Problem: CHAPTER XIII JOHNNY CHUCK FINDS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD

Old Mother West Wind had stopped to talk with the Slender Fir Tree.

"I've just come across the Green Meadows," said Old Mother West Wind, "and there I saw the Best Thing in the World."

Striped Chipmunk was sitting under the Slender Fir Tree and he couldn't help hearing what Old Mother West Wind said. "The Best Thing in the World--now what can that be?" thought Striped Chipmunk. "Why, it must be heaps and heaps of nuts and acorns! I'll go and find it."

So Striped Chipmunk started down the Lone Little Path through the wood as fast as he could run. Pretty soon he met Peter Rabbit.

"Where are you going in such a hurry, Striped Chipmunk?" asked Peter Rabbit.

"Down in the Green Meadows to find the Best Thing in the World," replied Striped Chipmunk, and ran faster.

"The Best Thing in the World," said Peter Rabbit. "Why, that must be great piles of carrots and cabbage! I think I'll go and find it."

So Peter Rabbit started down the Lone Little Path through the wood as fast as he could go after Striped Chipmunk.

As they passed the great hollow tree Bobby Coon put his head out. "Where are you going in such a hurry?" asked Bobby Coon.

"Down in the Green Meadows to find the Best Thing in the World!" shouted Striped Chipmunk and Peter Rabbit, and both began to run faster.

"The Best Thing in the World," said Bobby Coon to himself. "Why, that must be a whole field of sweet milky corn. I think I'll go and find it."
1. Which characters were talking?
2. What did Old Mother West Wind go across?
3. What did she see there?
4. What did Striped Chipmunk think that was?
5. So what did Chipmunk do?
6. What did Peter Rabbit think it was?
7. And what did he do?
8. Where did he see Bobby Coon?
9. Was he in the tree?
10. And what did he think the Best Thing was?
11. Who was right?
12. Who found the best thing?
Answer: 1. Old Mother West and the Slender Fir Tree.
2. the Green Meadows
3. the Best Thing in the World
4. heaps and heaps of nuts and acorns
5. he went to find them
6. piles of carrots and cabbage
7. went to find it
8. the great hollow tree
9. yes
10. a whole field of sweet milky corn
11. unknown
12. Old Mother West Wind

Problem: To unambiguously specify the date, dual dating or Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are sometimes used with dates. Dual dating uses two consecutive years because of differences in the starting date of the year, or includes both the Julian and Gregorian dates. Old Style and New Style (N.S.) indicate either whether the start of the Julian year has been adjusted to start on 1 January (N.S.) even though documents written at the time use a different start of year (O.S.), or whether a date conforms to the Julian calendar (O.S.) rather than the Gregorian (N.S.).

The Gregorian calendar was a reform of the Julian calendar instituted in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by papal bull Inter gravissimas dated 24 February 1582. The motivation for the adjustment was to bring the date for the celebration of Easter to the time of year in which it was celebrated when it was introduced by the early Church. Although a recommendation of the First Council of Nicaea in 325 specified that all Christians should celebrate Easter on the same day, it took almost five centuries before virtually all Christians achieved that objective by adopting the rules of the Church of Alexandria (see Easter for the issues which arose).
1. How is Old Style abbreviated?
2. How about new style?
3. Dual dating uses how many years in succession?
4. What dates are included in dual dating?
5. OS and NS dictate the start of what year?
6. When does Julian year begin?
7. The Gregorian calendar modified which version?
8. When was the Julian calendar modified?
Answer: 1. OS
2. NS
3. two
4. Julian and Gregorian
5. Julian
6. 1 January
7. Julian
8. 1582

Problem: CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

OUTSIDE THE DUOMO.

While Baldassarre was possessed by the voice of Savonarola, he had not noticed that another man had entered through the doorway behind him, and stood not far off observing him. It was Piero di Cosimo, who took no heed of the preaching, having come solely to look at the escaped prisoner. During the pause, in which the preacher and his audience had given themselves up to inarticulate emotion, the new-comer advanced and touched Baldassarre on the arm. He looked round with the tears still slowly rolling down his face, but with a vigorous sigh, as if he had done with that outburst. The painter spoke to him in a low tone--

"Shall I cut your cords for you? I have heard how you were made prisoner."

Baldassarre did not reply immediately; he glanced suspiciously at the officious stranger. At last he said, "If you will."

"Better come outside," said Piero.

Baldassarre again looked at him suspiciously; and Piero, partly guessing his thought, smiled, took out a knife, and cut the cords. He began to think that the idea of the prisoner's madness was not improbable, there was something so peculiar in the expression of his face. "Well," he thought, "if he does any mischief, he'll soon get tied up again. The poor devil shall have a chance, at least."

"You are afraid of me," he said again, in an undertone; "you don't want to tell me anything about yourself."

Baldassarre was folding his arms in enjoyment of the long-absent muscular sensation. He answered Piero with a less suspicious look and a tone which had some quiet decision in it.
1. who was possessed?
2. by who?
3. their spirit?
4. what possessed him?
5. did someone enter?
6. who?
7. why was he there?
8. who was that?
9. was he bound?
10. did someone release his bindings?
11. who?
12. did he untie them?
13. what did he do?
14. what with?
Answer:
1. Baldassarre was possessed
2. Savonarola
3. No
4. Savonarola's voice
5. Yes
6. Piero di Cosimo
7. to look at the escaped prisoner
8. Baldassarre
9. Yes
10. Yes
11. Piero
12. No
13. he cut the cords
14. a knife