Arakin 4 kurs new 001 176. indd

high stakes 
to be dangerous: 
Climbing is a dangerous sport and the 
stakes are high.
to go to the stake for/over something 
(BrE) to be willing to do 
anything to protect or defend your opinion: 
That’s my opinion, but I 
would not go to the stake for it.
stake
v
to risk losing something that is valuable or important to 
you, as to stake once’s life on smth: 
Tom is staking his reputation on the 
success of the project
I’d stake my life on it 
(spoken): 
I know he is guilty but I wouldn’t 
stake my life on it.
to stake out (
informal) 1) to watch a place secretly and continu-
ously: 
The policemen have been staking out the warehouse for weeks. 
2) to mark or control a particular area: 
We went to the show early to 
stake out a good spot.
READING COMPREHENSION EXERCISES
1. a) Consult a dictionary and transcribe the following words from the text. 
Practise their pronunciation paying attention to stresses:
unanimous, corroborative, appreciation, naked, aridity, iota, sub-
sequent, contraband, sheriff, circumstantial, persevering, unmiti-
gated, aisle, exit, caliber, perspire, distaff, executive, inferiority, gavel, 
conduct (
v, n
), minute, indict, loosen.

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b) Listen to your partners’ reading of the above exercise. Correct their 
mistakes
2. Complete the following sentences
1. No matter who he is, he... . 2. No matter who told you that... . 
3. ... no matter who you are. 4. No matter what I do... . 5. ... no matter 
how well he knows the facts. 6. No matter how fine the weather was... 
7. No matter how hard she tried... . 8. I feel nothing but... . 9. The girl 
was conscious of nothing but... . 10. They were afraid they would have 
nothing but... . 11. The young gang always had a way of... 12. Little 
Dennis has a way of... .