question: The wedding between Prince Wiliam and Kate Middleton on April 29 has focused the world's camera lenses on the UK.

In Britain, there is a constant debate about the relevance of the royal family to modern British society. However, Windsor (the family name of the British Royal Family) and Middleton have been seen to represent a more modern, forward-looking nation.

Nigel Baker, the British ambassador to Bolivia, believes that the royal wedding is "about modern Britain". "The estimated 2 billion spectators across the world will see that Britain is one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse nations in the world, home to 270 nationalities speaking 300 different languages, founded on tolerance and respect for difference," wrote Baker on his blog.

According to Baker, the wedding could help viewers to see "why Britain is one of the most dynamic and creative countries in the world": The television on which most people watched the event was invented by John Logie Baird, a Briton, and the World Wide Web that broadcast the event to millions more was invented by another Briton, Tim Berners-Lee.

The guests who attended the wedding ceremony gave more than a few clues as to the nature of modern Britain. David and Victoria Beckham represent Britain's obsession with football and celebrity.

Leaders from different religious backgrounds supported Baker's comments on the multicultural nature of modern British society.

Before the wedding, David Elliott, arts director of the British Council China, agreed that the wedding would be a showcase for modern Britain: "I think, and hope, that it (modern British influence) would be values like openness, multiculturalism, creativity, sense of humor and the traditional British sense of fair play," he said.

Furthermore, events such as the Olympics in London in 2012 may also increase people's sense of Britishness.

According to a poll published in Daily Telegraph, more than a third of people in the UK admitted they felt "very British" when watching the Olympics.
1. What is there a debate about?
2. Was there a special event?
3. What was it?
4. Who was getting married?
5. Who was he going to wed?
6. When was the wedding to be?
7. How many will view the nuptuals?
8. What will they see?
9. How many languages are spoken there?
10. Did any athletes attend the wedding?
11. Who?
12. What does he play?
13. Did anyone attend with him?
14. Who?
15. Is she an ahlete as well?
16. Did half the country feel "very British" watching the Olympics?
17. What percentage reported feeling so?
18. According to what?
19. Who published the poll?
20. Was the wedding shown streaming on the web
****
answer: 1. The relevance of the royal family in modern society
2. Yes
3. A wedding.
4. Prince William.
5. Kate Middleton
6. April 29
7. "An estimated 2 billion
8. britain is one of the most diverse cultures in the world.
9. 300
10. Yes
11. David Beckham
12. Football
13. Yes
14. Victoria Beckham
15. A celebrity
16. No
17. more than a third
18. A poll
19. The Daily Telegraph
20. Yes

question: CHAPTER VI: HERR VON KWARL

Herr Von Kwarl sat at his favourite table in the Brandenburg Cafe, the new building that made such an imposing show (and did such thriving business) at the lower end of what most of its patrons called the Regentstrasse. Though the establishment was new it had already achieved its unwritten code of customs, and the sanctity of Herr von Kwarl's specially reserved table had acquired the authority of a tradition. A set of chessmen, a copy of the Kreuz Zeitung and the Times, and a slim- necked bottle of Rhenish wine, ice-cool from the cellar, were always to be found there early in the forenoon, and the honoured guest for whom these preparations were made usually arrived on the scene shortly after eleven o'clock. For an hour or so he would read and silently digest the contents of his two newspapers, and then at the first sign of flagging interest on his part, another of the cafe's regular customers would march across the floor, exchange a word or two on the affairs of the day, and be bidden with a wave of the hand into the opposite seat. A waiter would instantly place the chessboard with its marshalled ranks of combatants in the required position, and the contest would begin.

Herr von Kwarl was a heavily built man of mature middle-age, of the blond North-German type, with a facial aspect that suggested stupidity and brutality. The stupidity of his mien masked an ability and shrewdness that was distinctly above the average, and the suggestion of brutality was belied by the fact that von Kwarl was as kind-hearted a man as one could meet with in a day's journey. Early in life, almost before he was in his teens, Fritz von Kwarl had made up his mind to accept the world as it was, and to that philosophical resolution, steadfastly adhered to, he attributed his excellent digestion and his unruffled happiness. Perhaps he confused cause and effect; the excellent digestion may have been responsible for at least some of the philosophical serenity.
1. Where is the Cafe located?
2. What is its name?
3. Who sat at his chosen table?
4. How old is he?
5. Of what country?
6. What was his stature like?
7. What did it suggest of his personality?
8. Was this the reality?
9. When did he arrive at the cafe?
10. Was it an old place of business?
11. What did he read?
12. For how long?.
13. What game did he play thereafter?
14. With whom?
****
answer: 1. Brandenburg
2. Brandenburg Cafe
3. Herr Von Kwarl
4. middle-age
5. North Germany
6. heavily built man
7. stupidity and brutality
8. No
9. shortly after eleven o'clock
10. No
11. two newspapers
12. For an hour or so
13. chess
14. A waiter

question: Chapter 21: Home.

It was a long journey from Vierzon to Dijon. At Bourges Ralph had taken advantage of a delay of some hours--necessitated by the fact that no train was going--to get some suitable clothes, instead of the peasant's suit in which he had traversed the lines. He had, of course, brought his papers with him; so that he had no difficulty, whatever, in getting on by the train. But the train itself made but slow work of it. Bourbaki had passed west only the week before, with all his army, upon his march to the relief of Belfort; and the railway was completely choked. However, Ralph was not inclined to grumble at the cause of his delay; for it was only upon Bourbaki's approach that the Germans had evacuated Dijon--which was now held by Garibaldi's irregulars, and a considerable force of Mobiles.

So great were the delays that it was evening when the train reached Dijon. Ralph had scarcely stepped out on to the platform when Percy bounded upon him, and threw his arms round his neck.

"Dear, dear old Ralph! Thank God you are back again."

"My dear Percy, where did you spring from?"

"I have been home five days. I was still down at Marseilles, when I heard that Dijon was open again; and I came straight up.

"And how are you, Ralph?"

"Oh, I am getting all right again. How are they all, at home?"

"Well--quite well--but dreadfully anxious about you."

By this time the boys were out of the station, and were walking homeward.
1. was it a long trip to Dijon?
2. Where was Ralph delayed?
3. what did he do while stuck there?
4. Was he then on a fast train?
5. when did he finally reach Dijon?
6. Had he been able to make the trip earlier?
7. Who was in Dijon that prevented that?
8. Who made them leave?
9. who held the town now?
10. Who met him at the station?
11. who hugged him?
12. Had he been in town long?
13. how long had he been there?
14. where had he been?
15. where did they walk while they talked?
16. were the people there worried about Ralph?
****
answer:
1. yes
2. At Bourges
3. to get some clothes
4. No
5. in the evening
6. No
7. the Germans
8. Bourbaki's
9. Garibaldi's irregulars
10. Ralph
11. Percy
12. No
13. five days
14. Marseilles
15. homeward
16. Yes