Homework for 200-level classes: Two exercises

Here's the homework this week: a pair of grammar/lexicon exercises. Please bring the answers for B4 through B10 ("Late Delivery") and A22 through A28 ("An Amazing Story") to class during the week of January 30-February 3.

Exercise from Elena Klekovkina, Malcolm Mann, Steve Taylore-Knowles, Practice Tests for the Russian State Exam. Moscow, Macmillan Russia, 2006.

Tracy Chapman, "Give Me One Reason to Stay Here"

The video above shows her performing the song on the television program Saturday Night Live, years before the song became her biggest hit. You can also see the official video of that hit here.

On Tracy Chapman in English, in Russian.

Here's the audio version we used in class.

And this version is by the great blues harpist Junior Wells:


Writer: CHAPMAN, TRACY L

Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Because I don't want leave you lonely
But you got to make me change my mind

Baby I got your number and I know that you got mine
But you know that I called you, I called too many times
You can call me baby, you can call me anytime
But you got to call me

Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Because I don't want leave you lonely
But you got to make me change my mind

I don't want no one to squeeze me, they might take away my life
I don't want no one to squeeze me, they might take away my life
I just want someone to hold me and rock me through the night

This youthful heart can love you and give you what you need
This youthful heart can love you and give you what you need
But I'm too old to go chasing you around
Wasting my precious energy

Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Because I don't want leave you lonely
But you got to make me change my mind

Baby just give me one reason, Give me just one reason why
Baby just give me one reason, Give me just one reason why I should stay
Because I told you that I loved you
And there ain't no more to say

Homework for 200-level courses: Essay on video games

You have 40 minutes to do this task. Please be prepared to read your essay when your class meets during the week of January 16.... Please comment on this statement:

Nowadays, a lot of children play video games. Many parents think these games are violent and affect their children in negative ways. Others disagree and feel that the games can even be beneficial.

What is your opinion? Should children be allowed to play video games or not? If so, under what conditions?

Write 200-250 words using the following plan:

• write an introduction (state the topic)
• express your personal opinion and give reasons for it
• give arguments for the other point of view and explain why you don’t agree with those arguments
• draw a conclusion.

"Stille Nacht" on a different guitar.

Christmas blessings

  to all my dear students and colleagues!!

Here's a wonderful blues guitar version of "Stille Nacht." This Christmas hymn was originally written for guitar, but perhaps not exactly this kind of guitar!

"Stormy Monday"--Eva Cassidy and T-Bone Walker

Eva Cassidy sings her version, recorded in Washington, DC, recorded shortly before her 33rd birthday. She died later that year.



Audio only:

Here's the same song performed by its writer, T-Bone Walker:


T-Bone Walker - Stormy Monday Blues по soulpatrol

Audio only:

Words by Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker, the first musician ever recorded playing an electric guitar.

They call it stormy Monday,
but Tuesday's just as bad
They call it stormy Monday,
but Tuesday's just as bad
Wednesday's worse,
and Thursday's also sad

Yes the eagle flies on Friday,
and Saturday I go out to play
Eagle flies on Friday,
and Saturday I go out to play
Sunday I go to church,
then I kneel down and pray

Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy on me
Lord have mercy,
my heart's in misery
Crazy about my baby,
yes, send her back to me

(Note that Eva Cassidy made a few changes in her version.)

Johnny Cash, "Folsom Prison Blues"

NEXT WEEK (December 29), Institute Groups 501 and 502 (Аудирование) will have a test.

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Audio only:

Words by Johnny Cash:

I hear the train a coming
It's rolling 'round the bend,
And I ain't seen the sunshine,
Since I don't know when,
I'm stuck in Folsom Prison,
And time keeps draggin' on,
But that train keeps a-rollin',
On down to San Antone. [San Antonio, Texas]

When I was just a baby,
My Mama told me, "Son,
Always be a good boy,
Don't ever play with guns."
But I shot a man in Reno,
Just to watch him die,
When I hear that whistle blowin',
I hang my head and cry.

I bet there's rich folks eatin',
In a fancy dining car,
They're probably drinkin' coffee,
And smokin' big cigars,
Well, I know I had it comin',
I know I can't be free,
But those people keep a-movin',
And that's what tortures me.

Well, if they freed me from this prison,
If that railroad train was mine,
I bet I'd move it all a little,
Farther down the line,
Far from Folsom Prison,
That's where I want to stay,
And I'd let that lonesome whistle,
Blow my Blues away.

Institute 501, 502: An interview with Richard Branson

NEXT WEEK (December 29), we will have a test.

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Here are the questions we used in class:

1. Richard Branson is known for starting several companies. Name two of them.
2. Why did people think buying a secondhand plane and starting a new airline was crazy?
3. To help his fledgling airline financially survive combat with British Airways, what was Branson forced to do?
4. Total employees in Branson's group of companies: choose... (a) 10-25,000; (b) 25,001 to 50,000; (c) 50,001 to 75,000; (d) 75,001 to 100,000.
5. Philippe Starcke designed several aspects of Branson's space program, but why was he not the ideal person to design the engine? What was the basis of his design of the launching and landing facility?
6. When Anderson asks, «What was the closest you got to--when did you think this is it, I might be on my way out?»--what kind of situation is he referring to?
7. According to the interviewer, Branson's companies benefited from his balloon adventures in what way?
8. What were some of Branson's characteristics as a pupil in school?
9. What image or metaphor finally helped Branson understand the difference between gross and net?
10. Anderson says that Branson has been accused of being a ruthless businessman. How does Branson respond?
11. What is the problem with capitalism that «capitalist philanthropy» is intended to address?
12. What are two major problems that Branson's capitalist philanthropy is trying to help solve?
13. What Russian-born software engineer did Branson mention as a personal friend?