Question

В ответах на это задание говорят, что мы должны поставить артикль "a" под номером 10. Подскажите пожалуйста, почему? Речь же идет о конкретном петухе, который гуляет. 1)… Frenchman was once travelling in (2)… England. He did not know (3)… English quite well. He could speak only (4)… little. One day he was eating in (5)… small pub and he wanted to order (6)… eggs. But he didn’t know (7)… English word for (8)… eggs. Suddenly through (9)… window he saw that (10)… rooster (петух) was walking in (11)… yard. He asked (12)… waiter what was the English for (13)… “roster”. (14)… waiter told him. (15)… Frenchman then asked what was the English for (16)… “rooster’s wife”. (17)… waiter told him that it was (18)… hen. Next (19)… Frenchman asked what was the English for “hen’s children”. (20)… waiter told him that they were (21)… chickens. (22)… Frenchman asked what (23)… chickens were before they were born. (24)… waiter told him they were (25)… eggs. “You’ve explained everything very well,” (26)… Frenchman said. “Please bring me two (27).… eggs and (28) … cup of (29)… coffee.”

Answer 1

Скорее всего, артикль "a" употребляется в данном случае в связи с первичным упоминанием о петухе (до этого о нём ничего не говорилось).

Answer 2

The article "a" should be placed before the word "rooster" under number 10.

You are right that the sentence is referring to a specific rooster that the Frenchman sees through the window, and one might think that the definite article "the" should be used instead of "a." However, in this context, the sentence is introducing the rooster as a new concept to the story, and the Frenchman is observing a rooster for the first time.

The first time we mention something in a narrative or a story, we usually use the indefinite article "a" or "an" to introduce the noun. This is to show that it's a new, unspecified item in the story. So, even though the Frenchman sees a specific rooster, it's the first time the concept of a rooster is mentioned in the text, and therefore the article "a" is appropriate.

In summary, the sentence should be: "Suddenly through (9)… window he saw (10)… rooster (петух) was walking in (11)… yard."