Mary Poppins / Мэри Поппинс. Книга для чтения на английском языке

1. EAST WIND

This is a book about a family who lives at Number Seventeen in Cherry-Tree Lane¹. The family consists of Mr. Banks, Mrs. Banks and their four children: Jane, who is the eldest, Michael², who is the second, and the Twins John and Barbara³, who are the youngest. They have Mrs. Brill, who cooks for them, and Ellen, who lays the table⁴ for breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper.

They also had a nurse, who took care of the children, but she has just left the house.

“What shall I do without a nurse?” said Mrs. Banks.

“Write into the newspaper,” said Mr. Banks, “and say that you want a very good nurse for Jane and Michael and John and Barbara Banks. And then wait, and the nurses will come. Oh, I must go to the City. How cold it is today! The East Wind is blowing. I must put on two overcoats.” And Mr. Banks kissed his wife on the side of her nose, waved his hand⁵ to the children, and went to the City.

Mr. Banks went to the City every day except Sundays. In the City he sat on a large chair in front of a large desk and made money.

Mrs. Banks went into the drawing-room and wrote letters to the newspapers. In the letters she asked to send her a nurse at once⁶ because she was waiting. Upstairs, in the Nursery, Jane and Michael stood at the window and looked into the street. They were waiting for the nurse.

In the evening Jane and Michael stood at the window again. They were waiting for Mr. Banks to come from the City. The strong East Wind was blowing, and the trees were bending. It was already dark.

“There he is!⁷” said Michael.

“That is not Daddy,” said Jane. “It is somebody else.”

And really it was not Mr. Banks. It was a woman. She was holding her hat with one hand and was carrying a bag in the other. And then something curious happened. When the woman opened the gate of the garden, the East Wind caught her and carried her quickly to the door of the house.

“How funny!” said Michael.

“Let’s go and see who it is!” said Jane. The children went out of the Nursery to the landing. They looked down into the hall.

The door of the drawing-room opened, and their Mother came out with the visitor. The woman had very black hair, large feet and hands and small blue eyes.

“They are very good children,” said Mrs. Banks. The woman did not answer. She only sniffed.⁸

“The Nursery is upstairs,” said Mrs. Banks. She went upstairs, and the woman followed her. And at that time Jane and Michael saw another curious thing. The woman did not go upstairs. She slid up the banisters!⁹ Jane and Michael could slide down the banisters and often did it, but slide upstairs – no! They could not do that! They were looking at their new nurse with great surprise.

“Children,” said Mrs. Banks, “this is your new nurse, Mary Poppins. Jane, Michael, say how do you do!” Mrs. Banks turned to Mary Poppins. “And these are the Twins,” she said to her and pointed to the babies in their cots.

Mary Poppins looked at the babies, then looked at Jane and Michael. Then she sniffed loudly.

“All right,” she said, “I’ll stay with you.”

Mrs. Banks left the Nursery. Mary Poppins was standing in the middle of the room. Jane and Michael went up to her.

“How did you come?” asked Jane. “Did the Wind blow you here?¹⁰”

“Yes, it did,” said Mary Poppins and took off her hat. Then she opened her bag. And again Jane and Michael were very surprised, because the bag was empty!

“Why¹¹,” said Jane, “there is nothing in the bag!”

Mary Poppins looked at her. “Did you say ‘nothing’?”

And then she took out of the empty bag an apron and tied it round her waist¹². Then she took out a piece of soap, a toothbrush, a bottle of scent, and a small folding armchair¹³.

“But I saw,” whispered Michael. “It was empty.”

Mary Poppins turned to the children.

“Now,” she said, “quick! Into bed!”

In a minute she undressed them and put them into bed.

Jane and Michael were sitting in their beds and watching how Mary Poppins was unpacking her bag.

She took out of the bag ten night-shirts, a pair of boots, a box of dominoes, two caps. Then she took out a folding bed with pillows and blankets and put it on the floor between John’s and Barbara’s cots.

“Mary Poppins,” said Michael, “will you never leave us?” Mary Poppins looked at him.

“One more word from you,” she said, “and I’ll call the Policeman.”

“I only want to ask,” said Michael, “we hope you won’t go away soon?”

Mary Poppins sniffed.

“I’ll stay till the Wind changes¹⁴,” she said. Then she turned off the light¹⁵ and got into bed.

And that is how Mary Poppins came to live at Number Seventeen, Cherry-Tree Lane.

EXERCISES

1. Practice the pronunciation of the following words.

2. Agree or disagree.

1. The family consists of Mr. Banks, Mrs. Banks and their three children.

2. Mr. Banks went to the City every day except Sundays.

3. Mrs. Banks went into the drawing-room and read a book.

4. Upstairs in the Nursery, Jane and Michael stood at the window and looked into the street.

5. When the woman opened the gate of the garden, she quickly walked to the door of the house.

6. The children went out of the Nursery to the corridor.

7. The woman had blond hair, small feet and hands, and large blue eyes.

8. Mrs. Banks went upstairs, and the woman followed her.

9. Jane and Michael could slide up the banisters and often did it.

10. She took out of the empty bag an apron and tied it round her waist.

3. Put the following sentences in the right order.

1. Mary Poppins took many things out of the empty bag.

2. Then she turned off the light and got into bed.

3. Mr. and Mrs. Banks and their four children lived at Number Seventeen in Cherry-Tree Lane.

4. In the evening a strong East Wind was blowing, and the trees were bending.

5. “Children,” said Mrs. Banks, “this is your new Nurse, Mary Poppins.”

6. One day their nurse left the house.

7. “I’ll stay till the Wind changes,” said Mary Poppins.

8. A woman came up to the gate of their house.

9. Mr. Banks went to the City every day except Sundays.

10. “Mary Poppins,” said Michael, “will you never leave us?”

11. When the woman opened the gate, the East Wind caught her and carried her quickly to the door of the house.

12. Mrs. Banks wrote letters to the newspapers, asking to send a nurse for the children.

13. The children went out of the Nursery to the landing and looked down into the hall.

14. The children remained at home with Mrs. Banks and the nurse.

15. Mrs. Banks went upstairs, and the woman followed her.

4. Fill in the blanks with the following words:

consists, lays, care, blowing, money, drawing-room, waiting, bending, curious, surprise, unpacking

1. And then something ________ happened.

2. Jane and Michael were sitting in their beds and watching how Mary Poppins was ________ her bag.

3. They also had a nurse, who took ________ of the children, but she has just left the house.

4. In the City he sat on a large chair in front of a large desk, and made ________ .

5. The family ________ of Mr. Banks, Mrs. Banks, and their four children.

6. They were ________ for Mr. Banks to come from the City.

7. They were looking at their new nurse with great ________ .

8. They have Mrs. Brill, who cooks for them, and Ellen, who ________ the table for breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper.

9. Mrs. Banks went into the ________ and wrote letters to the newspapers.

10. The strong East Wind was blowing, and the trees were ________ .

11. How cold it is today! The East Wind is ____.

5. Fill in the blanks with prepositions or adverbs where necessary.

1. This is a book ___ a family who lives ___ Number Seventeen in Cherry-Tree Lane.

2. The family consists ___ Mr. Banks, Mrs. Banks, and their four children.

3. They have Mrs. Brill, who cooks ___ them, and Ellen, who lays the table ___ breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper.

4. They also had a nurse, who took care ___ the children.

5. “What shall I do ___ a nurse?” said Mrs. Banks.

6. I must put ___ two overcoats.

7. Mr. Banks kissed his wife ___ the side ___ her nose, waved his hand ___ the children, and went ___ the City.

8. ___ the City Mr. Banks sat ___ a large chair ___ front ___ a large desk, and made money.

9. Upstairs, ___ the Nursery, Jane and Michael stood ___ the window and looked ___ the street. They were waiting ___ the nurse.

10. She was holding her hat ___ one hand and was carrying a bag ___ the other.

11. They were looking ___ their new nurse ___ great surprise.

12. And then she took ___ ___ the empty bag an apron and tied it ___ her waist.

13. Then she turned ___ the light and got ___ bed.

6. Find in the text the sentences in which the following word-combinations are used. Use them in sentences of your own.

At once; with great surprise; lays the table; turned off the light; took care of; consists of; were waiting for.

7. Find in the text the English equivalents of the following word, word-combinations and sentences. Use them in sentences of your own.

Самый старший; близнецы; накрывает стол к завтраку; что мне делать? как холодно сегодня! я должен надеть пальто; каждый день кроме воскресенья; наверху; детская; они ждали няню; кто-то другой; калитка; пойдем посмотрим! лестничная площадка; гостиная; прихожая; женщина последовала за ней; перила; с большим удивлением; я останусь у вас; сняла шляпу; кусок мыла; зубная щетка; ночная рубашка; пара сапог; подушки и одеяла.

8. Who said the following words? Under what circumstances?

1. One more word from you, and I’ll call the Policeman.

2. What shall I do without a nurse?

3. Let’s go and see who it is.

4. I’ll stay till the Wind changes.

5. They are very good children.

6. Why, there is nothing in the bag!

7. Write into the newspapers and say that you want a very good nurse.

8. That is not Daddy. It is somebody else.

9. How did you come? Did the Wind blow you here?

10. How cold it is today! I must put on two overcoats.

9. Act out the following conversations.

1. Mrs. Banks and Mr. Banks, about a nurse.

2. Michael and Jane, at the window, when they saw Mary Poppins.

3. Mrs. Banks and Mary Poppins.

4. Mary Poppins and the children.

10. Answer the following questions.

1. How many people did the family consist of? Who were these people?

2. What did Mrs. Brill and Ellen do for the family?

3. What did Mr. Banks advise his wife to do in order to find a nurse?

4. Where did Mr. Banks work? Did he go to the City every day?

5. What was the weather like that morning? How do we know that it was very cold?

6. When Mr. Banks went to the City, the children went upstairs to the Nursery, didn’t they? What did they do in the Nursery?

7. Why did Michael and Jane stand at the window in the evening? Whom were they waiting for?

8. Who came up to the gate of the garden when the chil-dren were looking out of the window? Why was the woman hoding her hat with one hand?

9. What curious thing happened when the woman opened the gate of the garden?

10. Why did the children go out of the Nursery to the land-ing?

11. Whom did the children see when the door of the draw-ing-room opened? Describe the visitor.

12. What did Mrs. Banks say to the woman about the chil-dren? Did the woman answer? What did she do?

13. What greatly surprised the children when the woman followed Mrs. Banks upstairs?

14. What did Jane ask Mary Poppins when Mrs. Banks left the Nursery?

15. What surprised Jane and Michael when Mary Poppins opened her bag?

16. What did Mary Poppins take out of her bag?

2. LAUGHING GAS

Jane, Michael and Mary Poppins got off the Bus. “Are you sure your Uncle is at home?” said Jane.

Mary Poppins sniffed.

“My Uncle has asked me to bring you to tea today,” she said. “Do you think he is not at home?”

“Why is your Uncle called Mr. Wigg?” asked Michael. “Is it because he has a wig¹⁶ on his head?”

“He has no wig,” said Mary Poppins. “And he is called Mr. Wigg because his name is Mr. Wigg. And if you ask any more questions, we will go Back Home.”

Mary Poppins put her hat straight¹⁷ before a shop window. She liked to look at herself in shop windows¹⁸. Today she was wearing a blue coat with silver buttons and a blue hat. She thought that she looked very smart.

“Come along¹⁹,” she said. They turned the corner and went up to Number Three, Robertson Road. Mary Poppins rang the door bell.

The door opened, and they saw a very thin lady.

“Is he at home?” said Michael.

“How do you do, Mrs. Wigg,” said Jane politely.

“Mrs. Wigg!” said the thin lady angrily. Her voice was even thinner than she herself. “How can you call me Mrs. Wigg? No, thank you! I am Miss Persimmon²⁰ and I am proud of it! Mrs. Wigg, indeed! Go upstairs and to the first door on the landing.” And she went away along the corridor.

Jane, Michael and Mary Poppins went upstairs. Mary Poppins knocked at the door.

“Come in! Come in! And welcome²¹!” said a loud and merry voice from the room.

Mary Poppins opened the door, and they went in. They saw a large room. There was a bright fire in the fireplace, and in the centre of the room there was a very large table with four cups, bread and butter, biscuits, chocolates and a very large cake.

“I am very glad to see you,” said a voice. Jane and Michael looked round the room, but saw nobody. Then they saw that Mary Poppins was looking at the ceiling. They looked at the ceiling, too, and to their surprise²² they saw a round, fat man, who was hanging in the air.

Mr. Wigg smiled at the children. “My dear,” he said to Mary Poppins, “it is my Birthday today.”

“Oh,” said Mary Poppins.

Mr. Wigg looked at the children again.

“I see you are surprised,” he said. “I think I must explain to you why I am here. You see, I am a very merry man and like to laugh very much. Everything seems funny to me. And I can laugh at everything that I see.”

And Mr. Wigg began to shake with laughter²³.

“Uncle Albert!” said Mary Poppins, and Mr. Wigg stopped laughing.

“Oh, I am sorry, my dear,” he said to Mary Poppins. “I won’t laugh – if I can.” He turned to the children. “You see,” he said, “when my birthday comes on Friday, it always happens to me.”

“But why —” began Jane.

“But how —” began Michael.

“If my birthday comes on Friday and I laugh on that day, I become filled with Laughing Gas²⁴. The Laughing Gas is very light, and when it fills me²⁵ I simply cannot stand on the ground. As soon as²⁶ I begin laughing, or even smiling, I fly up like a balloon. And I can get down only if I think about something serious.” Mr. Wigg began laughing again, but then he looked at Mary Poppins and stopped.

“It is strange, of course,” he said, “but very pleasant. Does it ever happen to you?²⁷ ” he asked Jane and Michael.

Jane and Michael shook their heads.

“One day,” said Mr. Wigg, “I went to the Circus and I laughed so much that I flew up to the ceiling and could not get down until midnight, and then, of course, at twelve o’clock I suddenly fell down. Because, you see, it was already Saturday and not my birthday. It’s strange, isn’t it? And funny, isn’t it? And now it is Friday again and my birthday, and you two and Mary have come to visit me, and it is very nice. Oh, don’t make me laugh²⁸, please, don’t make me laugh —”

And Mr. Wigg began laughing and shaking under the ceiling again, and could not stop.

He looked so funny, that Jane and Michael began laughing, too. They wanted to be polite and tried not to laugh, but they could do nothing. They laughed more and more, and soon they fell down and were rolling and rolling on the floor, and could not stop laughing.

“Really!” said Mary Poppins. “Really, such behaviour!”

“I can’t help it²⁹, I can’t help it,” cried Michael, and he was still rolling on the floor. “It is so funny. Oh, Jane, isn’t it funny?”

Then a very strange thing happened. Jane and Michael became very light and flew up in the air! The next moment they were hanging under the ceiling near Mr. Wigg.

“Hello!” said Mr. Wigg. “It’s very nice of you. You saw that I could not come down to you, so you came up to me!

It’s really very, very nice of you.” And all the three of them began laughing again.

“I say,” said Mr. Wigg to the children when they stopped laughing, “there are no chairs here, but I think you can sit on the air. Look at me, I am sitting.”

And indeed, Mr. Wigg was sitting on the air. Jane and Michael tried to sit down, too, and found that they also could sit on the air and that it was very comfortable.

Mr. Wigg looked down at Mary Poppins. “I see you don’t like it, my dear,” he said. “I am very sorry. But you see that I can’t help it.”

Mary Poppins looked very serious. “Well, I must say,” she said, “I have never seen such a sight³⁰. And at your age³¹, Uncle —”

“Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins, come up here!” said Michael. “Think of something funny and come up here.”

“Come, Mary Poppins, come up here,” said Jane. “Please come up here! Think of something funny!”

“Oh, she can do it even if she does not think of funny things,” said Mr. Wigg.

“Well, it is all very silly,” said Mary Poppins. “But I see that you cannot come down.”

And to the great surprise of Jane and Michael, she put her hands down at her sides and without a laugh, without even a smile, she flew up through the air and sat down near Jane.

“That’s right, Mary,” said Mr. Wigg. “Now we can have tea. Oh! I didn’t think of it! We are here and the table is down there on the floor. Quick! We must think of something serious. Something sad, very sad, and then we shall get down.”

They began thinking. They thought and thought, but could not think of anything serious.

“Mary,” said Mr. Wigg, “can’t you do something? We want our tea.”

Jane and Michael could not believe their eyes. The table, with the cups, and bread and butter, and biscuits and chocolates and cake, flew up through the air and stopped near them. Now they were sitting round the table!

“Good girl!” said Mr. Wigg. He smiled. “Usually people begin with bread and butter,” he said to Jane and Michael. “But it is my birthday today. Let’s begin with the Cake!”

And he cut a large piece of cake for everybody.

And they had very nice tea with cake, biscuits and chocolates, and talked and laughed all the time.

“IT IS TIME TO GO HOME.” It was Mary Poppins’s voice. It was the first sad thought³² of the afternoon, and suddenly the Laughing Gas went out of them, and they came down on the floor.

“Well, it’s a pity that it is time for you to go home,” said Mr. Wigg. “It was a very pleasant afternoon, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, very pleasant,” said Michael sadly.

“Very, very pleasant,” said Jane and kissed Mr. Wigg’s cheek. “We shall never forget it.”

EXERCISES

1. Practice the pronunciation of the following words.

2. Agree or disagree.

1. Mary Poppins put her hat straight before a shop window.

2. Today she was wearing a brown coat with black buttons and a grey hat.

3. The door opened, and they saw a very fat lady.

4. Jane, Michael and Mary Poppins went upstairs.

5. There was a bright fire in the fireplace, and in the centre of the room there was a small table with flowers in a beautiful vase.

6. Jane and Michael looked round the room and saw a round fat man in the corner.

7. They wanted to be polite and tried not to laugh, but they could do nothing.

8. Then a very strange thing happened. Jane and Michael became very heavy and fell on the floor.

9. Mary Poppins put her hands down at her sides and, laughing merrily, she flew up through the air and sat down near Jane.

10. And they had very nice dinner with soup, meat and fruits, and talked and laughed all the time.

3. Put the following sentences in the right order.

1. The table, with the cups and bread and butter, and biscuits and chocolates and cake, flew up through the air and stopped near them.

2. It was the first sad thought of the afternoon, and suddenly the Laughing Gas went out of them, and they came down on the floor.

3. Mr. Wigg smiled at the children. “My dear,” he said to Mary Poppins, “it’s my Birthday today.”

4. Jane, Michael and Mary Poppins went upstairs. Mary Poppins knocked at the door.

5. “It is time to go home.” It was Mary Poppins’s voice.

6. Jane and Michael became very light and flew up in the air.

7. He looked so funny, that Jane and Michael began laughing, too.

8. And they had very nice tea with cake, biscuits and chocolates, and talked and laughed all the time.

9. There was a bright fire in the fireplace, and in the centre of the room there was a very large table with four cups, bread and butter, biscuits, chocolates and a very large cake.

10. If my Birthday comes on Friday and I laugh on that day, I become filled with Laughing Gas.

11. “Come in! Come in! And welcome!” said a loud and merry voice from the room.

12. “Hullo,” said Mr. Wigg. “It’s very nice of you. You saw that I could not come down to you, so you came up to me.”

4. Fill in the blanks with the following words:

bring, smart, thin, merry, serious, ceiling, hanging, air, surprise, laughed.

1. I can get down only if I think about something ______.

2. The next moment they were ________ under the ceiling near Mr. Wigg.

3. To the great ________ of Jane and Michael, she put her hands down at her sides and flew up through the air and sat down near Jane.

4. “My Uncle has asked me to ________ you to tea today,” she said.

5. The door opened, and they saw a very _____ lady.

6. They had very nice tea with cake, biscuits and chocolates, and talked and ________ all the time.

7. One day I went to the circus and I laughed so much that I flew up to the ________ and could not get down until midnight.

8. She thought that she looked very ________ .

9. “I say,” said Mr. Wigg to the children, “there are no chairs here, but I think you can sit on the ________ .

10. “Come in! Come in! And welcome!” said a loud and ________ voice from the room.

5. Fill in the blanks with prepositions or adverbs where necessary.

1. Jane, Michael and Mary Poppins got ___ the bus.

2. She liked to look ___ herself ___ shop windows.

3. Go upstairs and ___ the first door ___ the landing.

4. Mary Poppins knocked ___ the door.

5. There was a bright fire ___ the fireplace, and ___ the centre ___ the room there was a very large table ___ four cups, bread and butter, biscuits, chocolates and a very large cake.

6. They looked ___ the ceiling, and ___ their surprise they saw a round, fat man, who was hanging ___ the air.

7. I think I must explain ___ you why I am here.

8. Everything seems funny ___ me.

9. I can laugh ___ everything that I see.

10. And Mr. Wigg began to shake ___ laughter.

11. You see, when my Birthday comes ___ Friday, it always happens ___ me.

12. If my Birthday comes ___ Friday and I laugh ___ that day, I become filled ___ Laughing Gas.

13. And ___ the great surprise ___ Jane and Michael, she put her hands down ___ her sides, and ___ a laugh, ___ even a smile, she flew up ___ the air and sat down ___ Jane.

14. Usually people begin ___ bread and butter.

15. And he cut a large piece ___ cake ___ everybody.

6. Find in the text the sentences in which the following word-combinations are used. Use them in sentences of your own.

As soon as; began to shake with laughter; come along; turned the corner; it’s very nice of you; don’t make me laugh; to their surprise; stopped laughing.

7. Find in the text the English equivalents of the following words, word-combinations and sentences. Use them in sentences of your own.

Сошли с автобуса; вы уверены? привести вас к чаю; его зовут мистер Уигг; они повернули за угол; Мэри Поппинс позвонила в дверной звонок; вежливый; даже; я горжусь этим; в этот день; конечно; приятно; странно; поведение; я очень сожалею; пора идти домой.

8. Who said the following words? Under what circumstances?

1. Are you sure your Uncle is at home?

2. How can you call me Mrs. Wigg?

3. How do you do, Mrs. Wigg.

4. I have never seen such a sight.

5. We must think of something serious.

6. It was a very pleasant afternoon, wasn’t it?

7. I see you don’t like it. I am very sorry. But you see that I can’t help it.

8. Think of something funny and come up here.

9. Is it because he has a wig on his head?

10. It is time to go home.

9. Act out the following conversations.

1. Michael, Jane, Mary Poppins, Miss Persimmon, from the beginning of the episode up to “… Go upstairs and to the first door on the landing.”

2. Mr. Wigg and Mary Poppins, from the moment they entered the room, up to “… I won’t laugh – if I can.”

3. Mr. Wigg, Jane, Michael, Mary Poppins, when they asked Mary Poppins to come up to them, from “I see you don’t like it, my dear…” up to “… But I see that you cannot come down.”

10. Answer the following questions.

1. Whom did Michael, Jane and Mary Poppins go to see one day?

2. What question did Michael ask Mary Poppins about her Uncle’s name? What did Mary Poppins answer?

3. What did Mary Poppins use for a mirror to put her hat straight? What did she like to do when she was walking along the street?

4. What was Mary Poppins wearing that day? How did she think she looked?

5. Who opened the door when they rang the bell? How did Miss Persimmon look? What kind of voice did she have? Why was she angry? How did she show that she was angry?

6. What did the children see in Mr. Wigg’s room when they entered?

7. Was Mr. Wigg in the room when the children and Mary Poppins entered? Why couldn’t the children see him?