Text 7. The Condemned Room
1. Read the magazine article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.
Dear Mom,
I am working very hard on cleaning my room. But I want to go to Katy’s this afternoon to work on our Halloween costumes. Can I finish tomorrow? I would get up early and do it before breakfast and I’ll do a good job. Please, write back. Love, The Prisoner in Tower # 3
Dear Prisoner, No.
Love, Mom.
For days Sam’s mother never came up to her room. And then one day Sam would come home from school and find the Condemned sign on her door. Her mother had made the sign. It said: “The room is condemned. Its owner may not go anywhere or do anything until the area is restored”. In other words, Sam was to stay in until she cleaned her room.
It wasn’t fair. She was always getting the Condemned sign. Her brother hardly ever did. And his room was really disgusting, with posters of rock stars and basketball stars and movie stars wearing tiny bikinis covering every inch of his walls. But, her mother pointed out, his floor was clean and his desk as well. That was all she cared about.
Sam had been in her room for three hours now. She sat on the floor, looking at everything she was supposed to be putting away. It was possible she might be there all day. There were her clothes, lying high on her chair and overflowing onto the floor. Dirty shoes. An umbrella from when it rained on Tuesday. Library books. Magazines with pictures of cool teenmovie stars that Rebecca had given her. Her piano music from yesterday’s lesson. And different little things: nail polish remover, cotton balls, a tennisball, a note pad from Katy, rocks from rock collection they were making for science, pencils, chewing gum. And about twelve dirty handkerchiefs.
The thing to do, Sam decided, was sort everything into piles. A pile of dirty laundry, a pile of her dresser drawers, a pile to throw away. That was how her father, the organization man, would do it. She sighed. It was impossible to imagine she couldn’t leave her room all weekend. She decided to paint her finger nails instead.
__________
1 condemned room [kənˈdemd ˈruːm] комната, признанная небезопасной для проживания
2. The author tells us about her brother’s room. Find this extract and read it aloud.
3. What made Sam’s Mum write a message?
4. Is Sam going to clean the room? Why do you think so?
Dear Mom,
I am working very hard on cleaning my room. But I want to go to Katy’s this afternoon to work on our Halloween costumes. Can I finish tomorrow? I would get up early and do it before breakfast and I’ll do a good job. Please, write back. Love, The Prisoner in Tower # 3
Dear Prisoner, No.
Love, Mom.
For days Sam’s mother never came up to her room. And then one day Sam would come home from school and find the Condemned sign on her door. Her mother had made the sign. It said: “The room is condemned. Its owner may not go anywhere or do anything until the area is restored”. In other words, Sam was to stay in until she cleaned her room.
It wasn’t fair. She was always getting the Condemned sign. Her brother hardly ever did. And his room was really disgusting, with posters of rock stars and basketball stars and movie stars wearing tiny bikinis covering every inch of his walls. But, her mother pointed out, his floor was clean and his desk as well. That was all she cared about.
Sam had been in her room for three hours now. She sat on the floor, looking at everything she was supposed to be putting away. It was possible she might be there all day. There were her clothes, lying high on her chair and overflowing onto the floor. Dirty shoes. An umbrella from when it rained on Tuesday. Library books. Magazines with pictures of cool teenmovie stars that Rebecca had given her. Her piano music from yesterday’s lesson. And different little things: nail polish remover, cotton balls, a tennisball, a note pad from Katy, rocks from rock collection they were making for science, pencils, chewing gum. And about twelve dirty handkerchiefs.
The thing to do, Sam decided, was sort everything into piles. A pile of dirty laundry, a pile of her dresser drawers, a pile to throw away. That was how her father, the organization man, would do it. She sighed. It was impossible to imagine she couldn’t leave her room all weekend. She decided to paint her finger nails instead.
__________
1 condemned room [kənˈdemd ˈruːm] комната, признанная небезопасной для проживания
2. The author tells us about her brother’s room. Find this extract and read it aloud.
3. What made Sam’s Mum write a message?
4. Is Sam going to clean the room? Why do you think so?
II. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions below.
1. Where was Tina going?
2. What happened at the airport?
3. Why was Tina scared during the flight?
1. Where was Tina going?
2. What happened at the airport?
3. Why was Tina scared during the flight?
III. Let’s talk about art.
Sample answers
Card 7. Let’s talk about art
1. Our country is world famous thanks to its artists, composers, etc. Tell me about some of them.
You are right. Belarus is a talented nation.
Our country is famous thanks to its writers and poets, musicians and artists. One of the most famous painters is Mark Chagall. He is a brilliant representative of the 20th century avant-garde with his unique style.
Chagall was born in 1887 in Vitebsk, but he painted his best pictures in Paris. It was in Paris where his "I and the village" appeared. His first one-person exhibition was in 1914 in Berlin. It was a success and Chagall became famous.
There are several museums of Mark Chagall in France. His works are in the biggest art galleries of the world. The first exhibition of paintings by Marc Chagall in Belarus was held in 1997.
As for me, I enjoy Chagall’s pictures. They are a mixture of strong colours with fantasy and religion.
2. Is graffiti a form of art or an act of vandalism?
To the artists it is a form of street art. But if it is done without permission it is vandalism. It damages private or public property.
3. What questions will you ask a British teenager who has recently taken part in a graffiti exhibition?
When and where did the exhibition take place?
Did any famous artists take part in it?
Who is the most popular graffiti artist nowadays?
Why did you decide to take part in the exhibition?
Did you take any photos?
4. Give me a piece of advice on what architectural monuments are worth visiting in Belarus.
Belarus is called the land of castles. So I would recommend you to visit Mir Castle and Nesvizh Palace first of all. When in Gomel, visit Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace. If you want to enjoy modern architecture, visit the National Library in Minsk.
5. Are you interested in video blogs? Why or why not?
Yes, I am interested in video blogs. I find it interesting to know other people's opinion on different issues or just watch about other people's lives.
1. Our country is world famous thanks to its artists, composers, etc. Tell me about some of them.
You are right. Belarus is a talented nation.
Our country is famous thanks to its writers and poets, musicians and artists. One of the most famous painters is Mark Chagall. He is a brilliant representative of the 20th century avant-garde with his unique style.
Chagall was born in 1887 in Vitebsk, but he painted his best pictures in Paris. It was in Paris where his "I and the village" appeared. His first one-person exhibition was in 1914 in Berlin. It was a success and Chagall became famous.
There are several museums of Mark Chagall in France. His works are in the biggest art galleries of the world. The first exhibition of paintings by Marc Chagall in Belarus was held in 1997.
As for me, I enjoy Chagall’s pictures. They are a mixture of strong colours with fantasy and religion.
2. Is graffiti a form of art or an act of vandalism?
To the artists it is a form of street art. But if it is done without permission it is vandalism. It damages private or public property.
3. What questions will you ask a British teenager who has recently taken part in a graffiti exhibition?
When and where did the exhibition take place?
Did any famous artists take part in it?
Who is the most popular graffiti artist nowadays?
Why did you decide to take part in the exhibition?
Did you take any photos?
4. Give me a piece of advice on what architectural monuments are worth visiting in Belarus.
Belarus is called the land of castles. So I would recommend you to visit Mir Castle and Nesvizh Palace first of all. When in Gomel, visit Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace. If you want to enjoy modern architecture, visit the National Library in Minsk.
5. Are you interested in video blogs? Why or why not?
Yes, I am interested in video blogs. I find it interesting to know other people's opinion on different issues or just watch about other people's lives.