Question: Damascus is the capital and likely the largest city of Syria, following the decline in population of Aleppo due to the battle for the city. It is commonly known in Syria as "ash-Sham" and nicknamed as the "City of Jasmine". In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major cultural centre of the Levant and the Arab world. The city has an estimated population of 1,711,000 .

Located in south-western Syria, Damascus is the centre of a large metropolitan area of 2.6 million people (2004). Geographically embedded on the eastern foothills of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range inland from the eastern shore of the Mediterranean on a plateau above sea level, Damascus experiences a semi-arid climate because of the rain shadow effect. The Barada River flows through Damascus.

First settled in the second millennium BC, it was chosen as the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate from 661 to 750. After the victory of the Abbasid dynasty, the seat of Islamic power was moved to Baghdad. Damascus saw a political decline throughout the Abbasid era, only to regain significant importance in the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods. Today, it is the seat of the central government and all of the government ministries. 1. What city is this article talking about?
2. Located where?
3. Why did the population of Aleppo go down?
4. What is the city's nickname?
5. and the population?
6. Is it the oldest city?
7. Its a major cultural center of wht?
8. What river flows through it?
9. and why is there a semi arid climate ther?
10. When was it first settled? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. Damascus
2. Syria
3. no
4. the city of Jasmine
5. 1,711,000 .
6. one of them
7. the Levant
8. The Barada River
9. because of the rain shadow effect.
10. in the second millennium BC

Q: CHAPTER XLI. SPEECHIFYING.

On the Monday, a plowboy from Vale Regis arrived at Monksmoor.

In respect of himself, he was a person beneath notice. In respect of his errand, he was sufficiently important to cast a gloom over the household. The faithless Mirabel had broken his engagement, and the plowboy was the herald of misfortune who brought his apology. To his great disappointment (he wrote) he was detained by the affairs of his parish. He could only trust to Mr. Wyvil's indulgence to excuse him, and to communicate his sincere sense of regret (on scented note paper) to the ladies.

Everybody believed in the affairs of the parish--with the exception of Francine. "Mr. Mirabel has made the best excuse he could think of for shortening his visit; and I don't wonder at it," she said, looking significantly at Emily.

Emily was playing with one of the dogs; exercising him in the tricks which he had learned. She balanced a morsel of sugar on his nose--and had no attention to spare for Francine.

Cecilia, as the mistress of the house, felt it her duty to interfere. "That is a strange remark to make," she answered. "Do you mean to say that we have driven Mr. Mirabel away from us?"

"I accuse nobody," Francine began with spiteful candor.

"Now she's going to accuse everybody!" Emily interposed, addressing herself facetiously to the dog.

"But when girls are bent on fascinating men, whether they like it or not," Francine proceeded, "men have only one alternative--they must keep out of the way." She looked again at Emily, more pointedly than ever.

1. the herald
2. of misfortune
3. an apology
4. Monday
5. Monksmoor.
6. Mirabels partner
7. broken his engagement,
8. Mr. Wyvil'
9. indulgence to excuse him
10. to communicate his sincere sense of regret
11. the ladies
12. a dog
13. Francine.
14. she was teaching the dogs tricks
15. Cecilia
16. the dog
17. yes
18. shortening his visit
19. yes
20. yes

Numbered questions:
1. What was Vale Regis errand?
2. of what?
3. what did he bring?
4. when did he arrive?
5. where did he arrive?
6. who was he bringing an apology to?
7. What had Mirabel done?
8. who could he trust?
9. to do what?
10. and what?
11. to who?
12. Who was Emily playing with?
13. She had no time for who?
14. why?
15. Who was the mistress of the house?
16. Who was Emily speaking to?
17. Was Francine spiteful?
18. What was Mr. Mirabels excuse for?
19. was it a good one?
20. Did people believe the affairs of the parrish?

input: CHAPTER XXXVI

Selingman had scarcely left the place when Ernshaw arrived, piloted into the room by Aaron, who had been waiting for him below. Maraton and he gripped hands heartily. During the first few days of the campaign they had been constant companions.

"At least," he declared, as he looked into Maraton's face, "whatever the world may think of the justice of their cause, no one will ever any longer deny the might of the people."

"None but fools ever did deny it," Maraton answered.

"How are they in the north?" Ernshaw asked.

"United and confident," Maraton assured him. "Up there I don't think they realise the position so much as here. In Nottingham and Leicester, people are leading their usual daily lives. It was only as we neared London that one began to understand."

"London is paralysed with fear," Ernshaw asserted, "perhaps with reason. The Government are working the telephones and telegraph to a very small extent. The army engineers are doing the best they can with the East Coast railways."

"What about Dale and his friends?"

Ernshaw's dark, sallow face was lit with triumph.

"They are flustered to death like a lot of rabbits in the middle of a cornfield, with the reapers at work'!" he exclaimed. "Heckled and terrified to' death! Cecil was at them the other night. 'Are you not,' he cried, 'the representatives of the people?' Wilmott was in the House--one of us--treasurer for the Amalgamated Society, and while Dale was hesitating, he sprang up. 'Before God, no!' he answered. 'There isn't a Labour Member in this House who stands for more than the constituency he represents, or is here for more than the salary he draws. The cause of the people is in safer hands.' Then they called for you. There have been questions about your whereabouts every day. They wanted to impeach you for high treason. Through all the storm, Foley is the only man who has kept quiet. He sent for me. I referred him to you." 1. Are the people of London happy?
2. What are they feeling?
3. Are the communications systems working well?
4. What is the army helping with/
5. Who had been waiting for Ernshaw?
6. Was Selingman there too?
7. Who was Ernshaw there to see?
8. Had they met before?
9. Does Ernshaw believe people are powerless?
10. Does Maraton agree with him?
11. Are the people in the north disorganized and frightened?
12. Why not?
13. Are Nottingham and Leicester in a state of chaos?
14. When did Maraton notice a shift in attitude?
15. How are Dale and his buddies feeling?
16. Does this make Ernshaw sad?
17. Who else was with there with Dale?
18. What did Cecil say?
19. Was he calm as he spoke?
20. Who was quiet during all this? Return numbered answers in your output.

output:
1. No
2. fear
3. No
4. the East Coast railways
5. Aaron
6. No
7. Maraton
8. Yes
9. No
10. Yes
11. No
12. I don't think they realise the position so much as here.
13. No
14. as we neared London
15. They are flustered to death
16. No
17. Cecil
18. 'Are you not the representatives of the people?'
19. No
20. Foley