“Oh,” says he, “I was hunting today, and I went very far in the wood. And I heard a song. So I got off[111] my horse, and I went forward. I saw a funny little black man. He had a little spinning-wheel, and he was spinning wonderfully fast, and he was twirling his tail. And he was singing:

“Nimmy nimmy not,

My name’s Tom Tit Tot.”

When the girl heard this, she became very happy, but she didn’t say a word.

Next day, that little impet looked very maliceful when he came for the flax. And when the night came, she heard the knock. She opened the window, and the impet came into the room. He was grinning, and his tail was twirling very fast.

“What’s my name?” he asked when he was giving her the skeins.

“Is that Solomon[112]?” she says.

“No, it isn’t,” he said and came further into the room.

“Well, is that Zebedee[113]?” says she again.

“No, it isn’t,” says the impet. And then he laughed and twirled his tail like a wheel.

“Take time[114], woman,” he says, “next guess, and you’re mine.” And he lifted his black hands.

The girl smiled and said:

“NIMMY NIMMY NOT,

YOUR NAME’S TOM TIT TOT!”

When the impet heard her, he cried awfully and flew away into the dark, and she never saw him any more.

EXERCISES

1. Выберите правильный вариант:

1. The woman lies to the king; she tells him that her daughter can spin five skeins.

2. The woman lies to the king; she tells him that her daughter can spin three skeins.

3. The woman lies to the king; she tells him that her daughter can spin six skeins.

4. The woman lies to the king; she tells him that her daughter can spin two skeins.

2. Where does the king shut the girl?

1. The king shuts the girl in a castle with no food.

2. The king shuts the girl in a room with impets.

3. The king shuts the girl in a castle room with a spinning wheel.

4. The king shuts the girl in a basement with ugly rats.

3. What is an impet?

1. a noble man

2. an animal

3. a big bird

4. a small demon

4. Why does the girl agree to marry the king?

1. Because she knows how to spin.

2. Because she does not need her head.

3. Because she thinks that he will forget about his promise.

4. Because she has nobody to marry.

5. What is a skein?

1. a machine for spinning

2. a length of yarn or thread in a loose coil

3. a round piece of wool

4. silk bobbin

6. What is Tom Tit Tot’s payment?

1. three jars of gold

2. the girl herself

3. the pies

4. the kingdom

7. Выберите правильный вариант:

1. The king helped his wife to spin.

2. The king is very kind.

3. The king killed the impet.

4. The king learned the impet’s name.

8. What does it mean, “the pies will come again”?

1. The pies have legs.

2. The pies will be ready soon.

3. The pies left, but they promised to return.

4. The pies usually come and go away.

9. Why did the impet twirl his tail?

1. He was nervous.

2. He was proud of his tail.

3. He had nothing to play with.

4. He did not know what to do with his tail.

10. Выберите нужный глагол:

The impet ____________________ from the girl a promise that she will be his.

1. tells

2. gives

3. makes

4. extracts

11. Выберите нужные глаголы:

The king ____________________ to his wife, “Now ____________________ me what you ____________________.”

1. told, promise, give

2. tells, give, promised

3. promised, tell, give

4. gave, promise, give

12. Выберите нужный предлог:

for – of – with – on

1. Put the pies ____________________ the shelf and leave them there a little.

2. During eleven months ____________________ the year, she will have everything that she wants.

3. I’ll shut you here tomorrow ____________________ some food and some flax.

4. Next day, that little impet looked very maliceful when he came ____________________ the flax.

13. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. How many persons are mentioned in the story?

2. What is the name of the impet?

3. What have you learned about the impet?

4. What do you like and what don’t you like about the girl?

5. What would you do if you were[115] the main character of the story?

6. What is the end of the story?

7. Retell the story.

14. Заполните таблицу:

come ____________________ coming

put ____________________ putting

____________________ left ____________________

bring ____________________ bringing

hear heard ____________________

How Jack Went to Seek His Fortune[116]

Once on a time, there was a boy named Jack[117], and one morning he decided to go and seek his fortune.

He did not go very far, and he met a cat.

“Where are you going, Jack?” said the cat.