Read the story. For each item choose

the correct VARIANT.

Diamonds and Toads.

likeness –

схожість;

 adore – обожнювати;

well – колодязь;

fairy – фея;

toad – пуголовок;

be guilty of – бути винним у чомусь

Once upon a time

there was a widow who had two daughters. The elder sister was very much like her

mother in the face and character. They were both so selfish, disagreeable and

so proud that there was

nobody who liked them.

The younger

daughter was the very picture of her father — kind, with sweet temper, and also

one of

the most beautiful girls ever seen. As people usually love their own likeness,

it's natural that the mother

adored her elder daughter and couldn't stand the younger one. She made her eat

in the kitchen, and

work from morning till night. Among other things, twice a day the poor child

had to bring a big jug of water from a well which was about a mile

and a half from her house.

One day, as she

was at the well, a poor woman came to her and asked the girl

for some water. «Oh, sure, with all my heart», said this generous little girl;

and she took up some water from the well and gave it

to the woman, holding up the jug so that the woman might drink easier. The

woman was really a fairy that pretended to be a poor country woman because she

wanted to see

how far the kindness and good manners of this pretty girl would go. And the

fairy said to the girl: «You

are so very pretty, my dear, so kind and so generous that I cannot help giving

you a gift». «I will give you a gift», continued the Fairy, «from now on, at

every word you speak, either a flower or a jewel will come

out of your mouth».

When the girl came

home, her mother scolded her for staying so long at the well. «I beg your

pardon, mother, » said the poor girl, «for not making more haste». And in

speaking these words there came out of her mouth two roses, two pearls, and two diamonds.

«What is it I see there?» said the mother, quite astonished. «I think I see

pearls and diamonds come

out of the girl's mouth! How can it be, child? » This was the first time she

had ever called her «child».

The younger

daughter told her frankly what had happened to her, not without dropping out a number

of diamonds at every word. «In good faith! », exclaimed the mother, «I must

send my other daughter to the well too. Come on, darling; look what

comes out of your sister's mouth when she speaks. Won't you be glad, my dear,

to have

the same gift given to you? The only thing you have to do is to go and take

water out of the well, and,

when a poor woman asks you to let her drink, you should give it to her very

politely». «It would be very nice indeed», said this spoilt, lazy girl, «to be

carrying a heavy jug full of water all the way home! » «Go

to the well and do what I told you to! » the mother said.

So the girl went

to the well, complaining all the way, taking with her the best silver cup in

the house. No sooner she was at the well than she saw a rich lady, most

gloriously dressed, who came up to her, and asked to

drink. This was, you must know, the very fairy, who appeared to her sister, but

now dressed

like a princess to see how far this girl's rudeness would go. «So, I've come here»,

said the proud girl, «to serve you with water. And I surely took a nice silver cup

just for this purpose; however, you may drink out of it if you want. And then,

I hope, I can be free, can't

I?» «You are not over and above polite, and as I can see you are not kind

either», answered the Fairy. «Well, then, since you are so rude, I give you a

gift: at every word you speak, a snake or a toad will come

out of your mouth».

As soon as her

mother saw her coming, she cried out: «Well, daughter? » «Well, mother? »

answered the girl, throwing two snakes and two toads out of her mouth. «Oh! Mercy!

», cried the mother; «what is it I see? Oh! It is her sister who is guilty of

all this; but she shall pay for it»; and immediately the mother ran to beat her

younger daughter. The poor child ran away from her, and went to hide herself in

the forest.

Meanwhile, the

King's son met the nice girl on his return from hunting, and saw how pretty and

kind she was, asked her what she did there alone, and why she cried. «Alas!

Sir, my mother has turned me out of doors». The King's son, who saw five or six

pearls, and as many diamonds come out of her mouth, desired her to tell him how

that happened. She told him the whole story; and so the King's son fell in love

with her, and took her to the palace of his father King, and there married her.

3) What was the elder daughter like?