Improve your English with Downton Abbey Characters. Season 1. Episode 2. Задания к серии 2 сезон 1.

1. Comprehension:

1. What is Mathew Crawley’s attitude to his new social status and role:

1) He is curious, but not very confident

2) He’d rather refuse the title and the money

3) He’s pleased with it

2. How does Isobel Crawley (his mother) behave when meeting their wealthy relatives:

1) She is very eager to please

2) She wants to make a good impression, but bears herself with dignity

3) She despises the aristocracy

3. What does Matthew probably feel when he realizes that she heard his words about “pushing one of the daughters at him”

1)He is very embarrassed

2)He is furious

3)He is both embarrassed and amazed at Mary’s beauty

4. How would you describe the reception of Matthew and his mother by Lord Grantham’s family?

1) Warm and friendly

2) Cold

3) Reserved, but civil

5. Why is Mosley unhappy with his job as Matthew’s valet?

1) Matthew doesn’t treat him well

2) It’s too easy

3) Matthew doesn’t really need him, so he is afraid of being fired

6. Why is doctor Clarkson against administering adrenaline?

1) He believes Isobel has no right to tell him what to do

2) He is convinced this treatment is ineffective

3) He is afraid that other people will demand experimental treatments, too

7. Why is O’Brian shocked by the reprimand from Cora Crawley?

1) She believes in free speech

2) She is offended that Cora did it in front of the other servants

3) She used to think she and Cora were real friends

8. Why does Mary talk about the legend of Andromeda at dinner?

1)She is hoping some young aristocrat will eventually inherit the title instead of Matthew

2) She is hoping that someone will challenge Matthew

3) She is hoping to marry someone else, rather than Matthew

9. Matthew’s reply to Mary’s story is “I’d have to know more about Andromeda and the sea monster in question”. Do you think it means:

1) He is rather put off by Mary’s story and doesn’t know what to say

2) He is extremely angry

3) He is beginning to like Mary and is not at all baffled by what she said

10) Carson’s acting job in the past is his:

1) Skeleton in the cupboard

2) Kettle of fish

3) Heart on his sleeve

2. Here’s a conversation between Carson and Mrs Hughes:

Mrs. Hughes: They won't make a match between

them, if that's what they're thinking.

Carson: Lady Mary doesn't like him.

Mrs. Hughes: And why should she like the

man she's been passed over for?

Carson: And why has she been?

Mrs. Hughes: That's what I'd like to know.

- It's the law.

Carson: Well, it's a wicked law

Match these phrases with their definitions:

Make a match wrong, evil

Wicked to be ignored, not to get a position, job or title, which are instead given to someone else

To be passed over for to get two people to marry

Now say if this is true or false:

Making a match of Matthew and Mary was Cora’s idea
Thomas was passed over for Mosley for the job of Matthew’s valet
Carson’s using the word ‘wicked’ while talking about the law means he isn’t as conservative as we thought, he has his own opinions (sometimes)

Here’s another conversation, this time between O’Brian and Thomas.

O’Brian: Did you really ask him for the job with the Crawleys?

Thomas: I'm sick of being a footman.

O’Brian: I'd rather be a footman than wait on someone

who ought to be a footman himself.

Thomas: But Mr. Carson shouldn't have told Bates.

Thomas: How are things with Lady G?

O’Brian: Same as usual. Yes m'lady, no m'lady, three bags full.

I'd like to give her three bags full, preferably on a dark night.

Thomas: Will you hand in your notice?

O’Brian: And let her ruin me with a nasty reference?

A few things that we can learn about from here:

To hand in your notice (to hand in your resignation – for more important positions) is to inform your employer that you are leaving

A reference was absolutely essential to a servant’s career, we will see this many times in the show

”Three bags full’ ‘ refers to the song ‘Baa, baa, black sheep” and means something like ‘blah, blah”.

Thomas and O’Brian are both extremely nasty and bitchy. However, they are both different from the others in some way, and this helps to understand their bitterness. How are they different? (Think of O’Brian’s name)and we’ll soon find out about Thomas.

3. There are a lot of idioms in this episode. Match them with the explanations:

Make someone a laughing stock acting as if you belonged to a higher social class

Sink or swim to have to follow rules or orders

To toe the line make someone appear ridiculous

I have bigger fish to fry either to succeed or fail

Put on airs and graces to have more important things to do

Now try to remember who said them and in what situations. Here are the people:

Carson (twice), Mary, Charles Grig, Dr. Clarkson.

4. Discussion:

1. This is what Robert Crawley said to Matthew about servants:

‘We all have different parts to play. And we must all be allowed to play them.”

How far do you agree with Robert?