input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. CHAPTER XVI

THE RUSE

Cliffe and his daughter were landed at Kingston, and three weeks later Grahame put into a Central-American port. The propeller was not running well, and Macallister, suspecting it was working loose on the shaft, declared that he must put the vessel on a beach where she would dry at low-water. Grahame had a few days to spare, for he could not land his cargo before the time Don Martin had fixed; but as the arms were on board he would have preferred to wait at sea, outside the regular steamers' track.

It happened that there was no repair-shop in the town, but while Macallister thought over the difficulty a tramp steamer dropped anchor, and he went off to her, remarking that he might find a friend on board. In an hour or two the gig came back, and Grahame, hearing _My boat rocks at the pier o' Leith_ sung discordantly, saw that Macallister's expectations had been fulfilled. This did not surprise him, for the Scots engineer is ubiquitous and to have "wrought" at Clydebank or Fairfield is a passport to his affection.

Macallister's face was flushed and his air jaunty, but the tall, gaunt man who accompanied him looked woodenly solemn. He began by emptying a basket of greasy tools on the _Enchantress's_ white deck with the disregard for the navigating officers' feelings which the engine-room mechanic often displays. After this, he went down a rope and sat on the sand under the boat's counter, studying the loose screw while he smoked several pipes of rank tobacco, but without making any remark. Then he got up and slowly stretched his lanky frame. 1. Who arrived at Kingston?
2. Where was the repair shop?
numbered_answers: 1. Cliffe and his daughter
2. in a Central-American port.

input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. Oliver is a cat. He has a sister called Spike. Oliver and Spike like to play outside. They chase bugs in the backyard. When they get tired, they sleep in the sun. They don't like to go outside when it is raining. On rainy days Oliver and Spike sit in the window. They watch the rain through the window. Oliver is big and has grey and white fur. His nose is pink. Spike is small and has grey fur. Her nose is the same color as her fur. Spike is round. Oliver is tall. Oliver likes to eat. He worries when there is no food in his bowl. Spike likes to roll in dirt. Sometimes she is smelly. At Christmas time they like to play with the Christmas tree and presents. Oliver climbs the Christmas tree and breaks ornaments. Spike plays with the presents and unwraps them with her claws. 1. who has a sister called spike ?
2. what is oliver ?
3. what do the do in the backyard ?
4. who has a pink nose ?
5. is spike tall ?
6. who is tall ?
7. why does he worry ?
8. who likes dirt ?
9. what does spike do with the presents ?
10. what color is his nose ?
11. do they like to look at rain ?
12. where ?
13. where do they sleep ?
14. why ?
15. who is round ?
16. are spike and Oliver friends ?
17. do they both love christmas ?
18. why ?
19. do they like the rain ?
20. who has gray and white fur ?
numbered_answers: 1. Oliver
2. a cat
3. chase bugs
4. Oliver
5. No
6. Oliver
7. no food
8. Spike
9. play with the Christmas tree and presents
10. pink
11. Yes
12. through the window
13. in the sun
14. They don't like to go outside when it is raining
15. Spike
16. Yes
17. Yes
18. ke to play with the Christmas tree and presents
19. No
20. Oliver

input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. CHAPTER SEVEN.

Twelve months passed away, and Christmas came again, with its frost and snow and sunshine--its blazing fires, its good cheer, and its merry greetings.

Many a Christmastide had now passed over the head of our blacksmith, John Thorogood, and his excellent wife Mary, but Time had touched them lightly in its flight. They both looked young and hale, and full of vigour. The only difference in them was a wrinkle or two at the corners of the eyes, and a few grey hairs mingling with the brown. Perhaps John was a little more corpulent than when he was a youth; but he could wield the fore-hammer as easily and powerfully as ever.

A cloud, however, had been gathering over their happy home during the past year. Molly--the sweet active girl who had never known a day's illness from her childhood--had fallen into bad health. Her step had lost its spring, but her cheerful spirit was unsubdued.

"You're better to-day, Molly darling?" asked the smith, in a tone which showed he was not sure of the answer.

"Yes, father, much better." Molly did not use endearing terms, but the sweetness of her looks and voice rendered such needless.

She was pale and thin, and could not check the touch of sadness in her tones.

"Fred is sure to come, darling," said Mrs Thorogood, stopping in her preparations for supper to smooth her daughter's fair head.

"Oh yes, mother, I know that Fred is sure to come," returned Molly, with a laugh and a little blush. "No fear of _him_. I was not thinking of him, but of Jim. It is the first Christmas we shall have spent without him. Dear Jim! I wonder what company he will have to spend it with him in the backwoods." 1. What is John's profession?
2. Who is his wife?
3. And his daughter?
4. True or False: This is the first Christmas the family has to spend without Jim.
5. Do John and Mary look much different since last holiday?
6. Is John as strong as he once was?
7. Does Molly have an upbeat personality?
8. Is she in good health currently?
9. True or False: It was unusual for the daughter to be sick.
10. In what country does the passage take place?
11. How is John different from in his youth?
12. Has John put on a bit of weight since his youth?
13. Does Molly think Fred will return?
14. How about Mrs. Thorogood?
15. What was Mrs. Thorogood getting ready for the family?
16. Who asks if Molly's health has improved?
17. True or False: Molly could hide her sadness.
18. How is Molly's skin color described?
19. What does Molly wonder about Jim?
20. What chapter is the passage from?
numbered_answers:
1. blacksmith
2. Mary
3. Molly
4. true
5. no
6. yes
7. yes
8. no
9. true
10. unknown
11. a wrinkle or two at the corners of the eyes, and a few grey hairs mingling with the brown.
12. yes if that's what corpulent means
13. yes
14. yes
15. supper
16. the smith
17. false
18. pale
19. what company he will have to spend it with him in the backwoods."
20. SEVEN