Chinese people call the Spring Festival"Nian". But do you know that Nian was once the name of a monster ? A long time ago, the monster Nian lived in the mountains. It ate animals. But in winter, it could not find food. So it came to villages and ate a lot of people. People were so afraid of Nian that they locked their doors before evening came during the winter. One day, an old man came to a village. He told people there that Nian was afraid of three things----the color red, fire and noise. He told people to play drums and gongs, make big fires and set off fireworks to make Nian go away. On a moonless, cold night, Nian went to the village again. As soon as it opened its big mouth, people made loud noises and made fires. Nian was really afraid and ran away. wherever it went, there was noise and fire. When Nian was tired and could not run anymore, people killed the monster. After that, on the coldest day of winter, people beat drums and gongs, and set off fireworks to celebrate the death of the monster of Nian. They put up red lanterns and have a big dinner without sleeping during the night. In the morning people greet each other happily. So now we have the Spring Festival. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. What did the monster Nian eat most of they year?
2. What did it eat in the winter?
3. How did people try to protect themselves in the winter, before the old man gave them advice?
4. How did Nian feel about noise?
5. How did the people use that to their advantage?
6. Did Nian have any colors it was afraid of?
7. What instruments did people use to scare the monster away?
8. When they celebrate the death of the monster what do they make noise with?
9. What decorations do they put up then?
10. Is food involved in the celebrations?
11. Are the celebrations held throughout the night?
12. Who gave the people information that they used to help kill the monster?
Answer: 1. animals
2. people
3. locked their doors
4. afraid
5. people killed the monster
6. red
7. drums and gongs
8. drums and gongs
9. red lantern
10. yes
11. yes
12. an old man

Paul woke up at 8. He was very happy because today he got to go to his favorite thing, the fair. Paul's mother Beth was taking him to the fair. After finishing breakfast at 9, Paul got in the car with his mom. At 10 they got to Jim's house to pick him up. Jim was Paul's best friend. Then at 11, they picked up Beth's boyfriend Hank. After driving for one more hour they all finally got to the fair at 12. They had all been looking forward to this for a very long time. Beth was a bit annoyed by having to drive so much to get here, but she loved her son very much so the trouble was okay. Everyone had a great time, most of all, Paul. Gail's favorite ride was Ferris. Hank's favorite ride was the Ghoster. It was very scary. Paul's favorite ride was the same as Hank's. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. who woke up?
2. when?
3. how did he feel?
4. why?
5. who took him?
6. was she married?
7. how long did it take to get there?
8. how many people were in the vehicle?
9. what did Paul do before getting in the vehicle?
10. how long was the trip to Jim's home?
11. did beth enjoy the trip to the fair?
12. how did she feel about her child?
13. did she like the fair?
14. did she like it the most?
15. what was hank's favorite?
16. did paul and gail like the same one?
17. what did she like?
18. who was jim?
Answer: 1. Paul
2. at 8
3. very happy
4. the fair.
5. Paul's mother
6. No
7. 3 hours
8. Four
9. eat
10. 1 hour
11. No
12. she loved her son
13. Yes
14. No
15. the Ghoster
16. No
17. Ferris
18. Paul's best friend

CHAPTER III

WHAT HAPPENED TO SONGBIRD

It was fully half an hour later before Sam Rover could break away from his college chums and run up to room Number 25, which he had formerly occupied with his brother Tom and which he now shared with Songbird Powell.

Nearly a week before, the youngest Rover had made a date with Grace Laning, inviting her, if the snow remained on the ground, to a sleighride that afternoon and evening. At that time Sam had forgotten completely that this day was the date set for the annual snowballing contest.

"I think I'll go anyway," he had remarked to Songbird, the day before. But then had come word to his roommate that Mr. Sanderson wanted him on a matter of importance, and Stanley, as the leader of the seniors, had insisted upon it that he could not spare both of his chums.

"All right, then," Sam had answered finally; "you can go, Songbird, and do what Mr. Sanderson wants you to, and I'll put off my sleighride with Grace until after the contest;" and so it had been settled.

There were no public turnouts at the college, but Sam had arranged with Abner Filbury, who worked around the place with his father, to obtain for him a first-class horse and cutter from the Ashton livery stable.

"That horse is some goer, believe me!" remarked Abner, when he came to the door of Sam's room, to tell him that the turnout was in readiness. "You'll have to keep your eye on him, Mr. Rover." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. How long was it before Sam Rover could break away from his college chums and run to room number 25?
2. A week before what did the youngest Rover do?
3. What did he invite her to do?
4. Who use to live in room number 25 with Sam?
5. and what was his name?
6. Who did he share it with now?
7. Where there any public turnouts at the college?
8. What had Sam arrange though?
9. When did Sam decide to put off his sleighride till?
10. Who needed Songbird for something?
11. What did Abner say about the horse when he came to Sam's room?
12. Did he say anything else about it?
13. What did Stanley insist on?
14. Who did Abner Filbury work with?
15. Where stable was the horse from?
16. What factor was pertinant for the sleighride that Sam planned?
Answer:
1. It was fully half an hour
2. made a date with Grace Laning
3. to go on a sleighride that afternoon and evening
4. his brother
5. Tom
6. Songbird Powell
7. no
8. to obtain a first-class horse and cutter from the Ashton livery stable
9. after the contest
10. Mr. Sanderson
11. "That horse is some goer, believe me!"
12. "You'll have to keep your eye on him, Mr. Rover."
13. he could not spare both of his chums.
14. Sam's father
15. the Ashton livery stable.
16. if the snow remained on the ground