Grammar A. Look at the following extracts from the interview that you heard in the listening section and decide what each of them means. Choose a or b. 1. Although the storm weakened over land, it regained hurricane status about one hour after entering the Gulf of Mexico. a. The storm regained hurricane status because it weakened over land. b. The storm weakened over land but it regained hurricane status. 2. In spite of the evacuation, many people could not leave town. a. The town was evacuated; however, many people couldn’t leave. b. Many people could not leave as a result of the evacuation. 3. Despite what we may think, every little bit helps. a. We think that every little bit helps and we’re right. b. We don’t think that every little bit helps but we’re wrong.

Перевод задания: Прочитайте отрывки из интервью и определите, что означает каждый из них. Выберите a или b.

1. b. The storm weakened over land but it regained hurricane status. (Шторм ослаб над сушей, но снова стал ураганом.) Although вводит противопоставление.
2. a. The town was evacuated; however, many people couldn’t leave. (Город эвакуировали, однако многие люди не смогли уехать.) In spite of означает «несмотря на» и не указывает, что эвакуация стала причиной невозможности уехать.
3. b. We don’t think that every little bit helps but we’re wrong. (Мы не думаем, что даже малое усилие помогает, но ошибаемся.) Despite what we may think противопоставляет наше возможное мнение последующему утверждению.