Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Chapter XVI.

Short Allowance

Five men had deserted from the fort trusting to the promises made by General St. Leger, and one had returned, after having suffered more than death, rejoicing because he was able to be once again with those whom he had betrayed.

At the moment, however, we had no thought of the deserter, but saw before us only a former comrade who had come out from the very jaws of death to claim protection.

The poor fellow had been cruelly cut on the legs and arms by the savages while they were bringing him across the river, and had lost much blood. His face and hands were covered with huge blisters, and it was not necessary either Sergeant Corney or I should ask how he came by them, for we knew through bitterest experience what the squaws and children would do when a white man was at their mercy.

Not until a full hour had passed could Reuben Cox tell his story, and even then he was in such a sorry plight that it was possible for him to speak only a moment at a time; but before morning came--before we were able to do very much toward relieving his sufferings--we had a fairly good account of all that had occurred from the moment the five foolish men clambered over the stockade until our cannon had done its work of mercy.

It seems that the deserters, after getting outside the fort, decided to make their way as nearly to St. Leger's quarters as might be possible, and to that end made a long detour to the westward. The sun had risen before they came upon a sentinel, and he was, fortunately, as it seemed to them, one of the British regulars.

1. Who had been cut?
2. Was it a bad injury?
3. Where was he cut?
4. By whom?
5. Was he bleeding?
6. Where did the savages bring him?
7. How was his face maimed?
8. How did that happen?
9. What ethnicity was the man?
10. What was his name?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. a former comrade
2. yes
3. on the legs and arms
4. the savages
5. yes
6. across the river,
7. with huge blisters
8. through bitterest experience
9. white
10. Reuben Cox

Question: (CNN) -- Doug Skinner held up the pants in the tiny dressing room and shook his head. There's no way, he thought. No way I'm at a size 48.

This was 2004. Skinner was fresh out of college, recently married and just starting his career as a technology coordinator for a local school district. I refuse to go any bigger than 46, he thought vehemently.

"Unfortunately, that day I did have to buy those [pants]," Skinner remembers. "But I didn't go any higher than that."

Skinner always had an excuse for his obesity as a young adult. The self-described "stocky" man was just big-boned, he told himself. In reality, he weighed close to 300 pounds.

"It wasn't like we were stopping on the way home at McDonald's every night -- it was just portion sizes," Skinner says. "The easiest thing in the world [for me] is to eat. I'm a food guy. I love food. I love dessert."

But that day in a badly-lit discount clothing store in New Jersey, something clicked. He walked back over to his wife, Denise, who looked unhappy with her clothing selections as well. They decided right then to make a change. "We said, 'Look, this is it. Let's not kid around anymore."

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The couple went home and borrowed a few Weight Watchers books from a relative and began to eat less.

"The first month, I was starving," Skinner says. "After the first month it was easier. It's still not easy today, but it's easier." 1. What was Doug doing
2. was it going well
3. When was this
4. Did he purchase the bigger slacks
5. was he always overweight
6. why does he have this problem
7. did anything important happen to him this day
8. who was his wife
9. What did they do after that
10. was it easy to diet
11. was it always like that Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. He was trying on pants
2. no
3. 2004
4. Yes
5. yes
6. He likes to eat
7. yes
8. Denise
9. Went on a diet
10. no
11. no

Q: The Count of Monte Cristo ( French: Le Comte de Monte Cristo ) is an adventure novel by French author Alexandre Dumas. Completed in 1844, it is one of the author's most popular works, along with The Three Musketeers. Like many of his novels, it is expanded from plot outlines suggested by his co-author Auguste Maquet.

The story takes place in France, Italy, islands in the Mediterranean, and in the Levant during the historical events of 1815-1838. It begins from just before the Hundred Days period, when Napoleon returned to power after his exile , and goes through to the time of Louis Philippe of France. The historical setting is a fundamental element of the book. It is an adventure story primarily concerned with themes of hope, justice, revenge , mercy and forgiveness, and is told in the style of an adventure story. It focuses on a man who is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes from prison, gains a fortune and sets about getting revenge on those responsible for his imprisonment. However, his plans have terrible consequences for the innocent as well as the guilty.

Dumas got the idea for The Count of Monte Cristo from a true story, which he found in a memoir written by a man named Jacques Peuchet. Peuchet related the story of a shoemaker named Pierre Picaud, who was living in Paris in 1807. Picaud was engaged to a rich woman, but four envious friends falsely accused him of being a spy for England. He was imprisoned for seven years. During his imprisonment a fellow prisoner told him a treasure hidden in Milan. When Picaud was released in 1814, he took possession of the treasure, returned under another name to Paris and spent ten years plotting his successful revenge.

The book is considered a literary classic today. According to Luc Sante, " The Count of Monte Cristo has become a fixture of western civilization's literature, as inescapable and immediately identifiable as Mickey Mouse, Noah's flood, and the story of Little Red Riding Hood. "

1. hope, justice, revenge , mercy and forgiveness
2. real life events
3. France, Italy, islands in the Mediterranean, and in the Levant
4. wrote memoir
5. it is a fixture of western civilization's literature
6. shoemaker
7. seven
8. four
9. Milan
10. 1814

Numbered questions:
1. What book is this article about?
2. Is this story completly made up or based on real life events?
3. Where does the story take place?
4. Who is Jacques Peachet?
5. What does Luc Sante say about the story?
6. What is Pierre Picaud's Job?
7. How many years was he in jail?
8. how many friends lied about him
9. Where was the treasure hiding?
10. When was he set free?