Problem: CHAPTER XIV.

HOW KING BOABDIL EL CHICO MARCHED OVER THE BORDER.

The defeat of the Christian cavaliers among the mountains of Malaga, and the successful inroad of Muley Abul Hassan into the lands of Medina Sidonia, had produced a favorable effect on the fortunes of the old monarch. The inconstant populace began to shout forth his name in the streets, and to sneer at the inactivity of his son Boabdil el Chico. The latter, though in the flower of his age and distinguished for vigor and dexterity in jousts and tournaments, had never yet fleshed his weapon in the field of battle; and it was murmured that he preferred the silken repose of the cool halls of the Alhambra to the fatigue and danger of the foray and the hard encampments of the mountains.

The popularity of these rival kings depended upon their success against the Christians, and Boabdil el Chico found it necessary to strike some signal blow to counterbalance the late triumph of his father. He was further incited by his father-in-law, Ali Atar, alcayde of Loxa, with whom the coals of wrath against the Christians still burned among the ashes of age, and had lately been blown into a flame by the attack made by Ferdinand on the city under his command.

Ali Atar informed Boabdil that the late discomfiture of the Christian knights had stripped Andalusia of the prime of her chivalry and broken the spirit of the country. All the frontier of Cordova and Ecija now lay open to inroad; but he especially pointed out the city of Lucena as an object of attack, being feebly garrisoned and lying in a country rich in pasturage, abounding in cattle and grain, in oil and wine. The fiery old Moor spoke from thorough information, for he had made many an incursion into these parts, and his very name was a terror throughout the country. It had become a by-word in the garrison of Loxa to call Lucena the garden of Ali Atar, for he was accustomed to forage its fertile territories for all his supplies.
1. what did Ali tell Boabdil?
2. what did the popularity of the kings depend on?
3. who lost in the the mountains of Malaga?
4. what did this lead to?
5. who was inactive?
6. had the son ever used his weapon?
7. what did he prefer?
8. what did Boabdil el Chico think was necessary?
9. who is his father in law?
10. who attacked the city?
11. what city has lots of cows and grain?
Answer: 1. that the late discomfiture of the Christian knights had stripped Andalusia of the prime of her chivalry and broken the spirit of the country
2. upon their success against the Christians
3. the Christian cavaliers
4. a favorable effect on the fortunes of the old monarch
5. The populace
6. yes
7. he preferred the silken repose of the cool halls of the Alhambra to the fatigue and danger of the foray and the hard encampments of the mountains.
8. to strike some signal blow to counterbalance the late triumph of his father.
9. Ali Atar
10. Ferdinand
11. Lucena

Problem: Secularism is the principle of the separation of government institutions and persons mandated to represent the state from religious institutions and religious dignitaries (the attainment of such is termed secularity). One manifestation of secularism is asserting the right to be free from religious rule and teachings, or, in a state declared to be neutral on matters of belief, from the imposition by government of religion or religious practices upon its people. Another manifestation of secularism is the view that public activities and decisions, especially political ones, should be uninfluenced by religious beliefs or practices.

Secularism draws its intellectual roots from Greek and Roman philosophers such as Epicurus and Marcus Aurelius; from Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, Denis Diderot, Voltaire, Baruch Spinoza, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Paine; and from more recent freethinkers and atheists such as Robert Ingersoll, Bertrand Russell, and Christopher Hitchens.

The purposes and arguments in support of secularism vary widely. In European laicism, it has been argued that secularism is a movement toward modernization, and away from traditional religious values (also known as secularization). This type of secularism, on a social or philosophical level, has often occurred while maintaining an official state church or other state support of religion. In the United States, some argue that state secularism has served to a greater extent to protect religion and the religious from governmental interference, while secularism on a social level is less prevalent.
1. What is Secularism?
2. What is its attainment termed as?
3. How many manifestation of secularism have been mentioned in this passage?
4. Give me one of them?
5. And the secondE?
6. Do the purposes in support of secularism vary widely?
7. What is it in the European?
8. and in the USA?
9. How is it perceived in a social level?
10. Secularism takes off its intellectual roots from some philosophers. Is it true?
11. Are they Greek and Roman philosophers?
12. Name them?
13. Does it also take from some enlightenment thinkers?
14. about how many of them are mentioned in this paragraph?
15. Give me the name of 2 of them?
16. Does it also take from some atheists?
17. How many mentioned here?
18. Give me the name of one them?
19. The second one?
20. And the third one please?
Answer: 1. A principle
2. secularity
3. Two
4. to be free from religious rule and teachings
5. The view that public activities and decisionsshould be uninfluenced by religious beliefs or practices.
6. yes
7. a movement toward modernization,
8. has served to a greater extent to protect religion
9. less prevalent.
10. yes
11. yes
12. Epicurus and Marcus Aurelius
13. yes
14. Seven
15. John Locke, Denis Diderot
16. yes
17. Three
18. Robert Ingersoll,
19. Bertrand Russell
20. Christopher Hitchens

Problem: CHAPTER XXVII

THE SILVER CLASP

It was about eleven o'clock on a hot morning and Kenwardine, who had adopted native customs, was leisurely getting his breakfast in the patio. Two or three letters lay among the fruit and wine, but he did not mean to open them yet. He was something of a sybarite and the letters might blunt his enjoyment of the well-served meal. Clare, who had not eaten much, sat opposite, watching him. His pose as he leaned back with a wineglass in his hand was negligently graceful, and his white clothes, drawn in at the waist by a black silk sash, showed his well-knit figure. There were touches of gray in his hair and wrinkles round his eyes, but in spite of this he had a look of careless youth. Clare, however, thought she noticed a hint of preoccupation that she knew and disliked.

Presently Kenwardine picked out an envelope with a British stamp from among the rest and turned it over before inserting a knife behind the flap, which yielded easily, as if the gum had lost its strength. Then he took out the letter and smiled with ironical amusement. If it had been read by any unauthorized person before it reached him, the reader would have been much misled, but it told him what he wanted to know. There was one word an Englishman or American would not have used, though a Teuton might have done so, but Kenwardine thought a Spaniard would not notice this, even if he knew English well. The other letters were not important, and he glanced at his daughter.
1. What time was it in the morning?
2. Who had adopted the native customs?
3. Where was he getting his breakfast?
4. Who was sitting and watching him?
5. What color clothes was he wearing?
6. and what fabric was the sash?
7. What look did he have?
8. Did he have wrinkles?
9. and what about a few gray hair?
10. Did the envelope have an American stamp?
Answer:
1. eleven o'clock
2. Kenwardine
3. the patio
4. Clare
5. white
6. silk
7. of careless youth
8. yes
9. yes
10. no