Информативное чтение - «Приметы и суеверия»

Конспект урока английского языка в старших классах по теме «Приметы и суеверия»

Емельянова Наталия Ивановна

учитель иностранного языка

МБОУ Видновская СОШ №5 УИОП

Московская область
г.Видное

OMENS AND SUPERSTITIONS

Whrming-up

1. Answer the following questions.

Do you believe in omens?

What do you.think about the following things?

-A black cat;

• a horseshoe;

• the number 13;

• a broken mirror;

• spilt salt.

1. Match the things given above with the pictures. Are these things lucky?

2. Do you know any other omens and superstitions? Why do people believe in them?

Pre-reading

Keanu Reeves is a very popular actor. All films with his acting enjoy great popularity. He has a look of a happy and lucky man. Is he really a joyful person? Is he satisfied with his life?

While-reading

Read the text about Keanu Reeves. Does an evil spirit help him to live?

TEXT

Many terrible things happened in the life of Keanu Reeves during the last years. He lost his child. His sweetheart died in an accident and his dear sister was dangerously ill. Some of his colleagues, actors, passed away during the shooting of the second and third parts of the film “Matrix”. Reeves is sure that it is due to the evil spirit.

Everything began in 1996 when Reeves signed the contract for a role in the film “The Devil’s Advocate”. Keanu acted a young lawyer who got fame and wealth from the devil in exchange for freedom and happiness in his private life.

One would think that it is just a film, an ordinary fantasy. But actors are superstitious and they are serious about the popular belief that those who sign contracts with the devil on the screen often fall victim to mysterious tragic accidents in the real life.

Keanu’s first misfortune was his sister’s illness. She had leukemia. It was a severe blow to him. Kim was the nearest and the dearest person for him. Since his father Sam Reeves left their family and his mother Patricia carried on looking for a new helpmate (after Sam she got married four times), Keanu had taken care of his sister. He did much to help his sister but it didn’t help. He became a real expert in the methods of treatment of leukemia. He made a great donation to hospitals and research centers. When Kim was in a worse state of health and everything seemed useless, Keanu did everything to brighten up her life. Together they visited the most beautiful places of the world. He bought her a house in Los Angeles for about $ 5 min. And he owns only a flat in New York. He prefers living in hotels.

The second unhappiness was connected with his future child. When in 1999 Reeves broke the news that soon he would become a father, he didn’t know then what trouble was waiting for him. When Jennifer told him that she was expecting a baby, he was delighted. He presented her with a house and a car. Everything was all right. But two weeks before childbirth they lost the baby. Tragedy struck the family and being in a state of complete shock they didn’t manage to keep their relations. He found consolation in work and she began to use drugs. It killed her: in April, 2001, Jennifer died in an accident.

A few months before the shooting of the second and third parts of the film “Matrix” Keanu had an accident. He was seriously hurt. The doctors worried about his life. But Keanu was a strong man. He recovered and restored himself to a normal state. But that was not the end of misfortunes. Two more people who were to act in the film “Matrix” unexpectedly died.

Keanu came to the conclusion that it was not accidentally. He was sure that there was something wrong connected with him. He invited one specialist to drive out the evil spirit. Many of his colleagues were so frightened by the events that they agreed to take part in the ceremony. Maybe this ceremony helped to shoot “Matrix” successfully but it didn’t help Keanu and his family. Kim got worse and worse and Keanu made up his mind to do something unusual.

He decided to meet the evil spirit on the screen again. He thought that his relatives had become the victims of damnation. He hoped that it would change his fate. And a suitable film script turned up just at the right moment. It was the mystical film “Constantine”.

During the shooting of this film Keanu behaved very strangely. He didn’t speak to anybody. He was thoughtful and gloomy. His clothes were not in order and he looked like a tramp. But in some time everything changed for the better.

After the film “Constantine” Reeves hasn’t had any troubles. Nobody knows what the reason was. Some consider that a new woman has appeared in his life...

Post-reading

Can you comment on this story? Do you think the evil spirit can destroy the lives of people?