II. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text and use them in the sentences of your own:
hire smb., have enough (much, little, no) sense to do smth., be allowed to
do smth., admire smth., have a look at, be (un) used to doing smth., to
smb.'s surprise.
III. Questions on the text. 1.
How old was the author of the story which happened to his uncle?
2.
What kind of man was uncle Octavian?
3.
In what way did he want to celebrate his fifty-fifth birthday?
4.
Describe the guests.
5.
Why did the boy consider himself to be deeply privileged?
6.
What was peculiar about all those people present at the party?
7.
What did the princess tell the guests about her ring?
8.
Why did the boy think it was a joke when the ring had disappeared?
9.
What attempts were made to find the ring?
40
10. Could the servants take the ring?
11. Why didn't uncle Octavian allow the guests to be searched?
12. Why did he tell the princess he would make amends though it was
clear he wasn't the thief?
13. What was the reason of Uncle Octavian's not giving parties in the
last years of his life?
