Read the short story Simply Divine by W. Holden and do the following tasks.
I. Expand your vocabulary.
1. Insert the missing prepositions. Recall the situations from the story where these word combinations were used. Make up your own examples with the same word combinations.
to pin the exact moment;
to throw oneself smb;
to hold for Mr. Right;
to squander time and money smth;
to keep smb’s standards;
to have a grudge smb;
to be intimate terms smb;
to get smb’s feet;
to strike a chord the public;
to have the stomach another party girl;
to hold smb ;
to bow the inevitable;
to mash the rock;
to poke the desk;
to go smb’s word;
2. Make up word combinations as they were used in the story.
obvious
stately
social
minute
glossy
sarcastic
imperious
successive
snappy
financial
tones
disasters
dresser
breed
conviction
amount
home
inferiority
magazine
generations
3. Match the following phrases with their definitions. Find the episodes in which they were used. Make up your own sentences with these word combinations.
to take to smth
to have much going for smb
to be grand
to plight smb’s troth
to be courted by smb
to run well into six figures
to pull smb’s weight
to take zero notice
to play smb’s trump card
to have a blast
to bite the bullets
to be in demand
to be far from home and dry
to see smth coming
to show no signs of interest;
to use one’s most powerful or effective strategy or device;
to become engaged to marry;
to begin or fall into the habit of;
to spend a good time;
to be prepared for an event, typically an unpleasant one;
to possess many talents;
to earn millions;
to do one’s share in a common task;
to be socially superior;
to decide to do something difficult or unpleasant that one has been putting off or hesitating over;
not to be safe or successful;
to be sought after;
to be in the position when smb is trying to gain the favor from you by attention or flattery.
4. Insert the words from the box into the sentences below. If necessary change the form of the word.
Her face was devoid of any expression, nothing marred its perfect .
The range forms a barrier between Europe and Asia.
He is very hard to live with, and that’s the of the year.
His proposals already by the Prime Minister.
The models down the catwalk.
Stop – you got yourself into this mess!
The murderer was while delivering his speech in court.
They decided to live together so that it would be easier to pay the .
Mark is always making these crude remarks, he is so .
After the plane took off I felt for a few moments, but then it got better.
His goodness is , though his leadership capacity raises doubts.
The little brother, Willy, was a beautiful, affectionate child, but in consequence of management, very badly spoiled.
Public opinion, though variable, tends to the .
Perhaps I was expected with some remark of my own.
5. Find in the extracts under consideration examples of wordplay such as “…it wasn’t with all the brio she could muster”. What effect do these phrases produce? Consult the dictionary to find out their meanings. Use them in the sentences of your own.
II. Check your understanding of the story.
1. Choose the answer as appropriate.
2. In what situations did the characters of the story use the following words? When would you use them?
If there’s no beginning to her talents, there’s certainly no end to her demands.
Snobbery is merely an acute awareness of the niceties of social distinction.
It was like a blow upon a bruise.
Fat chance.
I might get more information out of a waxwork.
I’m just not an outdoor type of girl.
Unbelievable was the word.
3. Find evidence in the text proving that Jane’s decision to move in with Nick was caused by her desire to get a marriage proposal. Why was Jane concerned about her relationships with men?
4. Do you believe that the interview in Hello! magazine was Champagne’s doing? Give your reasons. Compare it with her previous statements.
5. The novel is written in a sarcastic manner. What contributes to this effect? Provide examples to support your answer.
6. What image of a typical model does the author create? Find words and word combinations that are used to describe Champagne. Do you share the author’s attitude to celebrities or find it too biased?
7. Jane is offered a job at Fabulous, the main rival of the magazine she is currently working for. Do you think that she will jump at the chance? What are the pros and cons of her getting a new job?
8. Dwell on the following: why are both the public and the media so obsessed with the likes of Champagne? What does it say about modern society on the whole?
9. Role play. You’re a psychologist and Jane has recently become a patient of yours. Give her advice on how to handle stress caused by her work and how to deal with her being unsatisfied with her private life.
10. Role play. You’re Champagne D’Vyne giving an interview for Vanity Fair. You’re talking about the challenges of being a supermodel, starting a career as an actress and your leading role in the upcoming movie.
III. Follow up activities.
1. Imagine that you’re Tally and you have to write a letter to the restoration committee in order to get a grant for your family house. The committee gets hundreds of such inquires so you have to come up with sound reasons for them to choose you.
2. Put yourself in Jane’s shoes and write a column entry about a day in the life of Champagne D’Vyne.
3. You’re a manager of one of the PR agencies and you have to work closely with celebrities every day. Come up with a few tips on how to behave around them.
