Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
(CNN) -- Before the Arab Spring came the Damascus Spring. When Bashar al-Assad succeeded his father Hafez Assad in 2000, there was the promise of a modern and more democratic Syria.

In his inauguration speech, al-Assad indicated he would be a very different kind of leader to his father. "I shall try my very best to lead our country towards a future that fulfils the hopes and legitimate ambitions of our people," he said.

And for a while that promise was kept. His official website says he has built free-trade zones, licensed more private newspapers and private universities, and fought government waste and corruption. He has also worked on social and economic reform.

But while there have been some changes during his rule, many say al-Assad's promises have largely not been delivered.

Human Rights Watch has called his time as president "the wasted decade" with a media that remains controlled by the state, a monitored and censored internet and prisons still filled with dissidents.

Two former regime insiders -- now its opponents -- recalled their time with the younger al-Assad. Former vice president Abdel Halim Khaddam said Bashar was often the victim of his elder brother's cruelty. "His brother Basil bullied him as a child. His father never gave him as much attention as Basil," Khaddam said.

Al-Assad's uncle Rifaat, who left Syria in 1984 after being involved in a failed coup, also recalled the future president.

"He is very different than his father. Hafez was a leader, the head of the entire regime, while Bashar was never that close to being one and never fell within that framework. He is being perceived as the leader but he follows what the regime decides on his behalf."
1. What came before the Arab Spring?
2. Who succeeded his father?
3. Who was his father?
4. When?
5. Was there a promise?
6. of what?
7. What does his website say he built?
8. Anything else?
9. What kind of reform has he worked on?
10. Have there been changes under his rule?
11. Has he delivered on his promise?
12. What did a group call his time as president?
13. Who said that
14. who is Abdel Halim Khaddam?
15. Who is Basil?
16. Who is Rifaat?
17. When did he leave Syria?
18. Why?
19. Did he say Bashar was different than his father?
20. Does he think Bashar is a leader?

Numbered answers:
1. Damascus Spring
2. Bashar al-Assad
3. Hafez Assad
4. 2000
5. Yes
6. A more modern and democratic Syria
7. Free-trade zones
8. He fought government waste and corruption
9. Social and economic
10. Yes
11. Many say no.
12. The wasted decade
13. Human Rights Watch
14. Former vice president of Syria
15. Bashar's brother
16. Al-Assad's uncle
17. 1984
18. He was involved in a failed coup
19. Yes
20. No

Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
CHAPTER XXIII.

LAID UP.

Harriet Holden was sitting in Elizabeth's boudoir. "And he had the effrontery," the latter was saying, "to tell me what I must do and must not do! The idea! A miserable little milk-wagon driver dictating to me!"

Miss Holden smiled.

"I should not call him very little," she remarked.

"I didn't mean physically," retorted Elizabeth. "It is absolutely insufferable. I am going to demand that father discharge the man."

"And suppose he asks you why?" asked Harriet. "You will tell him, of course, that you want this person discharged because he protected you from the insults and attacks of a ruffian while you were dining in Feinheimer's at night--is that it?"

"You are utterly impossible, Harriet!" cried Elizabeth, stamping her foot. "You are as bad as that efficiency person. But, then, I might have expected it! You have always, it seems to me, shown a great deal more interest in the fellow than necessary, and probably the fact that Harold doesn't like him is enough to make you partial toward him, for you have never tried to hide the fact that you don't like Harold."

"If you're going to be cross," said Harriet, "I think I shall go home."

At about the same time the Lizard entered Feinheimer's. In the far corner of the room Murray was seated at a table. The Lizard approached and sat down opposite him. "Here I am," he said. "What do you want, and how did you know I was in town?"
1. Who was sitting?
2. In what?
3. Whose was it?
4. What was she going to demand her father do?
5. What does Elizabeth want her father to do to the person who told her what she must and must not do?
6. What is the profession of the man she's talking about?
7. Is he happy?
8. Does Harriet think him very small?
9. Where is Harriet going to go if Elizabeth continues to be out of sorts?
10. Who arrived after Harriet said that?
11. Where?
12. Who else was in the room?
13. Where was he?
14. Did Lizard join him?
15. Does it seem like they're friends?
16. Who doesn't Harriet like, according to Elizabeth?
17. And has she ever tried to hide her disdain?
18. What did Elizabeth do with her foot?
19. Does it sound like Elizabeth maybe has a thing for the wagon driver?
20. What did the milk driver protect Elizabeth from while she was dining in Feinheimer's?
Numbered answers:
1. Harriet Holden
2. Elizabeth's boudoir
3. Elizabeth's
4. tell me what I must do and must not do
5. discharge the man
6. milk-wagon driver
7. no
8. no
9. home
10. the Lizard
11. Feinheimer's
12. Murray
13. In the far corner
14. yes
15. no
16. Harold
17. no
18. stamped it
19. no
20. the insults and attacks of a ruffian