The Book of Riddles. Лексические задачки

What did he say? How can a man go eight days without sleep? Solve this rebus to find out.

27. The Traveller and the Witch (2)

If the witch was disappointed, she didn’t show it.

“Well done,” she said, laying the table. “It is always a pleasure to share a meal with a clever man.”

disappointed разочарованный; show показывать; well doneздесь: молодец (похвала); lay the table накрывать на стол; pleasure удовольствие; share a meal разделить трапезу (с кем-либо)

The next morning, the man went to the kitchen to say goodbye to the witch.

“It’s a pity you are leaving,” said the Bony Leg. “I’d rather you didn't go so soon. It is hard to find such good company nowadays. Do you mind if ask you another riddle? If you don’t solve it, you will stay with me for three months and three days.”

The traveller seemed to hesitate.

I’d rather я бы предпочла; nowadays в наши дни; do you mind if ты не возражаешь, если; hesitate колебаться, быть в нерешительности ? The traveller seemed to hesitate. Казалось, путник колеблется.

“Three months is a long time,” he said. “But, alright. Ask your riddle.”

“Here it is: If you have me, you want to share me. If you share me, you haven't got me. What am I?”

The traveler told her. There was nothing to do but to let him go.

share делиться, поделиться с кем-либо; There was nothing to do but to let him go. Ничего не оставалось, кроме как отпустить его.

And you, dear reader, do you know the answer to this riddle? If you don’t, this rebus may give you a clue.

28. Captured by Cannibals

This is a story about a hunter who was unfortunate enough to be captured by cannibals. The cannibals brought him to their village, and tied him to a pole. After a while, they started to make a fire. One of the cannibals approached the prisoner, and asked him his name.

capture захватить; взять в плен; hunter охотник; unfortunate незадачливый ?who was unfortunate enough to be captured by cannibals которому не повезло оказаться в плену у каннибалов; village деревня; tie to привязывать к; pole шест; after a while через некоторое время; approach приближаться к; prisoner пленник

“What do you need my name for?” asked the prisoner, hopefully. “Maybe they are not going to eat me, after all? Otherwise, they wouldn’t ask me my name,” he thought.

His heart sank when he heard the answer.

Maybe they are not going to eat me, after all? Может быть, они всё же не станут меня есть?; otherwise иначе, в противном случае; sink (sank, sunk) опускаться; погружаться ?hisheartsank у него душа ушла в пятки

What did the cannibals want his name for?

29. A Strange Illness

“Last night, I went to the theater,” said Mr. Smith to a fellow employee. “Your wife was also there. She coughed so loud that other people in the audience couldn’t help staring at her. She must be very ill.”

“Not at all.”

illness болезнь; fellow employee сослуживец; cough кашлять; other people in the audience couldn’t help staring at her другие зрители не могли не смотреть на неё; not at all вовсе нет

If the woman wasn’t ill, why was she coughing? What was the matter with her? This rebus may help you find the right answer.

30. The Clever Prince

Once upon a time, there lived a king who had a daughter, a beautiful princess. So beautiful she was that princes from all over the world would come to ask for her hand in marriage. The girl, however, did not like the idea of getting married, so much so that she would not allow any of the suitors to come near her. She would always say that only the one she touched would become her husband.

once upon a time, there lived жил-был некогда (зачинсказок); from all over the world со всего мира; would come ask for her hand in marriage приезжали просить её руки (модальный would указываетздесьнато, чтодействиепроисходиломногократно); however однако; so much so настолько (ей не нравилась эта идея, что); allow позволять; suitor поклонник; she would always say она постоянно твердила; touch прикасаться ? only the one she touched только тот, до которого она дотронется

Many princes had come, only to leave empty-handed, until one day, a prince came from a far-away kingdom. So resourceful was this young man, that he managed to marry the princess. Although she had never seen him before, she touched him nevertheless.

leave empty-handed уйти с пустыми руками, уйти несолоно хлебавши; resourceful изобретательный; although хотя; nevertheless тем не менее

How did he make her do that? If you don’t know, this rebus may give you a clue.

31. A Solid Reason

Two doctors are discussing the condition of a patient.