Read the required extracts from the book Can You Keep a Secret? by S. Kinsella and do the following tasks.
I. Expand your vocabulary.
1. Insert the missing prepositions. Recall the situations where these word combinations were used. Make up your own examples with the same word combinations.
to go a diet;
to wait just the corner;
to impinge smb’s consciousness;
to swoop smb/smth;
to blurt smth ;
to be penalized smth;
to be full swing;
to tap one’s psyche;
to gape smb;
to be swept one’s feet;
to keep check.
2. Make up word combinations as they were used in the story.
earth-shattering
choking
creative
advance
thrift
highbrow
focus
slightly
target
founding
provision
group
father
shop
panic
secret
affronted
market
vision
book
3. Choose the word that corresponds to the definition.
4. Insert the words from the box into the sentences below. If necessary change the form.
I’ve been non-stop for an hour to this complete stranger.
I peer bewilderedly at the crowded scene, my eyes in the sunshine.
Jack Harper is sitting on a chair at the conference table, something in a notebook.
Some people find it difficult to blue from green.
Every time the plane bumps or jolts, another of words pours randomly out of my mouth.
He looked for a moment, but soon realized the irony of the situation.
When Emma heard her name, a small ran over her.
The whole place is in and I still don’t know what has just happened.
The world has narrowed to me and my mouth is spewing out all my thoughts and secrets.
5. Write out the words from the text that the author uses to describe Emma and her cousin Kerry. Categorize them as follows: traits of character, habits, appearances, clothes. Compare the two lists. What conclusions can you make based on this comparison?
6. What does the author imply by saying “This is like saying Hitler was a tad aggressive”? Explain the meaning of the word tad and make up your own sentences using it.
7. What does the usage of such words as folks, quid, knickers, knackered indicate? Give your examples and their equivalents.
II. Check your understanding of the story.
1. Choose the answer as appropriate. Prove your point of view.
2. Find evidence in the text proving that Emma is not a top-notch specialist in her sphere.
3. In what situations did the characters of the story use the following words? In what situation would you use them?
Doesn’t everybody?
It’s not a miracle cure!
I’m simply a fly on the wall.
You seem very compatible.
I made some advance provisions.
Spot on!
As one business-owner to another.
That’s a good one!
4. The book is called Can You Keep a Secret? Do you believe it complies with this title? Give your reasons.
5. Prove that Emma and Kerry do not really have a good rapport with each other and their family members have no clue about it. Give your explanation.
6. Emma blabbers to Jack that she has never really been in love. Do you believe that Emma and Connor are a good couple? Will she be happy with Jack? Give your reasons.
7. The book tells us a lot about working relationship. What tips would you give to Emma to avoid stress at work?
8. Role play. You are a psychologist, and Emma Corrigan has recently become a client of yours. Give her some advice on her relationship with her cousin Kerry.
9. Role play. You are Emma Corrigan. You have to discuss Great Expectations at your book club meeting.
10. You are Emma Corrigan. Role play a conversation in which you break up with Connor.
III. Follow up activities.
1. You are a journalist and you are writing a short article on flying phobia. Give your readers some tips on how to overcome this fear.
2. You are a journalist writing for Brides. You should write a small article about the upcoming wedding of Emma and Jack. Describe how they met and fell in love.
3. You are a psychologist who participates in a conference. Deliver a speech “What Makes a Perfect Couple”.
