Вы услышите интервью. В заданиях 3–9 запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2 или 3, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа. Прослушайте запись дважды. Пример ответа: 1 8. According to Chris, what is special about fairy-tale-inspired fiction? 1) It helps readers to understand themselves better. 2) It can enable one to work as an adult psychologist. 3) It focuses on some horrible things that always happen.

Presenter: Hello, everybody, and welcome to our weekly programme 'The Writer's Workshop'. Today in our studio, we have Chris Black, a writer and teacher living in Los Angeles. He's the author of a flash fiction collection, and he's also published over 50 stories in various literary journals. He's been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize. He is currently Chair of Creative Writing at the California State School for the Arts. Hi, Chris. Chris: Hello, everybody. Thank you for inviting me here today. Presenter: You obviously prefer to write in second person. Why so? Chris: I have a theory about writing in second person, wholly untested, that it works best for stories that are inherently about identity. There's an effect that happens when I read a second-person story that reminds me a little of playing a first-person video game, where I'm supposed to be this person, but I also know almost nothing about this person. Second-person fiction reads like that to me. The story is a series of puzzle pieces for readers as we actively participate in assembling the identity of the narrator. Presenter: What is flash fiction, and why do you write it? Chris: Flash fiction is a fictional work, which is incredibly short, but you can still see character and plot development there. It's a secret of writing an entire book quickly. My collection of 45 short stories is so short that I never have to decide anything. The form allows me to write a story about the moment before a story, take it right up to the point that something catastrophic will have to happen, and then the story's over. The reader is just left there in that moment, imagining all the things that might happen next. For me, that not knowing is a more interesting place than the knowing. This is one of the things I love about flash fiction. Presenter: Haven't you ever thought to enlarge your stories? Chris: Well, there are many stories in the collection I could imagine enlarging. The book is basically 45 inciting incidents for 45 future novels. Presenter: One of your books is called 'Fairy Tales for Grown-Ups'. What is it about fairy tales that seems to convey the feelings we get from real life? Chris: There are a lot of people who study fairy tales as a genre, and I should say I'm not one of those people. I'm no fairytale scholar, but I am a big fan, and particularly a fan of the fairytale's ability to evoke deep, resonant, inexplicable horror. What I'm hoping to do with this very book you've mentioned is explore some of the lingering corners of adult psychology that still resonate within the hidden kid fears. There are plenty of things in our lives that don't make sense exactly, but we push them out of focus so we can function as adults in the world. They're still there, making a mess of our minds in ways we don't fully understand. Presenter: In your interviews, you've mentioned that you walk in the footsteps of Angela Carter. Why have you chosen this writer as a role model for you? Chris: Well, Angela Carter, along with a few other people, basically created the genre of fairy tale-inspired fiction. She helped me form a very non-judgmental view of what that literature can be. She helped reinforce in me this idea that those strange, magical stories have value to adults too. But honestly, the thing I admire most about Angela Carter has to do with the enormous compassion and empathy she brought to the characters in her stories. What a gigantic, wonderful, fair heart she had! That's the kind of writing I want to do too. Presenter: Thank you, Chris. It's been very interesting talking to you. Chris: Thank you.

Вы услышите интервью. В заданиях 3–9 запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2 или 3, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа. Прослушайте запись дважды. Пример ответа: 1 9. What does Chris admire most about Angela Carter? 1) She created a new literary genre. 2) She taught him the basics of writing. 3) Many of her characters are kind people.

Presenter: Hello, everybody, and welcome to our weekly programme 'The Writer's Workshop'. Today in our studio, we have Chris Black, a writer and teacher living in Los Angeles. He's the author of a flash fiction collection, and he's also published over 50 stories in various literary journals. He's been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize. He is currently Chair of Creative Writing at the California State School for the Arts. Hi, Chris. Chris: Hello, everybody. Thank you for inviting me here today. Presenter: You obviously prefer to write in second person. Why so? Chris: I have a theory about writing in second person, wholly untested, that it works best for stories that are inherently about identity. There's an effect that happens when I read a second-person story that reminds me a little of playing a first-person video game, where I'm supposed to be this person, but I also know almost nothing about this person. Second-person fiction reads like that to me. The story is a series of puzzle pieces for readers as we actively participate in assembling the identity of the narrator. Presenter: What is flash fiction, and why do you write it? Chris: Flash fiction is a fictional work, which is incredibly short, but you can still see character and plot development there. It's a secret of writing an entire book quickly. My collection of 45 short stories is so short that I never have to decide anything. The form allows me to write a story about the moment before a story, take it right up to the point that something catastrophic will have to happen, and then the story's over. The reader is just left there in that moment, imagining all the things that might happen next. For me, that not knowing is a more interesting place than the knowing. This is one of the things I love about flash fiction. Presenter: Haven't you ever thought to enlarge your stories? Chris: Well, there are many stories in the collection I could imagine enlarging. The book is basically 45 inciting incidents for 45 future novels. Presenter: One of your books is called 'Fairy Tales for Grown-Ups'. What is it about fairy tales that seems to convey the feelings we get from real life? Chris: There are a lot of people who study fairy tales as a genre, and I should say I'm not one of those people. I'm no fairytale scholar, but I am a big fan, and particularly a fan of the fairytale's ability to evoke deep, resonant, inexplicable horror. What I'm hoping to do with this very book you've mentioned is explore some of the lingering corners of adult psychology that still resonate within the hidden kid fears. There are plenty of things in our lives that don't make sense exactly, but we push them out of focus so we can function as adults in the world. They're still there, making a mess of our minds in ways we don't fully understand. Presenter: In your interviews, you've mentioned that you walk in the footsteps of Angela Carter. Why have you chosen this writer as a role model for you? Chris: Well, Angela Carter, along with a few other people, basically created the genre of fairy tale-inspired fiction. She helped me form a very non-judgmental view of what that literature can be. She helped reinforce in me this idea that those strange, magical stories have value to adults too. But honestly, the thing I admire most about Angela Carter has to do with the enormous compassion and empathy she brought to the characters in her stories. What a gigantic, wonderful, fair heart she had! That's the kind of writing I want to do too. Presenter: Thank you, Chris. It's been very interesting talking to you. Chris: Thank you.

Вы услышите интервью. В заданиях 3–9 запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2 или 3, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа. Прослушайте запись дважды. Пример ответа: 1 3. What does the presenter NOT say about Mary Brown at the beginning of the interview? 1) She writes books. 2) She often comes to this programme. 3) She is a psychologist.

Presenter: Hi, everybody, and welcome back to our series of programmes about psychology. Today, we have here in the studio a new guest, Mary Brown. She is a writer and an expert on meeting new people and building relationships. Hello, Mary. Mary: Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting me. Presenter: So, Mary, a lot of people have to start their social life from scratch in a new place. Where can they find new friends? Let's talk about this problem today? Mary: It's a great topic to discuss. I do agree, many people feel lost and lonely when they have to move somewhere. They often forget that one should look at it as a new opportunity rather than a problem. You should always see a positive side of everything. Presenter: I see. So, what are some of the opportunities to find a new friend? Mary: First of all, there are such trivial ways as accepting any invitations to any parties, festivals or events. You can also go clubbing. I do understand it will probably be a place where you'll make a high quantity of new friends, but not necessarily quality relationships. It's a good way to meet more people nonetheless. Maybe some of these new acquaintances will later become more than just acquaintances. Presenter: Are there less trivial ways then? Mary: Of course there are. For one thing, you can become a volunteer. It's a perfect way to kill two birds with one stone. You get to spread kindness and warmth and meet compassionate people with a cause. You can also look for new friends in online communities. The internet is a great way to meet new people. Some of my best friendships started online. I have numerous great friendships with people I've never met face to face. Just because we have not met yet does not mean we can't be great friends. Nowadays, online forums are one of the central places where communities gather. Check out online forums on your interest topics. Participate constructively and add value to the discussion. Soon you'll get to know the people there better. Presenter: I believe one of the obstacles to make a new friend is not knowing how to start a conversation with a stranger. What can you recommend? Mary: I think one should find the courage to take the first step. Once you are out there with people around you, someone has to make the first move. If the other party doesn't initiate a talk, take the first step to say hello. You can share something about yourself and then give the other party a chance to share about him or her. It can be something easy, like asking how the day is or what they did today. Once the ice is broken, it'll be easier to connect. Presenter: What are some of the common mistakes people make when they start a new friendship? Mary: I'd say people forget about having to be open-minded and avoiding quick judgment. Sometimes you may have a preset notion of the kind of friend you want. Someone who is understanding, listens, has the same hobbies, watches the same movies, has a similar educational background, and so on. When you meet the person and realise that he or she differs from your expectations, you often close yourself off, but that's a wrong thing to do. You should give the new friendship a chance to blossom. I have several very good friends who come from totally different backgrounds and I would never have thought that we would be so close when I first knew them, simply because we are so different. After I got to know them better, differences were no longer important. A good number of my ex-clients are the people whom I'd never meet in normal circumstances, given our diverse backgrounds. Yet we get along extremely well, just like good friends. Presenter: Thank you very much, Mary. Mary: Thank you.

Вы услышите интервью. В заданиях 3–9 запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2 или 3, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа. Прослушайте запись дважды. Пример ответа: 1 4. Which proverb paraphrases Mary’s words “You should always see a positive side of everything”? 1) A friend is easier lost than found. 2) Every cloud has a silver lining. 3) Old friends are the best.

Presenter: Hi, everybody, and welcome back to our series of programmes about psychology. Today, we have here in the studio a new guest, Mary Brown. She is a writer and an expert on meeting new people and building relationships. Hello, Mary. Mary: Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting me. Presenter: So, Mary, a lot of people have to start their social life from scratch in a new place. Where can they find new friends? Let's talk about this problem today? Mary: It's a great topic to discuss. I do agree, many people feel lost and lonely when they have to move somewhere. They often forget that one should look at it as a new opportunity rather than a problem. You should always see a positive side of everything. Presenter: I see. So, what are some of the opportunities to find a new friend? Mary: First of all, there are such trivial ways as accepting any invitations to any parties, festivals or events. You can also go clubbing. I do understand it will probably be a place where you'll make a high quantity of new friends, but not necessarily quality relationships. It's a good way to meet more people nonetheless. Maybe some of these new acquaintances will later become more than just acquaintances. Presenter: Are there less trivial ways then? Mary: Of course there are. For one thing, you can become a volunteer. It's a perfect way to kill two birds with one stone. You get to spread kindness and warmth and meet compassionate people with a cause. You can also look for new friends in online communities. The internet is a great way to meet new people. Some of my best friendships started online. I have numerous great friendships with people I've never met face to face. Just because we have not met yet does not mean we can't be great friends. Nowadays, online forums are one of the central places where communities gather. Check out online forums on your interest topics. Participate constructively and add value to the discussion. Soon you'll get to know the people there better. Presenter: I believe one of the obstacles to make a new friend is not knowing how to start a conversation with a stranger. What can you recommend? Mary: I think one should find the courage to take the first step. Once you are out there with people around you, someone has to make the first move. If the other party doesn't initiate a talk, take the first step to say hello. You can share something about yourself and then give the other party a chance to share about him or her. It can be something easy, like asking how the day is or what they did today. Once the ice is broken, it'll be easier to connect. Presenter: What are some of the common mistakes people make when they start a new friendship? Mary: I'd say people forget about having to be open-minded and avoiding quick judgment. Sometimes you may have a preset notion of the kind of friend you want. Someone who is understanding, listens, has the same hobbies, watches the same movies, has a similar educational background, and so on. When you meet the person and realise that he or she differs from your expectations, you often close yourself off, but that's a wrong thing to do. You should give the new friendship a chance to blossom. I have several very good friends who come from totally different backgrounds and I would never have thought that we would be so close when I first knew them, simply because we are so different. After I got to know them better, differences were no longer important. A good number of my ex-clients are the people whom I'd never meet in normal circumstances, given our diverse backgrounds. Yet we get along extremely well, just like good friends. Presenter: Thank you very much, Mary. Mary: Thank you.

Вы услышите интервью. В заданиях 3–9 запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2 или 3, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа. Прослушайте запись дважды. Пример ответа: 1 5. What does Mary think about finding new friends at parties and in clubs? 1) You’re likely to make many new acquaintances. 2) It’s less banal than going to festivals and events. 3) It’s the best way to develop a network of friends.

Presenter: Hi, everybody, and welcome back to our series of programmes about psychology. Today, we have here in the studio a new guest, Mary Brown. She is a writer and an expert on meeting new people and building relationships. Hello, Mary. Mary: Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting me. Presenter: So, Mary, a lot of people have to start their social life from scratch in a new place. Where can they find new friends? Let's talk about this problem today? Mary: It's a great topic to discuss. I do agree, many people feel lost and lonely when they have to move somewhere. They often forget that one should look at it as a new opportunity rather than a problem. You should always see a positive side of everything. Presenter: I see. So, what are some of the opportunities to find a new friend? Mary: First of all, there are such trivial ways as accepting any invitations to any parties, festivals or events. You can also go clubbing. I do understand it will probably be a place where you'll make a high quantity of new friends, but not necessarily quality relationships. It's a good way to meet more people nonetheless. Maybe some of these new acquaintances will later become more than just acquaintances. Presenter: Are there less trivial ways then? Mary: Of course there are. For one thing, you can become a volunteer. It's a perfect way to kill two birds with one stone. You get to spread kindness and warmth and meet compassionate people with a cause. You can also look for new friends in online communities. The internet is a great way to meet new people. Some of my best friendships started online. I have numerous great friendships with people I've never met face to face. Just because we have not met yet does not mean we can't be great friends. Nowadays, online forums are one of the central places where communities gather. Check out online forums on your interest topics. Participate constructively and add value to the discussion. Soon you'll get to know the people there better. Presenter: I believe one of the obstacles to make a new friend is not knowing how to start a conversation with a stranger. What can you recommend? Mary: I think one should find the courage to take the first step. Once you are out there with people around you, someone has to make the first move. If the other party doesn't initiate a talk, take the first step to say hello. You can share something about yourself and then give the other party a chance to share about him or her. It can be something easy, like asking how the day is or what they did today. Once the ice is broken, it'll be easier to connect. Presenter: What are some of the common mistakes people make when they start a new friendship? Mary: I'd say people forget about having to be open-minded and avoiding quick judgment. Sometimes you may have a preset notion of the kind of friend you want. Someone who is understanding, listens, has the same hobbies, watches the same movies, has a similar educational background, and so on. When you meet the person and realise that he or she differs from your expectations, you often close yourself off, but that's a wrong thing to do. You should give the new friendship a chance to blossom. I have several very good friends who come from totally different backgrounds and I would never have thought that we would be so close when I first knew them, simply because we are so different. After I got to know them better, differences were no longer important. A good number of my ex-clients are the people whom I'd never meet in normal circumstances, given our diverse backgrounds. Yet we get along extremely well, just like good friends. Presenter: Thank you very much, Mary. Mary: Thank you.