Giles Barrington, who become his best friends, and the three strive to gain acceptance to
Bristol Grammar School. Though Giles' father has a particular aversion to Harry, the boys'
friendship proves stronger than any paternal dictates. While Archer hasn't revealed how
many books will make up this saga (which will span one hundred years), readers will surely
wait for the next with bated breath.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-312-53955-9
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