Английский язык с Мюриэль Спарк (рассказы)

Raymond and Lou were counted lucky (Раймонд и Лу считались счастливыми; to count — считать, подсчитывать; полагать) to have obtained their three-roomed flat (/потому что/ смогли получить свою трехкомнатную квартиру; to obtain — доставать, приобретать) although they had no children (хотя у них не было детей). People with children had priority (семьи: «люди» с детьми обладали первоочередным правом; priority — приоритет, порядокочередности); but their name had been on the waiting list for years (но их имена находились в листе ожидания годами; waiting list — списокожидающихочерединаполучениечего-либо, to wait — ждать, ожидать), and some said Raymond had a pull with one of the Councillors (и кое-кто говорил, что Ричард имел протекцию от одного из членов Совета; pull — тяга, натяжение; протекция, связи, блат) who was a director of the motor works (который был директором автомобильного завода).

The Parkers were among the few tenants of Cripps House (Паркеры были одни из немногих: «среди немногих» жильцов Криппс Хауза) who owned a motor-car (которые имели машину; to own — владеть). They did not, like most of their neighbours, have a television receiver (у них не было, как у большинства из их соседей, телевизионного приемника; neighbour — сосед, соседка), from being childless (так как у них не было детей: «будучи бездетными») they had been able to afford (они могли позволить себе; to afford — бытьвсостоянии, иметьвозможность) to expand themselves in the way of taste (развиваться в культурном плане: «по пути вкуса»; to expand — расширять(ся), развивать(ся)), so that their habits differed slightly (и, таким образом, их привычки отличались слегка; to differ — отличаться, расходитьсявомнениях) and their amusements considerably (и их развлечения значительно /отличались/; amusement — развлечение, увеселение), from those of their neighbours (от /привычек и развлечений/ их соседей).

couple ['kAp(q)l] although [O: l'DqV] neighbour ['neIbq]

considerably [kqn'sId(q)rqblI]

Of the twenty-five couples who live in Cripps House five were Catholics All, except Raymond and Lou Parker, had children. A sixth family had recently been moved by the Council into one of the six-roomed houses because of the seven children besides the grandfather.

Raymond and Lou were counted lucky to have obtained their three-roomed flat although they had no children. People with children had priority; but their name had been on the waiting list for years, and some said Raymond had a pull with one of theCouncillorswho was a director of the motor works.

The Parkers were among the few tenants of Cripps House who owned a motor-car. They did not, like most of theirneighbours, have a television receiver, from being childless they had been able to afford to expand themselves in the way of taste, so that their habits differed slightly and their amusements considerably, from those of theirneighbours.