A future businessman

(from "The Financier" by Theodore Dreiser)

Theodore Dreiser, the great American progressive writer, was.born in a poor family in 1871. He began to work for his living when he was sixteen. He had a number of jobs, and at one time was a newspaper reporter. As a reporter he gained a wide experience of life, which was a great help to him when he took up novel-writing.

Dreiser's literary career started in 1900 when "Sister Carrie" was published. In this novel and also in his later works, the writer exposed the true nature of American "democracy".

Dreiser was deeply impressed by the Great October Socialist Revo­lution. In 1927—28 he visited the Soviet Union and from that time on was a true friend to our country. In 1945, at the age of 74, he joined the Communist Party of the USA.

Dreiser died in 1945.

The passage below comes from "The Financier". Frank Cowperwood at thirteen is shown as a boy who is already fully aware of the power ol money. Later on he becomes a typical capitalist who stops at nothing to become lich and powerful.

I. Active Vocabulary.

a step, to take steps

a position

a connection,

in connection with smth,

to connect

to deal (dealt, dealt) (with)

to represent, a representative

reliable, to rely (on)

an interest,

to take an interest (In).

to be of interest (to),

to be (get) interested (In)

to train, to get (have) training

an exchange,

in exchange for,

to exchange (one thing for another)

a bill

honest,

to be honest (with)

a notice,

to give(get) (two weeks') notice

frank,

to be frank (with)

frequent, frequently

to be (keep) In touch (with)

to be out of touch (with)

to get in touch (with)

to behave

to object to

to depend on