EXERCISES IN READING MATTER

JEROME K. JEROME. THREE MEN IN A BOAT1

EXERCISES

Chapter I

I. Write out the names of the diseases mentioned and their symptoms. Use them in your answers to the questions (Ex. V).

II. Translate the preface into Russian in written form.

III. Pick out a short passage (about half a page) for oral translation in class.

IV. Pick out sentences with a touch of humour. Comment on. the character of humour.

V. Answer the following questions;

1. What was wrong with each of the three young men? 2. How did patent medicine advertisements affect Jerome? 3. What did Jerome go to the British Museum one day for? 4. What did Jerome feel after he had glanced half down the list of the premonitary symptoms of various diseases? 5. What was the only malady Jerome had not got? What kind of malady was it? 6. Why did Jerome consider himself an interesting case from a medical point of view? 7. Why did he try to examine himself and how did he do it? 8. In what state did he walk into the reading-room? Why did he feel a wreck when he left it? 9. Why was Jerome sure that he would da his doctor a good turn by consulting him? 10. How did the doctor examine him? 11. What happened when Jerome took the prescription to the chemist's? 12. What was the symptom Jerome had suffered since his early childhood? 13. What did the doctors put it down to? 14. What did each of the young men think of the maladies of the other two? 15. What was their unanimous opinion as to the cause of their sufferings and the remedy needed? 16. Why did Jerome strongly object to a sea trip? 17. What did he remember of his brother-in-law's short sea trip? 18. What happened to another fellow he knew? 19. What anecdotes did Harris tell them? 20. Why did the fellow who was seasick wish he were overboard? 21. What preventive did Jerome discover

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against sea-sickness? 22. What did the three friends finally decide to do to restore their health? 23. Who was the only one who did not care for a river trip? Why?

VI. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. What do you think the matter was with Jerome, George and Harris? 2. Do you like to read medical books? How do you think they usually affect people? 3. Jerome seems to think that poor sailors are always unwilling to admit that they had ever been sea-sick. Do you think Jerome is right?

VII. Retell the chapter close to the text.

VIII. Give a precis of the chapter.

IX. Make up dialogues between:

  1. Two elderly women who are discussing their ailments, each of them sure that it is she who is more seriously ill.
  2. Two poor sailors boasting of their never being sea-sick.
  3. A perfectly fit young man and a doctor whom he tries to persuade to give him a sick leave certificate.

Chapter II

I. Write out phrases Jerome K. Jerome uses to describe nature. Use them in your answers to the questions (Ex. VI).

II. Translate into Russian in written form the last paragraph on p. 22 ("And we sit there ... of years ago.").

III. Pick out a short passage in colloquial style for oral translation in class.

IV. Pick out sentences with a touch of humour. Comment on the humour.

V. Answer the following questions:

1. What was Jerome's opinion of the way George worked? 2. What was Jerome's and George's idea of camping out? 3. What shows that there was no poetry about Harris? 4. How does Jerome picture fixing a tent in rainy weather? 5. What happens to the food if it's raining? 6. What dreams do people have on a rainy night? 7. How does one feel after such a night? 8. What kind of dog did Montmorency seem to be at first sight? 9. What was he really like? 10. How did the three friends settle the sleeping arrangements to everyone's satisfaction?

VI. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. How do you like camping out? What about camping out in rainy weather? 2. Do you like nature? In what season is nature at its best? 3. Do you like to read the description of nature? Which of the Russian and Soviet writers do you think are very good at describing the beauty of nature? 4. What's your attitude towards dogs?

VII. Retell the chapter close to the text.

VIII. Give a precis of the text.

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IX. Make up dialogues between:

  1. Two young persons discussing the advantages and the disadvantages of camping out.
  2. The owner of a dog and a dog hater.

Chapter III

I. Write out the names of the things the three friends decided to take along. Use them in your answers to the questions (Ex. V).

II. Translate into Russian in written form the paragraph on p. 32 ("It is lumber ... the blue forget-me-nots.")

III. Pick out a short passage in colloquial style for oral translation in class.

IV. Pick out sentences with a touch of humour. Say how the humorous effect is achieved.

V. Answer the following questions:

1. What did Harris suggest doing when they got together to discuss their plans and how did he propose to set about it? 2. Why was there a commotion up and down the house when Uncle Podger undertook a job? 3. How did he manage to keep everyone busy? 4. What did he do himself? 5. How did he treat his assistants? 6. Why did his wife wish she were away at her mother's place? 7. How did he finally manage the job? 8. What did he feel about it? 9. How did everyone feel when the picture was up? 10. Why was the first list of things discarded? 11. What principle of selecting the most necessary things did George suggest? 12. Why did they decide against taking a tent? 13. What did Jerome think of the plans people make for bathing in cold weather and of the way they carry their plans out?

VI. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. Which do you prefer: to do a job yourself or to supervise other people doing it? 2. Do you have heavy luggage when you go on a trip or do you like to travel light? 3. What is your attitude towards having a swim in any kind of weather? Do you pretend to like it?

VII. Retell the chapter close to the text.

VIII. Give a precis of the text.

IX. Make up dialogues between:

  1. Two inexperienced people trying to hang up a picture in a new flat.
  2. Two friends discussing what things should be taken along for a river trip.

Chapter IV

I. Write out the names of the food products and the kitchen utensils. Use them in your answers to the questions (Ex. IV).

II. Pick out a passage for oral translation in class.

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III. Pick out sentences with a touch of humour. Say how the humorous effect is achieved.

IV. Answer the following questions:

1. What did the friends have against an oil-stove? 2. What did cheese, as they thought, have in common with oil? 3. How did the smell of the cheeses Jerome took away in a cab affect the horse? 4. Why did Jerome have the compartment all to himself? 5. Why did the wife of Jerome's friend refuse point-blank to live in the same house with the cheeses? 6. What did the charwoman think of the smell? 7. Why did Jerome's friend determine to get rid of the cheeses and how did he manage to do it? 8. Why did the beach they were buried on gain quite a reputation? 9. Why did Jerome, George and Harris decide against taking either beer or wine? 10. What was Jerome's idea of packing? 11. How did his friends help him? 12. Why did he have to repack the bag more than once? 13. What was the first thing that happened when George and Harris started packing? 14. What happened to tomatoes, pies and salt? 15. What did Jerome do to irritate them? 16. What was the trouble with the butter? 17. How did Montmorency behave all through the packing? 18. Do you think Jerome stirred Montmorency to mischief? 19. Why did Jerome and Harris place a bath near George's bed?

V. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. What food do you think should be chosen for a river trip? 2. Do you think it's an easy job to pack things? 3. What do you think of the way the three young men packed?

VI. Retell the chapter close to the text.

VII. Give a precis of the chapter.

VIII. Make up dialogues on the following topics:

  1. Packing food products.
  2. Packing brittle glass.

Chapter V

I. Write out the words and phrases used by the author to describe weather forecasts. Use them in your answers to the questions (Ex. V and VI).

II. Translate into Russian in written form two paragraphs on p. 51 ("George got hold ... is going to happen to-day.").

III. Pick out a passage in colloquial style for oral translation in class.

IV. Pick ou.t sentences with a touch of humour. Comment on the character of humour.

V. Answer, the following questions:

1. What put an end to the quarrel that Jerome and Harris had started? 2. Why did the sight of George peacefully asleep in bed madden Jerome? 3. How did Jerome and Harris wake up George? 4. Why did they have to unpack the bag? 5, What was the weather forecast for the

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day? 6. How did a holiday Jerome was having happen to be ruined twice because of his paying attention to the weather forecast? 7. What did Jerome think of weather forecasts, of barometers? 8. What did Jerome think of those who foretold nasty weather? 9. What prophet according to Jerome did everyone like? 10. With what luggage did the friends start on their trip? 11. Why did they attract the street boys' attention? 12. What comments did the boys and other people make? 13. Why did the three friends fail to find the train they needed? 14. What way out did they find? How did they manage to get to Kingston?

VI. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. Are you an early riser or a late sleeper? 2. How would you wake up a person who is fast asleep? 3. What is your opinion about weather forecasts? 4. Do you want to be foretold the weather when you're going out of town? 5. Do you like to attract people's attention in the street?

VII. Retell the chapter close to the text.

VIII. Give a precis of the chapter.

IX. Make up dialogues on the following topics:

  1. Trying to wake someone up.
  2. Discussing whether a hike should be postponed because of an unfavourable weather forecast.
  3. Looking for a train at a railway station.

Chapter VI

I. Write out the words and phrases that show the attitude of the author towards antique things. Use them in your questions and answers (Ex. VI).

II. Translate into Russian in written form two paragraphs on pp. 64-65 ("To go back ... the lady of the house.").

III. Pick out a passage for oral translation in class.

IV. Pick out sentences with a touch of humour. Comment on the character of humour.

V. Make up twenty questions about the chapter.

VI. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers!

1. What is your attitude towards historical places? 2. What do you think of Jerome's statement: "Each person has what he doesn't want, and other people have what he does want?" 3. What's your attitude towards antique things? 4. Do you prefer to spend your holidays in a crowded city or in a quiet place in the country?

VII. Retell the chapter close to the text.

VIII. Give a precis of the chapter.

IX. Make up dialogues between:

  1. A city lover and a nature admirer.
  2. A connoisseur of antique and one who is fond of modern things.

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Chapter VII

I. Write out the words and phrases used by the author to describe the clothes people wore during a river trip. Use them in your answers to the questions (Ex. V.).

II. Translate into Russian in written form the 2-nd paragraph on p. 72 ("The river ... than a belt").

III. Pick out a passage in colloquial style for oral translation in class.

IV. Pick out sentences with a touch of humour. Say how the humorous effect is achieved.

V. Answer the following questions:

1. What clothes did George, Jerome and Harris wear? 2. What did Jerome think of the way girls ought to be dressed in a boat? 3. What was the trouble Jerome had once with two overdressed girls on a water picnic? 4. Why did their behaviour unnerve Jerome? 5. How did the young man who relieved him start rowing and what did he do when he spread more than a pint of water over the girls' dresses? 6. Why did the girls have a bad time at lunch? 7. What did Bow make them do after lunch? 8. Why did Jerome object to going to see Mrs. Thomas's tomb? 9. What did Harris think of George's job?

VI. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. What do you think one should wear during a river trip? 2. Was Bow as dense-headed as he seemed to be? 3. At whose expense does Jerome laugh when he writes of people's interest in tombs?

VII. Give a precis of the chaptef.

VIII. Make up dialogues between:

  1. Two inexperienced boaters making a river trip.
  2. Two lazy youngsters who are reluctant to wash up after their lunch on the bank of the ri/er.

Chapter VIII

I. Write out the words and phrases the author uses to describe the way Harris sang a comic song. Use them in the discussion of the episode.

II. Translate into Russian in written form the last paragraph on p. 91 ("Caesar ... altogether.") Speak of the historical allusions made by the author.

III. Pick out a passage for oral translation in class.

IV. Pick out sentences with a touch of humour. Comment on the character of humour.

V. Make up 20 questions about the contents of the chapter.

VI. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. What is "trespassing"? 2. Why did the caretaker disappear instead of chucking the friends into the river as he had threatened? 3. Do you think people should sing at a party if they are asked to? In what case had they better not? 4. What do you think of the importance of

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the words of a song? 5. What do you think of the joke two students played on Jerome and his friends? 6. Must people openly admit that they don't know some thing or other or needn't they?

VII. Give a precis of the chapter.

VIII. Make up a dialogue on the following topic:

Ask your friend who is putting on airs, to sing a song.

Chapter IX

I. Write out the words and phrases dealing with towing. Use them in your answers to the questions (Ex. V and VI).

II. Translate into Russian in written form the 2-nd paragraph on p. 95 ("I do not wish ... again.").

III. Pick out a passage for oral translation in class.

IV. Pick out sentences with a touch of humour. Comment on it.

V. Answer the following questions:

1. On what grounds did George try to refuse to tow? How was he forced to? 2. What was Jerome's opinion of tow-lines in general? 3. How did the three friends handle the tow-line? What came of their efforts? 4. How did two men lose their boat because of a tow-line? 5. What took place when two men were towing and the third was in the boat? 6. How did George take advantage of the absent-mindedness of a fellow and a girl who were towing a boat with an aunt in it? 7. What happened to five fellows who were towed by a little boy on horseback? 8. Why was Jerome not sorry at their mishap? Ought he to have been? 9. What is being towed by girls like? 10. What happened once when Jerome was on the river with a cousin of his? 11. Why did Jerome think that the people belonging to the party they met were the most attractive and lovely in the world?

VI. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. What is towing? In what cases do people have to tow a boat? 2. What makes towing a difficult job? 3. How do some people behave when they lose their way?

VII. Retell the chapter close to the text.

VIII. Give a precis of the chapter.

IX. Make up dialogues between:

  1. Two men, one in the boat and the other towing.
  2. A girl and a young man who lost their way on the river.

Chapter X

I. Write out the words and phrases used by the author to describe: a) the way they fixed a tent, b) the nature at night. Use them in your questions and answers (Ex. V).

II. Translate into Russian in written form the 3rd and 4th paragraphs on p. 114 ("It was ... awful vision hovering there.").

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III. Pick out a passage in colloquial style for oral translation in class.

IV. Pick out sentences with a touch of humour. Comment on the character of humour.

V. Make up 20 questions about the contents of the chapter.

VI. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. What makes waiting so tedious? 2. Why are people often inclined to feel snappy and ill-tempered towards the" end of a trip? How does their mood change after a good supper and rest? 3. How do some people tell stale anecdotes and funny stories to get the listener interested?

VII. Give a precis of the chapter.

VIII. Make up dialogues between:

  1. Two inexperienced hikers trying to put up a tent.
  2. The tourists enjoying the beauty of the night on the bank of a river.

Chapter XI

I. Write out words and phrases .dealing with having a swim on a cold morning. Use them in your questions and answers (Ex. V).

II. Translate into Russian in written form two paragraphs on pp. 124-125 ("The sun ... foreign spearmen."). speak on the historical events mentioned.

III. Pick out a passage in colloquial style for oral translation in class.

IV. Pick out sentences with a touch of humour and comment on them. Say how the humorous effect is achieved.

V. Make up 20 questions about the contents of the chapter.

VI. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. Do you agree with the author that people wake up at absurd hours when there is no necessity for getting up early? 2. Have you ever got up at night by mistake? How did it happen? 3. What did the policeman mean by saying to George "don't let's have any more of it"? 4. When are most people slow to see a joke? Can you see the fun when the joke is at your expense?

VII. Retell the chapter close to the text.

VIII. Give a precis of the chapter.

IX. Make up dialogues on the following topics:

  1. Getting up at night by mistake.
  2. Having a swim on a nasty day just to show how courageous one is.
  3. Playing a joke upon someone.
  4. Making scrambled eggs on a fire on the bank of a river.

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Chapter XII

I. Write out words and phrases dealing with the friends' attempts to find a place to put up at for the night. Use them in your questions and answers (Ex. V).

II. Translate into Russian in written form the second and the third paragraphs of the chapter ("We went over ... were not spooning.") Speak of the historical allusions made by the author in the lyrical digressions of the chapter.

III. Pick out a passage for oral translation in class.

IV. Pick out sentences with a touch of humour and comment on the character of humour.

V. Make up 20 questions about the contents of the chapter.

VI. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. Do you agree with the author that it is trying to be in a house with a couple courting? For whom do you think the episodes depicted were especially trying? 2. Have you ever had any difficulty in finding a hotel to put up at for the night? 3. Why did Jerome call the boy "an angel in the disguise of a small boy"? What kind of boy was he in fact? 4. What do people often feel when they want things badly? Why are they kind of disappointed when they are given what they had craved for?

VII. Give a precis of the chapter.

VIII. Make up dialogues on the following topics:

  1. You want to put up at a hotel but there are no vacant rooms. Try to persuade the manager to put you up somewhere.
  2. You and a friend of yours are starving and have got nothing but a tin of meat. You do your best to open it without a tin-opener.

Chapter XIII

I. Write out the words and phrases dealing with the dogs and their fight. Use them in your questions and answers (Ex. V).

II. Translate into Russian in written form the first two paragraphs on p. 143. Speak of the lyrical digressions in the chapter.

III. Pick out a passage in colloquial style for oral translation in class.

IV. Pick out sentences with a touch of humour. Comment on it.

V. Make up 20 indirect questions about the contents of the chapter.

VI. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers;

1. How do you like quiet quaint nooks in the country? 2. How do places associated with historic events impress you? 3. Would you prefer to make a river trip in a canoe, yacht or steam-launch? 4. Jerome would never think of drinking river water. Would you?

VII. Give a precis of the chapter.

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VIII. Make up dialogues on the following topics:

  1. Making up one's mind whether to go to see a historical place.
  2. A boy asking his mother to allow him to keep a dog.
  3. Making plans for a river trip and debating whether a canoe, a yacht or a steam-launch will best suit the purpose.
  4. Discussing whether one should walk to the nearest village for water or use the river water.

Chapter XIV

I. Write out the words and phrases the author uses to describe a young fellow's attempts to play the bagpipes. Use them in your answers to the questions (Ex. V and VI).

II. Translate into Russian in written form three paragraphs on pp. 158-159 ("Day, the author of ... wax-works show.").

III. Pick a passage in colloquial style for oral translation in class.

IV. Pick out sentences with a touch of humour and say how the humorous effect Is achieved.

V. Answer the following questions:

1. Why was a memorial put up to Mrs. Sarah Hill? 2. Why was a boy exhibited under a glass case? 3. Why was the reward money handed over to the nearest wax-works show? 4. Why does Jerome call learning to play a musical instrument "disheartening work"? 5. What was the night like when George and Jerome were returning to their boat? Why did they feel miserable? What did they look forward to? 6. What struck them as odd as to Harris's behaviour and the story he told them? 7. What do you think really happened? Why did Harris stick to his story instead of telling them the truth?

VI. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. Do you think children of impeccable behaviour are always the kindest and the cleverest? 2. What are the difficulties a person learning to play a musical instrument has to face? 3. When are people often reluctant to admit the truth?

VII. Give a precis of the chapter.

VIII. Make up dialogues on the following topics:

  1. Two teachers are discussing how perfect a child should be.
  2. Your neighbour keeps you awake by playing the violin. Go and tell him to stop.

Chapter XV

I. Write out the words and phrases the author uses to describe sailing experiences. Use the words and phrases in your answers to the questions (Ex. V).

II. Translate into Russian in written form two paragraphs on pp. 173-174 ("We settled the present difficulty ... about the marvellous feats he performed last season.").

III. Pick out a passage in colloquial style for oral translation in class.

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IV. Pick out sentences with a touch of humour and comment on the character of humour.

V. Answer the following questions:

1. What shows that Jerome and his friends were lazy fellows? 2. What is characteristic of old river hands? 3. What would one do on seeing the proprietor of the raft he is on appear on the bank? 4. How did George and his friends boat in an outrigger once? 5. Why did Jerome find sea rowing a trying job? 6. Why did Jerome like to watch an old boatman rowing, especially one hired by the hour? 7. What sad accident happened once to a young man the first time he went punting? 8. How did Jerome's friends ridicule an inexperienced punter and how did they account for their brutal treatment of him? 9. What were Jerome's sailing experiences?

VI. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. What makes work about house for a woman with a large family to take care of a continual labour? 2. Do you agree with Jerome that the closer one friend is -the more brutal the jokes at his expense are? 3. What are the advantages and the disadvantages of sailing, rowing and punting?

VII. Give a precis of the chapter.

VIII. Make up dialogues between:

  1. Two lazy young men during a river trip each thinking that he is doing more than his fair share of the work.
  2. An old river hand and an inexperienced boater.

Chapter XVI

I. Translate into Russian in written form the first four paragraphs of the chapter. ("We came ... the Lady Blanche.") Speak of the historical allusions made by the author.

II. Make up 20 questions about the contents of the chapter

III. Make up 5 questions to be answered and motivated.

IV. Retell the chapter close to the text.

V. Give a precis of the chapter.

Chapter XVII

I. Write out and learn words and phrases dealing with fishing. Use them in your answers to the questions (Ex. V).

II. Translate into Russian in written form the first three paragraphs on p. 192 ("The neighbourhood ... all the same.").

III. Pick out a passage in colloquial style for oral translation in class.

IV. Write out sentences with a touch of humour. Comment on the character of humour.

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V. Answer the following questions:

1. Why did the young men fail to wash their clothes properly in the river? 2. What was the author's opinion of fishing in the Thames? 3. Why did experienced anglers think that Jerome would never make a good fisherman? 4. How should an accomplished angler tell his story to impress his listeners? 5. What was the system of exaggerating a young man used? 6. Why did the system not work well? How did he improve it? 7. What did Jerome and George see in a glass-case in a river-side in? 8. What fishy stories did various local peoples tell them of the huge trout? 9. Which of the three fishermen did they believe? 10. What was the true story of the trout?

VI. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. Have you ever washed anything in the river? How did you like the result? 2. What's your attitude to fishing? 3. What do you think of fishermen? 4. How do you like stories fishermen tell? 5. What kind of story is a "fishy" story?

VII. Give a precis of the chapter.

VIII. Make up dialogues between:

  1. Two persons washing their clothes in a river.
  2. Two fishermen boasting of their catch.
  3. An accomplished angler and a distrustful listener.

Chapter XVIII

I. Write out words and phrases Used to describe people having their photographs taken Use the words and phrases in your questions and answers (Ex. IV).

II. Translate into Russian in written form the two last paragraphs on p. 204 ("Dorchester ... it is even still more once-upon-a-timey-fied.").

III. Pick out a passage in colloquial style for oral translation in class.

IV. Make up 20 questions about the contents of the chapter.

V. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. Why do most people feel ill at ease when they are having their photographs taken? 2. What kind of photographs do photographers consider good? What do most people want of their photos?

VI. Give a precis of the chapter.

VII. Make up a dialogue on the following topic:

A photographer trying to make his client look natural.

Chapter XIX

I. Write out words and phrases used to describe a river on a sunny and on a nasty day. Use the words and phrases in your questions and answers (Ex. IV).

II. Translate into Russian in written form two last paragraphs on p. 211 ("THe river ... the land of vain regrets.").

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III. Make up 20 questions about the contents of the chapter.

IV. Answer the following questions and motivate your answers:

1. Do you prefer to boat up or down the river? 2. What would you do if it suddenly started drizzling during your river trip? 3. Does weather affect you? In what way? 4. Do you think the three young men's river trip was a success?

V. Give a precis of the chapter.

VI. Make up dialogues between:

  1. A boatman and a person who wants to hire a boat.
  2. An optimist and a pessimist who are caught in the rain during a river trip.

Suggested Topics for the Discussion of the Book . (or a Written Composition)

  1. Jerome K. Jerome, his life and literary career.
  2. Humour as Jerome K Jerome sees it.
  3. Lyrical digressions in the novel.
  4. The merits and the shortcomings of the novel.

Suggested Topics for Short Oral Stories

  1. How I went to consult a doctor.
  2. My impressions of a sea trip.
  3. Camping out during a river trip.
  4. How weather forecast interfered with my plans.
  5. My first experience in packing. '
  6. Looking for a place to put up at for the night in an unknown town.
  7. My sailing or rowing experiences.
  8. My fishing experiences.
  9. How I was photographed.
  10. My cooking experience. -

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1 Jerome K, Jerome. "Three Men in a Boat" M., 1959.


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