Минский Государственный Лингвистический Университет
Практикум по культуре речевого общения

Part II. NON-GUIDED READING

MAKEOVER

Read the short story Makeover by B. Callahan 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.
  1. to take care not to trample smth;
  2. to enroll smth;
  3. to distract smb smth;
  4. to whine one’s heart’s content;
  5. to be the force;
  6. to be adept caning;
  7. an intent smth;
  8. one’s engagement smb;
  9. to ricochete the walls;
  10. to be sallow lack of sunlight.

2. Make up word combinations as they were used in the story.
  • maligned
  • numerical
  • anthropomorphic
  • condolence
  • pitiable
  • peace
  • blurred
  • misery
  • sensational
  • jilted
  • toxicity
  • offering
  • trial
  • card
  • index
  • wife
  • huffing
  • lover
  • descriptions
  • vision

3. Insert the words from the box into the sentences below.
chunk shiver sheepishly svelte grouchy transgression absently wail frumpy divulge
  1. She has dropped two dress sizes, and is now a size 10!
  2. The woman began to – the most awful sounds of grief I have ever heard.
  3. She sat staring out the window.
  4. One shot chipped a large of masonry from a wall behind me.
  5. I'm just in a mood this morning.
  6. She never felt ugly or or overweight before coming here.
  7. During winter they with cold on the damp floor.
  8. In some places, you may be asked to personal information such as an email address.
  9. She smiled and lowered her head.
  10. You will be restored, your forgiven, the disgrace undone.
4. Find the following hyphenated words in the text. What do they mean? Why did the author use them? Make up your own examples using them.

look-alikes
years-ago
no-show
no-no
talking-to
pre-Todd (Mike, John, Steve, etc.)
non-titillating

5. The following words can be used in describing one’s “unattractiveness”. Who used them in the text? Add more words of the kind to your list and use them in the examples of your own.

flab
frumpy
gross
pudgy
sallow
unstylish
cheap

II. Check your understanding of the story.


1. Choose the answer as appropriate.
1. Emily used to work as a waitress before she inherited Aunt Gertrude’s money.

2. The fact that Todd fell in love with someone who looked very much like years-ago Emily made it all seem even worse to her.

3. Lisa agreed to help Emily with her makeover, but not because she wanted her to win back Todd’s love.

4. Emily had expected Todd to be delighted with the progress she was making but he seemed to be very dissatisfied instead.

5. It took more than one session with Miguel to deperm Emily’s hair.

6. Lisa decided to go to Todd’s office to surreptitiously listen to their conversation with Stephanie.

7. Emily intended to involve Mrs. Mitchell, her next-door neighbor into the new revenge plan.

8. Emily had seen to it that her hairdresser could confirm her alibi at the approximate time of Todd’s death.

2. What killed Whiskers, Mrs. Mitchell cat? Who was supposed to suffer the tabby’s fate? Give your reasons.
3. In what situations did the characters of the story use the following words? In what situation would you use them?

Poor baby!
It will never happen again.
Child’s play!
Good girl!
Let’s show some attitude!
It better be soon.
Good grief, woman, are you crazy?

4. Do you believe that Emily actually could win Todd back by emulating Stephanie’s looks? Can a woman save her marriage this way? Give your reasons.
5. Lisa advocated for the so-called “look-alike” pattern. What characters in the story fell into this pattern? Do you believe that we tend to be attracted by look-alikes?
6. Whatever happens happens for something good. Can we apply this assumption to Emily’s Case? Did the whole drama of the story make the woman any happier? Give your reasons.
7. Role play. You are a family therapist invited to Monty Malaise talk-show as an expert guest. Advice the listener what one should do if his or her partner seems to have fallen for someone younger and more beautiful.
8. Role play the dialog between Lisa and Emily where the latter confesses her transgression to Lisa and is granted an absolution.
9. Role play. You are Mrs. Mitchell, Emily and Todd’s neighbor, who is testifying on the trial against Stephanie Nesbit. Tell the jury what you saw on the day of Todd’s death.

III. Follow up activities.

1. Imagine that you are a beauty couch who helps Emily in her makeover. Devise a beautifying program that will make her look as good as she did 13 year ago.
2. Write an article for a men’s magazine under the title How to Motivate Your Overweight Loved One Lose Weight Without Hurting Her Feelings.