Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

CHAPTER I

There was no possibility of taking a walk that day. We had been wandering, indeed, in the leafless shrubbery an hour in the morning; but since dinner (Mrs. Reed, when there was no company, dined early) the cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so sombre, and a rain so penetrating, that further out-door exercise was now out of the question.

I was glad of it: I never liked long walks, especially on chilly afternoons: dreadful to me was the coming home in the raw twilight, with nipped fingers and toes, and a heart saddened by the chidings of Bessie, the nurse, and humbled by the consciousness of my physical inferiority to Eliza, John, and Georgiana Reed.

The said Eliza, John, and Georgiana were now clustered round their mama in the drawing-room: she lay reclined on a sofa by the fireside, and with her darlings about her (for the time neither quarrelling nor crying) looked perfectly happy. Me, she had dispensed from joining the group; saying, "She regretted to be under the necessity of keeping me at a distance; but that until she heard from Bessie, and could discover by her own observation, that I was endeavouring in good earnest to acquire a more sociable and childlike disposition, a more attractive and sprightly manner--something lighter, franker, more natural, as it were--she really must exclude me from privileges intended only for contented, happy, little children."

"What does Bessie say I have done?" I asked.

"Jane, I don't like cavillers or questioners; besides, there is something truly forbidding in a child taking up her elders in that manner. Be seated somewhere; and until you can speak pleasantly, remain silent."

1. Was anyone around their mother?
2. Who?
3. In the kitchen?
4. Where then?
5. What position was she in?
6. Were her kids fighting?
7. What had they done earlier?
8. Was there verdant foliage?
9. How long had they wandered?
10. Who ate earlier when alone?
11. Was it nice out?
12. What couldn't they do because of that?
13. Did this disappoint the narrator?
14. How did they feel about it?
15. Why?
16. Any other reasons?
17. Was the narrator the strongest of the bunch?
18. Was she allowed the be around the other kids' mother?
19. What did she need to do to be allowed to be there?
20. What does the mother dislike?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. Yes
2. Eliza, John, and Georgiana
3. No
4. in the drawing-room
5. Reclined on a sofa
6. No
7. unknown
8. No
9. an hour
10. Mrs. Reed
11. Not now, no
12. Take a walk
13. No
14. They were glad
15. They never liked long walks, especially on chilly afternoons
16. The chidings of Bessie, the nurse
17. No, the opposite.
18. No
19. Show that she was endeavouring to be have a better disposition
20. cavillers or questioners

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

CHAPTER IX

On Sunday morning under the bright, warm sun, the little hamlet of Fort Henry lay peacefully quiet, as if no storms had ever rolled and thundered overhead, no roistering ever disturbed its stillness, and no Indian's yell ever horribly broke the quiet.

"'Tis a fine morning," said Colonel Zane, joining his sister on the porch. "Well, how nice you look! All in white for the first time since--well, you do look charming. You're going to church, of course."

"Yes, I invited Helen and her cousin to go. I've persuaded her to teach my Sunday-school class, and I'll take another of older children," replied Betty.

"That's well. The youngsters don't have much chance to learn out here. But we've made one great stride. A church and a preacher means very much to young people. Next shall come the village school."

"Helen and I might teach our classes an hour or two every afternoon."

"It would be a grand thing if you did! Fancy these tots growing up unable to read or write. I hate to think of it; but the Lord knows I've done my best. I've had my troubles in keeping them alive."

"Helen suggested the day school. She takes the greatest interest in everything and everybody. Her energy is remarkable. She simply must move, must do something. She overflows with kindness and sympathy. Yesterday she cried with happiness when Mabel told her Alex was eager to be married very soon. I tell you, Eb, Helen is a fine character."

1. Who was the first person to speak?
2. Who was he talking to?
3. Where?
4. How did she appear?
5. What was she wearing?
6. Was she going somewhere?
7. Where?
8. With who?
9. Was she teaching?
10. What?
11. What is his sister's name?
12. Is Helen a good person?
13. What did she suggest?
14. Is she lazy?
15. What was she going to do?
16. What will Betty do instead?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. Colonel Zane
2. His sister
3. On the porch
4. Nice
5. All in white
6. Yes
7. Church
8. Helen and her cousin
9. Yes
10. Sunday-school class
11. Betty
12. Yes
13. The day school
14. No
15. Teach Betty's Sunday-school class
16. Teach older children

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Today we tell about Louisa May Alcott. She wrote . In 1868, an American publisher asked Louisa May Alcott to write a book for girls. At first, she was not sure if she wanted to do it. She said she didn't like girls. However, she decided to write the book finally. She told about her experiences growing up in the northeast of the United States. The book was quite interesting. became one of the most popular children's books in American literature. It was published in more than 50 languages. Alcott was born in Pennsylvania in 1832. The Alcotts did not have much money. She tried teaching, sewing and taking care of children. She did not like any of these jobs. At the age of 16, she wrote her first book, . Her stories were exciting, but unreal. She sold them to newspapers and magazines for money. The first volume of came out in 1868. It made Alcott famous and get a lot of money. She continued writing other popular books for young people. These books included , and . Alcott wrote many exciting stories about love. But she was single all her life. She continued to help her family during the last years of her life.

1. Who is the main person in this passage?
2. Who asked her to write a book for girls?
3. In what year?
4. What was Louisa's reaction?
5. Why?
6. Where did she grew up in?
7. Did she finally write the book?
8. Did it become one of the most popular book?
9. In how many languages was it published?
10. In what year was Alcott born?
11. Where exactly?
12. What other jobs did she have?
13. Did she like any of it?
14. At what age did she write a book?
15. Did she become famous?
16. Was she single throughout her life?
17. Was she helpful towards her family?

Numbered answers:

A:
1. Louisa
2. an American publisher
3. 1868
4. she was not sure
5. she didn't like girls
6. the northeast
7. Yes
8. Yes
9. more than 50
10. 1832
11. in Pennsylvania
12. teaching, sewing and taking care of children
13. No
14. 16
15. Yes
16. Yes
17. Yes