Читать онлайн The Book of Riddles. Лексические задачки бесплатно

The Magic Entrance

To enter the World of Riddles, you must first open this magic door. Find the right key for each of the four keyholes.

Well done! Now you can come in, and here is your first riddle.

1. The Investor

“I have some good news and some bad news for you,” the owner of an art gallery said to a painter, whose works were at the exhibition in his gallery.

“What is the good news?” the painter asked.

“The good news is that one of the investors has shown great interest in your works. He asked me if they would go up in price after your death.”

owner владелец; art gallery картинная галерея; exhibition выставка; show great interest in проявить большой интерес к; price цена ◊ go up in price вырасти в цене; death смерть

“And what did you say?”

“I said that they would double in price after you’re gone, and he bought all your paintings.”

“All eighteen of them? That’s good news, indeed. And what’s the bad news?”

“The bad news is the identity of the buyer.”

double удвоиться; after you’re gone здесь: после вашей смерти; the identity of the buyer личность покупателя

Who showed so much interest in the works of the painter? This rebus may help you find the right answer.

2. What Is His Peculiarity?

A man who stuttered was asked why he did so.

“It’s my p-p-p-peculiarity,” he answered. “Everybody has s-s-s-some p-p-p-peculiarity.”

“I don’t have any,” said the questioner.

“Don’t you s-s-s-stir your t-t-t-tea with your r-r-r-right hand?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Th-that’s your p-p-p-peculiarity. Most p-p-p-people __________.”

peculiarity характерная черта; stutter заикаться; stir мешать; most people большинство людей; sentence предложение

Finish the sentence. What do most people do? This rebus may help you find the right answer.

3. The Robbery

One day, a snail was robbed while walking in the park. She went to the police.

“How did it happen?” they asked her.

“I don’t know,” the snail answered. “It all happened too quickly.”

robbery ограбление; one day однажды; snail улитка; rob ограбить; while walking in the park когда она прогуливалась в парке; happen случаться, происходить ◊ How did it happen? Как это случилось?; too quickly слишком быстро; solve решать; find out узнать, выяснить

Who robbed the snail? Solve this rebus to find out.

4. Eureka!

One day, the teacher asked the class:

“Which of you has heard of Archimedes?”

“I have,” said little Johnny. “Archimedes was a scientist. He was taking a bath and cried, “Eureka!”

“What is Eureka?” the teacher asked.

“Eureka means “I have found it”.

“What did he find?”

Johnny blurted out what he thought was the right answer.

What did he say?

eureka эврика; scientist учёный; mean означать; blurt out выпалить, брякнуть

5. The Three Paintings

Max decided to take a shortcut through the forest when he came across an old house he had never seen before. The house seemed deserted. He took a step inside, and the next moment the door behind him slammed shut.

shortcut короткий путь, путь напрямик ◊ take a shortcut срезать путь; come across наткнуться на; seem казаться; deserted заброшенный; take a step сделать шаг; inside вовнутрь помещения; slam shut захлопнуться

“Anybody here?” he asked.

A husky voice replied, “I’m here.”

“And who might you be?”

“I’m the keeper of this house.”

“Why can’t I see you?”

“You cannot see me because ghosts can’t be seen in the daytime.”

Anybody here? Здесь есть кто-нибудь?; husky хриплый; voice голос; reply ответить; And who might you be? И кто же вы такой?; keeper хранитель; ghost привидение, призрак

“Am I your prisoner?”

“No. However, you cannot leave this house unless you find the key to the door. If you don’t, you’ll stay here forever. You’ve only got one try.”

“Can you at least give me a hint?” Max asked.

“Very well,” the voice croaked. “The key is hidden behind one of the paintings in the drawing room. Find it, and you are free.”

prisoner пленник; however однако; unless если только ты не; stay оставаться; forever навсегда; try попытка; at least по крайней мере; hint намёк; croak хрипеть, прохрипеть; прокаркать; hide (hid, hidden) прятать

These are the paintings Max saw in the drawing room. Which of them hides the key?

6. The Elephant Tamer

An elephant tamer is talking to a journalist.

“I hear you used to tame other animals,” the journalist said.

“That’s right,” answered the elephant tamer. “I switched to elephants only a while ago. I have become shortsighted, you know.”

What animals did the tamer work with before he became shortsighted?

tamer укротитель; used to tame раньше дрессировали; that’s right совершенно верно; switch to переключиться на; a while ago некоторое время тому назад; shortsighted близорукий ◊ I have become shortsighted, you know. Я, видите-ли, стал близоруким

7. Doctor Pill

Johnny fell ill, and his mother called the famous doctor Pill.

“Are you really the famous doctor Pill?” the seven-year-old boy asked. “The one who spent several years in Africa treating wild animal?”

“The very same,” answered the doctor.

“Were you not eaten by cannibals?”

“No. Like they say, the rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I’m still alive and kicking.”

fall (fell, fallen) ill заболеть; famous знаменитый; pill пилюля; treat лечить; wild дикий; the very same он самый; like they say как говорится; rumour слух, слухи; exaggerate преувеличивать ◊ the rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated слухи о моей смерти сильно преувеличены; still всё ещё; alive and kicking жив и здоров

“Can you prove it?”

The doctor smiled.

“Prove what? That I’m alive?”

“No. That you’re really the famous doctor Pill.”

“Sure. Here. I hope this photo will convince you.”

The doctor took a photo out of his wallet and gave it to the boy.

Here is that photo:

prove доказывать; smile улыбаться; Here. Вот, держи (говорят, протягивая какой-либо предмет собеседнику); hope надеяться; convince убедить, убеждать; wallet бумажник

Johnny looked at the photo and said, “You’re a liar!”

“But Johnny,” his mother cut in. “How can you talk to the doctor like that?”

“But don’t you see that he is lying?” Johnny asked. “This photo is a fake! He has never been to Africa, and I can prove it!”

liar лжец; cut in вмешаться в разговор; How can you talk to the doctor like that? Как ты разговариваешь с доктором!?; don’t you see неужели ты не видишь; lie лгать; fake подделка; clue ключ (к разгадке)

What made Johnny think that the doctor was lying? If you don’t know, this rebus may give you a clue.

8. The Essay

After the summer holidays, the teacher asked her class to write an essay on how and where the children had spent their vacation. Johnny worked on his essay for almost an hour, yet he wasn’t sure how the teacher would take it.

essay сочинение; after the summer holidays после летних каникул; spend (spent, spent) проводить; vacation каникулы; almost почти; hour час; yet тем не менее; be sure быть уверенным; how the teacher would take it как учительница это воспримет

And indeed, when the teacher opened his exercise book, she frowned, because she saw something she never expected to see. This is what she saw:

But the next moment she smiled and said to herself, “This little rascal is really very talented. I hope he liked his stay in—”

In what country? Where did Johnny spend his summer holidays?

indeed в самом деле; frown хмуриться, нахмуриться; expect ожидать; the next moment в следующее мгновение; smile улыбаться; said to herself сказала сама себе; rascal негодник, шельмец, плут; talented талантливый; hope надеяться; his stay in его пребывание в

9. One plus One Makes One

Arrange these three pictures in the right order.

arrange здесь: расположить; order порядок ◊ in the right order в правильном порядке

10. The Ant Throws a Party

One day, the Ant decided to throw a party. The Grasshopper, the Bee and the Ladybug came, even the Dragonfly showed up.

ant муравей; throw a party устроить вечеринку; decide решить, принять решение; grasshopper кузнечик; bee пчела; ladybug божья коровка; dragonfly стрекоза; show up появиться

The host asked the guests to wipe their feet, and they did so without complaining. Only one guest didn’t like it. Guess who.

host хозяин; guest гость; wipe вытереть, вытирать; and they did so и они так и сделали; complain жаловаться ◊ without complaining без жалоб, безропотно; guess догадаться, угадать

11. The Masked Ball

One day, the animals decided to have a masked ball.

The Wolf soon got tired of dancing. He approached a group of animals, and suggested a game of cards. Several animals agreed to keep him company.

masked ball бал-маскарад; decide решить, принять решение; soon вскоре; gеt tired of dancing устать танцевать; approach подойти, приблизиться; suggest предлагать; a game of cards партия в карты; several несколько; agree соглашаться; keep him company составить ему компанию

“But I warn you,” said the Wolf, taking out a deck of cards from his pocket. “If I catch any of you cheating, the swindler is going to get it in his impudent, ginger snout.

warn предупреждать; deck колода; pocket карман; if если; catch поймать; any of you кого-либо из вас; cheat обманывать, мошенничать ◊ catch cheating поймать за обманом; swindler мошенник; impudent наглый; ginger рыжий, рыжеватый; snout морда (животного) ◊ is going to get it in his snout получит по морде; address адресовать

Who did the Wolf address his words to? Solve this rebus to find out.

12. Where Is the Cat?

One day, little Johnny said to his father:

“Look, Daddy. I have drawn the cat in boots.”

His father looked at the picture and said:

“That’s strange. I see the boots. But where is the cat?”

“Isn’t it clear where it is?” asked Johnny.

“No,” his father answered.

draw рисовать; boots ботинки, сапоги

And you, my dear reader? Do you know where the cat is?

13. At the Zoo

One day, Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet went to the zoo.

“Winnie, let’s leave this place,” Piglet said suddenly. “I’m afraid they will beat us up!”

“What makes you think so?” asked Winnie.

“Look what they did to the horse!” said Piglet.

Winnie-the-Pooh Винни Пух; Piglet Пятачок; leave покидать; place место; beat up избить; What makes you think so? Что заставляет тебя так думать?; do sth to sb¹ сделать что-либо (плохое) с кем-либо

Name the animal he was looking at.

14. The Pot of Gold

The Fox’s grandmother died, leaving her a pot of gold.

Soon, the whole forest knew that the Fox had become an heiress to a large fortune.

“Aren’t you afraid that someone might break into your house and steal your gold?” asked her the Magpie who lived in a tree nearby.

pot горшок ◊ pot of gold горшок с золотом; die умереть; leave оставлять; soon вскоре; whole весь; become становиться; heiress наследница; fortune состояние; break into вломиться в; steal красть, украсть; magpie сорока; nearby неподалёку

“They will not find it,” said the Fox. “It is in a safe place.”

“Where?”

“As if I’m going to tell you!”

“I will be silent as the grave.”

“As if I could trust you!”

safe безопасный; As if I’m going to tell you! Так я тебе и сказала!; be silent as the grave молчать как могила; As if I could trust you! Так я тебе и поверила!

The Magpie begged the Fox to tell her, but the Fox was adamant. She knew better than to share her secret with the number one forest gossiper.

But you, dear reader, can easily find the hiding place – provided that you know the necessary English word.

beg умолять; adamant непреклонный; she knew better than не такая она была дура, чтобы; share her secret делиться своим секретом; gossiper сплетница; hiding place тайник; provided that при условии, что; necessary нужный

So, where did the Fox keep her gold?

15. Dutch Courage

The man had already paid a visit to several bars. He was so drunk, he could hardly stand. His hands shook, and he spilled several drops of whiskey on the floor. Suddenly, a mouse appeared at the table, and drank up the spilled whiskey.

Dutch courage храбрость во хмелю (букв.: храбрость голландца); already уже; pay a visit нанести визит, посетить; several несколько; bar бар; He was so drunk, he could hardly stand. Он был настолько пьян, что едва держался на ногах; shake (shook, shaken) дрожать; spill пролить; drop капля; appear появиться

This went on several times. At last, the drunkard decided that it was time to go home. He took his small booze companion with him. On the way, he turned over a few trash cans.

this went on several times это повторилось несколько раз; at last наконец; drunkard пьяница; it was time пора было; booze companion собутыльник; turn over опрокинуть; a few несколько; trash can мусорный бак

The noise woke up the neighbourhood. A man leaned out of a window, and cried out:

“Hey, you! Do you have to make so much noise?”

“Stop shouting! Come out, if you are a man! We shall talk here,” answered the drunkard.

“Right,” said the mouse. “And don’t forget to bring your ______.”

Your what? Finish the sentence.

noise шум; wake up (woke up, woken up) разбудить; neighbourhood квартал; lean out of a window высунуться из окна; Do you have to make so much noise? Неужели непременно нужно так сильно шуметь?; Stop shouting! Перестань кричать; right правильно; forget забывать; sentence предложение

16. Good Advice

The customer studied the menu, and said to the waiter:

“I think, I will have the chicken – and the younger, the better.”

advice совет; customer посетитель (ресторана); waiter официант; the younger, the better чем моложе, тем лучше

What did the waiter bring him?

17. A Bet

Someone had stolen some bananas from the zoo. The gorilla hung out a warning: “Who stole my bananas? If I catch the thief, I will tear off his paws, and twist his ears! Gorilla.”

bet пари; steal (stole, stolen) украсть; hang out (hung out, hung out) вывесить; warning предупреждение; catch поймать; thief вор; tear off оторвать; paw лапа; twist his ears надеру (букв.: выкручу) ему уши

The next day, the Gorilla read under his own announcement: “You won’t. Wanna bet?”

These words were followed by a signature.

Who had dared to challenge the Gorilla? This rebus may give you a clue.

announcement объявление; You won’t. Wanna bet? Не надерёшь. Спорим?; follow следовать ◊ These words were followed by a signature. За этими словами следовала подпись; dare посметь, осмелиться; challenge бросить вызов

18. A Thriller

One day, Johnny’s mother said to her little son:

“This is not the way to read a book, Johnny. You skip several pages at a time.”

“I’m doing it on purpose,” Johnny answered, and explained why he was doing that.

Well, why? What was the book about?

thriller триллер, остросюжетная книга; way здесь: способ ◊ This is not the way to read a book. Книгу так не читают; skip пропускать; перескакивать; page страница ◊ you skip several pages at a time ты перескакиваешь через несколько за раз; on purpose намеренно, специально; explain объяснять; What was the book about? О чём была книга?

Solve this rebus to get a clue.

19. In the Rain

Samuel was out for a walk when it started raining. He did not have an umbrella, and he wasn't wearing a hat. His clothes were soaked, yet not a single hair on his head got wet.

in the rain под дождём; was out for a walk прогуливался; he wasn’t wearing a hat он был без шляпы; clothes одежда; soaked насквозь промокший; yet несмотря на это; single один; get wet намокнуть, промокнуть.

How could this happen? Solve this rebus to get a clue.

If you don’t know, this rebus may help you find the right answer.

20. The Clever Boy

Two mothers are talking.

One of them said, “My son is very smart. He is only two years old, but he can already read his name from right to left, and from left to right.”

“And what is his name?” the other woman asked.

What was the boy’s name? If you don’t know, this rebus may help you find it out.

21. Who is on the Phone?

One day, the emergency service received a phone call.

“Please, send someone immediately! A cat has burst into my room!”

“Er… What do you mean? What cat?”

“A cat! Don’t you understand? C-A-T. Cat! He burst into my room, and is heading for me!”

emergency чрезвычайное происшествие ◊ emergency service received a phone call в службу спасения поступил звонок; immediately немедленно; burst (burst, burst) into врываться в; What do you mean? Что вы имеете в виду?; What cat? Какой кот?; Don’t you understand? Неужели вы не понимаете?; Ну как вы не понимаете?!; head for sb/sth направляться к кому-либо или чему-либо

“Wait a minute. Do you want to say that a burglar broke into your house, and is going to steal your cat?’

“No! I am speaking about a cat. A real cat! The one that says “meow”. My life is in serious danger!”

“How can a cat pose a threat to your life? Who is speaking, anyway?”

Who, indeed?

burglar вор; break (broke, broken) into проникнуть в; steal красть; danger опасность; threat угроза ◊ pose a threat представлять собой угрозу; Who is speaking, anyway? А кто это вообще говорит?; indeed в самом деле

22. A Difficult Question

“If there were four flies on the table and I killed one, how many would be left?” asked the teacher.

Several children raised their hands, but only Mary gave the right answer.

fly муха; how many would be left сколько останется; raise поднимать

What was that answer?

23. The Sweets

Suppose, you had ten sweets and you hid two of them. How many sweets have you got now?

suppose предположим; sweet конфета; hide (hid, hidden) прятать

Solve this rebus to see the right answer.

24. The Bird Catcher

A bird catcher went to the forest to catch birds. By the end of the day, he caught only one bird.

“Let me go,” the bird begged him. “My husband and my hungry children are waiting for me.”

“So what? I am hungry, too. I will take you home with me, cook you, and have my supper.”

bird catcher птицелов; catch (caught, caught) ловить, поймать; Let me go. Отпусти меня; beg умолять; husband муж, супруг; wait ждать; So what? И что с того?

He put the bird in the cage, and headed home. On the way, he was caught in a storm. Lightning forked the sky, one thunderclap followed another. The bird catcher realized that would never get out of the forest alive. He lay down on the ground and waited for the Death to come for him.

cage клетка; headed home зашагал по направлению к дому; on the way по дороге; was caught in a storm попал под сильный дождь; lightning молния; fork здесь: прорезать; thunderclap удар грома; realize понять; alive живой; lie down (lay down, lain down) лечь, опуститься; ground земля; death смерть; come for sb прийти за кем-либо

Suddenly he heard the bird’s voice.

“Get up, hunter, and hide under that big tree.”

At that very moment, another lightning lit up the forest, and the bird catcher saw a big tree. He jumped up, and hid under its branches. Right above his head, there was a hole in the tree. In that hole, there lived the bird’s family.

“A bird catcher caught me,” said the bird to her husband. “He is hiding under the branches of our tree. He is cold and hungry. We must have pity on him.”

light up (lit up, lit up) осветить; branch ветка; right above his head прямо над его головой; hole дупло; have pity жалеть, пожалеть

Upon hearing her words, the second bird turned to the bird catcher.

“You are my guest,” he said. “What can I do for you?”

“I am cold,” the bird catcher answered.

The bird left his nest, and soon came back with a piece of charcoal. He made a fire, and put some dry brushwood into it. The bird catcher got warm.

“I am hungry,” he said. “Give me something to eat.”

The bird answered:

“We, forest creatures, eat what we can get. But you will not die of hunger. I will now enter the fire, and you can eat me. I only have one thing to ask of you: Let my wife go. If you don’t, our children will die of hunger.”

upon hearing her words услышав её слова; turn to повернуться к; leave (left, left) покидать; nest гнездо; charcoal древесный уголь; dry сухой; brushwood хворост; forest creatures лесные твари; die of hunger умереть с голоду; enter the fire войти в огонь; Let my wife go. Отпусти мою жену.

The man felt something like conscience stir up inside his chest.

“No,” he said. “I will not accept this sacrifice. I will not eat you.”

He opened the cage, and let the bird out.

“Live long, and be happy,” he said.

The moment he spoke these words, the thunderstorm stopped, as if by magic, and the man could finally go safely home.

feel (felt, felt) чувствовать; something like нечто похожее на; conscience совесть; stir up шевелиться; chest грудь, грудная клетка; accept принять; sacrifice жертва; let out выпустить; thunderstorm гроза; as if by magic словно по волшебству; finally наконец; safely безопасно; sweetheart возлюбленный, возлюбленная

What is the name of the bird that was ready to sacrifice itself for its sweetheart? Solve this rebus to find out.

25. Sick Leave

A member of a military band came to the surgeon.

“I have a terrible throat ache,” he complained.

“Let me see your throat,” said the doctor. “Oh, that’s not so bad. You’ll be all right in a day or two. I think you’d better rest a little for a week or so.” And with these words the surgeon gave the man sick leave.

sick leave отпуск по болезни; member участник ◊ member of a military band музыкант военного оркестра; surgeon хирург, врач; terrible ужасный; throat горло; ache боль; complain жаловаться; you’d better rest a little вам лучше немного отдохнуть

A week later, the surgeon met the bandsman in the street.

“How’s your throat?” he asked.

“Oh, I feel much better now,” was the reply.

“I’m glad to hear that,” said the surgeon. “You can go back to your duty now. By the way, what instrument do you play in the band?”

The bandsman told him.

meet (met, met) встречать; bandsman оркестрант; You can go back to your duty now. Вы теперь можете вернуться к своим обязанностям; by the way кстати, к слову, между прочим

What instrument did he play in the band?

26. The Traveller and the Witch

One cold winter day, a man was walking through a thick forest.  Soon, night fell, and it became very dark. Suddenly, the traveller saw a hut. He knocked, and an old woman answered the door.

“Let me spend the night at your house, Granny,” said the man. “I’m chilled to the bone. I will pay you as much as you say.”

traveller здесь: путник; witch ведьма; thick forest дремучий лес; hut хижина; knock стучать; answer the door открыть деверь (в ответ на стук); let me spend the night позволь мне провести ночь; I’m chilled to the bone. Я продрог до костей.

“Come in,” said the old woman. “As for your money, you can keep it. Humans may need money, but I don’t.”

“You wouldn’t be a witch, would you?” asked the traveller, studying her ugly face.

“The very same. They call me the Bony Leg. But you need not to be afraid of me. I won’t do you any harm.”

As for your money, you can keep it. Что до ваших денег, то можете оставить их себе; humans люди (в отличие от других существ); may need money, but I don’t могут нуждаться в деньгах, но я в них не нуждаюсь; You wouldn’t be a witch, would you? А ты, случаем, не ведьма?; ugly уродливый; The very same. Она самая; bony костлявый; костяной; do harm причинять вред

“You can warm your chilly bones by the fire, and even stay for the night, but I have one condition,” continued the witch.

“Name it.”

“You must solve one of my riddles.”

“Deal! Ask your riddle.”

“How can a man go eight days without sleep?”

“Oh, that’s very simple. I think I could do that,” said the man, and went on to explain.

condition условие; Name it. Назови его; Deal! Договорились!; explain объяснять

What did he say? How can a man go eight days without sleep? Solve this rebus to find out.

27. The Traveller and the Witch (2)

If the witch was disappointed, she didn’t show it.

“Well done,” she said, laying the table. “It is always a pleasure to share a meal with a clever man.”

disappointed разочарованный; show показывать; well done здесь: молодец (похвала); lay the table накрывать на стол; pleasure удовольствие; share a meal разделить трапезу (с кем-либо)

The next morning, the man went to the kitchen to say goodbye to the witch.

“It’s a pity you are leaving,” said the Bony Leg. “I’d rather you didn't go so soon. It is hard to find such good company nowadays. Do you mind if ask you another riddle? If you don’t solve it, you will stay with me for three months and three days.”

The traveller seemed to hesitate.

I’d rather я бы предпочла; nowadays в наши дни; do you mind if ты не возражаешь, если; hesitate колебаться, быть в нерешительности ◊ The traveller seemed to hesitate. Казалось, путник колеблется.

“Three months is a long time,” he said. “But, alright. Ask your riddle.”

“Here it is: If you have me, you want to share me. If you share me, you haven't got me. What am I?”

The traveler told her. There was nothing to do but to let him go.

share делиться, поделиться с кем-либо; There was nothing to do but to let him go. Ничего не оставалось, кроме как отпустить его.

And you, dear reader, do you know the answer to this riddle? If you don’t, this rebus may give you a clue.

28. Captured by Cannibals

This is a story about a hunter who was unfortunate enough to be captured by cannibals. The cannibals brought him to their village, and tied him to a pole. After a while, they started to make a fire. One of the cannibals approached the prisoner, and asked him his name.

capture захватить; взять в плен; hunter охотник; unfortunate незадачливый ◊ who was unfortunate enough to be captured by cannibals которому не повезло оказаться в плену у каннибалов; village деревня; tie to привязывать к; pole шест; after a while через некоторое время; approach приближаться к; prisoner пленник

“What do you need my name for?” asked the prisoner, hopefully. “Maybe they are not going to eat me, after all? Otherwise, they wouldn’t ask me my name,” he thought.

His heart sank when he heard the answer.

Maybe they are not going to eat me, after all? Может быть, они всё же не станут меня есть?; otherwise иначе, в противном случае; sink (sank, sunk) опускаться; погружаться ◊ his heart sank у него душа ушла в пятки

What did the cannibals want his name for?

29. A Strange Illness

“Last night, I went to the theater,” said Mr. Smith to a fellow employee. “Your wife was also there. She coughed so loud that other people in the audience couldn’t help staring at her. She must be very ill.”

“Not at all.”

illness болезнь; fellow employee сослуживец; cough кашлять; other people in the audience couldn’t help staring at her другие зрители не могли не смотреть на неё; not at all вовсе нет

If the woman wasn’t ill, why was she coughing? What was the matter with her? This rebus may help you find the right answer.

30. The Clever Prince

Once upon a time, there lived a king who had a daughter, a beautiful princess. So beautiful she was that princes from all over the world would come to ask for her hand in marriage. The girl, however, did not like the idea of getting married, so much so that she would not allow any of the suitors to come near her. She would always say that only the one she touched would become her husband.

once upon a time, there lived жил-был некогда (зачин сказок); from all over the world со всего мира; would come ask for her hand in marriage приезжали просить её руки (модальный would указывает здесь на то, что действие происходило многократно); however однако; so much so настолько (ей не нравилась эта идея, что); allow позволять; suitor поклонник; she would always say она постоянно твердила; touch прикасаться ◊ only the one she touched только тот, до которого она дотронется

Many princes had come, only to leave empty-handed, until one day, a prince came from a far-away kingdom. So resourceful was this young man, that he managed to marry the princess. Although she had never seen him before, she touched him nevertheless.

leave empty-handed уйти с пустыми руками, уйти несолоно хлебавши; resourceful изобретательный; although хотя; nevertheless тем не менее

How did he make her do that? If you don’t know, this rebus may give you a clue.

31. A Solid Reason

Two doctors are discussing the condition of a patient.