Exercise 5. Fill in the gaps using one of the following words or phrases in the correct form.

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Exercise 5. Fill in the gaps using one of the following words or phrases in the correct form.

comb / frighten / stairs / cut off / flash / curl / throw / proud

1. The expression on his face                 her.

2. She was                   of her beautiful long hair.

3. After half an hour, her head was covered in small               .

4. She went down the                  to the street.

5. She had wanted for so long to have these beautiful hair              .

6. The platinum watch-chain                 in the light.

7. He                _ the package on the table.

8. The woman began to                  her long hair.

Exercise 6. Use the following phrases in sentences of your own.

to be in prison, to steal money from a bank, an amusing story, to save money, to be proud of, to run up the stairs, to curl one’s hair, to whisper to oneself, to tear at the string and paper, hysterical tears, to take a package from one’s pocket, to throw something on the table

Exercise 8. Read the text.

The Gift

(after O. Henry)

О. Henry, whose real name was William Sydney Porter, was an American short- story writer. His stories are still popular today. He was born in 1862 in a small provincial town. In his early years he tried many jobs, among which were several literary ones¹.

O. Henry’s first story was published in 1899, when the writer was in prison on a false charge² of stealing money from a bank. After he came out of prison, O. Henry became a professional writer.

O. Henry describes the life of the “little people”: clerks, shop assistants and farm workers. His stories are mainly humourous and amusing, with the traditional happy end. Through the gaiety and humour of his stories, however, the hard life of the poor can be seen.

O. Henry died in 1910.

One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. Three times Della counted it. And tomorrow was Christmas. She sat down on the sofa and burst into tears³. She had saved every penny⁴ for months and this was the result. Twenty dollars a week doesn’t go far⁵. Only $1.87 to buy a present for Jim. Her Jim. She had spent hours planning to buy something nice for him.

She went to the mirror and let down her hair⁶. She let it fall to its full length; below her knees.

There were two possessions⁷ of which the Dillinghams were very proud. One was Jim’s gold watch, which had been his grandfather’s. The other was Della’s hair.

She put her hair up again nervously and cried a little again. Then she put on her old brown jacket, her old brown hat and went down the stairs to the street.

She stopped at a sign which read⁸: “Madame Sofronie. Hair Goods⁹ of all Kinds.” She ran up the stairs.

“Will you buy my hair?” asked Della. “Take your hat off,” said Madame Sofronie, “and let me look at it.”

She let her hair down. “Twenty dollars,” said Madame.

“Give it to me quickly,” said Della and the woman began to cut off Della’s beautiful long hair.

For the next two hours Della searched for a present for Jim. Then she found it. It was a platinum chain for Jim’s watch. As soon as she saw it, she knew it was right for Jim. It was just like him. Quiet and valuable. It cost $21.

When Della got home, she started to curl her hair. After half an hour, her head was covered in small curls.

At seven o’clock the front door opened and Jim came in. Della whispered to herself, “Please God, make him think I am still pretty.” Jim looked thin and serious. Poor Jim! He was only twenty-two! His eyes fixed upon Della and there

was an expression on his face which frightened her.

“Jim, darling, don’t look at me like that. My hair will grow again. I cut it off and sold it because I wanted to buy you a present. I’ve got a beautiful present for you.”

“You’ve cut off your hair,” said Jim slowly. “Yes, but I’m still me without my hair, aren’t I?”

“Your hair is gone¹⁰,” he said again, almost like an idiot. He took a package from his coat pocket and threw it on the table. Della tore at the string and paper. First, an ecstatic¹¹ scream. Then, hysterical tears.

For¹² there lay the combs – the set of beautiful hair combs which she had wanted for so long. She knew they were expensive. She hugged them closely¹³ and said, “My hair grows very fast, Jim.” Then she jumped up and gave him her present. The platinum watch-chain flashed in the light.

“Isn’t it beautiful, Jim? Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it.” Jim sat down on the sofa and smiled. “Dell,” he said, “let’s put our

Christmas presents away and keep them for a while¹⁴. They’re too nice to use at present¹⁵. I sold the watch to buy your combs. Now let’s have supper.”

READING COMPREHENSION

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